Unfolding As I Go - Carole's travel blog

It all sounds very appealing on the Workaway description: a forest lodge with a yoga shala up high in the mountains (1600m) in central Costa Rica near Cartago. Only a couple hours of work needed per day and plenty of alone-time to rest and do whatever I want, use the yoga shala. My own private room and a daily contribution for the meals from the restaurant chef. I feel lucky to have been accepted here! And so much looking forward to some time away from the heat, welcoming the freshness of the mountain! This is also the perfect place for me to step up in my yoga practice and take the time for the pre-work of my upcoming Yoga Teacher Training, reading the book the 4 Insights by Alberto Villoldo (highly recommended). Bonus: another volunteer is arriving the same day as me, Elena, she is a yoga teacher and is coming just to teach us yoga everyday, so happy! The place is really beautiful, all cabins and lodges made of the pine trees that we planted 40 years ago by Juan's fathe

Spending Christmas so far away from home and family, I was looking forward to arriving at Matilde's house. She and her family seemed to be a very warm and welcoming from their Workaway profile so it was the place I wanted to be for Christmas, especially because they are engaged in environmental and social projects and she said they don't do anything commercial with gifts but simply spend time together and cook food, perfect. They truly were welcoming and warm, I was really happy to be there. I spend 4 really sweet and fun days with Matilde, her daughter Nissa (19) and family friend Raquel with her children (although at their grandparents for the vacation time). The time with them was very chill, relaxed and fun. There wasn't much work for me to do because I stayed so little time and it was mostly raining the whole time, so not possible to work in the garden. 'What do you do when it rains here?' 'well, just as we are doing now, we have nice conversations, we c

Seven days at Pachamama, four days of 'Freedom from the Past' workshop, lots of emotional release in all the exercises, great group of people, made super nice friends, stunning location in the jungle, intense heat the whole time, no phone during 5 days as 'digital diet,' nice bungalow and balcony just for me, sounds of howler monkeys waking you up at 4am, iguanas and other creatures ruffling under the leaves all around, hummingbirds feeding on flowers, yoga classes at 6:30am, beach swim and sunset in San Juanillo, sea snails all around and pink seashells pieces. Thank you Pachamama and Karam for this transformational week.  Can you spot the monkey in the tree? San Juanillo secret beach  Sea snails crawling everywhere

Yes this is actually the name where I am now! Doing my first Workaway in Hacienda Mil Bellezas, a a jungle and horse ranch remotely situated on the South Pacific Coast between Quepos and Parrita, close to the most visited National Park in the country called Manuel Antonio. My arrival is after dark (even though it is only 6pm) so I still have to wait a night before seeing the thousand beauties where I have arrived. Upon arriving I'm happy to discover I have a nice clean private room and bathroom in the guesthouse shared with 2 other volunteers Nicky and Morgan, with mosquito net, fan, space to hang up all my belongings. The white sheets smell good, there are no giant insects around as I had feared - I arrived in such a luxury place! After dinner (6pm regular dinner time actually), I'm in bed at 8pm feeling very safe, relieved, happy and blessed. A super nice surprise on my arrival: 'Oh by the way we have kittens!' The 2 volunteers found them abandoned along the road w