Shocking effects of Hurricane Harvey…The devastation continues…

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These young rabbits appeared to be part of a herd, living in a “warren” in the well-designed spacious habitat of Zoo Ave.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

From the veranda, we spotted another fire burning on a nearby mountain.

















As we continue to share more photos from our recent visit to Zoo Ave, bird and animal sanctuary, and rehabilitation center here in the Alajuela Valley, we’re reminded of all the animals being rescued from floodwaters in Texas and other states due to Hurricane Harvey.

The habitat for rehabilitating birds and animals was as natural as possible, with wide-open spaces, vegetation, and apparent cleanliness in the care of its inhabitants.

Of course, the devastation of the loss of human life supersedes all else, along with the loss of all of the worldly possessions of individuals and families across the land. But, in the mix, in the hearts and minds of many who’ve already lost so much, is the frustration and fearful pursuit of finding beloved pets, including dogs, cats, birds, horses, and barnyard animals.

A parrot pair were sharing a large banana leaf.

As animal lovers well know, an animal can be as much a part of a family as its family members and, for many, their only day-to-day companions. When we’re reminded of our loving dogs over the years, we can’t even imagine the fear many are possessing at this time as they try to find their beloved pets, now that they and their family members are nearing safety.

Many enclosed areas housed several compatible birds and other creatures.

Can we envision the chaos as citizens of the ravaged areas scrambled to their safety coupled with the worry that their pets may be lost to them forever? What a comfort those pets could be at this horrible time of loss and grief, losing people they love, belongings they treasured while finding themselves homeless without sufficient funds to rebuild their lives. It all takes time and money, neither of which survivors may have at this point.

Bunnies are commonly seen in Costa Rica in the vegetation-rich environment.

Although not a good comparison and certainly under considerably different circumstances, I can recall the last few weeks we spent in Minnesota. The four-day professional estate sale found us reeling over how little value there was in our treasured personal belongings, all of which we had to let go of.

Based on the size of their habitat, most likely, they had no concept of being confined, as was the case for most of the residents of Zoo Ave, a highly rated animal rehabilitation center.

We were left with a paltry sum due to the sale of our belongings and our home during poor market conditions at the time. Tom continued working 12-hour days up until the day we left on October 31, 2012. 

Please see this link for our story during that painful process.

We had to leave the house during the sale of our belongings and stayed with dear friend Karen at her lovely home in a nearby suburb. I was swamped with Tom’s retirement party preparations and finalizing details of the many items we’d overpacked to take on our journey. 

Large birds were sitting in trees.

During the difficult last days, I came down with the flu and lost my voice. I was very sick but couldn’t stop. I had to keep going. Each night of the four-day sale, I met with the estate sale company to reprice items. Little did I know the devastation I’d feel when I’d show up seeing people walking down the road carrying “our stuff,” for which they paid but a pittance. 

We noticed hundreds of turtles of varying sizes and some ducks, all seemingly busy sunning and foraging.

It was during this period that, for the first time in my life, I knew what it felt like to forfeit every “thing” that I knew and loved, let alone the upcoming process of saying goodbye to every “one” we knew and loved. And this was voluntary! There’s no comparison to the horrific sudden losses so many have suffered due to Hurricane Harvey and others.

The grounds at Zoo Ave are meticulously maintained.

Can we even imagine the loss the people of Texas and other states are feeling when every “thing” they knew and loved was ripped away from them, not by choice as in our case, but coupled with the fear of losing their lives and, in many cases, having lost people and pets they’ve loved? It’s heartbreaking.

The gift shop at Zoo Ave (Ave translates to “aviary” in Spanish)

We’ve all experienced losses in our lives. That’s all a part of the “human condition” over which we may have little control. How we respond to those losses determines the meaning, the purpose, and the quality of the remaining years of our lives. And, for all those lost souls in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, we pray for their healing and recovery in times to come.

Photo from one year ago today, September 2, 2016:

When we returned to Bali for our second two-month stay after a two-month stint in Southeast Asia, we were excited to see the buffaloes walking along the beach shortly after arriving. We only paid for the villa for the two non-consecutive 60-day stays and were happy to return to the beautiful villa and location in Sumbersari, a four or five-hour harrowing drive from the airport, the only part we didn’t care for. For more details, please click here. 

Accomplished another task…Plus, sightseeing in Costa Rica..

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Tom shot this excellent photo of a leopard high above the ground on a perch.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Early last evening, before the most powerful rainstorm since our arrival in Atenas, this fire was burning on a hill. We took this photo from the veranda. Only moments later, thunder and lightning filled the sky, and pouring rain put the fire out in a matter of minutes. Our pool was almost overflowing from the rain.

When the shipped package from our mailing service became lost in the mail while we were in Tasmania, one of the main reasons we were worried was the fact that Maillinkplus.com, as requested, had placed our paper mail and tax documents into the shipped box along with many other essential items.

Ducks and lots of turtles.

When we didn’t receive the package in time to do our 2016 taxes (it was later found and shipped to us in Sydney), our new accountant in Nevada filed an extension for us. Our prior accountant had decided to quit the business that eventually led us to Donnie Castleman who proved to be fast, efficient and reasonably priced in getting our return completed. 

With the extension, we had until October 15, 2017, to file the return. But, with a plan to put anything weighing heavily on our minds behind us, I got to work over this past week and sent Donnie everything he needed to complete the process.

We’ve seen these “flowers” in many botanical gardens throughout the world.  Thanks to friend Louise in Kauai Hawaii, she’s identified this as Pine Cone Ginger.  Thanks, Louise!

This morning at 5:00 am, I received an email from Donnie that he’d completed the return and all we needed to do was print the signature page, sign it, scan it and send it back to him. By 6:00 am, we’d reviewed everything, completed the few tasks, saved the documents to our external hard drive and cloud, and paid his bill via PayPal. Whew! That’s a significant relief.

