Costa Rica

Highlights

1. Animals, animals, animals. Tree frog, toucans, funnel spider, tarantula, sloths, leaf cutter ants, snakes, mamut, coatis, quetzal, owl, hummingbirds, iguanas, howler monkeys, capuchin monkins, squirrel monkeys, racoons, agouti, crabs, fish, alligator, farm animals, humans. yay
2. Whitewater rafting in the most front seat without falling out of the raft and without shivering from cold
3. Sweet fresh pineapples, and bananas, watermelons, papayas
4. Fresh-squeezed orange juice
5. View of the volcano in the tent at the 1968 Arenal lava trailhead
6. hitchhiking
7. Casados! and gallo pinto + huevos for breakfast
8. Guanabana juice
9. Agua dulce
10. Pizza and salad at Rancho Margot
11. The whole Rancho Margot concept, that one can be self-sufficient by growing trees, veggies, keeping animals, composting, generating electricity from streams, and still have all the luxuries a decent hotel/ resort have
12. Heiner from the lovely Monteverde Villa Lodge who didn't speak as much English as we would like but tries so hard and was so friendly
13. Vehicles that have no problems going over unpaved roads
14. The fun family on the night tour with us and the huge family on the canopy tour with us. I like how the stranger barrier breaks down after being on a tour together
15. Ziplining. The zipline was already long and fun and then there was the rappel aka fireman pole/ rope (super scary) and Tarzan swing (super fun) and Superman (cool experience)
16. Swings for chairs at Taco Bar in Jaco
17. Beautiful sunsets over the Pacific
18. Surfing.. or an attempt to
19. Pacific ocean
20. Setting off fireworks. Yippee! More fun if they were the kind that explodes in the air
21. Sleeping in every bus/ van ride
22. Friendly Ticos
23. Black dog that first followed us then guided us into town
24. A country that's so rich in life, in plants, animals, people
25. Escape from real life =)

Forgettable moments

1. Too much time in hotels watching old movies/ CSI/ 30 Rock
2. Spending too much on tour guides.. especially the volcano hike on a rainy day and the Manuel Antonio guide
3. Insect bites
4. Some random motel that we stayed in cos it's cheap in Fortuna that had ants on the wall and air con that's too cold and rooster at 4 in the morning
5. Mud, spending so much energy trying to avoid sinking
6. Long long bus rides, especially the one from Quepos to San Jose
7. Sleeping over in a cold airport