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DAY 12 & 13 PURA VIDA
daily insight:
to be grounded in the space you reside is quite a tremendous thing. and everyone has different timing on what it feels to really "land" where you are. there are so many distractions, so many pre-wired stuff flowing through our brain and body at every moment that finding a grounded space in mind and body can sometimes prove challenging. i am happy to say that in these last few days i have truly embraced where i am and can experience it with a sense of peace and connection in this space of groundedness i feel. who knows if it's my better health that lead me here or even the accumulation of moments spent in stillness connecting to nature, but there is a release that has occured and i am grateful for that.
the play by play:
day 12
sundays here are pretty fun. you definitely see more of the locals out and about doing community gatherings like church or futbol games and it is nice to see that energy about town. we headed out that morning to check out the surf and we usually like to scope out 3 different spots, the pointe at pavones is first, then off to cocal (where the old house we were originally staying in was located) and the last spot being pilon. we decided the most fun spot with the least amount of people in the water was cocal. tellef and i paddled out and i knew already i was gettining some waves today~ and oh man i surfed one of the best sessions yet! with only 5 other local guys plus tellef and i we had a nice little crew hagning out by the break. i let the locals have all the more sizable waves and i took some really fun stuff on the inside but also at the main break. soon we looked over and jasmine had come in the water too bobbing away in the waves and enjoying the water just as much as we were. after a few hours in the water i was feeling a hungry tummy, so i say to myself the famous last words, "just one more wave". which ususally never is "just one more" but this time it acutally was because the next wave i caught was the longest i have ever ridden!! i had to go out with a bang and finish on a good note so i made my way out after that. back out the house we made some grub and realaxed awhile and come afternoon we made our out back into town for some happy hour and dinner at a cool local restaurante call la manta. it sits right on the water and besides the fact that it is in paradise and super cute it may be my favorite restaurante because there were all sorts of locals and their dogs hanging out all over the restaurante! there were about 6 dogs at one point and 2 of them were super cute puppies. jasmine and i fell in love with a particular puppy named mango (pictured with jazz above). oh i wanted to steal him! as we ate and drank a really poweful storm rolled in and it was fun to feel like you were out in it yet mostly sheltered. t'was a fun fun day !
day 13
today my energy was a bit dipped due to the drinking the day before but i took it in stride. no more cerveza today and i need to take some naps. i think i was so excited to have my energy back on sunday that i pushed it a little more than my body was ready to go. had a mellow morning and in the afternoon during low tide we took a long walk down the beach of punta banco which is south of us. tellef heard there was a nice waterfall if you walk a ways down the beach so we went in search of it. it was a great day to wander the ocean mid-day because the sky was overcast and drizzling just a little so we stayed cool and not scorched by the sun's rays. from the moment we got there a cute little black dog greeted us like a spirit guide wanting to lead the way. she would toss around coconuts, chase crabs, see video here: little black doggie and she stayed with us the whole way. you could tell she had nice owners because she gave lots of affection and listened when we spoke. at the end of the walk jazz and i spotted a creek feeding into the ocean and we made our rock hopping up the creek in hopes of seeing a monkey or sloth. no luck this time but it was super cool to get in the thick of the jungle and little black doggie followed us up. when we made it back to the car little black dog went back home, we were so grateful for her company and were tempted to steal her too, but she has a lovely home and that's what's most important. that afternoon called for a swim, jazz and i disovered a nice sandy beach area for swimming (most of the ocean here has rocky bottom to it) the sky was still drizzling and it was a beautiful scene watching the drops fall like sparkles on the water as we suspended our bodies in the swell. then we hung out at the hut nearby the sandy beach. after a nice afternoon siesta jasmine and i strolled down to the local italian place in walking distance from our house. we got there pretty early and were only planning on having appetizers but the pizza called our name and we had a delicious pizza "appetizer" as the sun set over the water. we walked back with just enough light because we forgot our flashlights! just as we approached the house tellef returned from what sounded like was an epic surf session. later that jazz, tellef and i all exchanged shoulder massages and at the late hour of 9pm fell asleep to dream the night away.
hasta luego
DAY 10 & 11 PURA VIDA
daily insight:
open my eyes and awaken to the beauty that surrounds. there is so much to see when you awaken to the present moment, so much to hear and observe if you get out of the chatter in the mind and into the world with an open heart and open mind. we truly create each moment we are given, no matter what the circumstance - what are you going to create in the moments that may not have turned out as a part of the fantasy you created in the chatter of your mind?