The only significant items to accomplish between now and the next few months are extending our visas for Costa Rica by 23 days. Tom is waiving Part B Medicare when the documents arrive in the snail mail in Nevada before his 65th birthday on December 23rd. 

 As in my case, Part B does Tom no good outside the US which results in the necessity of us having International Health Insurance.  Neither of us has made a health insurance claim of any type in almost five years. We’ll write more on these two topics as it transpires. 

There are six varieties of Toucans in Costa Rica.

Also, by November, we’ll need to select our clothing for the Antarctica cruise and have a physical exam by a local doctor certifying we are fit to travel to this remote location. Neither of these items causes us any concern and we’ll be diligent in getting them done on time.  

 In the interim, we can begin to relax a little and check out some sightseeing venues here in Costa Rica. We’re not going to go crazy and go out every day. However, we do plan to do something special at least once a week while spending plenty of time exploring on a variety of road trips.

We’ve yet to see a Toucan in the wild, but indeed, over these next many months.

Many have the perception that Costa Rica is run rampant by wild animals, birds, and colorful frogs. This is not necessarily the case when staying in a vacation home, resort or hotel.  No doubt, there are plenty of colorful birds flying about but we’ve yet to see a colorful frog.

Many tourist activities include hikes through the rainforests where one may be more inclined to encounter unusual wild animals. Right now, as I continue to recover from this outrageous gastrointestinal thing, I’m not feeling like hiking in a rainforest.

I gushed over these baby rabbits as they crawled out of a hole in the ground.

Instead, yesterday we embarked on a two-hour hilly walk at what is called Zoo Ave located not too far from Atenas. As many of our readers know, we aren’t big fans of zoos.  We prefer to see native fawn and flora in a natural setting, not behind bars. 

However, when a facility advertises itself as a rehabilitation center we’re more inclined to check it out. As it turned out Zoo Ave (ave means “bird” in Spanish), located in La Garita, Costa Rica was well worth the trip, especially when we observed signs that depicted they’d rescued over 1000 animals in the past year.

White and black bunnies were hanging out together.

It doesn’t appear that Zoo Ave has its own website so we’ve included tourist’s comments from TripAdvisor here. With positive reviews of 4.5 of out 5, it seems others have enjoyed this facility with its intent to return rescued wildlife back to the wild when they are sufficiently healed and able to do so. 

Of course, some native animal can’t ever be returned to the wild when they’ve become dependent on human supplied food sources, making them incapable of foraging on their own. This is an unfortunate but necessary reality of rescue facilities.

We had the opportunity for numerous Iguana sightings at the facility including some not in cages with one walking across the path we walked.

The hard part for me was being unable to take good photos of delightful creatures who were ensconced in cages. Although none of the animals were housed in small or inadequate cages they had plenty of room to wander, fly and navigate. 

Taking photos through chain link fences is impossible for an amateur photographer like me. So I apologize for any of the less-than-clear images we’ll be posting over the next several days. We enjoyed ourselves and easily managed 10,000 steps on my FitBit, a goal I try to reach as often as possible.

This bird is giant, about half the size of an Ostrich.

It’s funny how during our two-hour walk through the facility, I kept thinking of Africa and how practically face-to-face encounters with wildlife has become so crucial for both of us. And yet, we’re still drawn to the opportunity to see what each country has to offer in the way of its native wildlife and we often seek rescue facilities when we’re unable to spot them any other way.

Actually, even in South Africa, we visited a few rescue facilities finding them dedicated and exciting in their commitment to returning as many animals as possible to their natural environment. 

Any suggestions on what this bird may be?

Now as I look back, I could kick myself for ever going to a facility that “trains” its inhabitants to perform for humans. We’ll never visit such a facility again if we can help it.  Over the years, we’ve become more educated and informed about wildlife which has had a tremendous impact on our views.,

After last night’s massive rain storm today is damp and humid. We plan to stay put, continuing to work on small tasks and perhaps relax and enjoy ourselves a little now that some more significant tasks are behind us. 

A green Parrot, comparable to the one that had flown into the glass on our veranda and survived.

May you have a pleasant day!

Photo from one year ago today, August 24, 2016:

Many residential streets are narrow with room for only one car to pass without a bit of maneuvering. The previous night there was a bombing at a nearby location. At this point, we had nine days remaining until departure and we were anxious to be on our way. For more details, please click here.

Part 2…An old friend from Africa…Playing with my phone

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Lipstick Palm with a bright red base.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

This is unreal!  Ulysses “mows” the entire massive yard using this tiny weed wacker. He’s wearing protective gear, including a rubber apron and face mask.  It takes him a whole day to trim all of the grass.

This morning, I wrote an email to Marian asking her to contact Henry for us to explain we need a pick up at a specific time, 9:45 am, to meet the car rental guy at the cafe at Supermercado Coopeatenas to sign for and pick up the first of two rental cars. 

Today, we’re heading to the small town of Curridabat for our 1:00 pm dental appointments at the most prominent dental clinic in this part of Costa Rica, where English is spoken by nine highly regarded dentists. We’ll have our teeth cleaned and a few fillings repaired, one for me, three for Tom. 

Since we’ll be leaving Atenas by 10:30 am, and the appointment isn’t until 1:00 pm, we’ll have plenty of time to stop along the way for photos (roadway providing) and to find the dentist’s office.

Hazy morning view of the valley.

We’ll return this first rental car at Surpermercado Coopeatenas on Saturday. Then following Monday, Henry, the taxi driver, will transport us to San Jose, near the airport, to pick up the second car we’ll keep until we leave on November 22nd. 

Why rent two different cars? It worked out that way when we first booked the dental appointments keeping the car for five days, allowing us time to get out sightseeing a little.

