Me again!
It was nice to FaceTime some of you the other day, hope you enjoyed the weekend together! Glad everything is going well in the UK!
Saturday: the resort was really busy as it was a Brazilian bank holiday so everyone flocks to the coast. But much like at home on a bank holiday, the weather had changed and so it started off hazy and then after lunch it rained for most of the afternoon. It was still really warm though! I had laid on the beach reading during the morning, then had lunch on the beach.
In the evening I got chatting to a nice French girl called Chloe and she persuaded me to have a caprihinia- the Brazilian cocktail. We joined a bigger group with a couple of French guys and a German.
Sunday: I packed up and checked out. I had a final walk around the old town and then waited at the hostel for my transfer which was meant to pick me up at 11.30. It got to 12 and it wasn't there so the hostel phoned them- they said it was on it's way and it finally arrived about 12.30. I was the last pick up! Chatted to a couple of Dutch woman and a Swedish girl who remembered me from Bolivia on the minibus. It was about a 2 hour trip to the port where we boarded a small wooden boat that took us on the hour long trip across to Ihla Grande. It was drizzling again today too!
The island is amazing and one of the most beautiful places I have been so far! It is a big national park- mountains in the middle but everywhere is just forest! The resort is a small village amongst the trees and wildlife is everywhere. There are no roads or cars! Saw monkeys as I sat eating my dinner! The most amazing birds that look like dinosaurs glide above the water. I checked in my hostel and had some food, then went to explore a little. I was headed to the nearby beach when I bumped into Laura and Peter so I walked with them and we chilled on the beach for a while. Some of the sand on this beach is black apparently from a mineral in the ocean. They told me about a short circular route nearby that they'd done earlier so I started walking around. The first point is an old prison built into the cliff- it was originally used to hold European immigrants to prevent the spread of cholera then a local prison. Now just the stone shell. The next point was an old stone aqueduct up in the trees that still transports water to the village. Next was a natural pool which was really beautiful. There a guy started talking to me- he was born and has always lived on the island and works on the boats doing tours. He is called Ronaldo, haha, and as black as the ace of spades. He offered to show me a nice viewpoint and I was wary as I didn't know if he'd rob me or something but he seemed ok. We went to a huge rock on a cliff that overlooked the forest canopy. It was a great view and I got a lesson in all the birds and wildlife and the views in his limited English. We sat for a while then moved to another nice view point on a rock that overlooked forest and the sea. We walked back and he was showing me the mango trees and found us a ripe one to eat. We then sat on a little beach while it got dark. Quite surreal walking around with my personal tour guide! He said about meeting up later but I was tired so come back to the hostel- not a very sociable hostel, but I wrote in my journal and then went to bed. Although we had a major snorer and sleeptalker in the dorm!! It was about 4am and the other 7 of us were all awake and despairing what to do! So he got a few clouts with people's pillows!
Monday:
I had breakfast at the hostel and decided to do a big hike across the island to a couple of renowned beaches. It was a good hike- up and over the main big hill in the middle through the lush forest. As I walked I joined a few others doing the same- the NZ snorer (I didn't mention his problem), a Swiss girl, Italian guy and German guy. We come across the first little beach which was pretty- all yellow sand and the forest all round. However, the weather was still overcast and gloomy, the forest peaks were in clouds of mist but other than a few spits it didn't rain. And it was still really hot and humid!
We walked on to the main Lopes Mendez beach which is 1.8km of just sand! We collapsed on the beach for a bit, then I saw Laura and Peter again- they'd got a boat to the beach to save the hike. I chatted to them. Then saw my friend Ronaldo! He was really pleased to see me and again I got a personal tour of the beach as we walked the length of it. He used bamboo reeds to knock down a couple of coconuts and then managed to use sticks to open them so we could drink the water, then smash them open so we could eat the flesh. Again I learnt loads about the beach and animals, but he had told me he knew a shortcut to the other beach where we could get his boat back. However, he underestimated how long it would take and his mate had gone without him! So we missed the last boat back! I was pretty pissed off at the thought of the 2.5hr hike back, especially as it would get dark in an hour and a half. But to be fair we done the hike at an amazing pace- it's a good job I'm still quite fit as he practically run it in his bare feet?! So other than being knackered, it was good achievement! I did think you would all be going crazy if you knew I was being led in the wildness by some strange bloke and I did start to worry myself a couple of times, but he was a gent and I had my own personal, free tour! An experience I won't forget!
I had a quick shower at the hostel and met with Laura and Peter for tea- a nice buffet. We walked a bit and had acai desserts then went back to the hostel where we played Uno! Ronaldo turned up and joined us. Then a couple of Mexican girls and Swiss girl also joined in, so a nice night.
Tuesday:
Another night of adventures with the snoratron!! Then woke up feeling rough! I couldn't touch breakfast and had diarrhoea, plus fever and headache! Unfortunately I had my boat back to Rio Janeiro and everything booked for today, but the last thing I wanted to do was travel! Said bye to Laura and Peter! Then made it to the pier for my boat. It wasn't long and I was projectile vomiting off the side of the boat! Urghhh! The other side we had a 1.5hr minibus ride to drop us at our hostels. Luckily mine was first! I checked in and have been in bed since! Fingers crossed I will feel better and can explore Rio tomorrow!

Paul, I would of liked to pop in Suriname, Venezuala, Guyana and French Guyana, but due to my temporary passport limitations I shall be heading straight from Manuas to Colombia, probably by boat through the Amazon. A good excuse to come back I guess!