a welcoming walk through the rainforest
in the sarapiqui region
beauty everywhere
bravery on the hanging bridge
over the roiling river
finding a lock of love
magnifico.
“the clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”
-john muir
coconut treats and medicines
poison dart tree frogs
the caribbean
giant green sea turtles
laying eggs in the sand
covering them up for safekeeping
under a dark and stormy sky
monkeys, iguanas, sloths and caimins
in their jungle home
“llfe is full of beauty. notice it.
notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. smell the rain, and feel the wind.
live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”
-a. smith
my home away from home
in the rainforest on the caribbean side
water, more water, water from the sky
crocs, orchids, trees, coconuts, mangoes, sloths, monkeys, birds
rice, beans, fish, bananas, coffee, veggies, guava, papaya,
calm
pura vida
—
The term “Pura Vida” is an expression of happiness, optimism, and living life to the fullest. It is impossible to visit Costa Rica without hearing this phrase continuously.
As a question, it is equivalent to “how are you?” As a response, it means “very well.”
Curiously, the person does not necessarily have to be very well — the greeting arises automatically because, deep down, its meaning is: “I’m glad to see you and that makes me happy”.
it is also used to say goodbye:
it is the equivalent to saying “yes” to any question and used to say “you’re welcome” or “it’s nothing”.
regardless of the context, Pura Vida is always expressed with enthusiasm, sympathy, gratitude and motivation, because it emerges from the soul.
Pura Vida is an expression so embedded in the culture of Costa Ricans that no one would suspect that it may have arisen from a 1956 Mexican movie with the same name. The phrase is used by the protagonist throughout the film to refer to good people and beautiful things or situations.
Ticos (people native to Costa Rica) adopted the term, morphing it to a distinct meaning yet with varied manifestations. It is now so ingrained that it is used by different generations and is part of Costa Rican mainstream culture and identity. More than just a term, it’s a lifestyle.
indigenous gold figures at the museo del oro precolumbia
san jose
britt coffee farm in the afternoon rain
central valley
“trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand.”
-henri j.m. nouwen
el azul me hace feliz
—
“blue makes me happy”
(on first day in costa rica)
after much trial and error
and lacking strong spatial skills
i shifted to a 3-d jigasw puzzle approach
and was finally able
to fit everything
for my two-week trip
to a country
with twelve micro-climates
into a carry-on bag
that met the weight and size limits
however
i was not able to fit one more thing
as this sad q-tip having to be left behind would illustrate.
Costa Rica’s 12 micro climates vary from the exotic volcanoes to the cool cloud forests, from the dense jungle to the tropical dry forests and golden beaches to the secluded waterfalls and rivers.
today
my journey begins
heading
to costa rica
at long last.
adios!
—
“i want to travel across the world and breathe the air of new places.”
-author unknown
50+ years as a band
los lobos
came to town
blocked off the street
set up
for a free concert
on a sunny afternoon
first time for my grandson
everyone
loving
their unique brand
of rock, blues, country, and rhythm and blues
from the first chord
there was dancing in the street.
—
“music is a moral law.
it gives soul to the universe,
wings to the mind,
flight to the imagination,
and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”
-plato
What better place to learn your ABC’s and 123’s than inside of a giant building shaped like a cat?
The kids who attend Kindergarten in Karlsruhe, Germany, do so in a giant feline.
Constructed in 2011 and designed by artist, Tomi Ungerer and architect, Ayla Suzan Yöndel, the whimsical kindergarten is in a big white cat building that includes a door for a mouth below a whisker-lined nose, windows for eyes, and a classroom in its belly. For added fun, kids can even ride down its tail that doubles as a slide.
In terms of architecture that inspires a playful imagination, the Kindergarten Wolfartsweier is remarkable for its embrace of an alternative, animalistic design for what a school can be.
“design is where science and art break even.”
-robin mathew(s)
—
source credits: Atlas Obscura, My Modern Met, Milk magazine, inthralled.com,
Burger King is causing a stir in Thailand with its new offering: a burger with no meat and a jaw-dropping amount of cheese. This week, the Thai operator of the fast food chain introduced what it calls the “real cheeseburger,” a bun filled with as many as 20 slices of American cheese.
The item launched on Thai menus Sunday, at a reduced price of 109 Thai baht ($3.1), compared with the usual price of 380 baht ($10.9). It quickly went viral on social media in Thailand, with many users on TikTok posting videos of them trying the new sandwich. “This is no joke. This is for real,” Burger King said.
At one Burger King branch in Bangkok on Tuesday, a shift manager was overheard saying the outlet had to stop taking delivery orders so they could have enough stock left for walk-in diners.
The menu addition is an example of how fast food franchises around the world are seeking to gain traction by rolling out zany or eye-catching menu options that they hope will spread across social media.
Restaurants are also continuously tailoring their offerings to suit local tastes in different countries. In Thailand, cheese is especially popular among young customers, and it is common for it to be sprinkled on all kinds of dishes.
“is the moon made of green cheese, no it’s made of american cheese.”
*-william anders
—
article source credit: cnn, bangkok
I didn't have my glasses on.... 