In Trouble Again: A Journey Between Orinoco and the Amazon (1988)

I have a colleague who was an explorer in the 1970s, back when you couldn't buy batteries or camera film in the African bush. I LOVE exploration/adventure stories from the 1960s to 1980s, when there were still lost lands, and the earth hasn't shriveled up from all the stressors so elequently described by [Thomas Friedman].

This book describes a 4-month exploration of Amazonia and although it ends rather abruptly, is a classic example of one of my all-time favorite genres.

O'Hanlon tells us that, when you shoot a Howler Monkey out of tree, and run over to kill it, IT COVERS ITS HEAD WITH ITS HANDS. I don't miss too many meals, but that kind of fellow-primate cannibalism would stop me cold. I'll stick with 12 hours of shuttling around Central American habitats in the beautiful eco-tour buses. When the sun sets, its off to a delicious meal, cold local beers and luxury ecolodge beds, free of black fly swarms, ticks, tarantulas, mosquitoes, bullet ants, chiggers, etc.

I'll skip the yoppo pipe that causes your head to explode in projectile brown snot and puke. I'll skip the fear of 6-foot long silent curare arrows. And I'll definitely skip dining on any primate body parts.

But, I'll continue to read about them. ( )

Reviewed by Mr. Kome
I'm a sucker for a book about adventures in another land and O'Hanlon's account of trying to meet members of the Yanomami tribe (supposedly the most violent people on earth) does not disappoint. O'Hanlon is a very entertaining writer and his native companions including the macho (and apparently self-proclaimed King of Virility) Chimo and several other men from villages in that area make this one crazy trip. They travel through dangerous jungle, meet dangerous animals, insects, fish and all kinds of stuff that make you wonder: why would people even go there? You will be left wondering if O'Hanlon is insane but even if he is, he's a heck of a writer. If you are a male, you will have nightmares about the Candiru fish. Google it and shudder. ( )

Quite exiting, for a travel book: Will they ever get out of the jungle? Will they be eaten/killed by the terrible Yanomami, a people that live deep in the jungle?

[I read the Dutch edition: Tussen Orinoco en Amazone. Best wel spannend eigenlijk, voor een reisboek: zullen ze ooit weer terugkomen uit het oerwoud? Worden ze opgegeten/gedood door de verschrikkelijke Yanomami, een volk dat ver in het oerwoud woont?] ( )

This is armchair travel writing at its finest. O'Hanlon's account of his journey along the river systems of Venezuela is funny, exhausting and enthralling, as he battles swarms of black fly, poisonous snakes, grumpy colleagues and recalcitrant guides. He is as observant as only a dedicated naturalist can be, and his account is the next best thing to being there. No, actually I would say it is better than being there, since it has convinced this reader that this is one place I will never wish to visit, notwithstanding O'Hanlon's entirely matter of fact acceptance of all things parasitic, mouldy and otherwise gross. But for reading while snuggled up in a comfortable arm chair with a ready supply of coffee and croissant to hand, this is a wonderful account. ( )

Jungle fever ( )