Prologue To My Costa Rican Experience
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| The Author, Dean Philpot (D.Philpot) |
As the author I begin this entry by giving you an little insight into myself...
Background information and networking opportunities can be found by:
At a young age I became infatuated by nature, always staring out windows in the car and bugging my parents to take me to a zoo or outside and, once I decided becoming a veterinarian was not an option for me, I felt that there was a lot more to the world than England. Once I started reading some books and proceeded to learn to scuba dive at college, I discovered that I have an innate passion for tropical environments, the habitats, and the nature within.
At this point I decided on studying Marine & Freshwater Biology at university, which led me to narrow down where I wanted to go in life. The answer always was to work and or live in the tropics, or more specifically working alongside coral reefs standalone or within a park.
Prior to completing my thesis and my undergraduate study I decided that a specific postgraduate program would be required to further my career goals. This insight let me to discover a masters program that incorporates important areas I currently do not understand such as economics or policy management, but would yield me skills highly important for managing and working with tropical coral reef environments. I applied to the masters program, however it was mutually agreed that I should find some more tropical work experience first. Through a bit of research and luck I approached Lattitude Global Volunteering in 2011, a small but friendly youth development charity who, after discussing marine-based opportunities toward my career aspirations, went above and beyond before presenting me with a new and distinctly unique position within Costa Rica.
At this time I passed my details second hand over to the in-situ scientists, who then rang my mobile cell phone from a Costa Rican mountaintop and got the ball rolling on what would turn out to be a fantastic opportunity. From what they had told me it sounded like a fantastic place to be and my excitement grew constantly knowing I was the first UK volunteer to do this. By my 24th birthday in October 2011, I had purchased my flights to head out to Costa Rica for 7 months. It still felt too good to be true, but I knew if this opportunity came through then these 31 weeks or 215 days would never be forgotten.
About This Blog
Before Christmas 2011 I decided that it
would be a great idea to maintain a journal of all my experiences within Costa
Rica and rewrite it into this online blog. I have not kept any form of diary or journal before, and this is my first blog I have created.
Eight Important Things: I just wanted to note these briefly before I move on to the content out of my journal as follows:
I also like to get to the point, so I am going to end
these short introductory sections now by talking about Costa Rica and my new
home for one last brief section.
Eight Important Things: I just wanted to note these briefly before I move on to the content out of my journal as follows:
- I wrote this in my own English, meaning I am not going to jazz it up with sexy words and I want people of all ages and backgrounds to be able to read this. So it will remain non-technical and somewhat imperfect.
- Each post I religiously entered on a daily basis is marked by a time stamp of when I made the entry, not the time each thing occurred unless specified, and that said everything included here on inwards is nothing short of honest and truthful, taken from my original black leather, slightly destroyed, journal that I will forever cherish.
- The pages provided for Saturday and Sunday were half the size, and so this is the reason for the weekend posts appearing shorter in comparison to the rest.
- I have tried not to report the unnecessary and where possible I will go into detail as, for the most part, I left myself specific entries of daily occurrences so I would relive and remember that day upon reading them.
- The reason for this blog is to digitise my precious journal to preserve my memories, as well as to share it among friends, family, colleagues and to anyone else who is intrigued by my stories.
- For the most part I have altered this online version to make it impersonal and when I have written about animals I have written them with a capitalised first letter e.g. Monkey, when I give something a name I use ‘single quotes’ and when I quote someone else I have tried to use “double quotation marks.”
- To navigate through my blog once you reach the bottom of the page you will discover viewing "Older Post" and "Newer Post" buttons, or through the "Contents Page" tab.
- All photos, videos and content is of my own, unless stated otherwise, so please ask permission of the author for use of any material posted herein. If you wish to view larger images, simply click on the embedded photos for gallery mode (alternatively press Ctrl or Cmd + Click for full-screen views) .
Photo wise, obviously I have had to select the best out of my collection of over 10,000 images I took during my time in Costa Rica and so if you would like to see more or request information on more again please feel free to contact me.
Enjoy videos? then please open my youtube playlist before, during or after reading my blog whether you have a general interest or are interested in something more specific. 175 videos of mine, of various quality, can be found here.
The Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve, Costa Rica
This reserve on the Nicoya Peninsula was
the first park of Costa Rica, founded originally by Swedish couple Nicolas
Wessburg and Karen Mogensen, who had a vision of a completely protected
area. Jumping now to 2012, Costa Rica
now has around 27% of the country’s nature protected within parks or protected
areas to maintain the 6% of the worlds’ biodiversity it holds. The Cabo Blanco reserve is still in, more or
less, the same state it was however it now also encompasses 1 km of coastal
ocean that is for the vast majority completely protected from the cruel action
of man. A great website for general and
wildlife information can be found at here
Anyway, I have leapt forward a bit in order to set the scene. I hope you find my 31 weeks worth of entries interesting, enjoy my many ups, few downs and shenanigans during my 7 month adventure.
