Looking out the window...

My Life List

2009-10-20T19:40:00.002-04:00

A work in progress...
Life List
1. Go on a safari
2. Learn to sail a boat
3. Swim with sharks
4. Dance with my father at my wedding
5. Have a child to love
6. Complete a triathlon
7. Climb a mountain
~~8. Walk along the Great Wall of China~~
~~9. Sleep on a train~~
10. Go whale watching
11. Host a dinner party
~~12. Ride a camel in the desert~~
13. Take a road trip across Canada
14. Drink a pint at a pub in Ireland
15. Step foot on all seven continents
16. Stand inside the Taj Mahal
17. Attend Loy Krathong (lantern festival in Thailand)
~~18. Write in a felucca down the Nile~~
19. Attend La Tomatina (August)
20. Attend the running of the bulls
~~21. See the pyramids in Egypt~~
22. Visit 100 countries: 1) Canada 2) USA 3) Cuba 4) Australia 5) England 6) France 7) Belgium 8) Holland 9) Germany 10) Czech Republic 11) Austria 12) Italy 13) Vatican 14) Monaco 15) Switzerland 16) Spain 17) Gibraltar 18) Morocco 19) Tunisia 20) Egypt 21) Costa Rica 22) Nicaragua 23) China 24) Vietnam 25) Cambodia 26) Laos 27) Thailand
23. See the cherry blossoms in Japan
~~24. Ride on the back of a motorcycle~~
~~25. Visit Abu Simbel, Egypt and see the twin temples~~
26. Swim with dolphins
27. Take my brother sky diving
~~28. Experience the lunar New Year~~

Dreaming

2009-08-08T21:48:00.003-04:00

I want a boy...
That wants to love me...
That understands where I come from and accepts where I am going...
Even if I don't quite know myself.

I want a boy...
That will watch stupid movies with me...
That will understand that I like to stay at home...
But going out is fun sometimes too.

I want a boy...
That wants to get to know me...
That tries to have a conversation...
Before they try to sleep with me.

I want a boy...
Who has interests...
Who is able to accept that our interests may not be the same...
And that it is okay.

I want a boy...
Who loves me without trying...
Who accepts that I am not perfect...
And doesn't try to change me.

I want a boy...
Who tells me I am beautiful...
Who twirls me on the dance floor...
And tells me they love me.

I tried dating this guy. Second date and he was all over me. Everytime I tried to talk he tried to kiss me. I haven't spoken to him since - where are all the good guys?

Hello from Thailand

2009-02-22T22:41:00.000-05:00

Wow, it is been a while since I sent out an update... in fact it's been so long that trying to summarise everything at this point is a little bit daunting. Last time I wrote we were in Nha Trang, Vietnam and I am now in Koh Samui, Thailand... in between here and there we have been to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Cambodia, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane, Laos and to Bangkok, Thailand.

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam was by far my least favourite Vietnamese city. The people weren't especially friendly and the city was a city like any other. However, while in HCM we did visit the Cu Chi Tunnels which was very cool. At one point we were crawling through a space so small that we had to scoot on our bums or turn around and go head first on our belly.

Leaving Vietnam wasn't very much trouble. The border crossing into Cambodia took a while (about 2 hours) but we were not hassled or anything as we had paid for a company to shuttle us across the border and take care of all that stuff. Once in Phnom Penh we wandered for about an hour trying to find somewhere to stay and eventually succumbed to the fact that we could not find anything on our own and let a tuk tuk driver take us to a place he knew. That tuk tuk driver ended up being our personal chauffeur for the next few days so it worked out well. Our guest house was right by the lake which is the cheap backpacker area.. and it was definitely different. There were lots of people offering drugs and a lot of cracked out people hanging around. Interesting place, that's for sure. Twice while walking down the street we saw someone guiding an elephant down the road... that is a strange thing to see on a normal afternoon. We only ended up having one full day in Phnom Penh so we spent the next day checking out all the sites. By far the most important two things to see and do in Phnom Penh is the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields and the S21 prison. They are a reminder of all the horrible things that went on there and of a nation that was literally crippled. I suggest that you google it if you don't know anything about the Khmer Rouge. After seeing both of those, which were quite emotionally draining, we headed to the Royal Palace. The Royal Palace is quite... royal and it was the first of it's kind that we had seen. There were a lot of temples and pagodas around the grounds and a beautiful garden. Half of the property was blocked off to the public though because the King lives there.

The next day we took the fast boat to Siem Reap down the Mekong. They called it a fast boat but I didn't expect it to go so fast! It was crazy! While on the boat we passed all sorts of traditional villages on the river's edge and had an opportunity to see how the people live which was great. You can't get more authentic then that. The kids are very happy in Cambodia, they wave at everyone that passes and are always smiling. When we arrived in Siem Reap we took a tuk tuk to the city centre with these four Vancouver guys that we had met on board. Our tuk tuk driver literally had a temper tantrum when we dropped him off and refused to take our money because we wouldn't guarantee to use him the next day for Angkor - after his behaviour there is not a chance we would even consider calling him again. That night we went to see a traditional Apsara show which is the Cambodian ballet. It was at a very expensive restaurant that we couldn't even afford to eat at but it was good to see. The dance was a lot slower than any of us had expected but it looked very traditional. In Cambodia it is considered to be a great honour to be able to dance as an Apsara dancer. The next day was our first day of the Angkor Temples. We hired a driver and guide for day one and on day two took a tuk tuk and guided ourselves. In total we visited: Bantay Sarei, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider was filmed here and it is quite cool), Ta Som, Pre Rup, and one for sunset. Each temple was unique in it's own right and it is hard to pick a favourite. The faces at the Bayon in Angkor Wat were very interesting, Angkor Wat in all it's elegance and splendor was a must see and the trees emerging from Ta Prohm were crazy. By the end of the second day we were 100% templed out. On our third full day in Siem Reap we had great intentions to visit one of the three orphanages in the area but we were told to come back at a later time and then when we returned there were contractors at the one orphanage. However, while we were in Cambodia, the four Canadian guys were handing out toys to the many many children and we were handing out suckers which the kids loved. Honestly, the kids in Cambodia are wonderful. They are happy and smiling and they are working yet they are enjoying themselves. We met this one little girl with her Mom and she knew how to count to 10 in 20 different languages! So cool! Plus, all the kids know information about multiple countries so you would tell them that you were from Canada and they would respond with "Canada. Very big country. You speak both French and English. Capital Ottawa. Population 34 million people" which we were quite impressed by.

From Siem Reap, Cambodia we flew to Luang Prabang, Laos. There wasn't a whole lot to do in Luang Prabang but they had an awesome night market and a great opportunity for day trips. We did some elephant trekking while we were in Luang Prabang and visited the Kuang Si Falls which were absolutely beautiful. The falls cascaded down multiple tiers into emerald pools. The water was a bit cold but very clear and clean. Luang Prabang is a very cute little town with all the typical temples and also a Royal Palace that housed the royal family until their exile in 1975... the royal family was never seen again.

After Luang Prabang we took a long mountainous drive to Vang Vieng - known for tubing and an all around party town. On the bus we met three guys from England, Richard, Jason and James, one girl from England, Lindsey, and a guy from Australia, Michael. We spent the next few days with the same people and even shared a room with Lindsey and then carried on to our next city with James. Vang Vieng was kind of like spring break except with tubes floating down a river. On our first full day in Vang Vieng we went on a kayaking and caving trip. It was a good mixture of land and water. We had to climb through some very small cave holes and it was very dark (the flashlight they provided sucked) and there were a lot of up and downs and places where you had to literally rock climb up places. It was a lot of fun though. The next day we went tubing. Tubing is something that you cannot fully explain without experiencing but essentially you float down the river (which was very low this time of year and we kept scraping the rock bottom with our knees and bums) and as you approach a bar they throw out a line for you to catch and if you want to visit that bar you take the line and are pulled in, if not you float on to the next bar. The bars are very close together so you could literally bounce from bar to bar which we kind of did. In addition, at each bar they have some sort of attraction like a rope swing, a zip line, a slide or a diving board. I was going to try the zip line but after seeing it knock both Lindsey and Stacey around like a rag doll I did the rope swing in an attempt to not worsen my shoulder. Our goal of the day was to be back with our tubes by 6:00pm so that we could get our full deposit back... we didn't but we tried. We got out of the water at one point and tried to hire a tuk tuk but he was waiting for more people (apparently 10 wasn't enough??) so we carried on down the river until it was so dark we couldn't see each other in the water and then got out and started walking back to town... in our bathing suits with our tubes. A tuk tuk picked us up while we walked and drove us back but we were an hour late. Oh well. The next day it was onto Vientiane.

James was taking the same route as us and joined us on the ride to Vientiane and then shared a room with us when we got there. There wasn't much in Vientiane and honestly it wasn't one of my favourite places in the country. We visited Pha That Luang thought to be the most important symbol of Laos and the temple Wat Si Saket which has a crazy number of Buddhas on the property. After we just wandered around the city taking in the many city temples and monuments.

The next day we boarded an airplane and headed onto Thailand! Thailand has been wonderful. On our first full day in Bangkok we took a day trip out to a floating market, the bridge, some war monuments, and the best part ..... TIGER TEMPLE! Tiger Temple was fantastic, we paid the extra money to hold the tigers heads and pet them and pose with all the cats. They were very soft and docile and it was a really cool experience (pictures to follow!). The next day we did another day trip, this time to Ayutthaya the Ancient City. It was cool to see but to be fair, very very similar to the Temples of Angkor from Cambodia. Still interesting to see how they lived. On the third day in Bangkok we me up with two of Stacey's friend's from home, Dave and Janina. We toured around Bangkok seeing the Grand Palace which was architecturally stunning and had a very small emerald Buddha inside the main wat. We also saw Wat Pho which is the oldest wat in Bangkok which is home to more than one thousand Buddha images and the largest reclining Buddha in Thailand. Next up we took a ferry across to Wat Arun where we climbed steep steps to the top tier and had a great view of the city. That night we visited the Pat Pong district (the red light district) and then headed to Khao San road as we did every night. Street stall pad thai is delicious.

