My neighbours (and landlords) are building a new cabin next door… don’t be surprised if you get some interesting photo’s and reviews on the standards here in Costa Rica in coming weeks. I think of some of my friends in the construction industry and I’m pretty certain they would all be in their element and their worst nightmare simultaneously. Great for people watching though, I don’t understand a word any of them are saying but I am still learning a lot about the culture right here in my own back yard. More on that later.

I’m pretty sure they do their own fair share of people watching right back at me, for the first week I was like the bright new shiny toy in Cabuya. Great place for the ego, so much attention for having pale white skin and an English dialect. Every day I am told at least once how beautiful I am in a multitude of Spanish equivalents. Although, this is great for my ego to know what it’s actually like to be a small town celebrity I am careful not to encourage any of the attention.  However, the guy’s next door working on the construction site must think I’m like the “Loco Aussie Chica”.

I can’t explain the kind of enjoyment I am getting from my writing and my imagination right now, this is exactly where I needed to come for inspiration. There is definitely magic in the air here in Costa Rica and I feel like I am breathing it in like an addict. Now that I am in my writers head space I tend to zone into my own little self-created dimensions in my mind pretty frequently. Part of the reason I felt I needed to leave my home to write was so that I could disappear and not upset anyone because I wasn’t giving them enough attention. It is a truly amazing experience to be able to simply focus 100% on yourself and no one else; it’s just all about you (ok, and sometimes about the neighbours).

Make sure if you haven’t made some special time just for yourself to solely focus on your needs and space recently, make it happen! Even if it’s just half an hour to walk around the park without anyone else bothering you, you will feel better for it and the people around you will thank you for it in their own special ways too.

Anyway…

I had never noticed it before, but when I am working at home and working on my writing, I pace around the house, I dance randomly just because I can, or just start laughing out loud at something I have thought of, I stop suddenly and stare at objects blankly for what feel like long periods of time, I just potter with no real purpose and I mumble and talk to myself pretty regularly. To me, I am processing, I am creating and imagining another reality. This has never really been an issue until I started living in a house with no walls, talk about feeling exposed.

The word has also got around that I am staying with Jeffry and Tara. Jeffry’s family have been living in Cabuya for over thirty years so there is an instant kind of respect for his guests privacy. I feel very safe here not only because I am surrounded by Jeff and his family both sides of my cabin but because I have a new best friend in Jade pronounced Haddy. I’m not really sure how it happened, as most of you know I am not a big dog person but she is a beautiful dog with a relaxed temperament and a good guard dog.

Haddy belongs to Jeff and Tara and while Tara is away working in the States, I think she has decided that she might like to hang with me in her absence. So everywhere I go, two feet behind me is Haddy slow and faithful always watching my back. Everyone in the town knows her, and she gives them all a smile but keeps trotting by not distracted from her mission to protect (except for the occasional pee stop!) When I go for a walk to the Panaderia or anywhere really she will follow me, sit with me and wait patiently (sometimes for hours) until I am ready for her to walk me home.

I’ve never really been a dog person but they seem to be re-entering my life again in different ways this past year. My resistance to them is admittedly breaking down and I think I might like to have a dog before I have kids. Kind of a trial run perhaps…

Love and Joy be with you, until next time!

Janie xoxo

Ok, so I am just sitting here, trying to put together a new writing schedule when this magical little white car drives up beside me and calls out to my neighbour. He is the man sent to give me the gift of internet Woo Hoo!!! So as I have my neighbour Jeff and the IT guy on my balcony (A.K.A Office) I notice just how short they actually are.  Thinking about the other guys around and the one thing I’ve noticed is the Costa Ricans are general quite short. The main reason I’ve noticed this with the guys is because I really like taller guys, and despite having met some nice looking Tico’s since arriving they have been all too short for me.