This park is made up of two
sectors. On the East side of the Nicoya
Peninsula is Cabuya, which has a couple of trails open to the public most days
of the week due to pressure from local hotels.
On the West side near Malpais and Santa Teresa is the other sector or
station called San Miguel which is completely
closed to the public. Access
here is by invitation only, and only a few select groups of students enter each
year.
Now, as a tourist I might think “Why is
this?” and the answer is simple. 50
years ago 85% of this peninsula was farmland, and since the park was formed in
1963 a large expanse of secondary forest has re-grown providing a refuge for
numerous species and as you will see from reading this the nature it holds is
worth protecting.
If we were to open up a few trails, as
tourists have suggested before, eventually the natural beauty protected within
the park will be ruined for everyone as more and more people enter the
park. Therefore, to preserve the ongoing
research and protect the species of the park I would kindly ask any tourists to
leave the park should they have any respect for nature, or else why would they
want to enter the park?
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| Image created by artist Deirdre Hyde |
Anyway, I have leapt forward a bit in order to set the scene. I hope you find my 31 weeks worth of entries interesting, enjoy my many ups, few downs and shenanigans during my 7 month adventure.
• Day 001: Sunday January 1st
We start my journey in the United Kingdom following Christmas 2013 as I am about to leave for New York (for a couple of days) before heading to Costa Rica.
23:15 Just counting down the new year. Got a slight cold but it is far from stopping me thinking and wondering about the profusion of life that I will encounter over the next 7 months. I hope my travels go swimmingly, seeming that most people should technically be sleeping after last night it should be fine.
23:15 Just counting down the new year. Got a slight cold but it is far from stopping me thinking and wondering about the profusion of life that I will encounter over the next 7 months. I hope my travels go swimmingly, seeming that most people should technically be sleeping after last night it should be fine.
08:50 Just waved goodbye to mum and dad
at Heathrow airport. Mum cried, of
course, but I know she is happy for me deep down knowing this experience will
really help me reach happiness on my future career path. I currently feel sick from the amount of food
I ate yesterday, though it makes me wonder more of the culture ahead of me that
I’m sure I’ll fall in love with.
10:15 I met a sweet American couple, New
Yorkers, who were out visiting their daughter at Oxford for the New Year. They
told me of how they had travelled all over the US on long road trips, across
the middle, up and over to the West side, completing a full circuit under and
round back to the East side which all in all sounded like an amazing idea and
experience. They were also happy for me
travelling alone on my adventures and Mark gave me a lot of useful information
about New York, my first destination.
20:00, 15:00 (NYC) Not long sat down one
of the airport hotels. It was a bit
daunting coming out of Newark airport terminal, nothing was clear… welcome to
America! I eventually spotted my tiny
airport hotel sign on a bus stop and so here I sit. Now to find some jeans at
Jersey Gardens outlet mall before exploring Broadway, Manhatten (Below).
Good things are that I managed to get
some jeans so I was happy and I also made it Broadway. I was grateful a friend told me about a cheap
bus across to New York New York instead of paying a $75 one way taxi rate (traffic
and weather pending) and I was relieved to be sitting on this bus enjoying the
night skies of New York. I walked from a
bus stop where the driver guy was rude, but a nice American citizen told me
just off the bus where I needed to go as well as where to pick up the returning
bus and by what time, what a relief. So
there I was, alone in the big city as I walked for 10-15 minutes down to Times
Square.
11:30 (NYC) Well I made it back here to
my comfy hotel bed, in summary there was some good and bad. Bad thing is that my mobile cell phone didn’t
automatically find a local network as they normally do abroad and so lack of
signal meant getting taxis proved difficult, nor could I call home to update
them. Also on the way back from Jersey
Gardens I had an old fool in a yellow cab that took me round a giant circuit
all around the airport with my hotel in the distance, though luckily he charged
me a flat rate so wasn’t taken on a “tour” but still annoying none the less.
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| The Big Apple - New York City (D.Philpot) |
The amount of people felt somewhat normal but the shear height of everything was certainly something that I was not accustomed to, but I loved it. The huge billboards, bright lights and my destination, Hard Rock Café. Despite the area being surprisingly clean after the big New Year fiasco the previous day apparently everyone in New York wanted a burger and after an expected 30 minute long queue I was told “Here is your ticket, but it will be a 2 hour wait sir.” So there I sat chilling on my ipod and hanging out with some American kids while “Next Acts” of people got shown to their tables, the mood was great though and was a nice but somewhat cramped experience. Eventually, after 2 and a half hours my name appeared at the bottom of the list, then slowly rose to the top as more names appeared above me(?) and I was shown to my seat. The music was great, the atmosphere was better, the cocktail I got was delicious and the entertainment was a bonus, a family member leant on his families table which broke and sent about 8 drinks into the air. After another 15 minute wait, my 3hr 15min burger arrived which was divine and well worth the wait.
