While the new Animalia Amazon Colony wasn’t quite the place of “fun and games” that one popular internet meme made it, it still was interesting.
For example, the pool where the largest colony of mosquitoes and similar insects was now made to look like a naturally occurring lake that happened to be just in the right place to be used as a pool, so the trees (actually synthetic decorations) were left in place. There was also a swinging “vine” and platform that was a lot of fun, but now and again someone would get hurt, usually by doing something stupid.
The main theme of the resort was “lost jungle temple”, but there were also many inspirations for decor also came from the artifacts that were found at the newest dig site. One such thing was a mural in the “hot breakfast” room that showcased the general theme of the dig site: many different Amazon tribes in poses that suggested that they were hopping and dancing around a major bonfire. There were also blankets on the beds whose patterns matched cloth patterns found at various graves scattered around the dig site.
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The treetop village was not only accessible from the ground, but also a large hole on the building that was adapted with thick plastic cloths to keep inclement weather out and allow people to pass through because it happened to be level with the first level of platforms.
There were also many different styles of jungle huts on the platforms, mainly for comfort of the uplifted Animalians that lived there. For example, several huts were either imbedded in tree trunks (for hornbills) or were actually below the platforms (for oropendolas) for the comfort of several species of bird Animalians. What made many of them different from other treehouses was the inclusion of many modern amenities such as indoor plumbing, which often had said pipes disguised as either folds in tree bark or vines.
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Another major attraction was the museum that had been started, approved, and funded after the drug dealers were arrested. As a side effect of such an attraction, as well as the artifacts found at the dig site, only those who were confirmed to be a member of an Amazon River Basin tribe were allowed to stay at the resort for free. Others would only get a 25% discount if they donated money to a local tribe so they could buy the land that their tribal village was on from the Brazilian government.
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While Mandîbula and Crânio were the Primary couple that was the focus on the visit, there were several other different uplifted Animalians that were rather interesting/entertaining:
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“Hi, how are you today?” Asked Malice to two capuchin monkey Animalians sitting at the entrance to the clothing optional part of the treetop village.
“Oh, we’re good.” Said the first.
“We’re guards.” Said the second.
“Yep, we’re guardin’ the entrance.” Said the first.
“This entrance right here. We’re guardin’-ers.” Said the second.
“I see.” Answered Malice, a little off-put on how these guards seemed to answer in sync with each other. “Can I go inside and do some shots for the show?”
“Oh, well let’s see.” Said the second.
“It’s no adults allowed.” Said the first, after both assumed an exaggerated thinking pose.
“No, that’s not right. It’s adults only.” Corrected the second.
“Adults only, that’s right.” Said the first, “And we need some proof that you’re an adult.”
“Okay.” Replied Malice, and began searching for her ID.
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“Why anyone would want to build a treetop apartment below the platform is beyond me.” Said Roland, looking at one such comfortable, Park Avenue Penthouse-style apartment beneath one platform in the treetop village.
“It’s for the comfort of Oropendola Animalians like me.” Said one such Animalian coming to land near Roland. After an earlier surprise landing/introduction by a harpy eagle Animalian on the way to the colony, this one was less dramatic, and less surprising.
“Really?” Asked Roland, a little surprised.
“Yeah.” Answered the oropendola Animalian, “I’ve heard that the hornbills are reacting with joy over having indoor plumbing in their homes.”
“Why is that?” Asked Roland, genuinely interested.
“To protect mama and her new babies from predators,” Answered the Oropendola Animalian, who was identified as Orianna by the computer system they were using, “papa bird effectively quarantines mama and babies in the nest and doesn’t allow them to leave until the babies are mature enough to leave the nest, and brings them food but doesn’t allow them to leave to even use the bathroom.”
“Twenty bucks, and I’ll pretend I didn’t think that.” Said Roland, making a face. There were also various digital expressions of disgust on the website/livestream.
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While Animalia Ambassadoria was allowed a free stay at what was now called the Lost City of Vilcabamba, they only stayed one day before having to return to Lyre/Animalia, because fall break usually only lasted two to four days, depending on the school.