Kristian

United States
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Mexico - from Sep 2023 until Dec 2024
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Description
I feel content when I am immersing myself in another culture, walking silently in nature, and when learning from others through deep conversation. Other wellsprings of happiness for me are reading an excellent book, doing yoga, cooking and eating a delicious meal, writing in a letter or my journal, and helping a friend in need. For me, I feel more at peace with myself when I make an effort to do no harm - or at least, as little harm as possible - to the best of my knowledge. I feel motivated when I contribute to clear goals that aim to increase the wellbeing of others - human, non-human animal, or plant - while simultaneously broadening my perspective and perhaps developing my own skills.
Interests
Writing
Plant care
History
Cooking & food
Drawing & painting
Charity work
Hiking
Sustainability
Mountain
Gardening
Dancing
Self development
Performing arts
Languages
DIY & crafts
Camping
Outdoor activities
Sailing / Boating
Vegetarian or vegan
Yoga / Wellness

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Languages spoken
Spanish: Fluent
Portuguese: Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Hospitality/Tourism
Art Projects
Some knowledge of:
Being an elderly companion
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Animal Care
Charity Work
Languages
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
Able to teach about:
Babysitting and creative play
More details about your skills
Starting from my most recent work experience, for three years I was an online English teacher giving one-on-one classes to children, and before that, I worked for two years as an in-person English teacher giving classes and tutoring adult students focused on business English. I began living in Latin America as a Peace Corps volunteer for two years in Guatemala: I lived with a host family while working as a coordinator for a Guatemalan-government-created project focused on improving health curriculums in rural elementary schools. In that position I helped schools apply for grants, buddied with principals to create health fairs and school-wide activities, and trained teachers to plan lessons and impart sexual education to fifth and sixth graders. Back in the day, I worked (for seven years) as a barista in various coffee shops, making drinks, chatting with customers, managing the books, running the cash register and supervising peers. I graduated from a public state university with two bachelor´s degrees, one in psychology and another in English literature.
Age
33
What else ...
I love to hike, snorkel, dance and play imagination games. I have always enjoyed reading and discussing philosophy, literature, and history, although I do not pretend to know much. Just in the last year and a half I have begun to practice regular (beginner!) meditation and yoga, and I have also become obsessed with learning about and practicing good nutrition (namely whole foods plant based).
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  Whole food, plant-based (i.e. vegan with little-to-no processed foods and no added sugar)

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27 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Help us make a positive ...)

I spent a week with Justine, Cesar and their beautiful family in Misantla and was absolutely amazed to see their incredible commitment to this beautiful project! It has certainly advanced a lot... doubtless thanks to the impressive vision, dedication and hard work of the whole family! If you want to learn about diverse eco construction techniques… read more and design in a charming, rustic setting surrounded by gorgeous green, rolling hills... then this is your place! Much of Misantla has been deforested for grazing cows, but here you can enjoy a million dollar view from a spot that is still dense and cool thanks to the vegetation: just lovely!

The truth is I had to leave another (less than optimal) volunteer experience nearby in a hurry, but Cesar and Justine kindly received me at their property on short notice. Even though I have almost no construction experience, they assigned me achievable tasks and I thoroughly enjoyed the work, which for a couple days was shoveling and carrying soil for the superadobe sacks, and for a few days consisted of preparing, mixing and applying a special sealant made from sand, clay... and cactus juice! Amazing! It was so cool to experience first hand the challenges and rewards of building one´s home from ecologically sourced materials. Cesar is a professional carpenter with seemingly infinite knowledge of eco construction. While I was there during the spring vacation, I also got to work alongside the tireless, vivacious Justine and some of Cesar´s family from out of town. Everyone was so patient, open and laidback! These are really good people who obviously already have a lot of experience receiving and sharing with travellers. The dynamic was to work between eight thirty or nine in the morning until lunch time. I had a really bad stomach bug over the weekend, but Cesar and Justine were super sweet and for the last few days while they were out of town I got to rest up and take care of the furry and feathered family (four dogs and a gaggle of funny, full personality chickens).

