Hay Niños Aqui!
In a career that is approaching a decade, Malpais has become one of the most popular bands in Costa Rica. Their appeal, like the band, kept growing. And I think this is one thing that adds to their popularity: they continually expand the realm of their influences. Malpais has gained the affection of their continually growing audience because they never forgot their roots. Their songs are snapshots, histories, reflections and all human and tangible. The new album “Hay Niños Aqui” keeps them on both roads of staying grounded, while spreading out.
Read MoreThe Tree Pose
I’d like to present an important concept from yoga, one which I encourage in every pose that we practice. There is not really a name for this concept, rather a description.
It can be summed up as: “In a pose, what parts of my body do I need to use, and which ones can I let go of?”
When practicing yoga, many people seek, and achieve, improvements in their physical bodies: six pack abs, less fat, more muscle, increase in flexibility. All of these are great goals, and can look and feel great as you achieve them. Many of these results come when we use our muscles, and burn calories. That’s fine, however, that’s not really where the “yoga happens”.
Read MoreThe Kids Saving The Rainforest Wildlife Rescue Center
The Wildlife Rescue Center was very busy in 2010 and it was also very successful. We received 116 injured, sick, or orphaned animals, which is 37 more than we received in 2009. Most of them were titi monkeys and both species of sloths, the 3 toed and the 2 toed. However we also treated porcupines, kinkajous, white face monkeys, howler monkeys, ocelots (a wild cat also know as the Dwarf Leopard), and even one otter, among others! Our success rate is increasing year after year, right now with a remarkable statistic of over 50% release percentage. We feel very enthusiastic by this number considering that other wildlife rescue centers barely release up to third of the animals accepted.
Read MoreHow to Beat an Unfair Traffic Ticket
This article aims to provide information about what to do if you are given a transit fine that you think you do not deserve. Or, at least, which legal strategy you can follow to delay or avoid the payment.
Read MoreMy Quest for Authentic Cabbage Rolls
Cabbage rolls are a favorite of mine, having grown up with a Polish mother. I guess that puts them in the category of comfort food for me. It’s a good dish to make here in Costa Rica because the ingredients are both cheap and readily available (except for caraway seeds, which are only sporadically available).
Read MoreQuepos Flyfishing
I have written previously about the fantastic sportsfishing available in the waters around Quepos and Manuel Antonio. International Game Fish Association world records have been held over the years in both flyfishing and “conventional” fishing by Puerto Quepos fishermen. The abundance of billfish in the area makes Quepos one of the premier spots in the world for flyfishing with anglers successfully catching (and releasing) sailfish and marlin caught on the fly. Quepos annually hosts the Gray International Flyfishing Tournament that was started as a memorial tournament to recognize Jim Gray a local flyfisherman and IFGA recordholder and a pioneer in saltwater flyfishing. Next month Quepos will host the Costa Rica Classic International Billfish Tournament (www.costaricaclassic.com) benefiting the Boomer Esiason Foundation. All the money raised in this tournament stays in Costa Rica to help those suffering from cystic fibrosis.
Read MoreCosmic Confetti’s Horoscopes – February 2011
AQUARIUS – January 20-February 18
Don’t trust little birdies…they are renounced liars. Protesting is about to become important to you, as is writing witty slogans on placards something you are very good at if you can get the right pens.
RULING GEMSTONE: AMETHYST
Fishing Report – February 2011
The time has come for this ocean treasure and the year starts with a decent number on the reports. From now until April, boats will chase more Sailfish than any other months of the year. Only in the first two weeks of January, Ojaran II and Ojaran III have released 19 Sailfish. They have come joined with a Marlin and rarely a Mahi-Mahi. This is not really the a good times for Tuna lovers so; we definitely stand up for Billfish during these months and Marlin has been showing up too. The first two weeks in January were nice for Captain Rocco and mate who released 5 Marlin around 200 and 300 pounds on the Ojaran II. Cold water has been enemy number one when looking for a nice Mahi-Mahi these days. Even in those conditions, truly expert captains and mates have found warmer rips where Dorado have been boated. Inshore fishing lovers will be fascinated with the great opportunities to catch a delicious Spanish mackerel. Daily fishing reports stand from 10 to 25 Mackerels in one boat. Ojaran II had 16 on January 12th. Real Deal came back water to catch a couple of Roosterfish the second week of January. Amberjacks have been present too.
Read More¿Qué Pasa en Quepos? – February 2011
Bienvenidos/Welcome to Paradise. How lucky you are to be visiting the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area. We hope that your vacation is a wonderful experience………..you have come to the right place for exciting tours like rafting, sportfishing, & canopy zip line – just to name a few!………we also have the most enticing
Read MoreGetting Tough with Tourism
This current situation with Nicaragua makes me feel like I am witnessing some mean, underfed yet frightening school bully stealing lunch money from the timid, studious kid the next barrio over. The powerless one—Costa Rica– offers no resistance, hands over his change, and looks about pleadingly for help, for some authority figure or big brother/mentor to step in and make things right but no help is forthcoming. Meanwhile, the dull bully –Nicaragua– flexes his angry anemic muscle as Costa Rica waits and waits patiently for someone to come and put the meanie in his place. I love this country, but I don’t love the wimpiness, the “turn the other cheek for we are a trembling but proud people of peace” image we seem to be cultivating. Our answer to this illegal occupation of a small piece of Costa Rica has been to….wave flags. We lack toughness. It’s a brutal world out there and too often the Costa Rican response to turmoil is to seek immediate refuge. And while I have no solution to aggressive neighbors, I do have an idea how Costa Rica can assert itself and show some huevos on the international stage.
Read MoreGreat Weather for Bare Throated Tiger Herons
The season is here for bird watching fever.
The patter of raindrops lightly pelting the leaves far above our heads was the first warning of a change in weather. It would take a minute or two for the rain to filter down 50 meters, through the layers of canopy to the jungle floor. We covered our binoculars with plastic bags.
Read MoreWhy Practice Yoga?
By Mark Goldstein Why practice yoga? Because you will feel better. Practicing the type of yoga that is right for you will improve your life. Some enter a yoga practice in search of physical improvement, and some are searching for a deeper spiritual involvement. Many find their way into some
Read MoreLower Back Pain Release Tips
In my practice as Holistic practitioner and Body Worker I see many people with lower back pain. There can be many causes of back pain and finding what triggers it is crucial for long lasting relieve. I believe that a real solution for any health issue needs to be found by addressing our being as whole. Body mechanics unbalance, unhealthy inner chemical balance and emotional discomfort can all participate to create diseases and pains. While long lasting results can require a professional assessment there are few simple tricks that can help you managing lower back pain.
Read MoreThe KSTR Organic Farm
Kids Saving the Rainforest recently partnered with Blue Banyan Inn, an environmentally friendly bed and breakfast located right outside of Manuel Antonio.
The Blue Banyan is part of a 75-acre ecologically sustainable community, encompassing KSTR’s new Wildlife Sanctuary and International Volunteer Center, tilapia farms, nurseries, and botanical gardens. As a KSTR volunteer, I spent part of my time volunteering at the Blue Banyan Inn, helping them move towards their goal of becoming fully self-sustainable. My primary job, along with Rodrigo and Tio, two of the workers on staff, was to harvest a food source for the animals housed at the sanctuary
Read More