The flight to Koh Samui, where we are right now was very quick. Kelli and Glenn's place is fabulous. Right on the beach and beautiful. We wouldn't leave if we didn't have to. While here we have played badminton, gone shopping a few times, gone out on Glenn's boat, gone on a massive sail boat, last night we went to a lady boy show which was fantastic, and then today we went for authentic Thai massages, manicures and pedicures. The Thai massage was crazy because the ladies get right up on you and are pulling your limbs every direction. It felt great though and was very cheap!

We leave for Bangkok in a few days and for home on Friday. I can't believe how fast this has all gone! I'll send around the photos once I am home and have them uploaded.

Hello Vietnam!

2009-01-27T07:49:00.000-05:00

I am currently in Nha Trang, Vietnam. It wasn't part of our original plan to come here but since we are in Vietnam for the lunar New Year, Tet and would have been in Ho Chi Minh we decided to come here for the holiday instead of in a city of 8 million people. Nha Trang is supposed to be nice but it was overcast the first two days and beautiful yesterday.

So, Vietnam. I really like this country! It is a lot less Western than where we went in China. We have only seen 2 KFCs and no McDonalds or Pizza Hut! Such a step up! We started out in Han Oi, Vietnam. Han Oi is a loud and bustling city and the sheer number of motorbikes shocked us from the get go. We actually liked crossing the street more there than in China though because it actually felt like people would avoid us! 'They' say that the best way to cross the street is to close your eyes and go. We have been doing it with our eyes open but really you just have to walk, not hesitate and they seem to avoid you. In Han Oi we first experienced the street vendors, the women walking with the baskets on their shoulders, and the many many cyclos wanting to give you a ride. Also, the honking, oh my goodness, between the honking and the exhaust it is an interesting experience walking through the city. On our first day we headed to Hoan Kiem Lake and the temple that sits on an island in the middle of it. The lake was very beautiful and we sat down in a little cafe by the waters edge. The rest of the day was basically spent wandering the many little streets. We walked to a market, saw a Cathedral and just basically took in the city. On our second day we had made arrangements to head to Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh. It is the first National Park of it's kind in Vietnam and was set up by Ho Chi Minh himself. It is quite large and is said to be full of all sorts of rare and endangered animals ... none of which we saw. We did get to see a thousand year old tree though which was quite ginormous. While at the National Park we were also able to visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre. They had all sorts of primates and even some adorable babies. The project is quite unique. They are a German group and have recruited assistance and money from all over the world. The drive back to Han Oi took about 3 hours... and that was for 120km.... the roads here are unreal!! Our last day in Han Oi was just spent wandering around. We did go to KOTO though which is a really cool restaurant that trains street kids to work in the hospitality industry. They give them accommodation, a bike and a spot at the school. The program is 2 years and after they find them a job and have a 100% success rate.

Out of Han Oi we caught up with a tour to Halong Bay which is about three hours out of the city. From there we got on a 'junk boat' for a 2 day, 1 night trip. We sailed around the bay stopping at one of the many fishing villages where some of the people on our boat bought some fresh (as in, still swimming around) fish. They have all sorts, squid, big fish, SHARKS, small fish. After we stopped at these really awesome caves that people hid in during the war and then at an island and climbed to the top to see the sunset. The weather wasn't fabulous, pants and a long sleeve on the water but it wasn't horrible either. It was very pretty on Halong Bay. They have been given World Heritage Site status twice and it is clear why. The next morning we were given the opportunity to kayak around the bay and through some caves. Unfortunately the water levels were too high to go in the caves but the kayaking was fun! I'd never been in one before and was pretty scared it would flip but it didn't and we were fine although a little wet from the spray from the paddles. That was basically the end of our journey at Halong Bay. We still had to sail back to the harbour and have lunch but we were back in Han Oi by 4:30 that afternoon and preparing to board our first overnight bus to Hue.

The overnight bus wasn't that bad... it wasn't that great either though. We had a sleeper bus but the seats were like beds so it was difficult to sit up and talk before you actually went to bed. It wasn't too bad for sleeping although it was quite noisy (horn honking) and very bumpy. When we got into Hue we were surrounded by people trying to get us to come with them to a certain hotel. They were extremely obnoxious and annoying and we just basically kept saying no and walking away. We already had a place booked but they still followed behind us down the road. So far they are much more aggressive and annoying in Hue than any other city we have been in (and that goes for the cities we have been to since). After finding out hotel and having a much needed shower we grabbed lunch at an adorable floating restaurant and then headed to the Forbidden Purple City. We hadn't really made any friends at this point and while out front we saw two other people and latched on. We have now been with Abbi and Graham for a few cities so it worked out well. The Forbidden Purple City was very non-purple. It was actually falling apart in a lot of places and in others there was construction. The city was used for the emperor to house his concubines and keep him (and them) safe from the outside. There was still a lot of the structure and original roof lines/paintings which was interesting to see but then other parts were crumbled. There wasn't much to see in Hue besides the Forbidden City and the tombs but we decided to take a day trip out of the city on our second day to visit the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). The DMZ was the dividing line between the North and the South during the war in Vietnam. It is still home to many bunkers, tanks, planes, unexploded ordinances and tunnels. Perhaps the most interesting part about that leg of the trip was seeing the tunnels. People lived in these tunnels for 6-7 years and they are tiny! They are about 1.6m tall (shorter in some areas), and very narrow plus obviously quite dark and damp inside. While in the tunnels a total of 17 babies were born in the maternity room! Not exactly ideal conditions. We are planning on heading to the tunnels in Ho Chi Minh as well but it was still very interesting to see the ones out of Hue.

After Hue we jumped on another bus, this time during the day to Hoi An. It was only about 4 hours away but it dropped us right into ideal beach weather. Hoi An is known for two things, having tailor made clothing and shoes and for their food which is delicious. There wasn't a heck of a lot to do in Hoi An besides having clothes made and visiting the beach but both of those things were enjoyable. On our first (half) day we rented bikes and went down to the beach for a couple of hours. The water wasn't too clear because it is winter and the water is quite choppy. Later that night it became our number one priority to have some clothes made, as a result of Tet prices would be going up because the shops were closing in a couple of days. The majority of our time in Hoi An was spent lying on the beach and wandering through the streets. It had a very nice beach-town feel there and it was a very relaxing environment.

Our bus from Hoi An to Nha Trang was another over night bus. This time we had the good bus with the seats that can also be chairs if you choose to not sleep. The ride wasn't that bad and I don't think the roads were as bumpy as the previous overnight bus had been. The weather, as I mentioned, in Nha Trang was quite dreadful. Very overcast and windy. We did get a chance to walk to the Long Son Pagoda where there is a very big Buddha. It was quite large but I think that the one we saw in Beijing at Lama Temple might have been larger. At the Long Son Pagoda they had two Buddhas, one that was sitting on a lotus flower and one that was sleeping. While there we were also granted access into the pagoda (ie. temple) to watch the prayer session that was going on. While in Nha Trang we also headed to the Cham Tower which is a series of pagoda/temples each honouring someone different. They were very dark inside and one was quite creepy since there was very little light source coming in through the door and a lot of incense being burned. As mentioned, we were in Nha Trang for Tet, the lunar New Year. Tet fell on the 26th making the 25th 'Tet Eve' and therefore party central. We had a great time partying in local bars and on the beach but we had a lot to drink.... it was a much cheaper New Years Eve than any we could get at home! It was really cool though because they had dragon dancing troops going through the streets performing and playing drums. We didn't get home until about 3:30 in the morning and we had to be up yesterday morning at 7:00am so we could do a day boat trip around to the islands. That was rough. The boat trip was lovely though, the sun was finally out and there was a nice breeze on the water. We were a bit ... well, still drunk, but it was a great day. We went to some islands and there was a floating bar at one point and I even went in the ocean which if you know me is a big step because I hate fish touching me and sharks are pretty scary.

This morning we were supposed to catch a bus to Ho Chi Minh and when we went to pay for our room the entire banking system had gone down. Our credit cards wouldn't work, we went to multiple ATMs and neither Visa, MasterCard or our debit cards would work. So we missed our 7:30am bus and were here for the day. In light of our predicament we decided to go to the Hot Springs which was fantastic. We had mineral mud baths, and soaked in hot mineral water then lounged around the pool. Very relaxing and my skin is very soft from all those minerals. They say that the minerals are supposed to help fix all sorts of ailments and joint problems but I'm pretty sure my shoulder still hurts. Oh well it was still very nice.

We are about to catch an overnight bus to Ho Chi Minh. Because we will now get in tomorrow morning (the 28th) and we are supposed to leave for Cambodia on the 29th we have decided to try and jump onto a bus tomorrow and be in Cambodia one day early if possible. We shall see.

Hello From Shanghai

2009-01-21T20:15:00.000-05:00

Ni Hao,

Well, China is quickly coming to a close and to be honest, we couldn't be happier because China is kind of cold! We are looking forward to the warmth that shall come with South East Asia. I have been wearing two pairs of pants and three shirts every single day so far and I am often still cold. That being said, China has actually been really awesome. We landed in Beijing a week ago and once we had a chance to get our bearings we visited the Forbidden City. It looked really close to our hostel on the map so we decided to walk there... um... yeah, it was an hour and a half away. Well, that kind of sucked since we were quickly realising it was kind of like... cold! On the first day I bought some snazzy ear muffs (like the 180*s that go behind your head) and they have become invaluable. When we eventually reached the Forbidden City we were elated. It was really quite cool but very large. Upon first impression of China the people are very helpful and willing to try and direct you even if they do not speak English and even if they don't have a clue what you are saying. Beijing is not as 'bad' as it appears on TV or as people say. There was no smog and it seemed quite clean. However, it is quite common for little children to go to the bathroom on the street, they have split bum pants so they can just go when the time comes... good for the environment I guess because no diapers but kind of gross and their bums must get cold!!

