Leaf Cutter Ants in Costa Rica

Leaf Cutter Ants in Costa Rica

Leaf cutter ants are found in the tropical climates of Central and South America, and utalize a system of agriculture known as ant-fungus mutualism. The ants eat a chemical produced by the fungus and the fungus can only grow in the enclosures of an ant's nest. So the ants feed the fungus with the pieces of leaves that they cut off of plants, protect the fungus from invasive species and mold, and the fungus provides the ants with food. It is a marvelous arangement for both species, and I find the touch of a smile creeping across my face, as these little ants remind me that the world is alright.

Leaf cutter ants are famous in Costa Rica, and I think I know why- they are everywhere. A walk through the forests reveals these little creatures cutting out little circular holes out of leaves and carrying the spoils along well worn trails to their nests. They are simply fun to watch, they just know what they are doing.

Alphasmart NEO for Traveling Writers

Alphasmart NEO for Traveling Writers

Following the lead of Loren Everly (loreneverly.org) I picked up an Alphasmart writing device, and it has revolutionized my ability to write while traveling.

Alphasmarts are essentially keyboards that are ale to memorize keystrokes and then type them out on command into a word processing program on a computer, or sent directly to a printer. All I have to do is turn the device on, type away, plug it into a computer, push send, and the contents of what I wrote is sent to the word processing program or into the compose mode of Blogger. The Alphasmart NEO model that I use has eight different files, so I can have eight separate writing pieces that I can be working on at the same time. When I finish one, I just send it up to my laptop, edit it, save, and then publish. It is as easy as that. Alphasmarts are also light weight and highly durable. The instruction manual says that I can drop it and it will keep on working. I do not want to test this, but I appreciate the fact that the designers took durability into account.

Alphasmarts were originally created to be a low cost educational aid for grade school kids. They are now meant to replace many of the functions of a computer for a fraction of the costs. It seems to me that anything that is made for children is probably made tough. I do not believe that even the rigors of travel could even compare to the destructive forces of an average school child. Alphasmarts even look tough.

One of the things that I like best about the Alphasmart is that they are incredibly straight forward and simple. There is nothing complicated about it. It has big buttons that simply do as they are labeled. “Print” means print, “spell check” means spell check, “send” means that it sends the file to a word processing program. It is simple, there is even a short guide on how to use it written on the back of the Alphsmart itself. They are made for school children, they make sense.

The Alphasmart that I have was given to me from my parents for Christmas and is from the NEO line. This is a new model Alphasmart and costs $220 direct from the factory. It is possible to get old and used Alphasmart models off Ebay for $10-$20 a piece, but I only had ten days in the USA and I did not have the time to take a chance with an Ebay purchase (and my parents wanted to buy me something nice for Christmas hehehe). So I called up the factory, told them that I wanted an Aphasmart NEO, and five days later it was at my doorstep.

I have found that traveling with a laptop, and using it as my sole means of word processing, has some serious disadvantages. On a good day my batteries only last for a little over an hour, so if really want to get some work done I need a reliable electrical outlet. Sometimes you have this on the Road, and sometimes you don’t. In Europe, finding rooms with plugs is not a problem, but in Morocco this was very difficult, China is hit and miss, and South American is also highly inconsistent. I have often had to pay more money just to stay at a hotel that has electrical access in the rooms, solely because I wanted to write on my laptop. I know that Andy has a whole host of tricks to rig up electrical systems in rooms without outlets, so if you are still not sold on the Alphasmarts go here to read them:

It often takes my laptop a good five minutes to warm up and be ready to work. It is a little discouraging to take it out of my bag, plug it in, and start it up and wait for this long when I just want to take a couple notes or write a short piece. Sometimes you just want to write something really quickly, and do not want to go through the hassles of plugging in, starting up, and shutting down a computer.

I also found it a little difficult to take out my laptop in all circumstances that I wanted to write in. I often do not feel like digging out my laptop on planes, busses, trains, in restaurants, in the morning that I plan on leaving a town, while waiting for this or that, just to have to shut it down in twenty minutes and shove it back into my rucksack. I have also found that it is not a very good idea to take out a laptop (or an Alphasmart in most instances, although they are far more inconspicuous) in public places in the majority of the world.

With an Alphasmart I can write in almost any situation that suites my fancy. I just pull it out of its bag, turn it on, write away, and then put it back. Alphasmarts turn on and off instantly, and I do not even have to bother saving what I type, as the device does this automatically. Alphasmarts are far quicker to use than a laptop, and with three AAA batteries they are powered up for 700 hours. They also do not require electricity. In point, the Alphasmart allows me to write in a format that can easily be transferred to a computer’s word processor in many situations that I could not with a laptop. Just having the ability to take out the Alphasmart and write whenever I please has increased my productivity greatly. I still do not use it publicly, but in those little lee moments in travel when I have a few minutes of downtime- like just before going to bed, or while sitting around a hostel waiting to leave, or in the interim between doing things- the Alphasmart has been invaluable.

Alphasmarts can simply go where laptops have difficulty. I still carry a computer with me, but I find myself writing most of my drafts on the Alphasmart first, and then transferring the contents to the laptop to be saved and published. Using an Alphasmart and a laptop in tandem allows me to write in far more versatile circumstances while traveling. These two devices are able to compliment each other adequately, as they can do what the other cannot. Alphasmarts are simple, easy to use, durable, lightweight, fast, and reliable.

