Avatar//Colombia//Beauty//Jungle//

Hello all,
Still in Colombia, and I think I am falling in love. Yesterday Margot and I went with our two new Canadian friends, Andrew and David to this place called San Cipriano in the Jungle, which is surprisingly close to the city we are in now called Cali. The ride there was, again, beautiful. Green, swooping hills and air that smelled like forest and cooked meats on the side of the road. We stopped on our way there and ate fresh pineapple, and sweated. It is so humid and hot up there! Then, we got dropped off on the side of the road that marked this town and walked down to the train tracks that took us into the actual town itself (about 12 km furthur down). Now, when I mention train tracks, it doesnt imply that we took a train. Rather, we took a motorcyclle that had been hitched to a wooden frame and rollers with a bench on top. ha, it was pretty wild... Then we got there and ate a delicious lunch of soup, rice, chicken and veggies and then went for a swim in the clearest, most beautiful river I have seen in quite a while. The water was cool, and perfectly refreshing. We were in the midst of this thick, buzzing jungle, and it was just so so cool. We went swim-exploring for a bit, and jumpped off the side of the bank, enjoyed the rain that fell, and eventually went back to our hostel. That night, we played cards and drank some beers with another travel friend from Austrailia who is now taking about 8 months to ride his bike through South America. He has been traveling extensively throughout the world for the past 8 years, and we were able to hear his many, numerous stories; as well as talk about subjects such as money, education, culture and the world in general. It was great.
Then today we just floated down the river some more, most of which I was alone for, because I had gone up to explore a waterfall without the group. I got there, and it was all of 3 feet tall, but it cascaded into a really nice pool, which I gladly dipped into. I found this crazy stuff on one of the trees that looked like black tar almost and it made me very curious... Anyway, the rest of the day was spent lounging in my tube in the river, until I came upon the beach we had been at the day before. I had hardly recognized it, as there were So many people there! it was so beautiful to see all of their black bodies paired with the green landscape, and dark waters. They were all so friendly, and I was immediately holding hands with a guy who was "teaching me how to swim" which was nice, because I had given my tube to a little girl who asked to borrow it, and then who helped carry it back to our hostel. Then after our day, we had another wonderful, filling lunch and scored a ride back with Colombians to Cali. They were all so nice, and even bought us hot choclate... with cheese! Yes, cheese Inside the Hot chocolate. A little strange, but surprisingly good. We may be going out with them tonight, actually...
So the Colombians are just beautiful people. I have seen so many different kinds, too. Everything from white, blue-eyed Colombians to black black ones that are just beautiful... Many of them are bigger in size, which, instead of distracts from the beauty (like I think it sometimes may be percieved as in the US), it rather adds to it. Like the more fat, the more beautiful. I was even thinking if my body was capable of it. But its not, really. My particular body was not made to be fat. Although it would be nice sometimes, to just be FAT, round, BIG... But its not for me. And that is just fine :). But it has also given me such a different perspective on what beauty REALLY is, and how it has nothing to do wtih size at all. The Colombians are not beautiful because they are fat, or black, or thin, or have fake boobs (which are SO common here in Cali) but they are beautiful because they love life. They LOVE having a good time, dancing, and sharing everything. Including, apparently, big meals :). So, there we are...
Also, Margot and I saw Avatar in 3-D the other day and it blew our minds. If you havent seen it, you should. It rules.
So, thats all. The jungle was great, and Colombia Still rules. Best wishes up there..
Also, I got a tattoo in Quito, and think I may have forgotten to mention it... Pictures are on Facebook.
Chau Chau