Category: Costa Rica - THE PISCEAN NOMAD

THE PISCEAN NOMAD

Gratitude

12/28/2014

The Group

This has been wonderful; a joy. All I feel is thankful, and at peace. I've begun writing and sketching again and have an outlet for my stories. I've been in and around lush nature and animals; I've lived and adventured and I've met some wonderful people.
This is our awesome group. It is awesome - you become like an eccentric family - and after two weeks its time to say goodbye. You've become friends, and now, in the day of today, you can keep in touch via facebook, emails, linked in, twitter, mail, and phone. It's actually quite incredible.
What a fantastic world.
Adventure Awaits!!

Surf and Turf

12/26/2014

It's Christmas Day, and I've got an early start at the beach with my very first surf lesson. I am nervous and excited. I get to the beach early for a quick walk and a some stretching. I hear "are you ready?" I get up and boldly go forth. I fall again and again and again - as expected. The teacher is ever patient and keeps giving me new tips. The focus of now - to find a semblance of control; or rather to become one with the ocean and in doing so both giving up and gaining controls - I think this is what Stephen Covey would call true synergy. I finally manage, once, close to the end of the lesson, a small run. Not bad. And better yet - I've discovered a new sport I could love. I've also discovered something else, it turns out; a muscle group I've never really felt before - ow ow ow....

It's now Christmas afternoon, and I've gone on a dinner boat with the group. We motor along on the rolling waves and chill with some drinks and a decent soundtrack. Soon the boat stops in a very clear patch of ocean bathed in sunlight. Within minutes I'm out snorkeling in the ocean with gorgeous tropical fish. After frolicking around it's dinner time - fresh fish in a cilantro cream sauce with rice and potatoes - deli!! After another couple of drinks we begin to witness character changes in the people around us as they begin to shed their inhibitions - some acting goofy, others a bit crazy, and other's happier or moodier than I've seen them before. Soon however, everyone is in rapture of the pink sunset that quickly steals the sun on the open ocean. Night has enveloped the sky and soon the stars will twinkle from the darkness.
Later that night, fresh warm creamy cheese cake, and good conversation cap a practically perfect day. Again I thank my lucky stars. I feel fully charged and connected to this beautiful world.

Manual Antonio National Park

12/25/2014

Croc watch

A very early start to Quepos and Manual Antonio sees me throw my bags on the bus and nap. We are awoken within a couple of hours to grab some breakfast at a local rest stop. I quickly grab a bite and then its time to nap again, as I want to be well rested for the rest of the day. We stop again, this time at a fruit stand near a bridge. We get out to stretch our legs and are told that we are also at a crocodile watch stop. I look down from the bridge, and sure enough, littering the river is a rather large group of lazy crocodiles sleeping in the sun. These ones are massive. I sketch a couple before it is time to once again board the bus.
Manual Antonio - where we are headed, is apparently a small nature reserve and national park with a gorgeous beach... And indeed it is. The beach is an amazing stretch of soft sand that is lined with rain forest - lucky us. The water is a solid 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and clear. The sun is out; and there are squirrel monkeys chattering in the trees. I don my bikini and jump into the gorgeous water. Life is great.
This evening we have a fabulous dinner as a group and have a great time together - It's Christmas Eve. Good food, good drinks, good company!

Beach in Manual Antonio

"On our way out of the park we are also lucky to spot more sloths!! I love these creatures - they are so alien to me, and the way they move is so lazy and so smooth."

Flying not Falling

12/24/2014

Zip-line

It is our last true morning in Monte Verde. Well not exactly, but we leave at a very early hour tomorrow. Caroline and I head to Orchid Restaurant for breakfast. I have been dying to try this quaint organic cafe since we arrived. I order a wonderful healthy breakfast of creamed spinach atop poached eggs and a smoothie of carrots, cucumber, and pineapple. We've arrived early and so afterwards I can chill and sketch. In about an hour I leave to go zip-lining for the first time in my life.
I am a little scared yes, but I do it. What a rush!! I am flying over the rainforest. Zipping along like a bird in flight - this is exhilarating! After finishing the last and longest zip line - over a mile long, we reach something called the Tarzan swing. Here I chicken out. Well, no... I don't chicken out. I take a look, see what I am up against, and after seeing a risk and weighing the consequences, I decide against doing it. I am not justifying fear, and obviously I am not scared of heights. I can say that I don't like the feeling of falling, which is what this is. The Tarzan swing is a harness around ones waist, a rope to hold on to, and a 40 meter free fall that then catches into a swing. When most people fall, they hang on... I don't. I am impulsive and my first true instinct would be to let go. Oh I know there is a harness to catch around my waist, but I foresee that a neck or back could snap in a painful way if I were to let go. The thing is to risk, but in a way that is safe for you, and so yes... I opt out of the swing... no regrets.

