The road to Monteverde

Met some folks over breakfast and ended up spending another day in La Fortuna where we hit a free public hotspring and tried our hands at rapelling, which is basically mountaineering with none of the work and little of the risk... Your guide hooks you up and you rapel down various rock faces, through waterfalls, etc. Pretty exhillerating!

Got on the road the next day and enjoyed the incredible beauty of the countryside along winding mountain roads on the way to Monteverde. It's unpaved most of the way and you are driving at 20mph, but all 3+ hours of the journey is gorgeous.

Spent the night in Santa Elena, a little tourist enclave near Monteverde and got into the forest for a creepy night tour. Lots of insects and bats on display. Saw a family of kinkajoo as well. Photos are a bit limited but will post what I've got when I get home.

Here's my hotel in Santa Elena

Volcano Arenal and Baldi hotsprings

Enjoyed a nice hike near the base of an active volcano. Though it was cloudy and obscured for much of the afternoon we were able to see some lava flow at dusk.

Followed that up with a few hours at a swanky hotsprings nearby featuring poolside bars you could swim up to (and order $10 cocktails), manmade waterfalls, and some crazy waterslides. There were 15 pools in all and my toes are still tingling from the 30 seconds I spent in the 152 degree pool!

Sadly not many good pictures from this leg as I was paranoid about losing stuff at the hotsprings. Ah well...

Update from The mountains

Nikki left today so I am flying solo again...

But not before we enjoyed a great day in the mountains. We stayed the night in Turrialga and had an amazingly tasty casado (the dish not the marriage) at a 'soda' for about $4 a person.

The next day we did a white water rafting trip down the Pacuare river. Didn't get over class 4, but it was truly picturesque and a great time. Got some good photos from that to post when I get home.

After Nikki headed to the airport I watched the champions league final over a beer and then rented a car and found my way through a torrential rain storm to La Fortuna, a tourist destination near the Arenal volcano.

Tent camping in Corcovado

We flew from San Jose to Drake Bay and are staying at a tent camp in the Corcovado jungle. Aside from the humidity and Mosquitos it's been pretty comfy here by the ocean.

We did a hike in the jungle today and saw a sloth, some spider monkeys and some squirrel monkeys. No tapir or jaguar, I'm afraid, but cool knowing they're around.

Traveling light

Having lugged too much around with me in Asia, I've packed as light as possible this time around. I've got two small backpacks for the next three weeks. Hopefully I won't get too tired of these 3 tshirts!

Costa Rica!

Nikki and I arrived in Costa Rica and promptly took a nap. We stayed at a cute little hotel in Alajuela and enjoyed a tasty beverage or two at a local sports bar where they were showing ping ping. Where can a fella get a soccer game around here?

Next it's off to Corcovado national park for 5 days of tent camping on the beach.

Vegas tourney time

Got my America fix, and how, with a long weekend in Las Vegas. Had a very successful soccer tournament where we went undefeated and qaulified for the playoffs for the first time in the 5 years I've gone. However, the 100 degree heat finally took it's toll on us and we lost in the semis... but it was all-in-all a terrific weekend.

Photos from Fatburger and outside my hotel at dawn where I was walking around trying to beat my jetlag... 1 hour of sleep the night before a full day of soccer wasn't exactly what I'd wanted, but what can you do?

Pictures!

Posted pics from Thailand and Cambodia here: http://picasaweb.google.com/dmilbrath/ThailandAndCambodia

Next stop is Las Vegas for more hot weather! Have a soccer tournament this weekend and then its off to Costa Rica with Nikki. Good times!

Out with a bang

Feeling a bit better today after a couple of quiet days. I'm flying back stateside this afternoon... Hopefully the 3 weeks in Asia has prepared me somewhat for playing soccer in the 100 degree heat in vegas this weekend. Just over a flu, jetlagged, not much exercise in 3 weeks... Should be a hoot.

In other news, I did make it to the shooting range before I left Cambodia. My first effort wasn't terrific... Only managed to nail my target in the shoulder despite firing off 50 rounds with an automatic weapon. Note to self, probably best not to start your first target practice with an Uzi. Rifle definitely would have been a better value.

Sorry this is the only photo I got... Somehow seemed kinda lame to ask those military dudes to snap a picture of me holding my gun. What is this guy wearing, anyway? Don't bring your pillbox hat and wifebeater tshirt to the firing range, hombre!

Back in Bangkok and laying low

Arrived back in Bangkok and am experiencing my first health problem... Flu-like symptoms. Haven't been hanging out with any hogs so I think I can rule out swine flu, but I have been feasted on by mosquitos despite showering myself in deet... Fingers crossed it remains a low key thing and passes soon but it looks like I'll be winding up my trip in low key fashion. Consequentally, I may not get to the river kwai and a ride on the death railway as I'd planned.

Ride from the airport was interesting - driver had the tv on in the front seat while we drove through a thunderstorm. Safety first!

Siem Reap in a day or so...

Though only my second night in Siem Reap, I can heartily recommend it over Phnom Penh (or Bankok) ... You've got access to modern conveniences should you need them, but it's decidely smaller and slower paced - which strikes me as a bit of the point for these countries. Siem reap lacks much in the way of infrastructure but it's also less seedy and safer than those cities... There is a little tourist enclave should you need that but it doesn't take long to get to neighborhoods where the electricity is provided by portable generators.

