So after an eventfull Christmas at Banos we made our way to Misahualli where we stayed just one night in a small hotel before we when travelled deep into the Amazon jungle where we stayed 2 nights. Misahualli is a very small village with little or nothing to do but watch the monkeys running around causing mischief. We only spent one night there so the next morning we packed a small day pack and set off via a small boat, along the Rio Napo river, deep into the Amazon Jungle. It is so amazing here, everything ive ever imagined it to be. Thick, dense jungle, hosting a range of different wildlife, just unconcievable the size of it. So after a 30 minute boat ride taking us deep into the jungle, we arrived at our drop off point. From here we walking 30 minutes into the jungle and our guide educated us on the varying wildlife and vegetation. We finally arrived at our cabins in which we are to be spending two nights and it took our breath away. Set deep in the jungle was the rustic cabins which are set in such beautiful surroundings. After dropping off our day packs we made our way to the river front in which we all swam to cool off as it is so hot here. It was the perfect way to cool off playing around in the water and driving off rocks and followed by a few cold beers-this is so much better than being in work, its what life is all about!!! We then made our way back to the cabins to get changed and then we set off on a guided hike deep into the jungle. The jungle is so wonderous, its so mysterious and potentially dangerous, you could easily get lost in it immense, enveloping vegetation, not to mention all the posionous wildlife that inhabits it. But with our experienced guide we hiked deep into the jungle discovering its many wonders. After a quick dip in the river, again, we made our way back to the cabins where we enjoyed a great meal then watched the sun set over the clouds of trees. After nightfall we then set off for a night guided hike into the jungle to visit a local sherman (medicine man). So equiped with our torches and mosquito repellent we set off in the pitch dark and hiked 40 minutes deep into the jungle. We arrived at the bamboo hut of the sherman and was greeted at the door and invited to enter his home. First the guide explained the role of the sherman and told us about the meaning and significians of the rituals in which he was going to preform for us. So after asking for a volunteer he asked them to kneel in front of him with their heads hung low. We didnt know what to expect....first he started chanting and humming the ritual hymes, then he blow smoke onto their head, followed by a mouthful of wrenched up spit, yes you heard right he flemmed on them.....eeww!!!! Thank god I hadnt volunteered as I would have flemmed back on him or vomitted on him...eeww!!! So after a few more suckers got up and had the ritual performed on them (spitting aswell, yuck) we bid the sherman goodbye, wiping the split from their head, ha, ha, and set off back through the jungle where we came across three poisionous wildlife, a snake that was in the tree that one of the group was leaning on, and spider which the guide picked up and a toad that the guide made squirt out poision, so all in all an interesting night, one to definately give you nightmares. The next day we all set off early to visit a local family who welcomed us into their homes and showed us how to make alcohol out of plants (always good to know, if I only knew that earlier I could have saved myself a ton of money, hickup!). Then we thanked them for the invaluable info and set off down the river on an inner tube (an inflatable rubber ring) and spent the next hour softly floating down the river, until we came to the rapids and I got throw off and had to swim my way down the rapids then got back onto my inner tube and floated to where the boat picked us up, great fun. It was such a good day until the sunburn started to kick it, then none of us could hardly walk as we all got burnt in the blistering heat, us Brits will never learn. So spent the rest of the day nursing our burnt British skin and eating and drinking to take our minds off the pain, surprising what a load of beer can do to the pain, until you wake up with not only with blistered skin but a ragging hangover to go with it, not advisable. Moral of the story is wear suncream, and British skin and sun dont mix. So back to Banos to spend just one night then onto Cuenca where we see in the NEW YEAR!!!! Bring on the PARTY!!!!