Alphasmarts are a traveling writer’s best companion.

If you want to write or blog while traveling and do not wish to carry a computer, or if you want to compliment the boundaries of a computer, then use an Alphasmart.

Alphasmart NEO Information
Alphasmart NEO Homepage

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Barva, Costa Rica
January 30, 2008

Costa Rica Hotels Not Vagabond Friendly

Costa Rica Hotels Not Vagabond Friendly.

I am confused about the business sense of hotel owners in Costa Rica. It seems as if they want a relatively large amount of money ($15-$30) for crappy accommodation, and refuse to take a lesser amount than the price they first quote. I have never before been to a country that I could not barter a cheaper price for a room. The prices that are being charged in Costa Rica are similar to that of Portugal, while the country is on a whole much cheaper and the rooms of much poorer quality.

It is not the tourist in-season at this time of year in Costa Rica, and the hotels are empty. But still the hotel managers will not budge on the prices that they charge. It seems as if they would rather not receive any money at all than fill a double room for a few dollars less than the exorbiant rates that they attept to charge. There are not many other tourist here now and most hotels seem to be deserted. I do not understand. I would think that any person with a business would realize that when the demand for their service drops, as in Costa Rica outside of the tourist season, that lowering the price will raise the demand a little. These Ticos seem to completely ignore this business strategy. But I suppose my demand, my need, for a room is still as strong as it could be in even the bussiest time of the year. Maybe these Costa Rican hotel owners have a trick up their sleeve that I am not prepared for: they know that I am going to stay somewhere, and when I do, I will have to pay full price. I think they have me trapped.

Mira and I took a bus to Turrialba and began seaching for a room. This town is a big transfer point for tourist who want to go on rafting tours or some other such dollar driven adventure, and is therefore packed full of ramshackle hotels. We were told that we could land a cheap room here, so we set a maximum price at $10,which is oddly cheap in Costa Rica, and began looking for a hotel that would meet our offer.

As we expected, Turriabla was full of hotels, and most of them that we entered were seemed to be almost completely empty. We found one that offered us a 6,000 Colone ($12) room. I made a counter offer of 5,000, $10, and the hotel manager looked at me as if I were nuts. It seemed as if he was never really asked to barter before, and he rather shyly mumbled something about asking the woman in charge. It did not look good.

Mira told me that Costa Ricans do not barter. She told me it was not a part of their culture. I at first did not believe this to be true, and am only now beginning to realize that her information is probably correct. Every hotel manager that I made a counter offer to so far has flately refused it. To my surprise, it has not been possible for me to get anyone to budge on the price of a room. It seems as if they want the quoted price here, and are willing to leave an empty bed empty- and loose money- to get it. Maybe this will be different outside of the Central Valley and on the beaches.

In all my travels I have been able to coax empty (and full) hotels into lowering their prices considerably. I assume that most hotel managers realize that some money is better than none. Here in Costa Rica, they seem to play by their own rules.

I am now an empty handed vagabond with few cards to play.

"Pura Vida, pura vida."

The pocket book is hurting, better sell an article or something quick.

Costa Rica Hotel Accommodation

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Turrialba, Costa Rica
January 28, 2008

For Photos of Costa Rica go to Traveler Photographs.com

Bars, Girlfriends, and Culture in Costa Rica

Bars, Girlfriends, and Culture in Costa Rica

All cultures have certain symbols and ways of acting that almost every member of the society recognizes and understands. Misunderstandings inevitably arise when travelers do not fully understand the implications of their actions in a particular social sphere. Dating, relationships, and sex are all full of cues, symbols, and underlaying implications that are deeply embedded within a particular culture. I find it interesting when the normal behaviors of one culture are brutally thrown up against another, and are therefore perilously misunderstood. For the foreigner in Latin America, I have the impression that many such misunderstandings arise over courtship, sex, and relationships.

In western culture birthdays are often celebrated in bars. I reserve a particular abhorrence for these places, as I would rather be doing other things than sitting around waiting to be drunk. But certain occasions arise where drinking is the socially acceptable way of acting. In Heredia, Costa Rica on a Thursday night, Mira, myself, and three newly acquainted compatriots set out to celebrate one of these occasions. It was one of our new friend’s birthdays, and we felt that a slice of cake and a poorly sang “cumpleanos feliz” was not a worthy enough celebration. As we sat around a white plastic yard table telling easy jokes and old stories, we knew that we had to do something.

So Mira and I concocted wild schemes about how we would celebrate our new friend’s birthday in the mountains with the stars and rancheros while looking over the brightly lit sprawl of San Jose.

We just ended up at a bar.

It is difficult to break a cultural cycle. In the USA young people equate birthdays with clanking glasses and beer. So the five of us complied with our conditioning and set out to have a fun night.

I seem to get a little edgy in bars. I like moving and doing things, I like being active. In bars, I know that you are just suppose to sit there drinking. It seems like an odd thing to do: drinking 100 ounces of a liquid in one sitting? Bars- I believe the nomenclature here is appropriate, as I feel as if I am in a cage while inside of them. I do not mind having a quiet beer with a friend while having a good talk, but I no longer appreciate drinking to excess, or being in such a situation. Maybe I am too old, maybe I am just writing this because I drank too much that night and feel a little ill today, maybe, maybe. Whatever the case, excessive drinking in Costa Rica is not for me.

