excerpt from Better Off Flipping the Switch on Technology by Eric Brende

There really is no end to the possible uses of technology, nor are there limits to finding a way around it; but in all cases it must serve our needs, not the reverse, and we must determine these needs before considering the needs for technology The willingness and the wisdom to do so may be the hardest ingredients to come by in this frenetic age. Perhaps what is needed most of all, then, are conditions favorable to them: quiet around us, quiet inside us, quiet born of sustained meditation and introspection. We must set aside time for it, in our churches in our studies, in our hearts. Only when we have met this last requisite, I suspect, will technology yield its power and become a helpful handservant. Mary and i still turn on the kerosene lamp and read by the fire on a cold winter's eve. By switching off the electric light, I think we see a bit better.

excerpts from The Tao of Inner Peace Diane Dreher

Only one woman I knew didn't play this game. Pat told us when she was busy, when she could meet for lunch or tea. Phone calls with her averaged five minutes at most. Centred and disciplined, she was writing a novel and selling short stories while the rest of us squandered our energies over the wires.

Years of pleasing others had made her emotionally numb. Even her movements were stiff, almost mechanical. Out of touch with her centre, she met other people's needs until opposing loyalties turned conflict into crisis. The opposing "shoulds" were pulling her apart.

Intelligent and strong minded, Jim succeeds in every venture until he suddenly loses interest. Once the initial excitement fades, he decides this career isn't right for him and moves on. His centre, his identity, always remains outside. The elusive goal beckons, just beyond his grasp, promising this time.

What makes an intelligent woman such a chameleon? She keeps placing her cetnre outside in the hands of the man she loves. Once she gives herself away Christa becomes compulsively attached to her man, fussing, clinging and driving him crazy when he pulls away, strangled by her.

At birth all people are soft and yielding.
At death they are hard and stiff.
All green plants are tender and yielding.
At death they are brittle and dry.
When hard and rigid,
we consort with death.
When soft and flexible,
We affirm greater life. - Tao 76

Duane Elgin writes in Voluntary Simplicity that "Our civilizational crisis has emerged in no small part from the gross disparity that exists between our relatively underdeveloped 'inner faculties' and the extremely powerful external technologies now at our disposal. "As it is within, so it is without." An imbalanced world results from personal imbalance The Tao teaches uws to slow down, look within, and make wiser choices.

Lyle began work early, helping run his parents' theater in Little Falls, MN and found "there was always something interesting to do." Part of his detachment is humility. Over the years, he's worked with contractors, plumbers, and electricians, doing much of the work himself. "I never felt I was better than anyone I hired, " he told us. "Everything is an interesting job, a challenge," and he added again, "I never felt there was anything I don't like to do." People like Lyle live with wholeness of purpose, avoiding inner conflict. They embrace everything they do with interest and enthusiasm, the joy of Tao.

Living harmoniously takes effort. It's easy to fall into lazy thought patterns, succumbing to anger, resentment, self-pity, or the other negative emotions that tug away at us, dragging us into destructive cycles.

Kimbo Slice

We got to talking about stories, which are the crux of a community's culture. Forever sewn into the fabric of the Finca's culture is the story of a white English Bulldog named Kimbo Slice. Erica, who hadn't even seen their new adopted dog from San Jose, was told on the phone by Matt, (who was in tears) that Kimbo had freaked out and ran across the bridge, and had been missing for a few days. The story goes that every man in camp was out looking for this dog, and finally found some evidence of his tracks going up into the hill, accompanied with puma tracks about 3 times as large as his. Signs of a struggle showed further up the hill, with only puma tracks exiting the area. That was day 5. On Day 12, a guy by the name of Paul was out into the finca's forest when he screamed Matt's name. Everyone ran over to Paul immediately, and saw a big bulldog head with emaciated body barely alive behind him. The local Tico's were convinced it was a ghost, that's how bad that dog looked. His eyes were caked open with layers of gunk, a 25 pound weight loss, and two deep gashes on the side of his neck. Today, he's as stupid as ever, mostly blind from the experience, but still the finca's protector with an affinity for balloons and Chester.