While the space is very rustic (no internet, limited solar electricity) it felt very comfortable and safe, and it´s only about fifteen to twenty minutes walking to the main road where you can catch a collective pick up into town or to the nearby archaeological ruins. Misantla is a sleepy but charming town with modern ammenities and lots of transportation either west into the mountains to the state capital Xalapa or headed east, just an hour from the beautiful "Emerald Coast". I especially enjoyed listening to the frogs and insects at night, and hiking a short way down the property to fill my waterbottle with fresh, natural spring water. While I was there I even got to spot a family of toucans that came by for a visit, wow! I highly recommend this unqiue experience with a chill, friendly family to anyone who enjoys nature!

(Excellent )

22 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Help in a yoga and meditation ...)

I had an absolutely incredible experience at the yoga center! I stayed here for two weeks... and then after a month long foray to nearby Misantla... I returned to take more classes and reconnect with the tranquility and quiet of the center! Maria is not only an incredibly attentive hostess but a compassionate, unpresuming spiritual teacher who… read more kindly shares not only this magical space (an oasis of peace in the middle of downtown Xalapa!) but her deep wisdom and gentle support. I was utterly inspired, not only by her lovely vitality and knowledge of yoga and meditation, but by her openminded, generous attitude as a global citizen who obviously sympathizes with other travellers and seekers.

The yoga center is an absolute gem. It is very peaceful and encourages visitors to work not only in the work exchange but on themselves. Volunteers get their own room and front door key, a shared bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen, decent WiFi, and use of the impressive library and beautiful yoga studio, all in exchange for just three hours of work a day. Each day, the tasks were clearly laid out and Maria leaves it up to each volunteer to work at their own pace and according to their own schedule. While I was here the work was focused on tending to the lovely space: cleaning, organizing and gardening. All of the tasks were simple, not overly demanding, and could be done in the spirit of mindful meditation ...or while listening to a podcast or book on tape, per one´s preference! Maria and the lovely live in volunteers (two while I was there) are very active: each week, there were yoga classes, excursions (to the many nearby waterfalls and natural areas, once weekly to the local farmer´s market) and I was even so lucky as to join a meditation retreat. Besides lots of waterfalls, rivers, forests and "magic towns" to explore nearby, gorgeous Xalapa is a cultural mecca with lots of parks to explore, live music, performing and fine arts, swanky coffee shops, delicious restaurants and a wide variety of sports and hobby activities. Just a few blocks from the yoga center, you can buy everything you need at the bustling central market, admire the murals in the municipal building, or hop on a local bus at the main terminal to go for a day trip.

I am quite surprised that more travellers don´t make it out to the state of Veracruz to enjoy its impressive geographical and biological diversity, delicious gastronomy and all around cultural richness. The people of Veracruz .... even those in the capital city (!) are incredibly kind and sincerely curious about foreigners. If you do make the worthwhile venture out this way and consider yourself inquisitive about or a student of yogic practices, I highly recommend that you take some time to visit this wonderful oasis!

(Excellent )

22 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Help on a permaculture ...)