I am naturally blessed with ducks disease (bottom too close to the ground) but I have managed to create the illusion in my head that I am much taller and bigger than I probably really am. No other moment is truer than when one of my tall friends leans on my shoulder and affectionately coos how short I am so I’ve given up trying to defend myself so I have just accepted it. I don’t know about you ladies and perhaps some men reading this, but there is just something really sexy about a tall well-built man being able to lift you high up into his arms to kiss you. So when I meet a guy who makes me feel like I might actually be about the same size or even worse bigger than he is, it just doesn’t feel right.

So as I’m looking at these guys I start to think about writing an article on the difference in heights and perhaps research it further. Perhaps this is due to all the processed foods we eat in the Western World so our bodies are evolving differently or perhaps it’s purely genetics? So will definately have to look more into this

Of course you have to love the universe’s sense of humour, just as I was thinking all this the IT guys  partner walked up the stairs, a really tall skinny Tico man. It’s almost as if they sent me a comparison along for the fun of it. My friend Jesus has just brought me some lovely “organicico banano’s”. Actually Jesus has been a great guide for me this week, taking me out to the Cabuya Island, swimming in the ocean pool over there, swimming in the ocean, exploring vacant old broken houses in the village and lots of fun trying to communicate.

I learn more Spanish with Jesus because he knows a lot less English than his brother Jeff does so I have no choice but to speak and listen more in Spanish. He is a really sweet guy and has gone above and beyond to make sure I have everything I need. He thinks I’m the most fascinating person and spends a lot of time just watching and observing me.  It’s not creepy but it’s kind of intense at times. His observations of me are hilarious and so I am learning a lot about myself. He has concluded that I am crazy, complicated, funny and beautiful.

Without wanting to sound vain, this is actually the observation of most of my new amigos; I don’t think I’ve ever been told I was crazy or beautiful so much in my life. I’m not really sure sometimes how I should take it but they all assure me I am crazy in the best kind of way and when they tell me I have a big arse and it’s beautiful again I’m not quite sure how to take this… I just keep telling myself what they really mean is curvy, right?

I am really enjoying the easy going friendships that I have been blessed with since moving here. There is a real sense of community where I am living with Jeffry and Jesus on either side of my cabin and their family on what seems like every other connecting property lining the street. There is always a constant flow of amigo’s dropping in to hang out with the boys and I have made some really interesting new friends as well.

There is no need for telephones here, everyone just yells out to each other across the yard in a language I am still a long way from understanding.  Everyone presents me with a lot of opportunities to observe and learn so much about the Costa Rican culture. I am constantly surprised at how much we have in common and how very different we actually are. All of my friends are a little nervous about how they will feature in my writing, and so they should be… after all no one is safe!

It’s a small community and I am enjoying the experience immensely but do feel I am meant to move on to another place before I complete my three months. I am now setting out a schedule of all the information and people I would like to interview here after playing casual observer for the past three weeks. Can you believe it’s already been three weeks? Incredible and scary all at once.

It’s a fine line though and quite challenging especially with the language barrier trying to keep one’s privacy and space without being rude or missing out on opportunities to learn. The guys are always offering me things to do or see but quite often I have had to turn them down. This is mostly due to having taken too much time to relax already and lagging well behind my expected schedule of work. Admittedly I did fall victim to “Tico Time” which is kind of based on the attitude “Why do today what we can put off until tomorrow?” I think my inner child is also only once slice of cake away from a diabetic coma.

Despite having been here for three weeks I still haven’t bought any actual sugar and yet I feel like I have been on a sugar high the whole time. The cakes, the biscuits, the beer, the chocolate, the big portions, the lack of exercise, the heat are all quickly contributing to me getting a hammock bum. But today signals the difference in my lifestyle because in just a few more minutes I am going to have internet in my office and therefore no longer need to visit the Panaderia any more than once a week.

Talking of food though, I think I am going to pop down stairs and make some lunch. The guy came to fix my fridge yesterday so all is back in working order, only I totally forgot to move the dairy from the freezer and everything is frozen now. Oh well, great to have a little extra luxury in my little bush shack.