I am a traveler. I need to save every dollar today to enable me to travel another day. I live almost Spartanly, without craving for any real excess. Outside of special circumstances, like birthdays, I feel that bars are an excessive expenditure of travel funds. A traveler can easily drop an entire days travel fare in a couple of hours in a bar. I prefer to go to sleep early and wake up with the sun and walk in the mountains with a clear head and an upright demeanor.

But we had a birthday to celebrate, and running up through the mountains was not a real option, so to the bar we went.

We walked into a little bar and took a big table in the middle of the room. Two pitchers of beer arrived, and I thought that I was in for an easy night of social drinking. I figured that we would finish this first round, go watch a movie somewhere, and be done with the night. But an old friend of Mira’s strolled in, and from the excited look on her face I knew that I was in for a long night. Mira previously lived in this town for a year, and created a decent history for herself with the local boys.

Mira’s friend proved to be a real good guy, and we laughed and joked together for a while. Soon, another Tico was sitting at our table and was talking about Ta Kwon Do or something. The night was building, and I was laughing and speaking Spanish. I admit, for all of my high ideas, I was having fun.

Then an old boyfriend of Mira’s walked in and we greeted each other warmly. He is a landmark in this town, and we have met on multiple occasions. Mira went and sat at another table with him and talked of old times. I thought nothing of it. An hour passes, and I still did not think of objecting to Mira talking to an old boyfriend.

I am from the USA, my girlfriend can talk to whoever she pleases. My culture teaches me that this should not really bother me. If I let this get under my skin, then it would be I who would be acting inappropriately. It would be I who would be acting jealous and insecure. But this seems to be a different game here in Costa Rica.

The bar was small, and everybody could tell what was going on. Soon Mira’s old friend began warning me that I should break up the conversation between Mira and her old boyfriend. Other guys in the bar began following suite and tried to convince me that I should take my woman back. I was beginning to look like an ass. Mira was beginning to look a little less like a lady. I found myself pushed between the pressures of my own cultural upbringing and that of the culture that I was in.

The guys in the bar did not let up. They began helping me out by going over and breaking up Mira’s conversation. “Get over there!” they told me. I was being embarrassed for something that I did not really feel embarrassed about. I soon complied with the Tico pressure, and went over and told Mira what was going on. She seemed to think it was ridiculous and told me how much she loves me. Her old boyfriend covered his face with his hands- he knew the situation that I was acting in, and he seemed to be a little embarrassed as well. I did not need to be reassured of Mira’s love, I just wanted to stop looking like an ass.

I am not sure if Mira could have fully gauged the social pressures of the moment, because she acted a little offended and kept talking in solitude with her old boyfriend. She invited me into the conversation, but it did not feel as if that would be too easy of a transition given the circumstances. So I walked back to the guys that I was previously talking with, and Mira’s old friend jumped in to do my dirty work. He promptly jumped right into her conversation, and took control. He was a real good guy, though I know he also has a huge long standing crush on Mira. I think my lady is hot property in these parts. Soon the old boyfriend told Mira that he knew what was going on, said goodbye to me, and exited the bar.

Mira and I soon followed and talked more of what happened as we walked home. To us, a girlfriend publicly talking with an old boyfriend is acceptable, here in Costa Rica, this seems to have deeper underlying connotations. We laughed about it, Mira apologized for making me look like an ass, and we went home undaunted.

An entire divulge of cultural mish-mash happened right before us, and we scarcely even knew what was going on. Mira and I were the actors, but the play was written by the audience- the Costa Ricans.

Maybe next time I will have to break out the leash hehehe.

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Heredia, Costa Rica
January 26, 2008

For more photos from Costa Rica please visit Traveler Photographs.com Costa Rica Photos

Study Spanish in Latin America

Studying Spanish in Latin America. . . Again

I have returned to Latin America and to the study of the Spanish language as well. I have never really studied this language formally, and I basically only know what is needed for traveling (which is actually a good amount). I have always been annoyed with myself that I do not speak this language any better. After nearly two years of total travel time in Spanish speaking countries, I would imagine that my proficiency should be way higher than it is.
So now I study.

The Spanish language has never really sat well with me. I have a difficult time rolling my R’s (in fact, my tongue is so short and fat that it may not be a real possibility), but I keep trying none the less; thinking, perhaps, that one day I will surprise myself and say the word for dog and be understood. I know that this will happen someday, I know that this language will eventually come together, it is just a matter of time. I think I know more than what I think I do- I read well- now I just need to go out into the streets and use it.

I have now made a teacher out of Mira, who can laugh at me for everything that I say incorrectly or misunderstand. She speaks Spanish well, and is essentially my “long-haired dictionary.”

Learning a language is a humorous endeavor. There is no way that you can avoid filling the role of the fool while learning someone else’s language. In fact, openly being the fool actually seems to assist the learning process, because I know that I must make mistakes to really learn.

So laugh at me, jest, and sneer, because I am going to finally put this language together. I have too many building blocks to not stack them higher and higher.