the play by play:
day 10
i got back on my board and back in the ocean ! oh it felt great. i was lucky to have hit some swell that was just my size and caught about 5 waves while i was out. it was mid-day here and the sun felt amazing on my skin, i am watching it turn a deeper shade each day. after our surf session tellef and i waded a bit in the cool river mouth of the Rio Claro that spits out right at the surf point. you can often see locals swimming and hanging out there with their families livin la pura vida. when we returned home we found out that jasmine's sores on her mouth were getting worse. she had been getting a reaction to the sun and heat and we needed to seek out some help so her lip didn't get worse. we found out there was a medico just 30 minutes out of town. we took our chances heading out and ended up getting there 15 minutes too late. it was closed and the doctor had already left. our only choice was to head all the way out on the gnarly roads to Golfito, where we orignally picked Jasmine up from the airport. the hospital in golfito was open 24 hours so we knew our long drive wouldn't be in vain. on the drive there we were going through the spanish/english dictionary so that we knew how to explain what jasmine was feeling. when we arrived it was so nice having tellef be our translator. it was a such an interesting experience going to a hospital in a foreign country, i learned a lot that night. after all of the examinations were finished, shots administered and prescriptions filled jasmine was in a bit better sorts now that she wouldn't have to spend the rest of her time here wondering what she had and whether it would get worse. recovery was on its way. we were all pretty exhausted and starving by now so we got dinner in the port town of golfito. we came upon a nice place right on the water with lots of seafood to choose from and a big costa rican futbol match on the T.V. we also watched a lightning show over the water that lit up the sky like two greek gods throwing bolts at eachother. a bit like zombies on the drive home we arrived back to pavones safely and all had a really good night's rest.
day 11
a bit tired still from the previous day's trek i took the morning slow and didn't go surf straight away with tellef. decided to wait until the afternoon to get in the water and surf. but later that morning jasmine and i went beachcombing and climbed up a rock with a beautiful outlook on top. jasmine couldn't spend too much time in the sun so that her sores would heal more quickly so there was a bit more time spent in the the house today than we would have liked, but again we had to be patient. we both now knew what it is like to save up and fantasize about your vacation and when things go awry like illness it can be so challenging to enjoy the time you have, to be content even though things may not always turn out the way you imagined it. but enjoy we did, lots of card game playing and some t.v. watching never hurt anyone. we also had the opportunity to hear and then see two toucans! they were having a converstion together in the trees right by our house, it was SO wonderful, they have a very distinct "caw". later that afternoon tellef and i headed out for a surf. but right after we arrived surfers came out of the woodworks and it became way too crowded and big for me to handle myself. i got out and had an amazing yoga practice on the sand as the sun began to set. i highly recommend getting outside and practicing some inverted poses on the beach, you get some amazing views upside down here! after moving through some sequences i had the most blissful meditation and it got me out of my head and grounded into the moment. i decided to go out into the water again since i could see a smaller break cropping up in the cove. i watched the sun completely set in the water which felt so amazing. tellef and made it home just as it was dark. i didn't catch a single wave in either of the sessions today but learned so much by just being and observing all that time in the water. learning comes in so many forms when you open up to it. i do look forward to riding waves tomorrow though ;)
hasta luego
DIA 8 & 9 PURA VIDA
daily insight:
often when i think of the warrior nature, qualites such as strength, perserverence, courage and focus come to mind. i often forget some of the most important qualities of a true warrior are restraint and patience. i often have trouble with these two qualities in my life and they show up most often when i get sick. i just can't stand the fact of letting sickness stop me so i keep plugging away thinking it will somehow just go away if i ignore it enough. however my yoga practice and even over time has proved to me that that is not a solution and never works out the way i think it should. i teach restorative to remind myself as i teach others that rest is so vital to our well being, but when i am sick i am so resistant and stubborn it's almost comical. my body has needed rest these last few days and rest i did. it was a great reminder that yes this trip is about surfing and having fun but it is just as equally about resting and restoring my mind body and soul. and often times it takes getting sick to strap me down for a few days and slow down this train.
the play by play:
day 8
on the morning of the 8th day we realizedTellef had left something of value at the old house and we went out to retrieve it. i joined him on the drive but quickly realized it was a bad choice. the normal bumps and bounces of the road were too much for me to handle. today there was no denying my being sick. i had a horrendous cough and was super worn out. the plan for the day was to stay in bed and get better. i dealt with all sorts of feelings like dissapointment, frustration, self pity and all those lovely emotions you feel when sick. but when it came down to it the view out of my bed isn't half bad and i get to be sick in paradise. all i need work on now is my patience and restraint from temptation to be active and wear myself out.
