Adventure Costa Rica

The last few days in Costa Rica have been incredible. Adventure at every turn, with each successive thing seemingly more grand that the previous. Firstly, I finally was able to access my money that had been sent down, which has made life a whole lot easier and much more relaxed, though it was good to see how far I could go on that small amount of money in what is the most expensive country in Central America. So I figured that I had to splurge a little bit. By splurge I mean that I bought a delicious jar of peanut butter and a thing of jam. I know, it really is the high life. I also caved and bought some McDonald´s as well. This place really is a representation as to what is happening here is Costa Rica, there is some loss of culture for the people here. The teens would rather eat there than their own typical food. It is quite evident the westernization that is occurring here, and the effect of high amounts of wealthy tourism on the area. The country is seemingly now just the tropical playground for the North Americans and Europeans. At the same time I cannot complain all that much because it has provided me with some incredible experiences so far.
The other day, while in the cool and misty Cloud Forests of Monteverde, I had the opportunity to go for a canopy tour. This was an amazing experience that I have never felt before. We made out way up into the trees, and were outfitted with harnesses and gloves for the trek. I climbed the first tower, was latched in and stepped off the platform to fly through the trees. This was very much the case for all the trek, flying above and through the canopy, with views only a bird can every really hope to get. We were also given the chance to repel down from the tree to a Tarzan swing. The repel wasn't all that bad, it was the swing that I was most concerned with. All you did was step of this platform high in the trees with a bit of free fall and then let the rope take you: At first I wasn't sure if I could do that but decided the more I think about it the less chance there is I will do it. So I stepped up,and took the leap...and yes it was well worth it. That would have been great if that was where the day ended, but there were still a few more cables to do and the final Superman line. Superman was a feeling like no other, with your feet help up parallel with the ground, as you fly over a canyon for over a kilometer. With my arms spread wide, a stupid grin on my face, and laughing like an idiot, I came the closest I have ever to actually flying, it was a surreal feeling.
After that, Dan and I continued on, with a bit of back tracking to a national park near the Nicaraguan boarder called Rincon de la Vieja. Once we arrived we set up our tents amid a plague of bugs and readied ourselves for the next days hike. This park has been called the Central American Yellowstone, because of all the earth activity in the area. The next day we hiked, and hiked, and hiked some more up through the jungle still we broke through to a bit of a clearing. But the hiking continued and we made our way up the mountain in a bit of a slippery scramble. After that we found ourselves on a knife edge ridge that provided some incredible views and the feeling like you were on top of the world. Again, if only that was where it ended. We made a bit of a drop down the side of this mountain, to an active volcano crater. This massive bowl filled with boiling water and the smell of sulfur was all to ourselves for a bit once some other tourists left. Incredible. Not to mention we could get as close to the edge if we wanted to, not a fence or safety rope to be seen. I guess this is Central America after all.
Once we made our way back to the bottom we were able to make our way around a small loop that you can hike. This area was filled with bubbling mud pits, hot springs, and gas spraying from the ground. It was amazing for me to experience cause I have never seen something like that. We continued on over to the other park entrance so that we could go and see the hot springs there, and camp for the night. Though very tired we made our way into the jungle with our head lamps on for a bit of a night hike to the hot springs, and was it worth. It was so nice to just soak in the warm water, and let the body relax. Smelling of sulfur and a fair bit tired, I slept incredibly.
And then today...I went kayaking in Costa Rica. It did not disappoint me in the least. We signed up for the class II and III trip which the guides reassured me that they were fine and that I would have no problem with them. Tranquillo. A bit apprehensive and a lot excited Dan and I made our way down the rocky Rio Balsa. It was such a good time and one of my dreams for the trip which I am so glad that I got to do. It was a good few hours of continuous rapid that were such a thrill and made for excitement from top to bottom. Only once did I have to swim and that was in part to my lacking judgment and part to a raft. I was trying to decide if I was going to leave the thin eddy and move on. I hesitated and was pulled under a raft that was in the way. A rocky ride down and a few scratch and dents more, but came out the other side of it all good and ready for more.
Costa Rica has been a wild ride so far and in the next few days we are going to make our way over to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica which is supposed to have a totally different cultural feel.
I am excited for what the next bit of time hold for me as we press on into the unknown and experience life along the way.

