Swim, Work, Travel, Live Healthy, Live Single, Live Christian....Oh Jeah!: Trip to Costa Rica

Costa Rica .... La Pura Vida! (The pure/life!) is a common polite greeting among Ticos (local people of Costa Rica and the word they call themselves as local residents. (llike Pinoys in the Philippines). Costa Rica is one of those countries that I dreamt of seeing when I was in high school and now it has turned into a reality. I am so grateful to all the opportunities to see and experience the culture of people from other countries, as I've seen and I've been to many parts of Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Indo-China, Central America, the Pacific, South America, Africa and not much Europe (just the Netherlands as of now). As one of the saying says in the t-shirt of my colleague at work that says..."There is no such thing as different people, but what exists are different cultures."

Ticos have great manners and good hospitality...at least based on my experience during my stay Costa Rica. As I noticed during my travel from one city to city, province to province...there is always a church and a school (and not to forget notice a pub...comparable to a coffee nook/shack). It looms like that they value education for everyone...the fact that where is a school everywhere...as in every where.

The climate is pleasant and favorable to growing bananas, rose and of course coffee. Here the PanAmerican Highway, the longest highway, traverses. This highway connects Ecuador (I believe Peru, too) to central America as far as to Mexico in North America.

At the Miami International Airport and just arrived from San Francisco and waiting for the connecting flight to San Jose, Costa Rica.

I left the country on November 23, 2010 from San Francisco International Airport and spent six days exploring capital city San Jose and the province of Limon. I invited my sister to join with me in this trip. I have been a solo traveller in most of my international travels, but this time my sister to joined with me. We both have a blast in this trip!

Caribbean Sea from Costa Rica at the Tortuguero National Park. LA PURA VIDA!

Fresh coconut water during the quick stop in the Chiquita / Del Monte Banana plantation on the way to Tortuguero National Park. This is one of the freshest coconut water I've drank as compared to the US...all with preservatives and in tetra packs...

My sister and I in a horse ride to the lift area to do the rainforest canopy zip lining. Hiyaaa!

Climbing to the platform to the rainforest canopy zip line Costa. All geared up and ready to hit the cable and to zip...the gears and cables I am wearing are heavy...about 20 pounds extra body weight...it's all good though for safety reason!

Rainforest canopy zip line - Costa Rica. My first time zip lining and it was a blast. There were 16 climb ups and 16 sets of strong cables overlooking the rainforest canopy.

My sister zip lining in the rainforest of Costa Rica

On the boat about to traverse the Sarapigui canal to Tortuguero National Park

I'm the 4th passenger...count from to first tourist climbing up the stairs. Just arrived for Horseback riding, rainforest canopy zip line and lunch.

Reach for the coconut instead of reach for the stars...hehehehe... Tortuguero National Park and Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica

Walking along the Calle Central close to the Gold Museum. The rain just stopped that day. Shops, restaurants, Gold Museum, commercial establishments, small tiendas are all around.

Buildings and architectural icons in the city of San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica

Walking in the busy Calle Central.....lots of shops, restaurants, local souvenirs for both local Ticos and tourists.

This is like the "central park" in San Jose, Costa Rica,

On the busy Saturday Calle Central

Dining out I a Costa Rican restaurant with my sister.

A cup of Costa Rican coffee...Costa Rica is known for best coffee due to climate and soil.

Gold Museum - San Jose, Costa Rica (the next three photos below)

Downtown San Jose, Costa Rica

This snake can wrap around your body.

Toucan on my head.....watch out for Toucan poop....hehehe

Poisonous red tree frog in the wild

Plantain plantation in Costa Rica

Banana plantation....huge industry in Costa Rica....jeah I like posing...hohoho

Red-eyed frog in the wild

Cool ride...

Water fall in the rainforest in the Braulio Carillo National Park, Costa Rica

Jesus Christ lizard in the secondary rainforest in Tortuguero National Park. This lizard can run on the surface of the water.

Poisonous snakes I saw in the wild during my hike I the secondary rainforest in Tortuguero National Park

In the Poas Volcano National Park

Boat ride in the Sarapigui Canal heading to the Tortuguero National Park and Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica

In a cafe (overlooking the busy Saturday Calle Central) a coffee fix with my sister. both had a lovely time! A cool spot to observe people from above!

Carrying parrot...

One busy Saturday in downtown San Jose, Costa Rica

What if....

In front of Balmoral Hotel...An elegant hotel in the heart of the main Calle Central...close to everything! I love it!

Going to the gate in the Miami International Airport during the layover flight to San Francisco International Airport.

Under a cool shade from Costa Rican pine in the coffee farm

Waiting for the "magical drop" from the banana "heart" to drop....hehehe

Welcome Costa Rica....La Pura Vida! A common polite greeting among Ticos.

Natural drying of Costa Rican coffee in the coffee farm. I love good, brewed coffee!

What? Stretching in the coffee mill! Jeah!

Pool man's umbrella plant....a common plant in the rainforest

My sister and I by the crater of the Poas Volcano? It was a great day to see the crater up very close standing on the rim. Clear sky and no thick cloud cover that day...jeah!