Jungle Boogies - the evidence

Wih Team Amazonia jetting off in just 3 weeks, we decided it was time to celebrate with a JUNGLE PARTY!!!

The party was a resounding success: one noise complaint from the council; lots of people
pairing up (to the best of our knowledge, more than 20 people exchanged numbers or more); three people passed out, one of whom features here; monkey makeup streaked down the corridor walls; and a sexy black size 12 g-string found in Laura's bedroom (anyone want to own up to that one???)!! All indicators of an excellent party :) I also have hazy recollections of a congo line that ended up as a scrum in Cath's bedroom... More photos will be loaded up as they become available. If you have any photos, please send through to Dave or myself and they will be loaded up. Thanks for a great party everyone!!

Lots of Love Laura (aka Your Friendly Bla k Latex Panther)

And then there was five

According to Cath: After announcing to the world at large that we were about to embark on the trip of a lifetime, it seemed that we had inspired others - Laura and I have a very good friend Lisa del Vecchio who decided that she wanted to join the crazy troupe heading for the Amazon and participate in the 'Trip of a Lifetime.'

A little about Lisa:

Name: Lisa del Vecchio
Date of Birth: 29th January 1981
Star Sign: Aquarius
Likes: long walks on the beach, candlelit dinners and entertaining friends

Lisa has just completed two years living in Italia, so will no doubt be able to provide interesting 'campside' (or hammock) stories to keep us amused through the long Amazon nights. Stay tuned :)

A little about our Sponsors V2

Once I discovered that I had actually won the trip to the Amazon Jungle, I realised that none of us had actually ever kayaked before in our lives, let alone proficient enough to tackle the mighty Amazon River! (the thought of capsizing in the Amazon, with the pirahnas, crocodiles and anacondas waiting patiently was motivation enough to want to learn to kayak!!)

Dave promptly took on board the challenge to find a kayaking company in London - no easy task! The Thames is one of the busiest rivers in Europe, with cargo and tourist boats traversing the river regularly. In addition to this, the Thames is also one of the fastest moving rivers in Europe - not necessarily the best place to learn how to kayak. Images of floating bodies, sewerage, rats, pollution and disease immediately sprang to mind when we first thought of kayaking the Thames, but Westminster Boating Base quickly quelled our anxiety and dispelled the myths.

A little history on the Thames: Over 7 million people depend on the river for water and 124 sewage treatment works carry away the sewage of the 11 million who live in the Thames Valley. The Port of London is still the UK’s busiest. And last but not least, the river and its banks provide a rich and varied habitat for many creatures and plants. The Thames may not be a long river, but it is a mighty one with a rich past, carrying its many burdens with a grace and beauty that delight all those who care to know this stream of liquid history. One body per week is found in the Thames - so far no sightings!

Westminster Boating Base kindly agreed to sponsor our kayak training, allowing us to train with them as much as we wanted in the lead up to our departure (13 weeks).

www.westminsterboatingbase.com

I would encourage anyone living in London to head down to Westminster Boating Base in the summer and take the opportunity of seeing London from a unique perspective: I can guarantee that travelling past the London Eye, Big Ben and Parliament in a tiny kayak is one of the most inspiring and awesome experiences to have : )

A little about our Sponsors

Being the savvy, entreprenurial group that we are, we decided to contact some select companies around the world to see if they were interested in us trialling their products in the much-unchartered forests of the Amazon.

Bushman's Insect Repellent was the first to rise to the occassion, providing 20 tubes of Bushman Plus Gel, which has a built-in SPF of 15+:

Nth Qld Laboratories Pty Ltd
P.O. Box 11M
Manunda Qld Australia 4870
Ph: 61 (7) 4054 6020/4054 1739
Fax: 61 (7) 4054 7217
Email: nqlabs@bushman- repellent.com
http://www.bushman-repellent.com

Since 1990 Bushman Insect Repellent has been protecting outdoor professionals, sporting enthusiasts and overseas travellers from blood-seeking, disease carrying Insects.

The list includes Mosquitoes, Sandflies (midges & no-see-ums), Marchflies (horseflies, stableflies, blackflies), Tetse Flies, Bird Lice, Ticks, Leeches, Fleas and Bed bugs.
With up to 12 hours protection from one single application, Bushman stands out as the most effective, longest lasting insect repellent available. It even feels great and smells nice, making Bushman very user friendly. Made in Australia, Bushman Repellents are now exported to 24 Countries. For maximum protection from mosquito borne deseases such as Malaria, Ross River Fever, Dengue Fever, West Nile Fever and Eastern Equine Encephalitis...

I suspect that Bushman's Repellent will truly be put to the test in the Amazon Jungle, and we look forward to reporting back to the company on the success of their product.

What, why, where and when

Laura: Team Amazonia jets out of gloomy London on Friday 11 November, arriving in sunny Lima (capital of Peru) the same day. We then head south and begin our four day trek to Machu Pichu bright and early the next day. This involves flying from Lima to Cusco where we set off. Being 4 fit, healthy, young people we have naturally decided to pay locals to carry our bags because, well, because we’re lazy…

We then fly to Iquitos which is the start of the mighty Amazon River!!! Iquitos is the world’s most populous city that can not be accessed by road – you can only arrive their by air or river! We then spend two weeks travelling down the Amazon. Some days we’ll kayak to the river banks, some days we’ll spend sleeping in our hammocks and others’ well just take in the serenity.

Catherine: I bet we are soooo bored of each other’s company by day two!

Laura: Thank you Catherine… Day 12 sees us cross the border between Peru and Brazil (we fleetingly visit Colombia on the way) and enter South America’s biggest country! We finish the Amazon cruise on 2 December in the Brazilian city of Belem.

Dave: Hey my uncle (Brian, lives in Ottawa) was just in Belem. Here’s what he emailed me about it: ‘It was a very rich city in 1900 and still has many beautiful buildings- some need a coat of paint. If you have time check out the Opera House and have some good museums. The port area has been recently refurbished and has great restaurants and good night life. The area around Belem has some great beaches you will enjoy it.’

Jin: Sounds divine. Living in England isn’t great for the tan so the thought of a beach sounds perfect. I'm packing my bikini!

Laura: Guys, I’m trying to tell a story here – stop interrupting… After exploring Belem, we arrive in Rio De Jenario on 2 December and party there for two days before flying back into Heathrow, London on 5 December.

Jin: I can't wait to go to Rio! It's one of my must-see destinations. Can’t wait for the shopping... Plus I love that Peter Allen song 'I go to Rio'.

David: Hey! My mum went to school with Peter Allen... A Chappell family ‘claim to fame’! Actually, mum was an Elliot then so maybe it’s an Elliot family ‘claim to fame’…

Laura: Guys, what did I say about interrupting me!!! I’m the team leader remember.

Catherine: Whatever Laura… I just want to say that I LOVE Peter Allen. I will sing his songs non-stop while we’re in Rio!!!! I actually find him quite attractive and use to have a bit of a crush on him. Yum yum!!!

Laura: Um. I think we’ll leave it there...