The Friend Finder Sam, you have clearly left 2008 with the most enormous of bangs and surrounded by people who have fallen in lovel with your heart. I've loved catching up on your adventures after having been away for a few days myself. You looked like you'd settled right in and had been there for years, not days! And you do sound ridiculously happy. Where to next? When do you come home?
From my side, we had an amazing Christmas with Sarah (bridesmaid) in Hermanus and her family who treated us like we were one of theirs - put to work in the kitchen immediately and teased mercilessly by her older brothers. Then we hooked up with the mad rabble and headed up to Namibia for 4 days on the Orange. Brilliant fun and a great way to see out 2008. Saw in 2009 with a healthy dose of heat rash on both my arms but a big smile in my heart.
Can't wait for you to come home. Miss you lots and lots!
Have a Merry Costa Rican Christmas! Sounds like you're having a great solo experience, Samantha. I'm glad all is well with you - I was a bit worried when you didn't show up at the Soda after checking into Gringo Pete's. We must have confused Soda's - I ended up catching the 3:15 bus to Cuidad Quesada and made it to Hotel 1915 at about 8 PM. Went to Volcan Poas all day Wednesday, but saw nothing but clouds, fog, and rain. It was cold - not even 60 degrees (15 C).
Your blog is awesome! The pics and narrative of our Earthwatch adventure are treasures for the memory. Have a great Christmas, hopefully on some warm and sunny beach. It's been snowing nearly everyday since I've been back to Wisconsin - seems all I have been doing is shoveling my driveway! I'll have to send you a wintry picture of 3 feet of snow everywhere. Don and Sandi have been having similar fun in Seattle.
Be Safe and Take Care, Brian
Not looking forward to being back! My darling Rampfanator, hope you good and happy chappy and enjoying an apparently new and revised single life... Perfect timing (but sorry at the same time...) Big hugs! By the way, if you were here you´d fall in love with the place! Just up your alley...
SAMBO! Hello lovely lady. WOW, what an adventure. I think you were born to live the past 4 weeks, and even better you have the alent to write about so beautifully.
Looking forward to having you back.
Rampf.
WOWWWW!! Hi Sammy! I am such a 'nana. I had saved your site under "My Favourites" and it kept defaulting to your first entry, so I didn't see the others. I've just made myself a cup of tea and treated myself to a long read. And WOW! it's been an amazing trip!
You sound so perfectly in your element surrounded by nature and trying your hand at basic Spanish. Sounds a bit like me trying to talk to my retailers in Afrikaans - heinously bad, but entertaining nonetheless. Sammy, I can't wait for the South America entries to come - your solo trip. I know you were feeling nervous, but I'm sure by this time you're sorted and exploring to the max. You're such a talented writer - love the imagery and the narrations on who's who in the zoo. Keep 'em coming!
Darling Em I've written tons!!!!! Hope you can see it? There should be about 5 entries... Would have loved to see Mark in that get-up, must have been hilarious!!!!! Loves and hugs and kisses...
Such a girl Mr Shakespeare! It's always easier to pretend bravery writing about it post experience! I did a little squeel when seeing the snake I must admit - but dont tell anyone :-)
Cool Around Killer Creatures I love how cool you are around creatures that would have us running for the panic room in England.
Terrantula .......... "companion".
Snake ........ "harmless".
A giant butterfly similar to a Boeing 747 ...... casually holds out an arm for it.
WHAT?!
Glad you're enjoying yourself Dr. Dolittle!!
Can't wait for an update Hi Sammy. It's been AAAAAGES since you last wrote and I'm dying to find out how it's been going. We had the most hysterical Christmas lunch with the usual rabble on Saturday. 14 people and one of them was my gem of a husband wearing an inflatible Father Christmas suit. It was made out of parachute material and had a little fan installed so it filled up with air. I laughed 'til I wee-ed. Sent a MMS to Donna who appreciates these antics. Wanted to send it to you, but can't find an attachment button on this thing.