I lived here for six weeks and absolutely loved every minute of it! What an incredible experience, with many elements of sustainable living to learn from and most importantly a really wonderful, supportive community! The live in and outside support teams are composed of loving, open minded, committed folks with lots of knowledge to share. The… read more center tends to attract a diversity of worldly travellers, and the day to day organization (via a calendar and whiteboard) are well managed, making for all around great vibes. The diversity of sustainable living projects are a marvel to see: functional, impressive eco construction designed buildings, various strategies for water catchment and purification, several kinds of compost (including one for the dry toilet waste!), beekeeping, aviculture, upcycling/repurposing inorganic trash, natural beauty products, kombucha, vegetarian cuisine, and lots of organically raised food and medicinal plants. It was such a pleasure to get involved with all of these different elements and learn first hand how to implement sustainable living practices. I also really appreciated that it is a space not just for learning but for sharing: not only students of permaculture but anyone with their own knowledge is invited to jump in and teach what they know. I stayed in the dorms and enjoyed the day to day living experience. During the week while I was there, we were twelve to twenty people on any given day: we had communal breakfast at 8:30, then worked until group lunch at 1. The tasks were engaging, and included digging the water catchment ditch, weeding, planting, transplanting, trimming, tending to the compost piles and watering system, cleaning and packing eggs, conditioning the communal spaces, and sometimes, lending a hand to the construction team or health/wellness coordinator. The work was never too physically challenging, however the hot sun raises the level of demand on the body! We would take turns helping with clean up, group meal preparations and going into town for groceries. Wow, it was such a pleasure to walk out into the garden and harvest fresh greens for a salad or aromatic herbs for a pot of tea! On a few occasions I got to visit the local elementary school with the upcycling coordinator and help give classes about composting to the little ones: so much fun! Any interest or skill you may have, speak up! The team is really open to having folks get involved in all sorts of endless activities. Afternoons and weekends really are free for volunteers to work or study online or borrow a bike and pedal to nearby Chipilo or lovely, historic Cholula, but there are so many interesting conversations, workshops, parties and the like to participate in, that sometimes it was challenging to designate alone time! While I was there, we enjoyed a group temazcal, bi weekly bonfire, a drumming circle, yoga and improv classes put on by volunteers, and several really interesting workshops about organic gardening and kombucha preparation. I really enjoyed an unforgettable birthday celebration in this very special community! Endless thanks to Xavi, Moi, Jaz, Nancy, Oscar, Emi, Alex, Felipe, Julio, Feli, Xime, Geme, Lindsey, don Jorge, doña Cris.... the whole team, for opening their hearts and sharing not just the technical knowledge but the sincerely communal spirit of permaculture with visitors like me!

(Excellent )

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27 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Help us make a positive ...)

(Excellent )

22 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Help in a yoga and meditation ...)

(Excellent )

22 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Help on a permaculture ...)

(Excellent )

7 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Help with gardening, DIY and ...)

Although Janis and Wolf may not be receiving new volunteers right now, I want to leave this feedback while the experience is still fresh in my mind.

Usually hosts take a few days (or weeks!) to respond to inquiries, so it was a pleasant surprise when I first reached out to Janis and Wolf, who got back to me right away, and were quick to arrange… read more a videocall. I was very impressed by their honest description of the dynamic of the sanctuary, the importance of vegan cuisine in their lifestyle, and of their insistence that anyone who stays in this oasis must take time for personal, spiritual growth. Exactly what I was looking for! I arrived two days later and was immediately and utterly amazed by the natural beauty of the property and by the generosity of my hosts. It does take a little effort to get there: a fifteen minute combi ride from the center of Tepoz, then a twenty to thirty minute up and down walk, or a 120 peso taxi ride followed by a ten minute (mostly uphill!) walk. It was great exercise and well worth it: you are surrounded by forest, with an incredible view of the valley below, and the nearest human neighbors are at least fifty meters away.

I initially told Janis that I might stay for two or three weeks... and ended up staying two months! That´s how much I loved this very special place, the kind, open minded people, the rustic-but-with-wifi lifestyle, proximity to magical Tepoztlan, and of course, the marvelous animals. While I was there the nonhuman animal family consisted of three dogs, four cats, one sheep and four pigs. This is a place for someone who genuinely enjoys the company of and has compassion for nonhuman animals, isn´t afraid to get dirty or encounter insects, and who isn´t intimidated by large farm animals. I had never so much as interacted with adult pigs before, and was very impressed by the intelligence and noble attitude of these creatures. They love to have their backs scratched and their bellies rubbed! Taking care of everyone definitely took time, love and effort. Many days were straightforward: feeding at 7 am and 5 pm, checking the corrals, offering water and giving out pets in between, with plenty of time to dedicate to your own activites (like hiking some breathtaking trails!) Other days were much more intensive, such as when a corral needed cleaning or mending, when we had to get supplies (fresh water, groceries, feed, etc) to and from the sanctuary, or when groups of daytime volunteers would visit for the day. Janis would give us a list of tasks to be done but never demanded that work be done for a certain length or window of time: she left everything to our own prerogative and design. Besides taking care of the animals, I got to participate in the bioconstruction of the new dry toilets, harvest avocado (yum!) and wild sunflower, do a little gardening, pick up and organize materials around the property, and help devise simple water catchment systems. I was so, so thankful to Janis who knew of my interest in nutrition and vegan cuisine and who generously invited me to participate in her online group sessions as well as to cook mouthwatering recipes for a catered event. We even got to take a trip together to another, nearby pueblo magico where I supported her in the creation of videorecorded cooking classes. Wow! Those were awesome learning opportunities for me. I was awestruck by Janis' knowledge, humility and delicious talent, and so, so grateful that, even after I finally left the sanctuary, she continued to invite me to participate in workshops and connect me with other amazing people in the vegan community.