Love and Joy to you all until next time,

Janie xo

It’s early Saturday evening and I have just settled in on my comfy downstairs hammock for some more writing. The light next door switches on and disperses the dark, and then I hear Matias jumping around the yard pretending to be some kind of ninja. It’s the first I’ve really seen or heard of my neighbours all day. It’s been a really great day actually, despite being a “Mucho Caliente Dias” I have really accomplished a lot of work considering I wasn’t going to work on weekends.

All the way to Costa Rica I kept telling myself that I was addicted to writing over and over and now it seems my thoughts have become my beliefs and my beliefs my actions. It’s a little bit like living in a fantasy world, my mind and imagination are running rampant on me and my surroundings are just so incredibly beautiful you fully expect to find fairies in the garden. I simply love the fireflies here; they are like little night fairies letting you know that the world is still a good place. I can’t help but feel warm and fuzzy when I see them. During the day the amazing tropical butterflies are the fairies of the gardens. Magic is simply all around me at the moment. I suspect this is mostly because that is what I choose to see around me. Others might see dirt, poverty, overgrown gardens and rubbish and of course they would be right but if you look just a little closer you can see and feel the magic that is Pura Vida!

Yesterday was also a really productive day and by the time the afternoon started coming to a close I was itching to do something, anything. The boys had been talking about doing a bonfire on the beach for days now and every day they have deferred until tomorrow night (This is when I don’t like Tico time so much) Anyway, after I got home from the Panaderia I made a stir fry for dinner and waited to see what was happening. It felt like all of Cabuya was just sitting around waiting to see what the night would bring but no one was really doing anything.

Jeff’s younger brother came by to see if we were up for the Bonfire on the beach, all agreed and then they all left again without telling me anything. About half an hour later after waiting uncertainly they returned with a whole new plan. There was no bonfire and Jeff had decided to stay home after a big day of work while his little brother took me to the local bar for a few drinks.

Jeff’s little brother is twenty five years old, he lives in the half built house behind me where I can look directly into from my balcony at night. He is young and passionate and very interesting to talk to despite his limited English and my limited Spanish. He is tall, dark and rather good looking with thick curly black hair and dark playful eyes. He is very lean with strong arms and an impressive six pack.

He teaches Brazilian Jujitsu and is confidently charismatic and very funny. Truth be told I was kind of pleased to be able to spend some time getting to know this young guy without Jeff to translate. It certainly forced me out of my comfort zone and I found that I knew more Spanish than I thought and after a few more drinks I had the confidence to speak more as well. We walked to the local bar which is about a kilometre from my cabin.

When we entered it was like walking into a western movie, no music or ambience to greet us, just eight rather interesting looking locals. I was suddenly very pleased to be with this very fit and strong young man to protect me. However failing that Haddy had decided she needed to tag along to keep an eye on proceedings just to be sure.

Actually the bar was pretty cool, because despite its lack of appeal during the day, by night its simplicity and the dim lighting with the old funky furniture really worked well together giving it a different kind of style. Although I highly suspect that the really cool tables and chairs are not there because they hand picked them out to be trendy. I’d say they have simply been there since the pub opened in the 60’s and 70’s like most things around here. Still very cool though. Somehow we managed to communicate enough with only a few awkward silences which were made easier by two local guys who couldn’t wait to talk to me.

They both pulled up a chair at our table which didn’t have a light above it. There was enough light however for me to see that both of my new amigo’s had long messy hair, missing or rotting teeth and funny eyes with a free spirit kind of energy about them. Both seemed harmless, my friend gave me a look of confirmation as he introduced them to me; I have no idea what they said their names were though. I’m not sure if they were just really drunk or they normally spoke the way they did but their Spanish was terrible and they spat as they tried to talk to me.

