The Howler
Volume 19, No. 4 Issue No. 210
April 2014 Founded 1996
TAMARINDO COSTA RICA www.howlermag.com THE HOWLER Ced. Juridica: 3-101-331333
FEATURES
Publisher, editor and production David Mills
8 Dining Out
dmills@racsa.co.cr Tel: 2-653-0545
Tapas, seafood, pizzas, fondue Bourguignonne, cool misting - Vulcano is the new restaurant just outside Tamarindo Circle.
14 Around Town
CONTRIBUTORS
Howler • Mono Congo
JEANNE CALLAHAN JESSE BISHOP MARY BYERLY ROBERT AUGUST KAY DODGE
ELLEN ZOE GOLDEN TONY OREZ TOM PEIFER JEFFREY WHITLOW BARBARA DEPPE SUSAN SMITH
Deadline for May: April 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
Advertising rates & sizes Size Bus Card 1/8 1/4 Banner 1/2 Full
Dimensions (cms) Width Height 6.4 9.4 9.4 19.2 9.4 19.2 19.2
x x x x x
4.00 6.15 12.70 6.15 25.80 12.70 25.80
Price $
Openings, closings, parties, music. The Gold Coast has it all, and bar-hoppin’ David is in the groove.
15 Surf Report
Isaac Vega wins Copa Lola at Avellanas; Geovanny Espinoza paddles his way to victory in Tamarindo; Gilbert Brown wins COPA Creatures.
23
Passion
Two very talented local horsewomen present a fantasy horse show based on a factual story.
34
Surviving Costa Rica
Our guitar-playing columnist has met jazz saxist Joe Hrbek and is learning the intricacies of jazz.
35
Inner Visions
Departing from his usual ecological theme, Tom describes how his departure from regular surfing led him to the nirvana of bodysurfing.
30 100 140
DEPARTMENTS
230 400
Discounts For 6 months, paid in advance, one month is deducted. For 12 months, paid in advance, two months are deducted. Ads must be submitted on CD or e-mail attachment, JPG or PDF format at 266 dpi, at the appropriate size (above).
10 Music Review
28 Slice of Life
11 Book Review
29 Poetry by Diana Renee
12 August Odysseys
30 April Forecasts
17 Barbara’s Pets
31 Word Puzzle
19 Dharma Corner
32 Yoga
27 Doctor’s Orders
36 Sun & Moon
All comments, articles and advertising in this publication are the opinion of their authors, and do not reflect the opinion of Howler Management.
www.tamarindobeach.net
www.tamarindohomepage.com
Cover Caption: Tope in Villarreal Cover Photo: David Mills Cover Design: David Mills
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ttending the fundraiser for Jaime Peligro’s Bookstore at Hotel Pasatiempo was a rewarding experience. Not just for the excellent music performed by numerous musicians who volunteered their time and talent, but for the positive interaction within the audience. During the three hours I was there I heard the word “community” uttered maybe twenty times, as people marveled at the coming together of the whole town to help Peligro in his fight to keep his bookstore open. (Well, before we start patting ourselves on the back, it wasn’t the whole town; in fact, several major ethnic groups were conspicuous by their absence, but the U.S. and Canadian contingencies were well represented). Peligro had been having trouble with the authorities due to what sounds like some inadequate business record-keeping, but then, given the many levels of bureaucracy involved in running a business, it is easy to fall afoul of the authorities. A campaign via Facebook had raised some ready cash and enabled him to come to a payment agreement with his creditors, but the music fundraiser was the icing on the cake. It is refreshing to see that people still value the book as an entertainment medium, that its appeal has not been destroyed by the internet and the Kindle-type products. For many years Jaime Peligro has been a friend and a columnist for The Howler, writing both a music/CD review and a book review, and we wish him the greatest success in his business and with his dealings with the authorities. And, on his behalf, we send a huge “Thank You” to the Community who pulled together to help when it was needed. •
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Here’s an interesting nature experiment for local schools. Pound a wooden or metal pole into the ground in an exposed area, making sure, with a spirit level or plumb, that it is exactly vertical. Observe its shadow from April 1st onwards just before noon. See how its shadow falls to the North of the pole. Then note how, on April 17, the shadow diminishes to nothing just before noon then, on following days, the shadow will fall to the South. On that date the sun passes directly overhead in Tamarindo, heading North. From now until October 20 your shadow will fall to the south.
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n all the years it was Portofino Restaurant, I don’t think I have been there more than once, and then just for a beer out of curiosity. Now, as Vulcano, it seems a little more appealing, brighter colours, better use of space, or maybe it’s the cooling mist issuing from a row of nozzles along the ceiling, giving a fresh feel to the air on a hot summer evening. Owner Natalie Lecerf hails from Aix-enProvence in Southern France and has always had an interest in the foods of the various regions on the Mediterranean. In Tamarindo she operated Mediterraneo and now brings her ideas to Vulcano, with chefs JosÊ and Rubella. Tamarindo has seen a few tapas restaurants over the years. Vulcano offers a wide range of tapas, that can be eaten alone as a snack with a cocktail or added as an appetizer to a meal. In addition Vulcano has a wide range of meats and seafood, pizzas and pastas, something for every taste. The pasta menu comprises a dozen of the usual favourites, and there are about twenty pizzas from the wood-burning brick oven. In addition to the 15 or so tapas you may want to try pinchos - skewers of beef tenderloin, pork, chicken or shrimp and bacon. Salads are mixta, mozzarella, calamares, Vulcano and Cezar. The seafood menu has lobster, with or without shrimp; grilled snapper; jumbo shrimp; and seafood soup. My companion enjoyed a Caesar salad and grilled tuna, while I had a pasta Vulcano and pork pincho. Meat choices are beef or pork tenderloin, and homemade hamburger. A special treat is fondue bourguignonne, which I have enjoyed in France and Canada. Chunks of good beef are cooked in oil at the table by each diner and dipped in a variety of sauces. We will try this on our next visit. Desserts are banana split; chocolate hegeois; melba; ice cream; tropical fruit dish. Vulcano serves many exciting dishes in a pleasant locale, steps from the beach, right on the street in Tamarindo a few yards from the Circle, a great peoplewatching restaurant. Salsa lessons are planned in the future. Call 2653-0056; tamarindo.vulcano@gmail.
Thanks, Guys
Tony Orez
jaimepeligro.tamarindohomepage.com
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here is no other way to thank everybody involved in the Jaime Peligro fundraiser other than to dedicate an entire column to them. I moved here twelve years ago because, after five visits in the three years prior, canvassing the entire country, looking for a place to start my dream, I kept landing here, in Tamarindo. So many people helped me to do things that might have seemed easy, such as getting a cell phone or a bank account. We all know what that would be like, as a rookie, alone, in a Central American country. I’ve grown here, matured. But please don’t tell any of my longtime friends in California and spoil my reputation there. I have watched Tamarindo transform. Long ago, it gave up its “backpacker/ surfer bum” identity. It worked to transform into a new identity but the Global Economic Implosion changed that. Meanwhile, egocentric real estate agents just moved away. That left us, you & me, the survivors of Darwin’s Theory made physical: people who had an emotional attachment to the place. This is a community of people from all over the map. Some of them now have children, who speak as many as three languages. We are as international as it gets. I’d like to see those kids have a bookstore to go to, to share their differences and similarities. You guys helped to keep that hope real. There is a whole generation of Tamarindo kids evolving in front of our eyes. All of us here do not fit into the regular pattern, the scheme of a “normal life”. We’re all off-center, generally for the best and proud of it. Many people dream about pursuing their dreams. Few, unfortunately, follow up on it. I cannot begin to mention every person that I want to thank who was involved in this event because I don’t want to forget anyone. I honestly do not even know how it got started. But I do have this idea: let’s make this an annual thing, to benefit a business that is honestly struggling to make it here. Not me. You guys helped me over the hump and I will be OK now. But seriously: let’s look at the idea of every year helping out a struggling business that adds something to the community. Because I saw a group of people unite. A bunch of old friends who I’d only seen mostly in passing at the market, or to wave to each other as we passed on the road. I saw Tamarindo unite, as a community and celebrate in that moment. Hell, I saw husbands and wives out together that I hadn’t seen as couples for some time… Let’s do it again next year!
