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Jul
30
Critter of the week: Green caterpillar with a sting!
July 30, 2007 | Tags: Critter of the week | Comments Off
When you visit Costa Rica you’ll likely see a lot of wildlife you’ve never seen before. And you’re never quite sure what to make of them. There are bugs the size of small animals but which are harmless. There are cute and cuddly animals but with sharp claws. There are snakes that help keep your garden free of rats and other poisonous snakes and snakes that are to be avoided at all costs. So we introduce a new feature here on The Talamanca News – Critter of the Week — where we’ll give you a little more info on some of our jungle neighbors.
This week’s critter photo and write-up comes courtesy of the newsletter of El Puente-The Bridge (find it on map | website).
This critter is an absolutely cute looking little green crawly thing. See those green pointy things on its back? They’re sharp, and they are coated with a nasty chemical that at best can sting, but which can make you sick, and can even put you in the hospital – the insect version of the lion fish. One of the area women, who works at the local ice cream store, acidentally sat on one, and she learned about it the hard way. She’s loyal, God bless her, and she apparently went to work feeling absolutely rotten, knowing that there would be no one to cover for her if she stayed home. If you’re down here and you see one of these things, enjoy it – at a distance.
You can see another picture of him (from Columbia) here.
Does anyone know the name, scientific or otherwise, for this fellow?
Jul
29
Picture of the week: Homework by candlelight
July 29, 2007 | Tags: Photo of the week | Comments Off
This powerful picture comes to us via the newsletter of El Puente-The Bridge (view on map | website). The picture above was taken as Willi, Alejandro, an uncle, Dad Abelio, little Maria, and baby Catie gathered around a table at home, doing homework by candlelight. Eric Bellamy, a professional photographer, followed them one day as they returned from school, came through The Bridge, and walked to their jungle home.
Do you have a photo that you think would make a great photo of the week on the Talamanca News? Email it to editor@talamancanews.com.
Jul
29
Two new map listings this week: Finca Chica and Maitri Realty
July 29, 2007 | Tags: Site news | Comments Off
 One of the beautiful wooden houses at La Finca Chica |
We had two new listings added last week to the map:
- Finca Chica is a collection of four beautifully designed wooden houses at Cocles fully equipped with hi-speed internet, phone, satellite TV on a lush 2 1/2 acre property.
- Maitri Realty is a realtor operating out of an office at Kaya’s Place.
Still haven’t added your own favorite place to the map? What are you waiting for? You can add your own listing to the map at any time.
Jul
22
New on the map this week!
July 22, 2007 | Tags: Site news | Comments Off
 Yummy curry and rice at Chili Rojo  Bartender at El Dorado  View from the loft bedroom at La Casita de Cocles  Kids working with the computers at El Puente-The Bridge |
Listings keep coming in on the map. Last week saw five new points added:
- The town of Bribri is the administrative center for the region even if not particularly a tourist destination. It is however an authentic Caribbean-styled Tico town and locals and even tourists sometimes need the services that are provided there. Unfortunately, Google has not yet supplied detailed satellite images which cover this area so while you can tell the general distance between Puerto Viejo, Bribri and the Panama border at Sixaola.
- Chili Rojo is a restaurant serving Thai food in downtown Puerto Viejo
- El Dorado is a bar and restaurant in downtown Puerto Viejo.
Do you have opinions on these or other restaurants/bars in the area that you’d like to share with others? Add them to the Restaurant topic on the Forum.
- La Casita de Cocles is a vacation rental property at Playa Cocles.
- El Puente-The Bridge is a not-for-profit which has been operating in the area for some years helping isolated Bribri communities with educational and nourishment needs. You can read more about them on the Volunteer page or their website.
Still haven’t added your own favorite place to the map? What are you waiting for? You can add your own listing to the map at any time.
