Hard Drinking Monkeys

We walked through a forest of banana trees and other tropical flora to the banks of a little river. At an oxbow there was a swimming hole and a bunch of local kids swinging from a rope and jumping in. The tourists were less adventurous, preferring to watch from the water. It wasn't until we swam out into the middle of the swimming hole that I noticed the monkeys; literally hundreds of all ages climbing in the crevices of the 75 foot high cliff. The little ones would form lines of three or more holding onto the tail of the one in front of them. It was fantastic.

Then an eel bit my ankle.

I thrashed and shrieked and made for the rocks. Once there I turned around and Kristy looked concerned.

Kristy: What the hell?

Me: A fish just bit me!

Kristy was a bit calmer than I but she started swimming in increasingly frantic circles until she finally headed off in the opposite direction as I had, towards where we'd left our stuff.

Me: Uhh.

Kristy: I'm getting the hell out of here.

The locals thought we were hilarious. There was one guy who was pouring capfuls of whisky and offering them to the monkeys who were far more interested in the bananas other people were dishing out. Chuckling he handed me a full cap and I drank it and it was foul and perfect.

I summoned the courage to leap back into the water and back into the water I leapt. I tried to look cool as I swam at a breakneck pace towards the safety of our spot on the rocky beach. I'm sure I failed at looking cool but I did make it back successfully and without any more eel bites.

We left in search of food...