When I first traveled to South America in the summer of 2000, I did not know how to learn a foreign language. I approached Spanish as if it were a math or a science, I did not know then that languages are alive and are more like music than anything tangible or measurable.

I learned a lot of Spanish words during this first journey, but the song of the language eluded me. I knew how to make random sounds and starts at phrases, but I tried to assembly them as if I were speaking English. I was young, and had never really studied a living language before- I knew nothing else. I did not know the beat, I could not sing the song. I tried to learn Spanish through studying conjugation charts and cutting and pasting various separated endings upon pieces of words. I was thinking too much. I was treating the language as a mathematical equation. I confused myself.

I kept returning to South America for the next three years. My Spanish improved, even though I never sought instruction. I could travel fluidly and have basic conversation. My Spanish was travel worthy, and I thought that I would keep improving, but I did not.

It seems as if when traveling you only have a certain portions of a language that is really open to be practiced. I simply said the same things and had the same conversations too many times to improve. It was an odd position to be in as, for travel purposes, I spoke Spanish well, but for everything else I was awkward.

After these South America years I began traveling in Asia. I found that I really took to China and studying Mandarin. I learned a few tricks to learning language at this time. I learned how to not think and just speak.

I have now set myself to really learning Spanish.

Mira, do not speak to me any other way!

Photos from Central America

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Heredia, Costa Rica
January 25, 2008

Heredia Costa Rica

Heredia, Costa Rica

Heredia is a little city within the urban mass of San Jose that has a couple universities, a bar district, and not much else to mention. I am coming to like this little city. This is my second time here.

Heredia has a small town feel within the broader urban monster of Costa Rica’s capital city. Cars rip by day and night, buses screech to halts, and the sidewalks are treacherous mazes of sinkholes and other perilous boobey traps. Fire dancers wheel flaming rods in nighttime intersections for spare change, and you can get a big, cheap hamburger around the corner. Everyone is moving everywhere in brisk starts and stops- nothing seems to be very straight forward.

Heredia has flavor. It seems to be a good cross section of no-name, ordinary, Latin America. From walking down these streets it is difficult for me to tell what country I am in. Am I in Nicaragua, Ecuador, Uruguay? No, I am in Costa Rica. No-name, no-man’s lands are what is real. I smile when I end up somewhere that I have never heard of before. Heredia is Latin America- raw and rough. People get robbed in front of the McDonalds, people eat salsa lazana. I have missed this land.

The Streets of Heredia, Costa Rica

Photographs of Costa Rica

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Heredia, Costa Rica
January 25, 2008

Swiss Army Knife Poll Ended

Swiss Army Knife Poll Ended

After a short period of debate with Ubertramp and other travelers about the usefulness of the Swiss Army Knife on the Road, I decided to poll the visitors of the Song of the Open Road Travel Blog to find out what their opinion is on this much touted piece of travel equipment.

The Swiss Army Knife poll has come to an end and the results are in.

When asked the question, "Do you think the Swiss Army Knife is a travel essential?"

69% of people said that it is
11% said sometimes
19% said no

(26 votes)

To read more about this traveler debate please visit:

The Great Swiss Army Knife Debate

Wade
Heredia, Costa Rica
January 25, 2008

Hate Mail From Morocco

Hate Mail From Morocco

Andy the Hobo Traveler.com and I have an ongoing joke about all of the hate mail that he receives. We rather satiricly equate the volume of hate mail with the level of success that an internet writer achieves.

Andy receives tons of hate mail= His site is very successful.
I do not receive very much hate mail yet= My site is not yet very successful.

I think that hate mail reflects much more upon the person writing it than on the one who is meant to be insulted. I find it very humorous that so many people around the world would take the time to read someone else's blog and then assault them because they did not write something that they like. It is simply amazing to me that in this age of rampant multi-cultural information exchanges people still cannot handle opinions that are different than their own. There are so many outlets of information in the world today, why don't people just click off a site that they disagree with and read something else? Really, how odd does a person need to be to insult a harmless blogger? How much unvented anger and frustration does a person need to have to try to make a self publishing writer feel bad about themselves?

I would like to get to the roots of this hate mail issue, my curiosity is peaked. It seems as if people have a sort of ingrained reaction against ideas and opinions that are different than their own. It seems to mix up and uproot some people's world view to encounter a person who does not share their opinions. I think the world needs to travel; for travel is the great slayer of ignorance. Seek the world, and you will learn not only about other people, but yourself as well. In my opinion, having your world view turned upside down to the point that you can hardly recognize it anymore is one of the most valuable things that can happen to a person. Travel inherently changes, alters, and remakes even the most stubborn of world-views. Perhaps traveling should be a punishment for criminals, politicians, and fundamentalists. . . as it was in the old days.

I must say that I find hate mail exceedingly humorous. I welcome hate mail, send it on. Just go down to the comment link below and tell me how much I suck. I will just laugh, and if it is good enough, share it with Andy. It is my opinion that a writer really has to make people FEEL deeply and THINK about what they have written to receive hate mail. As far as I am concerned, hate mail means that I am doing my job.

I received my first piece of hate mail the other day. It is very, very mild compared to what Andy gets on an almost daily basis, but I think it is a start hehehehe.