Jul
20
Help the kids from Siboldi
July 20, 2007 | Tags: Community News | Comments Off
Our Friend Danillo who is starting up an indigenous resource center and community eco-tourism project in Bambu (Bratsi) is asking the community to help provide some financial assistance for a small group of young people from a remote indigenous community called Sibodi. This group of 42 kids and 8 adults had the opportunity to participate in an event in San Jose—many of them had never left their community in the mountains and it was an amazing experience for all of them. They thought they had the trip all paid for by Japdeva and at the last minute the funding fell through. Luckily there was a neighbor who lent the money, but the much of that money needs to be paid back. Another neighbor offered to carry the group in his bus and only needs to be repaid the cost of the trip.
They need to raise ¢285000 to pay back the debt. That’s about $555.
Any ideas? Call Danillo—at the ATEC office 751 0026 or leave a message on his cell phone. 367 9841
There was a side bar article about Mr. Danillo and his project in the 13 July Tico Times, the Weekend section. It is available in their archives for a fee if you didn’t pick up the printed copy.
Jul
20
Greaseball Challenge came to Talamanca
July 20, 2007 | Tags: Environment | Comments Off
The Greaseball Challenge is a charity biofuel car rally from the USA to Central America. Inspired by the tradition of the classic car race, Greaseball is a cross-continental adventure promoting sustainability on a shoestring using renewable fuels. The challenge raised funds to support small-scale biofuel projects in Central America that benefit local communities. This year, among a few other projects, they raised funds to support a new community biofuel start-up here in Talamanca, CoopeTalmanca Sos. Greaseball Challenge donated a small pick up truck to Coop Talamanca Sostenible to support the project. Luckily, the coop’s president is a mechanic and is doing some fix ups on the truck, but they are also seeking funds to pay the registration and nationalization. In order to get it legal and in shape to pass the inspection they need about $800!
For more information about CoopeTalamanca Sos, Talamanca’s Clean Energy Bio Fuel Cooperative, visit the Grupo Adela website or look for their soon to come newsletter, the third release of the magazine “La Bici” coming in August or write to them at Adela@grupoadela.org
Puerto Viejo Satellite is supporting this project by processing secure credit card donations for them and passing on the donations as cash. We will cover all the credit card processing fees so that 100% of your donation will go to the project. If you’d like to make a donation, please go the the Donate page.
Jul
20
Update on the Recycling Truck
July 20, 2007 | Tags: Community News | 1 Comment
We recently posted a plea from ReciCaribe asking for help to fix their recycling truck. They had a number of donations and a number of questions so have passed on some additional info to us. Here’s the letter from Alaine Berg at ATEC:
| Dear Friends:ReciCaribe, the Association of Recycling of the Caribbean, sends you warm wishes and many thanks you for support in raising the funds to fix the collection truck.To further explain our situation…
Unfortunately, two factors have contributed to our current cash crunch; recently we’ve lost one of our buyers—certain plastics are no longer purchased; and recently we have increasing competition for the collection of aluminum—the highest paying material we collect. Monetary donations are one desperately needed response to our temporary crisis (see bank account info below), but there are also other ways for folks to help. Individual and businesses can continue to support us by sending all of your recyclable materials through our community based effort and encouraging neighbors to do the same. We collect recyclables from Sixaola to the Valle de la Estrella, from Manzanillo to Cahuita, from BriBri to Gandoca; we cover nearly all of Talamanca! Annually, we remove more than 100 tons of solid waste from our community. A third way to contribute is with your time. You can contact us directly to get involved. Although we will for the first time since our inception suspend service, we’re doing all we can to attempt to maintain regular service. In our fund drive so far we have collected nearly $200 of the $1000 we need. Each little donation adds up. See detail of donations so far below. Donors can be assured that their contributions will be responsibly utilized. We have recently secured a grant from Fundecooperación in order to obtain equipment which help us be much more productive and sustainable. ReciCaribe is also getting involved with another recycling endeavor in