Pura Vida

The Costa Ricans call it the "Pura Vida" - Pure Life. After a 7 day trip to this beautiful country, I am convinced of the aptness of this Costa Rican phrase. The lush green fields, the fresh produce, the aromatic coffee, misty mountains and the hospitable nature of the people are just few ingredients that contribute to the purity. Most of the drives through countryside are unbelievably scenic filled with great vista views, bridges over raging rivers, and pretty waterfalls.

San Jose a busy city is the capital of the bustling central valley and has a very temperate weather like Los Angeles. However drug peddlers, prostitutes and pickpocketers make parts of the city a difficult proposition to navigate after the dark. Still the city is steeped in history and busy commercial markets are a picture of color and variety. Some of the suburbs are very affluent, whereas some suburbs are completely Americanised with their Burger Kings and Pizza Huts, which caters to a study influx of tourists from up north.

For a country the size of West Virginia, there is an enormous amount of diversity and weather pattern. The central Valley is the most densely populated region of the country and is replete with terraced coffee plantations, and fruit plantations. Rainforests are scattered through most of the highger elevations of the central valley and abound with great diversity in terms of flora and fuana and wildlife. Due to the terrain and the rainfall there are innumerable scenic waterfalls which dot the landscape. The swelling rivers sustain good rapids and give ample opportunites to do white water rafting through some really beautiful landscape. Hidden among the mountain ranges are various active volcanoes. We were lucky to see the nightly display of Mount Arenal, as the hot red lava oozed from the sides of this perfectly conical mountain. The mountain stands at the edge of the beautiful lake Arenal which due to its windy conditions is ideal for wind surfers.

Having never driven in India, I was scared at the propsect of driving on Costa Rican roads. The fear was further compounded when I realised that it most places, there is no road at all! Its just unpaved muddy or rocky clearing. A 4x4 is absolutely must in most conditions, and I experienced the worst drive of my life while driving from Monteverde to Tillaran. Driving at night on an unpaved, wet, steep road with sheer cliff drops is always tricky - but then you add a thick blanket of mist and 5 ft visibility, and all bets are off. For 1/2 an hour I relied on my navigator to tell me whether to steer right or left, as I waded out a very nervous drive.

Prior to the trip, most of my backpacking had always been in the wilderness of national parks. This was my first urban backpacking expereince, and it was great fun to stay in various hostels with bunker beds and meet fellow travellers. Its always interesting to hear about people tell their travel tales, and more often than not when I listen to such veteran travellers I am always filled with awe and a great pining to travel more. But then it also leaves me with a tinge of sadness to realise that Corporate America only grants me 2 1/2 weeks a year for all my travel escapades.