Playita Issue 33 December - January

*

FREE INFO BULLETIN

Gaylife News, Comments, Activities and Information

Year VII • No. 33 December 2011-January 2012

Showing me the Way Pag 5

No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

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No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

TAMAL FEST TAMALEADA

Come and enjoy Christmas favorite food in Costa Rica, the Tamal with the best house music in town.

28 december / diciembre 2011

Vacation Rental • Minimalist loft • In the heart of Manuel Antonio • Sleeps 3 • •

•

@ Salsipuedes

•

Starts 5 pm till...

•

paul@jungleloft.net Tel: (506) 8836 0024

Host by: Organiza:

INDEX • INDICE

Showing me the Way

Pag 5

THE TIDE/LA MAREA: December-January

Pag 6

Manuel Antonio Gaymap Pag 8 The Joy of Boredom

Pag 11

Quepos Gaymap

Pag 12

Entertainment

Pag 12

7 reasons NOT to feed the monkeys Pag 13

Directory

Pag 14

* Playita is the name given by locals to one of the beaches in Manuel Antonio which attracts a high concentration of gay and lesbians from Costa Rica and visitors from all over the world. This beach is accessible just two hours before and after high tide.

CREDITOS • Director: Jose Chaves • Productor: Paul Sfez • Diseño: Diego Hidalgo • Colaboradores: Todd Pequeen, Tim Dwyer • Ventas: Paul Sfez - Tel 8836 0024 paulsfez@gaytourscr.com Todas las opiniones expresadas en este medio son entera responsabilidad del autor.

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No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

• 2x1 Cocktails Nightly 4-6 PM • Dinner - Live Latin Music Every Night

A True Refuge for Mind, Body & Spirit

• Complimentary transportation to/from Terra Spa • Male & Female Therapists on site • 6 Treatment rooms plus Steam and Sauna

www.gaiahr.com • 1-800-226-2515 • 2777-9797

Estelle Mansuelle CERTIFIED TOUR GUIDE

• Best Seafood in Town • Best Ceviche in Quepos

Visit of Manuel Antonio Park

Open everyday (except Monday)

2 pm - 11 pm

Personalized attention

Contact:

700m before the entrance bridge of Quepos (main entrance to Boca Vieja)

Ph.: 2777-0562 • Cell Ph.: 8719-2065 E-mail: mansuelle@gmail.com

Tel: 2777-2735

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No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

Showing me the Way

By: Tim Dwyer

not to fear what I didn’t know or didn’t understand. He wasn’t a sinful and evil man, but one who simply happened to be attracted to men. He was living in a fairly open manner in a conservative farming community, making his way in this world as best as he knew how and had been since he came of age the late sixties. And he did so with his parents support and blessing.

Jimmy knew I was gay from the beginning.

I also knew, but at 17 and a good Catholic boy, I was unable to admit it to myself. He openly talked about his life and his passion for plants, gardens and men. I was taken aback by his lack of macho masculinity but he wasn’t feminine either. He could camp it up certainly, but had no problem labouring from sun to sun. He talked about his relation with God and his church, about how he felt he fit into this life and acceptance. He related his adventures in bars and discos in Toronto. The lessons I learned from him were through his example of living openly as a gay man, as God created him. He was a role model for me, the only one I had.

A

s I was growing up in rural Ontario, which I felt, was the middle of nowhere, I knew of only one person who was ‘that way’. He was a fellow who owned a small garden centre that he had built on his parents’ farm a few miles away from where our farm was located. For the most of my early years the only information I received about ‘gayness’ came in the form of letters written to Ann Landers. She was the only one I knew who wrote in a sane, no nonsense way about sexuality and relationships. The rest of the time I heard about ‘homosexuality’ it was in terms of a disease or a sin. At a young age, while I didn’t identify as gay, but I certainly knew I was different from the other boys in school. While I wasn’t interested in sports, or girls, or cars, I certainly didn’t want to be identified with the only guy in the area who was ‘that way’.