Book Review Bone Horses Come to Life
Tony Orez
jaimepeligro.tamarindohomepage.com
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alfway through reading Lesley Poling Kempes’ second novel, “Bone Horses”, I realized that there was something drawing me into the storyline besides the wonderful story-line. Yes, I have a place in my heart for the New Mexico region where the novel takes place and Lesley’s writing makes the geography a character in the novel. But that’s not it. I grew up in a small town full of small-town characters similar to Agua Dulce, the fictional town that this novel is centered around. But that’s not it, either. I finally realized that it is Lesley’s incredible character development that makes her story so tangible and comfortable for the reader to fall into. Every person in this novel has depth: not just the halfdozen main characters, not just the Good Guys and the Bad Guy. Although I must say the authoress did a wonderful job with the Bad Guy. Meet Charlotte Lambert, or “the queen of half commitments” as her friend Maddie calls her. They are in Santa Fé, attending the fourth annual Conference for Private School Teachers. But Charlotte is distracted and for good reason: they are near the obscure town of Agua Dulce, where Charlotte’s grandfather Al Rose, the famous Harvard paleontologist, discovered a dinosaur fossil quarry nearly four decades earlier. And where her mother, Alicia, fell to her death some twenty years later. The official verdict was that Alicia committed suicide, but her father Al, and many others, felt that she had not intentionally taken her own life. Maddie convinces Charlotte to take their rented car out to explore, possibly to visit Agua Dulce. Charlotte feigns disinterest in visiting the place she has heard so much about but has never visited, but takes the car out anyway. And of course, she finds her way to the little town. The cast of players is memorable, as is their interaction with each other, brought to us in Ms. Poling-Kempes’ impeccable style. I particularly enjoyed Thea, with her organic concoctions for everything and Barty, the tough-hided cowboy with a heart of gold. But there is an incredible amount of very human characters to enjoy in this novel. It should be mentioned that Lesley & “Bone Horses” received the 2013 Tony Hillerman Award for Best Fiction, New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards, 2013, which says more about this novel than I ever could in this column. Ms. Poling-Kempes is the author of four works of non-fiction, including “Ghost Ranch” and “The Harvey Girls: Women Who Opened the West”, which won the Zia Award for Excellence. Her first novel, “Canyon of Remembering” was a Western Writers of America Spur Award finalist. Alternating between non-fiction and fiction takes a lot of discipline, shelving and juggling projects simultaneously. For example, she explained in a recent interview that she has put aside her latest novel, “Gallup”, which is about three-quarters complete, to complete her latest non-fiction project, “Ladies of the Canyon”, which she says “may be my best work of nonfiction”. As if that is not enough, she is also assembling notes for a sequel to “Bone Horses”. I should also mention that I came upon this wonderful novel via Carolyn Barford, who painted the artwork for the cover and who resides near Tamarindo when she is not in New Mexico. Funny how the dots connect sometimes. I can’t wait for Carolyn to bring me another book by this excellent authoress.
August Odysseys
Robert August kristenmattoxbrown@gmail.com
Sharing the Stoke
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ack in December I received an order to shape a Wingnut II model and a Martinson Stepdeck for a father and his son all the way from Australia. Shaping the boards definitely made me rise to the occasion as I had to go back in my memory bank‌just one of the reasons why I still really enjoy shaping! On top of that, good thing Wingnut was here in Tamarindo while I was making the boards as he joined me in the shaping room to supervise the shaping of his WII model! Fast forward two months. Last week Frederick and Alex arrived in Tamarindo to pick up and surf their new Robert August custom boards. They also brought along Wingnut as their surf guide here in Costa Rica. Just bitchin! Over the past week I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Frederick and Alex talking story, chatting about their surf sessions with their new boards, and getting dusty in the shaping room. I think I may have ruined Alex’s life as well! From what I have heard he is a really good student and attending a top university in Australia, but after spending some time here in Costa Rica he wants to be a shaper and work on his bottom turn.
dmills@racsa.co.cr
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n March 5 La Sele, Costa Rica’s national football team, beat Paraguay 2-1 in its last home game before going to Brazil to play in the World Cup. Although it was a friendly match, it showed that La Sele can play a good passing game, which is what they have to do in Brazil. As usual Keylor Navas made some good saves in goal, while Joel Campbell and Alvaro Saborío scored the two goals. In Brazil, Costa Rica will play Uruguay on June 14; Italy June 20 and England June 24. The Women’s Under-17 World Cup kicked off in Costa Rica March 15, with many of the fixtures completely sold out a week in advance. In the opening games Costa Rica lost to Venezuela 3-0; Canada tied Germany 2-2; Ghana beat Korea 2-0; and Italy beat Zambia 2-0. A disappointing feature of several games was the “diving”, known here as “Hollywood” for its acting, so maybe the young girls are learning the bad habits from the professionals. In one game, a player took a very spectacular dive at the 88-minute mark when her team was up by two goals, then writhed on the floor for five minutes just to run down the clock. After being carried off on a stretcher, she returned to the field seconds later totally unhurt. In Game 3 Costa Rica lost to Italy 1-0, putting the local girls out of the tournament, and putting Italy in a good position, tied with Ghana for first place in the group. The following games took place after press time. Semifinals were played in Liberia March 31, with the tournament final in San José April 4. Overall the tournament seemed like a big success and great publicity for the host country Costa Rica.
AROUND TOWN The newest exhibit at Hidden Garden Art Gallery is “Forces of Nature,” presented by Costa Rican artist Alonso Duran. It runs to April 24, with 15 paintings on exhibit. The gallery is on the main highway 5km west of Liberia Airport. For information contact Tel: 8386-6875 / 2667-0592 or visit the website at http://hiddengarden. thevanstonegroup.com Easter Sunday Service - Sunday, April 20 @ 10:00am, come join us at Tamarindo Church for our Easter Celebration Service. All are invited to attend. www.tamarindochurch.com Nicaragua Mission Trip - Tamarindo Church would like to invite community members to join us on our upcoming mission trip to Nicaragua on May 4th-9th. The trip is open to adults, and children 12 or older who are accompanied by an adult. Cost is $275/person. For those interested in participating, a mandatory informational meeting will be held at on Friday April 4th, 4:30pm, at Tamarindo Church. If you have any questions, please contact Lyle Watson at: lyletamarindo@gmail.com Alegria Soaps has re-opened after an extended trip back to Canada for 5 years. Located in the Garden Plaza, the same commercial center as the Auto Mercado in Tamarindo Beach. All natural products are made on-site in the store/factory. There are 13 types of soap to choose from so far; lip butters; aloe vera after-sun gel; candles and more... Soaps are available wholesale for hotels, rentals, spas, etc. Open Monday - Friday, also at the Farmer’s Market in Tamarindo on Saturdays. Facebook@Alegria Soaps so you can take a peek at the beautiful, unique shop. La Bodega serves breakfast and lunch, artesan foods, fresh fruit smoothies, in Hotel Nahua, diagonal from Banco Nacional in Tamarindo. See ad on page 16. Local knowledge apps has launched its LK Tamarindo app for iPhones on the iTunes store. Loads of information including bus schedules, fiesta dates, easy access to emergency numbers, business directory and more, all on your iPhone. www.localknowledgeapps. com for download link. Come to Higher Ground, Tamarindo, on the 4th floor above SuperCompro to enjoy the best sunset in town. Great food at reasonable prices including pizza from a wood-fired oven. On top of all there are 3 pool tables free for all to enjoy, plus darts and fusball. Competitions to be held each week. Come play with us! Hotel Resort Brovilla invites you to sample their hospitality on the beautiful Guanacaste coast near Ostional. Perfectly located for the monthly turtle arribada. Brovilla has sunset Happy Hour, Pizza nights, homemade artisan breads, terrific views and great local seafood. See ad page 5.
