Still in Pucallpa Peru

I guess its been about 2 weeks since I’ve been here in Pucallpa. The weather is mild, mostly cloudy...but when the sun is out it gets very hot. I guess I am getting use to the heat. I have been waiting for the past few days to visit the other lodges that Pablo is building...deeper in the jungle, farther away from civilization.

Well, I finally got a chance, and half-way through the ride, I was regretting it. I was sitting in the backseat of a Nissan 4x4 pickup truck with 3 other people. My head was hitting the roof because I am so tall, and every time we hit a bump, I jammed my neck...and my leg started going to sleep, my arm was bashing into the door, and the "oh crap handle" was missing so I didn't have much to steady myself with. This boxing match went on for about 3 hours...on a very rough, dusty dirt road.

After what seemed like forever, we reached the quiet jungle property; the nearest city was 3 hours away....After walking for a few minutes we entered out of the jungle into a clearing the size of a football stadium. In the center of the clearing was 1 huge circular hut that could house, I'm guessing, about 40 people in hammocks. Still to complete is one more large circular hut, two outhouses, a kitchen, and drilling a well for fresh water.

The entire place was so peaceful....on the ride out to the new lodges, it looked as if I were passing through the Garden of Eden. Small curious black monkeys in the distant trees, butterflies with such vibrant colors, a few locals with small plots of land, oh yea, and a few mosquitoes.

So, what’s next for me here in Peru? I had a little more Ayahuasca a few days ago...with some Peruvian guy from Lima. He didn't seem to enjoy it as much as I did. Everyone’s body reacts differently...luckily It doesn't make me feel too sick. It would be nice If I could communicate better because I have a lot of questions. I am picking up a few new words in Spanish each day, and I am able to get by just fine with what little I know.

I am still working on gaining new wisdom and understandings about life. I feel that life is short and I need to get some clarity before its all over. For some reason, living off of society's, and other people’s views doesn't work for me like it does for so many other people. I have always been very curious (just ask my mother)....and because of this, I am questioning everything. I feel like I am undoing 28 years of what society has programmed me into. What will be left of "Joel"...what new places will life take me to...and will I ever return to the US?....Only time will tell. Maybe I will write a book!

Thank you for your emails and check back here later for new photos>!......