When we stumbled across the excellent rate for our remaining time in Costa Rica, we locked it in when we couldn’t get the great rate if we added the extra week. Go figure. We jumped all over the great rate. Please click here for more details on the pricing, and good luck getting a fantastic rate.

This palm tree’s silver base is flat, not rounded.

As for the continuation of yesterday’s post about our dear friend Anderson, our safari guide in Africa, here we go:

Over these past four years since Anderson was our guide in the Masai Mara, Kenya, at Sanctuary Retreat’s Camp Olonana along the Mara River, he’s stayed on our minds. We all hoped that somehow our paths would cross again. Staying in touch via Facebook chat, occasionally, we said hello and exchanged heartfelt wishes for good health and well-being. 

Once while on a cruise, we heard other passengers talking about him. We politely interrupted and shared how much we all appreciated having him as our guide. His knowledge and skills far surpassed our expectations, especially when he has a magical way of endearing past guests to him forever.

This plant has an interesting leaf pattern.

Once Tom surprised me while we swam in the pool in Bali, with our upcoming return to Africa for my upcoming 70th birthday in February, I messaged Anderson that we’d be returning to Africa in 2018. At that point, it was a long time away, and we weren’t 100% certain of what our plans would be. 

After many discussions between Tom and me over this past year, we decided to see the gorillas in either Rwanda or Uganda, both countries highly regarded for these experiences.

Another variety of Bromeliads.

As it turned out, when Anderson and I chatted on Facebook in the middle of the night when I wasn’t able to sleep, I explained we’re returning to the Kruger Park area of South Africa for our first three months with a plan for several side trips when we’ll need to leave the country for short periods for immigration purposes and to fulfill our dreams of more to see on this great continent.

Anderson explained he is again working for our favorite tented resort company, Sanctuary Retreats, who facilitated our safari and stayed in the Masia Mara in October 2013. It was very pricey but worth every last dollar spent. It was at that time we were assigned Anderson. 

Partial view of the center courtyard at the entrance to the villa.

Now, we discover through our Facebook chat that Anderson is also working for Sanctuary Retreat’s Gorilla Forest Camp in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where gorilla treks of only eight guests are undertaken daily. With Anderson as our guide for yet another life-changing experience, the prospect of this adventure is taken over the top.

Suddenly, the concept of this experience took on an entirely new demeanor. We love the attention-to-detail and adequate care that Sanctuary Retreats provides each of their guests, and coupled with the fact that Anderson will be our guide, it’s over the top.

After three takes off and three landings, we finally arrived to meet our guide, Anderson, who’s lived in the Masai Mara region all of his life. What a guy!  We loved him the moment we met him!  Click here for the post from October 5, 2013.

It was our time in the Maasai Mara that we came up with our frequently used “safari luck” since it was with Anderson, during our first 10 hours on safari, that we saw the “big five” indeed an outrageously fortunate opportunity. 

So here again, “safari luck” prevails, and we get the double whammy; Sanctuary Retreats and, of course, Anderson. We couldn’t be more thrilled.

Soon, we’ll need to book this event since so few guests are allowed to see the gorillas each day due to strict guidelines to protect their wild habitat. We can hardly wait for this experience.

We were both excited to meet Anderson, our safari guide who’s stayed in our minds these past four years, and now, we’ll meet again when he is our guide for the gorilla trek in Uganda.  Click here for the post which included these two photos and MUCH more.

So, now back to the moment on a beautiful day after last night’s major thunderstorm and pouring rains. Hopefully, the rain will hold off until we return to the villa later today after our long drive into the countryside, mountains, and rainforest. 

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with details of our day and, hopefully, lots of great new photos. As I’m sitting here now on the veranda, I can see a huge brown cow across the way mooing up a storm. Maybe I’ll get up and take a photo!

Happy day!Photo from one year ago today, August 21, 2016:

Before entering the grounds of Friendship Beach Waterfront Resort, we asked permission to tour the property to take photos. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1 of 2…An old friend from Africa…Playing with my phone…

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Are these Daffodils?

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Click on our video of a fast-moving weather phenomenon in Atenas.

Playing around with my phone when we have a good Wi-Fi signal keeps me occupied during quiet times of the day and night. There are a few foolish games I play, one of which is a “jelly” thing that cuts me off after about 15 minutes requiring I wait for more opportunities to play or…pay. I don’t pay. I wait, entertaining myself elsewhere in the interim.

Then, of course, there’s email, Facebook, and various news apps I’ll read day or night, keeping me informed of what may actually be embellished, untrue, or blatant out-and-out lies. Oh, I won’t get into that.

Long driveway to a villa in the neighborhood.

A highlight of playing with my phone is at night when I can’t sleep. I attempt to avoid the bright screen facing Tom while he sleeps and stay huddled on the edge of the king-sized bed, facing away from him. It’s during those periods when sleep escapes me, often for a few hours during the night that my phone brings me much solace and entertainment. 

Over these past few years, I stopped worrying about being awake in the middle of the night.  If one studies anthropology and early humans, you’ll discover that millennium ago, humans often were awake in the middle guarding their camp, tending to the fire, and handling the myriad tasks required for basic survival. 

This is referred to as a “first” and “second” sleep. It may not be in our DNA to lay down and sleep for eight hours or more. Information on this topic may be found here at this site and many others.

Villa in the neighborhood.

Knowing this gave me peace of mind in not worrying about being awake at 3:00 am. Of course, the typical working life of citizens in many countries and its subsequent stressful lifestyle may require that they pack in as many hours of sleep as possible in order to manage the upcoming day.

Now, as a somewhat retired person, I rarely need to be concerned with how much consecutive sleep I accrue during the night. Although not much of napper, (neither is Tom) we both, with the same habit of waking up midway through the night, seem to do fine staying awake and alert during the day.

