The Howler
Volume 19, No. 9 Issue No. 215
Sept/Oct 2014 Founded 1996
TAMARINDO COSTA RICA www.howlermag.com THE HOWLER Ced. Juridica: 3-101-331333
FEATURES
Publisher, editor and production David Mills
dmills@racsa.co.cr Tel: 2-653-0545
8 Dining Out
Right on Tamarindo Beach is Le Bé Club, serving great meals in a comfortable beach club setting.
14 Around Town
CONTRIBUTORS
Howler • Mono Congo
JEANNE CALLAHAN JESSE BISHOP MARY BYERLY ROBERT AUGUST KAY DODGE LYNDA ESPADA
ELLEN ZOE GOLDEN TONY OREZ TOM PEIFER JEFFREY WHITLOW BARBARA DEPPE SUSAN SMITH
Deadline for Nov: October 15 Howler advertising
The Howler offers a wide range of advertising sizes and formats to suit all needs. Contact David Mills • dmills@racsa.co.cr
1/8 1/4 Banner 1/2 Full
Dimensions (cms) Width Height 9.4 9.4 19.2 9.4 19.2 19.2
x x x x x
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Price $
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Ads must be submitted on CD or e-mail attachment, JPG or PDF format at 266 dpi, at the appropriate size (above). All comments, articles and advertising in this publication are the opinion of their authors, and do not reflect the opinion of Howler Management.
www.tamarindohomepage.com
Gilbert Brown again wins national championship in Playa Hermosa; Lisbeth Vindas takes Women’s National for the 11th time.
18
The Moringa Tree
Guanacaste farmers look to the moringa tree as being the “Miracle Tree” for its nutritional value, and many other fine properties.
30 Surviving Costa Rica Jesse tells us of his experience in the restaurant business, the types you meet there, and how to get rich.
Reflections on Independence
While we celebrate Costa Rican independence, we wonder how it might have happened somewher else.
100 140 140 230
Discounts For 6 months, paid in advance, one month is deducted. For 12 months, paid in advance, two months are deducted.
www.tamarindobeach.net
15 Surf Report
31
Advertising rates & sizes Size
Openings, closings, parties, music. The Gold Coast has it all, and bar-hoppin’ David is in the groove.
DEPARTMENTS 5 Shape Up
25 Poetry by Diana Renee
10 Music Review
26 September Forecasts
11 Book Review
27 Word Puzzle
12 August Odysseys
28 Yoga
17 Dharma Corner
32 Sun & Moon
24 Slice of Life
32 Rain Gauge
Cover Caption: Cover Photo: Cover Design:
Vrida Hamal from Venezuela - Secret Spot Del Toro Bikinis Manfred Jiménez Rodriguez - 8369-4994 Fb: manfred j. rodriguez David Mills
Shape Up!
What’s Your Fitness Goal?
Lynda Espada
T
his month’s article continues with fitness goals, staying motivated and discussing common situations people see as goal roadblocks in achieving their fitness goals.
As a personal trainer, I have encountered with my clients setting up a realistic goals only to see them defeated within the first two weeks of working out. Last month, I wrote about choosing and setting your goals…but make sure they are goals you- know you can accomplish. Below are some common examples of unrealistic goals my clients tried to set for them and me how I coached to start with realistic goals. First, unrealistic goal for the non-competitive exerciser is “I want to complete a marathon in four months.” While running a marathon is great competitive event and a great goal, if you have never been in a competitive event, training for it puts a lot of wear and tear on the body and if you do to much too soon, you can get injured, which will leave you feeling defeated and possibly in a lot of pain. A more realistic goal would be to sign up in four months for a shorter distance event like a 5K. If you can commit to working out four to five times a week for twenty to forty minutes, then a 5K is a great place to start…plus it is a goal that will be challenging and attainable in two months. Another unrealistic goal is when the sedentary person wants to lose twenty pounds in two months before a big life event like a high school reunion. Their plan is to go to the gym every day and workout for an hour. Unless you get your body moving and know what activities you want to do, you won’t accomplish much just showing up to the gym. Trying to do the hour long Zumba class on day one is not realistic as it will leave you feeling winded and very sore the next day. And, it is just not realistic to think you will go to the gym every day. A more realistic approach is to set a goal of being active to start for at least 10 – 20 minutes each day. Take a walk at lunch or go to the gym and walk for twenty minutes on a treadmill or do ten minutes of sit-ups and push-ups after work is a very doable place to start. Over time, this goal could progress to a minimum of thirty minutes, then forty-five minutes, and then an hour. You may also want to consider working with a personal trainer for a few sessions to help you set up a reasonable training program. And the last unrealistic goal is from the novice exerciser who ten to fifteen years after high school or college wants to do their same workout. If you use to play a sport and you want to get back into the game, beware. Most sports require explosive and powerful movements that can make your body experience extreme soreness or injury. You need to start back in slowly and be cautious. A good place to start is to work with a personal trainer at your local fitness center once a week for month and follow their strength routine at least two times per week. A lot has changed in the fitness industry over the past years, and your high school workout may need a few tweaks. A trainer can set you up with a routine that will prepare your body for competition and will help you prevent injury and help you to rebuild your foundation to play.
And always reward yourself for reaching your goals, even the small ones! Remember the key to setting yourself up for success is to be realistic.
I
nstead of Editor’s Notes I will try to recapture some of the changing shape of Tamarindo over the last twenty-five years. A lot of changes have happened in the quarter-century; when Tamarindo was a lot funkier than it is now. Everyone met for breakfast at Phil & Sharon’s Blue Maxx, where Volcano is now. It was the only place in town that served breakfast. Pure Vida Bar had live music nights which annoyed the neighbor, Smilin’ Dog, a carpenter, so that he put together a “Heavy Metal” band – electric saws, routers, planers – and drowned the music from next door. A Mexican Restaurant stood outside Tamarindo, where First Choice Real Estate is now. Langosta was Rosenblatt’s, Jane Motley and Sueño del Mar, nothing otherwise but sand dunes and rabbits. Two bars were very popular – the Resort and Pasatiempo - because they were the only bars with TV, complete with 24-foot antenna. “Jeopardy” was a big hit. The Resort also had Doña Lee’s Bingo. Long before Jaime Peligro’s was Ilka’s Bookstore, located on the empty lot next to Witch’s Rock. The only supermarket in town was Valerie Townley’s, which moved from place to place, first next door to Witch’s Rock, then at Coral Reef, then at Pozo Azul Cabinas. Bo’s Bus was a bar outside Tamarindo, got robbed about once a week, right opposite Fertama. It was eventually removed and made way for the house of ill-repute, Why Not. Zully Mar Restaurant was 50yds closer to the water than now, the high tide washed the feet of those celebrating Happy Hour at the bar. Banco Nacional came to town in a bus once a week, and parked outside Zully Mar Restaurant. They only changed dollars to colones and vice versa. Next they moved to a fixed office where Pangas is now, then to the office in Tamarindo Centro Comercial, finally to their new office. Chalo owned a few cabinas in the bottom of field where Banco Nacional is now. Who lived up a tree opposite Pasatiempo?
Disarming the Costa Rican Army To all Community Members Everything under the sun has its time and it’s time to celebrate. With immense joy we invite you to the inauguration of
Guanacaste’s Community Center Friday October 3rd at 2pm From the public School in Huacas, 20m west and 20m north Huacas de Santa Cruz, Guanacaste We hope you will join us. If you want to volunteer, help out, fundraise or donate contact Dirctor Laetitia DeWeer at 8301-8282 or cepiacostarica@gmail.com
E
verybody knows that Costa Rica has no standing army, as an indirect result of the revolution of 1948. But how many know the details of the revolution?
A national election in 1944 was fraudulent, Teodoro Picado Michalski taking the office of president illegally, upsetting public order with almost-daily riots, with government troops filling the streets with tear gas. For the next election in 1948, measures were taken to ensure a fair election. Candidates were Otilio Ulate Blanco, owner of the newspaper Diario, and Rafael Calderón Guardia, the Picado candidate. When the votes were counted and announced on election night, it was clear that Ulate commanded a large lead, but the government closed the count and declared Calderón the winner. Picado and Calderón intended to establish a Caribbean-style dictatorship, while Ulate and his supporter José “Pepe” Figueres were determined that the country would be a democratic state, with popular free vote. Calderón allied his party with the small communist party as he needed their support, and the divide between the Calderonistas and Figueristas was deep. The government had a standing army of 300 men and augmented it by impressing 3,000 more, most of them Nicaraguans, from banana plantations on the Pacific Coast. They were issued cheap, ill-fitting uniforms, a blanket and a Remington 45/70 rifle. During the day the blanket was rolled and carried on the shoulder, earning them the nickname “mariachis”. The government stationed a couple on each street corner in San José, but failed to provide them with food, drink or relief, except for an occasional issue of guaro. The small American community in Costa Rica was largely proFigueres and supported the revolution. Many were actively involved in supporting Figueres, including TACA International pilot R.B. Hall, who told this story: “There was a man whose station wagon we used (I and another TACA pilot, Captain Vine) to collect Remington rolling block 45/70s from hungry homesick temporary soldiers during the revolution. The car owner agreed to drive but did not want to be involved in reducing the effective (ha! ha!) fighting force of the Calderonistas. Buddy Vine and I collected a total of 26 rifles and transported the “mariachis” to the edge of the city with a paper cup of rice and beans and pointed them towards their grieving family. With the rifles we collected a cloth sack with a couple of dozen mouldy, corroded cartridges. Some of the rifles were useless because the cartridges could not be removed from the chamber due to corrosion. We found that, after tying the rifle to a tree and using a long string to pull the trigger only one in four rifles would fire, and the spent cartridge could not be removed.” The remainder of the army was disbanded by José Figueres after he became Presidente de la Junta Fundadora de la Segunda Republica (1948-49).
