Down Memory Lane..

Picture of us taken in Idapadi..

That really was one beautiful drive!

-Meena Venkataraman

Costa Rica...

Checked my last night and noticed that the flight is only at 7:00 PM in the evening. that leaves me with an entire day and nothing to do..
I had already said my good byes last night... and was not prepared for this extra time suspended between the closure of a farewell and the start of the next phase.
I wake up early like i have every morning here.. am up with the sun and stand in the little balcony sipping my tea watching the light fall over the little village behind it ..
The wind blows and its lovely here..
I will miss this place- The morning Sun, The delicious Spanish accents :)..
The hotel really is a piece of art. I don't think i could ever afford to stay in a place like this if I were holidaying by myself..
I order breakfast.. For the last time I'll get to look at the menu .. Look a all the choices ..Debate on what to order and at the end of it all order the same thing :)
All my bags are packed am ready to go....Wait for 'Fire and Rain' to stop playing and pack my laptop too. I like to travel Light... Say my good byes and leave to the airport early..
This one week has been out of a fairy tale.. Have had the opportunity to live my own travel show. I felt like I had wings...Nothing can match the heady feeling of being free..
I will miss this place..! :)
love you Costa Rica.. Muaaaaaaah!..
the next time I visit South America it will be Chile!
-Meena Venkataraman

Costa Rica..

Breakfasting , with a view of the Pacific in a distance..

The tour Brochure says - 'The best of the Pacific'. Costa Rica has 2 coasts - the Pacific and the Caribbean. ..
And today am going to be seeing the Pacific.
Our group for today is small. Six in all with the guide and the guy who is driving.

Typical Costarican Breakfast

We leave San Jos'e at around 7:00 AM. And we stop at this place at the way side. You can see the coast from up here, A faint line on the horizon...
Typical Costa Rican Breakfast consists of fried rice and beans - called 'Gallo Pinto', Eggs, Cheese, Plantain fried and Sweetened and Coffee....



The route we take is supposed to have been in use by the Spanish since 1606. Our first stop is at the Tarcoles river. This place is supposed to be teeming with crocodiles. I am told that National Geographic put the estimate at 25 crocs per SQ Km

Cruising along the Tarcoles River..

We take a boat. The person maneuvering the boat - Jason is supposed to know the river like the back of his hand..

The Bait..

He stops and with bait in his hand he gets out.. I thought they were just joking when they said they would feed crocodiles in the wild. At least I have never seen anything like this before..

The Crocodile Cometh..

He was immediately approached by one croc. Her name is supposed to be Monica. She is a 40 year old female. For easy identification the crocs have names like Osama , Hugo chavez, bill Clinton and the like..

Closer..

The croc drew closer. It was huge..

And Closer..

This was the scariest part , when it reared its head up and ate the fish..

Contented after the meal..She swam away. Like it was everyday business :)

Got to see some birds on the way. Pelicans, Osprey ..

Pelicans..

Closer Shot of Pelicans sitting amongst the Branches..

They let me sit right upfront. It was great cruising along the river with the wind on my face...
You can see the ocean in the distance.

We get off. There's a strip of sans separating the river from the sea. The river joins the Sea around this strip. So This is like a little beach.

Painted Stork walks along the shore..

Its beautiful here..

So what did Red say in The Shawshank Redemption.. "RED: I find I am so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it is the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain... I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope. "

We get back into the boat and visit the mangroves.

this place is teeming with crabs..

Really Pretty. Ages since I've been to a beach.Used to go often in Chennai.
Walked by the shore all the way till then end and came back..
-Meena Venkataraman

Costa Rica...

Visited the Turubari National Park. 595 Acers of Tropical rain forest preserved...


'Canopy' is a famous Costa Rican Activity. It involves being suspended by Pulleys and going through the rain forest from one Tree top to another. The longest lines is about 700 metres. Here I am all strapped up and good to go..

You can see the canopy line to your left . That's how high it is

Here I go..

The second activity was something called as the sensational cable. Its a little scary because you are suspended through the length of your body and you slide down suspended by a pulley.

You travel 1200 ms this way and it takes about 45 seconds. Its scary before you take off. Once you do its a wonderful feeling. Feel like a bird.. and you really do get a bird's eye view.

Am Off..

We had lunch there. The group I travelled with today was very interesting. There was this little kid who would volunteer first for any activity. Her Dad had no other option but to follow. Though vexed he was really proud and was bragging about how his daughter was fearless. He went on to say how in his youth he had served in the army and how terrible it was because you cant get out once you are in.  Wit and Sarcasm are an explosive combination ! :)

Then there was this couple who stay in Costa Rica who were also touring with us. And the lady fainted because of the sun. She was being treated for dehydration and this guy started taking pictures.. :D.. Apparently he wanted to remember it all.. :D:D .. I found it so funny..People do strange things when in love I guess!

We were back by 6:00. Traffic here is just as bad as it is in India.

Meena Venkataraman