day 9
each morning the wake up time gets earlier and earlier- i'm talking 5:45-6am! the sun sets so early it's early to bed and early to rise here. feeling better but not 100% yet, another day of rest was prescribed by jasmine and tellef (they are monitoring me close). so i less stubbornly listen to their advice because that full day of rest really made me progress in feeling myself again. the power went out at the house so we took a short ride down to Punto Banco which is a bit south of us to look at the surf and explore a little. we did come upon more doggies! and no surf for tellef but jasmine and i found a great swimming beach. we loved it so much we returned there later a bit before sundown and splashed around in the waves and attempted to skip rocks as we reminisced. that night we had lots of fun playing cards as we watched the sunset and making delicious homemade tacos. after dinner we had a short spell of the power out again (i think they are working on the lines while the rain is away, no rain today!) which gave us a great opportunity to watch the fireflies. then it was early to bed in hopes of feeling better enough to surf tomorrow!!!
hasta luego amigos!
DIA 6 & 7 PURA VIDA
daily insight:
companionship, friendship, or whatever you like to call it -people by your side that know you sometimes better than you know yourself are good to have around. at times i sometimes forget how predictable my behavior can be, but when i am around the man i love and one of my best friends they quickly remind of all qualities redeeming and no so redeeming about myself. sometimes going inward is the best way to understand who you are and why you function and behave the way you do, but other times all you need do is listen to a close friend and loved one to get that reflection.
the play by play:
day 6
on the morning of the 6th day i woke up with a pretty gnarly bronchial infection and was coughing up things we need not discuss. however, typical me who can't stop seeking out fun and afraid of missing out on something goes out to surf on a day of "amazing conditions" (which typically means bigger waves than i can handle). Tellef heads out in a spot i know i would be a drowned rat in while i head down the beach to "the cove" where the less bad ass surfers try to make it happen. i paddled out fine but then realized once a set pulled through that my lungs where not 100% and i was in over my head, literally! so this really sweet local guy saw my struggle and yelled at me to ride the next wave of white water in on my belly with him. he told me in spanglish that i should come back in high tide (low tide is the gnarly time) and it would be better...."this danger" : / so with my head hanging a little lower i walked back to the spot where the car was and watched Tellef rock his skills while my skin got sunned by the beautiful clear skies. that morning was the clearest it had been and most of the day was quite sunny. i do love the tropical storms that roll in on the daily here though. so refreshing.
come noon it was time to set out on the crazy dirt roads to scoop up my good friend Jasmine at Golfito aeropuerto!her flight came in at 1:30 and due the lack of signs or any way of deciphering how to get to the airport through gps we ended up pretty late to retrieve her. she chilled, made friends and had a couple cervezas like a seasoned traveller would. but on top of her long travel day we still had a lot more travel left before we got to the comforts of home.we headed to the Panamania border and did a major grocery shop, basically you pay panamanian prices but never actually have to cross the border through customs. but we definitely broke the cardinal rule and shopped whilst hungry. not that we bought too much food, but we were pretty clueless and slow and the lack of organization of that market did not help things. soon enough we were on the road again and stopped at a really yummy restaurant that had a family working there that had lived in New Jersey for 20 years so they spoke the best English we had heard yet ! it surprised us but made things a bit easier. on the way home Jasmine couldn't believe the trek we were on and to top off the crazy roads add a full moon and the most intense thunder and lightning we had seen yet!!!! at one point of the drive lightning hit a tree just feet away from the car and we thought a bomb hit with the amount of light and the sound of the crack in such close vacinity to our car. each lighting strike to follow had us a little jumpy to say the least. we made it back safe to the palace and Jasmine was pretty stoked on her digs. we slept well with a full day's adventure behind us.
day 7
so my broncitis is feeling much better, i need to move and re-inspire so i head to one of the two local yoga studios in this town - Pavones Yoga Center. i have never been in a studio with a view like this. click here to see some shots of the studio - http://www.pavonesyogacenter.com/ high up on the hill and open to the jungle so the breeze can caress your skin. i had a lovely morning asana practice led by the owner of the studio Indira, what a blessed space. i walked back down the hill and all the way back to our house. it was a long peaceful walk in which i stop for a few nature shots of plants, flowers and horses (a mom and her colt) . after a long walk i realize i need to take it easy today so i can feel tip top shape sooner than later so a nap is in order and then Jasmine and i wander down into town and rest by the ocean catching up and talkin' girl talk, we send smooches in our photos here. when we arrived at the house we got another visit from a momma black dog, she has been coming daily at least once a day to beg for food and we haven't provided. she is a smart one though and she knows this crowd is a sucker for dogs and most of all puppies. yes, she brought along her little black and chocolate pups but the other one left before we could get a photo. however the little black pup stayed and oh did we get photos...and of course gave in and fed them a little rice and lentils. the dogs here are mostly stray and most are afraid of people. tellef and i may smuggle one of the pups home so Tucker has a buddy. i get daily updates about Tucker and he is definitely not missing us, that's because he's got some great companionship. thank you nicki, kevin and bula!!!! until tomorrow...
hasta luego!
