Joela and Alia go to the rainforest

Journey End,

Mon, 02 Nov 2015 07:32:02 +0100

Madrid, Spain

Sun, 01 Nov 2015 07:32:02 +0100

San José, Costa Rica

Sun, 28 Jun 2015 08:50:44 -0600

Monteverde, Costa Rica

Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:00 -0600

The drive from arenal to Monteverde was long and included a boat ride. George the driver from San Jose to arenal toke us to the lake and we then got off with luggage and walked down a steep incline to the boats. After an hour ride on a motor boat we then hiked up a hill - with luggage - to a waiting bus. The ride up was very scenic with lush green landscapes and windy roads. The stops at the roadside cafes were nice and one had a parrot just sat outside. We got to Monteverde and the lodge was nice. Very rustic and we unloaded luggage and Alva (women of hotel) gave us more information about the excursions. We chose our options then put bags in rooms and then went for a lunch nearby. It was chicken and beef fajitas served family style and very good. In the afternoon the others went zip lining while I rested and even in the evening they went on a night walk whilst I just napped. I think I needed the sleep. After they got back dinner was planned I didn't want to go but Alia said i should. So I did and it was a Mexican place near the hotel. I ordered chicken lasagne and ate very little but it was nice. After dinner we walked back to the hotel. In the morning a hike through the cloud forest was planned. Edgar drove us up the road to the cloud forest and we walked through. He explained what some of the mammals were, birds and we saw some which are really hard to spot and so we were lucky. The hummingbird tree was amazing. If had artificial feeders on and so lots of hummingbirds hung around. The views were great but it wasn't cloudy. In fact I felt there were more clouds in the rain forest. On the drive back we stopped at a cheese factory for ice cream which was great. The factory was started by the Quakers who moved to Costa Rica from usa to avoid army life. They then decided to make cheese. It was 11am by the time the like was done so Laura Alia Kathy and myself walked into the town. It was a fair walk and it was baking hot. We stopped at the post office coffee shop and supermarket before hiking back. Going up hill was tough and I thought I would die up there. The hike fine walk back from town not! We made it back finally and after a rest I went on a coffee cocoa and sugar tour. It was really good with son of family owners undertaking the tour. We saw sloths really close up too. The tour was good and included information on sugar cane and making moonshine. At the end I did have a coffee which they served with tacos and fresh lemonade. The coffee was my First one in three years! We got back to hotel for getting ready gif dinner out in town. We went to the treehouse which was amazing and had cocktails. The live music was also good. Afterwards Edgar said we should go to the local bar and we all did. Out of the girls I was the only one who got a drink and so that was weird. We sat for ages singing along to the bad karaoke and then Edgar kept teasing me for a dance. I said no to start with and then when we said yes he teased me back saying too late. Do kathy scorse and I danced and Edgar joined in. They were nice that they saved me. The girls all left soon after and I stayed behind with the boys. Lots more drinks were had. Lots of dancing with Edgar - and this is where memory fails me - I know he spun me round a lot, I didn't fall, we danced fit ages and then at some point we left with Edgar teasing me most of the way. It was 2am when we got in. Alia told us that the next morning as I had to knock to get her to open the door. Wow hangover in heat is horrible. I felt awful and we now had a four hour bus ride to manual Antonio. Breakfast was painful with talking that I couldn't concentrate on. But I could tell Edgar jim john and Ian were teasing me. But oh well. Alia and i were packed pretty quick which was usual for this trip. So we toke the bags downstairs and checked out. The hotel lady Alva then told us about her sons in private school for about fifteen minutes and we felt trapped. Luckily Kathy came in to check out so we left the room.