Today is a public holiday and the office is tjoep-stil. Us Field Force still have to work, but we get 24th off so I'm not complaining.
Can't wait for some news. Miss you MASSES!
Em
Ola Hi Sambo, sounds great and you seem to be in great spirits. I am sure you are having a ball. You could have a ball with a yarn of string, meaning you will make the most of any situation. Missing you like crazy. Still at work on my side and leave starts next week Tuesday so I can't wait.
Hopefully you are taking pics of the work you are doing as I am quite interested to see that. How are the communication barriers, if any. Did the spanish lessons pay off?
Anyway catch you soon.
Love ya big
Glenn
Missing Sambo Hello Sam
Can't believe it's more that a week already. How many birds have you counted...Hope you are being inspired it your beau environment.
All's well this side. Temputare reached 38 deg over the weekend. Summer is finally here. Final push before a months leave....counting the days.
Miss you lots and lots, take care...enjoy!T
Your pics made me smile ! Hola Sam,
Great to see you are traveling again. Is it for work or pleasure?
It could almost be another"pilgramige "of sorts .Sounds like a great adventure anyway. Will keep an eye on your blog to see where you go. Funny, as I was planning to go to New York this Dec but things panned out different. Hoping to meet a freind in Thailand next year. Wishing you safe travel , your amigo, Maeve*
Hasta la vista, baby..... Great to hear you're making the most of it and the trip started off well with no hiccups. I'm sure the rest of the trip will be amazing with lots of new things to see and learn and hope the experiences are truly great. Just got back from picking Matt up from school and Jessie has 3 cute little puppies which are now 2 weeks old.
Lots of love, Mom
Fantastic start to your blog! Hi Trouble 2. What an adventure ALREADY! I loved reading about your travels so far. I had no idea you had such a knack for writing.
Life here is typically unchanged. I'm sitting in the Innovate boardroom, having just sat in on the Regional VC and now I'm about to run back to Montague Gardens to prepare for my team meeting. Not nearly as exciting as your plans for the next few weeks.
I'm so excited to see what comes next....
Awesome! It is great! Will try keep up the stories as much as possible... And hopefully will entertain and delight along the way too :-) Hope you´re well and send hellos to mum!
Don't forget to remind those South American farmers that their burning down of the rainforest to create farmland in accounting for 30% of the worlds carbon emmisions (more than all the transport in the world put together!). Make sure they know that it's their fault that sea levels are rising and that England are not having summers anymore!
Having said that, get yourself a petrol guzzling 4x4 for travelling around in. Well, you need to be comfortable.
Have a great time Sammy. Bring me back a sombrero and a maid. xxx
Dust collection Yup - Spanish books def collecting dust, but trying to cram before I leave Friday! Sorry we haven't gotten to have coffee, but think we'll have to hassle and nag eachother next year for some catch up time!
ENJOY!! Hope you been studying Spanish!!My book is collecting dust on the bookshelf ;)
Enjoy your trip! Do as much as you can! ;)
Hope to read lots about all your experiences! Ciao! Liz
Give me an adventure, great souls, some deep diving, buckets of fun & a whole bunch of meaning - & you've got the most contented Sammy Taggy around!... full info
Em
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The Friend Finder
Sam, you have clearly left 2008 with the most enormous of bangs and surrounded by people who have fallen in lovel with your heart. I've loved catching up on your adventures after having been away for a few days myself. You looked like you'd settled right in and had been there for years, not days! And you do sound ridiculously happy. Where to next? When do you come home? From my side, we had an amazing Christmas with Sarah (bridesmaid) in Hermanus and her family who treated us like we were one of theirs - put to work in the kitchen immediately and teased mercilessly by her older brothers. Then we hooked up with the mad rabble and headed up to Namibia for 4 days on the Orange. Brilliant fun and a great way to see out 2008. Saw in 2009 with a healthy dose of heat rash on both my arms but a big smile in my heart. Can't wait for you to come home. Miss you lots and lots!