In Irian Jaya, I discovered a world I had only dreamt about since I was a child. The jungle, with its insects, parasites, humidity and malarial fevers can be a living hell. Yet the combination of life, energy and spirits is unrivaled. I went to Siberut without a guide as Mentawais do not like other Indonesians. Most people didn't speak the national language, but outside of the cities, words become secondary.
Communication is done with instinct, gesture, and energy.
During my months in the jungle, I had time to reflect on the way we live in the modern world and about the people we call primitive. They live happy in harmony with the nature they preserve. They know by instinct what takes us a life time to learn. I ' m also an experienced photographer and have recently written the cover story in Wilderness Way magazine regarding my travels in Irian Jaya. After three years planning my next expedition while teaching English in Japan, I ' m finally ready for the ultimate challenge of kayaking the shores and rivers of Central America and returning to the jungle to once again share the lifestyles of indigenous people.