I know I was fortunate to have Jimmy as my role model. I am sure there are many other gay men and lesbians who had no one to look upon as an example for life. Jimmy probably doesn’t know how much influence he has had on my life. He’s an unsung gay hero who bravely paved the way for those of us who came later simply by living his life in an honest manner. I don’t always know who may be watching me as I go through life, but I hope that I can be an example to others as well as Jimmy was to me. n

Accepting myself was a slow process that included working in that particular garden centre for a summer. I got to know ‘Jimmy’ I’ll call him, as a human being and learned 5

No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

December

THE TIDE

January

date

time

height

date

time

01 Thu 01 Thu 01 Thu 01 Thu 02 Fri 02 Fri 02 Fri 02 Fri 03 Sat 03 Sat 03 Sat 03 Sat 04 Sun 04 Sun 04 Sun 04 Sun 05 Mon 05 Mon 05 Mon 05 Mon 06 Tue 06 Tue 06 Tue 07 Wed 07 Wed 07 Wed 07 Wed 08 Thu 08 Thu 08 Thu 08 Thu 09 Fri 09 Fri 09 Fri 09 Fri 10 Sat 10 Sat 10 Sat 10 Sat 11 Sun 11 Sun 11 Sun 11 Sun 12 Mon 12 Mon 12 Mon 12 Mon 13 Tue 13 Tue 13 Tue 13 Tue 14 Wed 14 Wed 14 Wed 14 Wed 15 Thu 15 Thu 15 Thu 16 Fri 16 Fri

00:50 07:04 13:12 19:40 01:46 07:59 14:05 20:35 02:45 08:58 15:00 21:32 03:47 09:58 15:57 22:28 04:47 10:59 16:53 23:21 05:43 11:55 17:47 00:11 06:33 12:46 18:36 00:57 07:17 13:32 19:21 01:40 07:58 14:14 20:04 02:20 08:37 14:55 20:45 03:00 09:15 15:34 21:25 03:40 09:53 16:12 22:05 04:19 10:31 16:51 22:46 05:00 11:09 17:30 23:29 05:41 11:49 18:12 00:14 06:26

0.96 8.42 0.61 8.54 1.41 7.83 1.16 8.18 1.76 7.34 1.63 7.92 1.96 7.03 1.96 7.80 1.98 6.92 2.13 7.82 1.83 6.99 2.14 7.95 1.57 7.18 2.03 8.16 1.25 7.45 1.84 8.40 0.92 7.74 1.61 8.63 0.62 8.03 1.37 8.81 0.39 8.27 1.17 8.91 0.24 8.47 1.01 8.91 0.19 8.61 0.92 8.83 0.22 8.69 0.89 8.65 0.32 8.73 0.92 8.41

16 16 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 21 21 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 25 25 25 25 26 26 26 26 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 29 29 29 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31

12:32 18:57 01:02 07:14 13:18 19:46 01:56 08:08 14:10 20:40 02:54 09:08 15:08 21:40 03:57 10:14 16:11 22:43 05:03 11:20 17:16 23:45 06:06 12:24 18:20 00:46 07:06 13:24 19:22 01:43 08:01 14:19 20:18 02:36 08:53 15:11 21:12 03:27 09:41 16:00 22:02 04:15 10:28 16:48 22:50 05:02 11:12 17:34 23:38 05:48 11:56 18:19 00:24 06:35 12:39 19:05 01:11 07:22 13:23 19:53

