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Carving Tagua Nuts, the Vegetable Ivory, Save the Elephants

Some of the most interesting souvenirs to bring back from Iquitos Peru and the Amazon Rainforest are miniature sculptures carved from vegetable ivory, the mature fruit of the Yarina Palm, Tagua nuts. They have the look and feel of elephant ivory, but are a plentiful, renewable, rainforest resource.

The best vegetable ivory sculptures are works of art. Even simple primitive carvings take hours. Artistic pieces can take days.

As one artist, Matt Grimes, told me “It’s a hard material to work with. Tagua nuts are covered with a fibrous husk, are hollow in the middle, and dense. Keeping the tools sharp is necessary. Dull tools chip instead of slice.”

Matt is my son. Keeping the tools sharp is a sore subject. I came home to discover all of my drill bits, hole punches and screw drivers imbedded in home made Black Cherry wood handles with the tips sharpened, customized, and converted into various sized and shaped scrapers, and chisels.

“But Dad, you don’t use drill bits anymore.”

He’s right, not those drill bits.

On a visit to Iquitos last year Matt became fascinated with Tagua and has focused his artistic ability on the sculpture of Tagua nuts ever since. For anyone interested in carving, I am lurking and Matt is posting at the Woodcarving Illustrated Forum,  the Carving Tagua Nuts thread.

Save the Elephants, buy vegetable ivory carvings

I read a recent article in the New York Times, reporting that eBay  will Ban the Sale of Elephant Ivory.

“In response to growing pressure from international law enforcement agencies and conservation groups, eBay, the online auction giant, announced Monday that it would ban all commerce in ivory, including most heirlooms, to avoid providing a market that will encourage the slaughter of endangered elephants.”

The fruit of the Yarina Palm, Tagua nuts, save the Elephants

If you are in Iquitos Peru looking for an interesting souvenir, hold a few pieces of sculpted vegetable ivory in your hands. Heft them, rub them, feel the smooth texture. I bet you will like the look and feel of them as much as Matt and I do. Or contact Matt Grimes to customize a special sculpture just for you. His email is; matt (at) dawnontheamazon dot com.

In this world of mass produced plastic nick knacks, a unique work of art carved from the fruit of the Yarina Palm will trigger the memories of your travel adventure to Iquitos Peru and the Amazon Rainforest.

Carving Tagua Nuts, the Vegetable Ivory, Save the Elephants

Bill Grimes, Iquitos Peru

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Find What You Love and Do More of it, Better

Why have I wasted so much time watching the stock market fluctuate on TV news and reading the daily papers and the internet news about the credit crisis? I bet you have been doing the same. Let’s stop wasting time with what is out of our control.

I am getting back to what I was doing before the world wide financial bubble burst, working hard, creating value, providing opportunities, pursuing my hobbies, and making my dreams come true. I recommend you do the same. Let’s do what is in our control to improve our lives. Let’s get back to work. No one is going to bail us out.

I have been advised to (1) tighten my belt, (2) cut advertising, and (3) lay off half my crew. Plenty of people know more about economics than I do, but if the CEO of every company follows that advice won’t they practically guarantee a prolonged recession?

1. Tighten my belt: My belt is getting tighter because I am eating too much good food. I am doing my best to help the economy. In the last two weeks Dawn on the Amazon has purchased a new Apple computer and wireless adapter, 5 pairs of binoculars, a Lieca camera, a point and shoot Panasonic, and Gentry’s Field Guide, Woody Plants of Peru. I am negotiating for an Onan electrical generator for Dawn on the Amazon III, because Onan is the quietest generator on the market.
2. Cut half my crew: I love my crew. I plan to hire more great people. If you are a newly unemployed computer genius and would like to add a little romantic adventure to your life by living in Iquitos, contact me.
3. Cut advertising: Have you seen my new banner ad on Living in Peru?

I am serious about building value. I am not cutting back. My plan is still to be the best tour and cruise company in the upper Amazon, not to become the most cut back.

I am working to start three new businesses before the end of the year. I don’t have time to wait around for an economic crisis to blow over. My mind is made up.