Before I arrived Janis and Wolf described the precarious water situation to me in detail. I think that everyone should take an interest in water conservation and live with such a limited water supply at least once, to know what it´s like for more and more people around the globe. While I was at the sanctuary we had purified twenty liter bottles for drinking water (that had to be brought from town and then carried up the hill) and a very limitted supply of rainwater for doing dishes, bathing, washing clothes and giving to the animals. We treat it as though it were infinite, but it really is such a precious resource that is rapidly becoming scarce where it was once abundant. The forest was lush green and full of mushrooms and flowers while I was there at the end of the rainy season (Sept - Oct) but I understand that after a couple months of dry season the situation gets dire and the whole area becomes very dusty. I would love to come back to the sanctuary one day and see that more effective water catchment and filtration systems have been installed, and that many of the parched, eroded areas around the house and in the gardens have been pinned down with more and more diverse plantlife, especially native trees... preferably varieties that pigs don´t like to uproot!

Janis is a true visionary with a heart for sharing with nonhuman animals and people: she and her family work so hard to generously share what they have while always remaining open, patient and communicative. I am so thankful to Janis, her mother, son and lovely daughters, to Wolf, to all of the passionate volunteers that I met at the sanctuary, and of course to the wonderful furry family, all of whom made the experience unforgettable. If the description of the sanctuary caught your attention, definitely don´t hesitate to reach out!

(Excellent )

5 Sep 2023

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Join our organic Homa farm ...)

Wow! I spent four weeks here with Karina, Chi K, Pehuen and the kitties, and I must tell the world what an incredibly rejuvenating experience it was! I am so thankful to Karina for her inspiring, tireless enthusiasm and sincere desire to help others find their peace: few hosts can compare for her generosity and energetic spirit! I learned so much… read more about Homa therapy, the Agnihotra fire ritual and organic farming here, all while enjoying the opportunity to live immersed in nature and its tranquility. While I was staying here, I got the charming cabin (complete with shower, kitchen, woodburning stove and WiFi) to myself: an absolute dream for getting rest! Every morning at dawn and every evening at dusk I got to join Karina and participate in the Agnihotra fire ritual, and two times a day I enjoyed sitting down with her for some wonderful conversation and deliciously fresh vegan meals... it was absoultely incredible to work in the (very productive!) organic garden, collect fresh greens, and then eat them in our salad for lunch! I have never had the opportunity to eat so much delicious kale, chicory and arrugula in my life, let alone organic everything! By the time I left my mindbody was supercharged with nutrients! I worked for four to six hours every day, although a few days out of the month Karina invited me to take the day off in Santiago or join her for rounds of other local organic farms to pick up and deliver grocery orders. The daily activities were at times labor intensive but all to my liking: I got to do everything from clearing brush and digging a water canal, to weeding, harvesting, carrying gravel to make garden paths, fertilizing fruit trees, and some house painting. There is a nice hiking area nearby that I would have liked to explore even more: it is important to keep in mind that the property is at least a fifteen minute drive into the town of Curacavi, so if you do not have your own transportation, be ready! Karina was super generous and offered me tons of food, but if you have a big appetite like me you might consider bringing some of your own snacks. I spent lots of time with Karina, and the furry family, and also enjoyed the company of visiting participants (who attended a couple of interesting workshops that I got to participate in). I am so happy to have lived and learned this incredible experience... many thanks to Karina and her incredible vision: I hope to one day offer a similar opportunity to others on their own spiritual journey!

