Our Last Days Adentro (Inside) (Days 32-34)

I couldn't be happier when I awake this morning as redemption is here in the presence of Tom and Mariela, that and the vast quantity of delicious food that they brought in with them. The amount brought in with them for consumption in the next 4 or 5 days easily totals more than the amount Joe and I brought in for 5 weeks, which makes me wonder how we have survived this agonizing absence of taste.

Tom and Mariela confirm one of our worst fears: there is no jet fuel and we will have to canoe out instead of taking a bush plane. A rough revelation but the knowledge that we will be seeing The Outside within a week keeps spirits high. Another interesting bit of knowledge that they inform us is that supposedly Otobo has a warrant for arrest issued by the Ecuadorian military. Apparently not long before we arrived, Otobo was at the Shiripuno Bridge (last outpost before entering Huao territory) when he became enraged at what he perceives as the Ecuadorian governments recent initiatives to take over Huao land. He ended up using a spear to smash all the military outpost's windows. All while the heaviliy armed guards inside were scared out of their minds. Not wanted to provoke hostility with the Huaorani, they deferred any action at that point but have issued a warrant and a government liaison has spoken with Tom and Mariela about convicing him to come out and apologize to smooth things over. According to Tom, the liaison and some military apparently first tried to talk with Otobo by traveling into their territory by canoe but were rebuffed from even leaving their canoe by a confrontive Omallave. Given the apparently well known fact that Otobo has threatened to "cut off the head and put it on a stick" to whoever tries to infringe upon their land, they did not get off the canoe and opted to wait him out at entry/exit point of the territory. It makes me feel good to know we were living under the protection of such a badass yet slightly worried about fact that his fierce opposition to most outsiders has made him enemies of whom would probably not lose sleep about any gringo collateral damage while getting at Otobo. Tom indicates that he is going to discuss this matter with Otobo and hopefully have him accompany us to the Outside to settle the matter.

The next few days are spent on some finishing touches with the complex. We are pretty relieved that Tom and Mariela are impressed with what has been accomplished since we have came. Pictures are taken by them with Joe and I posing like tourists to be put on the soon to be developed website. We protest the rationale of the pics as our entirely disheveled and barbaric appearance is bound to scare away most potential visitors. Please check out the website and pass on to any friends or family interested in experiencing an amazing trip like this: www.rainforestcamping.com

Ever crazy and fun-loving, Tom and Mariela convince all of us to swim the 500 yard distance between the Huao compound and our campsite. Even with the knowlege that Omallave states he saw an anaconda hanging around the area the day before, we nervously agree. My decision is based soley on the fact that if we encounter something, Omallave and his Chuck Norris like abilities will surely save the day.

All in all, the few days are fairly busy ironing out the last details to prepare the cabins for tourists, but I am content in the presence of two people who I have come to consider my parents in South America.