On our second day in Beijing we headed to the Olympic area. It was so cool! Both the water cube and the bird's nest were quite impressive. I was surprised to see that they were right next to each other though. On TV it looked like they were blocks apart but instead there is only a square in between them! Everything is still set up with the barriers, the hundreds of toilets and the traffic warden. Kind of funny since it looks kind of abandoned and yet set up for an event. After we jumped back on the subway, connected to a bus and headed to the Summer Palace. It was absolutely incredible!! All of the pagodas were painted intricately, there were arches and bridges everywhere. I bet it looks even better in the summer. On our way back to the hostel we had a small confusion with the bus driver. They wouldn't take our money to pay for the ticket to ride, we weren't sure why or what would happen but when our stop came we just got off. Later that night we met up with some friends that I had previously met in Egypt. They just happened to be in Beijing at the same time as us.

On our third day in Beijing we headed out to the Great Wall. We hiked the 10km from Jingshaning to Samatai. It was intense. I am pretty sure it was more than 10km because there were so many vertical ups and downs. Parts of the wall are in utter disrepair and literally crumbling off which made for an interesting hike. It was absolutely beautiful though and incredible to think we were hiking on the Great Wall of China! It took 4.5/5 hours and needless to say we slept well that night. When we got on the bus Teresa and Dylan were actually on there with us so we hiked with them and an NZ named Anthony.

On our final day in Beijing we wanted to see the Lama Temple and Tianaman Square. The Lama Temple was cool with all these prayer benches and incense burners. The temple is one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world and houses an 18m tall Buddha carved from one single piece of Sandalwood! It was pretty huge.

Later that night we boarded our first overnight train, this time to Xi'An. We had booked two soft sleepers and ended up having the entire cabin (of four beds) to ourselves so it was quite restful and nice! Shocker, I know! We had been a little worried about having roommates because in China people.... spit. Like, great big hork up and spit on the ground, train, store, etc. We didn't think we could handle that over our bunks.

When we arrived in Xi'An our hostel was not there to get us and we had to find our way there by ourselves. Once there (it was 6:30am) we were able to shower, change and relax a bit before Dylan and Teresa's train got in and we could head out to see the Terracotta Warriors. The Terracotta Warriors are very interesting but cause you to ask so many questions! Pit 1 is very awesome with lots of standing warriors and horses. It was cool to see the variation (no two are alike) and the sheer number. Pit 2 was okay but Pit 3 was just a bunch of dirt... literally.

Yesterday, our last day in Xi'An, we headed to the Great Big Goose Pagoda, the Drum and Bell Tower and the Muslim Quarter. The Muslim Quarter was by far the best part. Lots of little stalls and a really authentic feel. In general Xi'An has a much more authentic Chinese feel than Beijing did. I really liked Xi'An.

Last night we boarded our second, and last, overnight train in China and headed to Shanghai where we are now. Only a couple more days in China and then on to Vietnam (and hopefully warmer weather).

Sorry this is so quick, I am short on time at the moment. I hope all are well.

Lots of love from China,

Ashley

October 29, 2008

2008-10-29T12:22:00.001-04:00

October 29, 2008
Originally uploaded by Ashley Rose 15

I am having a bad day. I am training to cover maternity leave when my co-worker has her baby in March (since I am away January and February training must happen now) and I am now about 98% solo. I made my first mistake today - a big one - I felt like vomitting when I realised but everything has been worked out. I still feel like crap though and I'm second guessing myself. Why exactly would I want to be a grown up?? I am going back to school, 50 page papers are way less stressful than messing up major legal transactions.

Brown sweater: Jacob Connexion
Brown tank: H&M
Pants: Express
Shoes: Aldo (brown flats despite the fact that we are to get snow today!)

We are supposed to be hit by the outerlimits of a snow storm today - I am so glad I don't live North of Toronto or in any of the snow belt regions. I had to wear my WINTER coat today, a scarf and mittens. Not looking forward to eventually scraping my car windows.

Weekend Stuff

2008-10-16T13:45:00.005-04:00

It is a good thing this past weekend was a long one because it sure was busy. On Friday I met up with a friend that I met traveling in Morocco for dinner. He was in town just for one week doing a rotation at one of our hospitals. It was really nice to catch up with him after (exactly) a year. He is an interesting guy.

On Saturday I went out for my friend Meghann's birthday. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't looking forward to going out for her birthday - I am not a club person - but I love Meghann and wherever she wanted to go I was game for. We went to Circa which is downtown on Saturday and I actually had a good time. For one, my feet didn't hurt which is always a huge hindrance to me enjoying myself. When my toes feel like they are broken I am not a happy camper. Also, there were not a TON of people - most likely because the place was HUGE and there were four rooms that split people up. I didn't get stepped on, pushed, sweated against, etc.

By the end of the night I wasn't actually as tired as I thought I would be. We left the club at around 2:30 and I drove two people home before hitting my bed at around 4am. I must have been dawdling downstairs because there is no way it took me that long to drive back from Toronto. Then again, Martin took a loooong time to get out of my car and into his house.

On Sunday we celebrated Thanksgiving with a big dinner. My Mom made me my very own special stuffing that had not gone inside the carcass of a turkey PLUS she found me some vegetarian gravy! It was very exciting for me and made it feel like a special meal whereas my dinner usually is just the same thing I normally eat but with a side of cranberry sauce.

On Monday I relaxed all day. We went for a walk, sat around, watched TV and read. Then at night I went to Meghann's beach v-ball game. I feel bad that it was the first one I've gone to but at least I used to go to her fast-pitch games. It was really nice to just sit around after and talk. I need to start seeing my friends more. I'm busy and it's hard but it is worth it every single time.

Almost the long weekend

2008-10-06T11:04:00.001-04:00

October 6, 2008
Originally uploaded by Ashley Rose 15

This morning I woke up feeling just fine. I slept relatively well and had a nice warm shower. At some point I started to feel like crap and ended up looking like crap. I don't know what happened. I pulled on clothes that are comfortable and would look good if not paired with one another. This shirt clings to the buttons on my pants and gives me a rolly lump around my mid section. Not all that pretty.

This past weekend was good, kind of casual, but good. Actually, I prefer casual a lot of the time. On Friday night my friend Amanda came over, we hung out, had dessert and then went to play at the park! How fun is that! I felt like a little kid and it was actually a lot of fun!

On Saturday morning I met with my trainer - ugh. It was okay but I am pretty sure she is content on killing me. We had to do these horrible drills where I do 12 of a machine really heavy, then immediately following, 10 of the same machine a little bit lighter, then right away as many as I can of the same machine even lighter. It was brutal! I didn't really do much during the day but that evening I went over to my friend Dave's house and hung out with him and Cassy. We just watched a movie (Deception) and talked.

On Sunday I was having people over for dinner. Two of the people Stacey and I met in Costa Rica, Dan and Cat, came over, as did Stacey and Ty. It was good to catch up! Dinner wasn't a disaster which is more than I can say for most meals I am responsible for. It was a great night.

Also, this weekend I purchased my tickets for Asia! Stacey and I leave on January 2nd until February 27th. I'm pretty excited!!

October 1, 2008 (aka the month of my birthday)

2008-10-01T10:41:00.001-04:00

October 1, 2008 (aka the month of my birthday)
Originally uploaded by Ashley Rose 15

So, I am clearly failing at the blog updates but I am somehow able to post on the Working Closet every day without fail. In light of this revelation, I have decided to start posting my WC photo to my blog and then maybe post something else if I remember.

Lately, things have been hectic. Just like last year I am a Brownie leader (with Girl Guides of Ontario) and a Big Sister (with Big Brothers Big Sisters) and both of those programs have started in the last couple of weeks. I have been busy planning for Brownies, setting up our year so that it runs smoothly and we accomplish everything we need to.

I am also still going to my trainer 2 times per week. She kills me, daily, but it has been a good thing. I appreciate what she makes me do even if I hate every single burpie while I am doing them. Until recently I was feeling energized and as if I had lost some weight. Over the last week I have been feeling a lot more bloated and lethargic which most likely means I am missing something in my diet but could also be a result of the change in seasons.

Fall is coming in full force around these parts. Up until this week the weather has still been nice during the day and I have been wearing skirts to work but now it is 13*C (55*F) and that is a bit chilly for anything but pants. The leaves are starting to change into vibrant reds, yellows and oranges - I love this time of the year when the fall air has just started to crisp and the leaves are changing colours. Before we know it they will all have fallen off the trees and the snow will start to fall. Hopefully there won't be any snow until after my birthday - which is in 22 days.

Some stuff has been kind of bad recently. Maybe surprising would be a better descriptive. One of my friends, who I really like and have had a very special bond with since I met him in grade 11, is moving to England. On Friday. With his new girlfriend. It was a shock. I only just found out on Monday and I was pretty angry that he didn't have the decency to tell me sooner. I saw him last night and remembered why we are friends - we seem to get each other better than with others. I am less mad now and hopeful that he will actually stay in contact once he has left.

Long Weekend

2008-09-02T12:55:00.009-04:00

Well, my long weekend was unexpectedly interesting. Isn't it funny how that happens? You should never anticipate being bored because you never know what might happen. It started out normal enough, I had been asked by my friend Stacey if I would be interesting in taking her extra ticket for the Simple Plan concert (opening bands Faber Drive, Metro Station and Cute is What we Aim For) so that she didn't have to cover the cost of a spare (someone cancelled). I said sure because concerts are fun and I had no Friday night plans. So we arrive at the Molson Amplitheatre and we are walking towards the gates and these two guys approach us and one of them asked if we wanted to buy some backstage passes. We kind of looked at him like he was crazy and trying to rip us off but he seemed genuine and he said he would walk us back to security and through the gates. Obviously this seemed like a good plan to us so we bought passes for $20 each and stuck them on our clothes (they were fabric and sticky) and in we went through the back way. It was pretty cool because we were allowed to go anywhere we wanted (including on stage - which we didn't), we were given free food, free drinks and a lounge to chill in. We had tickets for the 300 level seating which we never ended up sitting in - instead we roamed free. We spent a lot of time in the lounge that was provided and then the rest on the floor right up close to the band. It was nice being able to just go as we pleased without being stopped or searched. In fact, if I had known I would have brought my own water in with me. After the show finished we went upstairs and met some of the guys in the bands (David Desrosiers, Pierre Bouvier, Chuck Comeau and Sebastien Lefebvre from Simple Plan, Blake and Mason from Metro Station, and Faber from Faber Drive). They were all very nice which I really liked. David from Simple Plan was by far the nicest and spent a lot of time with the fans, taking photos, talking, being very friendly. He clearly hadn't showered yet and was taking time from when he needed to be getting ready to spend time with the fans which made me think he is probably a good guy.

