Welcome to the Jungle

It's more like welcome to the "Jungle Lite" or the "Hypothetical Jungle" seeing as how I actually went to a mini zoo near some waterfalls, and not to an actual wild, untamed jungle. I think the title of my blog is more apt when you think about how this was my first week of school in another country...being taught in another language...yeah...welcome to the jungle indeed.

So, as part of my program we get to go on a few "giras" (field trips), and the first one was this past Friday to Poas Volcano and to La Paz Waterfall Garden. I was super crunk to go to the volcano. In my mind I was going to see hot, molten lava streaming down the side of the volcano, and I was going to feel the power and ferocity of Mother Nature!.....not quite, though. Actually, it just turned into a really long hike up a steep incline to see...dunh dunh dunhhhhh....absolutely nothing. Lol, it was really foggy that day, and combined with the sulfur coming off of the volcano, I could see absolutely nothing when we reached the top. So, I saw a volcano...I guess? Anywho, after we tromped back down that very steep incline, we ventured to La Paz Waterfall Garden. Now this place was AMAZING. Seriously, if you are going to Costa Rica anytime soon, go there! It's a beautiful place with gorgeous scenery, great food, and a mini zoo filled with native (exotic!) animals.

So, we started out by eating because we had worked up an appetite with our morning volcano exercises, and let me just say that I love Costa Rican food. I read so many blogs before I came here stating how the food here is really boring and on the bland side...false. The food here is so flavorful and fresh, and there are soooo many different kinds of fruit, I love it! My current obsession is the sweet fried plaintains, ay dios mio. I have had plaintains before, but the ones here are the truth. So, since it was a buffet (and normally I don't like buffets, but this was different), I ate like a pig and I am not ashamed to say it. Then, it was onward for adventures.

Fun facts that I learned?
1.) Jaguars have super huge heads. I don't think I've ever seen a jaguar close up. I'm talking that this bad boy was literally a foot from me on the other side of the glass, and he was an impressive monster. Jaguars look kind of like leopards that have been hitting the gym or something. Huge.
2.) Ocelots are the most darling, evilest things I have ever seen. My camera was out of memory (I left my memory card in the States because I am a dummy!), so I don't have a picture of him :( But, he was so tiny, like a little bit bigger than a house cat. He was curled up asleep inside of a little box in his sanctuary and I guess we disturbed him because he opened up his little black eyes, flicked his tail in warning, and then went back to sleep. I loves him. I needs him. I wants an ocelot. I know my boyfriend is reading this, so I repeat, " I NEEDS an ocelot!"
3.) Hummingbirds mate while flying. Not much else to say about that other than that takes talent.

4.) Fruit Loops do not do justice to the Tucan. They are such interesting birds and so dramatically colored!
5.) Waterfalls are spectacular in person. I kinda knew this already, but it is worth repeating.

I absolutely loved this place. I don't think I've ever seen anything so beautiful. However, I was paranoid the entire time because I felt that mosquitoes would naturally flock to a place like this because of the water, and I am terribly afraid of Dengue! They warned us about tropical diseases our first week in orientation, so now every time one of us gets a bite we are like, "OMG do you think it could be Dengue?!" It's a terrible thing to live in fear of mosquitoes, but no worries I am still Dengue free.

You will have to hear about my first week of school another day (Welcome to the Jungle Part 2 or something) because this girl is tired. I leave you with some pictures as always. But first, the story of the young mono (monkey).

 

The young mono inspects the food that a human has just given him. He is puzzled and asks the question, "What is this??"

 

 

The young mono howls in agony and screams, "Noooooo! They know that I only eat bananas!"

 

 

The young mono tears the food in half in frustration, vowing to punch the insolent human that would give him the wrong fruit!

 

 

Alas, the young mono becomes disillusioned with mankind, and turns his back on society..forever. The end.

 

Forgive my silliness, but the monkey pictures just looked like they needed an unnecessarily dramatic story with them :) Now, more pictures.

 

So this is me being awesome with a Tucan on my arm..EEEK!

 



 

And a different Tucan looking oh so pretty 

 

 

One of the many varieties of poisonous ranas (frogs) in Costa Rica. So beautiful (in a weird, frog way), but don't touch!

 

This was just a random duck in the path. He was so darling until you got close to him, and then he would charge at you in attack mode!

 

 Teehee! Doesn't he look so indignant at being photographed??

 

 

Me in front of one of the two waterfalls we saw that day. Le sigh, so beautiful.

 

 

 

These are Sombrillas Pobres (poor man's umbrella). I am so fascinated by them, you literally can fit under them if it rains!

 

This is a distant view of the first waterfall. Doesn't it look so unreal and exotic??

 

A close up view of the first waterfall. Loves!