Page 150 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Exercise

Diamond Amazonas Serpent

By Corporal Sujan Gurung

Members of the expedition. Sujan Gurung is in the red top on the left

The expedition consisted Here We Go
of a group of 11 personnel
from 1 Armoured Medical The following day, we were greeted by
our friendly guides, Eric and Pedro. After
Regiment, who travelled to packing our stuffs in preparation, we took
the Rio Urubu, Amazonas a bus to the starting point. After checking
our equipment and the final safety brief,
District, Brazil to take part we started to paddle down the murky
in a kayaking expedition. river Rio Urubu in the sweltering heat.
This is one of the most bio- Everybody was extremely cautious of the
piranhas, crocodiles, spiders and most
diverse and challenging importantly Zika carrying mosquitos.
environments on earth. The first day was quite relaxed and short.
We then parked our kayaks and started
to put our hammocks up in a hut nearby
Finally in Brazil the river. The skilful started to prepare fish
and other local cuisines. After the meal,
a couple of the team went fishing and
Taking a plunge in the rooftop swimming caught only roots and branches of the
pool of the hotel in Manaus felt refreshing trees and lost several baits and lines in
after a 30 hour journey from Sennelager the process while the rest of the crew was
to the hotel. Never mind the tropical heat watching and coaching them hopelessly. It
and humidity of Brazil, the greater relief was my first time sleeping in a hammock.
came from the fact that we were finally in It was cramped and rocked all night;
Brazil. furthermore the heat didn’t help at all.

150

*2016 J Layout.indd 150 10/01/2017 15:44