18 November 2007

The word jungle originates from a Sanskrit word jangala, meaning "desert". In many languages of the Indian subcontinent, including Indian English, it is generally used to refer to any wild, untended or uncultivated land, including forest, scrub, or desert landscapes. A city can sometimes be referred to as a concrete jungle. It is usually associated with a dense forest with a hot climate, such as a tropical rainforest. Jungles are vital to sustaining the ecosystems of the Earth as we know it. An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals and micro-organisms in an area functioning together with all the non-living physical factors of the environment. About 40% of all species live in jungle environments. 6% of the world’s surface consists of jungles. The Jungle can be beautiful, enchanting, challenging and at times a very dangerous place. Your experiences will sometimes vary depending on what Jungles you are in.

Not all regions called "jungles" would qualify as "rain forests" because many would apply "jungle" to the forests of northern Thailand or southern Guangdong in China: but scientifically, these are "monsoon forests" or "tropical deciduous forests" but not "rain forests". Tropical rain forests are called the "jewels of the earth", and the "world’s largest pharmacy" because of the large amount of natural medicines discovered there. Most rainforests receive large amounts of rain or downpours, which can cause flooding in some areas. Ancient Indian cultures learned the ways of the Jungle as their home and its natural resources for living. The undergrowth in a jungle rainforest is restricted in many areas by the lack of sunlight at ground level. This makes it possible for people and other animals to walk through the forest. If the leaf canopy is destroyed or thinned for any reason, the ground beneath is soon colonized by a dense tangled growth of vines, shrubs and small trees called jungle Some areas of the jungle forest can grow so thick and fast that it is necessary to use a machete or chain saw to cut through, making a new path.

Soldiers who served in the jungles worldwide were exposed to nature's secrets and dangers, and everything from insects to the enemy at hand. Numerous soldiers would lose their way and get lost or fall into the animal kingdom as prey or enemy hands. 

Killer bees can be seen everywhere as most ants can. The chances of being bit by an ant are greater than any attack by killer bees. It is a great idea to always wear long-sleeve shirts, face-netting and to insure that your boots are bloused. Perfumes and other colognes may attract pests and dangerous insects, so you might consider staying a tad bit dirty and sweaty.

Jungles are abundant with wildlife and insects, from the Jaguar and Leopard to the Army ants and killer bees that also make the jungle their home. Some jungles have many diseases that are caused by insect bites. Today and for some years now, the rainforests have been dangerously reduced by mankind. The demand for paper, medicines, diamonds, minerals, and other materials has literally destroyed major parts of most forests. These actions have thrown most ecosystems out of whack, causing chaos throughout village communities, making old hunting areas more distant or non-existent for the hunter. Mankind has caused the wildlife to move and live in smaller feeding areas of the land. The Jungle today is not an easy place for anyone or anything to survive in anymore.

The Jungles have provided numerous scientists of all fields a world of newly found discoveries, new animal and bird species, medicines, hope and adventure. Most people, insects and animals sleep through the miserable heat indexes during the day, only to explore or hunt at night. At night, the eyes of the Jungle are quietly watching you as a possible predator threat, or something to eat. The nights provide some protection for many smaller animals like rodents and insects that move around amongst their larger predators. The rivers may contain blood-sucking leeches or the dreaded Parana fish. Some creatures have the ability for night vision and that they can see the predator or prey before they can see them. Numerous military units from the world over train in jungle terrain for survival skills and training that no other place on earth can provide. There are many beautiful things to see in a jungle, magnificent breath-taking waterfalls, caves or caverns, colorful creatures, plants and flowers. Before anyone decides taking a vacation to a jungle rainforest, consider finding a knowledgeable guide who knows the way of the jungle and who can provide emergency services if something goes wrong, have proper clothing, sleep netting, iodine tablets, other protective equipment and a pocket knife, remember one thing when visiting any jungle ... you are the newbie or the guest, never forget that. The wildlife and native people there are the hosts.


Jim Heitmeyer . Author . Writer . Graphic Designer

Tags: Jungle Bush Rain_Forest

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I sit in remembrance of that one important day
When I decided my life would be the military way
I patiently set and took a battering of tests
Striving for perfection, always giving it my best
Finally time came for me to take the oath and raise my right hand
And there among others, obscured, I did stand
Then I was off to learn soldiering first hand
And soon, in front of this bear of a man, I did stand
He put us into a group and told us which way to turn
How to move as a group, he said that we would surely learn
Assigning us to rooms, filled with seven others
Telling us to get along and consider each brothers
In the dark of the morning we were made to wake
How much of this can one person be expected to take
To the exercise field we would go for physical training
Returning, after time, with all of our muscles aching
Then it is off to the Mess Hall, they make sure you are fed
Eating some of this food, pounds you could surely shed
Off you would go to the rifle and grenade range
With all the equipment you surely feel strange
Train, train, train the whole day through
Then right back the next day and do it again too
Some, among us would crack, and beg to be sent home
As this life was not for all, but for the rest, the end would come
Finally the training is over, "YES", it is done
We had survived eight long weeks of what they called fun.

Submitted by [J] 02 JAN.08

Tags: Soldier Remembrance Poetry

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Tags: Soldiers Veterans PTSD

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