The Sanctuary

Have you ever set foot in a place and known in that very instant this is where your soul should reside.

There is a home my soul wishes to reside, where the green splendour amps up your senses and brings clarity to the beauty in this life.

It's all around in sounds, sights and feelings.

My dream home is in the Amazon Rainforest.

My dream house is beside a very large tributary of the Amazon river where the neighbouring communities are indigenous groups and local fishermen.

There really isn't a lot of open spaces, it's really in the thick of it completely dense jungle with small openings leading to small native villages.

In the dry season the river banks are so high over the tributary making the trees above seem more grandiose leaving open room for the deception that you could be in a bustling city of skyscrapers.

It does not take a moment to be brought back to the green splendour with all the sounds and abundance of energy available to the senses at all times. You are straight back in the thick of it.

After leading up the river several miles you see a larger opening on a bend and you are here at my dream house.

It's time to explore.

You set foot off the boat onto a small dock just big enough for a couple of boat's. It is installed with a number of solid floating attachments that rise and fall with the change in seasons.

As you walk off the dock and onto land you see just one narrow path leading to the house with the most incredibly vibrant green grass you have ever seen. You walk up a few steps now to a raised decking fully encircling the house, you will see this feature also upon reaching the first floor.

Entering the front door which is laced with netting for the prevention of unwanted creatures in the house. to the left there is a large open space filled with a comfortable seating area mainly composed of bean bags and hammocks hanging from the beams.

Beyond that open space is the kitchen area about a 3rd of the size of the open space before at about 4 square metres equipped with all essentials for jungle living.

Back to the right of the entrance you have a large dining table made from local vines weaved together to a remarkable strength.The whole ground floor on the outside of the windows has a local vine encompassing the whole house.

So to the back right corner of the ground floor you have a winding staircase that leads to a hall way that is shaped like a huge H. At the bottom left of the H you will find a ceremony space where i bring local indigenous shamans in to practice there work.

Apart from the ceremony space the whole first floor is dedicated to guest rooms 6 in total with the surrounding balcony decking.

On the second floor you will find the master bedroom which has its own access point from the outside. Also on this floor we have what i call the bird nest with 2 hammocks set up for incredible views over the open space leading to the river below.

We now go on outside where on the high banks of the river there is a beautiful botanical garden with such colours it has to be seen to be believed. Behind the botanical garden is an allotment of fruits and vegetables grown here and used on the property and distributed among the neighbouring communities.

This is my dream home but more importantly my dream location and environment i wish to live.

Thomas.F.Simmons