Surf Report Ellen Zoe Golden ellenzoe@aol.com Going into the home stretch of the Circuito Guanacasteco 201314 CREATURES, presented by Reserva Conchal, it looks like Tamarindo’s Isaac Vega may pull out the overall championship Open category win. Vega, a former Costa Rica national championship surfer, was the 1st place trophy winner in the 4th date of the Circuito Guanacasteco called Copa Lola’s, which took place over two days in early March in nearly perfect wave conditions at Avellanas. The local surfer had already won the first of the Tamarindo dates at the start of the province-wide competition in November and, if the young man maintains this high level in the April Tamarindo date, and the May Gran Finals in Playa Negra, he will walk away with the whole thing. Vega shouldn’t get too confident, however, since the Circuito Guanacasteco—created to highlight the talent of surfers in the area—has drawn to its contests professional surfers such as three-time Costa Rica national champion Gilbert Brown of Puerto Viejo. And let’s not forget the winner of the third date in Marbella in February: Maikol Torres (Esterillos). And in Avellanas, Vega (left) found himself in the finals with local Angelo Bonomelli (who won in Tamarindo last December), international competitor Jair Pérez from Jacó, and up-and-comer Sean Forester of Samara. While Pérez and Forester were first-time visitors to the podium, Bonomelli has already made it to the Open finals three out of the four dates of the Circuito Guanacasteco. This all made for a very exciting and competitive final, which ultimately, had Vega maneuvering enough points to win 1st place. “It makes me feel very happy to get a victory once again on a wave that I know very well,” reported Vega. “Truth is, my rivals were not easy to beat because they had a lot of surfing experience, such as Jair and Angelo, and now Sean is surfing really well.” Four dates in, the organizers of the Circuito Guanacasteco feel that their original goals to promote the area and its surfers are indeed being met. One only needs to check the numbers to gauge its success. Every date has drawn at least 150 competitors, with Avellanas going up to 170 athletes to inscribe and surf. On the beach in March, there were over 500 spectators. The gathering has become extremely popular with families who either have kids competing in the event, or whose children have schoolmates who are in the water. As a matter of fact, another part of the contest is for young local students to earn points for their placements. According to co-founder and organizer Chelsea Lisaius, the owner of Tamarindo’s Tide Academy, the Top 16 contestants in each category are awarded points
for the school they represent including Tide Academy, Guanacaste International Acadamy, Country Day School and La Paz. “The point system for the schools is something that brings each student a lot of pride,” Lisaius said. “When students know they are representing their school, it also brings them another level of support from their schools making them feel like a team. I know that at TIDE, the kids are all super supportive when their teammates are surfing. This is something I love.” Some of these students include Malakai Martínez, Dean Vandewalle, Katie Herman, Zullay Martínez, Aldo Chirinos, and Tiago Carrique. Each one of these has made a familiar place at the podiums. Explained Lisaius: “The level of surfing is so high in Guanacaste and these contests have in my opinion only helped these surfers get even better. I honestly have a tough time naming just a few surfers. I am so proud of those who are consistently making it to the finals every time! I have also seen so many kids who lost in the first contest in the first round and they are now making it to the quarterfinals and finals. These improvements are huge and I want them to know that their improvements are noticed!”
COPA Lola’s March 8, 9, 2014 • Avellanas
Open 1 Isaac Vega 2 Angelo Bonomelli 3 Jair Perez Quiros 4 Sean Foerster
Boys 1 Aldo Chirinos 2 Malakai Martinez 3 Sean Foerster 4 Tiago Carrique
Women’s 1 Jill Kepich 2 Serena Nava 3 Zulay Martinez 4 Chelsea Lisaius
Girls 1 Coral Wiggins 2 Lilly von Trruenfels 3 Rony Koren 4 Molly Kirk
Junior 1 Sean Foerster 2 Aldo Chirinos 3 Dean Vandewalle 4 Malakai Martinez
Groms 1 Malakai Martinez 2 Dean Vandewalle 3 Jacob Kelly 4 Orion Eshel
Junior Women’s 1 Selena Moberly 2 Zulay Martines 3 Lilly von Trruenfels 4 Serena Nava
Dolphins 1 Luke Guinaldo 2 Surya Folger 3 Kamille Mckillikan 4 Kalani Abrahao
Masters 1 Forest Folger 2 Christian Boos 3 Jeff Aleen 4 Alex Gómez 5 Adolfo Gomez 6 Freddy Wiggins Longboard 1 Alex Gómez 2 Adolfo Gómez 3 Eddie Enrique 4 Ismael Coto
Overall School Points 1 TIDE; 2 La Paz; 3 Guanacaste International Academy; 4 Surf 4 Youth; 5 Country Day School Guanacaste; 6 Educarte.
(continued page 22)
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We All Have Something To Give
recently had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Nicaragua. I had never done this before, doing a whole week volunteering my time, so I didn’t know what to expect.
The community that we went to was a development that was created when the Nicaragua river overflowed some time back. The government took these people and shipped them to Cristo Rey, acres and acres of farmland. Right next to this farmland is a garbage dump. You will see children as young as two and three years going through the dump picking out their food. They are taught at a very early age how to survive. I thought these people were going to be sad and angry, but for the most part they are very happy people; I never saw any anger or sadness. The children were always smiling, the adults too. When we first got off the bus, I heard a comment, “los gringos están aquí”. I started a little, then I realized they were happy because we were there. Sara Haun headed the trip along with Maureen Thomson. We had Lyle Watson, Mike Krepin and Charles Rumzy to head up the building, and nine kids from Country Day School - Lana, Aline, Anabel, Jackson, Colin, Delaney, Mason, Andrei and Nicola. Our mission was to build three houses; paint tables and chairs for a nursery school; create 300 food bags; and give money to two orphanages for food for a year. We accomplished all of that and, in fact, built one extra house.
one time i rode a long train to a short stop waited waited on a stoop step for my beloved to arrive / me / short sighted did not recognize his car i sat & he sat and i sat & finally he got out his body wrong his hair worse he was ugly / to me / then he smiled & it all felt normal / nice but it was too late because he saw / he saw / he saw the doubt
written by Geretta Geretta
The kids from Country Day School worked so hard. They actually mixed and poured concrete, laid brick, sawed wood, and hammered nails into wood. Yes, they actually built houses. I was very proud of them. We met so many children, men and women. They all had stories to tell. There are many touching stories in Cristo Rey. Carmen, who had seven children, lost a child in a shooting robbery; she has a 24-year-old child with Down Syndrome, and she lost his twin to a drowning when the children were eight. The one story that touched me the most was Dominga’s (photo). Her husband left her and her children. She had to turn to prostitution. For years she did this to support her children. When her husband found out he came back and took the (continued page 26)
Barbara’s Pet Stories Falling Raccoon
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unday afternoon, about 3 pm: It looked like to be one of those boring Sunday afternoons during the dry season, with almost 38o (100oF) and a wind with 25 kph (40 mph), as a tree was knocked down from said windpowers. A tree approximately 10 meters high (30-40 ft) broke down right next to the roof of our patio....Oddsbodikins! That was exactly what I needed, so I went to get my machete to start to cut the tree parts into smaller pieces. Well, the good thing: the cats had a new “climb-station” for a while, and the dogs were getting busy with trying to bite and chew on the thin branches. First I started to collect the already broken branches to carry them together to one spot, when Waschi, my raccoon, joined us. It was early for her to show up on the scene as her time to come out of her “house” is between 5 and 6pm and now it was just a bit before 4pm. Maybe all the noises had wakened her up and, curious as raccoons are, they have to touch everything, and they have to be into everything. With her short legs she started to climb up the broken tree, not paying attention to crackling branches. A pretty big cat was climbing together with the raccoon into the branches, more up and up...and I saw it happening: one of the branches crackled now, too, with the weight of a cat and a raccoon; they have about 15 kilos together...too much for a dry branch, and clong dong, the branch broke, fell slowly towards the roof. The cat cried miaus, Waschi almost screamed the place down. It was too funny, seeing a branch breaking down with two fur balls dangling at one side. Then platsh, the branch, the cat, the raccoon, all landed on the roof. The cat jumped at once on her feet and was fine, the raccoon with the soft fur was gliding towards the edge of the roof. She was still screaming, now full of fear what will happen to her. I jumped to the spot, I thought Waschi will fall down from the roof. Yes, I made it; she fell right into my arms...poor thing...her heart was beaten very fast, she was exhausted from this little “air adventure”.
barbara.s.animalrescuecenter@gmail.com
Dharma Corner
Sue Smith
Happy Birthday, Pura Vida Sangha!