MORE PICTURES HERE!

Then, a little less exciting drama and more horrible drama, on Sunday my brother was biking and flipped over his handle bars meeting the asphalt with his face. Ouch. The details are a bit sketchy but he was going around the corner and some woman in a car was turning into him and then he flipped over his handle bars. I do not know if it was his fault or not but after he was on the ground he said he had to jump up because he thought she was going to run him over (she did not). He is fine now but he was in a lot of pain this weekend. He broke his front two teeth and split his lip very badly, scuffed up his nose, broke his wrist, broke his watch, cut his hand and his chest and has a lot of aches and pains. We went to the emergency room and they said his teeth were not exposed root so they could call in the emergency dentist but since it was a long weekend it would take forever and there would be an additional fee not covered by OHIP. He ended up going to the dentist on Tuesday morning and they were able to make him two new front teeth out of porcelain because he did not go to the root. If they chip or crack he will need to get two root canals and crowns on his teeth which will cost more and be more painful. I was sick to my stomach thinking about the pain he was in and how horrible it all is. I am so glad that things weren't worse. If you would like to see a photo click the link HERE but warning: it is disgusting.

Backstreets Back, Alright!

2008-08-19T11:18:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Backstreet Boys concert. When I was a kid I was absolutely in LOVE with BSB. While my obsession was possibly bordering on unhealthy, I think it was good that I had something to be passionate about. They got me through a lot of very difficult and formative years and having something/someone to fall back on when I was down was nice. It sounds kind of ridiculous because we're talking about a boy band that was years my senior and obviously not physically obtainable, however, it was something to care about. During the period of loving BSB I broke my ankle. It was terrible, three breaks and a subsequent emergency (1 week post break) surgery. The recovery period was terrible and long and there were weeks when I could only stray from my bed long enough to go to the bathroom or eat. I was home from school and miserable. My parents hung a poster of Nick Carter on the ceiling above my bed and one of Leonardo DiCaprio (my other love) on the back of the door that I faced. When people brought me gifts (because poor Ashley and her poor broken ankle) they were often BSB themed and eventually along with my non-injury related things I had mounds of paraphernalia. The videos, the CDs, the magazines, etc. I even had a CD in the shape of Nick Carter's head! *swoon*

This concert was much different than the one I went to in 1998 and even somewhat different than the one I went to in 2005 because I was older, wiser, more mature... or something like that. When they played songs from my youth I still got all excited and was maybe hoping just a little bit that they would love me like they say they do. Also, Howie has improved over the years! He was ... hot!

More glorious BSB photos can be found HERE!

Summer Round-Up

2008-08-01T09:49:00.004-04:00

Since I have not been blogging I did not want to do random posts in which I recount my weekend/week. However, since I have made an effort to write SOMETHING ... ANYTHING over the last couple of weeks I feel as if I can do something that showcases my summer excitement. I was not here last summer so it's been a while since I was able to do 'summer stuff' with my friends and honestly, it has been a lot of fun! It's nice just relaxing on a patio and walking around outside without the threat of frostbite.

This post has been sitting in my draft folder for over a week... I am terrible.

Back in May a group of my girlfriends and I purchased tickets to go and see the Toronto Blue Jays. The tickets allowed us to enter the 'all you can eat' section which had an abundance of peanuts, popcorn, nachos with cheese, hot dogs and pop. It was a lot of fun even if I don't really like baseball. A couple of players broke their wooden bats and sent the wood flying at the mound. It was pretty funny watching everyone hit the ground - if they hadn't been okay obviously it would not have been funny but all ended well. After the game Stacey and I met up with one of the girls from Costa Rica. We walked around, shopped and talked for a bit. We haven't seen her since but we really should.

A couple of weeks after the sister of a friend of mine flew into Toronto for a visit. She is from Australia but had been living in BC for the previous 8 months. When she was in town we went to Niagara Falls and African Lion Safari - regular touristy things. It was a lot of fun having her around and I kind of missed her when she left.

In June I helped throw my friend Cassy a birthday luau. Originally I had wanted to throw her a surprise party but she wouldn't stop bringing up the fact that she wanted to plan a party so she was involved in the process. It was a lot of fun, we had a pinata and a bunch of alcohol in fruity colours. Cassy had a great time and I think that everyone else did as well.

The following weekend I went to Niagara Falls with some friends for Carmen's 23rd birthday. We spent the morning shopping at the outlet and then headed to Niagara to check into our hotel and grab some dinner before the bar. It was a lot of fun - we went to the Dragonfly which is the club attached to the new casino. It was a lot of fun but by the end of the night my feet hurt so much I thought I might cry. We went from the club to the casino but Carmen was waaay too drunk to play the slots and my feet hurt too much to just stand around. We walked back to our hotel, sans shoes, and then once we were dressed more comfortably we headed to find food. One restaurant was open 24/7 and was just down the street from our hotel so we went there. The next day we were going to grab breakfast but Steph was hungover and vomiting so we just headed back home. It was still a great weekend.

A couple of weeks ago my University Alumni offered a trip White Water Rafting and since Stacey and I had so much fun when in Costa Rica we decided to join. From our group there were 6 of us (Amanda, Daniela, Stacey, Tyler, myself and my friend Carmen who did not go to University with me). We had a good time and even though it rained (at night) the camping was still enjoyable. I did not hate camping as I thought I might but it wasn't something I would willingly do often. It was not super relaxing or better than a cheap motel and I was cold the first night.

The drive to near Ottawa wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The rest of the group were able to get off work early so they took the provided transportation but Carmen and I had to drive up separately after. The drive was about 5 hours and we didn't hit much traffic which made it much better. When we arrived at the camp site there was no cell service which, okay, we don't need phones for the weekend and were happy that we didn't have them HOWEVER we needed to call my friends so we could find them. Luckily it all worked out in the end and Daniela happened to be walking past the parking lot just as we were getting out of our cars! Talk about good timing. We joined the group, played some drinking games, sat by the camp fire and then eventually went to bed.

The next morning we had to wake up quite early so that we could eat breakfast and have our orientation before hitting the water. The orientation was pretty dull - wear your life jacket, hold on, don't die, etc. We loaded onto buses once we had all picked our (still wet) life jackets, paddles and helmets and we drove a bit to where we got into the rafts. Our rafting guide was young and we managed to get the only six person raft so we were pretty pleased. There were a few large water falls and we were able to 'surf' which is where you try and get the boat to go vertical on a wake pool, we were also able to swim in the rapids - you needed to kick really really hard or else you would get taken down stream (which to be honest, would be kind of funny). When we finished we had to paddle on still water towards the pontoons that would meet us for lunch and take us back to camp. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing towards us and we needed to paddle extra hard. Our poor, weak, sore arms were failing. We eventually got back and then collapsed into a pile of pained mush. The food on the pontoon was delicious though - salad, fruit, bread rolls, kabobs, soup, cookies. When we got back to camp the sky opened and it rained for the rest of the night. We were able to get in some games of volley ball before it started but then were forced to move into the covered area to resume our drinking games. We ended up in a fierce battle of flip cup against the rafting guides - let's just say, Laurier can drink. Eventually I was too tired to stay up and we had drank more than we should have so we headed back to our beds for the night. Well, our sleeping bags in the tents that were being pelted by rain - same thing.

The next day we hung out briefly before heading back home - another 5 hour drive but it really wasn't too bad!

The following weekend I actually headed to BC to visit my friend, Mike. We went and saw Batman at the IMAX, which was AWESOME! Went sailing in English Bay on the Saturday and then on Sunday (the day I left) went to the aquarium to see the baby beluga which was pretty ridiculously cute! I have zero photos from the weekend because my camera is really quite crappy since I returned from N. Africa last summer. The weekend was good, it was great to meet Ali (his new gf) and his friends but it was also cold and I felt very excluded a lot. People did not try and include me in the conversation and I didn't feel as if I knew them well enough to butt into something that I really should just stay out of. I felt like an outsider which is exactly what I was. I don't think I would go and visit him again for various reasons but mostly because he just didn't seem to understand that as his guest it was his responsibility to make me feel included.

The weekend after that (which was like 2 weeks ago it seems) we went to the Toronto Zoo to celebrate Brenda's birthday. We had been complaining on Carmen's birthday weekend that it had been forever since we had been to the zoo so we took the opportunity and went. It was so much fun! much better than when you go with a whining, hot, hungry child. We saw almost all of the animals and we were only sent indoors due to rain once! They have this awesome exhibit right now called Stingray Bay where you can TOUCH THE STINGRAYS! I'm not going to lie, I was kind of scared, but... I did it! They kind of felt like gel and were slimy and smooth. My heart was beating very hard as I reached into the tank but then I realised that there were a bunch of small children doing it and they didn't seem to be falling over dead so I should probably suck it up and just stick my hand in the water. After the zoo we headed to dinner for a birthday celebration. Unfortunately, Brenda wasn't feeling well so our plans to continue on to the club were put on hold and we just had a relaxing meal (until 11pm!) and then headed home. I was kind of glad because I hadn't drank nearly enough water that day at the zoo and was exhausted.

Those are the big things, I have also gathered for BBQs at friend's houses, gone to the pub, spent time on patios, watched movies, gone on walks, spent time with my little kids, watched Ty perform, etc. I am glad summer isn't over yet but I wish there were more weekends because it is going by way too fast.

Fear

2008-07-31T09:27:00.003-04:00

I do not normally write about the kids I work with because I don't think their lives are my business to share. Over the years I have met a lot of different kids, kids that are happy, sad, scared, lonely, embarrassed, funny, adorable, shy, talkative, I could go on. Each child that I work with has their own personality and their own reasons for getting to that place in life. Some of them are young but have been forced to grow up faster than they should. Some of them are still immature and it is a struggle to make them understand and cooperate. Some of them do not listen no matter how many times you try to patiently tell them something. I have enjoyed every single child that I have worked with but there are always those days when the kids are in a bad mood and it's difficult because you aren't able to provide them with what they really need and can only do your best to be there and let them know that you are on their side and will not give up on them.