Hibiscus.

Most nights I fall back asleep at some point ending up with about six to seven hours of sleep, all I seem to need, especially when we’re having lazy days at the villa without a huge amount of physical activity. 

Oh, I’m no couch potato. Each day I end up putting thousands of steps on my Fitbit, at times as much as 10,000 only from moving around the villa. This is a huge house and I’ll have 2,000 steps knocked off before 8:00 am from just getting the day started. That’s a good thing.

There must be some type of solar panels on this roof.

Anyway, back to the phone at night…With friends all over the world, it’s not unusual for me to get a message on Facebook during the night. I keep the sound notification off to avoid waking either of us while sleeping. 

But, it’s kind of fun to begin chatting with a distant friend during those wide wake middle-of-the-night stints. I take my contact lenses out at night and need to use reading specs to read anything on the phone during the night. I keep a sturdy pair under my pillow for just such occasions.

Lavender Bougainvillea.

A few nights ago, I found myself chatting in Facebook Messenger with our safari guide, Anderson, with whom we’ve stayed in close touch since we worked with him in 2013. He left an indelible mark on us with the hope that should we return to Kenya, we’d definitely have him work with us again.

As we’ve contemplated future travels and our return to Africa we came to the conclusion that we won’t be returning to Kenya. We have other plans for Africa when we return in a mere six months. As a matter of fact, six months from today will be my 70th birthday which we plan to celebrate with our many friends in Marloth Park, South Africa.

Pretty little purple flowers.

The date is set for my party at Jabula Lodge in Marloth on February 20, 2018, and many of our wonderful South African friends already have it on their calendars. Thank you to my dear husband for offering me this extraordinary 70th birthday gift, a return to my favorite place in the world. 

I can’t wait to dine on Peri-Peri Chicken Livers at Jabula’s fabulous restaurant and spend time with owners Dawn and Leon with whom we became great friends. It was at this very location that we met and became friends with so many amazing people who taught us the ways of life in the bush. To see their faces in person, once again, is  truly a treat we look forward to with considerable enthusiasm.

These orange flowers were often seen in Hawaii. My friend Colleen who lived in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands for decades, wrote and explained that this flower is an Ixora. Such an unusual flower and name. Thanks, Colleen!

Tomorrow, before we head out to pick up the first rental car, we’ll complete this story, particularly as to how it relates to our dear old friend Anderson, our guide in the Masai Mara, Kenya, and how and if we’ll meet again.

May your day be fulfilling and pleasant. Ours certainly will be. We’re sitting here on the veranda now listening to one noisy cow or bull obviously suffering some degree of discontent or another. Along with all the sounds of the birds singing, the roosters crowing and the water bubbling in the pool, it’s all music to our ears.

Photo from one year ago today, August 20, 2016:

Colorful shrine in front of a private villa in our area in Phuket Thailand. For more photos and our story of how I dropped my phone in the toilet and the end result, please click here.

Learning to speak a little Spanish in town…Nature along the way…

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Check out those ears. They certainly were flicking back and forth when we stopped to say “hola!”

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

If you look carefully, you can see the butterfly atop this cracked piece of fruit lying on the ground that I shot when I just happened to look over the railing for photos for this feature.  We’ve seen more butterflies in Costa Rica than we’ve seen anywhere in the world.  

Yesterday morning Henry arrived at 11:30 am to take us into town.  We had four stops in mind, including the pharmacy, the cell phone store for more data and calling, the health food store for more almond flour and organic nuts, and the Supermercado Coopeatena for groceries.

 Last week we’d tried the warehouse-type MaxiPalil, but it didn’t seem to have as much variety as the Supermercado Coopeatenas.  We still can’t find whole cream, parchment paper, and imported cheeses between both major markets in town. 

 In Costa Rica, there are certain cheeses, types of queso, that the locals use that aren’t necessarily good for snacking. We tried a few different brands of Gouda and Edam, but they didn’t taste quite right. Also, they all have a thin layer of paper under the wax covering that’s difficult to remove.

We love cows, and all barnyard animals, as our long-time readers are well aware.

Since we only eat one meal a day, usually about every 24 hours, a little cheese plate after dinner is a nice touch. Unfortunately, we’re not doing so well in that department right now. So instead, I purchased a few organic unsalted nuts at the health food store, which I’m having instead of the cheese. Tom doesn’t seem to mind picking off the bits of paper. I have no patience for that.

We entered the pharmacy looking for some over-the-counter meds for my continuing gastrointestinal issue and were surprised to find an armed guard at the entrance who opened the door for us. Upon entering, the pharmacist and other staff were behind windows with steel bars to secure the inventory, comparable to those found in banks of yesteryear.

 This was a first for us. I contemplated taking a photo but knew there was no way it would have been allowed, so I didn’t ask or take out the camera. However, the pharmacist spoke a little English, and together with my sketchy Spanish, we managed to communicate well.

Could this be a mom and her calf?

Afterward, we headed to the Macrobiotica, a health food store where they now knew us. Unfortunately, they speak no English, but I’ve since learned “harina de almendras,” which translates to almond flour, and also “nueces,” which is “nuts.”

Oh, dear, I won’t bore our readers with the Spanish words we’re learned, nor will we start writing in Spanish but, I’m determined to learn as much as possible while we’re here when South America is on the horizon. 

Although, surprisingly, slightly more than half the citizens of South America speak Portuguese. We tried learning that language while we were in Madeira, Portugal, in 2014 and never got much further than “obrigado,” which translates to “thank you.” In every country, the first word we make a point of learning is “thank you.” 

A fence around a property on the way to the village.