Fri Fri Sat Sat Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun Sun Mon Mon Mon Mon Tue Tue Tue Tue Wed Wed Wed Wed Thu Thu Thu Fri Fri Fri Fri Sat Sat Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun Sun Mon Mon Mon Mon Tue Tue Tue Tue Wed Wed Wed Wed Thu Thu Thu Fri Fri Fri Fri Sat Sat Sat Sat

height

0.49 8.73 0.99 8.14 0.69 8.70 1.07 7.87 0.90 8.68 1.11 7.68 1.08 8.71 1.06 7.64 1.15 8.83 0.86 7.80 1.08 9.05 0.53 8.12 0.88 9.33 0.13 8.55 0.59 9.60 -0.26 8.98 0.32 9.79 -0.55 9.33 0.12 9.85 -0.69 9.54 0.06 9.73 -0.65 9.58 0.16 9.45 -0.43 9.45 0.39 9.03 -0.05 9.17 0.74 8.50 0.44 8.79 1.14 7.94 0.98 8.39

date

time

01 Sun 01 Sun 01 Sun 01 Sun 02 Mon 02 Mon 02 Mon 02 Mon 03 Tue 03 Tue 03 Tue 03 Tue 04 Wed 04 Wed 04 Wed 04 Wed 05 Thu 05 Thu 05 Thu 06 Fri 06 Fri 06 Fri 06 Fri 07 Sat 07 Sat 07 Sat 07 Sat 08 Sun 08 Sun 08 Sun 08 Sun 09 Mon 09 Mon 09 Mon 09 Mon 10 Tue 10 Tue 10 Tue 10 Tue 11 Wed 11 Wed 11 Wed 11 Wed 12 Thu 12 Thu 12 Thu 12 Thu 13 Fri 13 Fri 13 Fri 13 Fri 14 Sat 14 Sat 14 Sat 15 Sun 15 Sun 15 Sun 15 Sun 16 Mon 16 Mon

02:02 08:14 14:11 20:43 02:55 09:08 15:02 21:35 03:51 10:07 15:57 22:31 04:52 11:09 16:56 23:27 05:50 12:08 17:55 00:20 06:42 13:00 18:49 01:10 07:29 13:47 19:38 01:56 08:11 14:30 20:23 02:38 08:52 15:10 21:05 03:20 09:30 15:49 21:47 04:00 10:08 16:28 22:28 04:41 10:48 17:08 23:10 05:22 11:28 17:49 23:54 06:06 12:09 18:33 00:41 06:52 12:55 19:20 01:32 07:44

height

1.52 7.43 1.50 8.01 1.84 6.98 1.95 7.72 2.03 6.71 2.27 7.57 2.03 6.65 2.41 7.59 1.86 6.80 2.33 7.77 1.54 7.12 2.08 8.06 1.14 7.54 1.72 8.40 0.73 8.00 1.29 8.73 0.33 8.45 0.88 9.00 0.00 8.86 0.51 9.17 -0.23 9.18 0.24 9.23 -0.34 9.40 0.10 9.15 -0.33 9.48 0.09 8.93 -0.17 9.42 0.23 8.60 0.11 9.24 0.46 8.20

date

16 16 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 21 21 21 21 22 22 22 22 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 25 25 25 25 26 26 26 26 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31

time

Mon Mon Tue Tue Tue Tue Wed Wed Wed Wed Thu Thu Thu Thu Fri Fri Fri Sat Sat Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun Sun Mon Mon Mon Mon Tue Tue Tue Tue Wed Wed Wed Wed Thu Thu Thu Thu Fri Fri Fri Fri Sat Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun Sun Mon Mon Mon Mon Tue Tue Tue Tue

13:45 20:14 02:28 08:43 14:42 21:14 03:31 09:50 15:47 22:20 04:41 11:01 16:58 23:29 05:50 12:11 18:09 00:34 06:54 13:14 19:14 01:33 07:51 14:09 20:11 02:27 08:41 14:59 21:03 03:15 09:27 15:45 21:49 04:00 10:10 16:28 22:33 04:43 10:50 17:10 23:14 05:24 11:28 17:49 23:55 06:05 12:07 18:29 00:35 06:46 12:45 19:10 01:18 07:30 13:25 19:53 02:03 08:18 14:10 20:41

height

0.48 8.98 0.74 7.82 0.88 8.70 0.95 7.55 1.20 8.53 1.01 7.53 1.33 8.53 0.84 7.77 1.21 8.71 0.50 8.20 0.91 8.98 0.10 8.68 0.55 9.23 -0.25 9.11 0.24 9.39 -0.48 9.40 0.05 9.40 -0.54 9.52 0.02 9.25 -0.42 9.45 0.14 8.95 -0.14 9.22 0.40 8.52 0.26 8.87 0.75 8.01 0.76 8.44 1.15 7.47 1.29 7.99 1.55 6.95 1.80 7.57

