It’s 38C, humid and unrelenting sun. After a short boat ride, my group was led into the rainforest, wearing long loose layers, rubber boots, sunblock and lots of bug spray. I was far from home, in northern Peru near the Brazilian border, where the roads are few and the rivers are the main transport link for the locals.
As we went into the canopy of the forest, it felt a bit cooler, and the lushness of the vegetation welcomed us in with an embrace that affected every sense. Every plant seemed vibrant, full of life and happily existing amongst thousands of varieties of fellow vegetation.
Every hue of green was represented, punctuated by sparks of red, white, orange and pink, as flowers peeked out from the abundance of leaves or a butterfly was seen, sitting in the shade to avoid the hot sun.
As we walked the trail, sweating profuselyfrom head to toe, we had to keep reminding ourselves to look where we were walking, avoiding deep mud while gazing about the forest. The sense of calmness was welcoming and a heady distraction paired with the power of the rainforest inhabitants.
I took a deep breath, taking in the slightly earthy humid air which oddly also seemed very fresh. Despite the heat, the rainforest had a coolness, giving the surroundings a clean smell I would never be able to recreate.
Our guide told us about the palm trees, orchids, mahoghany and other vegetation that we saw during our hike. But it was the small plants that seemed to capture my attention – the small clumps of brown or white mushrooms, one simple pink flower, a group of carpenter ants and a centipede that was slowly making its away across the rainforest.
I was struck by the variety of life surrounding us – the endless number of species – and all that information about the uniqueness of the rainforest rushed back into my head like a bolt, reminding me of the need for preservation of this part of our planet. Our guide told us that many trees and plants had disappeared because of clear cutting and economic needs.
And as we kept walking and seeing more varieties of plants, hearing birds and monkeys, I wished I could transport my friends and family to where I was, to show them such a rare place in our world, where everything is interconnected, but not by wireless or cable.