Peruvian Amazon Jungle

Arrived in Iquitos, northern Peru, after a nightmare 30 hours and three flights. Iquito is named after a tribe of Indians that used to live here until the white people came. The town reminds me of Asia. It is so hot, that I am dripping with sweat, we have a fan and cold showers, there are lots of ex-pats, tuk tuks (motorbike carriages), dodgy (probably dirty) old Western men, and loads of American missionaries. We visited a butterfly farm / animal rescue centre, called Pilpintuwasi by a slow motorised boat, which was very interesting. They do not get any funding for looking after the jaguar, monkeys, sea cow, giant ant eater, turtles......but the government fills in the paperwork that they have to keep them, and if they lose a turtle for example they have to pay a fine. Whats with that? See the link to the Butterfly / Animal Rescue site. The woman has to work in the University so they have enough money to feed the jaguar. They need donations for their amazing work. Ian took a shine to a small monkey that was raised by street kids. As he likes to touch and get too close to animals, he had this monkey riding around on his shoulders. Now he wants one. He just tells me that the monkey has a name, which I have to use - Tony, and that Tony is very intelligent! We went on a 5 day jungle tour, with a local indian group called Aciendes, instead of the many others tour operators (many dodgy). We took a 19 hour camped boat overnight, sleeping in hammocks to visit the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve for one night in the village and 3 in the jungle camping. Ian still wanted to see an anaconda, of which he did not. The heat was unbearable!!! Even with long sleeve tops and trousers the mosquitos were ruthless! You would not believe the amount of bites we have. They drove me CRAZY! It was certainly an experience, but I am not doing it again. Next time we go to a lodge on the river, with showers and fans in your room. Of course no one told us that the wet season was not the best time to go. There is a popular gringo bar/restaurant here called the Yellow Rose run by a Texan and his local wife. Spent numerous meals there as the food is great. He is very proud of the number of awards he has won for his bar, and that he gives out honest travel advice. He was able to tell us that the numerous locals being painful, trying to sell us different jungle tours were either getting commission, or thiefs, and he recommended the local Indians, as did our hostel. You need someone like that in every town. We had forgotten how painful sellers were, and how in your face, and they will not go away - to the point that at times you have to be rude. It is Carnival time here and everyone is taking much pleasure in throwing water, ink and flour all over everyone. So we got right on in there and joined in at a concert last night. Loads of scrubbing in the shower, thinking that it may not come off. Lets see how the laundry comes back. Tomorrow we have a 9 hour boat that takes us along the Amazon river to Colombia.