Nicaragua, Surfing transvestites and border control

In Costa Rica now but feel the need to write something about my time in Nicaragua. Well defiantely the poorest central american country along with Honduras. Lots of beggars many children.

First stop was Esteli which was a really nice town lots of cowboy types walking around and beautiful scenery. Then onto Leon i thought it was pretty grim considering its meant to be one of the highlights of Nicaragua. Within 2 hours of been in the big foot hostel somebody booked in and pulled the security boxes of the walls in the dormitories and stole peoples stuff this with people sitting outside their rooms while it was happening i luckily had put my stuff under my bed in another locker. Quite shocking how unbothered the management were since then ive really been taking safety more seriously becoming a walking padlock.

After that moved onto Granada it was like a european city really clean but it did have the blue dog on the photos. Had a night out there and had the misfortune of having a transvestite grab my arm. Later on was hilarious when i spotted this american guy i had been talking to at the bar earlier and had been mouthing off as only they can do kissing the transvestite! he didnt realise it was a man i was pissing myself. Later on the transvestite was with another guy i mean it had an adams apple like a football could they not see it. My night was shat on by dancing with a manic depressive girl who told me she had "problemas del corazon" problems of the heart and dont think she was talking about an irregular heartbeat. Sharp exit.

Then i was onto to San juan del sur, here i had a surf lesson. the instructor was brilliant really motivated and passionate about his job he had me standing up on my second wave. Really enjoyed it. Went surfing for 3 days in all.

Had a night out in San juan and im afraid to report was touched by another transvestite on the chest this time really starting to piss me off these people have no respect really making me pine for a normal night out in carlisle, none of that shenanigans there.

After San juan went to isla del ometepe, an amazing island with two volcanoes the locals are just cottoning onto tourism and so are also discovering the art of trying to rip people off. Within an hour of arrival i hired a kayak to take out onto the lake i wanted to go and see 'Monkey Isalnd" named due the presence of yes youve guessed it monkeys! anyways as i got close to the shore i could see 2 monkeys on the island i let my kayak go on to the shore and i got out big mistake the monkeys went mad one jumped out the trees at me it was swinging around on the end of my kayak paddle making a horrible noise i shat myself dropped my paddle and legged it for my canoe in the rush i managed to snap the strap on my rucksack and nearly lost my camera in the lake. The thing was terrifying. i then had to wait and then paddle back with my hands to reclaim the paddle. Anyways when i got back to where i was staying i noticed a sign saying "Monkey Island is extremely dangerous, under no circumstances go without a guide" followed by a skull and crossbones well guess i should maybe read things first.

My final thoughts on Nicaragua i have to mention the border crossing with Costa Rica at Penas Blancas. I have never seen anything like it. Got off the bus paid my 1 dollar 'tax' and went through what i can only describe as a confrence style football turnstyle actually it wasnt even that good. Now you have to realise what your state of mind is on these border crossings your basically on red alert for pickpockets, bribes, drugs everything. Anyways this "kid" approaches me must have been about 17 chewing on a toothpick asks me for my passport i say no. Hes wearing a Lacoste shirt and jeans looking like hes going clubbing. Then he gets these crumbled forms out his pocket and starts telling me to fill it in and asking me for money and my passport. Just wasnt having any of it he didnt even look YTS. Asked him for his ID which really pissed him off didnt have any so i just walked off with him shouting in spanish its going to be your problem. So hes threatening me now? Anways i walk through the border past the first two Nicaragau policemen who are to busy talking to stop me then past 2 costa rican policemen who say nothing. Past the swine fever control who are sitting around with face masks on surronded by rubbish! and into the costa rican immigration where it comes to light that ive crossed the border without my stamp! they tell me to go back to Nicaragau. Walk to the 2 costa rican policeman asking them were the nicaragua border control is told in a friendly manner that they ask the questions around here! Reason for that is that despite probably working there for 40 years they dont actually no where it is! im not kidding then this taxi driver who is friends with the policeman buts in and asks to see my passport had to remind that he was a taxi driver. So now im back in nicaragua, 30 degrees, 30 kg on my back and nobody has any idea were the bloody office is. Another guy in a green lacoste shirt approaches me and point me in the direction and it dawns on me that old teenage toothpick probably was official although he was looking for money and i told him to sling his hook!

I then wait 1 hour 30 for my stamp when i get to the front i then have to pay 42 cordobas to leave they reckon they dont have change but eventually find it! then i have to walk back over the border past the ask no questions policeman and by now the nicaraguan policeman have finished talking about whatever and want to see my passport. Then into the costa rican office another stamp. The two people im with start putting their bags on the bus and this guy points at me as asks me to put my bag on the table so that customs can go through it! he says they will do it in 15 mins anyways my friends are going, the guy walks off so i just grabbed my bag put it on the bus and went. 2 and half hours to cross a border it was incredible.

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