Funny how two very different people could be so much alike? The main difference being that the younger hippie of the two knew some English and knew about Australia. He took great delight in telling me all about our animals and cities; it was actually fun talking with them both. They had good hearts despite their dishevelled outward appearances; still I don’t think I will be inviting them round for supper.

After three beers, we decided to head back to my cabin for a few more drinks there before calling it an early night. It was a still and balmy night and so I decided to have drinks s on my balcony upstairs. I had the fan all set up already and it’s a nice place at night time, I was also enjoying my new friend’s conversation and to be honest I was happy not to be interrupted. There were still some guys next door drinking but I decided not to invite them even though it may have seemed rude.

There had been a few times throughout the night where I got to watch his biceps flexing and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a tiny bit impressed. So when he got up to show me some of his self-defence moves I have to say I was even more impressed when I felt the strength in his arms wrapped around me. My mind did go a little foggy as my imagination unleashed a torrent of inappropriate images of what strong arms like that could… Let’s face it, this guy is good looking in his own unique and youthful way. So I relax and enjoy the attention besides he was nothing but a gentleman and we had a fun night of beers, stories, laughter, self-defence and even sexy salsa dancing in the dark on my porch.

When it was time to say good night I knew exactly what I was going to do after all why spoil a good fantasy by complicating it and turning it into reality. “Buenos Noches, Jesus and I’ll see you tomorrow”. That’s right my next door neighbour is Jesus, who would have thought. When we were first introduced I thought they were joking but that is really his name. I think it’s kind of cool actually. I was asleep in no time, what a randomly good evening!

Love and Joy to you all until next time,

Janie xo

My new perfume fragrance is “Tropical Fresh by OFF” and despite almost bathing in the stuff I still wake each morning with new bites. I have a lovely romantic mosquito net hanging over my bed at night which is actually pretty cool. It feels like I’m sleeping in a tent or at least my own special little cocoon. Again, I still wake up with new bites each morning which then seem to play tag team intermediately throughout the day as to which one will start itching. Yet I’ve still not caught a mozzie in the act of biting me… these Costa Rican skeeters are sneaky!

Although, I should also mention there are always ants on my dresser and sometimes my bed so some of these bites could belong to them, awfully unfair of me to just blame the mozzies without proof… just a thought!

The weather is humid and when the breeze doesn’t blow you break out in a damp sweat all over leaving you wanting nothing more than to be in cold water. Or sit in a hammock with your computer and a cold beer.  I only have cold running water so each shower certainly reminds me I’m alive in the first few moments. It doesn’t take long before the pleasure overrides the pain of the sting of frio agua against my skin. Actually I think you feel cleaner after you have a really cold shower in sticky summers so certainly no complaints. The nights are the perfect temperature with the fan on and most nights I even need a light throw rug.

If you have allergies, phobia’s, OCD or everyday fears of insects, wild animals etc. This would certainly be the place to come to overcome these fears and change your mental pathways.  Nothing like full emersion to learn something new and believe me, I am in full emersion here.  I have three new Spanish teachers who have told me that they are weaning me off English and in the next couple of days will only speak Spanish with me. They think I am being lazy and using English way too much to learn anything, talk about hard task masters. But they are right, I am just being lazy and I’m being lazy out of a little fear I have of failure, maybe you might be familiar with it?

I’m mentally preparing myself to learn more Spanish and to just throw myself in with reckless abandon in the hope it’s like a happy ending to a movie where the lead lady does a full transformation in only three months…  Ok, so maybe not quite so dramatically. Once I stop making excuses I am going to master this language. After all excuses are just lies we tell ourselves to justify why we aren’t doing what we know we can and should be doing, right?

For as long as I can remember whenever I have felt an emotionally charged burning desire to achieve something I always do, when I have a reason to achieve the goal that is. So I have had to dig deep and discover what my real purpose and reasons are to motivate myself to accelerate my learning Spanish.  I have a reason for learning Spanish overall for business, friendships and convenience of course but they are like eating the Elephant. I needed to work out my bite size chunks, what are my little goals, what are my time frames and most importantly work out why it is important to me.

