The Amazon: Journey into the Jungle

THE AMAZON:

Journey into the Jungle

It’s not uncommon for me to be talking on the phone with my mom, going over the mundane details of the week, and nonchalantly say, “I just booked a flight to Egypt,” later adding in the fact that I would be traveling solo in the remote Saharan desert from Cairo to Libya. That’s how I told her about my first solo trip when I was 17 years old. That initial trip set ablaze something within me that hasn’t been put out since, more than 23 years later.

By EMILY RODGERPhotos by: DANIELLE BAYER, EMILY RODGER, LUCAS DE ZAN, MARTIN FERREYRA, CHRIS SHOCKEY and NICOLAS GOMEZ-LENGYL

Luckily at this point in my life, my mom and family have become pretty accustomed to my adventure-seeking, not really skipping a beat when I mention things like I will be fly fishing for peacock bass in the remote jungles of Brazil followed by a trip to Pirarucu Lodge to fly fish for Arapaima. I came back from that first trip with all my fingers and toes - despite some people’s disbelief that it was safe to be fishing among whatever lurked in the bottom of the Amazon rivers.

I often hear others speak of ‘leaving a part of their heart’ behind when they travel, but for me, I resist that analogy. My entire heart accompanies me wherever I go; however, certain places have an extraordinary capacity to enrich and fulfil my heart more profoundly than others. As soon as I returned home, I wanted nothing more than to get back there again.

That was 2019, and little did we all know what the world had in store for us over the next few years. Suffice it to say, I didn’t make it back to the jungle in 2020 … or 2021 … or 2022. It was only in the fall of 2023, by then practically itching with pentup desire, that I was able to venture back to that remote, mysterious ecosystem, a place where cultures are so deeply embedded in nature and community, this time in the country of Bolivia - to Tsimane Lodge.

Immersed in the heart of the jungle

It might sound unconventional to some, but there’s an inexplicable sense of ease that washes over me in the heart of the jungle. This ease isn’t derived from merely glimpsing a sanitized version of the wild and then retreating to the comforts of civilization, deeming the experience complete. No, when I embark on a journey, I immerse myself fully in the midst of it all. For me, I think those feelings of ease come from bearing witness to how this ecosystem works in such synchronicity—everything coming together to support everything else. It’s a profound connection to the natural world, a harmony that extends beyond the lush vegetation and flowing rivers, touching the very essence of my being as I become a humble observer of nature’s masterpiece.

The lodges I’ve had the privilege of visiting— Rio Marie, Pirarucu, Tsimane—while exploring the lush jungles of Brazil and Bolivia, have played an indispensable role in fostering my profound sense of calm and safety.

What makes these experiences truly exceptional is the reunion with some of the guides from my earlier expeditions. The serendipity of being guided by familiar faces in a new setting added an extraordinary layer to my journey, elevating the sense of connection among friends and those dedicated to ensuring the best possible experience for every angler. Their commitment to safety, evident in every aspect of the journey, establishes an unspoken trust, a comforting bond that transcends the ordinary.

Surrender and the unknowns of adventure

That first trip to the jungle taught me that surrender is just part of the deal when it comes to embarking on an adventure like this one. As I reflect on turning 40 this year, I look back and realize life, for me, has been a journey of embracing the unknowns. Sometimes over and over again.

“For me, life has been a journey of embracing the unknowns”

From that initial trip by myself at 17 to this latest excursion to Bolivia, I’ve always loved adventure. It’s what’s fuelled me to try new things and propels me to heights I never thought possible. But that love for adventure has also come with its fair share of missteps, closed doors, and stories that I wasn’t sure of the ending while living there in the middle.

In the years since I’ve embarked on these adventures, I’ve come to this realization that my love for adventure is an integral part of who I am as an individual. It’s closely entwined with my appreciation for the untamed beauty of life, both of which present themselves as soon as you step foot into the jungle. Maybe that’s what brings me this innate, unexplainable sense of comfort every time I journey back to the jungle: I feel at home there because, in essence, it reminds me of my own day-to-day.

Purpose in the unknowns

Just like life, the jungle is constantly presenting you with challenges to face and then overcome. You’re required to trust the people around you, and your own intuition, along with always being prepared for the unexpected around every turn.

One night during the recent trip to Bolivia, as fellow angler Chris and I, along with our guide Nico, were walking, we stumbled upon a giant snake on the jungle floor.

Long dead, covered in thousands of ants, Chris remarked, “Everything serves its purpose, dead or alive.” That casual statement made me ponder why I came here in the first place.

Every encounter in life has a purpose. In the vast jungle ecosystem, everything—dead or alive—is interconnected, thriving on mutual support. This interconnectedness can be intimidating, even mind-boggling, as we think about every little thing that needs to go right for something else to work correctly, but in that same way it’s also awe-inspiring and decidedly humbling.

For so many years I had been held back by the unknowns in my own life, but as I ventured deeper and deeper into the jungle, I started to learn that the purpose behind those unknowns maybe wasn’t as out of my reach as I at first thought. In fact, maybe that was the point: to surrender to the wildness of life—of the jungle—in order to surrender to the larger plan that had been in place all along.

The power of travel and embracing the unknown

Going on this expedition in Bolivia reminded me once again of the power travel has in my life. It’s the same rush I got when I ventured out on my own for the first time at 17 (though nowadays I try to leave my mom with more advance notice of my plans). Beyond comparison, travel fills me with pure joy. It’s that unparalleled feeling of happiness from connecting with nature in its rawest form— in this case, the jungle—and opening oneself up to all it has to offer.

But though it’s amazing and fun and there’s something new to be discovered around every turn, the jungle is also mysterious, and above all else, wild. It’s unknown, and unknowable. Kind of like life in a way, you never know what you’re going to encounter.

Like the ocean, there are so many parts of jungles around the world that have yet to be explored. Creatures we don’t even know exist yet lurk there among the many native plants and other animals.

This ecosystem lives and breathes with its own rhythm and cadence, inviting you to be part of its unique symphony. If the jungle has taught me anything it’s this: embrace that unpredictability - choose to be part of that symphony - as opposed to fighting against it and just adding to the noise.

“It’s beautiful and exciting not to know what’s around every corner”

The jungle will demand your undivided respect, and then humble you in the process of earning it. It’s beautiful and exciting not to know what’s around every corner, but it also can be dangerous.

But isn’t life the same way?

We’re all faced with this same choice: choose to keep a tight grip on anything and everything, never surrendering control, and forcing life to go exactly the way you planned it, or … we can loosen that chokehold. Choosing to embrace the unknown. Giving up the illusion of control (because that’s all it is really, an illusion). Leaning into the mysterious beauty around every turn. It’s in those seasons when I’ve surrendered to the process that I’ve found myself flourishing the most as a person.

I want to invite you to do the same. Take the leap. Whether it’s a metaphorical step into the unexplored territories of your dreams or a literal journey into the depths of a jungle, embrace the uncertainty. Let go of the illusion of control, and in doing so, discover the beauty of surrendering to the wildness of life.

For more info: www.untamedangling.com and https://emilysrodger.com