TreeTop Transformations

“I hope people show up,” Erica asks, more to herself than anyone. “Honey, drop it,” her husband replies as gracefully as possible considering the situation. “Ok,” she says, quickly pulling herself together. Although a good day for Erika and Matteo “Matt” Hogan often involves several stressful moments, today’s inaugural Open House at Finca Bellavista is different. After 5 years of developing the first sustainable tree house community in the world, their farm, located in the south-western jungle of Costa Rica, is ready for some big-time attention. With everyone from the governor, to local farmers and friends on the RSVP list, there is much more at stake here than showcasing an alternative lifestyle, the business itself hinges on attracting some serious investors.

It didn’t start out that way. Matt’s 2005 memorable surfing trip on the coast of Costa Rica ended with a convincing phone call to Erika to join him in the Osa Region. “The initial plan was to buy a little fixer-upper surf shack,” explains Matt, “and to switch between Colorado and here.” Surveying the area, they settled on a 62 acre secondary growth plot, marketed as a ‘fast-return on investment’ due to it being tagged as a timber harvest site. As soon as the early 30-somethings fell in love with the area, they found 9 other farms being sold for the same reason. “We’re going to have to buy the whole mountain to save it,” Matt told Erika. After petitioning each of the owners, mortgaging their home, and pooling their life savings, they held the title to over 350 acres of Costa Rican rain forest. The question then became what to do with it. In a monumental dream state, Erika free-formed “Why don’t we build an Ewok Village with zip-lines and bridges?” After some research, they realized it was possible and from that first machete-wielded trip through their property, they set to work.

Their first 18 months resembled more of a mud pit than a construction site, but determined to work with as little impact on the environment as possible, Erika, Matt, and 35 Ticos slept under a tarp, washed in the river, and used a hole in the ground for a toilet. Their dedication and commitment to the integrity of their project was monumental, fighting off flesh-eating insects, watching for deadly snakes, and flash floods, that could bring a 6 foot wall of water through the ravine in seconds.

The groundwork was being set for their unimaginable project, with paths hewn out of the mountain-side, indigenous trees planted, the land surveyed and strategy planned meticulously. By being completely ‘off-the-grid’, it was solely Erika and Matt’s responsibility to ensure healthy long-term growth. Electrical needs were to be satisfied through solar panels, water used from rain catch and an artesian well, and waste eliminated through bio-digesters. Transportation throughout the forest would rely solely on the footpaths, and zip-lines. Meals were meant to be primarily harvested from the garden and the only time one would have to leave would be for the 3 B’s: beef, beer, and booze.

The Hogans became an unstoppable force of PR after others became interested in getting involved. Every step forward took them one step deeper into the project, as the details of developing a community from scratch became more complicated. Complicating things further, both the government, and private professional companies severely hampered their progress through corruption, and costly errors. One specific surveying error cost the project over $750,000 in lost property, and $300,000 to rectify it. As the couple were far from a conglomerate with wealthy investors behind them, major setbacks threatened Finca Bellavista on a daily basis. Without advertising, and relying on word-of-mouth and a website, 45 of the 94 plots they subdivided were sold at up to $65,000 each, providing the necessary capital to build a much-needed road, hydro-electric generator, a community centre, and open-air verandah. It seemed they weren’t the only ones who preferred watching toucans, macaws, or bands of white-faced capuchin monkeys travel through the rain forest canopy rather than TV, or the sound of the river and crickets chirping at night over the din of constant traffic.

So, how did the open-house go after all? Over 50 people showed up, ranging in age from 6 months to over 60 years, but one notable face was absent: the governor. Despite receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes, a new police station, a public road and bridge, the government has not shown any special gratitude for the continuing tax dollars, local employment, and investment interests the project has created. He is not the only one who seems less than thrilled over a couple of gringos in their territory. The couple almost died this week in a car crash due to faulty brakes installed by a local mechanic. “I’ll be going down there and asking for my money back”, Matt quipped, without any hint of giving up his fight.

http://www.fincabellavista.net/

Finca Open House

Tree Roots, & Tree Tops

I have questioned everything. I have went to the brink once again, and pulled myself back. I know that worrying about my life is a complete and utter waste of time; that knowledge doesn't necessarily help me in stopping. What does help me stop is actually practicing shifting my focus, shifting my attention away from what is bothering me. From the annals of Buddha & Tao, the rooms filled with silent meditation, I know now my years of running around trying to occupy myself, and distract myself from what I really want in my life has wreaked havoc. I'm 38 years old and more lost than ever. This is perfect. For the first time, I feel hope that I can really find myself. In finding myself, I mean being myself.

