Bonito

進入玻利維亞時,本來想要在玻國探索一下阿馬遜流域,但一邊找資料一邊發現原來這是很難的。這邊的阿馬遜流域很少人去,同時也代表我們這些平凡的旅客很難才能到達。

後來,像我們的個性一樣,計劃變了又變,變到完全跟本來兩回事....下刪三千字,如有興趣了解我們的心路歷程,只能見面面談了。

簡單來說,我們從玻利維亞過境巴西的城市Corumba後,就到了Bonito-MS。

這是一個在巴西的朋友推薦的地點,我們以前完全沒有聽說過。Bonito在西班牙文和葡萄牙文中的意思都是漂亮,可想而知這地方有多漂亮!

Bonito是個很小的鎮,市中心就是在數街之間,而景點則在鎮四周數十公里內。這裡最有名的景點是水和洞,但它的水是河水,地下泉水,而非海水!! 這跟我們以前玩過的水上活動都不一樣。

我們由於時間不多,經旅館推薦玩了最多人去的兩天行程

第一天的行程首先是到Rio do Prata

開車就要單程1個多小時,一團只有8人加上導遊,約4個小時的行程內包括了在森林內步行,和在河水內浮潛。穿著潛水衣在森林內穿梭我真是第一次,而且在河流內浮潛也是首回!!

這些河流是從地下湧出來的地下水,所以河水非常清澈,還有很多小魚兒陪伴著我們。在河的某些地方,可以看到泉眼,就是像水中火山,但湧出的水是很涼的。還在一點就是,由於河床很淺,而且河床上有很多石灰的沉積和很多植被,所以,在大部份的地方,我們在浮潛時只能”浮”,可以撥手,但不可以用腳,不可以站立,以免破壞河床。簡單在說,我們是依著水流,慢慢漂流。

中間有一小段,水流比較險急,我們感覺就好像在時間洪流中流竄,放鬆身體,只保持基本平衡和閃開大石頭,一瞬間就過去了…..

完結了這行程後,我們去了附近的buraco das araras

這行程很簡單,圍著這個圓周500米的大洞走一圏。這個洞是形成是由於下層的石灰被雨水溶化了,地面下陷。

除了看這個很特別的大洞,還有就是住在這裡的美麗金剛鸚鵡!  我們看到了藍黃色和紅色的,除了在海洋和雀鳥公園,我還是第一次在野外看到牠們!

第二天,我們選擇了另外一個行程,到Rio da Peixe

還是水,但是完全兩回事的水。

昨天是平靜得讓人屏息靜氣的水…

今天是洶湧的水,力量的水-----瀑布!

我們在林中一邊走,走過很多大大小小的瀑布,每一條我們都可以跳到水裏和瀑布作近距離接觸,想做一次步驚雲?十次都可以!

第一次這樣子跳水,第一次在瀑布下感受這水的威力,,還好有人扶了我一把…好蝦碌。

因為我其實不會游泳,水太深的水池我就沒下去了,但還是玩得很開心!特別是我們認識的新朋友Daniel,像個大孩子一樣,玩得瘋極了!!

中午休息的時間，加插特備節目，就是這裡的主人的竉物出場！！　Gigi出場的時侯真是逗死了,她在大家都睡在吊床上休息時突然走進人群找人跟她玩! 後來她還跳到水裏游泳,很多人也下水和Gigi一起暢泳!

這樣的兩天後,我們已經很累了….

By: Jo

When we went to Bolivia, one of the plans was the Amazon basin on this side.  However, the more we researched, it seemed more impossible.  This side of the Amazon is very well preserved, and at the same time, means that it is very difficult to access by regular tourists like us.

So, like we did always, plans changed many times, and is now totally different than we thought…. Deleted the 3,000 words…. If you want to know our journey of planning, let’s meet up for a drink.

In summary, we crossed the border from Bolivia to Brazil at Corumba and then went to Bonito-MS from there.

Bonito-MS is recommended by a friend in Brazil, and we have never heard about this place before.  The word “bonito” means “beautiful” in both Spanish and Portuguese, so, you imagine how beautiful this place is.

Bonito is a small town, the central is only a few blocks, and the tourist sites are in the surrounding region.  The famous spots here are all around water and caves, but we are talking fresh water rivers and natural springs, not sea water!  This is very different from our usual water sports.

Since we don't have a lot of time to spent, we spent two days going to the following itineraries recommended by our guesthouse:

First day: Rio do Prata

It’s slightly more than 1 hour to arrive at Rio do Prata.  There are only 8 persons in a group, we spent 4 hours walking in the forest and snorkeling in the river.  This is the first time that I hike in wetsuits and also the first time for me to snorkel in a fresh water river.

This river is a natural underwater spring, and the water is so crystal clear with lots of fishes.  We can see the underwater volcano in some spots and you can see the water coming out from the river bed and the water is very cold.  Another thing is, the river bed is very shallow, and it has a lot of lime stone sediments and vegetation on the river bed.  So, we are not allowed to use our feet and we cannot stand in the water, must always keep the floating position, and use hands to swim only.  In short, with the help of the current, we are slowing floating down the river.

There is a short section with stronger current, when we float through, it feels like a few minutes where you are flowing in the time current with your body totally relaxed, keep your balance and avoid the rocks, then you pass through smoothly….

After this trip, we went to the nearby buraco das araras

This is simple trip where you walk around a big hole with 500m circumference. The hole was formed because the limestone was dissolved by rain water and the ground collapsed.

Apart from seeing the big hole, we are here to watch the big and beautiful macaws.  We have seen the yellow/blue macaws and the red macaws!  This is the first time I see them in the wild, outside of the ocean park and a bird park.

In the second day, we went to Rio da Peixe

This is still water, but it is a completely different water.

Yesterday, it was water that is so calm

Today, it is water with ultimate power ---- the waterfalls

We walked in the forest and passed by numerous waterfalls, we can jump into all these waterfalls and be close to them!

The first time I jump into the water like this, the first time for me to experience a bath under the waterfall.  The water was indeed very powerful and can easily wash me away.

Since I cannot swim, I did not jump into deep water, but I still really enjoyed the day.  Our new friend Daniel is like a big boy, he was having great fun!

In the mid-day break, more is coming, the pets of the farm owner come!  It was really funny when Gigi came.  When everyone were chilling out on the helmets, she suddenly came in and ask people to play with her.  She even jumped into water to swim and many swam with her as well!

After these two days, you can imagine how tired I was.

By: Jo