It didn’t take long for me to find the spark I was looking for and my emotional motivation to achieve my goal by a deadline. One of my dearest friends in the world is getting married to the love of his life in February. They are to be married in Colombia, the brides’ home country. I have developed a little movie if you will in my mind’s eye to motivate me and to feel the pleasure of the result instead of the pain of the process. The vision I have is one of me communicating almost effortlessly with their family and friends without the language barrier and of me delivering a speech to everyone in Spanish at the wedding.

Why you might ask would I set myself such big task? A lot to ask perhaps of someone as basic as I am in the language. I figured I needed to find something powerful enough to drive me to achieve a result.  I feel excited at the idea of being able to share that occasion with everyone there without the normal fear and anxiety. Imagine how cool it would be to go to another country and confidently speak their native tongue. This is my long term goal, I have also set my milestones along the way to keep me motivated and on track. Mmmm… now to just put my money where my mouth is!

For example, my local language goal is to have a conversation with the old grocer next door who keeps giving me fruit. One of which I have no idea what it was but I can still smell it in my fridge, it was a fleshy apple looking fruit with a cashew nut attached to it. Needless to say I didn’t actually taste that fruit, the smell was something else. Yesterday it was a Mango, which sadly I didn’t enjoy either but he is very sweet none the less. He has owned the store for over thirty years and is definitely a man of old fashioned ways. He is always trying to communicate in Spanish with me, and I want to be able to communicate. I’m sure he will feature more in future blogs, an interesting man with lots of stories to tell.

It probably doesn’t help that my fridge/freezer is more like an esky only you don’t have to keep replacing the ice like when you are camping. Everything is kept cool enough and then for things like the dairy and meat I keep those in the freezer where it is more like the temperature of a proper fridge. I just figure it helps me stay healthy because I can’t keep too much naughty food here including ice cream. I tell myself this but oh my god, I’ve been eating like a pregnant lady the last three days! It’s ok though because today I am back to normal (ok, so it’s only 9am but so far so good) and setting up new routines. Routines, need routines…

I wonder; it can’t be far from being time to walk to the Panaderia? Maybe I will only take enough money for coffee, that way I can’t be tempted by the naughty stuff!

I hope all is well and you are enjoying all life has to share!

Love and Joy until next time,

Janie xo

NOTE: Due to the delays in getting internet, these articles are not yet propely edited so I ask that you enjoy it for it’s content and not it’s gramatical correctness. Thanks!

Also, for some reason this blog isn’t uploading any photo’s If you would like to see photo’s from my travels please like my Facebook Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Janie-Hall/140604306043140 \

TICO TIME

So much to say about doing so little it’s quite incredible… I have been offline since last Thursday and they are saying it could take another six days before they will fix it. This is what they refer to as tico time, there is very little urgency to do anything in fact some might call it plain lazy. Whatever it is I kind of like it (most of the time at least…)

Talking of time, I wanted to share this little story with you. My best friend Laura gave me a beautiful clock with a lovely picture of Buddah and the perfect saying on it for my birthday. After only a few days of putting in a new battery the clock just stopped at 3:40pm on Sunday afternoon. Some might have looked at this in annoyance but for me it kind of feels like a little sign.

It stopped at exactly the time of day most of us start to feel the pressure of the week ahead and all the things on our to do list creeping in, Sunday afternoon! You might be just enjoying your Sunday BBQ with the family and kicking a ball around when whamo! Someone asks what the time is and there it is, the reminder you didn’t want to know because 3:40pm signifies the weekend is coming to a close. Up until now the weekend felt like an endless time zone but we all know that once 4:00pm ticks over, time just seems to speed up.  I imagine it’s even worse now that it’s winter back home…

You know the feeling, the enjoyment of the weekend with family and friends starts to mystify you only to slip out of focus. Happy and relaxed feelings start being replaced with fear and anxiety, slowly at first but they’ve certainly started to make themselves known.  Thoughts of regrets about how you should have, could have and would have spent your weekend if you knew it would end this quickly. But you did know and now it’s nearly over… Sound familiar?