I walked to where the bus was supposed
to come, a dark eerie road behind what was apparently a bus terminal or under
it or something.
There was a mural on the wall of a whale with some dolphins, rather randomly but it reminded me that now my real adventure begins… Costa Rica!!!
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| Urban Marine Influence in NYC (D.Philpot) |
There was a mural on the wall of a whale with some dolphins, rather randomly but it reminded me that now my real adventure begins… Costa Rica!!!
• Day 002: Monday January 2nd
05:30 (NYC) Waiting at my gate now, got
woken up by the hotel this morning… ergh! Too early, but my excitement has well
and truly taken control of me now. My
cold actually seems a bit worse today, probably as it was fairly windy in New
York, will get some vitamin C in San Jose.
Hopefully I will beat it before it takes me out in these early
stages.
I broke my wallet on the plane, somehow
broke my trousers or “pants” if you're an American, and had to pay $40 for an
extra suitcase which is better than $200.
My airline charges $200 for being a couple of kilos over, but $40 for a
second bag ($70 internationally), and luckily I placed the suitcase I had
packed into another larger one as I knew I am going to bring a lot back. At the same time I'm a skinny guy so what’s
the difference if a fat guy boards the plane too, stupid modern world.
I successfully boarded my flight where I sat anxiously waiting to arrive in the prosperous country of Costa Rica. My Spanish is now daunting me a little, but it should be fine despite being too occupied to practice beforehand and I was too distracted to learn much now...
I successfully boarded my flight where I sat anxiously waiting to arrive in the prosperous country of Costa Rica. My Spanish is now daunting me a little, but it should be fine despite being too occupied to practice beforehand and I was too distracted to learn much now...
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| Back To Where I Belong (D.Philpot) |
14:30 (Costa Rica local time) Sat in
Hotel Cacts in San Jose now so must have done something right, and I have all
of my luggage. I’ve left my new aeroplane
friends behind, another sweet American couple who had never travelled to Costa
Rica before but were avid divers with general conservation interests and as we
approached for landing I tried spotting whales from the plane, naturally,
peeping through the clouds eager to explore the nature Costa Rica has to offer
me.
Upon landing I could immediately tell nature is the heart of this country. Obvious examples at this early stage include waterproof money coated in animals and nature, beer advertising using nature, and as the image below shows from the moment I entered the country I couldn't avoid noticing these glass window panes greeting me just as I got off the plane...
I met a taxi driver at the airport who was impressed with my Spanish (as was I) but I realised my 2 years of it in school had taught me nothing compared to what I needed to know, and that was also 8 years ago so I am in need of some practice. I spent the whole journey with my head against the window looking outside, just as I do sitting in my family car in England which may appear rude but there is more to see outside instead of filling the gap with needless chit-chat, also I was conversing quite well in Spanish as well at the time.
Upon landing I could immediately tell nature is the heart of this country. Obvious examples at this early stage include waterproof money coated in animals and nature, beer advertising using nature, and as the image below shows from the moment I entered the country I couldn't avoid noticing these glass window panes greeting me just as I got off the plane...
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| Local Nature Conservation Is A Global Commitment (D.Philpot) |
I met a taxi driver at the airport who was impressed with my Spanish (as was I) but I realised my 2 years of it in school had taught me nothing compared to what I needed to know, and that was also 8 years ago so I am in need of some practice. I spent the whole journey with my head against the window looking outside, just as I do sitting in my family car in England which may appear rude but there is more to see outside instead of filling the gap with needless chit-chat, also I was conversing quite well in Spanish as well at the time.
From the outside this hotel appears secure, the inside is clean with a fresh comforting feel created with wide open spaces and white tiling (along with some very basic Christmas mementoes still remaining including a rather sorry looking Christmas tree). The high ceilings above the stairs holding some welcoming fans led me up to the first floor with a rooftop pool followed by randomly placed rooms (as if on a hillside). Upon reaching the top of another flight of stairs there are more rooms interconnected through interwoven balconies of cool concrete, at up on more set of steps I found the large rooftop kitchen/bar area and rooftop garden patio. The rooms match the décor of the hotel; light with large white tiles, hot and cold showers and a comfy bed - all-in-all more luxurious than I had expected.
Anyway, this hotel is very nice so of course comes at a bit of a price but I know much of my time will result in my return here, especially now meeting and knowing of the scientists contact at the reception. She knew who I was and was extremely helpful, now I plan to go out, explore and buy a few bits. Clearly I am not one to sit about the hotel and lounge in the pool, yet despite not even being on the beach/coast yet I already I want to return to this beautiful country.
