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.
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.
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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!! 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!
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. 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!! 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." Today was a great day. After an early 5 am wake up, we take a fantastic canoe trip through Tortuguero National Park - it is made up of so many little islands connected by natural waterways. We see Caymans, many birds, and a couple of sloths!! The sloths are super cute!! Just as our canoe trip is finishing it starts to pour buckets of water - I don't think I've been soaked so much and so quickly by rain before - and being early morning rain, it's actually a bit chilly. After arriving back at our hotel, I decide to shower and nap to warm up. Finally at 9 am I head for breakfast in the quaint village. There are two restaurants open, and of course I head to the one making fresh fruit juices and order a fresh mango, papaya, and passion fruit juice with a big plate of fried plantains - my favorite and very delicious. Fried plantains are one of life's great yet small pleasures. They are like starchy caramelized bananas and such a wonderful comfort food. As I am eating breakfast a massive wasp decides to land on my pants and crawl up them - on the outside - It is now on my private area and I am terrified (probably more so because I am allergic to stings). I slowly... very slowly get up - when I ask for help, these two European asses just back away and point and laugh... great. There are not a lot of people around... I begin to pray... and finally the bee tires and flies away... relief and I did not wet myself. I am feeling proud of myself for keeping my cool! It is still pouring buckets, and your wondering how is this a perfect day... What a long gorgeous day... After an early tropical fruits filled breakfast it was off to the island of Tortuguero on the eastern Caribbean side of Costa Rica. As we took our crowded bus out of San Jose and moved further interior and towards the east coast, we saw lush almost prehistoric looking flora with ferns and leaves the size of people, and butterflies as large as a backpack. We left our bus only to catch another very bumpy one aptly called the "Costa Rican massage," which dropped us to another waterway. Then finally we took a small boat ride, in a small motorized boat, over to Tortuguero. Tortuguero - for some reason this name reminds me off Pirates of the Caribbean, and I am really kind of hoping that the island is a secluded paradise. On the boat ride over I have high hopes for this as we see some crocodiles, and some magnificent and very colorful birds. And onwards... So last night my new friend, Eric, and I headed up to a roof top party at the Sheraton. Eric had met a DJ on our flight in, and he had given us an invite to this event where he would be the DJ; and so we went. I've always wanted to go to a roof top party. And I have to say that even though it was raining non stop, and half the event was on a non-covered side of the rooftop, it was a blast! Great views of San Jose; stellar music; good drinks. What better way to start ending my twenties than totally irresponsibly and running all over the world. Sigh... Do I really have to turn thirty; I still feel twenty-five. Eric, quite the gentleman, took me back to the hotel where my new tour group would be staying, and headed back to his new hostel. We said our goodbyes as he would be leaving for the west coast of the country the following day, and I the east, on a travel adventure tour with my tour group. |
AuthorHello! 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! Archives
June 2017
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