Drifting above the rainforest: Ziplining in Monteverde

For me, Monteverde (located in the centre of Costa Rica) is, and will always be, one of the most immersive and beautiful places in South America. It’s good food, fantastic hotel resorts (donut breakfast!), and an adrenaline pumping experience.

I didn’t know that morning, during the donut breakfast buffet previously mentioned, that I would be suspended 160 ft above the rainforest canopy. You could imagine my surprise, therefore, when I encountered one of said zip lines, balanced precariously on the edge of a mountain. A structure of cheap steel and wood. I mean come on! Really!

I was harnessed and ready to go, my heart about to pump out of my chest and make a break for it, running away going “see you later sucker!”. Thankfully it didn’t, so I still had to do it.
Usually I’m an adventurous guy, someone who’ll try new things. Not then. Then I wanted to get away, to not do it. I didn’t though, I reinforced, reassured and reenergised myself, this became incredibly important when I was the first person to be clipped to the line.

Imagine, for a second, you’re in my shoes. A size 9 1/2, probably some sort of office shoes- anyway, you’re basically dangling there, and then you go forward through a hoe in the trees and there’s the floor…a long way down.
I’m not scared of heights. Falling from them, however, is something I don’t really plan on doing, nor do in the future, so I immediately pulled on the brakes. That’s important, that bit, that reflex I had no control over. You’ll need to remember that for later on.

The first three or four weren’t bad, an introduction to get you’re body used to basically flying through the air attached to a piece of string. Something we surprisingly aren’t supposed to do-Who invented Ziplining? I mean, what were they doing?
Then you got confident, the adrenaline kicks in and you’re ready to go, skipping from track to track. I was on the 9th, 10th, 11- wait. Wait what was that?
Halfway through the penultimate track I saw the next one, and a (fair to say) obese lady simply stopping at the centre of it. Left hanging there overlooking what I was told at the end of the course by a smiling staff member the highest, longest and fastest track.
Haha, silly woman, thinking that was a good idea. Hahaha-wait. I’m next! Oh lord how do I get out of- oh okay I’m guessing I’m being clipped in now.

Well, see where this is going?

I was clipped in and stupidly peered over the edge. It was a long way down. I could picture myself falling down, arriving at the bottom with a sickening crunch. As I set off, accelerating at an alarming pace, that panic came back to me, the reflex came back as well and I applied the brakes. I applied the brakes! Why in all that is holy would I apply the brakes. Now I was stuck there, the wind whipping around me as I rocked from side to side, the cable creaking. I had to pull myself along, which I did. Putting one hand in front of the other as I tried to escape the black void beneath me. I was higher up than the tallest trees, which swayed back and forth. After five minut-five minutes! After five minutes of this I picked up speed and accelerated again, going once more as fast as usual. I was going very fast, so fast in fact that when I put the brakes on at the end, sparks flew out. I was left there on the precipice, breathing at an alarming rate (although this could be mainly due to the exercise I had had to do.) and at the end of the course.

Although my accident was a scary ordeal, I would recommend anyone visiting Monteverde to check out their Ziplining service as it is well worth the money. The staff are incredibly friendly and the café at the end allows some time to unwind!

Monteverde Ziplining

-Elliot

Pack your bags! My ideal bag and what’s inside it.

For me, preparation isn’t necessarily the key, moreover an accessory. Like a wristband, or a slightly odd fitting hat. Wait, let me start again.

For me, preparation is like a slightly odd fitting hat.

However, as much as I’m not an enthusiast in preparation, a good bag full of the right equipment is essential. There has been many times where I wish I had that one object, just like a hat sometimes, rarely comes in handy. I think that for, me, there is a certain formula for that bag, and when you get that right can make a travel trip an unforgettable experience, and not one that’s fitted with nits and bobs and doo-wops that you don’t need.

For me, I hate using modern technology. I want to get away from civilisation, not take it camping with me!

So, to go with the title, what is my ideal bag ?

For me, I want something light and manoeuvrable, allowing free movement yet retaining tight to the body to stop flapping about and leaning away from me, giving excess weight to areas I don’t want. I recommend the Osprey Kestrel 68 M/L Backpack. It provides support and comfort yet doesn’t get in the way, allowing flexible movement all around. Although, in the wild it isn’t a fashion show, Osprey’s sleek design does score it a point.

And, what do I put in it ?

For me, I hate using modern technology. I want to get away from civilisation, not take it camping with me! That’s why I only take perhaps a camera, and that’s it as far as tech goes. I like using the traditional methods. Compass, map and binoculars all have a place in my bag. Next to my notebook and eon for any doodlings or writing I might do whilst out. Many people prefer the modern route, and granted it has it’s advantages. It’s easier, faster and accessible, which is exactly why I don’t want to take it.
I don’t really see the point in modern tech, I prefer the traditional methods because not only does it provide an escape from the use of everyday technology, but it slows everything down. And by slowing everything down you have more time to think and reflect. My bag checklist goes as:

– Map
-Compass
-Pen
-Notebook
-Camera (Panasonic T300)
-Lots of chocolate (they’re a great source of energy, that’s the general excuse)

So, there we are. That’s all I need. No fancy tablets or ultralight waterproof shoes. I hope that you follow the same creed, however not everyone will, and that’s perfectly fine. No adventure is the same for any two people and we all strive for our own reasons. But what’s in your bag?

-Elliot

Hello from your new co-admin.

Hello everybody, I’ve been talking to KleesButterfly about the issue of the Co-admin and have been accepted to fill in the gap. Although I’m still a student and have exams I will be doing my best to keep this blog up to date following the preparations for going public. If you have any questions feel free to ask me anything.

-Elliot

Going Public

So, what we have here’s pretty good, right?
A decent sized community of globe trotters, hitchhikers and nomads. But it’s time to ask ourselves an important question about the future.

I know you’re all tired, having completed 201/101 or just plain bored. But, I feel we need to address wether or not to go public with the blog, turning it into a magazine or something of that nature.

Of course, there are positives and negatives to both sides. We’re writers at our hearts as well as explorers, so that must mean we want our bits and bobs and ramblings to be heard…right? It could potentially open us up to many opportunities, and I feel that this community has real potential!

Yet, I appreciate and respect the fact that. Many of you are a bit shy,there’s nothing wrong with that. You’d appreciate being left alone in our little group, not having to worry about anyone you don’t want to reading your stuff. Of course, this blog is a complete democracy. I’m just the one pitching the ideal having talked to KleesButterfly about it.

What do you guys think?

-Elliot

Idea for community event.

Hi everybody!

I mentioned in a comment an idea for a community event, but wanted to get feedback from the rest of you. It would involve being public though…

Basically, as we are a growing community of travels, that,Mugabe noticed come from all around the world and write about various topics, what about,for one or two weeks, somebody writes a post each day about a different area of the world, every writer doing one or two days. This means that, in one or two weeks we will have collectively covered the entire world!

What do you think??

-Elliot

Hi Everyone

Hi there everyone, i’m a travel blogger from the uk, i’m glad to see the community already starting to develop and can’t wait to see what becomes of this 🙂

if you want to look at my blog you can head on over to: thiselliot.wordpress.com

-Elliot