Humming Birds, Coffee, and Chocolate - oh my!!

12/23/2014

Last night after taking various modes of transportation, we arrived fairly late into the town of Monte Verde. Along the journey the scenery became more mountainous and began to remind me of the Peruvian Andes with its rolling yet impressive mountain range. We arrived in a very tranquil town and were taken up to a very quaint hotel, the Historias Lodge, where it was time to drop our bags, and crash.

This morning we woke up refreshed and headed into the cloud forest for a hike. We entered into a nature reserve, Curi-Cancha, and took a trail leading to a clearing. We spent time watching a large mango tree for signs of the Resplendent Quetzal - the national bird of Guatemala. Apparently it's a big deal to see this green bird with the long tail feathers. We watch, and wait, and wait some more. Not having seen the bird, we follow the trail to another clearing with a gorgeous viewpoint called the humming bird gardens - where we witness many humming birds of different kinds zipping around. I curiously watch the humming birds zip around drinking nectar from both from feeding stations, and from various long necked flowers - I could have stayed to watch for hours. However, we carry along the trail viewing many trees with massive trunks only to end up back in the original clearing we had come to. This time we are very lucky indeed to view the Quetzal bird with its bright yellow, red, and green plumage, and green tail feathers stretching far down. Now I understand the big deal - it's a very beautiful and very unique bird. The shy but vibrant bird hides among the branches, playing hide and seek with us, and then flies away.

We head back into the town of Monte Verde, where my favorite Irish roommate and I head up to the Tree House Cafe, a great cafe built on and in a massive tree, and where we order the casado and a couple of drinks - namely - Sex on the Tree - a great cocktail filled with fresh tropical fruit juices and a spiced rum. The casado at this restaurant is good, but doesn't quite rival the one of The Rain Forest Cafe in Fortuna.

In the afternoon - I had booked a tour on a coffee and chocolate plantation, and so if the making of these exquisite substances is your cup of fancy - read on!!

Vamos a Monte Verde

12/21/2014

It's been a lazy Sunday morning indeed. After jumping out of bed and dashing open blinds to a blindingly beautiful view of the Arenal Volcano, it is time to groom some, and then head back to The Rainforest Cafe. You must be now wondering why this place... why not else where. Well if the last post's milkshake did not convince you, may be this will... Great chill people working there, laid back atmosphere, crowded but not noisy, one of the best Casado's in town, and scrumptious baked goods; like cake. I love cake. This morning I decide to head over to the cafe, have another milkshake, and write in my journal. This time it's a more simple milkshake that is again smothered in fresh cream, and more deliciously thick chocolate sauce - it's called Temptation. After a good writing session in my journal, I decide to visit the town's church and say some prayers. Yes, I'm Muslim, but hey... a house of God is a house of God. I love churches. They are usually beautiful, cool inside on a hot day, peaceful, and a great place to reflect. I gather my thoughts, thank the gods for my good fortunes, and head back into the midday heat for a walk. I run into a fellow traveler almost right away, one who I've not seen since San Jose. She has just come from Monte Verde - our next stop - and gives me some great tips for what to do, and where to eat when we go there next. I do the same for her - as she is heading to Tortuguero next. We talk, and walk around the plaza, where someone has filled the fountain with bubbles, and then hungrily we begin to talk of food. I figure the nicest thing I can do right now, is to introduce her to The Rain Forest Cafe. We head and have wonderful Casado's - the typical Costa Rican meal - of boiled rice, fried plantains, grilled fish, the picado (curried meat and veg portion), and a small salad. I am definitely fattening up here, but there is lots of activity in Monte Verde, and It's now time to run back to the hotel, and catch a bus, a boat, another bus - because we're off to Monte Verde!! Good bye Fortuna - it's been a pleasure. Rain Forest Cafe, I do hope that we will one day meet again!

Canopy Walks and Milkshakes

12/20/2014

The area of Arenal in Costa Rica is dotted with hot-springs because of the Arenal Volcano having been active in the past, and having heated up the waters from below.

Arenal Volcano is a massive Strauss Volcano that towers over the town of Fortuna, giving it a moody and impressive back drop. Fortuna means lucky, and indeed, in 1968, the town was lucky when it missed being hit by a minor eruption.

