Hello! Amazon!
Waking up at the crack of dawn at 5 a.m. and hitting the road by 6, my day began with a 5-kilometer row along a tributary of the mighty Amazon River, followed by a grueling 5-kilometer hike through dense jungle terrain. Despite being fully equipped with all the necessary gear, I still couldn’t escape the relentless mosquito attacks, leaving me swollen like a balloon.
Looking around, the rainforest is an endless sea of green—a world where even daylight feels shadowed by mystery. It’s easy to imagine that hidden among these towering trees and tangled vines are creatures straight out of myth—monsters lurking in the undergrowth, waiting for their moment.
While rowing, my paddle accidentally brushed against a caiman sunning itself on the riverbank. Surprisingly, the crocodile didn’t react with aggression but instead gracefully leaped into the water, disappearing before our eyes as it sought out a quieter resting spot. The sheer diversity of plants and animals here feels almost magical—as if nature has deliberately woven them together into this breathtaking tapestry.
The Amazon was once a distant dream from my childhood TV shows, a blank space I had to memorize for geography exams, a misunderstood e-commerce giant I often confused with overseas versions of Taobao, and later, a tech behemoth I dreamed of joining after graduation. Now, after countless orders placed on Amazon and nerve-wracking interviews conducted for Amazon, I find myself standing face-to-face with the real thing: the Amazon Rainforest.
I’ll never believe that humanity can truly conquer nature. But I do believe that nature doesn’t aim to punish those who approach it with respect and curiosity. Instead, it offers its wonders to those willing to listen and learn.