For the last eight weeks I have been spending my time with a little boy who has more issues than any other child I have ever dealt with. He is a pleasant little boy when he is happy and stress free but when something goes wrong I don't know what to do. I have never had a problem dealing with children, I have always been able to look them in the eye and calm them down because for the most part they just need to know that they are being heard/understood/cared about.

Last night was the worst of the incidents with this boy. It rained very hard and apparently he has a deathly fear of rain and storms. He was absolutely beside himself and I did not know what to do. He ran around screaming, crying big painful tears, sobbing so hard that he started to hyperventilate. He said that he was too young to die. He was terrified; I have never seen that level of panic and fear in someone before in my life. I could not calm him down, I could not do anything except take him home where he felt he would be safe. It was a terrible experience. It was hard to see him so upset and difficult to know that I was so useless. After I dropped him off at home and the car was quiet I just sat there wondering if there was anything I could have done differently. I don't think there was.

I don't know that I will make an impact on his life. Most of the time when I leave a child for the last time I feel as if I have made some sort of a difference. They become more talkative, less shy, more daring, etc. When I finish with this boy I don't think I will have done anything to better his life. I don't know that he is gaining from our sessions and by this point it is normal to see a change. I worry about him, about his future. I don't know if he can get through the rocky stuff ahead without a little help and I don't think it is the kind of help I can provide. I want only the best for him, as I said, he is a wonderful boy, but I think someone needs to sit down with him and have a really good talk so that some of the issues can be dealt with.

Mm... Protein

2008-07-24T10:27:00.003-04:00

Over the last couple of months I have been working with a Personal Trainer in an attempt to gain more energy and strength and less fat. I am not going to say that it has been easy - it has been painful and at times very emotionally trying. Sometimes she tells me repetedly that I am 'weak' and 'need to be better' and to 'try harder' but I am trying and yes, I am weak, but isn't that why I am there? One day was so bad that when my session ended it was all I could do to get the heck out of there before I started to cry. We had been doing core exercises and yes, I wasn't doing great but I was trying and I didn't think it was necessary for her to be telling me over and over again that I wasn't suceeding. It is her job to encourage me, not beat me up mentally so I feel worthless and as if I had accomplished nothing.

Yesterday, she mentioned that I am not getting stronger and need to figure out a solution to this 'problem' so that I can continue. While I do not disagree with a lot of her logic, the fact that I am 'not getting stronger' was wrong. She said that I haven't moved my weights up since last week and should have but to be fair, I took a week off and that would account for staying in the same place. However, I do agree that I could be stronger and that at this point my muscles, and my body, should not be this tired.

As a solution she has decided that I am not getting enough protein, which is something I mentioned before I even started training with her. I know that I am low on protein and iron because of my non-meat diet and lack of knowledge. Basically, I am a dumb vegetarian. My diet has improved since I first stopped eating meat - the first year I was very sick (bronchitis, pnemonia, bronchitis again, fevers, etc) and it took some practice before my body stopped hating me. Now, my goal is to eat as much protein as possible which is hard! I read this article and it states that you can actually get more protein from a meat free diet then one with meat and you avoid the bad stuff like saturated fat. I am on a protein rich diet from now on - I just wish the protein full foods tasted as good as the ones without protein!

The lightning in the clouds

2008-07-22T11:36:00.003-04:00

As I flew threw the sky on my way home from Vancouver this past weekend, the flight crew came on the air and told us that if we looked out the window we would be able to see a storm in the clouds below. With each bolt of lightning the otherwise dark cloud would illuminate a hue of pink-red and then would darken once more until the next surge. It was probably one of the most amazing things I have seen when flying especially since it was off our radar and didn't rock the plane even a little bit. As I watched the lightning from far above, I began to think about my own life and how it resembled the brewing of a storm.

I don't think it would come as a surprise to many people but, I hate myself. It's one of those things that I just can't talk myself out of and I don't know if I ever will. It's a hard way to go through life. Constantly thinking that everyone is better, prettier, skinnier than you. Always judging yourself and realising that you come up short in a lot of areas. I have gotten better over the years, there have been periods where I hated less about myself but then I will slowly slide down the slippery slope towards the darker place. I am not depressed, I do not need medication, I just need self-esteem and a whole lot of love.

This past weekend I spent time with my friend who has moved out of province. In a strong swoop I was back hating myself, which led me to hate everything around me. He wouldn't talk to me. He didn't give me the attention that I thought I, as his visitor, deserved. I became sullen and angry and quite frankly, not a lot of fun. It's hard to get away from that place once you're there. To step aside and realise that you are being a bitch and need to just stop already. The silent treatment got worse and I became more bitter. I don't know why I get to that place, or even how. I think it is because I am measuring myself up to so many people and eventually the feeling of inadequacy gets the best of me. I can't talk to this friend that I was visiting, he has always said he doesn't have time for those childish thoughts but I don't think he realises just how big those thoughts are in my life. I don't know if he realises that every single day before I leave the house I stare at myself in the mirror and wish I could look better, be better. I don't know if he realises that my life is dominated by how others judge me, that I am always concerned about what others think.

Just like the storm that was pounding down on the city below, my thoughts cloud my judgement and when the lightning strikes they send me spiralling down to a place that I hate to be.

Being a non-Sikh at a Sikh Wedding

2008-07-08T11:21:00.005-04:00

When my Brother's best friend, Paul, told us he was getting married this summer I was very excited. I have always wanted to attend an Indian wedding and this was going to be my first opportunity plus, Paul has been around since I was about 3 years old so it was nice to see him getting married. Before the big day came, we stressed about what to wear, what to do, how to behave in the Gudwara but in the long run everything worked out.

On the day of the wedding we needed to be at the Gudwara by 9:30 so that we could see the bride and groom arriving and the pre-ceremony rituals. Before the bride and groom even arrived at the Gudwara they have taken part in numerous ceremonies and rituals but on the big day there is still much to be done. When the groom arrives at Gudwara he is met by the bride's family and friends for the meeting of the families. He walks towards her side with his own family and wedding party following behind as drums are being played. Then, Ardas is performed which is the Sikh prayer used at the start and end of every event. It is at this point that the individual male family members meet in the centre of the circle, exchange garlands and then one tries to pick the other up and the winner is cheered on. After this everyone goes inside for tea where they are required to cover their head (both male and female) and remove their shoes.

The tea is also known as Milni and for us it consisted of gulab jamuns, pista burfi, this white thing (all three were desserts), samosas, and battered and fried vegetables and then of course the tea and other beverages. We sat on the floor to eat our food and since everyone else seemed to be facing only one direction we followed suit so that we would not offend anyone if this was something done for a specific purpose. The samosas were delicious but the rest of the food (minus the deep fried vegetables) was very sweet and had a consistency that was not agreeable to me. We were forced to eat everything because one of the 'rules' upon entering the Gudwara was that you could not waste any food. We literally choked back the gulab jamuns (which is so drenched in sweet that it is dripping) and the pista burfi but neither Stacey nor I could manage to force down the white thing so my Mom ate all three of them for us.

After the Milni we headed upstairs for the ceremony. Paul entered before we arrived and was already sitting at the front of the room awaiting his bride. The men and women sat on different sides of the room but non-Sikhs were allowed to sit with Sikhs. We entered up the middle, gave an offering and went down on our knees and bowed our heads to the ground. We then walked to our side of the Gudwara and remained sitting (on the floor) for the rest of the ceremony. Since you are required to dress respectfully at the Gudwara, we were all wearing dress pants and nice (but not revealing) tops with the scarves over our heads. We were told to try and stray from wearing white or black and not to wear red since that is the colour of the bride's outfit. Everyone else was immaculate. The Sikh guests wore outfits with bright colours and intricate beading; they were gorgeous and I wished I could have had one so I could look as pretty as all of them.

Puja's entry into the Gudwara marked the official start of the ceremony. She was followed in by a hoard of relatives and met Paul at the front of the Gudwara. During the ceremony Paul's female relatives sat just behind him fanned out to the side and the same went for the bride's female relatives but on her side. The ceremony was fully in Punjab so we couldn't understand what was going on but it was interesting to watch. At one point Paul stood up and placed his sash into Puja's hands and they walked together around Sri Guru Granth Sahib with him in front of her, guiding her since her eyes were closed. As she passed each of her male relatives they would hold her by the arm or shoulder and lead her to the next relative. This continued until they were back at the start again at which point a female relative would help her sit back down. This happened four times. At the end of the ceremony men walked around and handed out this stuff that looked like cookie dough but was much softer and tasted like flour, vanilla, butter and milk it was called Karah Prashad. At this point everyone stood in line to congratulate the bride and groom and give them a gift of money.

We then went downstairs for langer the free meal that is provided after every service. It is always vegetarian and in this case it consisted of a rice pudding dish, a hot lentil dish, something made with chickpeas and naan. Everyone was served on the floor by men walking around with stainless steel buckets full of food. The most difficult part was being served by others and still having to eat every last drop of food. The food was very good but my delicate stomach just wanted me to stop torturing it with spice!

At this point we had a couple of hours 'off' where we could go home, relax (sleep) and get ready for the reception. The reception was supposed to start at 6:00 but I guess that everyone that wasn't white knew that 6:00 really meant 7:00 or later because along with a very small handful of people (maybe 5 or 6) we were the only ones there until around 7:00. The night began with finger foods since dinner would not be served until 10:00 (or later) and the food was delicious. Unlike at the Gudwara everything was not vegetarian but there was still more than enough to eat. Spring rolls, samosas, naan, potato tikka, all delicious. We were in food heaven and figured we could eat twice as much since apparently spicy foods are supposed to jump start your metabolism.

The night was full of different and very interesting things. Once the bride and groom had arrived as husband and wife, there were speeches (my brother did an excellent job), videos and then this awesome Punjab dance troop that must have been on speed or something because they were crazy good with amazing stamina! Eventually Paul and Puja had their first dance, and there was dancing and more performances. The dinner was not served until quite late (11:30) and we left shortly after eating more delicious food.

It was an excellent night, one that I would like to repeat if only I had more Sikh friends!

More photos can be found at Paul and Puja's Wedding!

