Day 1: Welcome to the Jungle

Well…we’re here. And I still can’t believe it. In all honesty, since we arrived in Iquitos this morning I feel like I’ve been tripping balls because –well, I’m in the Amazon jungle. I’m in the jungle – one of the most sacred, ancient and mystical places on this planet and my two feet are planted on its soil.

I don’t think I ever realized how much the Amazon meant to me until today, really. It’s so other-wordly, so naturally indifferent, so differently natural. All of the strange sounds and scapes I would watch over and over again in one of my all-time favourite films Aguirre: Wrath of God are all in front of my undeserving eyes and ears. I am humbled and in awe.

Long story short, we woke up at 5:15 to get to Lima airport at 6:00. We met up with our newly acquainted Irish friend (Scott) again and waited together to board the plane. Already I had my suspicions as to who of the other passengers were going on the retreat and as we boarded the plane, I took a deep breath and said goodbye to civilisation as I know it. Gods was that a great feeling. That sense of returning to nature, to reality and putting the mundane behind me. It’s so so good to be here. I can’t emphasize that enough.

The weird thing about our plane trip was that it was rather much like a bus ride – we stopped at another city first to drop off and pick up some new passengers before finally descending on Iquitos. The majority of our group was on that plane and we were all convened and summoned together by some locals and taken to our bus and don Howard who was waiting for us outside. He greeted each of us individually with a big smile and hug and he felt warm. He felt right.

The bus trip to the boat took about half an hour or so until we reached a little coastal town. There is poverty everywhere but there was also much happiness. I think about four or five people waved to me/us on the bus – some elderly gentleman even danced a jig for us as we were waiting at a set of lights. I’ve also decided I want to steal a small Peruvian child since they are the cutest little things I ever did see.

As we were waiting for our boats in the coastal town, I spied some ridiculously delicious looking delicacies the local were cooking (which of course we can’t eat) but they were indeed exotic and unfamiliar. Oh and the bananas here are the size of my forearm, or maybe even larger.

 

We boarded three separate boats and made our way down a windy river path through the jungle. I was so ecstatic to be in such surroundings – written words could never do justice to the immense and intense beauty that this place holds. It’s like everything I ever imagined, but multiplied because the beauty here isn’t just aesthetic, isn’t just aural – it’s a feeling.

Finally we arrived to the Spirit Quest Sanctuary and I think everyone was dumbstruck at what we saw. The website in NO WAY shape or form adequately represents what this place really looks like. I only took a few pictures because we have since had lunch and brief introductions and orientation but I’m sure more pictures of the place will follow. 

We’ve been served a yummy lunch consisting of all organic fruit and vegetables, fish and rice harvested from the local area and already made some pretty fantastic friends. I’ve even met a cannabis farmer from California and I can’t wait for who else is going to come out of the woodwork.

We are currently all on a quick break and have retreated to our rooms for now to reconvene in an hour after which I believe we will have a small workshop where don Howard is going to introduce us to the plants and…how to make Ayahuasca. I still can’t believe this is happening but the bizarre bird, insect and animals calls I hear outside in the area keep reinforcing this is true.