I've tried to make the most of my short time here with a trip to a fishing village on lake Tonse at sunset, shopping and dinner in the old market, a couple of drinks at a local club where kids were breaking it down old school style, and a visit to more temples than you could shake a chicken satay at (Ankor Wat and Ankor Thom among others). Tomorrow I may fire off a few rounds at the shooting range before flying back to Bankok.

The ruins were definiely impressive but I may have enjoyed the time on the water the most. Wish I'd budgeted more time for Cambodia. Some good photos coming but here are some quick shots taken with my phone...

Bus ride to Siem Reap

For my trip up to Siem Reap I'd hoped to take a boat up through lake Tonse, a huge freshwater lake in the center of Cambodia. Unfortunately water levels were still too low so I had to bus it up. Brutal traffic getting out if Phnom Penh but the drive became more scenic in the second half.

Highlight of the 6 hour trip was probably stopping at the market for lunch. I decided to pass on the fried beetle and fried tarantula, as apetizing as it looked...

More on Phnom Penh

Got a bunch of site seeing in today including the royal palace, silver pagoda (strangely not silver), and the killing fields. Think I've got some decent pictures to post... A few tough ones. Will post when I return.

It's finally raining out... It's been hotter than Natalie Portman here (that's hot)... and actually kind of dry... So much so that I'm taking the bus tomorrow to Siem Reap rather than boat because the river is too low in places. Kinda bummed about that.

Some ways Phnom Penh is different than Bankok:
• hotter (see above)
• people drive on the right rather than the left side of the street
• strike that. They seem to drive on both sides here
• poverty is much more apparent... Feels a bit like India in that you are always being asked for money
• US currency is freely exchanged
• Limited infrastructure here ... No public transportation and you're not likely to find a taxi
• Unless you're wealthy you get around on a moto or a bike...which sounds better for the environment than it is. After my tuk-tuk ride today I feel like I was sucking an exhaust pipe for a couple of hours.
• just about everything is cheaper here... and yet you are somehow more aware of money all the time

Phnom Penh!

Arrived in Cambodia. Picture doesn't do it justice but traffic here is lunacy. Crossing the street is a leap of faith ... And an exercise in determination. Of course if you don't hear from me again you'll know I found a tuk-tuk with my name on it.

Footballin good times

Been watching a bunch of soccer here... Sadly last nights manu/arsenal game was past my bedtime, but it's been nice watching games over a beer or two at the local watering hole. Feels very European. Even had the chance to play a little 5 a side game with a bunch of Brits last night which was a hoot... Definitely missing playing!

Today I fly to phnom penh for the Cambodian leg of my journies. Not sure what the wifi situation will be but will post when I can.

Sampling Hat Rin

Was curious to check out Hat Rin on Ko Pha Ngan an island just north of Ko Samui. It's a little beachside haven for party-going tourists, known for it's Full Moon festival when up to 10000 folks crowd into the little strip of beach for a rave-like shindig. I was curious to see what, if anything, it had in common with Burning Man.

Quick answer is not too much. Probably hard to compare as I was there on a sleepy Monday nowhere near the full moon... Definitely alot of good looking people out and about, sand, music, fire spinning. The similarities end there though... As with anything in Thailand catering to a tourist crowd, it's all about commerce -- more of a beach boardwalk feel in the end... Not to say it wouldn't be a fun, beautiful, inexpensive place to spend a week with friends, but it lacks any of the sacrifice you make when tripping out to the middle of the desert - among other things.

Ok, enough on that... I've likely lost most of you by now. In other news: while it is satisfying getting to stay at a swanky resort in a hip tourist destination for $15 a night... I'd really recommend springing the extra $5 for a room with air conditioning... And without a flock of birds mating in the trees overhead. Really must get some sleep...

International adventures in marketing, part 2

The food here is, well, OK.

International adventures in marketing

But do you LOVE your 7-11?



In case you can't read it, the caption says: "7-11 is an intimate friend who is always there for you." Friend with benefits? Or friend with beef jerky?

Elephant crossing

Today's highlight would have to be the elephant ride. Big gal named Sao. The guide took us up a mountain path... Had no idea those critters could climb. Definitely a hoot. Proper photos to be posted when I get home.

Also got some jetsking in. Whatever the environmental concerns it's definitely a rush taking the thing as fast as it will go (70mph on this little guy) ... Want to take something out with more horsepower!

Also did a cool hike to the top of a waterfall. Was feeling pretty cool standing on a rock up top looking down at all the folks below who had no idea how to get up there... Until I leaned over and lost my $200 sunglasses into the falls. Whoops. Maybe shoulda used that croakie I bought, eh? *grumble*

Getting a little Moto on

Been buzzing around the island a bit on a rented moped... The windy roads, crazy drivers and driving on the lefthand side of the road has made it interesting. Makes one start entertaining those motorcycle fantasies...

In other news ... I'm bailing on Vietnam. I think there just isn't enough time in the trip to even scratch the surface there so I'm going to spend more time in Thailand and Cambodia. Trying not to bum about the dough I wasted on preliminary arrangements. Plans change. Ah well...