Un poco de todos

A bit here a bit there, some random stuff during my last days in Costa Rica




In San Jose they are building a China Town and the Chinese government gave a front gate as a gift to the country. Some men from China were then assigned to build the gate in a few months.
 

intellectual workers :p

Another day I joined Mei for an aerial dancing class.

Learn from the pro

wiiiii

un poco cansado :p

Then we went horse riding with miss Sara.

4 year old Spanish horse

A guy having two iguanas as pets and walking around with them on his shoulder at a local market

Shortly after that we had a BBQ at Sara's place

Despite the tons load of work she had, I met up with Mei again one of the last days and we had delicious crepes!

Last day in Costa Rica: visiting the highest volcano with two other Chinese girls. It was a bit foggy though so we didn't see all that much, too bad!

Animal Neotropical

Welcome to Animal Neotropical, a wildlife rescue center. Here I stayed for a couple of days doing some volunteer work and helping around.

Front gate with Rosa

The house

Rosa and Michael, the brains and muscles behind Animal Neotropical

The main residents of the center are dogs:

One of the newest member of the family, a pregnant doggie

Most of the dogs were paired up so they are not alone in their pens

Cute little Golfito!

Rata doesn't seem to like me all that much...

 Other animals

Demonito, due to the big land slide last month his big house got trashed so for now he was kept in a smaller cage while his new house is under construction

This little fella is one of the long term visitors of the center. Like all animals he needs daily care and attention.

He was kept as a pet before so releasing him to the wild is not an option anymore

Another little one waiting for his new house, who knows the name of this animal in English?

Mister Toekan

 Some other animals passing by

Birdie

Little nice lizard

Monkeys spotted in the trees!

 During the day I stayed and helped out at the center and in the night I was offered a bed at Jessicas house

Uncle, mummy, daddy and Jessica, lovely people!

Kitty kat watching our my room

Rainforest

Kids playing at the river shore

Full moon

 The two pics below are taking 2 seconds after one another. It's a kind of plant that reacts to contact, so when you touch it, it closes. Let's hear it for mother Nature!

Cowboy cowboy riding in a rodeo, can I ride along with you

Horsies horsies horsies, that was the plan for last sunday!


We started the day by getting up at 5 am and driving to Rancho Sacramento to pick up Imperial.

Unloading Imperial at a very busy street waiting for our connection

crazy ticos

Rancho Sacramento

Loading the horse in a truck full of horses and cows, Costa Rican style! :p

Once arrived Imperial was hurt badly during the transportation so we brought him to a friends place where he could recover.

Back to the competition scene.

How's that for a burn mark! :p

First discipline we saw: Team penning. A cow is set free and a team of two riders have to catch it at the same time.

Only one rider caught the cow...

Hello mister! (talking to the horse :p)

Second discipline, for the girls: Barrel Racing. Three barrels are set up in the arena and the rider has to manage the horse around every barrel and then race back as fast as possible

My favorite cowgirl, really a team with her horse instead of unnecessary pulling in the horse's mouth

In the meanwhile cowboys warming up :-D

Third discipline, again for the girls, Agility stuff: a row of poles and you have to ride to the end, come back zigzag between the poles, again forth between the poles and race back as fast as possible.

Next discipline is the rodeo, no need for much explanation here I think.You have a bull that does crazy jumps and just try to stay on its back as long as possible

Security ^^

Once the guy is thrown of the back the bull is restrained and put back into the pens.

Now that's a view :-D Cowboys everywhere

Last but not least, roping.

1. The calf is restrained in a small box and the cowboy waits behind the line. Once the calf is set free the cowboy rides out and the clock starts ticking

2. The calf is caught and the rider jumps off the horse while the horse is braking.

3. The horse brakes so that the rider can go over to restrain the calf

4. The cowboy has to lift up the calf completely and then put it on the ground on its side

5. Then the four hooves are tied together and the clock is stopped

 First time I have been to a competition like this so very cool!

Did anybody order a over the top handsome stallion :-D

Ropes ropes and more ropes :-D This is the equipment for the roping discipline

weird protectors...