Pura Vida Costa Rica 2008 - 7 and 8

2008-06-17T16:27:00.005-04:00

Day 7
Our second last day was our first day to actually relax. We had big plans of lying on the beach (black sand!) and doing nothing but listen to the waves break and drink fruity beverages. And then, we were stung by bees. It was kind of funny actually because I was complaining that there was a bug on me and Stacey laughed and I said "Karma's a bitch" and then, not 5 minutes later she was stung by a bee. It landed on her shoulder and she went ape-shit and eventually her thrashing and freaking out freaked the bee out enough to sting her. The stinger was a menace too, you could see part of it's butt above the surface, it was BIG. I worked on calming her down and then started heading toward the room so I could message home and get some clues about instant pain relief for bee bites and as I was going a bee landed on my breast, just under my shirt and stung me. I watched it happen and reached the grab the stinger instantly, pulled it out and it was equally big as Stacey's. It was throbbing and I didn't know if I should just carry on or go back to Stacey and I decided that OH MY GOODNESS THE PAAAAIN and I needed to grab myself where you really shouldn't grab yourself in public. So yeah, that was our 'relaxing day' where we were stung by bees. Good things about that day include: MONKEYS! A group of Howler Monkeys had descended on our property the day before and they were right in the trees where we had a perfect view of them. There were babies and adults and it was the cutest thing it life. It saved the day from being really crappy.

Day 8
Today we left Costa Rica, it was a very long and sad day. We spent out morning at the beach, relaxing with some fruity frozen drinks and then we went to the airport and got home close to 12 hours later. It was terrible to leave. As you can see, we were very sad:

Pura Vida Costa Rica 2008 - 6

2008-06-11T16:40:00.007-04:00

Day Six

Another day that we had been anticipating. Ziplining! With, a bonus of horseback riding. The drive out to the place wasn't too long but it was very bumpy. We were 'off-roading' through the mountains. We had a chance to go through a part of Liberia that still reflects it's original name - The White City. Years ago, the roads, the houses, everything was white. Now, the buildings are an assortment of colours and the roads are a blacky-brown. The roads still remain white and while in the photo they look kind of dull, looking at them in the full morning sun was almost blinding. I realise that at the time the material they used was the cheapest and most easily accessible but I can't imagine the number of accidents it's blinding glare would have caused. As you can see, even the side embankments are made from the same mineral (is mineral even the right word??). Once we got off the 'white road' which wasn't too smooth to begin with, we travelled along dirt road up and around through mountainous terrain. I am sure that they need to replace the shocks on their cars regularly.

When we finally got to our destination we were all suited up for some zip lining. The harnesses were not the most attractive but really, who cares about being attractive when you're about to dangle quite that high above the ground. The first platform that we came to didn't have the furthest drop, it was 'to get us ready' for the bigger ones. It was a fast line but we weren't too high above the ground. It was scary for approximately 1 second as you stepped up to the platform but then it was just fun. We took turns zipping down the line and when it was my turn I stepped up and, lo and behold, I was too short to be clipped into the line without standing on my tip toes. Let's just say that when you are being hung by your body weight, you can really feel where the harness is digging in.

The day continued and we went across more lines. One of my favourite was the 'Superman line' where you could hang right upside down or straight out like Superman. I opted to hang upside down because I figured being upside down would make the experience much more exciting. Another favourite was this very fast line where the guy controlling the receiving end (where you land) would pull down on the line so that you would bounce really high. The first time he did it was a little bit shocking but as he kept bouncing you it got faster and more exciting. For all the lines, when you landed on the receiving end you had to be careful not to slide back down the line because you will go directly to the middle and have to pull yourself back to the platform. Or well, you would have to if our guides weren't so nice. When Catherine got stuck midway through the line they went out and 'rescued' her by pulling himself down and both of them back up to the platform. I was really glad that I never had to be 'rescued' but there was one close call since I couldn't touch the ground where I needed to land.

After ziplining we got on some beautiful horses and took off along a wilderness trail nestled in the mountains. Most of the people had never ridden horses before but I had so I volunteered to take the 'fast horse' named Chocolate Chip. Chocolate Chip and I got along really well and he worked hard in the blistering heat. We did a lot of galloping and full out running on the flat bits and he went down the very steep hills like a pro. Some of the others were a little bit uncomfortable and wanted the ride to end but I was perfectly happy for those couple of hours. I love horses and it was great being able to run like the wind. The scenery was beautiful. Just riding through the forest in Costa Rica opens you up to so many new trees, flowers, butterflies, birds, etc. We even went through a river on the horses and there was a small waterfall coming down over one of the mountain sides. The place was gorgeous and the peaceful nature of the forest made the day even more enjoyable. While I could not be a country person I do enjoy spending some time in the forest - especially when there aren't nasty mosquitoes coming at you from every angle. After the horses we made it back to our 'base camp' and had lunch. It was a simple Costa Rican lunch but the food was still good.

When we got back to the hotel that evening we had arranged for Catherine and Daniel - a couple that we met who were staying at the neighbouring hotel - to come and hang out with us and the others that night. So we went back to our room, got cleaned up, had dinner and they joined us for drinks. We had a great night with them and when we eventually went up to our rooms we had to walk up the hill because the bus had stopped running. Let me tell you, it doesn't get any easier when you're drunk.

Pura Vida Costa Rica 2008 - 5

2008-06-06T12:27:00.008-04:00

Day Five

Today is one of the days that I was looking forward to the absolute most. We were going WHITE WATER RAFTING on the Tenorio River. Of course, we had very little sleep due to the Nicaragua experience, but we were still ready to go when our (very good looking) guide picked us up. We were taken to Rios Tropicales - a local company that we had looked into before arriving in Costa Rica. We had been told before leaving that we would need a sunglasses strap to keep them on our face while in the rapids. When we looked everywhere for one even in Nicaragua and up the street at the Hilton gift shop. Since we could not find one we made some out of duct tape. I take full responsibility for this idea as it was a fabulous one. I never travel without my duct tape or my swiss army knife. We thought that we looked pretty cool. As a matter of fact, Hugo (who, might I remind you, was hot) thought they were incredibly interesting and kept examining them. We got some odd stares from locals and tourists alike but we knew that they were just jealous of our ingenious idea. Anyways, they ended up being kind of useless since the white water rafting was through the jungle and therefore quite shaded. We took our glasses off and left them in a special case on the raft.

Before I get started, a little bit of information about the river that we were in is probably necessary. I have taken the following from the Rios Tropicales website:

TENORIO RIVER. Class III-IV
If you are prepared for a huge adventure, you are surely ready for this. The Tenorio River will test your courage with its rapids class III and IV (irregular and medium waves, complex maneuverings in fast rapids in its class III; intense and powerful but yet predictable in the class IV).
Guanacaste features a distinctive dry tropical climate and remains largely undiscovered by foreign visitors. Yet it offers natural treasures—including seven national parks, three wildlife reserves that make out of this province “the place” to enjoy of the wild rapids of the Tenorio. For those already rafters this trip is a must. Its continue challenges await you as you plunge through twists, turns and drops down 18 miles of intense, challenging rapids. All participants must be in a good physical condition.
[...] The Tenorio River has everything on it, you can find a 10 feet drop (class V), one of its kind. It is important to mention that both this drop and some of the most intense rapids weather can or not be ran. Letting you this way, take only specific challenges.
Due to its strategic location, this is a pure magic trip, unsurpassed beauty, and stunning wildlife scenery that will take your breath away

We started the day at the restaurant meeting point and then took a 30 minute drive out to the river. The drive was partially on paved road but mostly on bumpy dirt road. At one point we went over a bridge that consisted of a couple 2x4s laid down length-wise. It was already an adventure. Once we got in the river it was 'smooth sailing' so to speak. The initial part of the river was very calm and allowed us to learn the commands and how to paddle together so that when we hit the harder rapids we would be prepared. Even just the slow raft down the river was enjoyable. The scenery was incredible - brilliant green trees, exotic bright feathered birds, monkeys swinging through the canopy, snakes slithering through the dirt and leaves. Just being able to see the river banks was worth the journey and believe me - it got better.

At the first 'fall' in the water, we were told that it was for practice. To be honest, the actual drop was quite small, in fact, basically everyone remained in the raft. However, I guess because of the way my corner of the boat was situated I went under water but still remained in the boat. Basically, my upper body went back and completed submersed and my legs remained firmly locked into the raft. The photo progression is hilarious because you can see me literally emerging from the water and then as I am able to breathe again, smiling because 'WOW, that was SO COOL!'

As we continued down the river we came upon a bunch of different sized rapids. Eventually we got to a relatively large drop (4 meters) and we were told to brace as we went over because well, we would be going in the water. And in the water we did go. It was almost like we were in slow motion. We started going over. We felt the boat turning to the left. We watched as the water became closer to our faces. We saw as the boat flipped over. We felt the water as it rushed over our heads. We could tell when the boat was completed overturned. We could come up under the boat for air. Or we could kick up to the surface where men were screaming for us to grab their hands. It was not scary at any point though. I felt completely in control even as I was under the water with the rapids surging onto my head. I pulled myself up and started swimming to shore. The biggest problem came when we hit the algae covered rock and could not get any footing! Shocking that it was the damn shoreline that caused the most danger to our group.

After our drop we took a few minutes to rest at the side of the river's edge. One of the guides told us that if we wished, we could climb up the rock face and jump off into the water. Stacey and I scrambled up the rock and waited behind all the boys for our turn. When I got up to the front, the guide told me "to jump right there" and he pointed to a spot near the middle but a little bit to the right, "do not jump there" he pointed to a spot to the left, "because there is a big rock and do not jump there" he said pointing to the right "because then the rapids will be too strong to resurface". I said "what if I cannot jump that far out?" He turned to me and said "then you will die." Well, okay then, and so, I jumped. It was kind of cool going under water because you could feel the rapids pushing you down but your life jacket pulling you back up. It was not a problem getting back up above water and swimming myself to shore.

We still had some more river to go down and another drop so we continued on our way. After the final fall in the rapids we were telling our guide that we wanted MORE so he pulled us back into the fall and started to soak us with the water. He was maneuvering the raft around and directly spraying our backs. It was actually quite nice - like an expensive water massage. He then had us flip the raft by pulling us back into the water so that the force of water was too great for the raft to handle. We flipped backwards and that ended our experience. Needless to say, Stacey and I had a fabulous time!