This world is so full of distractions for me; loud noises, confusion, so many choices, so many people asking things, TV, media, music............ for me, I've felt it impossible at times to feel ok about being myself. The key has been getting away from it all, and being forced to deal with myself. I now know the power lies within me. My world is me. I am my world, and the more centred I become, the more I create my world from the inside out, the better I feel about living.

Finca Bellavista

Decided to ask the group at a bar I dropped into where I could pitch a tent, and a gringo happened to hear me. He told me he had what I was looking for, and to take my time eating dinner and join them after finishing. It was a couple from Colorado who had moved to Costa Rica after a wicked surf trip and falling in love with the area. I'm now in an Ewok Village/Swiss Family Robinson treetop community, sustainable and connected with zip lines with toucans flying through the air, and beetles the size of your boots in the grass. I will be here working/volunteering and writing about their experiences for one week, helping them prepare for an open house on Sunday. The project has flirted with celebrity from being the subject of interviews from around the world, and as nearly half of their lots have confirmed owners, will continue to be a source of interest for people looking at alternative living.

Love in the Dark

And i need you now tonight and i need you more than ever and if you'll only hold me tight we'll be holding on forever and we'll only be making it right cause we'll never be wrong together we can take it to the end of the line your love is like a shadow on my all of the time I don't know what to do i'm always in the dark living in a powderkeg and giving off sparks i really need you tonight forever's gonna start tonight once upon a time there was light in my life now there's only love in the dark There's nothing I can do but total eclipse of the heart!

Tirar De Basura Parta Treis

I moved some garbage around. 8 hours with a wheel barrow, rake, shovel and thick gloves from a labour standpoint, overcoming a fear of homeless people, and dogs, snakes and needles from an emotional. In the heart of the most dangerous, run-down and sad part of downtown San Jose, it seemed ridiculous to venture out into an empty lot and clean up garbage. From our 5th floor fire exit, it excited me to be able to make a change, imagining a green area full of life instead of plastic, & rubber. It was to be a internal journey in and of itself, and I was not prepared for the rollercoaster of thoughts that beset me throughout.

Without firm statistics, I can only guess that an average Costa Rican creates much less garbage than a North American in one year. I also believe that there are only a few Latin Americans that throw their garbage on the streets: whether they're poor, or just careless. The only difference is that in some areas, their garbage is visible, and ours is not as much. The problem still exists in both countries - what to do, and should we even care, for care's sake?

Well, I couldn't expect anything to change if I was part of the problem. I've had so many cravings for Taco Bell, I think from the advertising, but there's just too much packaging in one meal. My money can help a small restaurant much more than funneling it back to Headquarters in California, or Kentucky. You wouldn't believe the lineups here for KFC, Taco Bell and McDonalds, and they're not cheap. People just aren't eating at home as much anymore.

Change

It is soon time to pull up anchor from the place I've called home, San Jose, Costa Rica. I've had more realizations of myself and the world, and am unclear of my future, except to know that I continue the journey. The bike, and Panama will be waiting for me on Monday morning. So many emotions, and thoughts, and desires; they must all fall to the wayside as I continue.

Today It's Your Birthday

4o years ago today, a beautiful and precocious baby Ginger was born to two loving, and expectant parents. She was their first together, a symbol of love's enduring power, spanning the Atlantic ocean and forever binding Liverpool, England with Vancouver, BC. It was this unique blend of The Beatles and Uncle Ernie's farm that created the sensational woman we know today: Bonnie Katherine Kilroe. With a passion for entertainment, and a sincere love for every living creature, she leaves a lasting impression wherever she goes. She certainly did for me.