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ura Vida Sangha was born one year ago this first week in April when two people with the intention of starting a Sangha came together to sit meditation, study the Dharma and discuss what it all meant to their daily lives. For a while there were just the two, then there were four, and little by little others started to join the group centered around the practice of mindful meditation as taught by the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Today the group has grown to a core of about eight persons and usually there are several “sometimers” and occasionally a visiting tourist or two. In addition to meeting weekly for meditation and Dharma discussions, the Sangha also holds a Day of Mindfulness every other month where they enjoy a morning of sitting and walking meditation on the beach, a vegetarian lunch and Dharma talk and discussion. It is a wonderful day to be quiet, reflect and be grateful. And, a wonderful time spent with friends. It is the “with friends” part that is the strength of the Sangha. One can meditate alone, for sure, but the energy that is experienced when meditating with others is palpable. And, it is true that one can read and study on one’s own, but discussing the philosophy with others and how it is working (or not) in one’s daily life is a powerful source of energy. Buddhists refer to and revere “The Three Jewels”...the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The Buddha is not just the historical Buddha, but the Buddha Nature that resides in all sentient beings (yes, that’s you). It is the nature of love, compassion, joy and peace. The Dharma is the teaching and philosophy of life studied and practiced. And, the Sangha is where the first two jewels are manifest.....in a group who practices and shares in life’s experiences together. Pura Vida Sangha, certainly a little jewel in its own way, has grown and matured a lot in its first year. It has had members come and go and gathered together to support some through life’s difficulties as well as through some special joys. And in the tradition of the teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, the Sangha as well as its individuals continue to be socially engaged in the community through several helping endeavors like animal care and neutering clinics, CEPIA and the LN-4 project to provide hand prosthesis to those in need. So, Happy Birthday Pura Vida Sangha! May you continue to grow and be a light for good in the community and in the World. For more information on Pura Vida Sangha, e-mail meditationcostarica@gmail.com
Namaste
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Ruta La Paz 5k/10k Race
PEGUA (the Alliance for Progress of Education in Guanacaste) will be hosting a 5k/10k race on Saturday, May 3rd, along the beautiful Guanacaste coastline. This popular annual event will see some changes in its fourth edition, including a new location (the race route will now span from Flamingo to Playa Potrero) and a new date. This year’s race, which is being organized by the renowned sporting event company Global Sportx Group, is being sponsored by our community partners Sugar Beach Hotel and Blue Water Properties Costa Rica. More than 750 runners from all over Costa Rica are anticipated to attend. All proceeds of the event will benefit the alliance members of APEGUA, with proceeds up to $15,000 being matched by the Guanacaste Community Fund. According to Steve Mack, Director of the Guanacaste Community Fund, “The Guanacaste Community Fund is extremely happy to see grassroots organizations cooperating to raise funds for a common cause. They’ve put their heads together and found a way to attract support from all over Costa Rica.”Abel McClennen, director of La Paz Community School, said “The four non-profits in the alliance are fundamentally transforming the educational offerings in Guanacaste through a comprehensive approach that will both minimize student dropout rates as well as prepare future local leaders in the community to confront 21st century challenges.” Registration for the event can be completed online at https://gsxg. net/index.php/calendario.html by selecting 5k Ruta la Paz or 10k Ruta la Paz. Early registration is discounted at $20 per runner. You can also register in person at the following locations: Abriendo Mentes (Playa Potrero), Amigos de la Educación (Tamarindo), CEPIA (Huacas), La Paz Community School (Flamingo), and Runners locations (San José). Anyone interested in serving as a sponsor or contributing to the event should contact Event Coordinator Giovanni Cano at rutalapaz@lapazschool.org or 506.8433.6704. Interested parties can also visit our Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/ events/1473768782837936/. About APEGUA: Established in 2013, the Alliance for the Progress of Education in Guanacaste is a collaborative effort of non-profit partners Abriendo Mentes, Amigos de la Educación, CEPIA and La Paz Community School. APEGUA members’ missions are focused on supporting vulnerable populations by improving education in Guanacaste through community service, free English and computer classes, extra-curricular activities, scholarships, and general youth development.
Canada’s Gold! David Mills arrived at Nibbana Restaurant at 6 o’clock on Sunday, and there wasn’t a seat left. The place was packed full of about 200 Canadians, mostly dressed in red, with Maple Leaf flags everywhere. How very unusual!
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Why? Because this was six in the morning, not the sunset Happy Hour, and these Canucks were already into their breakfast beers. So what can bring two hundred Canadians together in a bar at 6 a.m? Labatt’s Blue? Moose steaks? Cod cheeks? Fiddlehead greens? Screech? No, only one thing – Hockey! It was the final of the Olympic Men’s Hockey tournament. The previous week had seen some very exciting action. On Thursday the Canada Women’s Hockey team had beaten the United States to take the Gold. Friday Canada beat the US in the semifinals while Sweden beat Finland. Saturday, Finland played the US and took the bronze, so the finalists were Canada and Sweden. Oh, yes, also at Nibbana were four very quiet youngsters in yellow and blue shirts – the token Swedish contingent. But, to be fair, they were waving little Maple Leaf flags. Owner Mike Holly had brought in his entire staff, and waiters hurried through the noisy crowd carrying hamburgers, beers, burritos, and Bloody Marys. The game was shown on fourteen large screens, so everyone got a great view. Before I could order my breakfast Imperial beer Canada scored and the crowd went crazy. Waiters came around with trays of complementary Maple Leaf shots, a guaro/gin concoction, so my breakfast started with guaro, then continued with beer as the second course. The game continued with two more goals for Canada (and more Maple Leaf shots), to the very noisy delight of the Canucks, to finish with the Gold Medal going to Canada with three goals to zero – at eight in the morning. After the medal ceremony the crowd dwindled as happy people, some of whom had arrived at 5 a.m. to ensure a good seat, drifted off home to catch up on their missed sleep. All will be relatively quiet for a couple of months until the Stanley Cup playoffs begin mid-April.
Surf Report (from page 15) Maybe it was the success of the Circuito Guanacasteco, but for the first time in many years the Federación de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC) staged a national contest in Tamarindo. The StandUp Paddle Surftech2014 set off in the rivermouth and allowed Geovanny Espinoza to win 2 races, the 9 and the 4.5 kilometers. Conditions were fine in the estuary, but when the competitors hit the ocean, they faced the wind. This did not deter Espinoza, however. Having already taken those same two races in the 1st date of the SUP Circuito in Playas Mantas de Punta Leona (near Jacó), Espinoza clocked in at 1:12:35 and 38:25 respectively in Tamarindo. “I am committed to training to make the cut in this Circuito that could lead me to represent Costa Rica to the world, but there is still further evidence in Puntarenas (the next date) which is where I will focus even more,” Espinoza said. He already looks to make the Costa Rica national SUP surf team who will compete in Nicaragua this May. Look for the next date of the Stand Up Paddle Surftech 2014 moves to Paseo de los Surfistas in Puntarenas at the end of March. The entire Circuito completes in June.