Melissa Semprit is a massage therapist on Wall Street in New York City, but that doesn’t stop her running El Be! Club in Tamarindo. She manages a trip up there once in a while, spending most of her time in Tamarindo. Her idea of a beach club is a place where families can spend the day in the water, lounging on bean bags, taking a drink or indulging in a meal, in a comfortable and secure setting. Chef is Franko Salgado, with 12 years’ experience at Marriott, La Prieta, Tabacon Springs, Interamericana. Hot appetizers are Aztec soup; poblana soup; fish tacos; chipotle and bacon sautéed garlic shrimp; chifrijo. I had sautéed octopus in butter and lemon sauce, chewy but delicious. Cold appetizers are avocado and coconut cream; mahi-mahi carpaccio; salad el beiclub; octopus and potato salad; beets and fried cheese salad. Main dishes are giant chile stuffed with shrimp; spaghetti with seafood; seafood casserole, chorrasco with chimichurry and palm hearts; ribs; and grass fed hen; casado al gusto; mahi-mahi in platano leaf. My companion chose whole snapper, a garnish of patacones and mashed potatoes, while I settled for osso buco, well-spiced and served in a jalapeno sauce. Both choices were delicious. Of desserts, there is drunken cake; rice pudding with strawberry. We had the passion fruit mousse. El Be! Club right on the beach at Tamarindo’s main junction. Air-conditioned sports bar. Live salsa every second Tuesday; live music party Saturdays. All credit cards accepted. Tel: 8624-7682. Facebook El Be Club.
Tamarindo’s Original Residents Howler Monkeys in Distress
Y
eimy Cedeno Solis representing ACT and MINAE recently met with us regarding the crisis situation of our original residents, the Howler Monkeys. Due to the drought in Guanacaste more monkeys are moving into human habitation areas. This is creating a situation which needs dire attention by all residents. This is a multilayered problem but let’s keep it simple for now... What do you do if a monkey falls into your garden, or in your presence? 1. Do not touch the monkey. 2. Do not try to feed or give water to the monkey. 3. If there are dogs present - please - secure them! 4. Call Yeimy!!! 8357 4053 <yeimyc8@gmail.com> <yeimy. cedeno@sinac.go.cr> She is the go-to-gal, is bilingual and on call 24/7. To-date Yeimy (pronounced Jamie) is working with many organizations and a team of experts. Some include Jairo Arroyo, volunteer from Capitán Suizo Hotel, and Rodney Piedra with La Baula National Park. Also helping are concerned local veterinarians Dr. Karla Carvajal and Dr. Gilberth Cavalini and our beloved Simona Danile of “Salve Monos” who has tirelessly worked for years on behalf of the monkeys. She is a huge contributor in this most noble of causes. They have all shown an interest in helping our “Original Residents”.
Yeimy now needs all of us. Beginning now it is time to rally the troops and make a difference. We will provide you with a wealth of information, education and an opportunity to help. Please get ready to come forward, sign up, speak up, stand up, enlist, chip in, and participate. Everyone has shown passion and interest in helping our “original residents”. We will provide you with an opportunity to help, education, and information. In future articles we will expand with articles on all aspects of participation for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of the monkeys. We need to pull together as a community and tackle this issue and solve the problems. Please stand by for detailed information, dates, websites, phone numbers, and more…i.e monkey bridges, Coope Guanacaste rally, baby Howler needs in Nicoya, history of our own local troops, fund raisers, onsite participation with experts. The opportunities are endless! Thank you and share this… *ACT…Regional Coordinator of Wildlife Tempisque Area of Conservation *MINAE….National Conservation Ministry of Environment and Energy Special thanks to Margaret Nevins who had the unfortunate experience of the monkey falling in her back yard and bringing this situation to attention.
CD Review
Tony Orez
Sambossa in Costa Rica
J
oe Hrbek plays the saxophone like he was born with it. He is what I refer to as “a natch”. We are all lucky that Joe has found our little place in paradise to coincide with his own. And Joe can blow. I caught onto this early & marvel every time I see him fill eight bars with whatever band he was performing with, on any given night. Joe became intrigued with Brazilian music in the late ‘90s while performing and teaching music on the Virgin Islands. As it turns out Joe recorded a CD ten years ago, “Sambossa”, a tribute to Brazilian music, presented in all Joe’s splendor and talent. The album is phenomenal. It opens appropriately with “Triste”, by Antonio Carlos Jobim, a primary force in the creation of the bossa nova style of music. Joe also covers “Felicidade” by Jobim on this paean to musica brasiliano. The tempo is impeccable on this tune and another factor quickly arises: the guitarist on this album, Paolo Andre Tavares, is plugged into Joe’s mission and is a perfect accomplice. Joe told me that he wanted to record this album for some time and that he had played with many bossa nova musicians but could not find any who shared the passion for it that he was looking for. He told me he feels very lucky to have met and worked with Paolo. Their mutual compassion for the music is evident throughout their interplay on the CD. He then launches into “Lobo Bobo” by Ronaldo Boscoli, another cornerstone in the creation of the bossa sound. Next up is a nod to Dorival Caymmi, with Joe’s version of the Brasilian’s “Samba da Minha Terra”. Hrbek also covers “”Minha Saudade” by the pianist Joao Donato, and “Bim-Bom” and “Un Abraco No Bonfa” by Joao Gilberto, cleverly placed in between “Gentle Rain”, a song by Luiz Bonfa, who is most recognized for his contributions to the soundtrack “Black Orpheus”. The album “Sambossa” will take you away if you let it do so. Joe plays regularly now with Jesse Bishop in a band called Hot Mangoes. He also plays with a local band called Glasseye. I admire both these bands for a myriad of reasons. Some of them are: 1) They will play anywhere, if you want to listen. Take note. This is the sign of passionate musicians. 2) Both bands perform on the beach, at sunset. Yes, it’s breathtaking. But it is also a time that, as a single dad, I can see them perform. Live music in this party town generally starts at 10:00 p.m., if you are lucky. 3) These guys are all veterans, musical pros, so they readily recognize musical responses from the audience of each location and they know when to give each other more room. Check them out some time. You’re in for a treat. Joe’s CD “Sambossa” is available at Jaime Peligro book store, where they will gladly sample the music for their customers.
Book Review
Tony Orez
Canyon of Remembering The novel “Canyon of Remembering” contains a variety of characters whose lives intertwine in unpredictable, poetic ways, not unlike a Marion Vargas Llosa novel. The settings are in rural New Mexico and Santa Fe as well. The backdrop and ambience of the writing is reminiscent of early Barbara Kingsolver. But Lesley Poling-Kempes, the authoress of “Canyon of Remembering”, is neither Llosa nor Kingsolver; she is Lesley Poling-Kempes and she has a gift. The first novel I read by Ms. Polling-Kempes was “Bone Horses”, which I also reviewed for The Howler and thoroughly enjoyed. Lesley is very good at engaging her reader by developing the human qualities of her characters alongside the mosaic storyline that draws them all together. “Canyon of Remembering” has so many strong personalities in it that it is difficult to say who the main character is. The novel begins by alternating chapters between two of these people who do not know initially each other as they plod through their separate lives. OK, if I had to pick a protagonist, it would have to be the painter Whitney Slope, an Ohio transplant to Santa Fe who has found his groove there and achieved recognition and financial success. But he hates the “success scene” and quickly bails incognito to Mi Ojo, a pueblito about an hour east through the New Mexico desert. The novel actually opens with a portrayal of Atención de Jesús, living in Mi Ojo ten years now after returning from Viet Nam and fighting his own battles, his own demons, apparently on the losing end. And the first half of the novel alternates between Whitney’s Story and Atención’s Story. Still, the novel is not just about these two men. Atención’s mother, Dominga de Jesús, for example, has a story that could fill a novel by itself, as does the life of Texan Anna Farina, the married owner of the gallery in Santa Fe that is showing Whitney’s work, making tons of money for both of them, as they try to keep their affair discreet. The novel is really about empowerment, about recovering from loss, about love and its healing power, about community, about life. And Lesley integrates the New Mexico landscape and ambience as another character as well, as if she was rendering her own painting, alongside one of Whitney’s. And the “minor characters” in this novel are just as strong and memorable: the good padre Leo; border crossers Persimillion and her brothers; Dominga’s brothers Virgil & Tomas; as well as Alejandro the shoesmith; Jon & Sam at the High Noon; & tortilla shop owners the Garcia sisters; all on Mud Street in Santa Fe. As readers, we watch all these people develop and go through transitions. The novel also brought up what is an interesting topic for me: coming to an obscure, quaint place and celebrating the uniqueness of it, thereby exposing it and ruining its allure. I saw it happen in the Napa Valley, where I am from and one could argue that it has happened in Tamarindo as well. It’s a conundrum. I discovered Lesley Poling-Kempes thanks to Carolyn Barford, who resides half the time in Guanacaste and the other half as Lesley’s New Mexico neighbor. She painted the artwork for the covers of both novels. I cannot thank Carolyn enough for bringing me these books and enlightening me to a new, very talented author.