After we got back to the restaurant, we sat down for a delicious Costa Rican lunch. (Hot) Hugo sat with us and showed us all the deliciousness of Lazano Sauce. It is kind of like hot sauce but not hot instead it is 'spicy' as in, full of spices and flavour. Apparently the locals put it on everything so we joined course and fell in love with the stuff. In fact, on the way back to the hotel, he had the driver stop at a grocery store for us so we could buy some of that and some liquor to take back home.

By this point someone is probably wondering what Pura Vida means. It means, as it sounds, Pure Life. It is the way of living in Costa Rica. We learned to adopt it as our way of living while there too. From Wikipedia: "Contextually, it means "Full of Life" "Purified life", "This is living!", "Going great!" It is used as a greeting, a farewell, and to express satisfaction. ... Costa Ricans use the phrase to express a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, good spirits, enjoying life slowly, celebrating good fortune, whether small or large" As you can see, it encapsulates the activities we were doing and how we should be trying to live - not just when on vacation.

After stopping at the store we were back at the hotel for a little R&R. Goodness knows we needed it since we were running on almost no sleep.

More pictures: Pura Vida Costa Rica 1 and Pura Vida Costa Rica 2

Pura Vida Costa Rica 2008 - 4

2008-05-29T11:13:00.009-04:00

Day Four
Today we had to wake up at 4:30 in the morning. Do you realise how early 4:30 in the morning is? It is really early. It is so early that your eyes burn when you try to focus on anything that isn't the back of your eyelid and you will most likely trip with trying to walk down the steep hill that you are staying on. We had to be awake at 4:30 so that we could be ready to go and on the bus to Nicaragua by 5:30 which is also very early. The intention was to be at the boarder before it was too late in the day in order to avoid a long line up at customs. The drive to the boarder was relatively boring. There was not a lot to see except fields with cows and the normal agriculture.

When we approached the Nicaraguan boarder we were surprised to see the long line of people and buses. Our guide told us to just get out of the van and go inside to use the bathrooms and grab a coffee and he would take care of our passports. In addition to all of the cars the area outside the customs office was crowded with people crossing by foot. It was our first glimpse at the living situation in Nicaragua. The air smelled like stale urine and old garbage, smells that I had become used to in North Africa. It was obvious that Nicaragua was much worse off than Costa Rica despite the fact that they were so close to one another. The toll that the political unrest had on the country could be seen in the environment. The wait at the boarder couldn't have been more than 15 minutes and when we got on the bus we were clear to enter the country.

It was still very early in the morning so our first stop was at a little hotel/restaurant for breakfast. I had to eat eggs again, but I slathered them with ketchup and literally choked them down. When we left breakfast we finally had our first real taste of Nicaragua. The streets were littered with people, small motorcycles, bicycles and animals. The buildings, which are painted either white or in beautiful colours, were chipped and clearly run down. We passed one building that had visible bullet holes in the exterior wall. It was an indicator of all that the country has gone to in order to get to this point - a point which still isn't exceptionally stable.

Our next stop was at a lake nestled in a volcanic crater. All around the water were mountains and we stood on a look out observing the area. The day was beautiful and the sun glinted off the lake. Next we stopped at a market in Masaya. It was smaller then any I had been to in North Africa and was filled with the same thing over and over again. Initially I had been interested in buying a handcrafted pot but once there I saw that every single stall sold them and they all looked identical. I didn't want something mass produced, I wanted something unique so I did not buy anything. After the market we headed to Masaya Volcano. Approximately two tonnes of sulfur dioxide gas is emitted from the volcano every day. You are only allowed to be up at the look out for 15-20 minutes. By the time we headed back down we were coughing like pack-a-day smokers. It was definitely something that I am glad that I saw but it made me sad and angry at the same time. This thing, that cannot be controlled, is toxic to people and the environment. As I was standing there, literally unable to breath without being sent into a fit of coughing, I was disappointed that 'Mother Nature' was doing this.

By the time we got back down the volcano we were able to breath again. We headed to lunch where I was once again served a PLATTER of food. It seems that in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, when you say you are a vegetarian, they think you need 4x more food then everyone else. Then, they look at me funny when I can't eat it all. Oh well. We had a live band playing for us during lunch which was really nice and authentic feeling and we were able to look out onto the lake. It was quite pretty.

After lunch we headed towards the colonial city of Granada. Many of these buildings were also beat up but a lot of them were painted bright colours that made you forget the troubles. I wonder if that is partially the reason for the bright buildings - when you see them it makes you smile no matter what else is going on around you. Grenada is right on Lake Nicaragua so we took this opportunity to get on a boat and see the country from the water. It was kind of boring at first, we kept stopping to look at birds and Stacey and I aren't too into birds. Eventually - after some minor boat malfunctions - we were out touring between the islands. When our boat stopped we figured that it was because the motor had died again, however, when we suddenly heard the tell-tale sound of MONKEYS we knew that we were in for a treat. In the trees there were two different kinds of monkeys, spider monkeys and one (white face) capuchin monkey. They were so close to our boat that even without having a zoom on the video feature of my digital camera, we got these great videos:

That one is of a young spider monkey playing in the tree. The next is when the monkey came on the boat. I was pretty much having the best time every at this point.

At one point you can see that I am basically filming the monkey's back. That is because he is IN MY LAP! Yes, best moment of the day. There are a whole bunch of monkey photos in the album so check them out.

After the boat tour we stopped in Grenada to walk around the square. It was beautiful and full of life. People were playing soccer in the street, playing music in the gazebo, selling crafts on the grass. It was a lovely place - the bright buildings helped.

After we finished there we jumped back on the bus and headed back to Costa Rica. We crossed the boarder with zero problems and while driving our very tired butts home, our bus broke down. On the side of the road. It just, stopped working. We were a little worried because here we are on the side of the highway in a strange country literally in the middle of nowhere. Everyone kept their spirits up though and after a couple of hours, a replacement bus came and got us. It could have been much worse. We got back to the hotel around 12:30 and they had saved dinner for us but we were too tired to eat. We had been awake since 4:30 and needed to be up at 6:30 the next day so we could go White Water Rafting, we were exhausted. It was a fantastic day though, I mean - MONKEYS!

Pura Vida Costa Rica 2008 - 3

2008-05-28T12:02:00.008-04:00

Day Three

Initially we figured that we would have one day off between each big activity. That did not happen but we had planned for some beach time on the Wednesday. We started the day out casually lying by the ocean, burning the skin off our feet when we dared to step on the (SCALDING HOT) black sand, enjoying ourselves. Then it was suggested that we rent a boat for the day and go snorkeling. I must say that when I left for this trip I prefaced it with "Okay, but I will NOT be going in the ocean deeper than my waist" because I really don't like fish/sharks touching me or really just being anywhere near me. However, I do kind of like boats, and I like doing stuff with people so I said yes and told Stacey that the chances of me going IN the water were pretty slim. Since we were planning on heading out in the afternoon we essentially had the whole morning to just relax, drink fruity frozen drinks and do as we please. The food was surprisingly good, all of the reviews had said the food was terrible but really it wasn't. We enjoyed our morning and when the boat pulled up along shore we were ready to head out.

Our boat 'captain' was named Luis and he was about our age so that made the trip a bit more fun. The ride was a lot of fun and he stopped along the way to point out interesting things such as Monkey Head Island and the hotels that we could never afford to stay at. The day was very hot so the ocean breeze was nice as we crashed through the waves. When we stopped at our snorkeling spot I put on my fins and my dorky mask and got myself ready to get into the water. Then, I turned to Luis and said "are there a lot of sharks in there" and he said "oh, not many." Um.. not many means some which pretty much makes me fear for my limbs. I kept my fins on and told someone else to be the guinea pig to test the waters. So in Lee goes and when she comes back up above water she yells "that is so cool there are a couple of eels RIGHT THERE!" at which point I turned around, took off my fins and mask and decided there was no way in hell I was getting in that water. I was still able to experience the ocean life though, from the safety of the boat. Luis kept bringing up ugly fish for me to look at, such as this blow fish and a sea star. At one point I also stuck my face in the water with the mask so I could see the nasty water creatures. I do not regret staying on the boat but I am sure it was awesome in the water.

After we finished snorkeling, Luis took us to this beautifully undisturbed white sand beach. We explored the island (in our bikinis and flip flops!) and looked for some howler monkeys. We were unsuccessful but the view was breathtaking so it was worth it. The hike back down the near vertical muddy road way was 'fun' but luckily none of us slipped and landed on our very bare bottoms. That would be road burn that would hurt for days. As we headed back to our hotel the sun started to set. I have never seen sunset from the water - it was gorgeous. The sky turned purple, pink, blue and orange. The minnows were jumping out of the water and Luis slowed the boat down so that he could cast out his fishing rod. Within a couple of minutes we had reeled in a fish. He tossed it overboard before we headed back to shore.

That night Stacey and I decided that we should get dressed up for dinner. The hotel did not have a dress code, we could have sat there in our bathing suits and nobody would have cared, but we wanted to feel pretty. After dinner we drank some more fruity drinks and stood by the bon fire at the beach. Next up: Nicaragua!

Pura Vida Costa Rica 2008 - 2

2008-05-20T12:07:00.004-04:00

Day Two
Today was our first day of real adventure. However, before we boarded the van, we were able to grab breakfast at the hotel. The hotel had this omelet bar and seeing as how I am a vegetarian, I figured I should have some eggs so I get some of the essential nutrients that my body needs. I must add, I do not like eggs unless they are in a sandwich and disguised by miracle whip and mustard (Ie. egg salad sandwich). So, I got my egg, I had some fruit (yumm) and I had some french toast. So, I put my fruit plate down on the table and walk back over to the omelet bar to grab my eggs. Apparently while I was gone this CRAZY bird swooped down and ate my papaya! I didn't know this until later... about the time that the bird, the scary, eye pecking out, bird landed on my chair and STOLE MY FRENCH TOAST. It was so nice of me to cut it up into manageable pieces - I am always one to please. So while this bird is chilling on the back of my chair, eating my french toast, I am standing on the opposite side of the table and Stacey is laughing and taking photos. Yes, it was humorous, but look at this thing, wouldn't you be worried if it was 10 inches from your face!