StandUp Paddle Surftech 2014 Feb 22, 23, 2014 Tamarindo Race 9 Km. 1. Geovanny Espinoza 2. Remy Bousquet 3. Erick Zamora
Recreation 4.5 Km. 1. Diego Chéves 2. Alvaro Azofeifa 3. Douglas Quiros
Recreation 9 Km. 1. Tomás Lobo 2. Mike Adala 3. Victor Otárola
Race 4.5 Women’s 1. Edith Garcia 2. Joice Solano 3. Marcela Castro
Race 4.5 Km. 1. Geovanny Espinoza 2. Remy Bousquet 3. Rolando Herrera And, finally, the big national contest, the Circuito Nacional Olympus 2014, presented by Adrenaline Rush, continued with a visit to the waves of Guiones in Nosara. In yet another demonstration of his dominance, Gilbert Brown (Puerto Viejo) won the COPA Creatures even though the waves were not the best. Playa Guiones typically is one of the best surf destinations in Costa Rica, but during the contest competitors battled it out in
(continued page 33)
Passion
Story: David Mills Photos: Bernard Agosto
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wonderful fantasy horse story, based on fact, was presented at Pangas on February 14 before a sell-out crowd.
The show was conceived and written by horse trainer Githa Saarberg and Kata Kis, of Papaya con Leche, and tells the story of a small Dutch girl, Githa (played by Githa’s actual daughter Silver), who has always wanted to ride a horse. In the first scene Githa sends her wishes as a prayer to the heavens and an angel brings her a little black pony which she names Casper. In the next scene, Githa is a grown woman and has trained Casper in dressage. Together they have won many competitions and work really well together. The scene, and artful combination of Githa’s horsemanship and Kata’s skill with fabrics demonstrates the celebration of togetherness between woman and horse. Scene three introduces a mean, rich woman who tells Githa that she wants the horse. She throws her some money, orders Githa to dismount and walks off with the horse, leaving Githa crying with only her saddle. The angel returns and comforts Githa. Next we see the rich woman trying to discipline Casper, but he won’t do anything she wants. The angel sees this and takes the horse from the woman and returns him to Githa. In the closing scene, Githa and Casper put on a flamboyant display of celebration. The story is based on the real-life story of Githa, who was a horse trainer for a man who had thirty horses. Casper was her favourite stallion, and she trained him up to second-level of dressage in Costa Rica in just one year. Now the owner wanted to sell Casper, but the price was too high for Githa. He took the horses to perform in the Annual Christmas Tope in San José. After the tope the owner took his horses and drove off, leaving Githa in the street with just her saddle but no transportation. Casper was sold but the new owner decided to sell him back to Githa. Githa is a trainer at Cerro Grande, in San José de la Pinilla; also at Tierras Nativas and Haras del Mar on the road to Hotel Ríu. Her Shetland pony Mercedes, who played the young Casper in the opening scene of the play, and the other horses such as friesians and criollos, are available for rent to parties, riding lessons, weddings, etc. Githa may be reached at 8347-2493 or gs@caballoseu.com
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former prosecutor and state judge in Texas has been sentenced to jail for his role in the wrongful conviction of an innocent man 26 years ago. Ken Anderson was charged with tampering with evidence in the 1987 murder trial of Michael Morton, who spent 25 years in prison before being exonerated by DNA evidence. The Pink Star 60-carat diamond, discovered in Africa fourteen years ago, was sold at Sotheby’s auction for $83 million, the highest price ever paid for a gemstone. The body of a British spy was found padlocked inside a gym bag. Police have decided it was an accident. Toronto mayor Rob Ford has apologized for a video in which he makes threats to commit first-degree murder against an unknown person. In the video he vows to rip out the person’s throat, poke out his eyes and ensure his victim is dead. “No holds barred,” he shouts, “either he dies or I die.” City councillors are demanding that crack-smoking Ford resign his position. A 1969 tryptych by Francis Bacon was sold at Christie’s for $142.4 million, the highest price ever paid for an art piece at auction. Disappointed bidder Larry Gagosian said “I went to $101 million but had to drop out.” A six-year-old boy was suspended from a Colorado school for sexual harrassment after he kissed a girl, on whom he had a crush, on the hand. Over four thousand “bitcoins” have been virtually stolen from an Australian web site. Bitcoins are a virtual currency used for internet purchases. The stolen bitcoins are worth over a million dollars. After Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda’s body was exhumed to test for evidence of poisoning, no such evidence was found. Scientists have found that learning a musical instrument as a child yields benefits that last long into the person’s life. The activity has major effects on the speed of the brain in recognizing sounds. . A gold medal won by American sprinter Jesse Owens at the Olympic Games in Berlin, 1936, has sold for $1.5 million. The athlete won four medals at the games, angering Adolf Hitler, who preached that blacks were inferior to his Aryan master race.
The Heart of Our Community
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s February 2014 comes to a close, Amigos de la Educación wraps up their major fundraising event of the year. Amigos is best known for our popular February 14th “Have a Heart” Charity Golf Tournament that we have held at Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course for the past 13 years. This year we took a different approach to our “Have a Heart” event and involved more of our local community to show that our organization is much more than just a golf tournament. We successfully hosted our annual Cocktail Party & Silent Auction, our 1st Annual “Dinner with Friends”, and our 1st Family Fun Day/Mini Golf Tournament. We were overwhelmed with the generosity and support of the community, and would like to extend our most heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to each and every guest, volunteer, and business who participated. Amigos is proud to be able to support the students and schools of our community through scholarships, books, school supplies and everyday necessities with the money raised by our annual events. The Amigos staff is busy preparing for more upcoming fundraising events this year. We also look forward to returning to Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course in 2015 for our 15th Annual “Have a Heart” Golf Tournament. For information and questions: Ph: 26531945 - infoamigoseducacion@gmail.com - or please follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with our upcoming fundraisers, photos, and how we are supporting education (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amigos-de-laEducacion/291689584191345?ref=hl)
We All Have Something...
(from page 16)
children and sold their shack. She was kicked to the streets. So for ten years she slept on cardboard and lived out in the open, but still was prostituting her body. Then about two years ago she decided to change her life. She heard that if you gathered plastics bags from the dump you could turn them in to the recycling center for something like ten cents for ten pounds. This is the reason she was one of the first ones chosen for a house. The last day of finishing Dominga’s house, I saw this tiny little lamb of a dog. She was covered in ticks and fleas. I asked Dominga if I could use her hose to wash the puppy. She helped me wash her and pick all the ticks and fleas off. She brought a small towel out and we dried her. She looked like a fluffy lamb. Then this little lamb went in Dominga’s house and laid under her bed. I grabbed the little lamb and brought her outside; of course, she went back in. Twice more we went through this game. I told Dominga, “I think you have a dog.” She started crying and said “I now have a home and a family.” Dominga barely has anything, but she gave her heart to a small dog named Li’l Lamb. We all have something to give. If you would like to donate to Christo Rey go to: http://www.gofundme.com/CDSG-SHELTER-SQUAD
Story by Cinde Jeheber Hotel Villa Amarilla, Tamarindo
Doctor’s Orders Jeffrey Whitlow, M.D.