DIA 5 PURA VIDA
daily insight:
everything is temporary. everything. everything. everything. so enjoy it. even when it is trying and testing your strength, in the heat of the moment you must realize that it will not and cannot last for long. so enjoy it for its breif time, because if there is one thing i do know, time ain't slowing down. time is so precious and nothing is worth suffering over.
the play by play:
can't believe day 5 has come to an end already! we have most definitely shifted course. first words out of Tellef's mouth when i woke was "we got the house". back story- yesterday when we went to look at the properties available to rent for the month of June we had our fingers crossed for the nicer of the two that we saw. Normally the house would be way out of our price range, but because there is a pool on the property and a water shortage, the pool is empty and the manager offered it to us for half the price it normally goes for, but he had to first confirm with the owners first. so that night we awaited a response and they took our offer! we packed up that morning and whisked off out of Cocal (a town about 2 miles out of Pavones) and headed to our house right in Pavones! we are a little bit more on the hill up from the beach but still an easy walk to the water and WAY less humid. did i mention it has the most amazing outdoor showers i've ever seen?? well it does! also at this location we are more likely to see monkeys, toucans and the like...tonight i saw tons of fireflies on the lawn and a bat landed in our porch area! i know tonight i will have a much more rested sleep with a huge leap up in our accomodations. to see the house just follow this link :) http://pavonescr.com/property/pavones-vacation-rental-villa-pavones/
i also included some good riddens memorial photos of the other house that just was not set up for success. so long.
tomorrow we head back into the big city of Golfito to grab my good friend Jasmine from the airport! Our threes company turns to 4!
hasta luego
DAY 3 and 4 PURA VIDA
daily insight:
defining "good" and "bad" is an interesting thing. it can really disconnect you from what is to "what should be". when something dissapoints our expectations it is so easy to see time as wasted or fustration by your fate. however if you aim to look for the beauty in what is occuring and make positive and more informed decisions from there you will always leave a situation with newly gained knowledge and and a deeper understanding no matter what the situation. therein lies the gem.
the play by play:
day 3
we said goodbye to Parcels de Cabinas in Punta Dominical and packed the car full to head south. we took some last minute shots of the beautiful views before we took off (japenese garden in the middle of the sea). we passed through some interesting towns and even ate Chinese food here in Costa Rica, not my favorite meal thus far. ;) pushing on the last leg of the trip we drove like indiana jones through the dirt roads. these roads included gnarly thunderstorms, abundant potholes, single tracked non-railed bridges etc. it was good fun. all the while i can't wait to settle into our house by the beach for the month. when we made it and finally found the caretakers to let us in my heart sank just a wee bit. oh expectations, why must i have made this place out in my mind to be more than it was. i kept quite not wanting to be the negative nancy of the bunch, but the dissapointment had spread when we quickly found basic amenities to be disfunctional. so we had chart a new course. no biggie, that is why we have lots of time here, to learn and take things as they present themselves. that night we did see a beautiful lightning storm light up the endless ocean and decided to deal with things in the morning.
day 4
i awoke with more more positivity on our house situation. tellef, bob and i took a nice long stroll down the beach and assesed the situtaion. we would look for a new place today. so we drove our way into Pavones, famous and world renowned for its surf culture and longest left setting waves. we watched the surfers do their thing and then found a delicious spot to buy smoothies, fresh juices and vegetarian eats. a plus for me! after kicking around there for a spell and getting acclamated we headed back to our house and on the way before crossing one of the single way, non-railed bridges a bus came along that had to empty its passengers before crossing for safety. when we arrived back at the house we found the break was happening great there and we had it all to ourselves. one of the upsides to quite a few downsides in the spot we've landed thus far. which in the scheme of things seem quite silly being that we are in costa rica after all. after a super fun session we felt a whole lot better about the house but knew we most likely wouldn't stay. after surf we went to check out a few more potential houses to stay closer in the the main part of Pavones. we met a fantastic guy named Johnny who manages both spots and gave us lots of great pointers about the town. back at the house in Cocal we saw some sweet little toads who love our front porch and bob used his fancy camera to get some amazing shots. another great day in Paradise and we will see where we end up tomorrow!
