The Leselva Lodge that is the party's home for six days, is of similar construction, but removed in location from the village. The people that the group encounter are primarily of Huaorani, a tribe that once numbered in the thousands, now reduced to perhaps 500 scattered throughout the Ecuadorian rain forest. Other area tribes include the Quichua and Shuar. Though there is some contact with Indians who are not associated with the guides or lodge, Blazis said that there is little interaction. Communication is difficult, but not impossible, without the help of an interpreter, as most of the locals understand some Spanish as well as their native Quichua.
Environmental Shock Being a jungle, the numbers of creepy-crawly things grow exponentially.
Tarantulas, large insects, snakes and all manner of other creatures given extremely bad press by Hollywood are the norm. Here, too, though, the trip showed growth and acceptance among the students. That same sized tarantula, which was frightening the first day was beautiful by the end of the trip. Perhaps the most telling example of the growth in attitudes, however, came during one of the last meals in the jungle. Collecting the larva of a common beetle, which are considered something of a local delicacy, a meal of what by all appearances were large maggots was prepared for the group.