How to read the Tide (example): High Tides at 04:37AM (9.90 feet high) and at 17:06PM (10.23 feet high).

Low Tides at 10:45AM (-1.18 feet high) and at 23:13PM (-0.82 feet high).

01 Wed 04:37 9.90 01 Wed 10:45 01 Wed 17:06 01 Wed 23:13

-1.18 10.23 -0.82

WARNING: YOU CANNOT Cross the rocks 2 hours after or before High Tide

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No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

BAR MOGAMBO: • Open 3 pm-11 pm (closed on mondays) Restaurant: • Open 11 am-10 pm (closed on mondays)

Reservations: 2777-6310

raphaelsterraza@gmail.com www.raphaelsterraza.com 7

MANUEL ANTONIO GAYMAP

No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

MANUEL ANTONIO: 1. Rest. Mamma Mia 2. Coyaba Tropical B&B 3. Hotel Gaia 4. Rest. Mar Luna 5. Jungle Loft 6. Casa Nelda 7. Holis Welness Center 8. Casa Bosque Verde 9. Rest. Salsipuedes (tapas)

10. Rest. Barba Roja 11. Vida Realty 12. Arte Indio 13. Hotel Villa Roca 14. Hotel Makanda 15. Rest. Raphael’s Terrazas 16. Liquid Lounge

7 8 9 12 10 11

1 2 3 4

13

5

6

14

15 16

Catholic Church

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No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

New Menu Additions Live Music Tuesdays & Fridays Every Wednesday Ladies Sunset 5 pm & Karaoke 8 pm

New Year Party 10:00 pm

Reservations Ph: 2777 0331 • Fax: 2777 5159 info@barbarojarestaurante.com Manuel Antonio - Quepos

Barba Roja Sunset Session Sundays 4 pm - 8 pm • Boat Deck Discreet, Outdoors and Totally Gay Chill out - Ambience - Latino 9

No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

In the Heart of Manuel Antonio

• Rental Home, Starting at $900 per Week • This gay owned new house has 3 Bedrooms & Sleeps 6.

• Be Yourself at a Private/Secluded Pool

www.casabosqueverde.com

To Book, contact Kelly at (403) 246-8941 or reservations@casabosqueverde.com

• Spectacular Sunset • Dolphins & Marine Life • Snorkeling & Swimming • Delicious Food • Professional Crew • Magnificent Coastal Views

Happy Hour 9:00 pm - 12:00 pm Every Day

Phone: 2777-0837 • 2777-1304

Road of Manuel Antonio, Quepos Phone: 2777-5107

info@sunsetsailstours.com

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No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

The joy of boredom

I

recently lived out of a camper van for two months. My first time in forty years to actually have my bed, kitchen, and living area in five meters of space. For the bathroom I had to exit, besides that everything I needed was in that van.

Upon my return to Manuel Antonio my house, car, and possessions weighed me down. I don’t mean they bummed me out, I am thankful for what the things I have. Rather, I feel my time spent dealing with everything, organizing stuff, requires time away from something I grew fond of while on the road... boredom. Amazing boredom. I mean exactly that, boredom became a comfort and with luck, will be a friend for life after this trip.

By Todd Pequeen

I get asked over and over by visitors every week, particularly during my massage practice, what should they do while they are here. In the past I would jokingly tell them simply to book another massage!