The hate mail from Morocco:

Anonymous said...

hi.there are some places bad and some others good like all countries,but you must not laught and make a joke when you do your bloody stupide job or i dont know why you are in morroco may be for a raison hehehe .....do u know what i mean .
1/18/2008 02:20:00 PM

Wade said...

I do not believe that a traveler is required to like every country that they travel through. I also do not believe that people should be prohibited from traveling in countries that they do not like. I write my impressions of the world as I move through it. I never made any other claim. I am not going to pretend that I enjoy a place that I don't; I will not lie to be polite. I believe that it is far more valuable to write my honest impressions of places and cultures rather than what people want to hear. I wrote the opinions that your country gave me, and nothing more.

I found some hassles in Morocco, so I wrote about them. I do not dislike Morocco. In fact, I have grown rather comfortable with the country. But there are some major hassles that many Moroccans give to travelers- touts, hotel runners, restaurants, and taxi drivers often times try to cheat, short change, and take advantage of foreigners to an extraordinary degree. This is what I observed, so this is what I wrote.

These are only my impressions of the world, they are not meant to upset you. I am only a bigoted, small minded, and ignorant traveler. I do not claim to be anything else.

I have to get back to my stupid job now.

Walk Slow,

Wade

Vagabond Journey.com
Photographs from Morocco

Heredia, Costa Rica
January 25, 2008

Renting an Apartment in Costa Rica

Renting an Apartment in Costa Rica

Accommodation seems to be needlessly expensive in Costa Rica. With a few exceptions, it is my experience that it is difficult to find a bed for under $8, and most hostels that I have stuck my nose into want $10- $12 per person. When traveling on a $10-$15 a day budget, this is too much money to pay.

The price of accommodation in Costa Rica did not surprise to me, as I have previously walked for hours through Costa Rican cities in search of an acceptably place to sleep. It is my impression that a dorm bed should not cost ten dollars in this country, but this is the price that most people are willing to pay, so this is the price that is charged.

I walked out of an empty hostel in a wayward corner of Heredia the other day after the manager cited a $13 a night dorm bed price. I hesitated at the door for a moment, because I was positive that he would rather have me fill an empty bed for a lesser price than walk away without giving him any money. But no discount was offered, and I could tell by his disposition that he would not take less than $13. I would sleep in the jungle before I paid this price to stay in a dormitory in a crappy hostel in Central America. $13 is what you pay for similar accommodation in the USA or Europe. There is no way that I will pay this here.

So Mira and I were making the rounds of hotels and hostels in Heredia, Costa Rica without much success. We had just came into the country after a sleepless night of fighting with security guards in the Mexico City airport. We were beat, not yet acclimated to the change of weather, and just wanted a place to lay our heads. One crappy hotel wanted $50 for a room, another $26; nobody would budge on their prices. It is not the tourist season; I am not even in San Jose; I know that these hotels were empty; I could not figure out why they would not take a lesser price just to make a little money. Needless to say, this was beyond what I have previously experienced while traveling, as hotel operators usually do not like turning away easy money.

We were walking down a hopeless trail and were very tired. Mira and I began a mild bickering match- a night without sleep often makes it a little difficult to travel with other people the next day. Mira then saw a little sign that offered apartments which was posted in a window.

“Do you want to just get an apartment?” Mira asked me.

I knew very well that I did not want to keep walking around all day. Mira also has a three week commitment to play out in Heredia.

Why not? Why not just get an apartment with a microwave, stove, pots and pans, shower, and couches for a cheaper price than a barren hotel room.

So we contacted the manager, and within five minutes were moved in.

We only plan on staying in this Costa Rican apartment for the rest of this week. Next week, we plan on employing some more clever means of obtaining a cheap bed.

Hotel Accommodation in Costa Rica

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Heredia, Costa Rica
January 23, 2008
Traveler Photographs
Vagabond Fieldnotes

Costa Rican Dance Videos

Costa Rican Dance and BasketballVideos

The following two videos are from a parade that occurred in Heredia, Costa Rica last Sunday, the day of my arrival in Costa Rica. I do not know why there was a parade, but I suspect that Costa Ricans just like dancing in the streets.

The first video is of an odd game of Costa Rican basketball. I cannot figure it out, but thought it was funny enough to video.

The next film is of traditional Costa Rican dance and costumes, or so I am told. It is my impression that true tradition implies what is normal in a culture, that which walks by me in a parade is usually not normal, if it were then I do not think that anybody would watch. But I suppose there is a difference between living and archaic tradition. I thought that this dance was interesting none the less.





For more of my videos please go to: WadeRucksack YouTube

For more photographs from Costa Rica go to: Traveler Photographs Costa Rica Photos

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Heredia, Costa Rica
January 23, 2008

Onward Tickets for One Way Travelers

Onward Tickets for One Way Travelers

It is often an apprehensive moment when checking in on a one way flight to a country that officially requires proof of onward travel to enter. Most often, I have found that I am not asked if I have a return or onward flight, and therefore everything works out fine. But on a couple occasions, I have found myself in situations that could have been potential problems while dancing around this silly restriction.

I was once boarding a flight to Bangkok from Hanoi and I watched the check in girl ask everyone who wanted their boarding pass if they had an onward ticket. I did not have one. She busted many people who were in line ahead of me. When it was my turn, I confidently walked up to her and chucked over my passport.