After the breakfast drama, we boarded the van and set out to drive 3.5 hours to see Arenal, an active and incredibly awesome volcano. I am not going to lie, I was slightly scared about visiting Arenal. I mean, it is ACTIVE. In fact, every time I read something about Arenal and it's surrounding area a variation of this warning would be at the bottom of the page:

Safety Concerns: Tabacón is a “high-risk zone” and lies directly in the path of the volcano’s eruptive path (the former community of Tabacón was decimated in 1968 by an eruption that killed 78 people; and in June 1975, an eruptive avalanche passed over the site of today’s Balneario). A potentially deadly avalanche occurs within the zone once every two or three years, often without warning, and it is unlikely that anyone in its path could get out of the way in time.

However, while I had these apprehensions before leaving for Costa Rica, by the time I was actually there it never occurred to me that, um... I could die today. Obviously everything went off without a hitch so the worrying was for nothing. Anyways, we met some great people in our van that day. Staying at our hotel were Andrew and Lee and Roya and Martin and from the hotel just down the street were Catherine and Dan. They were all relatively close to us in age (except Roya and Martin) and it was a great way to meet people that we would be able to spend the week with.

The drive was not bad at all. We looped through the country passing through the dry and then the wet forest. We saw old trees and vibrant flowers. We saw birds soaring and cows and horses eating. We saw fields of aloe, coffee and sugar cane. When comparing Costa Rica to other countries that I have been to and even just countries in it's general vicinity, it seems to be doing better economically. Obviously, when you look into the actual facts you will see that they are still suffering but they are definitely doing better then some of the other Latin American countries. The view was breathtaking as we passed lakes and mountains with vibrant green trees and colourful flowers dotting the country side. When we arrived at lunch the spot overlooked Lake Arenal and after eating our lunch we stood outside and watched the waves lap against the shore.

It was just after lunch when our van suddenly pulled to the shoulder. It wasn't the first time this had happened, our driver had already stopped a couple of times so we could observe birds and the roots of that tree up above. This time, the guide told us to get out and look up because there were howler monkeys up in that tree, right there. Well, I don't think I could have gotten out of that van faster if I had tried. I went to Costa Rica to see some monkeys! So here I am, with my head craned back, seeing spots because of the sharp angle and staring at leaves. Yes, leaves. Someone shouts "there is one!" and I quickly look in the direction they are pointing. It was at this moment that I realised, I am horrible at spotting things in trees. This goes along with those paintings where you stare at the dots and eventually see a boat or a car or something, I was never good at those either. Eventually I saw movement and OH MY GOODNESS, THERE WERE MONKEYS! It wasn't that I didn't believe people before but it just wasn't as cool if I couldn't see them. So here we are, standing on the side of a road in Costa Rica staring up at the trees looking at the movement of howler monkeys. I was in heaven. Then, Stacey starts screaming and my stomach plummets as I rush over to her. She had stepped on an ant hill that housed fire ants and they were attacking her legs. It ended up being okay, she wasn't bit very much but it could have been much worse.

After we had removed all of the ants from her flip flops (they went inside the holes for the straps and kept coming out and biting her) we carried on down the road towards our next stop, a hike through the jungle at the base of Arenal (of course, in a High Risk Volcano Zone). The amount of cool things that we saw on the hike made the hot humid weather worth it. At one point, our guide picked up an ant that was scurrying across the ground. He said that it was a leafcutter ant and then he let it bite him. It was really cool but also very painful looking. He explained that the natives used to use leafcutters to pull together the skin torn from a cut. This was a modified form of stitches. Even as our guide had the ant on his finger you could see it's razor like fangs coming together closer and closer until the gap was almost closed. After Stacey's fire ant scare she wasn't getting close. As we continued our journey through the jungle he explained different trees to us and the hierarchy of things. It was beautiful in there, and I say that as a city girl. There were these trees that basically suck the life from other trees by encasing them until they die. It seemed pretty vicious - I had no idea that trees could murder other trees! There were also gum trees which made me feel like Tarzan. Of course I did not swing from them but that would have been cool. All of a sudden, our guide turned around and told us to be quiet and then he darted off the trail into the brush. We, of course, followed suit and as he pointed to the tree we realised what a cool thing we had come across. Up in the tree there was a Tamandua which is a genus of anteaters! Bonus: I actually saw it this time! Anteaters are supposed to be nocturnal so this was especially interesting to see during mid-day.

After we had stared up sufficiently, we continued on our way learning about more trees, more flowers, more bugs, etc. It was nice to just take in our surroundings. After all, how often is a person in a jungle in Costa Rica? As we were almost finished our trip we came across some more wildlife. Howler monkeys! This time there was a whole colony so I actually saw some of them in the trees. Our guide starting mimicking their sounds which really got them howling. The howler monkey is considered to be the loudest land animal so you can only imagine what it sounded like as their voices bounced off trees in the otherwise silent jungle.

After the hike we were taken to Baldi Hot Springs. At Baldi there are 20 mineral termal water hot springs that range from 93*F to 152*F. It was like walking into an oasis. The pools looked serene as they sat surrounded by palm trees, exotic (to us) flowers and very few people. The picture to the left shows one of the pools with the volcano in the background. It was a great view and a relaxing environment. We stayed there for a few hours, relaxing in the pools, exploring the grounds and eventually settling in for a nice dinner.

When we finished at Baldi we finally headed to the volcano to see it erupt. Due to cloud coverage we had been unable during the day so we were taking the opportunity to see it at night. One of the girls had brought along binoculars so it was pretty incredible to actually watch the lava roll down the side of the volcano. We were unable to get any photos of the eruptions but if you go to this website you can see some professional photographs.

Our day was long but enjoyable. By the time we got back to the hotel we were definitely ready for bed. It was a great way to start our Costa Rican trip and was merely the starting point of many great days to come.

More photos can be found here

Pura Vida Costa Rica 2008

2008-05-13T14:25:00.012-04:00

Day One - our flight was good, very little turbulence and it didn't feel too long. When we landed in Liberia it was like stepping into a sauna, a very humid sauna. My first stop was in the bathroom to put on something - anything - lighter than my 'Canadian clothes'. Luckily I had packed shorts in my carry-on anticipating this problem. There was a line for the single stall in the ladies washroom and nobody in the men's so I went in and quickly changed my pants. I am pretty sure everyone thought I was insane but I was happy and much cooler. Our luggage came out quickly - not a surprise since it was such a small airport and we were the only plane. The bus ride to our hotel was quick. We were expecting the absolute worst - all of the reviews that we had read for our hotel were that it was a crappy place to stay and to never ever go there. I have stayed in some nasty places so we decided to risk it. We drove in the grounds and assumed that we were at another hotel because it was breath-takingly beautiful. Apparently people are too picky because we had no complaints. The view was perfect of the ocean and there were bright flowers everywhere. We were greeted by frozen drinks and took the shuttle up to our room. The downside is that the hotel is located on the side of a mountain (as is the whole area of Papagayo) but the shuttle was great and the hill wasn't that steep. Our room was our next surprise. It was a beautiful, big, clean, ocean view room. The bathroom was even clean enough that I was willing to shower without shower shoes. We stood on our balcony and took it all in - the beauty of Costa Rica.

Since we wanted to get our butts down to the beach we quickly changed and commenced our first (of many) walk down the 'hill'. We sat on the beach, let the water lap against our legs and relaxed as the sun began to set. Dinner was good, another surprise according to the reviews and after we sat by the ocean.

Gone

2008-04-27T22:44:00.000-04:00

I have gone to Costa Rica to swing through the trees like Tarzan. I'll be back in a week.

Being honest

2008-04-24T11:29:00.003-04:00

For the majority of my life I have had serious self-esteem issues. I try and hide the fact that I hate the way I look, I tell people that I don't like a certain shirt because it is the wrong colour, or bad material but in reality I think it makes me look fat. I make excuses all the time but if I were to be honest with everyone I could admit that I hate the way I look. It's a hard thing to admit. I know inside that I feel that way but telling others is hard. For one, you're worried that they will agree - yes, you are fat and ugly. For another, you don't want them feeling bad for you or complimenting you just because they think that is what you need to hear. There was a very brief period in my life where I should have liked how I looked. I was very thin, I looked good and I had a great boyfriend but even then I kept thinking that I could be thinner and prettier. When I look back now I worry that those days were the best I will ever look and I never appreciated them - I shouldn't look my best at 17. There are days when I don't look in the mirror because I hate what I see. I hate my hips, my thighs, the fat around my stomach, the jiggle on my arms, the thickness of my face. I hate it all.

I often wish I was able to have an eating disorder. That is a messed up thought. Who wishes that they could stick their fingers down their throat or starve themselves. At points in high school I would sit in the bathroom and try to will myself to do it but I never could. For me, the health implications always won out over the desire to look better. I know that educated people have disorders but I never understood how they could push aside the practical, logical part of their brain and force themselves to do something that they knew they shouldn't. I guess it is like smoking - an addiction that you can't break. When I was in grade school I used to read books about girls who had eating disorders and would eventually end up in a rehabilitative centre where one of their friends would inevitably die because of their condition. It fascinated me even at age 12.

Even though I hate myself and I wish that I looked different, part of me is angry that I am led to think those things. Really, I am not overly obese by most standards but to me I am still fat. Honestly, I don't know if losing weight will even help - will I always think that I am fat? I will never be a size 2 and I think that contributes to my feelings. I *do* blame society, I know that I am not a size large and that they have made clothes smaller, I know that the media's portrayal of 'beautiful people' has warped my personal image. I know these things yet I still can't like who I am. I guess in part, I figure that if the clothing industry thinks I am a large then most people probably agree.

I am going away on Monday and for the past two weeks all I have thought about is how fat I am and how horrible I will look. I have dreaded the thought of putting on a bikini, of wearing a tight fitting shirt. I am worried that I will be judged and that people will hate what they see. I guess I am worried that I will repulse people.

I am 22 and I have hated how I look for at least 10 years, sometimes I wonder if it will ever end but I know that it probably won't. If I can't love myself then I can't let other people love me so someday it has to change.