Tom is still messing up his “gracias” (Spanish) and “grazie” (Italian) from the summer of 2013 when we lived in Boveglio, Tuscany, Italy, for three full months. 

He always makes me laugh when he says “grazie” here in Costa Rica, but the locals seem to get it. But then again, he was still saying “grazie” (from habit) when we were in Kenya which followed Italy.  

It’s not easy learning a new language at our ages. However, we realize how beneficial doing so is for our aging brains, along with all the other morsels we learn every day, all stimulating to the ancient neurons in our heads.

 After the health food store, we had to find where we could recharge the free Movistar (yes, that’s spelled correctly) SIM card we were given at the appliance and furniture store when we first arrived. We didn’t want to run out of data using the SIM when we drive the long distance to the dentist on Monday. That would not be good. 

A newer building at the end of the tiny strip mall we entered for the “Pharmacia.”

They don’t use “Maps” here in Costa Rica.  Instead, they use an app called “Waze.” Hopefully, this will help us get to where we’re going on Monday, a 45 minutes drive from Atenas. 

On Monday at 10:00 am, we’ll be meeting the rental car guy outside at the cafe at the Supermercado Coopeatena, who apparently speaks English. From there, we’ll take the car and find our way to the small town where the large dental clinic is located with nine English-speaking dentists.

 We imagine visitors may come from the US to this clinic for dental work when prices are considerably lower than in the US and other countries. We’ll let you know how it goes after our appointment, with photos, of course.

Recharging the SIM card was painless when the rep spoke a little English and reloaded data, and called on the card for US $17.37 (CRC 10,000). We have no idea how much data or calling we have, but it should be enough for next week when we have a car for five days.

Most of the buildings in town are old and well-used but not nearly as much as we’ve seen in many other parts of the world. As a result, it feels safe in the village, and we can freely walk from one location to another.

From there, the trip to the market went fine. We got most items on our list now that we’ve excluded items we know they don’t have available. Henry waited for us in the car during each of these trips and helped us load the bags into the trunk when we were done. 

 Once back inside the gated neighborhood, Henry promptly stopped when he heard me squeal with delight when I spotted the two cows close to the road, as shown in today’s photos.

Back at the villa before 2:00 pm, we put everything away while we spent the remainder of the day preparing dinner and researching. I spent some time in the outdoor Jacuzzi, which was lovely. No complaints here.

Have a pleasant day!

Photo from one year ago today, August 15, 2016:

While in Phuket, I was recovering from an injury to my spine and couldn’t get out much, although we had a rental car. However, we did tour some sites, including the Phuket Seashell Museum.  For more photos, please click here.

Magical moments…Early morning wonders including some scary things…

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Before sunrise, we captured this cloudy scene

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

These low-lying clouds were our first sighting from the veranda this morning.

If we never left this property, the exquisite La Perla de  Atenas, but had the views and wildlife surrounding us as we do here in the Central Valley, the canton/province known as Alajuela, we’d be content.

Each hour that is something magical occurring, whether it’s two or three vultures soaring overhead, referred to as “Zopilotes” by the Costa Ricans, or a flock of colorful parrots gently landing in a nearby tree only to disappear before I can stand with the camera for a shot.

This morning we were both up and out of bed well before 6:00 am. Within minutes, I grabbed the camera for stunning views of the mountain’s low-lying clouds, reminiscent of the clouds we discovered while living in Campanario, Madeira, Portugal, beginning in May 2014. Click here for one of the links illustrating the unbelievable clouds rolling in from the sea.

Costa Rica is just like we imagined;  lush rainforests, many birds and wildlife, and rapidly changing climates.

At times, the sounds of the birds are almost deafening, which we couldn’t appreciate more. Then, silence for a moment, only to have it begin again. We can’t stop smiling.

At first, we didn’t notice many insects. As the days pass, we find many ugly-looking creatures slithering on the floors or up the walls, some venomous, most not. 

As was the case in Africa, it pays to watch where one walks, whether it’s on a wet slippery floor on the stone of the veranda from the most recent daily rain during this rainy season or the presence of venomous centipedes, spiders, or other insects, comparable to those we regularly encountered in Africa. One can’t be too careful. 

It’s surprising to see how low the clouds settle in the rainforests.

Over these past years, our apprehension and fear of insects have dissipated to one of sensible caution and respect for the protective poisons some insects and animals possess as a means of protecting their survival. In most cases, leaving them alone is sufficient in avoiding a trip to a hospital after a potential life-threatening bite.

Costa Rica has many venomous creatures, including colorful frogs, such as the Poison Dart Frog, the dreaded Fleur-de-Lance snake, the Eyelash Viper Snake, and the Brazilian Wandering Spider, all of which may be seen at this somewhat playful site with warnings of a variety of dangerous creatures in the country.

The scenery from the veranda is breathtaking, often changing within minutes. I attempt to keep the camera nearby at all times, although at times, it’s across the room, and I can’t get to it quickly enough for the sighting.

This centipede was moving so quickly I was hardly able to get a photo, let alone a decent shot.

As for sightseeing which we plan to do soon, we’ve discovered a solution based on the suggestion of our house managers, Aad and Marian. We can rent a car for around US $32 (CRC 18,386.72) a day which includes all fees, taxes, and insurance, or, if booked for several days (five or more), includes free delivery and return from the villa.

This way, we can plan all of our outings for the days when we rent the car. This is much more cost-effective than paying outrageous car rental fees and the cost of booking tours we can essentially do independently.

This upcoming week will be busy with tax stuff, business, financial matters, and future bookings. Once completed, we’ll be free to sightsee at our leisure. In the interim, we relish the outstanding scenery and exciting sights and sounds directly witnessed from the villa.

Have a blissful day!

Photo from one year ago today, August 6, 2016:

Across and down the street from our villa, a woman washed her face outside near the road. We wondered if perhaps she didn’t have running water. For more photos, please click here.

