Jack Ewing, the author of the book, is also the owner of Hacienda Baru, located in the Baru Wildlife refuge. This funny book contains a collection of personal experiences related to living in the Costa Rican jungle. You will not only find out how to live with exotic wildlife and why a boa constrictor in the attic can be a good thing, but you will also learn why Jack decided to stop his cattle farm activities and started planting trees. Written in a very entertaining way and consisting of short stories this book is an easy read even for those who normally do not like to read books. Anyone with an interest in co-living with exotic wildlife and trees, should read this book. It also makes a nice preparation for your upcoming trip to Costa Rica!
Traveling Minds | YŪGEN’s book and movie tips - Part II
Has your holiday been postponed? Are you traveling with us later this year? Or do you just want to learn more about other parts of the world? Then let your mind travel, in times our bodies can’t. In part II of our blog Traveling Minds the suggested books and movies are set in... Costa Rrrrrica! Here are our recommendations:
1. Monkeys are made of Chocolate | Jack Ewing | Costa Rica | nonfiction
2. The adventurer's Son | Roman Dial | Costa Rica | A memoir
Roman Dial is a pioneering American adventurer, professor of mathematics and biology, renowned for his skills in mountaineering, ice climbing, rafting and grueling backcountry endurance races, a former National Geographic Explorer who obtained a Ph.D. from Stanford University and lives in Anchorage.
He and his 27-year old son, Cody Roman, had traveled together across the globe, through all kinds of terrain in countries like Borneo, Bhutan and Central America. But then on July 10th, 2014 Cody went alone into Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica, carrying only a light backpack and a machete, for he had been raised to be at home in the world's wildest places. Before departure he emailed his dad: 'I am not sure how long it will take me, but I'm planning on doing 4 days in the jungle and a day to walk out. I'll be bound by a trail to the west and the coast everywhere else, so it should be difficult to get lost forever'. These were the last words Roman received from his son. Then he vanished....
Dial sets of for Costa Rica, looking for his son and the truth: despite all his experience, did he have a fatal encounter in the wild? Was he murdered by drug smugglers, poachers or illegal miners? And was he responsible for his son's fate? In many ways he had set his child on the path to Corcovado by the way he raised him...Or was he safe and using his outdoor skills on an epic solo adventure from which he would return at any moment?
The adventurer's Son is so many things at the same time: it is a true story, a page-turner, a thriller, detective, drama..but most of all a book about a passion for discovery and a journey to understand the truth about those we love the most, set in the most beautiful yet dangerous reaches of the planet.
If you are traveling with us to Corcovado, do not be afraid: it is not allowed to enter the National Park alone so you will be accompanied by a ranger and possibly a few other travelers. Groups are kept small, your permit to enter the park is reserved by us.
3. Walking with Wolf-Reflections on a life spent protecting the Costa Rican wilderness | Kay Chornook & Wolf Guindon | Costa Rica | nonfiction
Wolf Guindon is the father of Ricardo, who you may know from our unique tour 'Meet the Quackers'. Wolf used to be a Quacker in Alabama until he was imprisoned in 1949 because he refused to support and fight in the Korean War. A year later, after his release, he and his bride together with a few other Quacker families decided to move to a country where they were welcome with their pacifist believes and could continue to cultivate their dairy farms. Costa Rica had abolished its army in 1948 and had underdeveloped mountainsides that were perfect for their trade. So, in 1950 they picked up their belongings and moved to Monteverde where they began to farm and live in peace. These families, along with some of the area’s locals, have established the most eco-minded community in the country.
In this book writer Kay, a Canadian social activist, walks and talks with Wolf in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. She also gives him a small tape recorder so he can record his memoires while hiking alone. The book is based on the info she was able to gather this way. Wolf helped to create the Monteverde Cloud Forest, realizing the importance of protecting the unique fauna and flora in this region. He would hike with a machete, cutting trails in the dense forest and while doing so he met wild cats and followed a tapir's trails. Walking with Wolf combines history with ecology and a vision concerning the importance of environmental protection.
4. The birds of Costa Rica | Richard Garrigues & Robert Dean | Costa Rica | Field guide
Wether you're a birder or not, chances are that once in Costa Rica you will become one. All over the country the colorful birds with their beautiful songs make it hard not to admire them.
And..with over 900 species you do need a guide to know which one you are looking at. The birds of Costa Rica is a very practical guide: it is elaborate and compact at the same time, ideal to carry in a small day pack or in hand. The lay out clearly shows where you can find which bird and by looking at the perfect drawings you are bound to become an expert soon yourself.
In the back of the book there is a list of all species in which you can indicate which ones you have seen. It is always a good idea to order the book in advance and decide which ones you really want to try and spot during your next holiday in Costa Rica as it will be impossible to see them all in just a few weeks time.
Do you prefer to watch a movie?
The National Geographic series Untamed: Costa Rica with Filipe DeAndrade is absolutely recommended for all who are interested in exotic fauna and flora.
After words is a hopeful movie about a lady who decides to make a last journey before committing suicide. In Costa Rica she learns what Pura Vida means.
The blue butterfly is a story about a boy with terminal cancer. His last wish is to see the mysterious Blue Morpho butterfly so he travels to Costa Rica.
Medea is a drama about a 25 year old girl who is pregnant without anyone knowing. In 2017 the film won two awards at the Costa Rican movie festival in the categories Best Costa Rican movie and Best Central American movie.
Tropix is a movie, directed by Americans who live in Costa Rica and tells the story of a family who is taking a holiday in Costa Rica. The wife discovers there that her husband is not exactly the person she thought he was. He's got dirty hands...
I hope most of these books and movies will let you mentally escape the inside of your house and have you dreaming about better times in which you will be able to travel to, wander around in, experience, taste and discover those amazing places.
Share your smile, keep dreaming & stay safe,
Iris
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