(Excellent )

13 Jun 2023

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Explore rural life and join ...)

Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed helping out and living at the agroforestry farm! This was a more recent experience if you are reading in summer of 2023. Just to hear about the history of the farm and re read previous comments on this profile, it is evident that the space has hosted a rich and diverse series of projects and many different talented,… read more hardworking individuals over the years. Enio, his wife Adriana, and their charming daughters Atarah, Maaminah and Hadassah are such a beautiful, loving family with so much generosity in their hearts! They are very eager to share this beautiful space with others, and they shared so much with me, I felt very lucky. Enio was super communicative in the weeks leading up to my arrival and throughout my time here, and he even drove me from the family home in Fortaleza to the site, about an hour and a half away. The family doesn`t live at the site right now, but Enio visited every two to four days, and always checked in with me to ensure that I was comfortable and enjoying my stay.

The farm was a constant bustle while I was visiting. There was no shortage of visitors to the farm during my two weeks here, from a fun group of volunteers from Fortaleza to delivery drivers to agronomists to other local farmers and gardeners! For me the most enjoyable and deeply cultural experience was my friendship with the five local workers, Adailton, Eudes, Gleice, Ana, and Francisco, as well as the university agronomist student currently living on site, Lucas. What wonderful folks! It was a joy to get to know them and learn about their unique experiences, and Gleice and Ana even invited me to their homes to meet their sweet families! Everyone really made me feel connected and comfortable here!

The local farmworkers are very dedicated, often putting in more than seven hours a day... holy cow! It was really nice (and humbling!) to pick and choose my tasks and work hours, at times helping Gleice and Ana with the native seedlings (filling bags of soil, transferring plants from one bag to another, weeding) and at other times finding my own ways to help (especially cleaning and organizing the farmhouse and picking up plastic trash around the property). The main focus of the farm while I visited was to plant, rear, and transfer rare, regional species of seedlings for sale to conservation efforts. They also mix and sell organic fertilizer, and are looking to expand into ornamental nonnative species, I think like bonsais. The farm has about forty chickens, mostly in a pen, some free range, and lots of maracuya vines, banana, lemon, papaya, guayaba and mango trees, along with some bean and tomato plants (due to commitments the farm already has with clients in the city, this visit I only got to try a few organic products: I highly recommend the edible leaves of a regional plant called the ora pronobis, it was a savory and nutritious addition to my rice! I would have loved to be even more involved in a wider variety of day-to-day activities, but due to the season, work was mostly focused on the “mudanças”. I also suspected that, because the local culture is one of strict gender roles, that made the men less apt to invite me to share other tasks.

The property itself is absolutely beautiful: a rare oasis of woodland in an area mostly cleared for cow pasture. While I was here, I got to admire many different bird species including owls, a variety of lizards, toads and tree frogs, snakes, adorable marmosets, enormous tarantulas, and plenty of trees, crazy fungi, and an assortment of lovely native saplings that the agroforest raises and sells to regional reforestation projects. Definitely dress prepared for insects in the evenings: the mosquito net over the bed and solar powered fans were very helpful! There are three different small grocers within walking distance, and the whole community, while rather surprised to see outsiders, is very friendly and safe. I understood that the nearest beach is only an hour and a half away by public transportation, but I confess that I didn`t venture out while I was at the farm: I preferred to wander the trails on the property and visit the lovely pond! I had my own spacious room complete with closet, work area and lovely view, private but weekdays from six to five people may walk right by the window! There is a washing machine and clothesline, two kitchens equipped with gas stove, fridge, countertops, the necessary dishes and even a blender, and many nice seating areas. There is very little cell phone coverage here but the WiFi was strong and only dropped off for a minute or two at a time a few days a week. Other than live online teachers, any digital nomader would have no trouble living here.