Bonnie taught me about love, about what it takes to surrender to someone and trust. Those fragile, and tentative first steps towards each other began on the beach without a stitch of clothing to cover ourselves. It was her who offered an invitation to see each other again, and I gladly accepted, albeit in a cool, calm fashion. She rolled into the patio of that Yaletown restaurant literally, looking outrageous in her summer dress and rollerblades. Chastising me for looking at her profile as we bladed around Stanley Park, she showed a unique, and so rare side many of us prefer to cover up: her shyness and vulnerability. I proudly guided her through the darkness, as we had continued into the summer evening, avoiding pot holes and obstacles along the way. We spent much time learning to trust each other, and eventually fall in love.

Her ability to juggle the needs of others, and her own, and still be a working performer, left me wanting to protect her and control her actions to minimize any pain. She steadfastly refused to change, and had the courage to deal with life however fast and furious it may have come. We supported each other, and every time I left because I wouldn't let myself show, or feel any intense emotions, she would take me back and give it another shot. She is a testament to love, a testament to inner strength, and believing in possibility.

I had an almost imperceptible desire to love and be loved when we first met, but her fortitude, and belief in the power of love, made me want to be a better man. We had an amazing time together and I am so fortunate our paths crossed, and blessed to have known this beautiful woman. The world is such a better place with Bonnie in it. I am such a better man as well.

La Fiesta Memorable

Da Vinci y Madame Curie se sentaron juntos, y ellos hablaron de un nuevo idea con un avion radioactiva por distribuir las vacunas, un conversacion muy ruidoso perro el frente, Bryan Adams y Shakespeare tuvieron un conversacion en voz baja de lyricos poete y dio una mirada de critica a Leonardo y Marie. Jason estuvo necessito Cleopatra fue cerca a mi por que yo puse controlar ella energia sexual, perro a lado de, Sunil fue un hombre con muchas suerte por que Madonna fue izquierda, juntos ellos hablaron de sexo, control, y religion. Alan y "Coronel" Sanders hablaron de Kentucky, y Sanders y Sven Kramer fuiron el hefes de comida (pollo frito) con la combinacion de muy hoven y muy viejo, ambos cerca de cucina. Jackie Kennedy fue necessaria para separar la energia machista de Pele y Simon Bolivar en esperar. Barbara Walters y Johnny Carson fuieron el entre la mesa por entrevistar todos gentes. Eva Peron estuve al lado de Daniel que fue muy interesante conversacion de embalsamar ella cuerpo. Jesus estuve cerca Eric y hablaron de el patinaje Olympico. Karina Estefan fue entre Eva Peron y Bryan Adams, el mejor photographia de celebridad, y su cantante favorito. Ellos salieron juntos.

A Mother's Love

I returned from a dinner and drinks with a waitress I had met at a restaurant last night and it was an enlightening, but depressing conversation. Cecilia moved from Nicaragua to Costa Rica 16 years ago for a better life for her and her mom and sister; 4 other kids and father stayed there. Her father put her mother's hands on the stove to teach her a lesson on how to make tortillas. Cecilia's own husband resorted to physical violence too; it's the Nico way representative of Ortega, so she says. At 30, she's worked for 17 years straight without seeing anything outside of San Jose. She lives for her kids: she only wants to make them happy. She wants to give them nice clothes, nice shoes, a nice house; what mother doesn't? I'm not sure she believed me when I told her I didn't think Canadians were much happier........ of course it's not my right to speak for 30 million others, but my thoughts were that no matter what you have, it's the human condition to want more.

I paid for the meal, and drinks for both of us, about $22. I gave our server $40, and when the change returned, I gave it all to Cecilia, and told her it was for her kids. How did she respond? "Peexza". Not hot dogs and potatoes even. "Peexza". Why the hell would she be so happy to give her kids "Peexza"?

I'm just disgusted right now I'm full of anger at the state of advertising, the state of our stinky world that's created this world where if you want to sell something, you can. It really doesn't matter what the impact is on families, you can sell it, because you know, people will want it. If you just have to pay some money, and POP! your food comes out without the least bit of effort, it doesn't matter that you had to work 3 weeks to afford that 'peexza', you, and your kids are going to want it. Because it tastes good.

A large percentage of the money we spend on our products in the grocery store goes to advertising, not to mention bloated corporate salaries. This is not something you will see on Dateline NBC, because 100% of their income comes from advertising! First, if it is our money that's being spent on products, it should be our decision how the advertising goes. Advertising's sole purpose is to get people to buy their products.