“Do you have an onward ticket she asked?”

“Of course,” I loudly exclaimed with a touch of mock annoyance, “I am going home.” This worked. I neither had a ticket, nor was I planning on going home, but the resolution with which I spoke ended all further inquiry.

If she was to ask for proof I probably would have said something about having an electronic ticket and how I just booked it over the telephone and had no printed itinerary and acted really angry. I do not know if this would work.

It is my impression that the onward ticket restriction is just a way for airlines to make money and countries to have an excuse to refuse entry to people that they do not want. Most often, an onward ticket is not requested by either group.

In fact, in eight years of traveling I have only been asked at immigration if I had an onward ticket twice. Once was coming into England, who seems to give almost everybody a problem, and the other time was yesterday in Costa Rica.

Note: Costa Rican immigration often asks for proof of onward travel, but does not seem to enforce the restriction.

Mira and I were asked yesterday, and we just told them that we were going to Nicaragua by bus. It was the truth, and it worked.

I just met a kid today who was also asked for proof of onward travel while coming into Costa Rica. He did not have any, so he was detained for a half hour while he explained his travel plans. They let him in.

A way to get around the onward travel rule is to print up a false itinerary. You can do this by calling a travel agent and making a reservation. Make sure that you have them email you the official itinerary for this reservation, or else this will not work. Print out the itinerary and never pay for the ticket. Put this paper into a plane ticket envelope that you can get from a travel agent and away you go. STA Travel is good for sending official looking itineraries on flight reservations.

Another way is requesting a travel agent to print you up a false itinerary. Please visit Andy the Hobotraveler's Fake Onward Tickets for more information on this.

Or, I am told, that you can purchase a fully refundable onward or return ticket and then cancel it and collect the refund. I do not recommend this, as I have found it very difficult to get unrestricted refunds from airlines and travel agents.

I usually just show up at the airport without an onward ticket, and I am usually not hassled. If I was ever given trouble to the point that they would not let me board, I would probably just try to quickly find a cheap ticket to a neighboring country and adapt my travel plans accordingly. It is my opinion that this would be a cheaper option than always buying round trip tickets that I do not intend on using.

Traveler tip #2- Onward Ticket Tricks

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Heredia, Costa Rica
January 21, 2008

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Swiss Army Knife Stolen

Swiss Army Knife Stolen

Somewhere between my Jet Blue flight out of Rochester, New York and landing in San Jose, Costa Rica on Mexicana Airlines my coveted Swiss army knife was stolen. This morning I went to get it out of my check-in bag,and it was gone. In its place was a ticket saying that the bag was searched by airport security. Searched, yes, and pilfered.

I have checked in this knife on dozens of flights before without incident. Now, I suppose someone just decided they wanted it, and therefore took it. It just seems as if it was almost too easy of a theft.

I have had items stolen from me before out of my checked-in baggage, and I really do not know how to subvert this, save not checking in any bags. You cannot lock your check in baggage, which means that its contents are fair game for every theif that feels the need to dig through it. I cannot bring my knives on the plane with me, so how can I prevent them from being stolen?

I can’t, it is as simple as that. This is the second knife that I have had stolen from my bags (both times in Latin America). Once on a flight from Punta Areanas, Chile to Santiago I have even had my medicine kit theived. I suppose the price to pay for the conveinence of flying is being robbed.

I usually hide my knives in clothing pockets or some other disclosed place in my bag to prevent their theif, but this time I just threw it in with everything . . . and it did not end up with me at my destination.

I finally lost my Swiss Army knife.

Ubertramp, you now can have a vengeful laugh.

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
San Jose, Costa Rica
January 22, 2008

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The Way to Costa Rica

The Way to Costa Rica

I say proudly that I have never followed anyone anywhere before. Until now. Mira is atthe reins as we wander on towards Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, anywhere we happen to set foot. I must say that I was at the head of our travels around Asia and North Africa for the duration of our year and a half together. Now Mira has booted me from the driver’s seat and ahs taken full control. I follow smiling.

Mira has a passion for Latin America- for some reason many young, light-skinned women seem to (hehehe). People like to feel beautiful. In East Asia the dorkiest, fralist, least attractive white men walk arm in arm with truly beautiful Asian women. They are kings of that hill. Latin America seems to be the same for women. The boys there line up to be selected by any caucasion woman that happens to want a lover.

It must be nice to be so beautiful.

Mira has proved herself a good traveler, a joyful companion, and a real good woman. I would follow her to the ends of the earth. I am. After a year and a half of traveling with someone nearly every day it gets a little easy to grow tired of them. I view my time with Mira as still being fresh. I am still enjoying this frolic.

To Latin America we go. This post proves that I have turned into a sap.

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
USA
January 18, 2007

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Jet Blue Flight from Rochester to JFK

Jet Blue Flight from Rochester to JFK

Two women- mother and daughter- are sitting behind me on this Jet Blue flight to JFK. The mother is thin, around 40 years old, adorned in makeup and other beautifing elements, and was probably attractive at one time. The daughter is a little fat, barely 21, and has eyes that are spread widely apart like a goat. They both have dangly, gold earrings and big mouths.

“Remember when we were on that flight to Mexico? Remember when that stewardess hit me in the head with a book? That bitch just had to wait until we got off the plane for me to kick her ass ” the daughter yelled in her best ghetto accent (they were caucasian, by the way).”She just didn’t like me singing my rap music,” she continued.

