Hello all, Time to get political, we need our visa for our China teaching positions and will visit the embassy in Hanoi see what is involved......Well that was an ordeal, 2 copies of everything (including what we had for breakfast!) and we can only pay in US$ which poses a problem, no banks exchange VND to USD some new rule so we are off to the market to find a store who will. The embassy closes at 11am back tomorrow. On our return to the embassy i discover there are dress regulations and my casual tourist attire doesn't cut the mustard. So Lynne enters the building papers and copies and USD in hand ready to face bureaucracy at it's finest. 30 seconds later Lynne exits the building somewhere the advise we have received is not quite ... read more

G'day all, We had an very long journey from San Jose. The flights were long and the layovers even longer. We had a stop for eight hours in Dallas and decided to take the train in to the city to check things out. The streets were near empty and the town is very sterile with little character. The only personality we found was the waitress that served us in one of the West End bar/restaurants. After not having much meat (actually I was craving a steak) in Costa Rica, it was a relief to find a true Texan bar that served up lots of food. Airline food still doesn't satisfy the taste buds. We enjoyed steak, ribs and large baked potatoes with all the trimmings... we were stuffed full. Had to walk it off through the ... read more

THE TRAVEL GUIDE VERSION Cerro Chirripo is the highest peak in Costa Rica by only 6 metres to its neighbour. It forms part of the Cordillera de Talamanca Range. You can find it at the end of a 20km trail which by far is the most challenging hike in this country. It is also the most exclusive. Because of the sensitive nature of the environment only 40 people are permitted in the park at any one time. 30 places are for reservations in the busier season with only 10 set aside for the drop ins. In the off season it is easier to buy a ticket but you will need to expect the rain. There is not too much consistency in the advice given regarding this trek. But I'll try to set down what you should ... read more

Playa Flamingo and Brasilito Playa is spanish for beach. If you are looking for the touristy thing than Flamingo and Brasilito are for you. We passed through Flamingo and back to Brasilito as it was slightly less effected by tourists. Stumbled across Outback Jacks an aussie style restaurant and cabinas run by Dave the Kiwi while the aussie (real name is Dennis) who started the whole thing toured the states with an Aussie mobile BBQ show. I dont have a lot to say that is great about the beaches. Might be just because i have been spoilt with Australias white sand and coral coast lines but the volcanic sand is brown almost to the point of being black and rubbish I thought that maybe Santa Rosa may have been a odd one out but no all ... read more

We returned to ASVO in San Jose to organise our next project in Matapalo and were offered to spend a week in Tortuguero at the ASVO house next to the national park. We jumped at the chance for a relaxing pace, no work, and cheaper accommodation and food for the week. Tortuguero is not just a quick bus ride. It takes two buses and a long boat to reach in approximately 5 or so hours. But as with everything we have done so far, the journey is part of the adventure. Once on the water, we travelled for about 1 hour along narrow canals and then onto wider rivers seeing crocodiles, fresh water turtles and birdlife all the way. We are dropped off at the national park entrance and have to walk about 200 metres to ... read more