You're right -- this is another great one. I love your story about Caroline's monologue and your conclusion is so true -- one of the best things about travel is being surprised by cross-cultural similarities just as much as differences with those in our own cultures. I think we've all got a lot more in common on the inside. ;-)
You are absolutely right, Michelle. We may talk different, wear our cloths differently, and look different....but at the bottom of our hearts we all have the same qualities. After all, we are one common race - Human. It's up to us how we nurture those qualities to make this world a better place:)
Your comment Michelle, thank you for your comment. It means a lot to me! Suggest, you read the latest one when you have some time, " A multicultural mosaic....", you may enjoy it...it's all about people who continue to amaze me with their friendship.
New Years Eve A New Years Eve to remember Tab. It's something about that day or evening that can forge new friendships that become strong bonds or be totally forgettable. This is definitely in the UNforgettable category. What a wonderful story of the hospitality of your Costa Rican hosts to embrace you and others as family on that day. The comments to this blog are testament to when it is special and enduring. Hope you can meet again...that would be grand.
New Years Eve Thank you for your comment, Dave. Yes it is surely an unforgettable New Years Eve story. As I continue to say, it is the people who give character to a place I visit, through their laughter or solitude,- I embrace them all. If I have been able to touch the hearts of even a few people through my writing, I treasure that beyond anything else. We will meet again...
Many thanks!!! Dear Tab and Steph.... with tears of joy in my eyes I write this... The day I arrive to Hotel Bijagua to work full time on it, my live was in pieces after my divorce.... Ok this is very personal but, what is not personal in my live, my doors are open in all aspects.
My life came from 0 to 100 in 28 years and after a series of fortuneless events goes from 0 again but this time to 200.
Now I see life completely different. Read this comment really drill my heart, I feel the reward of my effort to rebuild my life, to reinvent my self, to belive again in my live purpose and have projects again.
Many thanks Tab!!! Looking forward to you next visit :) With all my heart David Castro, Hotel Bijagua´s Owner.
Many thanks! Dear David,
Everyone goes through ups and downs in life. You told me about your personal tragedy when I was there. I talked to Carolina as well. But what impressed me how you all bounced back. I read somewhere 'Respect yourself well enough to walk away from something which does not serve you, does not grow you or makes you happy'. I you made that true. And I take that lesson from you. Because you went through the trouble, you value the happiness more than ever before. How true it says " happiness is but the occasional episode in a general drama of pain".
We will meet again. You, Carolina, the whole family. And we will have fun!
A little slice of heaven! Hi Tab. I loved reading your story! I was grinning from ear to ear as I read it because I know this family well. 20+ years ago I met them for the first time. I had the good fortune of staying with their family during a college internship in San Jose. David was 10 then and just as friendly and charming; Carolina was 18 and just as smart and beautiful; their parents were just as gracious and loving. And Hotel Bijagua then was a small 3-roomed building used they had just built for their vacation home. Over the past 2 decades, we've been in each other's lives. I've loved watching them all blossom...their families grows... their hotel thrive... their hearts continue to be open. This family definitely changed my life. A few years ago, my husband and I brought our 2 boys and stayed at Hotel Bijagua for nearly a month. What a paradise is it! It's a little slice of heaven. There is nothing like it. I am delighted that you had this experience with them. My guess is that, sooner than you know it, you'll be going back for more. Their pull is strong. :) Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience with us. It really made my day.
A little slice of heaven Hi Stephanie,
First, thank you so much for reading my article. Second, it's so good to hear that I was not the only one who was so fortunate in getting to know this family. When I travel, it's the people who who give me the real excitement. It appears to me that you are currently really in touch with family. Great! After I got back from Costa Rica to Canada where I live, I lost touch with David for a while. Then I managed to get his email and got in touch again. Because I couldn't publish something about them without their consent. David was overjoyed to hear about the blog and I forwarded him the link right away as soon as I published it. And I have seen that they read it. I consider that to be my best accomplishment. I believe Caroline gave me her email address, but I may have misplaced it.
Stephanie, it's nice to know you. Let's be in touch! My email address is agango54@gmail.com. After all, it's the people who give character to a place, but not the place itself. Cheers!