Food in Costa Rica is expensive. Cecilia makes $80/week: $100/month for rent + 50 or so for utilities. Doesn't leave much for food........... food that is being charged at a rate to include advertising.

Does anyone really give a shit that some waitress in San Jose only wants to buy her kids a pizza that's going to burn the entire $20 some idiot Canadian gave her in hopes of making her kid's life better? Does it help ease the pain if we have stocks in these companies, these companies that solely want to entice a new generation of buyers?

Who cares if they're obese? Who cares if they can't wait for their next fix of Taco Bell, where they simply have to have the money (money possibly stolen from some tourist) to get it, and then throw their plastic, and paper packaging into the garbage?

EVERYTHING is connected. There is no simple answer, except to stop want, stop greed.

El Maestro

Picasso creo mas de 50,000 piezas de arte y el tuvo mas muchas aficionadas. Gano muchas dineros en el vida, perro el fui muy posesivo con las pinturas, el vendio solo las pinturas que el necesito vivir. Fui un partidario de Partido de Comunista perro no se gusta demonstrar. Cuando el tuve 13 anos, el papa dijo siente se hijo fui el mejor pintura y ayudo con escuila artes. El vivio en France fui un adulto, y encontro los otros artistas como Matisse y Stravinsky. Durante El Segundo Guerro de Mundo, el recibio laton para el arte de la Resistencia Francais por que El Alemans no permite usar el material. Oy, es muy interesante por que un electrician retirado tuvo 271 piezas de arte de Picasso, y el su dice un regalo de El Maestro y el segundo esposa.

Garbage Part 2

Successfully seconded a wheelbarrow, shovel, rake, and gloves from the hotel to attack the fenced in area behind the area and the garbage that's been there for a while. They called back while I was gone to say they changed their minds and would have a company do it (they thought I was cleaning their property, but it's actually aways from it) Turns out it's a pile of garbage that's grown over, and I think i destroyed someone's home, if you call an Imperial Beer patio umbrella and a Xmas tree on it's side a home. I'm sure it wasn't, but I saw a guy over there rooting around. Of course I'm intruding, I'm putting my nose where it shouldn't be, but who the hell is really going to stop me cleaning up garbage? I've befriended the dogs that live there, and they know I'm alpha. The mechanic across the street knew me from a couple days ago when I took my special Coleman accesorized cooler in to be bolted on to my bike rack, and he came through the fence and up the hill just to say hi and tell me about the bike rally on Sunday in Savanna Park.

Overall, it's good timing as the dry season is coming soon, and with the cardboard, wood, plastic bags, automotive parts, and everything in between up off the ground, the beautiful pink flowers growing in spots will have a better chance to grow further. A small, insignificant act that gave me some exercise and made a quick and noticeable change. I'll be back there tomorrow.

Composición

El organización sin fines de lucro "Salva El Lagartija Jesus Cristo" fue ademas la puerta de una otra organizacion, mas siniestra organizacion: "Destruye Todas Las Represas". Por que el lagartija usa muchas aguas por corre, es necessito. La mamasita de el organizacion, Karina Estefan, con el pelo rizado, y un rifle, es una estrella en el mundo de medio ambiente. Frecuentemente, casi todo de lo trabajo hecho en el crucero, cuando su papa investiga el habito sexual de los lagartijas. Con su amigonovya, Kevin el Segundo, Karina despide a las ballenas y empieza ella trabajo.

Pura Vida

Yo decidi viajar para Canada a Brazil en diez y nueve de Noviembre dos mille y nueve a las nueve y media. Despuis mi vida cambió todo; yo no preocupé mucho y yo termine mi pensado, y empecé actividad con mi salud y mi mente. Cosas como: yo hace yoga por sesenta y uno dias, cambió mi diete, empecé escribir en mi blog, hablé con muchos gentes nuevos, y yo hace muchos cursos en superación personal. Quise un vida mejorada, un vida mas fuerte, mas sentimientos bueno, el mejor sentir cerca las otros personas. Estuve poquito timido cerca algunas personas; las mujeres muy bonitas specificamente. Por que yo crei yo pude mejorada mi salud, mi mente, mi amor en una otra persona, yo decidi a ir en mi viaje.