Talamanca. Recently members of ADELA (Acción de Lucha Anti-petrolera—the group that continues to fight after so many years to keep Talamanca and Costa Rica free from Petroleum exploitation) have joined forces to form a cooperative called “CoopeTalamanca Sosentible.” The idea of the coop is to promote alternative sources to petroleum to meet our fuel “needs.” CoopeTalamanca is working with engineer Mario Araya, of Proambiente, S.A., to produce a bio-fuel called KleanAir Fuel—KAF. KAF Talamanca will be produced with recycled biomass waste from the banana farms and plantations. More information on the coop: www.grupoadela.org. So with these two projects, among others, we look forward to further success of our project. The point is to send thanks to the community at large for supporting efforts to overcome our challenges. Be it time, money, or recyclable materials it all adds up. If ReciCaribe can continue to be a success, it can model organization both nationally and internationally and really make a difference. ReciCaribe has worked for years with not only Talamanca’s schools, associations, and municipal officials, but also government officials out of Bocas del Toro, Panama and we’ve served as a model for all of Central America. One last point: Among our goals at the Association for Recycling in the Caribbean are to remove as much solid waste as possible from our zone, therefore contributing to a cleaner and safer environment for our community and the planet at large. We ask any reader with information of other buyers of recyclable materials (tin, cardboard, plastics, etc.) to please contact us, contact information below. We are very aware that you in this community are asked to contribute a lot. But, if we don’t ask, we won’t get anywhere. We all know that being part of being a member of a community requires participation; therefore, we’re hoping that you can help us to continue to improve our home’s health, beauty and, yes, tourism. Please contact us with any questions or answers… Pura Vida, Danny Umaña Gutiérrez (solo Español) Where to Make Deposits… Nacional and internacional Credit Card donations: Thank you to our Donors:
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Puerto Viejo Satellite is supporting this project with a cash donation and by processing credit card donations for those who want to donate this way. We will cover all credit card processing charges so 100% of the donation will go to ReciCaribe. To donate, go to the Donate page.
Jul
20
Raptor Migration Counters needed at Kèköldi Scientific Center
July 20, 2007 | Tags: Environment | Comments Off
FALL 2007 Migration season: Sept 1 to Dec 15 2007
DUTIES INCLUDE: assisting and working with local official counters in monitoring raptor migration as part of the count team, data entry, flight interpretation to visitors. Other opportunities provided to assist in other research/conservation projects located at Kèköldi.
LOCATION : South Caribbean Costa Rica, Talamanca Region, between Puerto Viejo and Cahuita, Limón Province. Talamanca is an obligatory passage area for Neotropical migrants, and therefore a privileged place to study bird ecology and conservation. The Kèköldi Hawkwatch is located in the Kéköldi Indigenous Reserve, a 3500 ha reserve of Primary and Secondary forests and cocoa plantations. Observations are made from a 10 meter tower built at Kéköldi Indigenous Reserve, 210 m above sea level., with 360º view over the flyway area.
DURATION: Minimum 2 weeks participation.
ROOM & BOARD: available at the new Scientific Center built in the Indigenous Reserve.
BACKGROUND : The Kèköldi Hawkwatch started its activities in 2000, and operates during both migration seasons. It is one of the only 3 sites in the world with more than 1 million birds observed per season and the only tropical active full-season Hawkwatch. During the autumn 2005 with the help of many volunteers, Kèköldi Hawkwatch counted more than 2,900,000 birds, including approx. 3000 individuals of the charismatic Peregrine Falcon, more observed at Kèköldi than anywhere else in the world.
TRAINING: On the Job.
Training dates are as follows and so participants must arrive to the Scientific Center by one of these days and are welcome to stay for as long as they wish:
September 3, 2007
September 17, 2007
October 3, 2007
October 15, 2007
October 29, 2007
November 12, 2007
VOLUNTEER FEE: U.S.$650 (if you stay one entire month and for each additonal month, a $100 discount is applied). For less time, the volunteer fees are… 2 weeks=$380, 3 weeks=$570. Fee includes practical training, provided throughout your stay; lodging in shared rooms at the Kèköldi Scientific Center, 3 daily meals included. Travel and additional living expenses must be provided by the volunteers.