If you are a small business entrepreneur, don’t let the economic crisis paralyze you. Find what you love and do more of it better.

Economic Advice for Small Business Entrepreneurs

Find What You Love and Do More of It Better

Bill Grimes, President of Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises

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More Than Just a Packing List, a Travel List for Iquitos Peru

I want to help you plan and enjoy your visit to Iquitos Peru and your Amazon tour and cruise. The information in this article includes suggestions about cash and credit cards, as well as a list of items to pack, and where to pack them. I hope these suggestions help you travel safely and with confidence.

Passport

Make sure your passport will not expire until long after you return home.

Plane tickets

Keep a copy of your plane tickets and itinerary in a seperate bag from your plane tickets.

Waist pack

Always wear the waist pack to the front to keep everything safe and handy, never like a fanny pack to the rear. Be very careful to close the zippers each time. Airlines do not count waist packs as carry-on luggage, so you get to keep what you want and need with you in your seat, instead of in the overhead storage bin. Your waist pack should contain a pen, small notebook, boarding pass, passport, tooth brush, a small amount of toothpaste, ear plugs, iPod, and what ever else you would like to have with you on a six hour flight?

Carry on bag

Pack a complete change of cloths, a roll of toilet paper, baby wipes, soap, small towel, Advil, camera, book, laptop, medium size notebook, extra pens, and a warm shirt, the plane will probably be cold. Be very careful to close the zippers each time.

Money belt

Never remove, adjust, touch, or acknowledge a money belt in public. For added comfort and security, wear it between two pair of underwear.

Suitcase or back pack

Make sure you have a card attached to your suit case or backpack, with at least your name, and email address, in case your luggage is lost. I tie a colorful ribbon to my check-through luggage for easy identification. The last time I traveled through Atlanta we all went to the luggage carousel showing our airline flight number on the screen. One load of luggage came up, none of the bags were mine. I only had  an extra hour to make my connecting flight. I waited impatiently for the next load of luggage, and waited, and waited. I glanced over at the next carousel and caught a glimpse of my bright colorful ribbons attached to my bags going around. I made my connecting flight because of the colorful ribbons. Give it a try. Most luggage looks more or less the same without your colorful ribbon attached.

List of important phone numbers

Learn your country code before leaving. The US is 001, Peru is 011.

ATM card, Cirrus

Make sure you know your pin number and that your card works before leaving home.

Pay for your tour and cruise in advance by bank to bank electronic wire transfer

The service charge is only $48 ($30 for the sending bank, $18 for the receiving bank) no matter how much is transferred. It is safe, easy, a bargain, and minimizes the amount of cash you have at risk while traveling.

Cash

Carry enough cash that you have $300 left at the end of your Amazon adventure to deal with any economic emergency to get you back home. Thanks to Ed Hudson for this smart tip.

Look very carefully at your dollars before leaving home. Make sure your currency is crisp, and new. Even the tiniest rip, tear, slit, or staple hole, will make your currency worthless in Iquitos. If the bills have been written on, stamped, marked or stained, you will receive less of an exchange rate, and in many cases it will make them impossible to change at all. Please pay special attention to this advice.

If the first two letters of the serial number of a $100 bill begin with CB you will have a difficult time exchanging it.

Divide your cash into equal amounts in your, wallet, pockets, money belt, your waist pack, and your carry-on luggage. Never put valuables you can not afford to lose in your check-in luggage. For your waist pack and carry-on luggage put your cash in regular sized security tinted envelopes. Put the cash, extra credit card, and part of your traveler’s checks for your money belt in a plastic bag to protect from perspiration.

Change at least $100 at the Lima Airport into small denominations and coins of the local currency, soles, to deal with any situation that might present itself before you have a chance to change dollars into soles in Iquitos. Be prepared.

Divide your credit cards and your ATM cards between your wallet, money belt, and waist pack.

Divide your Travelers Checks between your wallet, money belt and waist pack.