They are very loud. Everyone on the plane can hear them yelling and singing.

“We go’in to NuYo City ,” They yell. “All we need is a shot of Tequilla and it would be like we go’in to Mexico ”

“Ay Ay Ay ,” they yell in unison. The daughter is now screaming the rap music that is being pumped into her ears from headphones. I found myself wishing that I our stewardess would follow suite and find a book to hit her in the head with.

The sad part is that I know it would only make her sing her rap music louder.

They are loud and just seem to be a little stupid. The old lady with white hair that is sitting next to me thought so too. We shared a disgruntled look of solidarity and then got off the plane.

I stood in the baggage claim area listening to the mother and daughter talk about everything they were going to do in New York City. They do not have any shame. I find myself watching them in admiration: A beat mother and a rude daughter take on NYC armed with loud mouths, profanity, and rap music, while leaving a trail of pissed off people in their wake.

The USA produces some interesting characters.

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Mexico City, Mexico
January 19, 2008

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Mexico City Airport Navigation

Mexico City Airport Navigation

On my flight from JFK to San Jose, Costa Rica I had an overnight layover in Mexico City. From 11PM to 6AM I would be sitting in the airport with nowhere to go- there is no way that I would go into Mexico and pay for a hotel room for only a few hours.

So Mira and I try to just stay in the terminal we were dropped off in. We settled into an almost comfortable sleep in the far corner of the most secluded gate. Just as we begin to dream two security guards wake us up and tell us that we have to leave.

We protest. We just want to wait until our flight to Costa Rica leaves, we do not wish to go into Mexico. But we are kicked through immigration anyway.

We get our passports stamped for our nine hour stay in Mexico. We now wait to be allowed back into our boarding gate.

It is funny to me how some airports seem to just like funneling people through mazes of impertinence for the fun of it. Mexico City is not nearly as complicated as my flight change in Cairo last summer when my passport was taken from me and I was force to stay inside a spare room in the airport for hours without food or water. An armed guard was even posted at the door to prevent my exit. I do not recommend transfering flights in Cairo.

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Mexico City Airport
January 20, 2008

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On Becoming a Misanthrope

On Becoming a Misanthrope

I have now, officially, become a misanthrope. I have just realized the extent to which I try to avoid people, the schemes and excuses I make to subvert small talk.

I hate small talk.

If I am going to speak to someone rather than write, read, or think, I want to discuss something. I want to learn, share, laugh and explore what another person, as well as myself, knows and has to say.

The process of traveling breeds a lot of opportuinities for small talk. I try to hide, I try to cower, but somehow I find myself having the same simple, meaningless conversations over and over. All too often these days I listen to other travelers and tourist people speak and I have absolutely no ambition to say anything. In fact, I try to dodge their glances and friendly advances because I know that I have nothing to share in their conversations. I do not want to be rude, so I remain silent. I just do not have anything to add to the conversation, I do not feel myself superior. I just do not have anything to say about bars, tours, movies, tv shows, psuedo philosophical digressions on culture, or how the beaches are better in Thailand or any other such place. Maybe there is something wrong with me. Maybe there is something wrong with them.

Last year I met a Japanese kid who moved to Beijing and was diligently studying Mandarin solely because he enjoyed having sex with cheap Chinese prostitutes. He told me this right away. This was a person that I could talk to. We did not share the same passions, but at least he was overtly passionate about something. I admire passionate people.

Stubbs starts conversations with strangers on the Road with, "Do you believe in God?" He is also a traveler who dodges small talk whenever possible. His tactic is effective. The prospective small talker just looks at him, and either continues on in a real conversation, or runs away.

The people who I have become friends with on the Road are people that I naturally jumped right into a conversation with immediately upon meeting. I know lifelong friends as soon as they open their mouths.

I have found that small talk just leads to more small talk. Perhaps small talk is just a way to fill uncomfortable silences while in the company of other people. I do not believe it is a mode of true conversation. It just makes me feel uncomfortable.

I do not feel uncomfortable by silence.

Mira thinks that I am unfriendly. Maybe I am. I just do not want to go through the trials of coming up with words to say that essential convey nothing. If I am to become a friend with someone, then I hope that we will have something to talk about at the advent of our friendship. If we don't, then we will probably not have anything to talk about later on, and continuously go through the routine of small talk. I find myself slipping out of such rounds.

Small talk is how aquantinces, not friends, communicate. I would rather stay silent than facade a motion of friendship that will probably not happen anyway.

Maybe I am unfriendly.

Maybe I have become a misanthrope.

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com

Heredia, Costa Rica

January 22, 2008

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Dell Laptops and Travel

Dell Laptops and Travel

The laptop computer that I travel with is a cheap Dell that got for Christmas in 2005. I think it only costed $400 new, and it has served every purpose that I have ever needed it for. It computes, it is durable, and has been able to withstand the rigors of travel. I call it "Old Faithful," as she has not let me down yet.

Dell laptops are big and heavy, but they are tough. Old Faitful has crossed mountains, deserts, and seas. I even mailed her by sea mail to the USA from China. The journey took three months, and when she arrived the box was beat to a battered pulp, but Old Faithful ticked on without a hitch. I have dropped it, sat on it, knocked it around in almost every conceivable way, and this stubborn old Dell computer continues to work proudly.

