Intro

Day 197 found me stepping off the bike and into a different kind of journey, one into the dense heart of the Yawa Jee Reserve. This day marked the beginning of a deeper immersion, a volunteering experience that promised to unlock the secrets of the jungle. My mood was one of quiet anticipation, genuinely motivated to learn and engage with the land and its people.

Ride Overview

Today’s “ride” was entirely on foot, a 3.21-kilometer trek through the reserve, gaining about 40 meters in elevation and losing 27. The weather held mostly partly cloudy, a blessing in the humid environment. The surface was not a path at all, but an overgrown jungle track that constantly demanded we cut our way through the thick bush. Our average speed was effectively zero, given the constant machete work required.

Highlights

The morning began with a productive meeting at David’s house, finalizing the details for a ten-day volunteering stint. We covered everything from learning about medicinal plants and night fishing to visiting ancient trees and experiencing a jungle school. David, my guide, would even try to source rubber boots for my size 43 feet. The prospect of sleeping and cooking in the jungle, creating art from its materials, and visiting a family living deep within felt like a true adventure unfolding.

Later that afternoon, the adventure truly began. Luckily, Anita, my previous host, had a pair of size 43 rubber boots belonging to her husband, solving my footwear dilemma. With David and his young son, Charip, we plunged into the jungle. Almost immediately, David began pointing out plants, their names, and their incredible medicinal uses. For three hours, we pushed through, David constantly swinging his machete to clear paths that had been completely reclaimed by the vibrant green growth.

I learned so much in those hours: which fruit indigenous people use to comb their hair, how to harvest the heart of the palm, and about leaves that brew teas potent enough to cure ailments from cancer to simple diarrhea. A truly memorable moment came when David’s dog, our loyal companion, unearthed the entrance to an armadillo’s burrow. The ensuing excavation, with David and Charip digging furiously, sadly yielded no armadillo. David then devised a trap, placing a poisonous branch inside the burrow, blocking the entrance with other branches, hoping the creature would succumb overnight.

The evening brought a welcome respite back at David’s house. He cooked a delicious vegetable soup, which we shared with his wife. Later, ten female social work students, also visiting Yawa Jee, arrived to interview David about his community’s water sources. It was fascinating to hear him explain their reliance on filtered rainwater and a couple of 20-liter bottles for drinking.

Lowlights

My initial entry into David’s house, however, was a stark reminder of the realities here. The kitchen and dining room were unfinished, raw walls of grey stone, with two tiny rooms lacking doors or furniture. Fruit flies buzzed around some plums on the table. It was a hard truth. I didn’t feel comfortable moving in, and it was genuinely saddening to see such kind people living so basically, especially knowing how much of their resources go towards their children’s education. I decided then to ask Anita if I could stay with her one more night.

Overnight

I returned to Anita’s house, where I’d spent the previous three nights. Her room on the first floor, with its comforting familiarity and jungle view, offered a sense of peace that I needed. It was a small concession to personal comfort, but one I felt was necessary to properly prepare for the deeper immersion ahead.

Reflection

Today confirmed much of what I suspected about life in these remote communities – the profound reliance on nature, the incredible depth of local knowledge, and the stark contrast in living standards. It also subtly shifted my understanding of what “comfort” truly means. The jungle is a powerful teacher, demanding respect and patience, and its most valuable lessons are held by those who have lived within its embrace for generations.

Route summary

• Date: 02.02.2026 15:01
• Distance: 3.21 km
• Elevation gain: 40,16 m
• Elevation loss: 26,901 m
• Duration: 186 min
• Average Speed: 0 km/h