This year I will have a new answer for them. Try to find boredom. Sit on one of our beautiful beaches, find a quiet spot at the pool, and do nothing. Put the book down and turn the music off, don’t worry about where the next meal will be. It shouldn’t matter what is happening next. Seek out boredom like it IS the reason for coming here, because I bet your life at home rarely can have this activity. I don’t believe one has to be in a van for two months to benefit from this under appreciated action, but I do know it can produce surprising results. I remember complaining to my mother as a child, “I’m bored, there is nothing to do.” I am elated to have found a new hobby and will never be bored again. n

Sitting and cutting through my thoughts was as special as the wildlife I saw, the experiences I had, the people I met. I’ve done this before in a way, but I always used breathing or the physical body as a focus, a center. Now I feel like those things were just things I somehow needed to hold onto. I was “here” trying to concentrate on something “there”. That, it seems to me now, was goal orientated. With goals comes journey’s. To have no goals, no journeys, no focus on awakening or transcending, I found to be very calming. Simply to be mindful of what was happening was different than how I behaved in the past. Nothing was happening, it was absolutely boring. I didn’t do anything at times and had nothing to e-mail my friends about, or to talk about when I skyped with family. My journal even sat latent.

My previous expectations (because of money matters, weather, and the length of the journey) were challenged and forced me into days of sitting in the van. That, I am thankful for! It seems to me now that my patience and the finite space created a “cooling down” of my previous self. Being removed from my normal routine, and having boredom mixed with repetition, I found a new sense of self. In no way was it militant or rigid, like arriving at a monastery in Asia would be. It happened as an afterthought, and until writing about it now I would have had a hard time discussing the process. How beautiful, and fortunate, to have arrived at this point with such little effort.

“The local that works on locals” USA Nationally Certified New York Institute of Massage Graduate Dedicated to deep, therapeutic bodywork since 1998 The First professional male massage therapist in Manuel Antonio

Home Studio or On Location 11

QUEPOS GAYMAP

No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

QUEPOS

to San José

Boca Vieja 1

to the Airport

1. Kúkula 2. Canopy Safari 3. Quad Tours 4. Jaime Peligro Books 5. Priss Tours 6. Mucho Músculo Gym

2

3

5

4

Bus Station

6

to Manuel Antonio

ENTERTAINMENT ENTRETENIMIENTO

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No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

Y

7 reasons NOT to feed the monkeys containing pesticides, can be upsetting to the monkeys' delicate digestive system and cause serious dental problems that can lead to eventual death.

ou might find feeding the monkeys (and other wild animals) to be a thrilling experience, you are not doing the monkeys a favor. In fact, you are actually harming them. Here's why:

5.Feeding creates a dangerous dependency on humans that diminishes the monkeys' survival abilities.

1.Monkeys are highly susceptible to diseases from human hands. They can die from bacteria transferred off your hand that has no ill effect on you.

2.Migration to human-populated areas to be fed increases the risk of dog attacks and road accidents.

6.Feeding interferes with the monkeys' natural habits and upsets the balance of their lifestyle centered on eating wild fruits, seeds, small animals and insects.

3.Irregular feeding leads to an aggressive behavior towards humans and other species.

7.Contact with humans facilitates poaching and the trade in illegal wildlife. n

4.Contrary to the stereotype, bananas are not preferred food of monkeys in the wild. Bananas, specially those 13

No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

MANUEL ANTONIO FROM A TO Z

s Exclusive Gay BARS AND DISCOS s Liquid Lounge: 2777 5158 Buena Nota Building u Mogambo at Rafael Terrace Top Floor 2777 6310

u Salsipuedes: 2777 5019 Tapas Bar Across the street from Banca Promerica HOTELS u Coyaba Tropical B&B 2777 6279 Next to Hotel Gaia u Hotel Gaia 1 800 226 2515 Manuel Antonio u Hotel Makanda 2777 0442 Turn right after the Barba Roja Restaurant and follow the signs s Villa Roca: 2777 1349 Next to Hotel Si Como No RESTAURANTS u Barba Roja 2777 0331 Next to Salsipuedes u Kúkula 2777 2735 700m before the entrance bridge of Quepos (main entrance to Boca Vieja) u La Luna & Ambar Lounge 2777 9797 Hotel Gaia u Mamma Mia 2777 4521 / 8633 8150 Hotel Mimos

