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Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
NG Solving My Identity Crisis: Part I
While perusing fabulous jobs at National Geographic, I stumbled upon a project they are working on with IBM involving genetics, migration and DNA testing. The project involves mapping migration patterns of the human species through DNA testing and the call was for traditional, indigenous and original peoples to participate. Obviously, I jumped on board (see DNA swap testing kit in image!). Scientists for years now have already proven that sequences in all of our DNA can be traced back to Africa, so I'm looking forward to where my peeps went from there, the anticipation is killing me! The idea of giving ethnic groups with no written history a map of where they've lived and travelled is incredible and inspiring and giving me visions for my ph.d thesis! Go here for the Atlas of the human journey and stay tuned for results!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Happy 'Snowicane' NYC!
Personally, I prefer "Snowtorious B.I.G.".
I'm going snowboarding all weekend. Have fun in the snow!
CR Adventure [Day Six] - Miracle blizzard flight home
They tell us it's snowing in New York but we're optimistic. On the other hand, getting stuck in Cancun is far from the worst situation you could find yourself in.
At the airport, we meet up with the Chicago crew from Tabacón and compare photos from the rest of the trip. They are vastly different -- ours include sunsets and monkeys, theirs include bikini shots of hot girls they met.
On our first flight, I am mesmerized by a woman with a lifelike baby doll wearing its seat belt in the aisle across from our row. I'm pretty sure that baby is full of drugs.
On our second flight, one of our new friends who was bound for DC but rerouted to New York gets extra beers from the stewardess by telling her it's my birthday and it feels like it is. But soon, we will find ourselves back in frigid New York where a blizzard has covered the the entire city in a blanket of whiteness.
It's been real Costa Rica. I hope to see you again real soon. Pura Vida!
CR Adventure [Day Six] - Who's flying this small plane?
We check out of the Costa Verde and pile into a cab for the minuscule airport of Quepos. The planes are so small that we need to be weighed to get on, yet strangely not ID'ed at all. I'm fairly certain that if you came to this airport and paid the $2 entry fee to get in, you could get on any flight for free. I'm saving that story for my next visit to Costa Rica.
We take off and notice that a giant grasshopper is along for the ride. I squirm a little as the pilots empty out the envelope filled with our flight info to try to catch it. No one is looking ahead, no one is steering or, say, flying the plane. A woman in the first row caches the insect and we all breathe a sigh of relief.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
CR Adventure [Day Five] - Costa Rica = tough love
I brought 85 SPF sunscreen to Costa Rica. Still, I managed to get a raging, awkward sunburn. All the sunscreen in the world can't save you when you're five degrees from the equator. Between that and the bruises and rashes from surfing, Costa Rica is starting to feel like an abusive lover.
It's our last day though and I can't allow myself to spend it in a hotel room so I opt to sit on the beach with Yer. Waiters from the nearby bars wander over to sell us five dollar drinks with real, actual flowers in them and I say that if you're going to be in a lot of pain, you might as well do it like this. This is paradise.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
CR Adventure [Day Four] - Surfing
Three or four years ago, someone clued me into the concept of Costa Rican surf camps. These are vacations with the sole purpose of learning how to surf. You surf by day and sleep in beachside bungalows by night. It sounds incredible and is definitely something I intend to do someday.
But for now, we only have five days so we settle for a surfing lesson which lasts approximately two hours. When our instructors pick us up from the hotel I find myself wondering why they're not in school as they look about 14 years old but they turn out to be in their early 20's.
We get up on the boards numerous times and completely shred the "mar" and own the "olas" all morning. My instructor can't say my name and insists on calling me "Caroline." Meanwhile, Yer sits on the beach drinking mojitos and listens to stories about how only women take surfing lessons here and that a 60-year old was even able to get up on a surfboard recently. I start to think that anything is possible in this country.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
CR Adventure [Day Three] - Costa Verde
We finally reach our destination, Hotel Costa Verde in Manuel Antonio. The hotel is nestled in the middle of the rainforest and signs all over the property read "Still More Monkeys Than People," which is a bit of a stretch but we do see a lot of wildlife while we're there in the form of monkeys, massive iguanas and even a sloth.
We upgrade to a "partially air-conditioned" room. It's not air conditioned at all but rather completely open. Instead of walls, there are only screens. It's like sleeping in the jungle, an amazing, and loud, experience.
Costa Verde has an adult only pool area and the bartender there makes the self proclaimed best Piña Coladas in the world. (He's not kidding.) There's also a plane converted into a room that you can stay in for a cool $500 a night. It's probably not the most authentic experience you can have but well worth checking out.
CR Adventure [Day Three] - Worst drive ever
Besides the complete lack of cell phone service and ATM's, I think my least favorite thing about Costa Rica would have to be the driving situation. The roads are all winding and hilly and all cars have manual transmissions. It can be quite nauseating.
Getting up for the five hour drive from Arenal to Manuel Antonio is an effort not to be taken lightly. We are relieved when we stop at a tiny rest area/gift shop where we can purchase some food to soak up last night's hangover and some "Viajesan," Central America's answer to "Dramamine."
Our small shuttle consist of ourselves and an older couple enjoying their retirement the way I plan to enjoy mine. I can't help but wonder what they're thinking as we recall the previous night's shenanigans and giggle throughout the drive. Sorry oldies, that's how we do!
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