A little life almost lost!…Yesterday afternoon’s bird experience… Closet space…

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When we arrived on Tuesday night, this fruit and wine platter were awaiting us. Tom is working on the bananas, and tonight I’ll have half of the avocado stuffed with the chicken salad I’m making today. I cut up the pineapple for Tom, who’s off low carb until the fruit is gone.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

This is the parrot after she/he was knocked unconscientious after hitting the glass wall of the veranda. There is a bird deterrent on the glass, but this poor bird slammed so hard into the glass we assumed it was dead.  It was so sad to see this happen.

We never knew that the first colorful bird we’d see up close in Costa Rica would be a parrot after it flew into the glass wall of the veranda and fell unconscientious on the veranda’s walkway toward the lower level staircase.

As a result of yesterday afternoon’s scary bird experience, we again decided to incorporate a feature comparable to the “Sightings on the Beach in Bali,” now aptly named “Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica.”

We’d been searching for colorful birds and didn’t expect the first one we saw on our first day to be knocked out and possibly dying. Instead, after about 20 minutes, the bird sat in this position for about 10 minutes, not moving.  Would it recover?  We continued to hope it would.
While comfortably situated on the veranda, we expect to spend most of our days and night (perhaps in part, in preparation for spending all of our days outdoors in Africa, upcoming in six months). So we don’t want to miss a thing.

The house is exceptional, with several inviting areas to work on our laptops and/or lounge. But, we can’t resist spending all of our “at home” days outside, fearful we’d miss something, whether it’s a soaring bird, cattle or sheep grazing in a pasture, or even a wildly unusual insect.

The “sightings” and subsequent photos may not always be exciting.  After all, we’ll be here until November 24, 2017, a total of 114 days. So we can’t expect a stunning photo every day, although we’ll do our best to present interesting or unusual subjects of our photo ops as they present themselves. 

We wondered if her/his little left leg was broken. If so, surely it would die.
There will be days we’ll have to search for a suitable photo for the next day, and there will be other days they’ll magically appear almost as in a “safari luck” manner that allowed us to see the “Big 5” in the first 10 hours on safari in the Masai Mara in 2013. Thanks to our equally fantastic guide, Anderson, please click here for the story and photos about that impressive feat.

Today’s first “Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica” will be slightly different from those that will follow over the remaining months.  In this particular case, the situation, as shown above, resulted in a series of photos, all of which were important to share. Thus, the series continues in the main body of the post and under the “Sightings…” heading below the main photo.

After 30 minutes had passed suddenly, the precious Parrot stood up and moments later flew through the bars in the railing, hopefully back to her/his life in the tropics—a happy ending to what could have been very sad to witness.

Please bear with us, if some days, the photo is only a pretty flower or a passing butterfly (we’ve never seen so many butterflies in a location in the past). But, as our long-term readers know, we’ll always do our best.

Yes, we do plan to get out sightseeing sometime in the next few weeks. On Monday, we’ll begin doing our 2016 taxes (we got an extension when our package with the necessary documents was lost in the snail mail in Australia and later found) and booking the month we’ll spend in Buenos Aires, which we’ve yet to accomplish.

In the master suite, there are two spacious walk-in closets with plenty of hanging space and drawers.

Last night after dinner  (we shopped yesterday), we lounged in the plush “screening room.” After a hectic day with almost 10,000 steps on my FitBit without trying, I had trouble staying awake during the few shows we watched. Tom kept waking me up, knowing if I slept through a show, I wouldn’t sleep well during the night. He was so right. I ended up with a good night’s rest.

Today, we’re hoping to try the pool if it doesn’t rain. Yesterday afternoon, we put on swimsuits only to change our minds when thunder and lightning radiated through the skies. 

We ended up sharing one closet for our clothing and the other for shoes and odds and ends.

Yep, there are many insects (no mosquitos, yeah!), some heat and humidity with no AC, except in the TV room, which we doubt we’ll ever use. But, it’s beautiful, there are screens on the doors and windows, and the property is divine. It’s the rainy season now in Costa Rica, but we don’t mind at all. We’re comfortable, content, and loving the sights and sounds of Costa Rica.

May your day find you comfortable and content as well.

Photo from one year ago today, August 3, 2016:

Overall, the neighborhood in which we were living in Phuket, Thailand, has newer single-family homes. However, the area contains several modest living and working environments, such as this property, which we passed on the way to our villa. For more photos, please click here.

An unexpected oasis in the desert with wildlife…Five days and counting…

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Impressive clouds over the mountains while I toured the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve.

With both of us having visited Nevada many times in our old lives, we had already been to many popular sightseeing venues throughout the state. With many tasks to accomplish before leaving the US until our next family visit in a few years, we had much to do with little interest in traveling around the state in the excessive heat.

The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve entrance is secure to avoid trespassers entering during hours the facility is closed.

At this point, we’ve almost completed everything we needed to do. Today, we’ll make the final visit to our mailing service to pick up the last of our mail and drop off a few items we’ll store in our oversized mailbox for future shipment.

Also, we’ll make a quick stop at the pharmacy and Smith’s Market, which will see us through until we leave for the airport on Tuesday morning to fly to Costa Rica for the upcoming three and a half month stay.

Too distant for close-up photos, we spotted these two Cormorants sitting on a rock in a pond.

Two days ago, when I decided to head out on my own, leaving Tom behind to have some time to himself, I headed to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve with few expectations, hoping to see a few birds.

There is a total of eight distinct ponds within the facility.

On many occasions, we’d attempted to take photos of the few birds we’d seen here and there, including some in the yard by the pool.  In most cases, they’ve flown away before I could grab the camera.  While out and about, we’ve seen a few birds and virtually no wildlife.

