dreamcatcher14: An adventure...

Saturday, 1 November 2008

An adventure...

What a week of events....

From handling a situation of a drunken lady in tears, disorientated and acting like a 5 year old ..
at 4 in the afternoon..

To being pleasantly surprised when a travel agency comes to your doorstep to collect payment...only in Costa Rica!!..

Sipping on a latte as I listen to the stories of the students who are searching for a new life in Costa Rica.... escaping or seeking an adventure...

Smiling as I hear the weather report in London on Capital FM online...whilst drying my hair in sultry hot Costa Rica...

The great feeling of accomplishment as I consult in Spanish.... ...yeah!!!!!!!!!

Seeing the carefree nature and hearing the constant giggles of a 10 year old, living by a railroad, who's only desire is for her mother to have a new kidney...

The sadness of knowing this 10 year old will soon be orphaned...

Wondering why anyone allowed a brain damaged 36 year old to live......

But excited as I book .....
a cycle tour of the old cities of Antigua, Guatemala....

So here's to my last week in Costa Rica!!!!!!!!!

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Incredible Cambodia

FCC is a great place to eat and chill..in the Visaya Spa
They were invaded by the Vietnamese and Thai
Cambodia was under the French for 100 years
Angkor Wat was the centre of the Khmer Empire in the 12th century
You can hire cars, tuk tuks and bicycles to see the temples
The People are known as Khmer
The Language is Khmer
You need a visa on arrival $20 ( need a photo) and departure tax costs $25
The Pol Pot regime was a time of genocide and suffering for the Khmer
The Pol Pot Regime 1970-1975
The capital city is Phnom Penh
ATMs galore to withdraw US dollars
Everyone uses the US dollar
The currency is Riels..5000 to the pound

Did you know...in Peru

Keep $30 for International departure tax..and $6 for every local flight!
Main Religion is Roman Catholic
Population include 45% Amerindian, 37% mestizo ( mixed with spanish), 15% white, 3% Japanese, Chinese and Black
Main languages include Spanish, Quechua , Aymara and many minor Amazonian languages
Their main exports include copper, gold, zinc, petroleum and coffee
The country is diverse from beaches in the west, mountain ranges to jungles in the east..
There is a wave of animosity towards the Spanish for their so called discoveries...but a huge sense of pride for being indigenous descendants..
The indigenous people include Quechua..do not call them Indians!
There is a huge Japanese immigrant population along its shores
They have had a Japanese President. Alberto Fujimori in 1990 till 2000.
The population is close to 28 million
The currency is nuevo sol
$1 = 3 sols

In Antigua, Guatemala...

Don´t trust the reasonable Bus rides to the airport...they may not arrive on time..and you end up taking a taxi in a panic!!!
Hence keep spare cash for that emergency taxi to the airport!
Take the city guided tour as soon as you arrive!
Visit Hotel Santo Domingo for its museum and abundant art work
Catholicism is the main religion
It´s famous for its Jade which it exports to China
Coffee is the main Export
Do not miss Lake Atitlan, Tikal, Climbing Volcan Pacaya
Lots of mosquito repellent in Tikal !!
bring something warm for the early morning starts
Casa Ovalle..beautifully decorated..in the heart of the city..reasonable..great hostesses..opposite an Internet Cafe and bakery!
keep $3 spare for their airport tax..
Be patient...transport will arrive...
Also, most places do not accept Mastercard and only Visa!!
Dollars are accepted in all shops
However, you can only withdraw quetzals from ATM ( max 2000) per day
$1 = 8 quetzals

Did you know..in Costa Rica

Most inhabitants are of mixed Spanish and indigenous blood. 1% indigenous groups, <3 % Blacks who are concentrated on the Carribean Coast and 1% Chinese. Both groups originally arrived in the 19th century to work on the railroads that transported Coffee to the coast from the highlands.
The population is approximately 5 million with 3 million living in San Jose, the capital city.
However, now there's a huge immigrant population of retired North Americans, buying up land and properties in sort after areas such as Escazu, Atenas and the Coast.
Christopher Columbus named Costa Rica which means The Rich Coast having received gold and jade as gifts upon his arrival
Catholicism is the state religion
Abortion is illegal
There is a severe lack of Sex Education and hence a high teenage pregnancy rate
Has one of the best health systems in Latin America and a life expectancy of 77yrs in 1999
Have 95% literacy rate, highest among Latin America
However, libraries are not user friendly. The librarian will retrieve the book of choice for you to read...for a couple of hours. You are unable to browse or remove it from the premises.
Don't be surprised to see long names as all take their maternal and paternal surnames eg Ernesto Tomas Alvarez Rodriguez
The roads are notorious for its pot holes so don't be surprised to swerve across the roads in the city!
You need special skills to drive in CR ..and more to cross their roads!
The No.1 export is microchips from Intel to India
Also exports banana, pineapple , flowers, medical equipment and wood ( teak)
2nd largest exporter of coffee after Ecuador
Costa Rica is one of the few countries without an Army
Mother´s Day is a National Holiday
Average cost of a meal in a restaurant is 5000 colones ( approx 5 pounds )
In the rainy season , it rains like clockwork in the afternoon and 30 degrees of sunshine in the morning. You can time your watch to the weather!
The airport tax costs $26..keep spare cash!
There are no street names or house numbers
Everyone has Post Office boxes as addresses do not exist
The address is in relation to another building or object
eg..500metros south and 20 metros west to the fig tree!!!
$1 = 550 colones
The currency ..colones is named after Christopher Columbus
Alcohol units do not exist in CR!!
Has the only Indian restaurant in Central America; Taj Mahal

Tips for Costa Rica....how to stay safe

Always wear your money belt and carry enough money for the day
Always take a taxi after dark.Do not even think about walking the streets of San Jose!
Always take the orange coloured taxis and not the blue lit taxis!
Always carry a copy of your passport with you!
Become a Skype member for free phone calls!!
Bring a Spanish Phrase Book!
Do not wear any jewellery to bring attention to yourself
Bring an umbrella and waterproof jacket!
Shops only accept $20 US maximum.
Hence its best to just withdraw colones from the ATM
Change the US dollars at the bank without commision