Paradise Post
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News Paradise From Ojochal, Costa Post Rica and Beyond January 2009 Updates from the Osa On January 8th Costa Rica suffered Inside this issue: the worst earthquake in 150 years. Its magnitude was 6.1 and its impact was fairly localized north of the San And…the transport ministry said Updates from the Osa 1 Jose area (fortunately nowhere near that by the end of the year, the entire 26 New Trees in Costa Rica 1 us). 23 lives were lost and for many miles between Quepos and Dominical businesses and families in the area it will be paved. The bridges are expected A Visit to the Boruca 2 was devastating. Costa Rica is pulling to be completed by the middle of 2009. How Pure is our Water 2 together and rebuilding has begun but Ylang Ylang Restaurant 3 there are still families in need. If you’d like to help please contact me. The Casado 3 There is a new shuttle from Plantains 3 Ojochal to San Jose (as well as other Health care in Costa Rica 4 areas of the country) running twice daily for those who’d prefer not to drive or The American Crocodile 5 take the bus, www.easyridecr.com. Joe Terraba Sierpe National and Danette Terzano have opened Joe’s Wetlands 5 Coffee Shop on the Playa Tortuga Road News from Pacific Lots 6 serving sandwiches, homemade breads, The Epicenter of the Jan. 2009 pastries, espresso, etc… and offer free Earthquake January Tour Photos 6 wireless internet. La Fogata in Uvita is now serving pastas dishes in addition to chicken and pizza. Also, Ylang Ylang is a Kristina@PacificLots.com new Indonesian restaurant in town worth 305-295-0136 checking out. [Is my obsession with food obvious?] Costa Rica is in relatively good shape to weather a slowdown but has 7 million trees were planted not been immune to the downturn of in Costa Rica in 2008 the worldwide economy. The economy is expected to slow but continue to grow by ccording to the Ministry of 2.2% in 2009 and inflation is predicted AEnvironment, Energy and to ease. The economy expanded by 2.9% Telecommunications (Minaet) Costa in 2008 and the government ended the Rica planted more than 7 million year with a budget surplus. Also, due to trees last year. Of the total planted the tightening in credit available in the 55% are exotic species primarily teak US, Costa Rican banks are beginning to and melina, often used in household offer more property financing options construction, and 45% are native to foreigners, although they still require species including cedar, oak and consumers to jump through several almond. hoops to qualify. The new trees help offset 2.3 JetBlue Airways has announced million tons of carbon dioxide and plans to start daily, nonstop service brings Costa Rica a step closer to between Orlando, FL and San Jose, becoming carbon neutral. The goal La Paz Waterfall Gardens on our visit Costa Rica beginning March 26th subject for 2009 is to plant an additional 7 Jan 6th just before the quake. to receiving Costa Rican government million. Photo courtesy of Dave Shelton operating authority. www.PacificLots.com A Visit to the Boruca Village: Paradise Post By Steve Linder the tribe of the Talamanca, named after The construction of the proposed Boruca s we drove further up the ridge I the river located just below their reserve. hydroelectric dam would require many of Arealized that even if we had wanted The Boruca people live on land granted the tribe to relocate. As in the past, the to turn around, the road was too narrow to them by the Costa Rican government Boruca Indians continue to fight a battle to even consider it. If we slid off the in 1956 in one of the first indigenous to save their lands from being taken road on either side, we would surely land grants in Costa Rica known as the from them by outsiders. plunge to our death. We were headed Reserve Boruca Terraba. Their land is A visit to the Boruca village atop to the village of the Boruca Indians, one located along the bank of the Terraba the Talamanca ridge is a breathtaking of the last indigenous tribes left in Costa River as well as high atop the frontal experience. It is an easy day trip from Rica. ridge in the Talamanca mountain range, the southern region of Costa Rica but When the Spanish arrived in just south of the town of Palmar Sur. making the visit requires 4 wheel drive Costa Rica, there were very few native The Boruca tribe had it’s own language and is not for the squeamish or those people to be found. Even before although there are only a few elders afraid of heights. the Spanish had