QUALIFICATIONS : Bird observation experience or previous ecology field work experience important but not obligatory. Physically fit and willing to work long hours under hot and humid conditions; being able to work in a team and, most of all, enthusiastic. Some Spanish knowledge is important but not obligatory.This is a much demanded volunteer program, but numerous positions are still available throughout autumn 2007 migration season. Make your reservation with time. Non Paid Position.
You can get more information at their website http://www.kekoldi.org/ or you can see all the ways you can help out with environmental and community initiatives at the Help Out page.
Jul
15
This week’s new map listings
July 15, 2007 | Tags: Site news | Comments Off
 Coco Loco Lodge  Stanford’s |
Welcome to eight new listings this week on the map. One of these, Cabinas Lika, is fairly new in town. The others have been around for a while (a long long while in the case of Stanford’s) but they’ve finally listed on the map!
- Casitas de Punta Uva 2 and 3 bedroom vacation rental houses near Punta Uva
- Coco Loco Lodge Caribbean-style bungalows in a tropical garden in Puerto Viejo
- Soda Tayito Local Caribbean food in Puerto Viejo
- Cabinas Lika Large new economical cabinas in Puerto Viejo
- Stanford’s Restaurant The beachfront restaurant and bar which has been a Puerto Viejo landmark since the beginning
- Soda Be Happy Fast food
- Pharmacy The coolest A/C in Puerto Viejo! Oh yeah, and drugs!
- Internet cafe and stationer Paper, pens and high-speed internet
Jul
13
Tico Times Weekend writes about Volunteering in the South Caribbean
July 13, 2007 | Tags: Helping Out | Comments Off
The Tico Times Weekend today published an article about the experience of volunteering in our area. The article is based on interviews with Scott Pralinsky and his staff at Tropical Adventures (view on map | see website) which runs volunteer vacation programs in the area working with indigenous communities.
The volunteers in the article helped out at the Hone Creek Iguana Farm and visited Bambú (also known as Bratsi) as well as other programs.
The article also includes a sidebar on the hotel Banana Azul (view on map | see website) which opened a few months ago just outside Puerto Viejo at Playa Negra.
You can read the entire article here: Volunteer Programs Offer Enriching Way to Experience Southern Caribbean.
Or you can pick up a printed copy of The Tico Times this week. It is available at The Old Harbour Supermarket.
Jul
10
ReciCaribe to suspend recycling pickup pending repairs and fundraising
July 10, 2007 | Tags: Community News | 1 Comment
ReciCaribe has announced they’ll need to suspend recycling pickup for a few weeks due to their truck being in need of repairs. Their full announcement is below (Spanish then English). They need to raise about $1000 to fix the truck. If you can help, please make a donation below:
| Asociación de Reciclaje del Caribe Puerto Viejo, Talamanca – Limón, Costa Rica Teléfono: 756-8181 888-7167 E-mail: recicaribe@hotmail.comESTIMADOS USUARIOS DEL SISTEMA DE RECOLECCION Por este medio, le agradecemos el apoyo brindado a la actividad de reciclaje a favor de nuestro ambiente y la salud en general. Le informamos que la actividad de recolección será suspendida por unas dos semanas durante julio con el fin de hacer reparaciones al motor del camión y cambiar el cajón por uno nuevo para ponerlo al día con la revisión técnica (RTV). Como es de su conocimiento, estos gastos son altos y al menos requerimos de unos ¢ 500.000, dinero que no poseemos; si usted puede ayudarnos con alguna donación para estas reparaciones o de un préstamo o la alquila barata de un camión, favor comunicarse con nosotros los antes posible. GRACIAS! ESTEEMED FRIENDS OF RECICARIBE AND USERS OF THE COLLECTION SYSTEM We write to thank you for the support you have given to the recycling association and therefore the support you have given to the health of our environment and community. We also write to let you know that we are going to have to suspend our pick up route for a week or two in July. We are working to raise the money to be able to make much needed reparations to the truck so we can pass the RTV inspection. To get everything up to the level where we will pass, we need to raise about ¢500.000! We have not had to suspend service since we started in 1999, and are sad to have to do it now. If you or someone you know has a truck that they can lend us, or some cash to donate to fixing up the truck. We’d be forever indebted. GRACIAS! Pura Vida, |
Can you help fix the truck by donating $10, $20 or $50? If so, please donate using the credit card form below. Puerto Viejo Satellite will cover all processing fees so 100% of your donation will go towards this.