jwhitlow82159@gmail.com
Cancer VI
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n addition to Vitamin C, as discussed in last month’s column, Vitamin A has also been extensively studied as both prevention and cure for cancer. Dr. Ralph Moss notes in his book The Cancer Industry that, even as early as the late 18th century, some physicians had theorized that Vitamin A could be an effective treatment for cancer. It is thought by most researchers that Vitamin A strengthens the cell membrane, that being the covering of human cells. The cellular membrane is essential in keeping bad stuff out of the cells and letting good stuff in, to put it simply. A cell with a stronger cellular membrane will be more resistant to invasion by cancer cells, and will be less susceptible to the toxic substances that the cancer cells excrete into the cancer patient’s bloodstream. A researcher at the National Cancer Institute of America (NCI), Dr. Umberto Saffioti, performed a study that showed that Vitamin A stopped the growth of tumors in hamsters exposed to a by-product of cigarette smoke, whereas untreated animals continued to develop these tumors. The lack of interest in these findings at NCI, among other related things, led Dr. Saffioti to resign his position in protest. Dr. H.L. Newbold, a New York City internist, treated cancer patients with both high-dose Vitamin A and Vitamin C with great success in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. The Janker Clinic in Germany has the most documented experience in using these methods, though. That clinic uses colossal doses of Vitamin A, up to 3,000,000 International Units (IU) a day, which is 6,000 times the FDA recommended dose of 5,000 IU a day. Vitamin A can be toxic when taken orally in such high doses, so the Janker Clinic uses a specially prepared form of the substance that is non-toxic at those dose levels. The Clinic, now run by Dr. Wolfgang Scheef, has claimed full or partial remission of cancer in 70% of the 76,000 patients they had treated as of the time Dr. Moss’s book was originally released in 1980. The reaction in the U.S.? An official statement by the American Cancer Society (ACS) that “they pride themselves on keeping the Janker techniques from being used in the States.” While researchers around the world have documented the effectiveness of high-dose Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E in the treatment of cancer and other diseases, the American medical establishment continues to advocate the ingestion of the relatively low levels of these vitamins that are recommended by the FDA. Dr. Moss’s book was re-released in 1990. At that time, and up until this day, the ACS has refused to embrace any kind of holistic or nutritional approach to the treatment of cancer, other than to recommend that people eat less, eat more fruits and vegetables, and drink less alcohol. For all of the millions, if not billions, that has been donated to the ACS since the War on Cancer was declared, this is the best they can come up with? Seriously??? I highly recommend these therapies to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer. Next month we will discuss some more “unorthodox” methods of cancer treatment.
A Slice of Life Ah Ten Shun! David Mills
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ot day at a Royal Air Force base, nothing moving, everybody waiting for the arrival of our Commander-in-Chief, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. There we were at ease, silent and motionless, two thousand erks lined up in rows in our Best Blues, waiting, waiting, waiting for the clatter of the Sikorsky that would bring His Royal Highness for his annual inspection. The aircraft was due at 9:30; it was now about 10:15. Nothing unusual; we believed they did it purposely to see how long we could stand without anybody falling over or dropping a rifle. Suddenly a distant voice broke the silence: “Parade, Ahhhh Ten Shun!” Two thousand rifle butts hit the ground at the same instant as we snapped to attention although we didn’t know who was shouting the order. We could see the Parade Commander at the front, but he wasn’t shouting. In fact, he looked very puzzled as he had an urgent conversation with his staff, then shouted: “Parade, at ease!” No sooner had we resumed the “at ease” position than another order, much further away and behind the whole parade, came “Parade, Ahhhh Ten Shun!” Rigidly facing forward we could only follow the confusing and contradictory orders, until one brave fellow snuck a peek over his shoulder and started quietly sniggering. Then a few others followed suit until the whole parade was laughing while trying to hold it in. The Parade Commander turned red in the face and very loudly brought the parade to attention, only to have his order countermanded “At Ease!” by his unseen opponent. It didn’t help that the individual squad officers were breaking up too, while trying to keep control. By now the parade had degenerated into a shambles, as NCOs ran around shouting “Eyes Front”. Suddenly came the clatter of helicopter rotors as the Big Chief arrived. We took advantage of the distraction to take a quick shufti behind us. There, on a railway spur line alongside the base, was a small tank engine shunting a few freight cars around, and the two mischievous civilian crew members were having a huge laugh at our expense.
Selected Poems from “Tell me about the telaraña” by Diana Renee
remembering my dancing days is feeling the live things in my belly how I swung it like a pendulum keeping time
vuela, entonces lejos y no regresa vete a desaparecer en las nubes como un globo suelto reviéntate si quieres o atterízate en el patio de otra chica que te gusta más
News from Doña Lee
moon prayer wash me like water feed me on flowers sing me a lullaby ponder me sleeping
Doña Lee wishes to thank everyone who came to Bingo to support the Local Firefighters, Barbara’s Pets and Keith, the young man who lost his leg in an accident. If anyone wants a Special Bingo they should call Lee at 2653-0127. Russell’s brother came to Costa Rica with his new bride-tobe and they were married on the beach Feb 14th with friends and family. The dinner was held at Carlos y Carlos, where everyone had a good time. They will be back.
no soy yo la que buscan los sopilotes no estoy muerta yo solo descanso mirando las nubes
Ty gets aquainted with her new “horse” Leo at Tiki’s
Your Stars in April
Aries: 21 March - 20 April
This is the month when you feel your energies increasing to some semblance of what used to be normal. Fantastic--but be aware that the last two weeks of the month could be a bit volatile as you try to balance your needs with career and relationship changes. Make sure you get plenty of exercise to burn off the excess energy so it doesn’t cause you frustration or anger. Avoid risks from the 18th-25th. Your best days are the 26th and 27th.
Taurus: 21 April - 21 May
Libra: 23 September - 23 October
Mars is Rx in your first house so something needs to be reworked regarding your ego, your “look”, your view of the world and the impression you make on others. It’s in a good relationship to Venus in Aquarius so the changes you make the first part of the month are likely to be very well received. State your positions clearly. Relationships are volatile and you could be coming to the end of a significant partnership with Uranus moving through your seventh house. Make headway on the 13th and 14th.
This month has plenty of career activity for you as well as a need for some quiet introspection. You may have some interesting news come in about one of your siblings or some kind of new situation in your neighborhood. Avoid taking any risks from the 18th through the end of the month and take care of your health by keeping active. This is a great month to meet new people who can help expand your career; accept all invitations. Your lucky days are the 1st, 2nd, 29th and 30th.
Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November
With your ruling planet, Mercury, now moving into your eleventh house of business associates, you can make serious headway in reaching new people or a new market place for your talents. There’s some big money around some of the potential business opportunities for you so get some professional advice on which way you need to position yourself. Take care of your health too, as Saturn is Rx in your sixth house of health, routines, and work. Best days are 3rd, 4th and 5th.
With your ruling planet traveling through your solar eighth house you would be wise to consult an advisor regarding any issues with insurance, wills, inheritance issues, taxes, joint finances, etc. There is likely to be a event that triggers some conflict or need to review such items between 4/18-4/25. Venus will enter your solar fourth house this month so it’s a good time to entertain. Invite new people into your life, as you are entering a new phase of growth and expansion. Your stellar days are 18th and 19th.
Gemini: 22 May - 21 June
Cancer: 22 June - 22 July
The cardinal cross action this month takes place in regard to your partnerships, home and career. You will have some challenges regarding legal agreements and you may need to part ways with someone who has been a major player in your life for some time. If there are some things that need to be improved or repaired in your home, the first two weeks of the month is the time to do it. Avoid taking risks from the 18th through the end of the month. Your stellar days are the 6th and 7th.
Leo: 23 July - 23 August
With the Sun and Uranus passing through your solar ninth house, you will be experiencing some changes in your belief systems, or a crisis in consciousness. This would not be a good month to be traveling abroad either, as the aspects for volatility are pretty high from the 18th onward to the end of the month. You can at the very least have some increased sensitivities right now. No risk-taking after the 18th of the month. The best days for you are 8th, 9th and 10th.