Unfortunately, there were no workshops going on while I was here, however I would highly encourage future volunteers who have the knowledge (and more time!) to utilize and improve upon this incredible space, especially to receive groups for retreats or classes. The farm and farmhouse are so big that it really could use an even bigger team (especially more live-in volunteers) to fully take advantage of the property and give it more tender loving care. Even though I didn`t do nearly as much as I would have liked, it amazed me just how inspired I felt by the space (so many ideas! so many ways the space could be better served and serve the local community and local ecology!) I spent a lot of work time brainstorming potential objectives and just doing some much needed deep cleaning around the farmhouse and property. I consider that a new employee as caretaker and/or a steady stream of on site volunteers will be necessary to really get this place back up to ship shape. I felt that Enio and Adriana were open to lots of fresh ideas, however they themselves don`t have the time or energy to coordinate any more work than they are already doing! I think it would be awesome to help them build up their social media presence (more material, across more platforms) and better utilize the farmhouse to receive visitors and host more regular workshops and organic food retreats or even expand into agrotourism. Someone who stays here longer could potentially help them create a more ambitious business plan to receive more paying visitors and large groups of learners or day volunteers. Some improvements that could be done around the property include to build nesting boxes for the chickens, making/ erecting/ improving signs for plant species and directions, trail maintenance, creating a map of the property for reference, painting murals and gardening around the house, digging a water treatment ditch, establishing a trash collection and organizing deposit, collecting plastic trash for ecobricks or some other repurposing project, building a roof over the larger patio area or a deck on the pond… among many other potential projects! Exploring the terrain, I often felt posessed by visions of how this gorgeous, already well equipped space could be improved even more, for sharing with visitors and facilitating more cohesion with nature. To give you more examples, where vegetable and herb gardens could be planted and cultivated next to the house, or how chicken coops could easily be built from the abundance of materials at hand, and I couldn`t stop seeing all the single use trash along the highway and even around the farm, and thinking about how all this trash could be collected into plastic bottles to make "eco bricks" (ecotijolos) for the interior of walls. It is noteworthy the place is already accustomed to coordinating with school groups from the city, and that some members of the community around the farm may also be open to sharing with visitors. I hope to return one day and implement one or more of these projects myself, but I also hope that in the meantime more and more volunteers will come to stay and help the agroforestry farm grow and improve! I will say, I had a lot of fun preparing one big farewell meal for the farm family... in the end only the three bravest souls sat down to try my strange (whole plant based) recipes, and I thought too about how this is a community of folks who might be interested in and potentially benefit from learning about new ideas in nutrition, cooking, and organic backyard farming!

I highly recommend Enio`s WorkAway to anyone who wants hands on experience rearing plants, but who hopefully also wants to make special contributions to a real, working agroforestry farm!

(Excellent )

1 Jun 2023

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Experience living in a ...)

From the very first day that I arrived and looked around in wonder at this magical place, I was amazed by the generosity of Fabio to share his forest oasis of peace and community with visitors like me. The eco village itself is incredible, with beautifully designed eco construction buildings nestled into a well conserved forest teeming with plants… read more

(Excellent )

19 May 2023

Left by host (Help with small conversation ...) for Workawayer (Kristian)

She was very helpful and kindly helped with our English classes. Super organized and dedicated.

(Excellent )

1 May 2023

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Help with small conversation ...)

I stayed at Raphael´s place and volunteered at the school for six days and had a marvelous time! Although currently in Portugal, Raphael was extremely communicative every step of the way, he even gave me a tour of the space via videochat upon my arrival! The apartment which doubles as the school headquarters is humble but comfortable in a safe… read more

(Excellent )

27 Mar 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Kristian)

Having Kristian and her partner here was very rewarding. Kristian demonstrated great organizational and leadership qualities within the team, that were much appreciated. Her passion for the land was reflected in how diligently she worked in the fields. It was noticed by myself, and even one of my local farm hands commented to me about it. Leisure… read more

(Excellent )

27 Mar 2023

Left by Workawayer (Kristian) for host (Come share a piece of ...)

This was my very first WorkAway and WOW, what an incredible first experience it was! Thomas is a really cool, laid-back guy ...who just happens to have a huge jungle property along a pristine river! I was truly amazed by this well-preserved pocket of the Peruvian Amazon, and deeply grateful to Thomas for sharing this paradise with visitors! The… read more

(Excellent )

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