Wonderful Thank you Oppy. Much appreciated.
Just to let you know that one of my travel article has been published in Times of India, the most circulated newspaper in India. They have accepted me as one of their authors for writing in their travel column. Here is the link below:
http://bit.ly/1NmYL4s
Its Adrenalin Junkie Man...not Superman Extraordinary ride along the ziplines of Costa Rica, Tab. What a buzz. Fantastic you had backup with your Go Pro as you video glasses were not working. Exhilarating. Then from your other videos it makes sense...skydiving...paragliding This is not a one-off. Your secret identity revealed. You are Adrenalin Junkie Man...not Superman!
Adrenalin Junkie Hello Mr. Sherlock Homes, I was wondering where have you been...haven't heard from you for a while. Good detective work to expose my secret identity! You are absolutely right...I am an adrenaline junkie alright. But are we sure, Superman, Batman don't have some of those addictions when they jump? But I promise, the next blog would be quite a different one... no ziplining for the next one.
Video butterfly glasses Gotta say video glasses sound amazing. How good are the quality of the videos? You should try and put some examples of zipping along on your blogs. I reckon butterfly video glasses would attract more than butterflies, so maybe your design skills may come in handy!
Video Butterfly glasses Dave, I prepared a small video clip from my archive, posted in Youtube and copied the code from there and embedded in the text. I checked it and it works. It was a rainy and foggy day, so lighting condition was poor. Then You tube compresses the files. Also, with such a small lens in the camera, it has limitation how good it could adjust to the sudden exposure changes as my head was moving. Take a look, ...I could probably enhance some of my future blogs in the same way if this becomes somewhat more appealing.
Video butterfly glasses Dave, the glasses are HD quality with 1080p. It's a bit tricky when taking shots... the head needs to move rather smoothly when taking shots around me, and not with a jerk. This is the same as taking video with a normal camera,- moving slowly to allow transition to happen. Just a matter of getting used to. Very handy, I must say. I prefer it more than the GoPro.
It's an excellent idea to add the video clips in the blog. However, the travelblog website has a glitch that it suggests it cannot upload a video clip directly. I tried before. The video needs to be in Youtube or Dailymotion from where it could be copied...I will try again because I have couple of more blogs with ziplining coming.
Zip Line Heaven This pic captures it perfectly. Really like that you have made these collage opening pics = Tab's blog signature. Wow...(3 dots my blog signature by the way) ...2 hours or more of zip lining...sounds exhausting. But adrenalin rushes are not supposed to have limits, are they?
Zip Line Heaven Costa Rica Dave, thanks for reading it through. Yes, I kind of like the collages to open the stories...as you said, it just sums up the story...that said, I have learned a bits and pieces from you as well. Yes, I mean the three dots. I have started using that style, but I acknowledge...it's your signature :) So, pl. don't get mad at me:) I have seen your Bolivian story came up last night...I am dying to read it today! (I corrected the previous comment...I had a typo)
Feeling isolation...or is it the silence Great blog tab. Had me on the edge of my seat...not from action but I could feel the cold...the intense silence there must be in the wilds...the intensity of life in those parts. Great opening collage pic by the way.
Feeling isolation...or is it the silence Thanks Dave! You made my day! If I could make you make you feel the sub zero intensity of the North, that is my accomplishment of the blog! Thanks again, I know I could count at least on one person for his good insight!
My father grew up amid the green hills of Assam in India. When I was a little boy, I went with him to see the vastness of nature, holding his hand. He is the one who instilled the love for nature in me; everything I love in nature today, I owe to him.
I have lived in Canada for many years now, but my love for nature and the outdoors is everlasting. Travelling and photography are my passions. Although I visit tourist areas, I rarely spend time there unless there are historic interests. I often travel off the beaten paths of jungles, mountains and rural areas. While travelling to such places... full info
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Michelle Duer
You're right -- this is another great one. I love your story about Caroline's monologue and your conclusion is so true -- one of the best things about travel is being surprised by cross-cultural similarities just as much as differences with those in our own cultures. I think we've all got a lot more in common on the inside. ;-)