Bye for now

Mike

The Costa Rican Road and Money Woes

Costa Rica has been the next step of the journey. When I finished the last post, I was in Tamarindo on the northern part of the Nicoya Peninsula. That was an interesting place for me. It was quite beautiful there but had obviously been over run by tourism and there was really no local flavour to the place. It was basically Florida, in Costa Rica. It was also a bit of a stressful time for me there as well because apparently somewhere between Nicaragua and Tamarindo I lost my debit card, and didnt know where it may be. However, I did have my credit card, and thinking that would be fine it eased my mind for a bit until I needed to take out money. The option for me to cash advance was not put on my card so I couldn't take out money, and the supply that I had was quickly running down. So a few calls and stressful hours after that there was a Money Gram set up so that I could receive some money from my parents until I could get my debit card replaced. This happened on a Saturday and so the chance to take out money with the money gram would have to wait until Monday, and I was seriously low on cash. So extreme budgeting came into effect, which is incredibly difficult in a place like Costa Rica with prices very similar to Canada. Pushing my ability to be cheap and eat some less than spectacular meals, I waited till Monday. Then came a series of trips to different banks to try and access the money that had been wired down. One bank the system was down but I was referred to another. Well the next one didn't do money grams at all, but they know another that did. Turns out that one didn't do it either, so it turned into running around town trying to figure this out and getting more and more frustrated as the time went on, cause by now I have $0 in my possession. Thankfully Kale lent me some cash so that I could keep traveling, which was huge and really made my day and week for that matter. A good friend who stepped in for me and helped out when it was really needed.
So the past week has been the struggle to access this money that is down here but floating in some cyber bank of inaccessibility, which is going to be my next challenge. I however was able to Western Union myself some money today so that should be a big help till I get to Panama City and hopefully can get my debit card replaced and sent there. Oh the joys of traveling.
Other than that the time has been great. As I said in the last post, I am now traveling with an Australian named Dan Grec (http://dangrec.com/) which has been great. We continued our way down the Nicoya, stopping at some beautiful city's and just relaxing and enjoying the beach and some of the most beautiful places that this tropical paradise has to offer. Stopping in Samara, we were able to watch Avatar on some community center´s wall, enjoying some Cola and popcorn. Continuing on, even though we could have stayed there much longer, we went to Mal Pais and Santa Teresa. This was a quaint little surf town with some of the biggest and strongest waves I have ever felt. After that we moved onto Montezuma on the southern point of the peninsula. This was a chilled out Rasta town, with some of the most beautiful series of three waterfalls I have ever seen. We were able to scale the side of a hill to access the waterfalls at the top, and do some jumping. I know many of you who know me wont believe this but there was a 10m waterfall at the top, and yes, I jumped it after some hesitation and second guessing about 56 times. Well worth it and a huge confidence booster for me.
After that we moved back to the mainland after a neat ferry crossing. Now we are located in Monteverde in the Costa Rican Cloud forests. Stunningly beautiful and refreshingly cool change in temperature from the oppressive and humid heat of the coast. Today we went of a series of hikes which was great fun and had the chance to see yet another waterfall. This one was arguably more beautiful but we went able to jump from it. In total it was 90m top to bottom with some real cold water at the bottom, I tested that out, trust me its cold.
Tomorrow we are going to go and do a canopy tour in the Cloud Forest which should be pretty wild. This one is the biggest and longest in Costa Rica, with a 1km superman line...I'm going to fly. I will definitely let you know how that goes.
I am continuing to enjoy my trip and have some incredible adventures along the way. I hope that you have enjoyed the update, and I'm sorry that this was a bit of a poorly written piece. I will try to do better for you next time and be a bit more descriptive and exciting.
The road continues...

Bye for now

Mike