Anyway, this hotel is very nice so of course comes at a bit of a price but I know much of my time will result in my return here, especially now meeting and knowing of the scientists contact at the reception. She knew who I was and was extremely helpful, now I plan to go out, explore and buy a few bits. Clearly I am not one to sit about the hotel and lounge in the pool, yet despite not even being on the beach/coast yet I already I want to return to this beautiful country.
17:35 Got some shopping (food/cosmetics)
but most frustratingly, could not find any existing ticket office for the proposed bus I need tomorrow. The lady downstairs had gained a puppy, a wandering stray, who features in my first video on my accompanying youtube channel for this blog found here:
Video 1 - Hotel Cacts Puppy
Video 1 - Hotel Cacts Puppy
18:55 I spoke to my country coordinators
(the scientists) and am now advised to just get to my bus early tomorrow
morning by 06:00am then hope for the best. I really cannot wait to simply get
to where I am supposed to be living, sit put with no worries and enjoy all the
nature I can see.
• Day 003: Tuesday January 3rd
06:25 So I am on the bus, luckily you
just have to show up and board early to get tickets or a seat, and I am 90%
sure it says Malpais on the front of the bus.
I had a little bit of worry while at this “Coca Cola” bus stop, sitting
alone with a couple of odd looking characters about, as well as some sweet
Costa Rican ladies who smiled and were very polite. I now have 6 stops to go until I am to
hopefully meet a guy named Elias as I step try to get off the bus at Malpais
and be taken into the reserve. Looking
at all the mountains, trees and greenery makes me wish I was in the park
already. It’s hard to be locked away in
a tin can with all that nature so close but no worries now, not long to go! Now I have set foot in the tropics once again
I have turned into a completely different human being my family don’t even
see. I just feel myself, so comfortable,
happy and have a sense of belonging to such a place, and for not one second thought
of that grey country I have left behind.
13:20 Well I was about to write my next
entry here however have just been interrupted by the female scientist (DL) as there is my first Howler Monkey just outside
somewhere...
17:05 She said “Would you like to go see
a Howler Monkey?” I said yes, expecting it to be a bit more than 10 feet away
from us.
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| An Arms Reach Away... My First Howler Monkey (D.Philpot) |
I have only really just dropped
my luggage into my room as I have been told that the first student group is to
arrive in a couple of hours. Just been
briefly orientated to the site and I love it here already, I cannot possibly
put it into words but hopefully as you read my entries you will be able to
envision such a place. As the somewhat
sketchy bus journey with me sitting and worrying on the ferry is quickly
forgotten I can tell you about my first sightings a bit more.
Elias helped me into the park with my
luggage, the road is tricky to navigate as it edges dubiously around the
coastal fringes with just a few metres to the water’s edge and I bumped my head
quite a lot as the vehicle bounced about while I looked outside. I could not understand this guys’ accent at
all, I do not believe I will ever have a conversation with him during my time
here. Before we even made it to the park
I stopped to watch some parrots fly overhead which was a beautiful sight, made
me sorry that humans have destroyed most of the worlds’ natural beauty.
Now seeing that howler monkey was
awesome, I looked at the guy (clearly a guy, with his white testicles dangling
about) trying hard not to smile too much or bare my teeth and thought to myself
what an opportunity I have.
I am sorry about this haphazard order,
but while immersed in primate watching DL got me some fresh lemonade, and then
a coati came into the open yard area. I
was shocked because I wasn’t even aware that they would be that common in Costa
Rica as DL told me, and I instantly fell in love with the adorably cute animal. Am now just sitting here waiting for this
first group to arrive anytime, where I will basically just be sitting in among
the students as one of them and shadowing all we do with them for the next few
days. DL told me the interesting story
about the secondary forest lining the beach with us and all over the Nicoya
Peninsula in that almost 50 years ago 85% of what I had seen was farmland so
most of the park had simply regrown.
This I felt was special as it shows what potential parks can have and
what happens to an area when left alone by humans, one aspect of the planet I
wish most humans knew.
20:15 Getting an early night tonight,
even though the day in New York sorted my body clock out I think this is
necessary, and breakfast is at 07:00am so need to get used to that. I have now met the students of Lee High
University, who are nice and I now look forward to the fish lectures and to
learning everything about this park.
My first photos of surely one of my top 3 favourite animals here - The Coati or Coatimundi (Pizote):
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| Coati By The Kitchen (D.Philpot) |
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| Coati In A Tree (D.Philpot) |
Please click "Older Posts" (bottom-right here) to navigate to the next few posts in my blog, or see the contents page at the top. There are 235 posts in total... many more photos and lots of interesting stories of my adventure to encounter - onwards!!!
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