A very rainy afternoon in San José gives me time to write my last post from Costa Rica. The rainy season here has actually given me more time to write throughout the trip than I anticipated, actually. Anyways, I thought I would share some of the insight I have gained travelling alone the last three weeks. I think this kind of insight is worth sharing.
Today I find myself back at Hostel Pangea, which was my first stop upon arriving in Costa Rica. It feels a bit like book-ends closing a chapter in my life that I could never have written if I tried. Yesterday, I lay on the beach at Santa Teresa and listened to my ipod for pretty much the first time since I left Canada. The songs sent me on a roller coaster of memories, walking me down memory lane and the soundtrack of recent life experience. Music does that to me. I love the artistry and sound of it, but I also love the way it bring back vivid images for me. Some songs remind me of people while other songs can take me right back to a particular place and time.
I shed a few happy tears as I lay on that beach, my feet pointing towards the vast stretch of water of the Pacific Ocean. Fond memories of Kingston and my last year at Queen’s were triggered by a number of songs. I remember being in a place in my life where so much was familiar and established. Four years at the same school had created that for me – a sense of place, identity, and belonging. An open road may ahead beyond graduation, but for a time, I knew who I was (or so I thought I did!) At the same time, I was ready to move on. It makes me wonder if we are even meant to feel like we totally comfortable somewhere. Life is more interesting for me when I change my surroundings, even if it just means leaving something familiar for a short time (through travel, for instance).
When you go back to that familiar place, you re-integrate yourself back in. You bring in a bit of the old and the new, like re-trying a recipe with results hopefully better than the last batch!
Going beyond our usual comforts exposes exciting parts of ourselves that have been hidden or that lay dormant beneath years of accumulated assumptions. In the process of finding ourselves and our sense of belonging in a particular place, we adopt new qualities and shed certain parts of ourselves for the sake of fitting in. Familiarity can force us into a certain form that we assume around the people we love, at our jobs, in our community, and group of friends.
What part of you have let go of for the sake of fitting in and feeling comfortable?
The characteristics that we shed are often what set us apart from others. So, go pick up the pieces of you that you left behind! Do what you have to do to find them.
I found a gentle and quiet spirit that thirsts for solitude and peace both inside and amongst others. (Part of this is that I have rediscovered that I really am a capital ¨I¨ introvert). That part of me was always there, but now I really know that it is something I need in my life – daily. The times that I get frazzled and lose awareness of myself in the midst of situations I encounter usually arise because I have not taken the time to find stillness. I need to re-energize by going inward.
When you sense anger arising, seek stillness. When you can’t handle the stress, seek stillness, even if it is just for 10 seconds. When you feel yourself reacting out of character, excuse yourself, and seek stillness.
By re-centering ourselves in stillness we can truly be present and authentic not just to others, but to ourselves.
© Meghan J. Ward, 2009.
Since I wrote about Cerro Chirripo, I have been to La Fortuna, Monteverde, and now I am in the beach-side town of Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula.
La Fortuna was the ‘Banff’ of Costa Rica for me. Nothing against my town, but it was definitely the most developed and commercial place I have been – the ‘go-to’ place for first-time backpackers who are looking for a party and a pool. It was beautiful, nonetheless, and my hostel was positioned perfectly with a great view of Volcan Arenal, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Spewing smoke at all hours, and apparently an avalanche just after I left, it is one of those wonders of the world that you just can’t take your eyes off of.
Fast forward to Monteverde, which is quite a neat little town nestled in the cloud forest. Monteverde was established as a Quaker settlement and is now filled with conservationists, hippies, and canopy tour operators. Upon my arrival there, I did the most touristy thing I have done so far on this trip and signed up for a zipline extravaganza through and over the cloud forest. The two highlights for me were definitely the “Tarzan Swing,” which is actually just as it sounds, and the kilometre long zip-line. My other days in Monteverde took me up Cerro Amigos, which had me bushwacking through forest that hadn’t seen the light of day in…ever, and walking through the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, a reserve of protected forest that is great for wild-life watching. I had a particularly hilarious confrontation with a monkey, who clearly knew I was watching him, so he broke off a branch of the tree he was swinging on and threw it at me! I loved Monteverde and particularly the vibe of the hostel where I was staying, Pension Santa Elena. It was the most social I have been on the whole trip.
And that brings me to Playa Santa Teresa, where I am staying at Casa Zen, a thai-inspired guesthouse 50 metres from the Pacific Ocean. Yesterday’s morning yoga session brought me to Zen-heaven – I had never done yoga outdoors before, let alone on a roof-top patio where ocean waves crashing on the shore near-by created a natural soundtrack. My trip finishes off soon, with one more day here after today and then a trip back to San Jose.
I’m off to another yoga session in a few minutes. I’ll see you there somewhere between Om and Namaste.
© Meghan J. Ward, 2009.
Transcribing this from my journal entry on June 14…
best coffee in the world
Trying yet another one of Costa Rica’s coffee shops, this time the Rainforest Café. Costa Ricans sure love their café, and I love them for that. Or perhaps they know that we North Americans love coffee, and so they make it readily available. Apparently, Americans drink more coffee than Costa Ricans, though I would have to say that, based on observation, Ticos enjoy their coffee more – not simply downing it droopy-eyed in the morning and hourly thereafter to kick start the old engine.
Made traditionally, it takes much longer to produce just a single cup of coffee (Tico-style); a whole pot would be unthinkable and time-consuming, though Ticos seem to have all the time in the world.
I take a sip of what may be the best latté I have ever had. I have said that before while I’ve been here, but this time is unmistakable. And writing and coffee go so well together, except that it take me a long time to write and only a few short minutes to see the bottom of my coffee cup.
Rumour has it, one of the sentences Ticos used to make their children read while learning to read was something along the lines of “I drink coffee every day. Coffee is good for me.” (I am fairly sure I have also heard my mother say this by her own volition and not simply reading a school textbook). Scientists have long debated whether or not coffee is “good” for you. No doubt, though, it is good for the soul and boosts your spirits.
A magical bean, I say.
Check out http://www.cafemonteverde.com/, one of the local coffee co-ops in Monteverde, Costa Rica.
© Meghan J. Ward, 2009.
You are currently browsing the archives for the Travel Writing category.
 | Paul Zizka on Real Adventure |
 | Meghan on Communication 101 |
 | 99ppp on Communication 101 |
| Paul Zizka on The Wax of our Thoughts |
| Meghan on My First 10km Road Race E… |