When the time comes to search for another laptop, I will surely seek out a big, heavy, cheap, black, archaic looking Dell. Simply put, Dell laptops are made for a life on the Open Road.

Wade from Song of the Open Road highly reccomends Dell laptops for traveling. They are really heavy. . . but then again, so are books. I definently pack less clothing to accomdate my choice of computer, but I would rather wear dirty clothes and a have a working computer than a laptop that cannot take a beating.

Dell computers, if this ever get to you, I must say that you make a solid, well priced laptop computer. Have me take a Dell laptop to the furthest reaches of the earth in order to demonstrate its toughness and durability hehehe. This would not be an advertizing fiction, as it would be the truth.

Oh yeah, you will have to send me a free Dell laptop every two years hehehe.

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com

Heredia, Costa Rica

January 22, 2008

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Reflections on Costa Rica

Reflections on Costa Rica

Yesterday I wrote that I do not really like Costa Rica too much. Perhaps today I need to reevaluate these feelings. I do not think that I previously spent enough time in Costa Rica to have any solid impression about the country. I went there two years ago to meet up with Erik the Pilot. I did not even go the the beach. I do not know how I managed to travel in Costa Rica without ending up on a single beach. From looking at a map this seems to be a geographic impossibility. But somehow we managed. Odd trails,I suppose. Erik the Pilot and I grew up together, our hallmark is perhaps that we somehow manage to do everything the in our own way, for better or worse it always seems to be more fun this way.

So now I return to Costa Rica open to a new experience of the country. Mira lived there for a year previous to meeting me, and she loves it.

Hey, it looks beautiful in photographs.

I think the longer one stays in a place the better their odds are of liking it. . . and hating it. I love China, it is my favorite country on this planet, but I also hate it to the very depths of my being. In point, I have traveled and lived in China for a long time. I think these extremely conflicting feelings are normal if you stay somewhere long enough. Simply put, you learn what to love and what to despise. I do not know if I could really fall in love with a place that I also did not find repulsive. The grunge, grit, smog, and hassles of a place are oftentimes much of its charm.

The longer I stay in place the more my preconceived notions- my romantic visions- about it wither away into the wind. But this also means that I am able to begin experiencing what is really there. Bare, honest, ugly experience is perhaps the most of vivid romantic visions. I try to take the world as it is, as it is more wonderful that way. Reality is perhaps the most romantic adventure there is.

So I go to Costa Rica to experience Costa Rica . . . and I expect nothing more.

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Mexico City, Mexico
January 20, 2008

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Cheap Eating Traveler

Leaving Family in USA

Leaving Family in USA

My mother always packs a bag of food for me every time I leave home. Always, somehow, through some inconceivable habit, I forget it. I walk through airport security, wave farewell, blow a kiss, and this bag of food is always still sitting in my father’s hand when I board the plane. After I leave he probably looks down and laughs, because he knows that I forgot this bag of food again. Now I go hungry to Costa Rica (But I know of a good place to get a mean burrito when I get there).

My family is good to me. I was lucky, I was born into a really good family. An afterschool special type of family. I feel bad being away from them so much, but they know I am happy. They did their job: they raised a happy child into a happy man. They are without comparison.

Right now I am sitting on airplane to JFK looking out the window. Inside the airport I can see my family looking out at the airplane, waving and trying to figure out where I am sitting. “I am in the back, mom! I am always in the back. I never seem to book my flights far enough in advance to sit in the front!” My entire family is still standing in the airport, looking out the window and waving aimlessly at a plane they can only presume that I may be on. They will be there until this plane leaves the ground. I am a lucky man.

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Mexico City, Mexico
January 20, 2007

Travel to Latin America

Travel to Latin America

I should be leaving for Central America on Saturday- getting back to the grindstone. Walking down that long, winding Road. I am flying from JFK through Mexico City and into San Jose, Costa Rica. I do not want to be in Costa Rica for very long- I hope to go down to Panama and stick my nose around for a couple of days almost immediately upon arrival. There is just something about Costa Rica that I do not really care for. I think it has an inordinate amount of goons, and far too many people striving for excess. It just seems like a place where people try very hard to have a good time. It reminds me of Vietnam for some reason.


I have a month long archaeology commitment in Nicaragua that begins in February, so I have a plan to get out of Costa Rica. In March, I think that I may have another archaeology project that I can get on in Honduras, which I would like to do for another month. After this, I think that I may be ready to get away from physical work for awhile and keep traveling north through Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, and southern Mexico before catching a flight to Columbia.

From Columbia I would like to go east through Venezuela, the three little molar looking countries- Guyana, Surinam, and French Guiana- and then skip into Brazil with a big smile on my face, travel up and back down the Amazon, circumambulate the coast, cut across and run in to Paraguay (well, why not? It is there).


I have not yet been to Brazil, but it seems like a good country to take my shirt off in and hang my hat for a while. I have never heard a traveler mention a harsh word about this country before. After Brazil, I think I may want to stop in on Paraguay and say hi, get out fast and go to Bolivia for a good, long stay. Then maybe I will go up to Lima to get a flight out to a new part of the world.

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