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Gelati to Giraffes- Our year away
Australia Day!!! January 26th- Mal Pais Beach, Costa Rica
Would you believe that we managed to have "shrimps on the barbie" in Costa Rica for Australia Day!!?
Our accommodation owner had organised a BBQ dinner and a fantastic American guy staying next door bought the shrimps to surprise us Aussies!! What a coincidence that it fell on Australian Day! To be honest- we had lost track of the date and it was only due to emails from home that we even remembered it was the 26th today. Also feasted on freshly caught fish, spiced rice, potatoes with salsa and salads (carefully washed in bottled water luckily). Its by far the best meal since leaving OZ and with very fun and multi-cultural company too. Our dinner companions included an Austrian and Portuguese couple now living in Costa Rica, 2 Americans, non-Eng speaking, smiley Costa Rican caretaker, Austrian family with a 9 month old and a German backpacker.
Fascinating to learn about life here. Average wage about Aus$2 a day yet living costs like food the same as prices at home! Apparently, most locals have to make do by eating mainly rice and beans. Costa Rica doesn't have an army and diverts this money supposedly into health and education. They boast living standards equivalent to developed countries but this doesn't seem to be the case in reality. Seems to be the usual story of Government corruption. However, the tiny area we are in at the moment is rated as one of only 5 "blue zones" in the world. Blue zones being areas where people live unusually long and healthy lives. Apparently the secret is- a healthy diet, aglass of wine a day, meaning and purpose in life (oh so OT!!), strong links with family, laughter, religion, low stress levels, and physical activity through normal daily jobs (phew- not marathons!!).
In keeping with this Blue Zone philosophy, we've had a fun day with the kids in the volcanic rock pools on the beach early morning and evening, with down time back "home" in the heat of the day.
Zac and Zoe played the cutest game where Zac would throw his little rubber duck, Zoe would get it for him and say "what do you say little baby?". He would then say "thank you" to her and grin the biggest proudest smile while we all clapped him for it.
Today's wildlife count:
3 iguanas
hundreds of little crabs almost perfectly camouflaged with the rocks all strangely "waving "one claw in the air every few seconds (amazing- but so easy to miss it as they are hard to spot and all freeze if you move)
beautiful blue jay bird with long tail and curled feather on its crest
and the usual monkeys in the garden that sound more like dogs than anything else (hence the name "howler" monkey I guess)
We've been lent a book on Costa Rican animals and Zoe loving having us read to her about whatever we are seeing. Zac- not to be left out, sits holding the book pretending to read it too!
Bye for now.
K xxxxxxxxx
Our accommodation owner had organised a BBQ dinner and a fantastic American guy staying next door bought the shrimps to surprise us Aussies!! What a coincidence that it fell on Australian Day! To be honest- we had lost track of the date and it was only due to emails from home that we even remembered it was the 26th today. Also feasted on freshly caught fish, spiced rice, potatoes with salsa and salads (carefully washed in bottled water luckily). Its by far the best meal since leaving OZ and with very fun and multi-cultural company too. Our dinner companions included an Austrian and Portuguese couple now living in Costa Rica, 2 Americans, non-Eng speaking, smiley Costa Rican caretaker, Austrian family with a 9 month old and a German backpacker.
Fascinating to learn about life here. Average wage about Aus$2 a day yet living costs like food the same as prices at home! Apparently, most locals have to make do by eating mainly rice and beans. Costa Rica doesn't have an army and diverts this money supposedly into health and education. They boast living standards equivalent to developed countries but this doesn't seem to be the case in reality. Seems to be the usual story of Government corruption. However, the tiny area we are in at the moment is rated as one of only 5 "blue zones" in the world. Blue zones being areas where people live unusually long and healthy lives. Apparently the secret is- a healthy diet, aglass of wine a day, meaning and purpose in life (oh so OT!!), strong links with family, laughter, religion, low stress levels, and physical activity through normal daily jobs (phew- not marathons!!).
In keeping with this Blue Zone philosophy, we've had a fun day with the kids in the volcanic rock pools on the beach early morning and evening, with down time back "home" in the heat of the day.
Zac and Zoe played the cutest game where Zac would throw his little rubber duck, Zoe would get it for him and say "what do you say little baby?". He would then say "thank you" to her and grin the biggest proudest smile while we all clapped him for it.
Today's wildlife count:
3 iguanas
hundreds of little crabs almost perfectly camouflaged with the rocks all strangely "waving "one claw in the air every few seconds (amazing- but so easy to miss it as they are hard to spot and all freeze if you move)
beautiful blue jay bird with long tail and curled feather on its crest
and the usual monkeys in the garden that sound more like dogs than anything else (hence the name "howler" monkey I guess)
We've been lent a book on Costa Rican animals and Zoe loving having us read to her about whatever we are seeing. Zac- not to be left out, sits holding the book pretending to read it too!
Bye for now.
K xxxxxxxxx
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