Primero, visité mi famillia en Alberta en mi primero dia de viaje: vente ocho de Agosto, perro tuve muchas problemas este noche en Jasper. Con muchas lluvias, y muy frio mi botas fueron no secas y frio y pense mi viaje fue un idea muy mal perro llegue en un pueblita con nombre Hinton, y yo estuve mas calor. Cuando yo llege a la casa de mi padres, fue vente gente de mi familia: primas y primos, un sabrino, tias y tios, mi hermana y por supuesto mama y papa. Yo estuve muy feliz y nos sotros tomamos y comemos y hablamos muchos. Ellos me quisieron desear buena suerte en mi viaje, un viaje muy largo, muy dificil, y muy extraño. Fue algo preguntas perro mas hablamente.

Segundo, participe en la Festival de Burning Man. Fue un reunion mas differente, con cinquenta mille personas sin dineros, y solamente generosidad entre gentes. Entonces, olvide mi passaporte entre Reno, Nevada y Thousand Oaks, California fue necessario vivir con mi prima Paula para dos semanas esperar para mi passaporte temporada. Fue tranquillo y Paula, Mike (el esposo de Paula) y yo vimos muchas peliculas Anime. Tuve miedo de la fronterra de Mexico por que en la tiempo fue muchas violencias con narcos perro fue muy facil.

Tuve esperar en Mexico para mi passaporte permanente, si yo me divertirse en la Baja California y escribi de muchas cosas, Sal de Exportadora en Guererro Negro specificamente. En Cuidad de Mexico yo maneje mi moto en el centro con muchas carras y mi confianza aumente mucho. Yo vivi con una estudiante viejo de Tamwood por nueve dias, escuila que yo enseñé en dos mille seiz.

The Garbage Cullture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaPNwp6EGgw

It's someone else's problem: throw it out the window, or out the door, and someone else will take care of it. Right behind our hotel, Best Western San Jose, is a backyard full of garbage. People drive by it by the thousands every day, and yet it is still there. Missing out the 'don't litter' campaign of the '70's, people down here rate garbage somewhere between dog neutering and sidewalk repair. It's just not a priority. So, who cares? Well, first, in our area here, it has to effect the people staying in the hotel on the north side, who have to stare out at it everyday but what about the residents? What if that area could be turned into a beautiful grassy area for a couple goats to graze on? Instead of a garbage filled mess, someone could be feeding their animals...... perhaps a small dent, but someone could be benefitting.

La Finca

"Why would you want to come all that way to see us? It's not that special!" Dee exclaimed. I assured Dee, a down-to-earth British citizen I had met in the restaurant of our hotel it would be worth it for me. Somehow she gave me a vision of a couple fighting against the odds in the Costa Rican wilderness, comitted to sustainability and self-sufficiency. I had no clue exactly where in the country her finca, (spanish for 'farm') was, but I was determined that night I would get there by Saturday. As I made my way through the rainy, cold mountains of Arenal Volcano on a 2 hour detour, I began to regret my decision.

Already one day after promised, I looked at the 2x3 card with the instructions on how to get to her place. "Hojancha to La Libertad Guanacaste 1 km de la escuelita 2 wooden gates Ray". 14 words were all I had to go on. Arriving safely in Hojancha, Guanacaste, I stop at a roadside restaurant, tempted by the ad for BBQ chicken. The waitress confirms that La Libertad does indeed exist, and is close. I confirm this with a fellow that spoke perfect English: it's about 3 miles away. He cleared up for me that La Libertad was just a store with a couple houses around it; like a village of sorts. As I suspected, I hit a dirt road going straight through the town, watching carefully for the school, or escuilita, Dee referred to, assuming the 2 wooden gates, and the entrance to the farm, would be just another 2 km away. Driving around a bend about 3 km later than desired, I flag down a couple bikers going the opposite direction; the first guy waves back and keeps going, the 2nd doesn't even acknowledge my attempt. The first guy ends up turning around and stops to help me.

