© 2012 Brilliance Press. All rights reserved.

-1-

This is the fourth article in a series about the Amazon region of Brazil featured in my

illustrated picture book, Alexander the Salamander. This one is about the Amazon

Ecopark. Previous posts highlighted the Amazon River, the city of Manaus, Brazil and

piranhas, a well-known fish native to the Amazon. Upcoming articles will focus on its

rainforest, indigenous groups, and wildlife. Enjoy these travelogues with photos and

stories from one of the world’s mightiest rivers.

An hour-long boat ride upriver from Manaus brought us to the Amazon Ecopark Jungle

Lodge, an eco-resort on the Tarumã River, a tributary of the Amazon that flows into one

of the main branches of the Rio Negro.

Nestled in a quiet cove, the lodge was our home for five days in July 2008. When we

arrived, I thought we had been stranded on Gilligan’s Island until we saw the carved

wooden sign near the dock confirming that we were in the right place.

The site was only accessible by water, and I felt like we were being marooned in the

jungle until a boat took us back to civilization.

© 2012 Brilliance Press. All rights reserved.

-2-

The Ecopark offered plenty to see and do in the small area where we were permitted to

wander without a guide (not that I had any desire to get lost in the jungle, mind you). We

could walk on the beach, enjoy the view, or swim in the cove – an opportunity that my

family reluctantly avoided. Other visitors were brave enough to take a dip, but we weren’t

about to swim with the caimans, piranhas or needlefish. Instead, we walked around the

lodge and snapped photos.

The beautiful scenery whispered “Amazon,” coaxing me to tell its story and inspiring me

to write Alexander the Salamander. The still pool of water from a small stream made an

idyllic backdrop for the creatures featured in the book.

© 2012 Brilliance Press. All rights reserved.

-3-

Unplugged with no Internet or phone access that would have made ardent tech addicts stir

crazy, the lodge made up for it with leisure activities. My son and I enjoyed many a game

of pool and chess. While he had some trouble getting the pool stick to connect with the

cue ball, the little chess whiz beat his dad over and over.

Once in a while, dad got the upper hand.

The Ecopark offered several off-site

excursions to introduce visitors to the

Amazon, including boat cruises to an

indigenous village and the Meeting of the

Waters at the confluence of the Rio Negro

and Rio Solimões; rainforest hikes; visits

to a monkey sanctuary; piranha fishing; and

nighttime animal spotting. During a

moonlight cruise, our guide suddenly

sprang from the boat onto the shore and

caught a small caiman that he showed us and later released. I marveled how he found saw

glint in the creature’s eyes in near darkness.

© 2012 Brilliance Press. All rights reserved.

-4-

Before and after a long day of touring, we

retreated to the dining hall for dinner or to the

lounge for drinks. I still remember the caipirinhas

I enjoyed on the veranda overlooking the cove as

my wife sipped on margaritas and tropical juices.

My son enjoyed the juices but liked playing with

the tiny cocktail parasols even more.

Local residents occasionally popped by for a visit.

A large lizard searching for dinner crossed our

path. We steered clear of a parrot and macaw that

hung around the bar. While they were the inspirations for the characters Polly and Molly

in Alexander the Salamander, these one were quite aggressive. Molly the Macaw was

downright ornery, shooing away visitors wherever she landed.

The Amazon Ecopark is just one of many resorts along the Amazon’s many tributaries.

Other resorts offer similar amenities. We enjoyed its ambiance, activities, price, and close

proximity to Manaus. We were grateful that was located on the mosquito-free Rio Negro,

© 2012 Brilliance Press. All rights reserved.

-5-

where the high acidity from decaying vegetation and low oxygen content prevents

mosquitos from breeding. Although we contended with our fair share of spiders, ants and

other jungle critters, we enjoyed a respite from the bloodsuckers.

About Alexander the Salamander

A young salamander named Alexander living in the

Amazon River Basin joins his friends Airey the

Butterfly and Terry the Tarantula for an

unforgettable jungle adventure. Come along with

Alexander and friends as they meet birds, monkeys,

and other creatures, enjoy the beauty of the

rainforest, and face danger along the way.

The first book in the World Adventurers for Kids

Series, Alexander the Salamander is an illustrated

story inspired by the authors’ visit to the Amazon in

2008. Fun for kids and adults alike, the story teaches

children the importance of listening to teachers and

other authority figures.

More About the Amazon

Click here to read the original post on my blog, World Adventurers.

Click here to read about Manaus.

Click here to read about piranhas.

Click here to read about the Amazon River.

M.G. Edwards is a writer of books and stories in the mystery, thriller and science fiction-

fantasy genres. He also writes travel adventures. He is author of Kilimanjaro: One Man’s

Quest to Go Over the Hill, a non-fiction account of his attempt to summit Mount

Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, a collection of short stories called Real Dreams:

Thirty Years of Short Stories and Alexander the Salamander, a children’s story set in the

Amazon. His books are available to purchase as an e-book and in print from Amazon.com

and other booksellers. He lives in Bangkok, Thailand with his wife Jing and son Alex.

For more books or stories by M.G. Edwards, visit his web site at www.mgedwards.com

or his blog, World Adventurers. Contact him at me@mgedwards.com, on Facebook, on

Google+, or @m_g_edwards on Twitter.

© 2012 Brilliance Press. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or

transmitted without the written consent of the author.