Hello!
Yes, the photo on the left is NOT from Costa Rica. It’s from Sandat Bali in Ubud. But it’s the same plan for the same reason. Take a break. Rest! Recharge and do other things. Perfect.
Tomorrow is a travel day. Rest, eat, recharge, pack, organize and such. I’ve rested my knee and feel ready to go!
For a good night of sleep, space to open up my pack and reorganize, I moved from the dorm to a private room. They had one left! Nice!
Highlights!
I’m often asked what is the favorite place I’ve traveled. What is a place I’d go back to? My answer is “it depends on what my purpose is”? There are favorite places for nature! Sumatra, Borneo, Peru Amazon, Colorado Rockies, Costa Rica.
Favorite places for food? India. Thailand! Vietnam! Tulum for gelato! Mexico for beer and food. Laos for French pastries…Vietnam does that well too!
Beaches? Ko Samet Thailand! La Bahia Concepcion in Baja California. Mui Ne Vietam. Parts of Florida North of Tampa. Sanibel Island as well. Blue Lagoon Beach Bali.
The list goes on!
My favorite part of travel is always having cool connections with travelers. Today alone, I’ve talked with people from Wales, Boston, Australia, Denmark, Nederlands, Costa Rica, UK and more. Rich, personal invigorating and inspiring connections. That is my favorite part of travel regardless of what country I’m traveling in. It is literally food for my Soul!
My friend Judy Sabah and I had a conversation about conversation years ago. One thing she learned and was contemplating from her coaching training had to do with “third” person conversation.
First person communication is “I” oriented. Personal. Real. Something I am aware of, contemplating, have experienced, I am moving toward in my life, something real that I have experienced!
Third person conversation is about …they….them….that…those and such. It is impersonal and difficult to connect with? It takes people away from each other rather than closer together!
I began noticing when I would engage in third person conversation in an effort to connect. But those conversations feel empty and shallow to me! It’s “blah, blah, blah, blah” conversation (Thank you Wendy!)
Some Native American elders, when they began sharing their information and oral tradition with caucasion audiences, referred to them as “chatterboxes”. “Always talking, never saying very much.”
Walking back from the reserve yesterday, I stopped at a restaurant in the forest to have a coffee and meet a shuttle. Eight tourist from the US were sitting at one table. Talking loudly! About football. Politics. Stuff! Sitting in an amazing natural world, the same one I was enjoying even with the noise.
Talking “about” stuff! Today, what a wonderful series of connections I have had with new friends, local people, a man at the bakery and so forth! Yes…deep, rich real connection is literally food for my Soul!
Travel
Last time I was here, it was very difficult to get to La Fortuna from here. The bus took all day and changed three or more times. I kept asking questions and learned of a company that did it by horses. Direct! Over the mountain! Cool!
A van picked up our backpacks and headed off. Another loaded us and our daypacks and we went up the hill. We stopped where the horses were. Saddled up, and headed up and over the mountsin. It was muddy and wet and, initially, I was concerned about this small horse doing OK with my large body. Soon, I realized two things. First, the horse knew exactly what it was doing! Second, the best way I could help the horse was to simply relax, let go of tension and enjoy the ride! It was AWESOME!
Tomorrow, I bet picked up by a bus, taken to the lake, transferred to a boat, then to another bus, then dropped at my hostel! Still an adventure but a different sort!
Tiny but powerful! Amazing horse from last time!
Great start to travel!
In spite of sticker shock here, I’ve settled in and had great experiences here. I’m happy to have been able to hike so many hours and have my knee work great. I did more hiking in two days that in the past 10 months! The knee brace helped. The trekking poles helped. And going slow helped.
I walked at a pace that allowed me to keep my head and eyes up! That slowed me down and allowed me to see more birds and wildlife!
I go to La Fortuna tomorrow and have little memory of it from last time. I wasn’t there for long. The village had little to offer. I took one fantastic all day tour North to Cano Negro which was a great experience! I’ll be repeating that experience again this time. And the “village” has definitely grown. I do plan to visit the hot springs, there are several in the area. I’ll look for a night walk. And make things up from there!
Learn more about Cano Negro here: Cano Negro
Some images from here...
Video testing!
I’ll be back in a couple days. Enjoy the journey. Ask any questions you have! Ciao!