March 31, 2008

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  Boycott The Olympics

  
  

  With all human rights abuses the autocratic Communist regime inflict in China, and with the recent events in Tibet attracting global attention, who in their right mind would want to participate or attend the Olympics? Sadly, China’s economic boom has rendered impotent any country’s political will to stage a serious protest for fear of losing trade.

  
  

  

  
  

  In this age of corporate globalisation, money talks. Big time. But we, the individual, can still do our part – by not attending any of the events as spectators or watching it on TV.

  
  

  If you have a moral compass, boycott the Olympics!

  
  

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  San José, Costa Rica Trip

  
  

  Tuesday 4th March 2008

  
  

  Outside the city of San José lies regions of spectacular and breathtaking scenery lined with lush vegetation and wildlife inhabiting among dense rainforest. Not to mention coffee plantations, strawberry farms, adrenaline-pumping activites such as white water rafting and canopying. Unless one can speak fluent Spanish and know their way around by car, it is recommended to go on a tour. So I’d embarked on the Highlights Tour, taking in five attractions in one day. Considering I’d only had just over two days remaining, it was ideal.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  The pick-up from my hotel was at 6.15am and after collecting seven more tourists, the first stop was a coffee plantation.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  Breakfast was to be consumed at the Siempre Verde B&B which is quietly located in a coffee plantation. During the journey there, the bilingual guide explained the harvesting, roasting, processing and exporting of Costa Rican coffee beans. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Coffee connoisseurship is not one of my attritbutes but the coffee I’d drank at the plantation was the best I’d ever tasted. Costa Ricans mix their coffee with warm milk.  

  
  

  
  

  
  

   Souvenirs on sale at the B&B

  
  

  
  Next stop was the Poás Volcano National Park to see one of the still active and largest craters in the world. The Park is situated 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) high so it was fairly cold but stroding in a t-shirt even at such high altitude kept me warm.  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  One of many plants in a primeval cloud forest on the trail to the crater.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Crater of Poás Volcano steaming with the aroma of sulphur from the lagoon at its centre.

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  The guide allocated 45 minutes for the group to spend at the view point but there was another trail heading upwards to Botos Lagoon. According to the sign, the walk would require a duration of an estimated 30 minutes. So I’d walked. Very quickly.  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  I’d ran back down to rejoin my group delaying the tour by fifthteen minutes. At least I’d got to see Botos Lagoon. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  In the background of this picture is another active volcano. I don’t recall the name but I think it might be the Arenal Volcano which spews ash and lava and houses hot springs at the base. Arenal Volcano is definitely added to my list to see for a return visit to Costa Rica.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  A stop at a souvenir store where we were treated to samples of local creamy coffee liqueur (delicious), fruity sweet white wine and soury sweet red wine.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  La Paz waterfall

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Costa Rica is home to gigantic leaves. This particular plant is also coined by the locals as ”poor people’s umbrella”. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Souvenir vendors by the La Paz waterfall.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Daughter of one of the vendors chilling out on the bonnet of a car.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Further uphill on a lookout point, hummingbirds were suppose to rest and feed on bananas. One flew away just as we’d arrived but this tarantula with one bad leg greeted us instead.

  
  

  
  The next destination was to the Selva Verde Lodge for lunch, located in a tropical rainforest teeming with wildlife…if you can find them.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  A termite’s nest. Apparently, termites are a good source of protein. The guide offered one to sample and an American tourist duly obliged. His verdict? “Chewy.”

  
  

  
  

  
  

  The guide spotted this reptile lurking behind a batch of leaves.

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  A turtle. This is where I’d wished I had a lens with a focal length of 300mm. One serious photographer I’d spotted here had a lens the length of my arm attached to his camera.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  A colourful but poisonous toad – emanates toxins on its skin when it feels threatened so don’t touch!  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Entrance to the hanging bridge.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Walking along the hanging bridge

  
  

  
  

  
  

  White water rafting down the river

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Locals label this reptilian creature “Jesus lizard” because of its ability to run on water.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Cruising down the Sarapiqui Jungle River

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Another cruise boat with tourists

  
  

  
  

  
  

  A local fishing

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Bird marking its territory by stretching its wings

  
  

  
  

  
  

  A line of small bats – when they feel threatened, the line would swing back and forth on the tree to mimic movement of a branch. I’d had the pleasure to witness such survival instincts.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Bird waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting fish

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Reptile sunbathing

  
  

  
  By the time I’d returned to my hotel, it was past 6pm and I needed a drink. At the bar, I’d made a new friend by name of Anesha. He’s Sri Lankan by origin and had lived in London for a few years before relocating to L.A. After dinner at the hotel, I’d accompanied him to a bar downtown. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  It was there that Anesha ended up drooling over the barmaid. She’d possessed the endearing habit of addressing all the men at the bar “baby”. Anesha tipped her generously to ensure she would pose for a photograph which he’d later emailed to me. As Anesha can speak Spanish he’d acted as my personal interpreter. It was a fun night.

  
  

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  No Joke But Try This

  
  

  1. Go to the following site: http://www.tatuagemdaboa.com.br/
  
  2. Write your first name in the 1st line (or any name).
  
  3. Write your family name in the 2nd line (or any name). No need to write your email address.
  
  4. Press the Visualizar bar.

  
  

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  Buddhist Chihuahua

  
  

   
  
  

  
  

   

  • 10:18 am
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