After our gorgeous evening in the hot springs last night, today we venture into the Fortuna National Park. In the park, we both walk the towering suspension bridges that hang high above the rainforest canopy and hike to the base of the volcano. While walking the suspension bridges we see thousands of leaf cutter ants blindly taking leaf bits through the forest, in lines that would make the strictest of teachers proud. We also see and hear chattering monkeys swinging in the tall trees, and then later see some beautiful humming birds zipping around. On our hike, our guia (guide) explains to us about types of Volcanoes and tells us the history of the Arenal Volcano, and about the Volcano situation in Costa Rica. Costa Rica apparently houses many volcanoes.
After our excursion we are back in the town of Fortuna - Chill time.

Arenal Volcano

A terrifying encounter

12/19/2014

Not knowing but knowing to a degree - a hunch - it's terrifying. It's like knowing a shark you cannot see is just below the surface you are swimming in - the only question is... Is it the one in ten thousand that is really curious or perhaps looking for food?
See, in that disgusting rendition below (if you choose to read more and view further), the flesh on my chin has begun to dissolve into crusty oozing disgustingness. This is not normal at all. I would love to think it's a fungal infection like a bad pimple or a skin disorder, but the analytical part of my brain knows that this cannot be ignored. I've been dousing the thing with neat tea tree and lavender essential oils for the past couple of days, and so it technically should be getting better and at least drying out, unless its serious - and on a serious note - the lesion grows. My tour guide thinks its probably just herpes. And in the wise words of Doctor Evil - "Auh no" and I want to tell him to "zzzzzip it" and do his job. Alex, the eccentric, and all too kind wise man with whom we are staying, pulls up my tear stained face and the look on his face confirms that what is going on, on my face is indeed not normal.

Dart Frogs and Rapids

12/18/2014

Its like a little kids dreams... poison arrow dart frogs, fresh fruits, river rapids, and getting soaked - and all in one day!!

Rafting is by and large the thing to do in Sariquipi. We head out into rapids with a good guide and rafter for a morning of high adrenaline adventure and fun. We are bounced around by the rapids and of course soaking wet by the time we stop for a snack. I can honestly say that eating freshly cut fruit while soaking wet in the sunshine is one of the great joys in life - its a complete textural masterpiece for the senses; I am loving it. Our guide goes of into the bushes (probably to relieve himself as many are) and then returns hands cupped (strange) - he calls us around to see - he slowly opens his cupped hands and is holding a couple of tiny poison arrow dart frogs - these little creatures are beautiful and deadly. We see the blue jeans and army print variety of these frogs, and we learn that by eating poison ants the color of the poison arrow dart frogs becomes more vivid and their poison more powerful - very cool stuff.

We head back into the rapids and then come to a landing pad where we towel off and are taken for Costa Rican coffee and a typical lunch "casado" - Which is delicious. The "casado" lunch is a plate with white rice and plantains on one side, and which on the other side has a fresh beef stew that is full of potatoes and carrots cut up into tiny pieces - it seems curry based and is a little spicy and full of a fantastic spiced herbal flavor. There is also a spicy banana salad which is fresh, sweet, spicy, and sour - quite a treat! This is by far the best meal I've now had in Costa Rica.

Later we come back to Alex's bed and breakfast exhausted but happy and content. Time to do some laundry!!

Toucans and other flighty wonders

12/17/2014

Bird watching at breakfast

Toucan's at Alex's Bed and Breakfast

Today is a day of beautiful birds. We up and leave the secluded paradise that is Tortuguero, and head to Saraquipi National park in the interior of Costa Rica. We will be staying with a local family, at their bed and breakfast - a garden Posada (Posada Andrea Cristina). The man running the locale is eccentric, kind, knowledgeable, and very humble - his name is Alex. Breakfast is in the midst of the garden where Alex looks after us and the birds. He brings us fresh baked bread, eggs, great coffee, and of course a myriad of fresh fruit. I lazily sit and watch as he attaches some ripe bananas to an old gnarled tree and then am fascinated over the next couple of hours as gorgeous tropical birds of every color come down to feed. There are small jewel toned humming birds, and also toucans that look as though they have flown out of the National Geographic magazines of my childhood. And I think to myself "what a wonderful world."

Author

Hello! My name is Tahira Karim. I was born and raised on the Canadian prairies have been leaving and returning ever since. I absolutely love to travel. I am an observer of life and culture, and I have a passion for history and food. I am a visual artist who specializes in painting and drawing. And this blog is a jumble of my writing and thoughts on travel, culture, and food, with a bunch of personal stories thrown into the mix. Enjoy!

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