La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 04:20:00 -0600

At 12am arrive in la fortuna town which is a small town with supermarket, tourist shops and church and little else. We were given 45min to wander before lunch in the rainforest cafe. A place which is very unlike the chain restaurants. The supermarket was cute and had all the tropical fruit but no one buying any - I guess farmers markets are where the fresh items are. We bought some snacks for the hotel room and then headed to some of the other shops. Tourist stuff mainly and Alia bought a necklace and bracelet set and I got the obligatory postcards which I must remember tot write and post this time. The rainforest cafe was a menu of burritos, nachos, tacos and the Costa Rica special - which was rice and chicken. I went for a dish of fried plantain and chicken with refried beans, it was nice but need more spice to give it a kick. We also ordered some Tamilas to try. They are a corn flour with vegetables and pork inside which are then steamed. It was nice. After lunch we headed to the hotel casa lunch which is 10 minutes out of town and then as the rooms weren't ready we put the cases in an office and went back the bus for a trip to the hanging bridges, these were on the other side of the volcano. We collected Mariella on the way and she looked so young. She was wearing wellies and so I knew my trainers would be okay, I was worried when some for the group were wearing walking boots. Mariella was extremely bubbly and reminded me of Betty from ugly Betty. Maybe cos she wore braces too and was very smily. We arrived to the hanging bridges and had to pay her the $60 each - I was glad we had mainly dollars instead of colons. The tour started after a bathroom break and I was relive to see that is was paved all the way and we would be taking it slow to see things along the way and take photos. The walk/hike was amazing seeing lots of different plants and a different aspect of the rainforest. It truly was magical. Due to the rain - it had been a monsoon most of the morning - most of the animals and birds had gone into hiding. But Mariella managed to make the ant hills and ants sound fascinating. Did you know was queen ant lives for 20 years and a worker ant 6 months. But a male only 5 days as all they do is reproduce and die. When we got to the first hanging bridge I was fine - I thought I would be scare but I was okay and they really were magical hanging structures which fit in the rainforest beautifully and giving such an aspect. On the way Mariella looked into every hole, cranny for a hiding creature. But nothing could be found until she spotted a spider - no I didn't look. And then on the last hanging bridge - we saw monkeys. First it was one and then a couple more were spotted. They were getting ready for bed and were yawning away and scratching their bums. It was very cool. We then did see a yellow bird and a red bird whose name I will never remember. They were stunning and made me want to see more colourful birds. After we returned to base and after bathroom breaks. Mariella told the group to come to a tree. There was a snake on the tree it was a eyelash viper. That didn't scare me as it was quite small. The group then returned to the hotel where Edgar was waiting for us and we checked into the hotel with reminders that Alia and I would be on a chocolate tour at 10am which was near the hotel. The other girls going to Cana negro and the boys white water rafting. We walked to our room and it was basic with Alia worried about a moth in the room which then left after me shooing it out of the room with my Mac. Then all windows etc closed and a relaxing hour and shower was had - hot water YEAH. We went to the hotel restaurant for dinner, it was all American menu with steaks, burgers. I had breaded chicken with mash and veg. Alia had a salmon risotto. It was nice. But where was the Costa Rican food. They did have some on the menu but it was chicken a a rice. After dinner where I was falling asleep. - well I had been awake since 4am - we went back to the room for another early night. Tuesday morning was spent trying not to be awake. Breakfast watching hummingbirds and then a chocolate plantation tour. Valerie was an amazing guide with so much knowledge. When we got to the rainforest chocolate tour we were told that 32 students were coming so we would be waiting 10 minutes. As we had time Alia ran back to get bug spray. Valerie warned us that due to the rain the bugs were active. While waiting we got chatting to another guide who was trying out the tour to see if he would recommend to his clients. His name was Henry and he recommended to us a lot of places to see. None of which I can remember. But he was nice. After a wait Valerie decided to start as the students were so late. We saw the origins of cocoa and how it is only called chocolate after sugar is added. We saw a lot of plants along the way including a flower whose petals taste of ginger, vanilla pods and coffee beans. When we were walking through the plantation the students arrived. And the group swelled from three to thirty five. When we reached the out house Valerie demonstrated making chocolate. Whenever she needed a volunteer Alia or I were chosen plus some students. Throughout the process we got to try the product and of course it is very bitter until sugar is added. After the tour we walked back and the monsoon rains continued. We looked out at the rain and waited when Henry offered us a ride back to the hotel. So nice of him. We offered him a tip but he said no. We went straight to lunch at the hotel where Alia ordered from the kids menu. Then straight to the facial. I had a volcano mud facial which was really nice and relaxing. Afterwards I came back to the room and rested - or should I say toke a nap. We had two hours to rest before the next excursion. I love this resting business. Hot spring visit to paradis hot springs would have been amazing if I could get into the water. A combination of women's issues meant I didn't feel like that would've avoid idea but actually sitting by a pool hearing the noise of water is surprisingly calming. Weird to think about five years ago Alia would of been the one sitting on the side and now umpteen swimming lessons later she is somewhere swimming. Well I presume she is swimming and not drowning. Looks like hot springs somewhere in the world will have to be added to the ever growing bucket list. But this time norehisterone will be taken or better calendar planning!!! There are about five different pools here all of different temperatures the hottest being 41 degrees and the coldest about 37. I'm not exactly sure how that would feel different from a heated pool but I'm sure it is. I guess the person paying the heating bill noticed the difference.