Obviously the dividing of valuable assets increases the odds that if you lose one bag or your wallet, or are robbed of a bag or wallet, you should have enough in your back up systems to continue on your adventure with the minimum of distress. Imagine losing or being robbed of all your valuables. You can not be too careful. Never leave a purse or bag unattended.

Have an old billfold with a couple small bills, some change, and a few worthless photos or documents in your pocket to distract a robber or pickpocket.

Credit Cards

Visa and Master Card are the most widely accepted; Visa charges 7% and Master Card charges 6% service charge in Iquitos. Inform your credit card companies you will be traveling to Peru. When there is a change in purchase patterns they sometimes cancel your card to “protect” you.

Travelers Checks are not practical in Iquitos Peru

They are difficult to cash, and there is a low exchange rate. If you bring Travelers checks consider them only for emergency back up. Write down the numbers of the travelers checks and keep them in a separate location.

Travel insurance

Highly recommended, a good investment.

South American Explorers Club

For 10% discount many places, including Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises, but you must have a current membership card.

Amazon Explorers Club

For 10% discount, including Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises.

Passport, plane tickets, visa

Make copies of your passport, and plane tickets before you leave home. As soon as you arrive in Lima or Iquitos make a copy of the white paper with the visa stamp you receive coming through immigration. That innocent looking piece of paper is very important. Keep it with your passport and protect it as valuable. Your life will become much more complicated when you try to leave the country if your visa is lost. Keep the copies of your important documents in a separate location from the documents themselves. If the originals are lost or stolen you will at least have a back up with information that will be important when attempting to replace the originals.

What to pack

Hat
Sunglasses
10 Underwear, enough for four days and the fifth day is laundry day
10 T-shirts, for four days, and the fifth day is laundry day
4 pairs of socks if you can wear sandals without socks most of the time, otherwise 10 pairs of socks
4 shorts
2 pairs of long pants, to minimize insect bites
2 long sleeve shirts, to minimize insect bites
Swim gear
Sandals
Comfortable shoes
Wrist watch with alarm
Point and shoot camera
Extra battery for camera
Extra, large (2-4 GB) memory card for camera
Earplugs for sleeping on plane, boat, hotel, etc…
Roll of toilet paper
Baby wipes
Towel, small, quick dry
Soap
Tooth brush
Tooth paste
Dental floss
Comb
Small travel can of shaving cream
Razor
Your usual daily toiletries
Your usual medications
Advil
Tampons
Sun screen
Insect repellant
Anti-malaria medication, not necessary in the city of Iquitos, but recommended for the rainforest.
Diarrhea pills
Books to read on the plane, at the airport, hotel, and boat
MP3 player, or iPod, music and extra batteries
Deck of cards
Laptop
Universal sink plug
Cloths pins
Zip-lock plastic bags, gallon and quart size, freezer bags are best
Small notebook
Pen
Medium notebook
Pen
Poncho
Binoculars
Flashlight, small, with extra batteries
Boots

Dawn on the Amazon provides binoculars, ponchos, flashlights and a good first aid kit.

If you will be traveling in the Andes or staying in Lima for a few days you will need to add warm cloths accordingly.

That is what comes to my mind. Maybe you have more travel experience than me. What did I miss that you would want to share with others here in the comments?

More than Just a Packing List, a Travel List to Iquitos Peru

Bill Grimes,  Dawn on the Amazon

Click the links below for more valuable information to help you travel safely with confidence.

Navigating the Lima Airport and Arriving in Iquitos

Hotels of Iquitos Peru; Reviews, Rates, and Recommendations

Where Will You Eat in Iquitos Peru?

You Could Love Iquitos Peru

Travellerspoint has a very comprehensive general packing list, and good suggestions on how to pack.

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Water level is up for the Great River Amazon Raft Race 2008

The black line represents the water level for 2008. The black line measures the water level to Oct 3rd. From Sept 8th to Sept 24th the water level between Nauta and Iquitos rose nearly 3 meters.

The red line represents the record low.

The green line represents the record high.

The yellow line represents the average.

The blue line represents 2007.

Water level is up for the Great River Amazon Raft Race 2008

Bill Grimes, Dawn on the Amazon

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