And so given where I am and what I am here to do, I think my clock stopping is a great sign to tell me to stop worrying about what the time is and just make the time really count, Pura Vida style! So I am not replacing the battery, it is a nice little reminder and refreshing not to live my day by a clock and mostly by the sun rising and falling instead. Time and age are definitely not what the Costa Ricans are about and I love it.  (most of the time…)

It has been a little over a week since I left and in looking back, initially it feels like a blur and then I start to recall the smaller details and time starts to slow down.  As I sit here in my hammock on my balcony swinging gently with the pedistool fan positioned perfectly to pick up the slack when the breeze forgets to blow. About two hundred meters  out in front of me I can hear the waves rolling in to the shoreline but I can’t see them. There are several Roosters across the way that must be bored because they crow intermediately throughout the day and night. At first this was a challenge to get used to but now it’s a bit like living near a train line, after a while you stop noticing.

I can hear the howling monkeys throughout different times of the day but I am yet to see one. Out to the side of my new home drift the voices of the guys building the cabin next to mine, and the occasional motor bike or child in the street. I am relaxed, or as they say here “Tranquillo” and I am trying to work out how I can have so much to tell you all when I seriously feel like all I’ve done is sit around like this every day. Obviously that isn’t my reality but it’s easy to feel like it is in the moment.

I find myself wanting to share every detail with you, I want to take you on the journey with me and after writing all of that I realise I still haven’t really told you anything about my trip… Ok, I’ll try and start the story tomorrow… I said try, just depends on my day really as to what you get to read regardless you will get to read about it all eventually. J

P.S – I haven’t had a chance to have any of these blogs proof read so apologies for any typo’s. I am in the process of sorting this out for your reading enjoyment.

I hope all is well and you are enjoying all life has to share!

Love and Joy until next time,

Janie xo

(Note: This was written about a week ago and I can’t get photo’s to upload…)

Hola mi Amigos!

Right now I am sitting in a lovely little Cafeteria y Panaderia (Cafe & Bakery) one of the nicest eateries in Cabuya. It is now 11:30am and I am tasting for the first time the delicious Tres Leches Queque (Three Milks Cake) OMG where have you been all of my life!

I am listening to the soft sounds of Costa Rican Jazz in the back ground, one not so quiet rooster and the playful voices of the neighbourhood children who have already finished school for the day. In this small village of Cabuya, the children only attend school for four hours per day.

The waitress has just been to take my drink order and I say so confidently in my best Spanish accent “Quisiera Fresa y Bano Bebidas por favour”. Feeling pretty proud of myself for having put a whole sentence together until I noticed the smirk on the waitresses face. I very quickly realise as she repeats back to me in proper Espanol my mistake. I have in fact just asked for a “Strawberry and Toilet smoothy” instead of a Fresa y Banano… Oops!

One thing the Tico’s do well is Smoothies, DIGUSTINGLY GOOD!!!

I had an excellent trip over with plenty of sleep and interesting people to meet and talk with. I have managed to make several new friends in such a short period of time. It is actually really hard to imagine that I have not even been away a whole week, it feels like weeks to me so I hope this slower time continues.

When I arrived in Cabuya I was met by my neighbour (and landlord) Jeffry and his two beautiful children Tamara (10 yrs) and Matias (5 yrs). As it was my Birthday, Jeff and I sat down with a few Cerveza’s and by the end of the night we had solved the problems of the world and become life long friends. Jeffry and the kids have decided to take me on as a bit of a project and are determined by the time I leave I will be speaking fluent Spanish. I in return have agreed to teach the kids more English, so effectively my new teachers are 5 & 10 years old.