I explain what I'm looking for, and he motions back the way I came. I turn around, thinking I was on my own, ignoring him turn left about a 100 m back on the road, and, thinking twice, turn back again to follow him. By this time, he had noticed I wasn't following him, and returned to fetch me. Turns out he was going to show me the way. Meanwhile another fellow was following me and almost hit me as I stop suddenly to talk to him. Now I've got two guys helping me, and I explain again the limited directions I had. The first guy is now sure he knows where I'm going, and I follow. Down the road and to the left, another km and we are stopped at some gates, which were not wooden, but he was sure it was the place. He explained to me who he was and his job, but I wasn't exactly sure but I think he was an insurance salesman, and was explaining himself to me in hopes I would put in a plug with the finca owners I was about to meet.

I hastily bid farewell and headed up the road, which degraded quickly into a washed out area quite difficult to maneuver; one false move on the bike and I'd be in the ditch, or at least the deep gullies saved only by the high spots. A house comes up on the right, and a local is sitting on the front porch. I tell them I'm friends with Dee Ray and he shakes his head in acknowledgement and lets me through another gate. I'm now faced with a steep hill at about a 45 degree pitch, the steepest I had ever tried on my cruiser. Slowly, and surely I climb, up and around a long bend, only to be met with another gate, but this time, heavy but with a single pneumatic wheel to assist. There's a large bolt I figure needs to be removed before I can attempt to move the gate. Down another road, and i come upon a large spread, with a couple houses, both magnificent in their own right, and a covered area with two Range Rovers.

The house is dark, and I stop to have a look around on the verandah to catch my breath and wonder how the hell I was going to get back down that hill. I wasn't ready to give up quite yet, so I rapped loudly on the two wooden entrance doors, and waited for an answer. Nothing. I try again. Still nothing. I take out my camera in hopes of at least getting some photos of the place I had so valiantly achieved in finding when a tall, bald fellow opens the door with a quizzical look. I explain to him I was a journalist and had met Dee at the Best Western, and he starts to soften. "What was your first name again?" I ask him sheepishly. "Ray", he replies with a why-don't-you-know-that look, and I defend, saying "Oh, geez I'm sorry I thought Ray was your last name." Note to self: ease up on the rum and coke when you're writing down crucial information about people, or at least write down more details. I decline his offer to come in for a drink, and he decides to fetch Dee, who is down with the horses. I tell him I'll wait and have a much needed cigarette.

I quickly surmise Ray is not one for idle chit chat, as he quickly jumps on his Yamaha ATV, burns out of the yard, and returns before I finish my cigarette, with Dee and her black rubber boots sitting behind him. Now recovered from the shock of seeing me, Dee tells me she left a message on my hotel phone saying "if you really intend on coming you should really get better directions." Turns out it was that same message that Eddy had tried to retrieve 3 days earlier; I thought it was an error and foolishly ignored his pleas for help with the phone technology.

"Would you like to join Ray on a tour of the fina?" Dee asked. "Would I? That would be great!" I reply enthusiastically. She looks at my black cowboy boots and says "It can be a bit treacherous walking, would you like some other shoes?" she asks. "I'll be fine," I say, wondering if my independence was ill-advised. It turned out to be the least of my worries, as holding onto the back of the trike as Ray flew up and down the rocky roads became a test of arm strength. I felt awkward grabbing onto the waist of a grown man I had only known for 5 minutes, and chose instead to tenuously hold onto the back rails. We stop on the top of the bluff, and Ray tells me a bit about his cattle, and teak operation. Here's a clip of him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVZgsQH3IBE

Ray caught on to the natural filtration system for the abundant water on his farm, and tapped into it. Through a series of pipes and tanks, he is able to not only store water for the farm's use, but for him and Dee and their five workers. The only maintenance required is a twice-a-year cleanout of the tanks; eschewing the modern-day addiction to chlorine and water treatment, the Davey's haven't had a problem in 5 years. Storing the water in the rainy season, they are able to have drinking water year-round without any form of outside water supply.