u Gay friendly

u MarLuna: 2777 5107 Near Manuel Antonio School

u Quad Tours 2777 7500 Downtown Quepos

u Raphael’s Terrazas 2777 6310 Main road to the National Park, beside the entry to Arboleda Hotel

u Sunset Sails 2777 0837 / 2777 1304

u Sunspot Poolside bar and grill 2777 0442 At Hotel Makanda

u Villa Vanilla 2779 1155 / 8839 2721 Villa Nueva VACATION RENTALS & REAL ESTATE

u Canopy Safari 2777 0100 Downtown Quepos

• Casa Bosque Verde Canada contact (403) 246 8941 200 east from Super Joseth Manuel Antonio

s Gaytours S. A. English 8305 8044 Spanish 2294 06 06

• Casa Nelda 8814 6251 1 mile from Manuel Antonio School

u Gym Mucho Músculo 2777 3400 Going out of Quepos to Manuel Antonio, on the left just before the first hill

• Jungle Loft 8836 0024 Behind Villa El Lirio @ Canyon Verde

SERVICES

u Holis Welness Center 2777 0939 200m South from Manuel Antonio soccer field u Jaime Peligro Books & Adventure English and spanish books, music, tours and temporary tattos 2777 7106 Quepos, next door to Century 21 u Manuel Antonio Park Estelle Profesional Guide 8719 2065 Quepos u Massage Osvaldo Muñoz: 8822 2936 Massage & Physical Therapist u Massage Todd: 8847 2010 Professional Massage at your hotel

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• Vida Realty Real Estate 2774 0287 / 2777 4945 8997 4129 / 8825 0434 Next to Barba Roja

No. 33 December 2011- January 2012

Bed and Breakfast White sand beaches. tropical rainforest. vanilla dreams

MASSAGE

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica USA: 347-531-2582 | Canada: 289-813-0494 Costa Rica: 011-506-2777-6279 Cell: 8705-0368 e-mail: coyabatropical@gmail.com www.coyabatropical.com

Therapeutic - Swedish - Deep

8822-2936

Fair Prices

Lic. Osvaldo (OS) Muñoz Jiménez Massage & Physical Therapist Expertly Trained, Certified and Experienced

Proudly offering modest priced accommodation and casual elegance

Book at the desk / osbe21again@yahoo.es ´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´

The gay friendly “tapas” place, with an incredible ocean view and latin music!!!

Three tours in one A butterfly garden, snake exhibit, and canopy tour with 10 zip lines, two rappels, suspension bridge and a tarzan swing.

Across the street from Bco. Promérica, Manuel Antonio

PHONE: 2777-0100

2777 5019

Open daily at 10 am-10 pm (closed Tuesdays)

www.canopysafari.com • info@canopysafari.com

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Your way to fun in Manuel Antonio

•Mondays Damas Island Mangrove Park $65 Your choice Kayak or Motor Boat Pick up: High tide of the day •Tuesdays Hiking in Manuel Antonio Park with Estelle $45 Pick up 12:30 pm* •Wednesdays and Saturdays Sunset Boat $75 Relax and enjoy Pick up: 1:00 pm* •Thursdays Canopy Tour $70 Lots of adrenaline Pick up: 1:00 pm*

•Fridays ATV Tour in the mountains $95 s. / $130 d.

Pick up: 10:30 am* Ocean Kayak in the park $65 Pick up: 2:00 pm* •Sundays Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation Tour and Flavors of the World Tasting $50 Pick up 12:30 pm* *Times subject to changes

Reservations: • Español: 2294 0606 • English: 8305 8044

or ask at the front desk of your hotel.

PLAYITA ON LINE: www.gaytourscr.com