Each pond had a distinct look with a variety of birds and vegetation.

As our long-time readers know, wildlife is the single most exciting aspect of our travels. Without the opportunity to see Mother Nature’s treasures, we try to focus on culture, scenery, and vegetation. 

Unfortunately, where we’ve been located in Henderson with a population slightly under 300,000 (bordering Las Vegas, which has a population of over 632,000), there have been few opportunities to see desert wildlife in the metropolitan area. 

There are fewer birds at the facility in the summer, but I was surprised to see as many as I had.

Even if we’d ventured deep into the desert (as we’ve done in the past), it would be unlikely we’d see much in the way of wildlife. The heat and the sun keep most animals under cover during daylight hours.

Arriving at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve at 11:10 am, I had no idea the facility closes at noon during the summer months. A kindly staff member explained they’d be closing soon, and the gates would be locked. 

Duck on a rock.

When I explained about our website and the fact I’d hoped to prepare a story on the facility, I was not only welcomed with open arms but was offered a private tour through the entire facility on their utility vehicle; I couldn’t have been more appreciative. 

Oddly, the typically sunny sky this time of year was overcast and not ideal for taking photos, but the unseasonable cool temperature at 75F (24C) was perfect weather for the tour. I was determined to do my best and take as many photos as possible to share here with our worldwide readers. It proved to be a perfect tour.

This bird is a vulture.

As for the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, here are a few facts from their site:

“Description
The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (HBVP) is one of the best places in southern Nevada to watch birds and dragonflies. Marsh and stream-side habitat in the nearby Las Vegas Wash, combined with open ponds and trees in the HBVP ponds, attracts birds of all kinds to water in this otherwise parched land. Desert species, waterbirds, wading birds, migrant songbirds, and shorebirds can be abundant here. Paved (fully accessible) and dirt (mostly accessible) walkways run on dikes that divide the area into nine brush-lined ponds and provide many vantage points. An elevated platform gives good views over much of the site. Access to the area is free, but it closes early, especially during summer.

The HBVP began as part of the Henderson city sewage treatment system, but with changes in the treatment process, the HBVP now uses reclaimed water, and the odor is gone. Even so, the staff still ask people to remain on the trails and stay out of the mud and water.”

More information may be found on their site, including year-round hours of operation and the remarkable fact that there are no fees required to visit this particular spot. 

Please keep in mind a liability waiver must be signed upon entrance into the facility via the visitors center. However, staying on the trails is safe for people of all ages, although the roads are rough in spots and may not suit those with disabilities.  

In the usual heat of the desert, certain plants bloom pretty and colorful flowers.

The walk through the facility may take several hours, and it’s imperative to dress for the weather and bring plenty of water.  Cooler days definitely would be more suitable for those interested in walking the entire distance. Binoculars and/or a camera are a must. 

Shortly after Barbara, who’d volunteered to give me the tour, we were joined on the utility vehicle by Anthony, a biologist. He plays a significant role in overseeing the wildlife in the preserve. 

During and after the tour, I had an opportunity to speak to Anthony at length as we shared beautiful stories of nature and wildlife. He, too, was originally from the Midwest with an innate passion for nature, so much so that it had become his dedicated lifelong career.

Las Vegas/Henderson is located in a valley surrounded by mountains.
Over the next several days, we’ll continue sharing more photos from my visit to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, although the stories included may not necessarily be relevant to the images.

So, folks, we’re winding down our visit to the USA. On August 1st, “travel day,” we’ll include all of our expenses and a recap of our favorite photos from the 24 days we’ll have spent in Nevada.

Have a pleasant day filled with beautiful surprises!

Photo from one year ago today, July 27, 2016:

One year ago, the second bedroom in the Phuket house, which we never used, included an en suite bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub. For more photos, please click here.

Which did we prefer in Tasmania, Penguin or Huon Valley?…Three days and counting…

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Young woman riding a horse in the country in the Huon Valley.

As far as scenic beauty is concerned, both Penguin and the Huon Valley are stunningly beautiful. Although a common theme of the exquisite countryside is prevalent in both areas, the towns and local communities vary greatly.

If a traveler asked us which of the two would be most appealing for a holiday/vacation of one or two weeks, their personal tastes and preferred activities and expectations would be of first consideration.

Beyond that, there’s an obvious difference of scenery; Penguin has breathtaking ocean views and nearby beaches; in the Huon Valley, one only needs to drive about 40 minutes to arrive in beach towns with some of the whitest sand we’ve seen anywhere. 

The dirt road we traveled in the countryside.

Penguin has the opportunity for sea fishing and boating while in the Huon Valley fishing may be experienced on both the Huon River and out to sea as Tom experienced a week ago. It was his first time fishing on the ocean.

Regarding day-to-day easy activities such as walking, shopping, and perusing local business on a boulevard, Penguin has a lot more to offer. The center of Penguin is enchanting with its quaint shops, cafes, and beach town feel. 

However, there are a number of charming towns within a half hour drive from here in Castle Forbes Bay, such as Huonville, Franklin and Geeveston, all of which we’ve often visited for shopping, events and photo taking. 

There are many horses in Tasmania.

Huonville is the largest of the three towns where we’ve shopped during this past six wee, although there are some shopping options in Franklin and Geeveston.

If a tourist is interested in purchasing souvenirs in the area, the best spot would be at the Visitor’s Centre as we described in this post on February 5th when we stopped to check it out. We weren’t disappointed with their wide array of interesting items and of course, their Honey Pot which was over-the-top. This is a must-see spot when in the area.

In the Huon Valley, based on where we’re living in Castle Forbes Bay, it’s not as easy as heading out for a walk when our house is located close to main Highway A6. Walking on the winding narrow road is risky with many blind spotsHills and mountains to surround this part of Tasmania

ns with a massive river at its core, thus the Huon River and the Huon Valley.

