Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Our Other Blogs!
Make sure to visit Andrew Linker's blog as he and Milan Salva continue their travels through South America.
Also be sure to check out my new blog at http://hangdryonly.blogspot.com/
To find us on Facebook:
Andrew
Callie
Milan
Chris
Lawson
Also be sure to check out my new blog at http://hangdryonly.blogspot.com/
To find us on Facebook:
Andrew
Callie
Milan
Chris
Lawson
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Out of Monteverde- Leaving friends behind
Where: Hostel Pangea
Music: Some unknown Reggae and Hiphop
As always, more pictures to come tomorrow....
Today I left Monteverde with Ran, his two kids Rian and Jackson, and Rian´s friend Liam. We made the 4.5 hour bus ride to San Jose in 2.5 hours riding in Ran´s Cabover Bongo. The original plan was for Ran, his kids, and I to goto the Monster truck show, "Monster Jam" today in San Jose, but last night while hanging out Ran called and told me about the son of a close family friend whose father promised to take him to the show but flaked and forgot to buy tickets. The show would´ve been awesome and I´m sure we would´ve had a great time but thinking back to the feelings I had at my first Monster Truck show, there´s no way I would want to do anything other than give my ticket to Liam. Ran told me Liam was afraid to goto school on Monday, the day he would´ve been coming back from San Jose, because all of his friends would think he was a liar for saying he was going to the show (getting to leave the mountain for the sole purpose of going to a show like that isnt common).
So here I am in Hostel Pangea in San Jose hanging out and enjoying the reggae on the soundsystem. Although pricey, the hostel has a great atmosphere, clean facilities, great service, and fast computers. It definitely gets my vote for a someone needing to spend a night in San Jose.
Tonight I´m meeting up with Ran and kids for dinner and a final farewell.
Leaving my old friends and new ones in Monteverde is the hardest part of going home. It was great to be able to spend time with my friends Diego, Allen, Eduardo, Perro, Monkey, and everyone else. Living at the hostel allowed me to hangout with them almost daily while they were working. The friendships we developed, I feel, will be lifelong. I´m going to miss especially, Diego. I wasn´t able to say goodbye to him which was a real disappointment. He was visiting his family in San Ramon and didn´t know I would be leaving so soon. He´s got an amazing heart for people and may be the most geniune person I´ve ever met.
The generosity of Ran and his Family and Shannon (his sister and co-owner of the hostel) was more than I could ever deserve and I´m more grateful than I know how to express to them.
Its difficult becoming part of such an awesome community, to the point where people think you´re a local and then having to leave it all behind. I suppose its not something I absolutely had to do but my responsibilities back at home have been calling and need to be taken care of before I can spend any more time out of the country.
I have seriously considered living in Monteverde though don´t see myself being completely happy there without my dog. I think the potential for building a business in Monteverde is excellent and if I end up coming back to stay I would most likely find a niche which needs filling, and fill it. There is a great need for technical support for small businesses and locals. The most reliable help comes from San Jose and isn´t practical for quick fixes. The major drawback to running a business in the town is that the average pay per hour is roughly $2, and while the cost of living is much lower, $16 dollars a day, $80 a week, $320 a month hardly makes life comfortable.
I´m tentatively coming back for Ran´s birthday and the 5th anniversary of their hostel La Pension Santa Elena in November.
Music: Some unknown Reggae and Hiphop
As always, more pictures to come tomorrow....
Today I left Monteverde with Ran, his two kids Rian and Jackson, and Rian´s friend Liam. We made the 4.5 hour bus ride to San Jose in 2.5 hours riding in Ran´s Cabover Bongo. The original plan was for Ran, his kids, and I to goto the Monster truck show, "Monster Jam" today in San Jose, but last night while hanging out Ran called and told me about the son of a close family friend whose father promised to take him to the show but flaked and forgot to buy tickets. The show would´ve been awesome and I´m sure we would´ve had a great time but thinking back to the feelings I had at my first Monster Truck show, there´s no way I would want to do anything other than give my ticket to Liam. Ran told me Liam was afraid to goto school on Monday, the day he would´ve been coming back from San Jose, because all of his friends would think he was a liar for saying he was going to the show (getting to leave the mountain for the sole purpose of going to a show like that isnt common).
So here I am in Hostel Pangea in San Jose hanging out and enjoying the reggae on the soundsystem. Although pricey, the hostel has a great atmosphere, clean facilities, great service, and fast computers. It definitely gets my vote for a someone needing to spend a night in San Jose.
Tonight I´m meeting up with Ran and kids for dinner and a final farewell.
Leaving my old friends and new ones in Monteverde is the hardest part of going home. It was great to be able to spend time with my friends Diego, Allen, Eduardo, Perro, Monkey, and everyone else. Living at the hostel allowed me to hangout with them almost daily while they were working. The friendships we developed, I feel, will be lifelong. I´m going to miss especially, Diego. I wasn´t able to say goodbye to him which was a real disappointment. He was visiting his family in San Ramon and didn´t know I would be leaving so soon. He´s got an amazing heart for people and may be the most geniune person I´ve ever met.
The generosity of Ran and his Family and Shannon (his sister and co-owner of the hostel) was more than I could ever deserve and I´m more grateful than I know how to express to them.
Its difficult becoming part of such an awesome community, to the point where people think you´re a local and then having to leave it all behind. I suppose its not something I absolutely had to do but my responsibilities back at home have been calling and need to be taken care of before I can spend any more time out of the country.
I have seriously considered living in Monteverde though don´t see myself being completely happy there without my dog. I think the potential for building a business in Monteverde is excellent and if I end up coming back to stay I would most likely find a niche which needs filling, and fill it. There is a great need for technical support for small businesses and locals. The most reliable help comes from San Jose and isn´t practical for quick fixes. The major drawback to running a business in the town is that the average pay per hour is roughly $2, and while the cost of living is much lower, $16 dollars a day, $80 a week, $320 a month hardly makes life comfortable.
I´m tentatively coming back for Ran´s birthday and the 5th anniversary of their hostel La Pension Santa Elena in November.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Calling the Mountain Home
If there was ever a time to write about something, the last few months meet the criteria. I cant say I haven't had time to sit down and write, I just find myself beginning a post and getting caught up in other thoughts.
I've been bumming around Monteverde for nearly a month, spending time with old friends, making new ones, and entertaining the idea of staying for another month or more. Tomorrow I ride down to the nearest Customs Office in Puntaranes to fill out paperwork releasing my interest in the bike, completing the sale. Its strange to imagine myself without my wheels after coming so far and having depended on them for so long, but it's necessary that I sell them to make it home or continue traveling.
...my computer has crashed now four times in a row. Funny how something like that happens when you finally get the motivation to write!
I've been bumming around Monteverde for nearly a month, spending time with old friends, making new ones, and entertaining the idea of staying for another month or more. Tomorrow I ride down to the nearest Customs Office in Puntaranes to fill out paperwork releasing my interest in the bike, completing the sale. Its strange to imagine myself without my wheels after coming so far and having depended on them for so long, but it's necessary that I sell them to make it home or continue traveling.
...my computer has crashed now four times in a row. Funny how something like that happens when you finally get the motivation to write!
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