Lunch at the hotel. Rain changed plans for today.

San José, Costa Rica

Sat, 20 Jun 2015 14:30:00 -0600

The plan landed 20 minutes early. Which meant no gate for us but that didn't stop every other passenger trying to get off the plan before we had come to a stop. Even the airline staff tried to get people to sit down. After what felt like an eternity we were allowed to leave the plane via a bus transfer. All the usa planes got a gate but not Iberia. Looks like America really is number 1 in central America. After queuing in immigration for hours we got a stamp on the passport and then queued for luggage. Wow that was a wait hr finally my bag arrived which gave us faith that Alias wouldn't be far behind. Then the walk outside to taxi and the heat hit us. More humidity than true heat. Just like Kerala. The waiting crowd was big with taxis for tourists and families for locals. We found our taxi and in his non english he told us to wait on a wall while more passengers came through. The others got through and then the taxi man toke alias suitcase and we followed him to the taxi minibus. After an long drive past a holiday inn, hampton inn and suites, and subway (noting could be in America) we turned into a more residential business area. After stopping at a jail looking hotel / Alia and I were told this was our stop. At least we would be safe. The hotel and clean and basic but there was air con and as we had been awake for 24 hours a jail cell would have been welcome. At six pm the intrepid group met in reception and then The group was told to go upstairs to the meeting room and details given on insurance and next of kin. - wow what will they do to us. Then after introductions, jobs, favourite fruit and expectations. Edgar then talked for ages (tour lead) but I have no idea what he said as I was fading fast. Then it is dinner time. We all walked to a local restaurant for dinner. It was like an American chain with burgers, tapas and pizza. I opted for chicken and rice. Which was like a bland Briyani but nice enough. On the walk we passed a dead bird and numerous insects. I didn't scream I just ran on past. Wow I'm growing up. The group seemed nice enough but j still don't remember anyone's name. After returning to the hotel we were reminded that the next day start was at eight so early night - something I had no problem with at all. I'm Sunday morning, After being up since 3am at 6 it was decided to get up and get ready to leave and then head to breakfast. It looks like the whole group had the same idea as we weren't the first at breakfast at 7am and after a basic breakfast of eggs, toast, sausages and hash browns, and papaya and watermelon. Edgar told us that as in la fortuna we might arrive before check in we should be ready to go to any activity we wanted to so wear trainers or walking shoes if we wanted to do a hike. I really wish he would stop saying the word hike - it was freaking me out. So we returned to the rooms and decided to wear trainers and carry water bottle etc so we would be ready to go. At 8am we loaded into a minibus for the three hour drive to la fortuna. We made two pit stops on the way for bathroom breaks and stretching of the legs, we tried some sour fruit, some other starchy vegetables and saw people eating Tamilas. And also saw a couple of farmers markets which were the best way to see the locals buying produce. During the drive Edgar talked a lot about Costa Rica and random stuff. They stopped in a few places to look for interesting wildlife but sadly no sloths were found only a big white bird with yellow crest. He also explained about the activities and how due to the rain some may not be as great as usual. I vote for hanging bridges and then as the whole group wanted to do that we booked private tour to do it that afternoon with our own tour guide Mariella.

Costa Rica

Sat, 20 Jun 2015 14:40:00 +0000