August Odysseys
Robert August kristenmattoxbrown@gmail.com
Sharing the Stoke Over the many, many years that I have surfed, I have met a lot of people from all different parts of the world. From an old guy like me or a little gremmie popping up on his first wave, beginner or pro, male or female, gainfully employed to flat-out-broke, I love how surfing brings people together from all walks of life. No matter who you are or where you are from, we all end up at the beach to ride waves. Back in March, I had the pleasure of meeting a loyal Robert August customer, Iris. Over the years, I have shaped and sent boards to Señorita Iris down here in Costa Rica from California. Then, as luck had it, Iris contacted my son Sam and niece Lisa about wanting a new board. When Sam informed her that I actually was shaping in Costa Rica in Tamarindo, she ‘nearly collapsed’ (her words). And as easy as that, a couple days later she drove out to Tamarindo from San José and we started shaping her board. Well, what type of board did I shape for her??? In my opinion, the most amazing surfboard shaped by any human being for a firecracker 5’1 Costa Rican lawyer…a 9’0 noserider. Just bitchin’.
Casagua Horses The greatest variety of tours and riding experiences for all ages, featuring spectacular countryside, howler monkeys, colorful small towns and fun-filled fiestas.
So to all of my friends out there, it has been a pleasure meeting, hanging and talking story with you all. It is always great to spend time with friends that share the same stoke for surfing. Just think about it, what would my life be like if I had not met Mr. Wingnut as a result of The Endless Summer II?!?! Probably pretty uneventful and boring… So here is to many more friends to come!
Cantina Tour - Nature Tour Fiesta & Tope Rental - Old Tempate Trail Tour Located near Portegolpe on the main road, opposite the Monkey Park, just 20 minutes from the beach.
Phone us at: 2-653-8041 • kaydodge@racsa.co.cr www.paintedponyguestranch.com The best horses on Guanacaste’s Gold Coast!
A woman is like a tea bag - you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her into hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt
dmills@racsa.co.cr
Now that the fuss of the World Cup is over till 2018, and the Under-20 Women’s World Cup is history (and the least said about that the better), we can concentrate on things more mundane, such as will Dortmund beat Bavaria, how many goals has Keylor Navas let in for Real Madrid, and whether Saprissa or La Liga will win the cup this season. First Division teams are As. Puma, Alajuelense, Belén, Cartagines, Carmelita, Heredia, Perez Zeledon, UCR, Santos, Saprissa, Uruguay, Limón.
Copa Centroamericana The Copa Centroamericana will be held in the United States between 3rd and 13th September. All seven UNCAF teams will compete in the tournament – Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama. Venues will be RFK Memorial Stadium, in Washington; Cotton Bowl, Dallas; BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston; and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Costa Rican fixtures are: Sept 3 at 3:30 – Costa Rica Sept 7 at 4:00 - Costa Rica
v Nicaragua v Panama
Final: Sept 13 at 8:00 (all times CR) Info at www.concacaf.com
Please Help Tamarindo has a football field, albeit it somewhat smaller than regulation, but better than nothing. It has a goodly number of fans; most days the local muchachos play a game there after work. But it needs attention. The goal nets are in poor condition, and of the three balls available, only one is really usable. Alonso, who has taken the job of ground maintenance, is asking for financial help to bring them into good condition. Please contact him at 8834-1268, or at info@premiersurfclub.com.
AROUND TOWN Symbioseas is now established in new premises in Plaza Izarra,up the hill in Huacas. See ad page 23. Fine Dining and Party Time is here at Le Be! On the beach in Tamarindo. Salsa night every second Tuesday, dance Saturdays. Air-conditioned Sports Bar. See review on page 8. Chef Mike offers you his favourite recipes every month in The Howler. Also try the real thing at Sprout, next to the Post Office in Villarreal, for delicious snacks and meals. See page 16. Scared of dengue? Mosquito Problems? Fight back with MistAway. See article and ad on page 21. In Brasilito under $50,000; Only 5 minutes to beach – Coldwell Banker Tel: 8705-2436. See ad page 19. The Carpenter’s Way - 2nd floor at Tikis in downtown Brasilito. 10:00 Sunday mornings. On Sundays we take a look at life, the reality...but we take a look into the other perspective. The grind of life, the stress....depression...just needing to hear something different...something renewing....full of hope, peace...purpose. Oh, yes, we speak about Jesus, not man’s religion ...the one of condemning and guilt motivation. Teaching relative for your life based on God’s love. Just an open heart. Come join us as we explore the Hope found in His Truth. Check us out on Facebook. See ad page 11. Casa Equinox is for sale! With the best views in Tamarindo, walking distance to the beach. Only $350,000, see ad page 2. Let`s go together diving and snorkeling in Catalina! For info and booking tel 8583-5873 Tamarindo Diving. DelToro Bikinis • special models for surf, opens a new store in tamarindo, 50m South of SuperCompro. See ad page 25. Men’s and women’s haircut in Salón Rakel, Tamarindo Plaza Conchal, II Floor. See ad page 29.
Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. George Bernard Shaw
Surf Report Ellen Zoe Golden ellenzoe@aol.com
G
ilbert Brown of Puerto Viejo is nothing short of amazing. With a spectacular win in double overhead waves in Hermosa, Brown notched his fourth Costa Rica national championship. For those keeping score, he also won in 2004, 2008 and 2012.
“It would be a serious change from a simple circuit to a professional surfing circuit, and since Costa Rica is a ‘hotbed’ of professional surfers it’s time for the surfers to receive pay for their efforts, performance and all that we give to this sport. This is a risky sport, and surfers are taking the risk and it is time the Federación also takes the risk,” he stated. And finally in the Open, but certainly not last, former national surf champion Isaac Vega scored a perfect 10 in a tube of 15 feet. Amazing. Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/photo. php?v=10152518295831839 Equally, another 10 was awarded to Ariel Gutierrez https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=101525 18241096839&set=vb.89999916838&type=2&theater What can one say about the continual accomplishments of Lisbeth Vindas of Jacó (photo)? This 33-year-old dynamo was challenged all year by the fresh crop of young surfers including Leilani McGonagle and Emily Gussani, and Paula Duarte, but she prevailed. Lisbeth is an incredibly focused woman, and she held the course and prevailed with her 11th, that’s right 11th, Women’s national surf championship.
Coming into the Gran Finals Reef in Playa Hermosa in late July, the 32-year-old was ranked #2 behind the youngster, Maykol Torres of Esterillos, and he definitely had some work to do in order to get another trophy. Honestly, all bets were on the 22-year-old Torres getting his first championship, but when he fell out earlier in the competition, it was left to Brown to earn his keep.
“It’s a new generation that is in process, and they are many years apart. Always in the middle is Nataly (Bernold), another talented surfer who always gives me interesting national fights, and good international results, but now sometimes she makes the events, and sometimes not. This new generation has had to fill that space. There are three girls of the same age, which gives us several options. Leilani has demonstrated a high level of surfing internationally. She has a lot of passion, talent and dedication. Paula brings natural talent and Emily is training very well and is expected to go on creating a solid career,” Lisbeth detailed.
And he did, in a final against veterans Jason Torres and Luis Vindas, as well as frequent podium visitor Anthony Segura. “In the water all I did was ask God to not leave me alone and I only got two waves,” Brown said afterwards. “I told him that if he gave them to me I was not going to look bad and that I would destroy them. These came to me and as a man of my word that I am, I gave everything I had even though on this date it was difficult for all of us competitors because of the strong currents.” As a power surfer who relies on hard turns in waves of significant size, this win goes to show that you don’t have to have a lot of airs in your arsenal to be the best. But rest assured Brown can pop off from any hard surface to maneuver in the air. And he does. Now, as a four-time champion, it will be interesting to see if the Federación de Surf de Costa Rica turns to Brown again to coach the national surf teams that travel around the world to compete. He was the coach to the most recent team to compete in the Junior World Surfing Championships at La Fae Beach, Salinas, Ecuador, where the team produced two medal winners. The champ has also been very vocal about the need for the Circuito to start paying out the winners of its contests.