There are many country roads and paths one may choose to walk, but since this is a “valley,” most of the walking  requires up and down steep hills that may not be suitable for all travelers.

We won’t get into all the various tourist attractions in either area. However, it’s easy to check out TripAdvisor for information on activities in Huonville and surrounding areas here. For options for Penguin, please click here.

Had we arrived a month or two earlier, the hilly countryside would have been a lush velvety green.

Many other tourist websites have endless options for exploring and experiencing scenery and indoor and outdoor activities in either of these two lovely areas.

As for friendliness, they both are some of the most friendly areas we’ve visited in our travels, comparable to Kauai, Hawaii, and Marloth Park, South Africa, our previously two favorites “friendly people” places.

Clear blue sky days are at a premium in the Huon Valley during the summer months making locals are giddy with enthusiasm on warm sunny days.

Tomorrow, we’ll share details of this lovely property with photos, links and the comfortable experience we’ve had staying in this well equipped and maintained property.

Have a lovely day!

Photo from one year ago today, February 26, 2016:

The pair of alpacas were placed in a smaller paddock for the purpose of mating. Notice the others looking on with considerable curiosity. For more about photos and a video of mating alpacas, please click here.

Interesting and appreciated comment from a reader…Worries of risks when traveling…

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Hillside scenery.

Over these past several years, we’ve received many excellent comments on various of our past posts. As a result, some readers may read our posts out of chronological order or start from the beginning on March 15, 2012, when we first began to write about our lives of world travel.

Now, 1674 daily posts later, we’re often amazed by how readers from all over the world continue to read our old posts, often commenting on any given post or sending us a thoughtful email.

Many of our readers write into the easy-to-use “comments” section at the bottom of each post and may stay anonymous if chosen.  However, we find many readers don’t hesitate to leave a first name (and occasionally their full name) when they post a comment.

If you’ve never commented, please feel free to do so. We reply within 24 hours (at the latest). And, your comment remains on that post for all of our readers to see for years to come.

Caravans parking in Franklin for Australia Day festivities which we attended last month.

For many, with more personal comments in mind, they prefer to email us at the links provided on our home page, on the right, above the photo of us in Petra, Jordan. Clicking either of these links takes you directly to the email app on your device, and you can write as you would in writing any email message. But, of course, we won’t post your email message without your specific approval.

Most often, your email will reach us promptly, providing we have a good Internet connection. We check our email throughout each day, but a response may be delayed, if it arrives while we’re sleeping.

Before posting each day, I take a peek at my email but seldom respond until after completing the day’s post. I awake on a mission to get the “ball rolling” as soon as I’m showered and dressed for the day.

During this past almost three months since we arrived in Penguin, Tasmania, on December 3, 2016, I’ve maintained my usual posting schedule regardless of how I may have been feeling during this period. 

Houses are scattered throughout the countryside in the Huon Valley.

Of course, as mentioned in a post a few days ago, the exception to our posting and/or replying to comments and email may occur on specific travel days, especially when we don’t have access to Wi-Fi while awaiting a particular means of transportation.

Yesterday, we received this lovely comment from one of our readers who’s apparently begun reading our posts from the beginning. 

Laura wrote:

“Ah, Jess…I know I am reading them years after the fact, but your posts and photos are breathtaking!! I love them! I’ve been trying for years to convince Ernie to agree to an African safari – he’s too concerned with our safety to try it, but I’m still working on him!!”

Upon reading this short comment at the end of this post, I could hardly wait to write back to Laura to thank her for her kindness in complimenting our posts and photos. 
But, the comment Laura expressed over her husband’s hesitation to go on an African safari reminded us of five years ago when Tom was equally concerned over the safety of a safari and, even more so, living in Africa for almost nine months.
Our family was even more worried that we were getting in over our heads when they’d read and heard of countless stories about horrific events occurring in many parts of Africa, some as a result of animal encounters and other incidents. But, they were more concerned as to our vulnerability of becoming victims of crime.
A neighborhood in the Huon Valley.

We’ve never taken these facts lightly, but, as has been the case for most travelers, there are always precautions and concerns over traveling beyond the comfort zone of their home environment. 

Nowadays, there is no place in the entirely safe world;  from the elements, terrorism, crime, accidents, illness, and wildlife. Back then, before we began traveling, we’d discussed these concerns in depth. 

Mainly, I was trying to assure Tom that although the risks were higher in some parts of the world, such as Africa and the Middle East, we’d exercise the utmost caution. For example, in Kenya, where carjackings are common, we used a local driver to take us wherever we desired, thus reducing the risks.
Kayaker on Huon River near a moored sailboat.

As we look back at our old posts, we can’t help but experience the most profound emotions over the fact that we took those risks to see parts of the world previously only in our dreams.

When a year from now when we’ll return to South Africa (with more other African countries on the horizon during our extended stay), our hearts thump with enthusiasm.
This will be the first time we’ve returned to a country for an extended stay hiatus to explore Southeast Asia. As it turned out, we really enjoyed the second two months in Bali at the fabulous villa on the ocean.
Franks, a small cider restaurant and shop.

We had returned to Bali due to its proximity and easy flights to Sydney, Australia, where we’d booked several cruises. However, our return to Africa next February is for an entirely different reason…we wanted to return while we’re still able, young enough, and hopefully healthy enough to embrace the many exciting opportunities awaiting us. 

So, today, I thank Laura for writing and inspiring today’s post, which included our own past concerns, which ultimately ending with the gift of great memories that we gleaned from the extraordinary experiences.

Have a memorable day and be safe.

Photo from one year ago today, February 24, 2016:

Tom standing outside the shopping mall in New Plymouth, New Zealand, last year. For more photos, please click here.