Tag: Butterflies

Rural Costa Rica-Breathtaking

Posted in Cheap Ways To Travel, Costa Rica, Incredible Vistas, MountainsTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

So, I have been in Costa Rica for a little over 24 hours and I am experiencing a bit of culture shock. For me, the shock is not from living in a deeply rural part of the country near Nicoya but from the heat/humidity found here. I am just not used to it and it feels weird that my body constantly feels like it has been rolled in a vat of ice cream and then laid out to dry….only you never do… which means that boob rash will definitely be making an appearance soon. I feel sticky and wet and for a girl who has really never sweated in her life I have to wonder if there is such a thing as a deodorant that truly works!

The people whose home I am sitting are marvelous. They are French and moved here two years ago. They are kind and generous, make a mean rum drink, and are giving me advice about everything under the sun such as which fruits I can eat off the trees and which snakes could possibly kill me (luckily there are not THAT many) They are doing everything in their power to make me feel comfortable and for me to enjoy my experience here.

I can eat these!!! They are yummy!

The wildlife is amazing on this land. There are iguana’s of every color and size. They are quite loud when they fall out of the trees and land on the ground with a huge thud. One is also the pet who comes and begs for food. Macaws fly through the trees as do yellow-headed green parrots. Butterflies of all types float through the clouds and land on the banana trees. There are peccaries roaming the property, armadillos, and I can hear the howler monkeys on the mountain behind the house.

While there are few people there are plenty of trees. The property has Guanacastes, Bayan type trees, mangos. papaya, and a sweet lemon. Pineapple are just starting to reach their second year of growth. My hosts have really worked hard on their property and it shows.

I’ll leave you with the spectacular views that can be seen within the 14,000 hectares that I will be living amongst for the next six weeks. I hope you are as awed by them as I am.

Kuang Si Waterfalls – Near Luang Prabang, Laos

Posted in Day Trips, Federal, State and City Parks, Good Food, Incredible Vistas, Laos, TravelTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

About 20 miles from Luang Prabang is one of the areas most beautiful treasures, Kuang Si Waterfalls. The water slips from high in the jungle tumbling over sculpted white limestone creating sets of turquoise pools which meander further down the mountain to a small village called Ban Tad. We arrived early in the morning in April and already it was starting to scorch. Sounds of birds filled the air while even the sun bears in the rescue park had trouble leaving their hammocks.

Walking small paths we rounded corners which captured our imaginations as the scenery began to spill out in front of us.

Until at last…the first of the pools magically appeared. And YES…it is that amazing color!

One of the great things about this waterfall is that you can actually swim in some of the pools. So swim we did. The bottom is a little slippery and small fish nibble at your toes but on a sizzling hot day it is a small price to pay for the privilege of floating in the cool, clear, soft water.

Climbing the trail you will see giant stands of bamboo, including my favorite…the yellow variety.

After a 15 minute walk you will arrive at the crest of the waterfall. It’s a bridal veil that falls vertically almost 200 feet and it is truly an enchanting view.

Along the way you will be rewarded with many different types of flora and fauna…this is the jungle after all!

From the crest you can head up the mountain to THE VIEW which is a tree house restaurant and the start of the zip line which propels you down through the jungle at lightening speeds. While most of the walk consists of climbing up sets of steel staircases, BEWARE, it is a hike for the semi-fit, which basically leads straight up to the top of mountain. But once there, you will be rewarded with spectacular views and the sounds of water spilling over the cliffs.

There are path and waterways up here to explore too. You can even take a short boat ride to the “start” of the falls.

One the way down we stopped at a little cafe which had the best tempura and beer where the butterflies decided to belly up to the bar.

Kuang Si Waterfalls is a great place to spend a day especially during the heat of the summer. Open from 8 am until 5 pm daily, there is a small admittance fee of 20,000 kip to visit the park which amounts to a little over $1 USD. This place can fill up with bus loads of tourists. My suggestion…rent a car…get there early and when the crowds start to arrive…drive off and explore the countryside. It’s money well spent and it will give you a sense of adventure that you will otherwise miss.