Jeffry studied and learnt English in Ireland about two years ago with his girlfriend Tara who is also Irish, he speaks and understands the English language very well. They are now in the process of building a second cabin on their block of land where I am living. So far the noise doesn’t bother me so much, I wish it did so I might actually get up earlier, jetlag perhaps? or not… I have taken to coming to the Panaderia to work as the atmosphere is very tranquillo and I have a proper table and chairs to sit at.

Jeffry has also agreed to assist me in the research and development of my writing about the Costa Rican lifestyle and people which I am very excited about. He is a local tour guide and has grown up in this area his whole life and is passionate about history and society as a whole. So hopefully we will work well together in bringing you some really great stories and information.

My Cabin is very comfortable however the best way to describe the living conditions here is to imagine civilised camping. If you dislike camping or roughing it, this is certainly somewhere to overcome those fears. There is no running hot water, every aspect of the living conditions are pretty basic although I do have a refrigerator, electricity and wi-fi so not too primitive. Very cool all the same and I have no real complaints.

This is only a quick update on the last few days, but everywhere I go I want to tell you all about the sights, sounds and smells that are Costa Rica. This is just a quick Hola to you all! I have started writing the proper blog in more detail about my travel and the people I’ve been meeting. I will start posting these in the coming days.

I hope all is well and you are enjoying all life has to share!

Love and Joy,

Janie xo

Imagine waking up every morning with nowhere to be and nothing to do but follow your own passion… No watch, no mobile phone and no internet if you so choose. Surrounded by nature at its best, beautiful beaches and rolling surf, tropical rainforests, native animals and friendly locals to welcome you with a smile each day…

In only a weeks’ time this is going to be my reality. I have been dreaming and manifesting this trip for as long as I can remember and finally it has arrived. I am so excited to be not only embarking upon this journey of self-discovery and research to following my bliss but to also be sharing this journey with you.

I saw a great saying the other day which really rang true for me…

“I used to be that girl who worried about people saying ‘Who does she think she is?’ now I am the girl who stands up and says ‘this is who I am!’ How true this is to my life.

As I have said in previous blogs, I have no idea who or what awaits me in Costa Rica. What I do know is that it is going to be amazing, that I only ever meet the nicest people with lots of love and joy in their heart and I always have the best time where ever I am.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a holiday. This is going to be a lot of hard work as I have four projects I am working on and I have set my sights high in achieving my goals. But I can’t think of a better place to be working that hard, doing something I love and am so passionate about.

Please join me in this journey and I promise to weave a little magic in your world if your mind and imagination are only open to receiving it

Once I have established myself in first couple of days I will commence my projects and will tell you all about my vision for this journey. Very exciting and fun time’s ahead ladies and gentlemen…

I hope you enjoy the stories, adventures and new found knowledge as much as I do creating them.

May love and joy be with you always!

Love Janie xo

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to sell everything up and just take off to a tropical oasis for a few months?

Well I’m about to find out first hand!!!

I know I have been absent on this site for quite a few months now and I really do apologise for this. I have however been busy creating a new future for myself which will enable me to finally follow my true bliss and purpose in life.

As most of you know, last year I embarked upon a five week holiday which encompassed New Zealand, USA and Costa Rica. Whilst in Costa Rica I fell deeply in love with the landscape, the history, the culture and the beautiful people who live there. I spent seventeen glorious days exploring the country side, only to discover this was nowhere near enough time to achieve my initial intentions.

Ever since arriving home I have been overwhelmed with a deep desire to return to Costa Rica to hopefully discover the true essence of this vibrant and diverse country at its core. I have taken the very brave step of selling everything and giving up my life as I know it to embark upon a three month journey to follow my dreams.

I will be arriving in the tropical oasis that is Costa Rica at the end of April 2012. I found myself drawn to a lovely little fishing village at the very bottom of the Nicoya Peninsula called Cabuya http://www.nicoyapeninsula.com/montezuma/cabuya.php . I have no idea what or who awaits me on this journey however I have never been more certain of any decision in my life as this.

