After our tour round the jungle, we found a lodging in one of the pile-dwellings (because of the high level of the water during the rainfall period) typical house of the region. The native family that accommodate us, a very sympathy lady with three daughters and as much sons, invited us to a local fest. So just after a terrific local meal that was offered to us, we set down through the dark path, with our only guide the shinning moon. The silence that over flood the whole area, provoked a deep calmness, but also fear that someone or something was watching you…
In short time a sound of music reached us and suddenly out of nowhere we found ourselves in an organized open area in the middle of the forest! One small church, one shed and a stage composed that small scenery which was full of natives. We arrived just after the mess and little girls dressed in white were in, out and about the church. There was something everybody was waiting for while the music came out of the speakers, with local rhythm of old discs. Under the shed you could get the basic things, as beer, soft drinks and grilled skewered meat. But as we had eaten, we comfort ourselves with a cold beer and waited for the event of the evening.
Suddenly the people started clapping, shouting on joy and opening the way to the church, were two beautiful girls age of 15-16 would pass to the stage. One of the girls represented the near village where we were staying. We were the witness of the most odd “beauty festival” with the 2 village girls as the protagonists.
After the parade, where they showed and twisted their graceful body in front of the audience, bringing out lots of applause, than they stood on the stage for “the big moment”. Here the judge were the same everyone present and the vote counted by the money they would place in a little paper box that each girl held. We than took the first step and placed 1 real on the box of the girl, whom was nobody else then one of the daughters of our hostess. It went on about one half an hour in a hurly-burly way and on every vote the girls under a shy smile, looked for the maybe groom to be.
By the end the balance turn to the girl of “our” village. Her mother could not hold the tears while counting the “votes”. The money of course was for a good purpose, once all the money collected regarded the whole village and not only the winner’s family.
And so finished one beautiful evening under the moonlight, surrounded by the music, in the rainforest, far from civilization and in between people who knows to laugh and entertain their selves with simple things. “What is happiness my love….” (que e felicidade meu amor)