“I dreamed of this moment for several nights this week to the point that I could actually do it, “ she continued. “This year it took me more effort than ever reach the level of girls that has been increasing very fast and that is why I am very happy with myself. The 11th title came to Vindas through concerted hard work outside the water as well. She worked with the Federación de Surf de Costa Rica’s fitness trainer Dr. Donald Vega on fitness, food
(continued page 20)
Some Like It Hot osta Rican food, while delicious and generally healthy, is not known for its fire. For those who enjoy highly spiced food it is necessary to add from the many herbs and spices available here. Almost every soda offers a jar of encurtidos caseros, pickled vegetables highly spiced with hot chili (chile, chilli) peppers, a bottle of homemade hot sauce or maybe pickled jalapeños. All contain hot peppers.
C the hurt that never heals a child is born nine months of anticipation joy, some bother all those plans of yours now become hers the right schools, friends associations & neighborhoods the could have beens, shoulds & woulds out baby pops screaming agony skin ripped torn bleeding nasty stitches in nether regions all’s fine dandy here’s to your pink bit o’fancy little tot that’s gonna make it right / the sacrificing cold flu broken arms pacing all night there’s the rub my friend you can never redo change have it all again the baby won’t make you new baby grows from infant to tot trucks dolls baseball & bats / look! where’d your youth go the little scamp; she’s all grown up! & floating down a marriage ramp
written by geretta geretta
Peppers go under the general name of chilis, whether they are sweet bell peppers (chili dulce) or the many hot varieties such as habaneros, jalapeños, tabasco, cayenne, or Scotch bonnet (just typing those names breaks me out in a sweat!). All are native to the Americas and were propagated around the world after Columbus discovered them on his voyages. What makes pepper hot The active ingredient is capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide). When eaten it activates the pain receptors in the mouth and throat, sending a message to the brain. The brain raises the heart rate and increases perspiration. How hot is it Peppers are rated on the Scoville scale of heat (SHU), bell peppers being mildest at zero, through red chile at 500, jalapeño (8,000), Serrano (23,000), cayenne (50,000), habanero (350,000), to the hottest ever, the Trinidad Scorpion at 2 million. Commercial pepper spray is rated at 5 million. Nutritional Value Peppers contain high content of Vitamin C and Carotene, and some B vitamins. They are also high in potassium, magnesium and iron. Hot peppers are sometimes available in supermarkets but, for a good selection, try one of the local ferias, or farmers’ markets, such as in Santa Cruz on Saturdays.
Dharma Corner
Sue Smith
Watering the Seeds
L
ately, it seems that many friends and acquaintances are dealing with that time in life where the polarity of the parent/child relationship switches... the “child” slowly finds him or herself forced into the role once occupied by the parent: caretaker and decision maker. It is a difficult time. (Been there, done that). But, if we remember that “without the mud there would be no Lotus” we can journey through this period with greater ease, and even some joy, for all concerned. There is an applicable lesson in the story of the passing of Anathapindika, a great friend of the Buddha. Anathapindika was in the final days of his life and was in great pain. The monk Shariputra was sitting with his friend trying to be supportive and to ease the pain of his dear friend. With much love and compassion Shariputra began to recite all of the wonderful characteristics of Anathapindika and to recall stories of his life...the HAPPY ones. This is what the Buddha called “watering the happy seeds” in Anathapindika’s mind. As Shariputra watered the happy seeds, his friend’s pain began to subside and Anathapindikia was able to pass on with ease and grace. While there may be strained relationships between parents and children, usually there are more happy times to be remembered than bad... more happy seeds that can be watered. As the parent/child relationship changes it is an opportunity to water the happy seeds in the elder’s life as well as those in the child’s life. By doing so, the “weeds” of negativity can be overgrown by flowers of peace and love. And by dwelling amongst the flowers, difficult tasks and decisions (what might be called suffering) can be taken on by both with greater ease. This life lesson actually may also be used in dealing with our own everyday experiences. What we water, not only in others, but in ourselves, is what grows. Remember to water the GOOD SEEDS and that is what will manifest. And be grateful for the “mud” in life, for it is in the mud that the lotus flower grows. May all beings be free, may all beings be at peace and without suffering. Namaste
Tropika: Costa Rican Design for House In answer to this year’s Solar Decathlon Europe, Tec Team Costa Rica has designed Tropika, a low-tech house with features such as natural lighting, cross-ventilation and water treatment facilities. It uses exotic wood such as teak and melina, and consists of a single room measuring only 592 sq. feet. Tropika’s aim is to revive traditional or architectural practices and to provide stronger communities of senior citizens.
The Moringa Tree
G
David Mills
“Miracle Tree”
uanacaste farmers are looking closely at the Moringa Tree, a native of Asia, as being suitable for planting in the province. The tree is fast-growing, is happy in hot temperatures and is drought-tolerant. In addition it has so many positive properties that it has been called “The Miracle Tree.”
Pods – known as drumsticks, taste like asparagus; rich source of fiber, iron, potassium and vitamin C.
The Moringa Tree, moringa olifeira, is the most nutrient-rich plant yet discovered. This humble plant has been making strides in lessdeveloped societies for thousands of years, and significant nutritional research has been conducted since the 1970s. Moringa provides a rich and rare combination of nutrients, amino acids, antioxidants, antiaging and anti-inflammatory properties used for nutrition and healing.
Just about all parts of the Moringa tree - including leaves, flowers, fruits, root, trunk, etc.- can be used for nourishment, medicine and other purposes.
Scientist Dr. Monica G. Marcu, Ph. D., Pharm D., and Bachelor of Fine Arts, is a researcher, scientist and author, who has studied plants from a medicinal and healing viewpoint, and has written a book “Miracle Tree” about the moringa tree. She has worked at the University of Ottawa, National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute. Early reviews call Marcu’s book the leading reference on Moringa as she takes her clinical and analytical laboratory experience and gives the health-conscious reader understanding on a majority of Moringa’s wealth of nutrients. She also covers Moringa’s history, re-discovery, nutrients, benefits, and traditional cures and modern uses. In underdeveloped countries, where Moringa is sometimes called “Mother’s Best Friend”. health organizations and clinics distribute
Moringa to infants, children, pregnant and lactating women. Since 1998, the World Health Organization has promoted Moringa as an alternative to imported food supplies to treat malnutrition. Seeds - treat scurvy; are a relaxant for epilepsy, can treat urinary infections, gout, arthritis, rheumatism. Leaves – have four times more calcium than milk; twice the protein than milk; seven times more potassium than bananas; three times more iron than spinach; nutrition boosters; seven times more vitamin C than oranges; five times more beta carotin than carrots
Flowers - infused as tea, are an effective form of remedy for cough and cold. Improve quality and flow of breast milk.
As a food, it can increase the vitamin levels of humans or animals. More than 90 nutrients and 45 antioxidants. Its non-food properties include: It can be used as part of a water purification system. It is a good fertilizer. It acts as an organic pesticide. It can accelerate the wound healing process. It can be used as a household cleaner. It is useful in lumber, charcoal, fencing, water clarification, lubricating oil. It can be used for biodiesel production. Moringa is a heavy bearing tree that, requiring no dormancy, produces its edibles year round. Moringa needs plenty of full sun exposure to have the energy it needs for the constant production of healthy, flavorful seeds, foliage and roots. Though moringa is hardy enough to survive in partial sun locations, it performs best in sites that receive six or more hours of direct sunlight per day. Moringa also prefers neutral to slightly acidic, sandy, loamy and well-draining soil. When planting moringa seedlings in your garden or home landscape, plant them at the same level they grew in their nursery containers; plant seeds under no more than a 1/2 inch of soil. It is a rapidly-growing vegetable tree that is suitable for cultivation in tropical, subtropical and semi-arid regions in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 and 10. Though moringa grows best in temperatures between 75 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, these incredibly hardy trees are even able to tolerate the occasional fall or early spring frost. Moringa oleifera shows great promise for helping to alleviate hunger around the world. The tree’s foliage, seeds and roots are all edible and highly nutritious.
I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want be there when it happens. Woody Allen
Working Passage
Y
es, well, the summer of ‘65 saw me hitchhiking across the United States, then into Canada and on to Montreal. Not to dwell on it, I was but eighteen and there are a lot of lonesome long haul truckers out there. Hitching rides you can cover ground pretty rapidly. Get picked up, sleep in the back seat, then catch another ride… keep on moving. Get to meet some different people too.
The Bandak sailed off with me on board, assigned to the ship’s steward. I mopped the endless corridors but also was more usefully employed in undertaking the most disagreeable tasks available, those generally avoided by the regular seamen: cleaning the galley lockers and frozen food storage, raising and cleaning the wooden slats, bailing, then pulling and cleaning the drains.
