Episode 07.
The journey into Nature
...I’m not saying it’s not amazing.
I mean, of course the jungle is something incredible, sublime, majestic.
Huge trees, exotic plants and flowers, animals all around.
What I’m saying is that it’s impossible to stay in the jungle for a long time. Everything about it is hostile to humans.
life is everywhere.
The heat, the humidity, the insects, the poisonous plants and dangerous animals are everywhere… Everything tells you “you are not welcome here”.
I’m sorry you still feel that way.
1
I thought you had made peace with the jungle in your lesson in Costa Rica.
Peace?? I almost got eaten by a giant spider!!
But you know, this is not just a jungle. This is the largest and possibly the most important rainforest on the planet: the Amazon rainforest.
You should be honored to be here.
Tricks of the trade…
Oh okay, yes. It’s an honor to be bitten by GIANT MOSQUITOS IN THE AMAZON RAINFOREST.
the Amazon rainforest is around 2.72 million square miles. It’s responsible for producing more than 20% of the world's oxygen, WHICH IS WHY IT IS OFTEN RefERRED TO AS THE "LUNGS OF THE EARTH.
And don’t worry. Only a few of them could kill you.
The Amazon is one of the world's richest and most-varied ecosystems, HOME TO OVER 11,000 TREE SPECIES, 40,000 plant species, 3,000 fish species, 1,300 bird species, 430 mammals and an amazing 2.5 million different insect species!
Oh, that’s reassuring…
2
So this time it’s definitely plant ninja, isn’t it?
What am I supposed to do?
Are you going away?
It’s a possibility. The rainforest is really unpredictable.
Indeed. I have to visit an old friend of mine.
Or wait for him to find you…
You already know… find your teacher.
okaaay…
3
I just hope I don’t end up reduced to insect size again.
Hello, young nature ninja. I was waiting for you.
He…hello..? Who’s there?
4
This is going to be a key lesson in your training.
Look all around you. What do you see?
Hey! What are you doing?!!
plants! plant ninja? Is that you?
Me? I’m not doing anything!
What do you mean what am I doing? This is my lesson!!
Your lesson??? Really? You have to be joking!!
This is my territory! Do you not know?
There are no territories! The jungle has no lines.
Where are you?? What’s going on here…?
It’s nice of you to stop by to say hi, plant ninja... Now if you excuse us…
Hello, Nature Ninja!
Tree ninja!
plant ninja!
5
because I am supposed to give you a lesson, but as usual, PLANT NINJA KEEPS TRYING TO INVADE MY TERRITORY, JUST LIKE HE DOES IN NATURE!
I don’t understand! Why are you both here?
“Your territory”? We have never agreed on any land division. We are legendary ninjas, not landlords! AND WE BOTH PROTECT AND SERVE THE PLANTS AND TREES FROM THE AMAZON TO THE HIMALAYAS. IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME STORY, I START TO GROW TREES AND YOU START INVADING MY SPACE! OF ALL THE RAINFORESTS IN THE WORLD, CAN'T YOU WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE WHILE I AM HERE?
IT IS WHAT WE DO, THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH SUNLIGHT, WATER AND SPACE. TREES ARE ALWAYS TAKING ALL THE SUNLIGHT!
Okay, Let’s not fight! For me it’s an honor to have you I’m sure I can both here! learn a lot from both of you.
hia!
Okay, I guess we can try to have a joint lesson, right?
The lesson is going to be about camouflage!
sure!
6
No, no, no! The lesson is ABOUT PATIENCE AND GROWING STRONG ROOTS.
Camouflage??
No true skill is ever acquired without patience.
Patience?
Why don’t we let him decide…?
So if you’re such a patience fan, you should wait for me to have my camouflage lesson.
Being patient doesn’t mean BEING WEAK.
What do you prefer learning, young nature ninja?
Camouflage, a skill that will give you a huge fighting advantage and WILL GIVE YOU A STRONG ADVANTAGE OVER YOUR ENVIRONMENT...
eeehhh... i... i...
or… “patience”… and something about roots...?
7
I'M TIRED OF YOU ALWAYS TESTING YOUR BOUNDRIES PLANT NINJA!
I see what this is… You have always been jealous of me!!
awesome skills!!
8
hia!
Let’s see how you fight when you cant see your opponent.
Let me tell you I’m not falling in your trap. I can wait you right here.
Oh, yes, your magic camouflage. Do as little as one move, and you’ll see how my arrow finds you.
Emmm… Tree ninja… What about me?
Ah yes, you. Sorry about this. You can go observe the jungle a bit longer.
9
Observe the jungle.. observe the jungle.. he just wanted me out of there for a while… AM I A BURDEN?
I’m tired of thEsE abstract assigments.. I want clear goals, concrete activities!
I mean… I don’t even know what I can observe…
People imagine jungles as places full of exotic wildlife… But BUT THE REALITY IS THAT ALL YOU CAN EVER SEE IS PLANTS. PLANTS EVERYWHERE.
Very funny plants, sometimes.
10
I GUESS THAT MOST ANIMAL ACTIVITY OCCURS AT THE TOP OF THE TREES.