Jul
10
Costa Rica telephone numbers to change to 8 digits
July 10, 2007 | Tags: Local Business News | 1 Comment
According to an article in La Nacion yesterday, telephone numbers in Costa Rica are changing to 8 digits effective March 20, 2008. Existing telephone numbers will have an extra 2 at the beginning of the number so our local 750 numbers will become 2750 numbers. ICE then will begin offering new numbers starting with a 5. This applies to Cellulars as well as land lines.
You can read the full article here (in Spanish): ICE invertirá $15 millones en cambio a 8 dígitos en teléfonos
Jul
10
Keeping track of the news when you’re on dialup
July 10, 2007 | Tags: Site news | Comments Off
There are still a lot of people in the area who don’t have the option of high speed yet. Of course, when ICE begins offering it to more areas, we’ll be the first to let you know here!
Meanwhile, the question remains what’s the best way to keep up on the Talamanca News when I have to use expensive dialup services? Well the answer is to subscribe to the RSS (“Really Simple Syndication”) feed via RSS reader software.
I use a free program called Feedreader. You can get more information on it and download it at www.feedreader.com.
What this does is check for all the news sources you’ve subscribed to when you’re online and download them to your computer. It pops up a little window on your toolbar when a new article comes in. That alone is an advantage since you don’t need to check every site you’re interested in to see if there are new articles. But better yet you need not still be connected to your dial-up when you open and read the article (some articles depending on the source, do require you to be online to see some of the content or read the full article, others you can see the whole thing).
And what do I mean by “news sources”? Well beyond the Talamanca News, almost all blogs support RSS as do most news outlets. And often they support it in a rich way that let’s you search for specific things you are interested in.
So here, for example are some news sources you might subscribe to:
- The Talamanca News (this site): http://www.puertoviejosatellite.com/news/rss
- Colin Brownlee’s Life in Puerto Viejo blog: http://colinsito.blogs.com/life_in_puerto_viejo/rss.xml
- Yahoo News stories containing “Puerto” and “Viejo”: http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/rss;_ylt=A9j8euyyt5NGDd8ARgrQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MTBsZGZsBHNlYwNhZG0-?ei=UTF-8&p=puerto+viejo&c=&eo=UTF-8
(this one has lots of irrelevant stuff since those two words can appear separately and of course have nothing to do with our Puerto Viejo).
You don’t have to remember ugly URL addresses like those though. In FeedReader and other programs, you can just enter the base address when you’re asked for the address of the feed and it will search for feeds. Or, look for a button on the page like “Subscribe via RSS”.
The Talamanca News offers not only an RSS Feed, but we’ll also email you new articles as they are posted if you like. Check out all the options on the Subscribe page.
Got questions? Leave them in a comment to this article and I’ll try and address them.
Jul
7
New listings this week on the Puerto Viejo Satellite Map!
July 7, 2007 | Tags: Site news | Comments Off
 Casa Fiesta  Caribbean Surf School at Playa Negra |
Welcome to three new listings this week on the map:
Casa Fiesta is a local beachfront cottage in Playa Negra with modern amenities.
Caribbean Surf School and Tours is the surf school and tour company run by local resident Herschel. Also check out Hershel’s brand-new website: www.caribbeansurfschoolandtours.com
Salsa Brava is the beach we all know and the surfers love in front of town. I added this listing to round out the different surf spots available in the area.
Welcome all! Remember, if you’ve got a place you’d like listed in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Punta Uva, Manzanillo, Hone Creek or anywhere in the Caribe Sur, please add the point to the map. The basic listing is completely free.
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