b'Football on the beach Copacabana beach, Rio de JaneiroMy other favourite dish is feijoada, a classic black bean stew with pulled pork. My Brazilian friends recommended the Casa da Feijoada restaurant in Ipanema, and it was everything I had imagineda mealto remember. I love everything about Brazilian cuisine, from the alcohol to the food served at every meal. Ive travelled to many places and eaten a variety of cuisines, but Brazilian cuisine holds a special place in my heart (and stomach!).Leaving bustling Rio, I flew to Manaus, gateway to the Amazon Brazilian-style feijoada rainforesta complete change of pace from the city. Early the next morning, I took a speedboat, bus, and then another speedboat to reach Juma Lodge in the jungle. Along the way, we passed the meeting of the rivers, the confluence of the Solimes and Negro rivers, where the Amazon river forms. Its a unique phenomenon, as the two rivers are of different colours and dont merge for several miles.Juma Lodge sits on the Juma River (tributary of the Rio Negro) and is black due to high acidity and decaying vegetation. The hotels architecture is spectacular. It has 20-odd bungalows and is built from locally sourced, sustainable materials on very high stilts at treetop level, allowing the structure to withstand seasonal flooding. I visited Samuel at Maracana Stadium PHOTOS: THIAGO ROCHA ON UNSPLASH (BEACH FOOTBALL), SAMUEL HOLGUIN (STADIUM)during the dry season, so the river was low. The remoteness of the Amazon was awe-inspiring, and I quickly got used to the limited Wi-Fi access and zero phone connectivity. I stayed in one of the panoramic view bungalows, which had a wraparound balcony offering breathtaking views of the Juma River, an outdoor shower, and all the amenities I could want.The Amazon is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from80-85F all year long. Because of the rivers composition, luckily, there are no mosquitoes in these parts. You dont see a lot of animals, mainly because the jungle is too dense and thick. However, I did get to see lots 29 DFilm 49 of birds, insects, butterflies, some monkeys, and plenty of caymans 20during day and night boat safaris and hikes into the forest. The river also has pink dolphins, but I didnt see them. I went piranha fishing one afternoon, and also had the chance to jump and swim in the river(not near the piranhas, of course).As we traveled up and down the river, I was spellbound by the immensity of it all. One morning, I watched the sunrise over the Amazon from an observation tower 30 metres above ground. The birds singing and chirping were almost deafening. Nighttime is fantastic too. The air is crystal clear, and I got to watch a full moon that looked 32991 bigger than Id ever seen it. The pure, raw experience and sheer scale of the Amazon jungle made this a truly unforgettable tripa once-in-a-lifetime experience, if there ever was one. hayesandjarvis.co.uk/brazilTRUE VOYAGES \x1a29'