For $135 I managed to book passage on a freighter out of Sorel, carrying grain to Rotterdam. Officers and crew were Italian. Being the only passenger, I dined with the ship’s officers and ate pasta every damn day for two solid weeks. Only the Second Mate spoke any English; told me the Captain had lost his last command off of Hatteras, one of only three survivors. Second Mate said the Captain was dingy but improving.
The North Atlantic is a restless sea and we were not spared. I remember when I first saw the Bandak while standing on the wharf; ship was huge, like looking up at a skyscraper. But now we’re out there in a near-gale with wave after wave sweeping clear across our decks. At work below the galley with my mop, brush and buckets, the bulwarks hurled themselves upon me, sending me flying one way then smashing me back like a shuttlecock. From the porthole, you never saw a horizon, just all sea then all sky. At mess, our tables had hinged lips which were raised, allowing our cups and plates to roam and roll about without falling into our laps.
Finally approaching Rotterdam, I recall our enormous Dutch pilot rapping his forehead sharply against the window plate in the bridge, to the great amusement of the Italians; a couple of pleasingly Rubenesque bikini-clad girls sunbathing rather hopefully on the beach midst scudding dark clouds, winds and a cold drizzle. A brief interlude with the River Police, who would not let me disembark, only to surrender to the captain, pleading in his very poor English that I was a good boy. My father liberated the Netherlands and had a hard fight to get there; I didn’t fail to remind the River Police of this. Spent the next two months wandering around Europe, then at summer’s end, back in Rotterdam and determined to work passage for my return to the States. Under the auspices of the U.S. Consulate, I spoke with the captain of the Norwegian freighter Bandak; he agreed to take me on, albeit with some misgivings. His last two young Americans had feigned sickness and refused to work. I convinced him I was made of better stuff.
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The Bandak was a modern freighter crewed by both genders, a scandalous and dangerous concept in those days; the Italians and nearly everyone else considered a woman on board bad luck. But our passage was a speedy eight days putting us in Sept-Iles, at the very mouth of the Saint Lawrence. The Captain urged me to remain on board for the next port of call - Baltimore - warning me against hitchhiking at that latitude, with wolves and freezing nights. Maybe he had a few more nasty drains to clear. But I was done with sailoring for a while and thought I’d try my luck on land, finally returning to California and family a couple weeks later.
Story by Jim Surfer
Ar
rld
nd the Wo u o
Surf Report (from page 15)
and other matters relating to increased physical capability. Of course, husband, former national champion Diego Naranjo was an excellent guide to improving her competitive edge while surfing. In addition, she did not compete and was out of the water for a month following a surgery.
A new word record has been set by a Canadian team for shucking oysters. The ten person team shucked 6,680 in one hour. A boy in London, born without ears, has had a new pair made from his ribs. An athlete, who took off his shirt during the closing minutes of a race, was denied the gold medal. France’s Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad was stripped of the medal after the Spanish team protested. A battery powered by sweat has been developed at the University of California. The tattoo-like device may one day be used to power cellphones. A group of employees in Britain has decided not to employ tattooed people. The British Sociological Association found there is a stigma attached to visible markings. They say that the solution is easy – you can choose to have a tattoo or have a job. A group of anti-fracking protestors have Super-glued themselves to corporate doors in Britain to protest the impacts of shale gas extraction. Beachgoers in Qingdao, China, have come up with a novel way to protect the skin from the sun’s rays. It is called the face-kini, and covers the face altogether. A woman in Wales who had sex with a police officer while held in a cell said :I just let it happen. I wanted it to happen. It was flattering; you’ve got a man in uniform and he fancies you.”
I don’t know who invented high heels, but women owe him a lot. Marilyn Monroe
At 32, Lisbeth plans to keep on competing taking it all day by day. In a few years, she is looking forward to joining the ranks of the Masters who surf for Costa Rica both nationally and internationally. The Federación de Surf de Costa Rica should also be very happy with its accomplishments, especially the fact that the contests are now drawing thousands of people each month. The Gran Finals Reef spectators added up to over 13,000 in the three days of competition. It all starts again in December. National Champions 2014 Open: Gilbert Brown (Puerto Viejo) Women’s: Lisbeth Vindas (Jacó) Junior: Manuel Mesen (Jacó) Junior Women’s: Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) Boys: Sean Forester (Samara) MiniGrommet: Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo) MiniGrommet Girls: Valentina Ressano (Nicaragua) Results Gran Final Reef July 25, 26, 27 Playa Hermosa Open 1) Gilbert Brown 2) Luis Vindas (Jacó) 3) Jason Torres (Jacó) 4) Anthony Segura (Esterillos O) Women 1) Emily Gussoni (Jacó) 2) Leilani McGonagle 3) Lisbeth Vindas 4) Zulay Martinez (Tamarindo) Junior 1) Leonardo Calvo (Barranca) 2) Juan Carlos Hernandez (Jacó) 3) Manuel Mesen 4) Alejandro Delgado (Jacó)
Junior Women 1) Leilani McGonagle 2) Marcela Garcia (Jacó) 3) Zulay Martinez 4) Emily Gussoni Boys 1) Dennis Picado (Jacó) 2) Lorenzo Cordoba (Jacó) 3) Esteban Chaves (Jacó) 4) Aldo Chirinos (Playa Negra) Longboard 1) Anthony Flores (Jacó) 2) Adolfo Gomez (Samara) 3) Alex Gomez (Samara) 4) Enrique Pacheco (Jacó) 5) Rafael Rodriguez (Jacó)
*Minigrommets did not compete at the Gran Final Reef due to the excessive height and strength of the waves in Playa Hermosa.
(continued page 33)
MistAway Matters
T
he number of Dengue Fever cases has increased dramatically since the 1960s; up to 528,000,000 people are infected yearly. As there is no vaccine, prevention is sought by reducing the habitat and number of mosquitoes and limiting exposure to bites. A MistAway installation by Insect Control Misting Systems is the key to staying one step ahead of Dengue and enjoying your beautiful outdoor space to its full potential. Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your clients with this automatic misting system that effectively eliminates mosquitoes and other biting insects from your outdoor space Here’s How It Works The MistAway system automatically sprays a fine mist of botanical insecticide through nozzles installed around the perimeter of your outdoor space. The insecticide is derived from chrysanthemum flowers and is quickly degraded by sunlight or rain. It is a completely safe insecticide. There is no residue and insects don’t develop resistance to the ingredients, due to it being all natural. Two to three short mists per day (usually around dawn and dusk) is all it takes to achieve amazing bug control. A misting system consists of a multi-gallon reservoir, or a tank-less unit connected to a loop of tubing attached to multiple single spray head nozzles. Nozzles are placed along property perimeters and landscaped areas that are harboring areas for these dangerous bugs. The network is connected to a programmable electric pump set to automatically mist insecticide at predetermined intervals usually for 45 seconds at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Field Study In 2007, a 35wk operational field study testing the effectiveness of MistAway systems found during the first three weeks of misting there was a 71-98% reduction of mean mosquito abundance when compared with untreated yards. Over the following weeks, as the number of mosquitos greatly increased as a result of increased rainfall, mosquito populations in yards with MistAway systems remained significantly lower, 62-91% compared with yards without the MistAway system Insect Control Misting Systems knows your satisfaction is of utmost importance! We know customer service is a key element to our success! From our licensed system designers to our courteous professional service technicians we are sure you will be satisfied with this investment. We believe so much in our product that we give a money-back guarantee. Please visit www.killdengue.com or call 8595-3569 today for your free estimate.
Tamarindo Topics by Jeffrey Whitlow
I
have so enjoyed the time I have spent in Tamarindo as a full-time resident so far. Each of us has come here with an honest heart, I believe, and I have enjoyed getting to know everyone I have met. For such people, it is hard to understand the lack of cooperation we sometimes receive from “the powers-that-be”, and the lack of loyalty we sometimes receive from those natives we grow to trust. It is counter-productive, though, to write off the matter as hopeless. Indifference to a problem or situation will never lead to a solution, by definition. As my readers know, I always believe in looking at problems from all perspectives before I make a judgment. To cite one of our persistent problems as an example, of course I can see the perspective of the business owner who feels inconvenienced by the street people who “hang out” outside his or her business. I also understand their frustration with the lack of response they receive from those that should be handling the situation. But after researching both sides of the issue, I again see the classic duo of miscommunication and jealousy. The biggest miscommunication, in my opinion, lies in the fact that we tend to judge other people’s failure by our success. “The street people are bad people because they are not successful”, goes that refrain. The fact is that the street people here don’t have the things that most of us who are “successful” take for granted, a stable home with a (more or less!) loving and dependable father and mother, and a decent education. Study after study has proven that children who come from better circumstances are more successful economically. The latest studies have proven that modeling, mentoring, and food support, when taken together, provide the foundation for programs that can move people from the streets into more stable lifestyles. Until now, no one has attempted to devise and execute a long-term strategy to change the situation on our streets. Over the past few months, I have taken the initiative of instituting a demonstration program of this type. In the next few columns, I will speak more about how these types of programs work and why. There is already a type of modeling going on here though, and unfortunately it is negative. We have people who are hungry, and they see the model of well-fed people who walk by them like they don’t exist. We have people who sleep on the beach, or in lean-tos in the bush, who see the model of people who cringe in fear when they walk by them. And along with the negative modeling, there is a complete lack of mentoring. We have people on our streets who have no plan for their future, and no hope for tomorrow. But the people who have the knowledge, the will, and the energy to help them, walk by them like they don’t exist. My research in this matter has shown so far that I was right on point with my last column. The parties here that are in conflict have not communicated effectively, if they have communicated at all. The have-nots are jealous, as they are somehow drawn to come here to attempt to leech off of a lifestyle that they have no hope of attaining themselves. This nihilistic situation tends to make them act out in frustration and hopelessness, to the detriment of all. Next month, I will begin to describe the methods I believe will be effective in regard to this problem.