DAY 2 PURA VIDA
daily insight:
living in the flow. feeling the fear and going for it anyway. these are the phrases that often sum up a lot of my time out in the water whilst surfing. there is something so magnificent about being surrounded by vast ocean and endless jungle that makes you feel so darn small yet so connected to it all. what i was most excited for on this trip was to disconnect from that which i find safety and comfort in and live in the experience of the moments that don't feel comfortable but have so much potential for growth. also to continue along the path of flowing with what is. when a huge wave comes out of nowhere and you need to decide how you are going to maneuver- either you freeze up and move through it with panic and rigidity or take it as it comes with ease and grace. there is always a choice.
the play by play:
mid-day we took a walk around the grounds of our hotel and took in all the beauty we also wandered through some jungle trails and the misquitos found me good and fast as they always do. Trying to keep the 15 plus bites at bay. We headed for lunch at the local reataurante and i had my hand at odering in Spanish, I notice I smile a lot while trying to speak a new language. As if the fact that if i act really nice and smile eccesively will make them understand me better. I also learned a new game at lunch, Backgammon. Tellef taught me so well that I beat him the firtst game. But he got me on the next game. i like playing and i imagine there will Backgammon tournaments mid-month. After lunch it was time for surf. today we got in the water. after a good waxing of our boards with warm water wax it was time to forge the trail. it was no easy task. we had to scale the cliff with boards in tow to make it down to the surf. it was most definitely an adventure. we had been scanning the water all day watching the swell and it was small, but we wanted to get out nonetheless. as we scampered over the slippery and sometimes sharp rocks and got our boards out far enough to paddle out, the biggest set we had seen all day came through just in time to welcome us in. we excitedly paddled straight through it, or should i say dove under it. sometimes it just works out that way. it was so lovely being in the tropical water, felt i could be out there all day. after catching some fun rides we could see a storm heading our way. once we noticed a bolt of lightning not far off in the distance it was time to head back in. and just as it welcomed us in with bells and whistles it had to create a grand finale to spit us out. just as we were aiming for one more wave to take us back to shore, out of nowhere the biggest wave we'd seen yet came raging at us and it came crashing straight down on Tellef's dad's long board and cracked straight in half. and to add injury to insult as he tried carrying the two halves back to shore he caught his somewhat loose toenail on a rock and each step with the wafting water was worse than the next pulling at his nail. the rain came pouring down and we made it safely back up the cliff. needless to say there was tequila in our near future to help numb Tellef's ailing toe. :) we staved the night off with lots of great stories and laughs. what a great day 2.
DAY 1 PURA VIDA
daily insight:
we have officially arrived and the moment we hit ground into this new land and new culture i am instantly reminded of why travel is food for the soul. i can't imagine a better way to expand your mind and ultimately your life experience. it is another form of Yoga, finding deep connection to all your surroundings, feelings and sensory intake of it all. This is the epitome of the practice of being present, i am savoring each and every moment, thriving in the adventure of discovery.
the play by play:
after a long drive through mountain ranges we found a sweet little pupuseria tucked away in a mountain village, to have some lunch. We kept on trekking through to arrive on the west coast. Taking various stops along to coast to stretch and get our feet wet soon the sun began to set and we still hadn't found a place to hang our hat for the night. But just in time we stumbled upon the perfect little cabins on Punta Dominical with ocean surrounding both sides of us....literally a 360 view and stero sound of the ocean = my heaven. There is a lovely restaurant located on sight where we sat on the ocean deck eating fish tacos, drinking cerveza and watching the lighting show over the water as a storm was making its way towards us.
That night was a beautiful symphony of sounds to sleep to...ocean waves, downpour of rain, thunder and to top it off mangos dropping onto the roof! Sure glad the guys i am bunking with don't snore loudly!
When i woke completely rested, i couldn't resist a morning asana practice on the deck. So i busted out my travel mat, (thank you lululemon) and got going on my meditation and syncing my ocean breath to the ocean in front of me.
pura vida
Kids Yoga article in Bamboo Magazine
Had a wonderful opportunity given to me by Jenn Lucene owener of Jade Apple Yoga and Ashley editor of Bamboo Magazine to write a lead article on Kids Yoga. it was such a gift to dust the cobwebs off my writing skills and get to work. I hadn't sat and written something of that length on a subject I was that passionate about since my college days. Needless to say it was slow to start but I oiled up my wheels and they began to spin- Hope you enjoy.
Click image for article :
