23rd August 2008: So, once safely on my flight to Miami I start to get excited about the next phase of my trip....South America! The Galapagos Islands have always been in my top 5 places to visit so the idea of getting to see them and all the wildlife there soon helps me to stop moping about having to leave the jungle. The chance to have a whole two weeks mother and daughter bonding time after months of limited emailing and phone calls is also very exciting an...

21st - 22nd August 2008: So, the sad day dawns that I have to leave Carate Jungle Camp, the Osa and all my newfound friends (I´ll be back....). Have a final game of yuker (totally the wrong spelling I expect) and prediatably Team Pants (a.k.a Dana and Greg) beat us to a pulp. Console myself with pancakes before Greg and I catch the morning Collectivo back to Puerto Jiminez. I wonder if I would be missed if I just stayed here forever.... We get to PJ, head t...

The Osa - best bits! - Turtles, turtles, turtles (and one nest of teeny tiny tortugitas!!) - Listening to the surf from my cabina - Meeting so many lovely new people - Smores and bonfires on the beach - Sunsets and sunrises - The stars! Who knew there were so many! - Sparkly, phophorescent sand (almost the coolest thing ever) - Greg and his guitar - Being constantly amazed at my good luck at ending up in such an amazing place - Monkeys! Everywhere! Th...

19th July - 21st August 2008: Sand, sweat and turtles, turtles, turtles So, how so I go about explaining the last five weeks that I´ve spent in a remote and tropical paradise which I am now completely in love with?! Firstly, my particular paradise is called the Osa Peninsula, on the south-east Pacific coast of Costa Rica. This area includes Corcovado National Park, which among other things, boasts the largest remaining tract of lowland Pacific rainforest in ...

14th - 18th July 2008: Ok, it seems like forever since I was in Jaco (it´s now the end of August!) but I will do my best to remember what it was like. So, after saying goodbye to the rest of our group in San Jose (and enjoying a scrumptious last supper, with real bread and everything!), Jen, Hayley and I decide to head to Playa Jaco for a spot of relaxation before carrying on our respective ways (Jen is off to New Zealand via America, Hayley to Cuba and Nicara...