Recipe of the Month Orange-Rosemary Chicken with Asparagus & Cherry Tomatoes This recipe is one that resonates around our household on a monthly basis and is so easy to prepare but tastes like we are eating out at a fine dining restaurant. It’s worth giving a try and can be completed in less than fifteen minutes. Gather all your ingredients first and the rest is a quick dinner you will most definitely enjoy!
Yield: 2 servings 2 Chicken breast ? 8 Asparagus stalks (ends trimmed) 8 Cherry tomatoes 2 Rosemary sprigs 1 Orange 3 Tablespoons garbanzo beans 1 Clove garlic chopped 2 Tablespoons olive oil 2 Tablespoons white wine ½ Cup ?chicken stock 1 Teaspoon balsamic vinegar 1 Sea salt to taste 1 Cracked black pepper to taste Method: In a large sauté pan heat the olive oil on medium high heat. Sear each side of the chicken breasts until golden brown on each side; then add the garlic and continue to sauté. When the garlic is lightly browned add the white wine to deglaze the sauté pan. ? Quickly add the asparagus, rosemary sprigs, cherry tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and chicken stock. Slice the orange into ¼ inch rounds and add all of the rounds to the mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste and place a lid on top of the sauté pan until the chicken is cooked through. Add the dash of balsamic vinegar into the pan and stir thoroughly to give the sauté a smooth sheen and taste. Enjoy thoroughly!
By: Chef Mike @ Sprout
Barbara’s Pet Stories
A Slice of Life
The police, your best friend and helper The police car stopped right in front of my house, the flashing blue light was turned on. I looked, but ..why is the police here, I haven’t done anything wrong…so I ignored it. Maybe they just needed a break and parked here…but NO: Hola, donde esta Barbara / hello, is Barbara here? One of the policemen stepped out of the car and was now standing in front of the gate and calling my name. Oh holy heaven, I thought, and answered: just a minute, momentito por favor…I went to the gate and asked very politely how could I help him (you never know…right?) …He said: there was an accident with some howler monkeys, just around the corner; one is dead already, but there is a Mama with a baby, she got electrocuted and fell down to the road, she broke her leg, if I would be able to help them…I thought, puuhh , it is already 9 pm, I am tired..but I said YES, sure.. so I put on my sneakers (do not want to climb around in the bushes with just flip flops on), grabbed a towel, a torch and a cage and the police put the cage on the back of their pick-up and we drove to the place where it had happened. The Mama with the baby on her back was hiding in the bushes. I could see a bone looking out of her fur, OMG, poor monkey…I slowly stepped into the bush, two bystanders came with me to help. After some minutes we were able to get the Mama into the cage. Then the police drove me back to my place. The Mama was sent to UNA to get the leg fixed, the baby stayed with me. MINAET told me to keep it for some days. Exactly four days later, the same happened, only this time, the Mama did not make it. So there was another orphan monkey baby. Fortunately the MINAET came some days later to pick up the two babies and to bring them to the Monkey Rescue Center in Nosara. barbara.s.animalrescuecenter@gmail.com
Robin Williams Rick Casorla
I
first met Robin in 1969 at the College of Marin; we were auditioning for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. His audition was so bizarre. He used all these cartoon voices and crazy animal movements. This is blasphemous! It’s Shakespeare damn it! What is this guy doing? I thought, well he’ll never get cast in this show! Wrong! He was cast right alongside me as one of the comic servants, and from there our friendship began. We would do little things to crack each other up during rehearsals. Yes, and sometimes during performances, too! He was a comic genius and sometimes very difficult to talk to because he was always moving so fast! Inanimate objects had a life of their own around him, nothing was sacred. In 1971 our production of Taming of the Shrew, which we performed as a Western, was invited to The Edinburgh International Arts Festival in Scotland. The hippies are going to Europe! Again Robin and I played the two comic servants. We even performed for - and later met - Princess Margaret, not bad, Robin was 18 and I was 19! I remember one night after our scene I was following Robin off the stage. We were on the second floor, and my foot went right through the floorboards all the way through up to my thigh! I couldn’t budge. In a split second Robin was back on to help me. But as he did we both realized at the same moment, what a great opportunity for more laughs! So he and I tugged and pulled and did our best Keystone Cops kind of routine, and the audience was in on the joke, they knew they were seeing something different, special and unique. Two actors improving a moment gone bad! We milked it for everything we could, and the audience loved it! A couple of years later he was thinking about trying Stand Up Comedy. A new club was opening in San Francisco called The Holy City Zoo. I told him if anyone could do it, it would be you, you are clearly “certifiable”! Weeks later Norman Lear was in the audience and the rest is history... I saw Robin only a few times after that. He was now traveling in a universe far faster and more intricate than mine. It had been many years since I had any contact with Robin, so this past summer just for kicks I sent him a “friend request” on Facebook. To my surprise he responded the same day. He didn’t forget. Perhaps Robin was wound too tight, and his boundless energy could seem overwhelming at times, and unless he made a real effort to slow down he was sometimes difficult to talk to. But... I will miss his loud laugh, his lightning quick wit, and his many voices, I will miss you Robin, I am so sad today.
Selected Poems from “Tell me about the telaraña” by Diana Renee
i remember the night you borrowed Flavio’s blue car the bottom halves of trees i could see through the window where we stopped along the dusty road what did we say to each other that night i remember it all but the words
corremos al mar con los rios no nos detienen las piedras las vueltas la ramas caidas pasamos encima de caimanes dormidos
“Tell Me About the Telaraña” is available at Jaime Peligro’s Bookstore in Tamarindo.
www.howlermag.com
Your Stars in September
Aries: 21 March - 20 April
Libra: 23 September - 23 October
The month begins with your ruling planet, Mars, moving through the last eight degrees of Scorpio, giving you some authentic power to utilize for advancement of your goals. You have a better idea where you stand financially so you so brush yourself off and get down to working with the issues. Remember to have a little fun or do something creative as Jupiter is in your fifth house; use it to connect with your joyful self. Best days are the 10th and 11th.
With Mercury entering your sign this month you have more ability to express yourself and find a functional path. Mars leaves your second house on the 14th, lessening your financial strain a bit. Saturn is still there till the end of the year so know that 2015 will be a much better money maker for you. Pluto’s direct motion on the 20th presence in your fourth house may give some clues about a parent’s health situation. Good days are the new moon on the 24th, the 25th, and 26th.
Venus, your ruling planet is transiting your solar fifth house this month, moving from Leo to Virgo so you can expect your creative juices to flow in abundance. Pay attention to the details of the projects at hand. This energy is also good for writing, editing and self promotion, so if you’ve been stalled on something you can break through that blockage this month. Good lunar aspects on the 12th and 13th are very powerful.
With Venus and Jupiter in your tenth house you are highly visible with an attractive message. Mars leaving the conjunction with Saturn lightens your attitude so your less intense ( ie., angry) qualities can be emphasized. Don’t waste any opportunity to make amends to the people you pissed off in August…they can hear you now. This fall has you becoming a networking specialistThe lunar aspects favor you on the 27th and 28th.
Taurus: 21 April - 21 May
Gemini: 22 May - 21 June
Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November
Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December
You get some nice benefits from Mercury in Libra this month, helping you to refine your communication skills. Jupiter in Leo also supports those efforts as it moves through your solar third house this year. So get busy and stay focused. Mars moves into Sag on the 14th, but this can be a stimulating influence even though it’s in your opposing sign as Mars like the Jupiter energy of Sagittarius. Increase your physical activity this month to gain the most from this aspect. Vibes favor you on the 14th, 15th and 16th.
Your aspects improve this month as Mars enters your sign in a trine relationship with ruler Jupiter in the ninth house. Good month to plan a trip abroad or even out of state as the fire trine energy increase at the end of the month with Uranus in the fifth giving an interesting opportunity for creativity and fun. Venus entering your solar tenth house on the 6th can bring an increase in your creative professional activities. Say yes to what comes your way, particularly on the 2nd, 3rd, 29th and 30th.