I will be living in a funky little tree house (pictured) next door to the owners so safety isn’t an issue and this also means I already have two new friends before I even arrive. I am told to expect monkeys swinging through the trees and all kinds of amazing animals in my yard. I will be only a short drive from some of the best surfing beaches in the world as well as some pretty impressive fishing and snorkelling spots.

My mission is to research and collect as much data and information as I can about the history, the culture and the traditions of the Tico’s. Who they have been, who they are and who they are becoming and most importantly what can we learn from these very special people.

Of course this is all about having a lot of fun as well so while I am focussing on some of the more serious issues for my book I will also be writing and photographing my day to day experiences and sharing them here. I hope that you will join me again for what I hope will be a magical and exciting journey over the coming few months.

I hope that if you enjoy my blogs that you will leave your thoughts and comments as well as sharing my stories with your family and friends to enjoy as well.

I hope this finds you all happy and healthy; I am really looking forward to sharing this with you all.

Love and best wishes,

Janie xo

There is always something reassuring about the sound of the aircraft wheels coming down and then feeling the gentle jolt of rubber hitting tarmac. As I peered out the window I couldn’t help but smile as I took in the lush green paddocks dotted with big woolly sheep which lined the runway and the irony of it all. I suddenly found myself wondering if I would actually recognise my hosts and would they recognise me? After all  I had only met Philip and Linda once before when they came to Brisbane about six months earlier and we’d caught up for dinner.

Pushing my concerns aside I disembarked my flight and once again I made my way through customs with no delays.  Walking out into the open arrivals lounge my earlier concerns returned as my eyes darted around the room scanning for a familiar face. It didn’t take long before we made eye contact and shared a big smile as I felt my muscles relax.  Philip and Linda stood to greet me, and then as we embraced they admitted that they shared the same concerns. We laughed at ourselves and made our way to the car.

Linda informed me that Angus had clued onto my visit so the surprise was not going to be quite what we had hoped. Angus was most likely the kind of kid sleuth that found the Christmas presents before they arrived under the tree on Christmas morning.  I wasn’t too worried that my visit was no longer a surprise as I was just happy to be there with them and share in their life for a few days.

Angus was still at work so we went for a drive around Christchurch where I could see firsthand the damage caused by the tragic earthquakes earlier this year. In some places you would never know the sheer devastation that took place and in other areas your heart ached as you drank in the enormity of what Mother Nature was capable of.

They took me up to a lovely little look out café which sold overpriced food and drinks however more than made up for it with the panoramic views of the city. Having not eaten anything other than some crackers all day, my first holiday food was a huge slice of moist carrot cake with lashings of cream cheese icing, Yum! As I gorged myself we caught up on what life had brought them since Angus’s operations and what the plans were for the weekend ahead.

It wasn’t long before it was time to go and pick Angus up from work. A well dressed and impatient Angus was standing on the side of the road talking on the phone as we approached. He was excited to see me but not surprised. After a big hug and a quick hello we were back on the road again, this time heading back to the farm which was over an hour away.

Angus’s parents own a beautiful property where over three thousand sheep and about three hundred cattle call home.  With this being my first visit to New Zealand other than in transit I was mesmerized by the picturesque landscapes that were whizzing by my window. It was lambing season so the road was boarded by beautiful rolling green pastures peppered with mummy sheep and their cute as a button lambs.

By the time we arrived home I was starting to feel the weariness wash over me despite having slept for several hours on the flight. Angus’s older Sister Phillipa and her two gorgeous little girls were already there and had dinner cooked and ready to eat. For the first time I experienced roast mutton and vegies. Having only recently acquired the taste for lamb I have to say I quite enjoyed my meal despite the stronger flavour and smell of the mutton, although I did have some extra mint sauce to be sure. Not long after dinner it was off for a nice hot shower and bed, which after such a long day I think I was asleep before my head even hit the pillow.

Until next time,

Janie xo