actually arrived, who still speak it. The tribe has long the diseases brought by the white been self-sufficient farming corn, coffee, man were already traveling down the beans, cassava, papaya, isthmus of Central America. When the pigeon peas and rice. The th Spanish arrived in the 16 century, the Boruca tribes have chosen to Boruca Indians were fierce fighters and live in isolation, raising money managed to escape the battle with the through sales of carved Spaniards. Today, the Boruca Indians wooden masks and woven celebrate each year with a Fiesta de los articles. Diablitos, the festival of the little devils, Recently the public which takes place early in February each utility ICE has been trying to year. During the festivities, the males of build a dam in the Terraba the tribe dress in carved wooden masks River just below the location and the event begins with a battle of the Boruca tribe’s reserve against a masked bull, to symbolize along the river. The dam fighting the spirits to save their homes. would flood the area now The Boruca Indians are part of home to many of the tribe. How pure is our water? he water supplied to the town of also referred to as parts per million pipes used to distribute water to TOjochal comes from an artesian well (ppm). TDS is directly related to the consumers. high in the mountains. We know it’s purity of water and the quality of water The US Environmental delicious and have heard it tests purer purification systems. It affects everything Protection Agency (EPA) has established than Evian sourced from the French that consumes, lives in, or uses water. a secondary water quality standard of Alps. We’ve just gotten a more precise Some dissolved solids come no more than 500mg/L (500ppm) to measurement of just how pure it is. from organic sources such as leaves, provide for palatability and safety of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) silt, plankton, and industrial waste drinking water. refers to the combined content of all and sewage. More harmful sources The Ojochal town water tests inorganic and organic substances come from runoff from fertilizers and at about 63 ppm. and water regularly contained in a liquid. It’s expressed in pesticides used on lawns and farms. checked in Phase 5 consistently remains units of mg per unit volume of water, Water may also pick up metals such as between 57-59 ppm. lead or copper as they travel through www.PacificLots.com Paradise Post here’s a new restaurant in town that of the Costanera where you can enjoy accommodate a vegetarian diet and Thas everyone quite excited. Ylang a fabulous sunset ocean view while starters and desserts are available. Ylang, our new Indonesian option, enjoying a tasty meal. Prices for a 3 course meal run $25-$30. opened on the Calle de las Estrellas a In addition to cooking they love Wine and beer is also available. They’re couple of months ago. The proprietors horses. “In Holland we made a lot of open Thursday – Sunday from 11:30 am Hans and Caroline have owned property trips with our horses and carriages. We – 9 pm and they can be reached at 506- in Ojochal since March of 2007 and hope we can pick up this hobby again in 2786-5054 or info@costaricatime.eu. made the move to Costa Rica in March this area”, states Hans. Swieber, their of 2008. beloved dog, completes the family. Caroline was born in Indonesia They serve 7 main courses (Jakarta) and they both are coming to including Rendang which is beef boiled us from Holland. In Holland they owned in coconut milk with lemongrass, a company in the computer software onion, garlic, ginger koenjit and roasted industry. Caroline has always had a coconut and they serve filet of fish with passion for cooking and she’s been sambal ketjap sauce. They also serve a student of authentic Indonesian vegetables like sambal goreng kool, cooking for quite some time. They felt boentjes sambal, smoor aubergine and that Ojochal would embrace something atjar to completes the main course (I new and unique to the area so decided guess you need to be Indonesian to to open an Indonesian restaurant. The know what any of these are. Trust me location is along a mountain ridge off they’re all delicious). They’re happy to Hans and Caroline The Casado: When you want to eat like a married man hroughout the country you’ll find in their own homes for lunch and/or Tsmall family run roadside diners dinner. called sodas offering a mix of typical Casados are usually inexpensive Costa Rica dishes, the most common ($3-$5) and quite filling and because being the casado.