With Jupiter in your second house of money, stuff and values you should experience and increase in those things this year. Nice. The general vibe has you pretty close to home, which is advisable as Mars and Saturn in your solar fifth house signifies a bit of a problem if you take any risks with travel and fun in general. Wait before signing on to anything long term as there’s still a strong change of dissatisfaction till the middle of March 2015. Good days are the 17th and 18th for you.
Lots of energy heading for the top of your chart indicating a stronger career presence and reputation in the coming months. With your ruling planet in the eleventh house you need to find a mentor or associate with more people in power who can bolster that rep. Great time to promote yourself and your business over the next two months and you will see a big increase. Jupiter in your solar eighth may bring in an inheritance, legacy or insurance wind fall. All good stuff! Your best days are the 4th and 5th.
Cancer: 22 June - 22 July
Leo: 23 July - 23 August
You have the benefit of both Jupiter and Venus in your sign this month giving you additional magnetism and charm. With Mars and Saturn in your fourth house, there’s a heaviness or melancholy surrounding your home, parents and property still carrying on from August. You will start to come out of the funk by the end of the year when Saturn moves into Sag. Better connection with Jupiter in Leo, you’ll feel more optimistic. Good lunar vibes on the 19th, 20th and 21st.
Virgo: 24 August - 22 September
It’s that time of year when planets moving through your sign brighten your energy and overall mood. This month Venus moves into your sign, giving you additional charisma and a vibration of love. Those who are looking for partnerships, take note…the light shines on you after the 6th in a big way. Your ability to make money also increases this month, with versatile Mercury moving into your second house of moola! Keep your expectations realistic, but maintain an optimistic viewpoint. The 22nd and 23rd are highly positive days. by Jeanne Callahan jeannecallahan007@gmail.com
Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January
Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February
Jupiter is in your seventh house of partnership now and can find you more contentment than in the recent past with your business and personal partners. Saturn at the top of your chart has you recognized as an authority in your field which is very supportive, with possibly a promotion due. Mars moves into your eleventh house of friends, giving you more opportunity to connect with both old and new friends. Accept all invitations to travel. Best days are the 6th and 7th.
Pisces: 20 February - 20 March
Jupiter is in your sixth house of work, service and health matters so now is a good time to undertake something new to support that part of your life. Venus will be moving into your solar seventh making partnership a thing of joy! However Mars moving into your tenth mid-month gives you more tasks and projects at work. As much as you would like to take it easy and relax with your loved one, it’s not possible the last two weeks of the month. All in all, it’s a pretty agreeable month, particularly on the Harvest moon on the 8th and the 9th too.
Namasté Visit Jeanne’s site at CelestialAdvisor.com
Word puzzle
Beaches in Costa Rice All words from the list below can be found in the word block on the right. Answers may be forward, backward, upwards, downwards and diagonal. blanca brasilito cabuya cahuita carrillo coloradas conchal corcovado coyote dominical esterillos flamingo garza grande hermosa
herredura junquillal lagarto langosta matapalo montezuma nancite ostional panama pandeazucar penca potrero tambor zapotillal zancudo
Now Begins the Study of Yoga Gunas In yogic philosophy, it is believed that all of the universe is made of three complimentary qualities, called gunas. The three are Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. These three qualities are in all things and they create what are the essential aspects of nature: matter, energy, and consciousness. We humans have these three aspects as we are a microcosm of the universe. Tamas is the Sanskrit word for the guna relating to matter, and is translated as heaviness or darkness. Rajas is the guna relating to energy, and is sometimes translated as attachment or passion. Sattva is the guna relating to consciousness, and is one of those Sanskrit words that is really difficult to translate directly into English. Sattva may be considered as light or spiritual essence. We have these three gunas within us at all times and they are constantly in flux. We may have one of these qualities that is predominant in us most of the time, yet this can and does change. We have the ability to change our gunas, whereas a rock cannot. A rock is predominantly tamasic. While a person can be predominantly tamasic, they can change and become more rajasic for example. Many of us come to yoga in an effort to bring a greater balance into our lives. True balance comes when we are in touch with our nature, identify where we are at any given time with these gunas in
our life, and make changes accordingly to bring them better into balance. Listening deeply to our body, mind, and emotions, we can find how to bring harmony and balance back on and off our mat. Start paying attention to what aspects are most predominant in you, so that you can figure out how to bring about balance. If your most predominant aspect is Tamas (the more heavy, couch potato-like guna), how can you bring more activity and light into your life? If your most predominant aspect is Rajas (the Tazmanian devil like whirlwind guna), how can you bring more steadiness and focus into your life? If your most predominant aspect is Sattva (your head is up in the clouds), how can you bring more grounded action in your life? We can play with balance of our gunas in our practice of the asanas – in for example Ardha Chandrasana. Try being tamasic (or heavy) and practice this pose. It may be hard to lift the top leg or bring energy up into the standing leg. Then play with a rajasic or super energized Half Moon – what happens when you are trying too hard? Now play as if you were light, grounded and energized… how does that feel? Remember it is a dance, this balancing act of our gunas and our life!
Namaste, Mary Mary Byerly is one of the owners and the yoga teacher at Panacea. An oasis of tranquility and health 10 minutes from Tamarindo. Discover Paradise and Bring a Peace Home www.panaceacr.com • 2653-8515
Surf Report (from page 24)
One of the signs of summer outside of Costa Rica is the annual U.S. Open, and this year was no exception. The 2014 Vans U.S. Open in Huntington welcomed three Ticos to the area, with Carlos Muñoz (Esterillos) in the water for the Open, and Noe Mar McGonagle (Pavones) running waves in the Juniors. It seemed like a lot of Costa Rica were watching online as Muñoz powered through Round One, then came in 4th place in the next one. To be fair, the surfers in this particular event are pretty tough, and even with this disappointing showing, Muñoz still remains in excellent spot on the World Qualifying Series (WQS) rankings at 53 (out of 578). His upcoming move came courtesy of online voting. Over 100 of the world’s best surfers submitted entries for the first-ever global video contest for Hurley. A panel of judges – featuring Rob Machado, Brett Simpson, Lakey Peterson, Pat O’Connell and Mike Parsons – narrowed the selection down to the best 16 competitors to fill the final bracket in which Muñoz was entered. Voting commenced the first week of August and with nearly 15,000 votes in the Finals, Carlos will be the wildcard this month at the Hurley Pro in Trestles, California. As to Noe Mar, well his visit to the prestigious Junior event was equally disappointing for him. He bowed out at 4th place in his first round, yet the ever-positive kid said he had a “super fun time with the boys at the U.S. Open.” Those boys included their surf coach Naranjo, who is represented by Red Bull with Muñoz and McGonagle. Forging on, at this writing, both McGonagle and Muñoz are at yet another WQS, the Sooruz Lacanu Pro in France.
That’s all I’ve got. Looking forward to hearing what you think. Keep those emails coming at EllenZoe@aol.com. Send your comments, information, errors or praise, because I can’t do this column without you, the real surfers.
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. Mae West
Surviving
C hapter CXXDXVIII
S
COSTA RICA
eems like everybody I know, excluding the trust funder set, has at one or another time been involved in restaurant biz, yours truly being no exception. For many years I lived in Port Aransas, Texas, a well-known vacation spot on an island in the Gulf of Mexico. At the time I had only recently become an adult as was still confused as to what adult behavior was about and, having been recently married I thought maybe I should “get a job”. In this part of Texas there were few options available for someone in this position. You could spend a couple of weeks a month on an oil rig a coupl’a hundred miles out in the Gulf, or its international version of going to Saudi Arabia for six months of oilfield work without any access to alcohol; you could work on the shrimp boats, a twentieth century version of piracy and dangerous mayhem; or you could work in a restaurant. I started at the Seafood and Spaghetti Works, a large geodesic domed affair with a waterslide attached, first in the kitchen at five in the morning doing the menu prep work after which I cleaned and mopped the whole place. Working my way up the ladder I learned the arts of bartending, which in Texas usually means making a good margarita, and eventually found myself as a “restaurant manager”, probably the worst title of them all. ] The only people who seemed to be able to make any money were the waiters, who were being paid $1.15 an hour and working for a 15% tip. If you knew what you were doing you could almost make as much money as your buddy out there on a shrimp boat worrying about the way the Captain was looking at you. Learning the skills for waiting tables were much like those for riding a bicycle, you fell down a few times at first but eventually get the hang of it. “Falling” in this case usually involved dumping a tray of Escargot Nachos and six or seven margaritas on a group of well-coiffed tourists.
