Category: Tales From Green Hell 1978 -1979
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Sunday Mornin’ Rain Comin’ Down
The rain kept us under the thatched roof most of the day. There wasn’t much for us to do except feed mosquitos; Against our will, of course! My reading and writing were interrupted time and again by the blood suckers landing on my jeans, shirt sleeve, on my exposed skin, or buzzing around my head.…
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Death Like A Shadow
When trying to befriend savage Indians one can’t help but think about death. I did not fear death so much, but the pain of dying worried me. I did not like pain and the thought of dying stuck full of arrows or hacked up with machetes was unpleasant. However, I would rather cross Jordan shot full…
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No Safeway Stores In the Jungle
Wally, carrying his survival .22 caliber rifle at ready, crept back into the trees and disappeared. Not to be left out of the fun, Matt unholstered his .22 caliber revolver and walked into the jungle at an angle away from the way Wally went. He hoped to get close enough to the pigs to get…
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Sloshing Through Green Hell
The road is a dirt ribbon stretching across an endless expanse of tangled vines and tall trees–Bolivia’s green Hell. Today, I almost believe it. We walk, three strong, and in near silence. The mid-morning sun beats down, unmercifully, till I feel my body begin to melt. My eyes burn with sweat. It runs down my…
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Swashing Through Green Hell!
Our company excited a group of monkeys. They scampered away through the treetops. To me, their chatter sounded like laughter. They were laughing at me!
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Man-Eating Fish
My fish began flipping its tail, flopping one way and then the other, slowly propelling its body downhill towards the water. I didn’t want to lose it, especially with my hook still in it. I quickly stepped on it; glad I was wearing my old boots that would protect my toes from the predator. When…
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Hypothermia In The Jungle!?!?
In two hours time we arrived at the sawmill. It rained buckets the whole trip and the wind-chill had chased all warmth from my body. I was shaking and felt closer to hyperthermia than I had ever felt in a Montana winter. We docked the boat at a steep muddy bank and tied it to…
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Into The Unknown
“Hope there isn’t a surprise attack tonight, Lord.” I prayed. Musing, I continued, “Maybe they’re afraid of the dark!” I had been told they were, and I was hoping it was true! “Lord, let this group of Yuqui be reached soon! Amen!”
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The Road, The Spiders, And Me!
All the way down the small road we ran into big black and white spiders hanging from a mass of strong, yellow, sticky web. I didn’t know if they were poisonous, but they gave me the creeps. I don’t even like itsy bitsy spiders, and these things were huge! I held my shotgun in front…
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The Jungle
It is hot! Sweat seeps from my pours, just enough to dampen my skin. I sit at a rough wooden table by a flickering kerosene lamp and write. Even the sickly yellow flame within the glass globe adds its heat to my discomfort- if I get too close
Writings By Phil 