Virgo: 24 August - 22 September
Your ruling planet, Mercury, is moving through your seventh house of partnerships, opening you up to some serious dialog about your emotional needs, desires and ways of being in both personal and business relationships. Having boundaries is necessary even in the best of relationships, so honor yourself when challenges come up. Support comes through groups, friends, business networks and creative projects. Excellent days for advancement are 11th and 12th. by Jeanne Callahan jeannecallahan007@gmail.com
Your ruling planet, Mars, is moving through your twelfth house of the past, the ways you screw yourself up, karma, big institutions, confinement, psychic gifts and healing. The time period between 4/18-4/25 could be significant for you if you are doing your homework. Don’t take any physical risks at this time. Get advice from experts regarding health and habits. Best days are 15th, 16th and 17th.
Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December
Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January
This is a pretty volatile month for you as changes to partnerships and career path will undergo a major revision. You could even move during this time. For the long term, it will be expansive but you may sever a relationship that hasn’t been fruitful or one where there’s been tension or dishonesty. Be selective about who you let advise you from here on out. Insist on transparency. Good days are 20th and 21st.
Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February
This month has some interesting energy as your ruling planet is passing through the tenth house of profession/public image. With Venus in your first, the first week of the month would be a great time to have a makeover or revision regarding your appearance or professional persona. Use extra caution if traveling between 4/18-25. There could even be trouble in your neighborhood so be aware of your surroundings at all times. Days for advancement are 22nd, 23rd.
Pisces: 20 February - 20 March
With your ruling planet, Jupiter, in your solar fifth house, issues with your children could surface this month. Finances show some volatility too, so there may be some additional cash outlays coming up. Your spouse’s income stream could be interrupted as well. Don’t take risks during the 18-25 of the month as the energy has some accident-prone vibration to it. But lucky you, Jupiter being in the sign of Cancer gives you a lot of cosmic protection. Your best days are 24th and 25th.
Namasté Visit Jeanne’s site at CelestialAdvisor.com
Word puzzle Miscellany
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. acropolis advantage battle bravado cinematic entitled errant exodus exquisite firebird fleeting hardheaded healthy little overgrown
parsimonious parthenon perimeter pseudonym psychological psychosomatic sacramento secondary sparse temporary teutonic therapy torrent trite tumultuous
Now Begins the Study of Yoga Yoga Words
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f you have gone to a yoga class, you have probably heard the teacher say some words such as “Namaste” or Namaskar”, and “Om”. You may have even heard some of the teachers use Sanskrit words to refer to the different poses or asanas in your classes. If you are fairly new to yoga, it can be helpful to understand what the words mean, and why they are typically said in your classes, yet, unless you have taken a beginner series, the teacher may not have explained the significance of using the Sanskrit in yoga class. Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages, predating Greek and Latin, and each of the fifty letters is believed to have a specific benefit when spoken. Saying the name of a pose in Sanskrit can help a practitioner to feel the pose and the effects of the pose as does the physical form of the pose. The word “yoga” itself means union. The Sanskrit names of the poses help us to bring about a union of the physical posture of the body with the vibration and energy of the name of the pose in our minds – embodying yoga in our practice. While it is not necessary to learn all the Sanskrit names of the yoga postures, there is a good reason why your teachers will continue to use them!
The words “Namaste” and “Om” also have great significance. Namaste or Namaskar is used as a greeting in India, and in yoga classes often at the beginning and ending of class. The meaning of the word translates as “I bow to you” yet, as the hands are placed in front of the heart (sometimes first in front of the brow chakra then brought down to the heart), the meaning is also imbued with the opening of the divine spark or light within us. Therefore, the fuller meaning becomes “the divine light in me recognizes and honors the divine light in you”. It is a way to open and end our classes recognizing our unity and connection, moving beyond the separation that our ego often causes. Om is referred to as the original sound and is a symbol for Hindus of the manifested and unmanifested aspects of God. Om (or AUM) is considered one of the most sacred mantras, and is used to start and or end many longer mantras. It is pronounced in three syllables: aaaaahh (A), ooooo (U), and mmmmm (M). As the word is chanted, it begins in the back of the throat, moves to the middle of the mouth, and ends with the lips closed. Try out the vibratory energy of these words for yourself in your next yoga class!
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 22)
waves of 1 to 2 feet, with rough winds. In these conditions, Brown bested a final that included Angelo Bonomelli, Jair Pérez and León Glatzer. “I have competed in difficult conditions, but today it really was a challenge for me because since entering the water the wind completely changed the landscape,” Brown recalled. “But I came to Nosara to win. Three dates into the Circuito, the 3-time Costa Rica national champion sits at Number One in the rankings. “Of course, I love that, but it’s not enough. Of course I want a fifth, sixth and all I can get. I’ve won three and I’ve been very close to others, so that for me in this Circuito you can expect a fight to the death for first place.”
COPA Creatures February 15, 16, 2014 Guiones, Nosara Open 1. Gilbert Brown (Puerto Viejo - photo) 2. Angelo Bonomelli (Tamarindo) 3. Jair Pérez (Jacó) 4. León Glatzer (Pavones) Women’s 1. Lisbeth Vinda (Jacó) 2. Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) 3. Nataly Bernold (Limón) 4. Emily Gussoni (Jacó) Junior 1. León Glatzer (Pavones) 2. Kevin Montiel (Nosara) 3. Malakai Martínez (Tamarindo) 4. Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo) Junior Women’s 1. Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) 2. Paula Duarte (Jacó) 3. Emily Gussoni (Jacó) 4. Coral Wiggins (Dominical) Boys 1. Sean Forester (Sámara) 2. Aldo Chirinos (Playa Negra) 3. Leilani MCGonagle (Pavones) 4. Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo)
And it never gets tired to say that 10-time national Women’s champion surfer Lisbeth Vindas won yet again, beating Nataly Bernold, Emily Gussoni and Leilani McGonagle. She now owns 1st place in the rankings after taking 1st in two of the last three contests, and coming in 3rd last month. The Circuito Nacional Olympus 2014, presented by Adrenaline Rush heads to Playa Dominical on March 15 and 16, and will be called COPA Marley.
Minigrommet 1. Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo) 2. Jacob Kelly (Nosara) 3. Cedric McCrakin (Puerto Viejo) 4. Darshan Antaquera (Jacó) Minigrommet Girls 1. Valentina Ressano (Nicaragua) 2. Candelaria Ressano (Nicaragua) 3. Katie Herman (Tamarindo) 4. Kilo Moe (Montesuma) Longboard 1. Adolfo Gómez (Sámara) 2. Cristian Santamaría (Nosara) 3. Carlos Rojas (Sta. Teresa) 4. Brent Newell (Montezuma)
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.
Surviving
C hapter LXXXVII
COSTA RICA
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prologue of sorts: When you’re a musician attempting to make a living in the same location for a number of years it’s a good idea to “re-invent” yourself occasionally. Last year at this time I was playing Latin Hits from the Sixties and before that I put in a bunch of years with the Banana Kings playing surf tunes and a lot of Creedence. Last October I was once again wondering what to do for the looming “High Season” on the horizon and Arnaud from the Langosta Beach Club told me a fellow had just been in checking things out and suggested I contact the guy. Which I did. A little background on Joe Hrbek: Joe was born in New Jersey but moved to Brooklyn, New York, at an early age and has been playing saxophone since the age of eight. That makes him about ten years younger than I, you do the math. Chances are, if you’ve been any place that has live music here in Tamarindo, you’ve already heard him so there’s no need to mention that the guy is a monster sax player. Throughout his musical career he has seldom if ever turned down a gig and along the way he’s had his own New York City-based Jazz Quartet, toured and recorded with a lot of the Jazz Greats, as well as playing a hefty dose of Rock and Reggae. He also played at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics and for one of Bill Clinton’s inaugural balls.
He and his wife Debbie caught the Costa Rica bug and have now gone as far as bringing their dog “Río” down to stay, although Debbie is still commuting back and forth to the “Big Apple” where she is an entertainment lawyer. Río is thrilled with the change of address and is now an official Langosta Beach Dog.
