Distant Christmas Greetings!

Firstly, I want to wish all my friends and family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Secondly, I apologise for waiting so long to update my blog. I can’t believe that 9 months has passed since I last updated it!

So I guess I have a lot to update you on. Well here goes............

After Colombia I went up the The States to visit Jamie, the guy I had been seeing. I went up to Georgia and mainly spent my time in Atlanta, staying with friends and family of Jamie. I met some really nice people and enjoyed getting to know Atlanta a little. My new friend Jenny took me out and about to visit places in and around Atlanta. We visited Stone Mountain, a national park with nice trails to walk and a huge lump of granite in the middle.

We visited Helen, a re-creation of an alpine village in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Helen is nothing like what you would expect to see in America. The buildings, the cobbled streets, the food and drink, everything made to replicate what you would find in Europe.

I visited downtown Atlanta a few times and over-indulged in shopping at the malls after so long in Central America. I visited the Aquarium which was impressive and went out with Jenny and her brother on the lakes in their ski boat.

My mum was visiting America with her camera club so I took the opportunity to go and visit her in Vegas. I went for a week and had a great time seeing her again. Her group stayed in Vegas and then took a road trip to The Grand Canyon so I tagged along for the ride. I’ve seen the Grand Canyon a few times but it never ceases to amaze me. Luckily we took a different route into the park so I saw areas I hadn’t been before.

(Me and My Mum....Ahh)

(The Grand Canyon)

Unfortunately things didn’t work out between Jamie and I found myself in a hostel in downtown Atlanta wondering what I was going to do. I considered returning back to the UK but did not feel ready for that, I considered Australia because I found a cheap flight but in the end, I decided to return to Costa Rica. I was feeling pretty low and needed to go to a place that felt like home with lots of friends so back to Puerto Viejo I went. That was in May and I am still here.

So what have I been doing? A pretty mixed bag of stuff really. I went back to the dive shop and completed my Scuba Diver Leader course and started picking up bits of work when it was available. I moved back into Garibaldi where I was living before but this time in one of the cheaper cabinas. The cold water took a lot of getting used to. No, I take that back, I never got used to the cold water!

I’ve attended a Caribbean wedding on the beach in Punta Uva

(Frank & Gina's wedding)

(Looking over Punta Uva point)

(Tradition is to pin money to the bride)

(The Bull Rodeo)

watched the Bull Rodeo when it came to town, been down to Bocas del Toro a couple of times to renew my visa, finally visited the Del Ray in San Jose followed by a trip to a strip joint (a first for me). There have been beach parties, birthday parties, leaving parties, pool parties and generally a lot of fun had by all. Halloween was a great night!

(Baby howler monkeys at the Animal Rescue Centre)

It has not all been great though. I was house sitting a great place that good friends of mine built in the jungle but unfortunately got robbed twice and lost my computer and things. Got up close and personal with a few of the neighbours I'd have been happy not knowing.

Had a tree fall on my porch.

Around this time work dried up for me at the dive shop and things took a downward slope. With no work I really could see no way of staying here so started looking for dive work in other countries. Unfortunately with little experience, this was a challenge. I was unlucky and missed out on an activities manager role in Mozambique due to my lack of French. I found a job in Vietnam but the wages were so low so I decided instead to accept a professional diving internship followed by my dive instructor course in The British Virgin Islands starting in April 2011.

I had a low couple of months but am lucky to have good friends who helped me back on my feet. Friends helped me find work and I got recommended for a house care-taker role.

I started working as a Poker dealer at a friend’s bar and quickly had to learn the game having never played before. In fact I deal No limits Texas Holdem. I still have a lot to learn but it is fun. The hardest part is standing for up to 7 hours straight but we have a number of regulars who come and it is usually a fun night. I run a game twice a week but we are looking to expand the operation in the New Year with more nights and different games.

The owners of the house I am now living in come and go a lot between here and Canada and were looking for someone to come and stay at the house to look after it while they come and go. It is a super nice house, just across from the beach. I have a couple of work projects on the go which keep me busy as well.

It has certainly been a year of highs and lows though, but I am happy to be ending it on a high. On Christmas Day there will be a big dinner / party here at my house with 20-30 friends. Good food and good company in a great place, what more could I ask for Christmas?

I hope that 2010 has been a good year for all my friends and family back home. If not, then I am sure that 2011 will be your year. Do let me know how you are all doing and I again wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Take care and season’s greetings!

Nikkie