This doesn't take anything away from the forest of teak he has planted, which has a miraculous ability to regenerate, and grow quickly. Originally he would arrange to ship the teak himself, but after too many headaches, chose to sell them FOB his door. After only 6 months, these trees can grow over 10 feet after being cut to the ground. There are other uses for trees in the local area. You can see 'live fences' of trees, strewn with wire, that were once branches pruned from their mothers, growing tall and strong after a 48 hour 'dry-out' period, and a simple push into the soil.

Their cattlemen use horses to check on the cows 3 times a week, and move them from pasture to pasture to avoid over-grazing. Each of their workers, including a maid, are able to buy into the herd with the money they earn from their work. As Ray mentioned, their money can double or triple in just a year and a half. They've taken to buying quarters, and halves of cows separately, as a cow fully owned that is bitten by a snake could represent a 100% loss in investment should it die. It has also forced the workers to care much more about the health, and safety of the cows, due to their vested interest. With an unemployment rate around 50%, these 5 seem gracious for the opportunities given to them. As Ray and Dee don't care as much about making heaps of money, they have room in their lives to make heaps of difference for others.

We sat down for a nice pasta dinner, and talked about their experience of Zimbabwe from '93 to '00, and got out just before Mugabe went crazy. They wanted a place that was hot, and their sights led them to Costa Rica. There are many problems in this country, but the Davey's are doing their part to make it just a bit better.

Spreading Thin

Leaving at 6 am Saturday morning from San Jose, my plan was to hit Brasilito to visit Richard and Lisa, two friends from Alberta, then head south through Guanacaste to Hojancha, to do a story on a finca owner I had met at my hotel a few days earlier. Plans changed early, as the bridge to Pan-Am #1 had been washed out over the weekend, and I was forced to take a detour - north through the mountains. Cold, foggy, and rainy, I finally came out the west side of the Arenal Volcano area doggedly determined to make up the 2 hours I had lost slowly winding through slippery mountainous roads. I arrived in Brasilito at 1 pm, 3 hours after I expected.

Richard and Lisa generously paid the hotel $85 US just for me to come down to their room, have a few drinks, and use the pool. I had never been to a swim-up bar before, and they had rented a private cabana for the week as well. I've always known Lisa as someone who says exactly what she thinks, and whether I liked it or not, her first comment to me was that my goatee looked like there could be an animal hiding inside of it. At least you always know where you stand with her, and it is the same with her mother, whom I accompanied to Africa for 3 weeks in '06. They've become dear friends, and can usually take it as much as they give it. I do appreciate this and my skin can grow thicker, knowing there's still lots of love there.

After a few short hours, it was time to say goodbye in hopes of reaching my next spot. Nursing a nasty cold, my thoughts, for a rare change, moved towards staying the night in Santa Cruz, only an hour away from Brasilito. Even though my tenacity would normally force me to ride until I reached my destination, my body's needs, for a change, won out over my mind's. I was feeling woozy and could barely breath from the congestion in my lungs and sinuses.

Laying prostrate on that $26/nite hotel bed, I gained some comfort from watching some English TV channels and slept well.

The next morning started with some much needed exercise to clear my head and achey muscles. With ipod in ears and a determined gait I pranced up and down the dirt roads of Santa Cruz, sweating out my pain. The exertion was just too much, and rather than get on the road, I elected to lay down again, and watch some TV. Madagascar: Back 2 Africa was on in English with Spanish subtitles and I laughed - I really thought it was truly brilliant. It was a bit contrived and I wondered aloud how calculated these animated movies have become, with A-list voices, snappy, witty lines, and a seemingly deep moral plot. It seemed to me the generation of animators/directors who grew up without fathers had something to do with it. Either way, they know what makes money now, and are cashing in facetiously.

By the time 1 pm came around, I thought I had better get on the road and prepared while watching a second movie featuring Tim Robbins as a guy who can't stand noise. If he comes upon a car with an alarm going off, he would simply break the window and turn it off. Car horns, sirens, heavy machinery: he made it his personal mission to rid New York City of noise, and paid the price for his predilection by repeated appearances in front of the judge. It looked like he was ready to lose his family and career by the time I had to shut it off.

I related to this man who simply refused to accept the way things are. As of writing this, I can see the error in my ways. I was literally exhausted today from how hard I had pushed myself over the last two days just to do what I said I would do. That being said, NO REGRETS!