The Restaurant Biz
I guess I reached the pinnacle of my restaurant career when I became the head waiter and House Musician at Tortuga Flats, one of the really hot and happening spots in town. Any high season day (mas o menos April through October) the Flats would be crammed with the good folks from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas etc., and on a good and incredibly high pressure night you could sell between $1,500 and $2,000, you do the math. I became part of the “A team”, a grizzled bunch of veterans most of which were on the wrong side of forty who, year after year, provided the lion’s share of sales. At the beginning of each “high season” the owners always hired a batch of sweet young things to spruce up the wait staff, very few of which ever made it past the “dump a tray on a tourist” phase. Directly opposed to any waiter were the cooks. Perhaps you’ve gone to a restaurant that featured a happy, well-attired cooking staff in full view of the customers going about the culinary arts in an orderly and well maintained flow. At Tortuga Flats the owners had wisely kept the kitchen staff out of sight, eight guys shoved into a space the size of a large closet with six fryers going full blast and not even time for a short break to go outside to have another hit of crack. These guys made even the shrimpers look like Sharp Dressed Men. The fellow usually running the “line” had gotten there by proving how much he hated the wait staff, who constantly demanded one dinner entré after another as soon as possible and done so in a manner that will make the wait person more money. The line cook also realized that if he doesn’t provide said entré he may not have a job. If the aforementioned new group of cute waitresses ever got as far as the “Line” they were in for special treatment from the cooks. Any of the survivors of this group usually ended up marrying the head guy.
Story by Jesse Bishop owlhumm@hotmail.com
Playa Tamarindo and Port Aransas are both hopping tourist destinations with a bunch of restaurants, but as is usually the case they do things a lot differently here than they would up north. Take for instance the tale of the two Canadians who had run a very successful restaurant back in Alberta who had leased the restaurant of a well-known local hotel. The new management called together the Tico staff and explained that if everyone followed the new direction they envisioned then their tips would increase exponentially. As it turned out the staff decided they were happy with what they were currently making and the level of work needed to earn it. The staff stayed, waiting for the next bunch of clueless extranjeros, while my Canadian friends went back to Canada and are still doing very well selling Mooseburgers and Molson. Here in Tamarindo we seem to have two kinds of restaurants, the ones that have been here a long time and the ones that haven’t. I should probably stay away from this first group as the probably account for sixty percent of the month’s Howler advertising. Our second group includes several restaurants that are still open as of this typing but won’t be when the mag comes out in September; the ones that came and went in one short season; and all the ones that will spring up next season to replace the fallen. It’s no secret that the restaurant biz is really tough no matter where you are and there is some stiff competition around. Around my house the competition is me. I like cooking and have long been able to satisfy our nutritional requirements in the privacy of our own home. Sorry we don’t take reservations.
Reflections on Independence Tom Peifer peifer@racsa.co.cr “We hold these truths to be self evident.” US Declaration of Independence
Visitors to the Gold Coast this month of September, if they manage to slip away from the tourist zones, might wonder about all the hoopla, falderal and torchlight parades on the evening of the 14th. It’s not just any other fiesta, a day off work and an excuse to get drunk. The 15th of September is Independence Day. Unlike other countries in the Americas, which had to endure years of grueling asymmetric warfare, called terrorism these days, in order to gain independence from their colonial overlords, Costa Rica lucked out. In reality, Costa Rica was an isolated backwater of the global reach of Imperial Spain. They didn’t have the gold, silver or other commodities to be exported to Spain. Spain, locked into the growing rat race of incipient globalization, was burning through the bullion as fast as it came in. Imports from the nascent industrial centers of the Low Countries and Britain, and the ongoing upkeep of garrisoning a global supply chain. So, as it turns out, Costa Rica got the news ‘through the grapevine’ as it were, by overland courier from Guatemala, in the wake of the Spanish defeat by the Mexicans following eleven years of combat. The torch, symbolic of the flame of liberty, used to start in Guatemala and be lit and carried throughout Central America in commemoration. For ‘security reasons’ the flame now begins at the border with Nicaragua and is carried by runners to town centers and schools where evening torchlight parades take place. Not surprisingly, as for other important matters of state, from greeting visiting dignitaries at the airport to national campaigns of picking up the trash, Costa Rica calls on the compliant minions of schoolchildren to do the heavy lifting, running the highways and byways with the symbolic flame, out to all corners of the land, in a ritual reminder of the importance of liberty and national unity. Part of the business of governing after all, is keeping the citizens—or subjects as they were called in the days of kings, princes, emperors and such—convinced that they’re getting a good deal out of playing along with the game. In recent history here, the seizure by Nicaragua of a couple hectares of the remote Isla Calero, a hitherto unknown patch of mud in the Rio San Juan, raised patriotism to fervor almost equal to the levels attained during the performances of the National team in the World Championships in Brazil.
The ability to whip up the patriotic zeal comes in handy for national leaders when they need support for plans a bit more grandiose than defending a theoretical line across a forgotten part of the sovereign soil. I returned to the US during the last invasion of Iraq and was frankly dumbstruck at the number of flags on homes, bumper stickers on cars and similar signs of support for an imperial venture that turns out to have been based on fabricated evidence and outright lies. As it turns out, ruling elites are not always so successful at convincing the body politic that they are serving the interests of the overwhelming majority. The 20th century is replete with examples of parts of states that have tried to break off and go it on their own: The Basque separatists in Northern Spain, the Sikhs in the Punjab and Southern Sudan perhaps the most recent example. Whether for regional or ethnic differences, or the sense that the central government is getting the lion’s share of the economic benefit out of the bargain or simply not living up to the many commitments and tasks which form the basis of national modern governance. Not to intentionally touch a sore point here, but providing ‘security’ is one of those tasks which, we all assume, is part of the bargain for paying taxes to the central governments. For those who follow world news, I just read an interesting analysis of where and why this new group ISIS is being so successful in parts of Iraq and Syria. Basically, they are opportunistic, moving into areas where the state power is weak or non-existent, you know, in the wake of the US invasion and the billions of dollars spent in “nation building” as part of “Operation Enduring Freedom.” Students of history may recall that at some point during the imperial overreach of the sprawling Roman Empire, tribal people who were previously neutral or allied towards Rome, saw that the winds of fate had changed direction and simply switched sides to join the real opponents that ultimately overran the greatest empire of history. Locals in Guanacaste may be active participants in the festive events of the 15th of September, but there is a wariness towards the far away powers of the Central Valley, and a deep-seated feeling that Guanacaste is not getting a
(continued page 36)
Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule of Meetings
Reflections...
Flamingo
Tuesdays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open) Fridays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open)
(from page 31)
Location: Hitching Post Plaza Unit 2, Brasilito Contact: Don H. at 2-654-4902
Tamarindo
fair shake. It is not like locals are about to grab their Kalashnikovs and join the regional Independence Party. But the fact is that the government in San José is worm-eaten with a world-class scale of bureaucratic complexity, inefficiency and wasting resources while accomplishing little. Out here at the “periphery’, in the terminology of Word System Theory, at times the sense of ‘independence’ has a definite down side, like when the water doesn’t run, the cops don’t show up or the internet goes down as you’re trying to finish an article.
Saturday: 10:30-11:30 - Open General Meeting Monday: 5:30 - Open Meeting Wednesday: 10:30 - Open Meeting Thursday: 5:30-6:30 - Open Meeting Location: Behind Pedro’s Surf Shop Contact: Ellen - 2-653-0897 / Steve - 8377-1529
September ( a l l
t i m e s
2014
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Sun
On the night of the 14th, I’ll be in town, watching the parade with a beer in hand, hopeful that the innocent enthusiasm, reflected in the candle-lit faces of the kids, won’t succumb to burnout as their dreams of a better life go up in smoke. Costa Rica has managed to thrive notwithstanding its location astride a hot spot of the plate tectonics grinding inexorably around the Pacific ‘ring of fire.’ Let’s hope the older generations navigate the political and economic tectonics that is reshaping the global order.
1 - rise 5:34; set 5:53 15th - rise 5:33; set 5:44 30th - rise 5:32; set 5:34 st
1st quarter: Full: Last quarter: New:
2.5
5:11 a.m. 7:38 p.m. 8:05 p.m. 12:14 a.m.
Happy the people whose annals are boring to read Montesquieu Blest is that nation whose silent course of happiness furnishes nothing for history to say - Thomas Jefferson
RAINFALL - July/August 2014
c 2.0
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2nd 8th 15th 24th
RAIN GAUGE
3.0
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Howler Meteorological Observatory Tamarindo
1.5
Total rainfall: 5.6 cm (2.2 inches)
1.0 0.5 0.0 16
20
25
July
Year-to-date 2014: 18.7 cm 2013: 78.7
31 1
5
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August
Tom Peifer is an ecological land use consultant with 19 years experience in Guanacaste. 2658-8018. tompeiferecv@gmail.com El Centro Verde is dedicated to researching and promoting sustainable land use, permaculture and environmentally sound development http://www.elcentroverde.org/
Rainfall July/August 2014: 5.6 cm 2013: 23.2 I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. Douglas Adams