The Adventures of Joe and Jesse
Joe went “back to school” a few years back after “The Biz” just wasn’t doing much for him and trained to become a hospital medical assistant. Upon graduation the school asked him to stay and teach the course, which he did for a couple of years until he realized that he’d much rather be playing sax again. So Joe and I started to put some songs together with the idea of playing some gigs during the upcoming season. Joe is a big fan of Antonio Carlos Jobim, the prolific Brazilian “Bossa Nova” composer, although it could be said that Jobim was the inventor of this jazz genre. It’s a very guitar-oriented style of music, only the structure and fingering of the chords is entirely different from the stuff I’ve been playing for the last fifty years. However, I have been playing Jobim’s “Girl from Ipanema” for almost that long, so I wasn’t totally in the dark.
Story by Jesse Bishop owlhumm@hotmail.com
Another cool gig for the Hot Mangos has been at the Seven Cave Bar and Grill over in Playa Grande. If you dig out last month’s edition of The Howler you can see Joe and me on the cover in the lower right corner of the front page. In my close to sixteen years of association with this magazine this is my first time of being considered “cover worthy”. It was during a performance of “On Broadway” a few weeks ago that I turned around to see that a porcupine, or “puerco espín” if you prefer, had crawled up onto our PA amp directly behind us and stayed on it for the remainder of our set, in spite of the flood of customers taking photos and videos which were plastered all over Facebook the next day.
What better way to re-invent yourself than become a jazz guitarist who wasn’t a jazz guitarist!
This Costa Rican version of the porcupine didn’t seem threatening at all; the quills in its back looked more like soft fur, though I wouldn’t have wanted to pet it, and after about thirty minutes it made its way slowly out of the restaurant and back to the woods.
I have since either retrained my hand to handle a “Minor Seventh Chord with a flattened thirteenth” or figured out how the Grateful Dead might have played it instead. Joe hasn’t seemed to mind as long as he can play.
I share Joe with “Glass Eye”, a Tamarindobased Reggae Band, and it’s not unusual for Joe to run off after our gig and catch the boat at the estuary to play another two or three hours. Sometimes he also plays a day gig beforehand too. Like I say, Joe can’t say No.
I pondered a name for our new duo and ended up reprising the name of a shortlived band that we had here in Tamarindo about eleven years ago, of which three or four people here might still remember: The Hot Mangos.
I would like to think that when this current copy of The Howler hits the streets Joe and I will still be playing a “Sunset Jazz” gig every Sunday afternoon at the “El Vaquero” Witch’s Rock location where occasionally surf legend Robert August joins us on the kazoo. There is talk of Robert joining the Hot Mangos and doing a tour of Nicaragua connected to a possible movie deal. More on this in next month’s Howler.
We got our first gig of high season at the Langosta Beach Club where we continue to play every Friday performing a pretty eclectic bunch of songs. I’m even singing a little in Portuguese!
Inner Visions Tom Peifer peifer@racsa.co.cr I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied. John Masefield
I
n real estate they say location, location, location. In life, “timing is the thing.”
About ten years ago I had a bad case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. On a big day at Playa Negra, I was sitting way outside. As an aging geezer in the lineup, incapable of competing with guys who could fly through the air, emerge from deep within barrels, and all the other miracles of younger better surfers, my strategy was to ride an old semi-gun with great flotation, sit beyond the pack, and pick off the occasional outside set. Usually it worked, and I even got my fifteen seconds of fame thanks to a great video by Tony Roberts, our local cameraman extraordinaire. As it turned out, however, I wasn’t out far enough for the 10-wave set that gave me a new perspective on life. You probably know how it is. If you don’t make it over the first one, you’re sitting in the impact zone for the rest of the set. No question of successfully duck-diving a 7’4”, superfloater semi-gun under 10-15 feet of churning foam. I spent the next few minutes being slowly dragged underwater, wave after thunderous wave, shoreward like a tiny lure behind a tuna boat. Those few minutes of near-death experience provided me a new perspective on surfing in particular and life in general. After trying a couple more sessions at Negra, replete with panic attacks and tachycardia whenever sets loomed on the horizon, I started to realize that what used to be fun was, frankly, not fun at all. I migrated out of the mainstream, found somewhat calmer waters, shed the plethora of plastic accessories that form the foundation of modern surfing and, went back to a more Zen-like approach to immersion in the magic of riding waves—bodysurfing.
First, allow me a clarification. I’m not talking about flailing into a breaking wave and sloshing along face-down in the soup towards the sand. We’re also talking several notches above the more experienced practitioners who manage to get one arm out in front and more or less go sideways, “shooting the curl” in the surfing language of yore. The practiced application of timing and location can yield some real delights of “inner fun” that are completely out of sight to observers from shore. My favorite secret spot offers up small hollow barrels on an almost daily basis through the long dry season. With a stripped-down approach, i.e. no board, trunks with minimal drag and a couple of techniques, you can slide into barrel after barrel and get both the adrenaline rush and the cosmic inside snapshot that sticks in your memory and keeps all wave-riding diehards coming back for more. It’s not only about different techniques; it’s really about a whole different perspective on what your time in the water is all about. To help round out my thinking on just what I’ve been doing since that near-fateful day at Negra a decade ago, I talked with longtime local homie, Johnny Coopwood, surfing artwork standout and another convert to ‘surfing in your skin.’ A nagging back issue has hampered his board riding but not dampened his stoke. He’s still hitting the hollow spots, and, given his artistic ‘third eye’, has a way of both capturing and describing the visuals with an intricate precision. But again, the bottom line is that seeing is believing. And the experience itself is ‘existential’ and not so easy to capture on celluloid—or in digital format. Let’s make it simple: you can’t convey a feeling in a photo.
(continued page 36)
Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule of Meetings
Flamingo
Tuesdays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open) Fridays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open)
Location: Hitching Post Plaza Unit 2, Brasilito Contact: Don H. at 2-654-4902
Tamarindo
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
A p r i l ( a l l
t i m e s
2 0 1 4 l o c a l )
Sun
1st - rise 5:40; set 5:54 15th - rise 5:33; set 5:54 30th - rise 5:26; set 5:55
1st quarter: Full: Last quarter: New:
Moon
7th 15th 22nd 29th
2:31 a.m. 1:42 a.m. 1:52 a.m. 12:14 a.m.
Inner Visions
(from page 35)
One photographer who has done a great job of portraying both the power and the spectacular palette of visuals in breaking waves, is Clark Little, best known for bone crunching close-ups of shore break waves in Oahu, the Mecca of world surfing. Given his expertise at taking quick shots in tight places, he’s also taken some great shots of bodysurfers doing their thing, out of sight but enthralled in the grasp of nature’s unfolding glory. He called one photo, “Back to the Roots”, a reference perhaps to the existential and experiential—diametrically opposed to the commercial ‘image’—aspect that has come to rule over the ‘sport of kings.’ Thirty-some years ago I was trying to evolve my own third eye, practicing yoga and meditation in an ashram on the banks of the Ganges River where it flows out of the towering Himalayas. Sipping chai on the rooftop terrace with a venerable sadhu, a holy man involved in a lifelong quest for truth, calm and wisdom. Hindus have a deep reverence for water in general, and the Ganges in particular. While looking out over the “mother of waters” I began to describe the experience of tube riding, perhaps failing with my words, but using my hands as surfers often do when describing what goes on in our watery world. The guy was no dummy. He got the point and rephrased it within his own deeply spiritual world-view. “When you are riding in the tube, as you say, of a crashing wave, it is then that you are truly experiencing the roar of OM.” I left the hills on the first bus in the a.m. and headed for the mellow tubes of Sri Lanka. Three decades later my meditation continues to focus on opening the third eye to those inner visions at beaches along the Guanacaste’s Gold Coast. 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/