Kararhea Photography Blog

March 13, 2010 // Lifestyle / Travel

"You are a lucky duck!" became the quote that could sum up pretty much any day on our trip. What started as a comment made during a game of phase ten ended up as a one liner that could turn the worst of moods upside down. Sure, traveling is absolutely a fun experience, but don't go thinking it's all sunshine and roses. There are 4 a.m wake up calls, roosters that wake you on the first day you can sleep in, and howler monkeys outside your window in the middle of the night. There are hours on chicken buses that never seem to move, and broken down mini vans in the middle of nowhere... thankfully the middle of nowhere has a restaurant. During those hours upon hours on buses there are hours upon hours without meals or sleep or bathrooms. There are also taxi rides to beaches during which the driver stops three times for directions, only to arrive at a place we can't afford. During these times, these moments of sleep deprivation and grumpiness, it was good to be reminded that we were all "lucky ducks!".

For three glorious weeks my husband Dwayne and I traveled Nicaragua and Costa Rica with our good friends Jen and Ben. We spent two very busy weeks in Nicaragua before crossing into Costa Rica for the more relaxed "holiday" portion of our trip. They are two very beautiful and very different countries. Every day we felt so lucky to be there. I would be writing forever if I tried to describe what we saw and loved about these places, so instead I will show you.

We began our trip in Nicaragua, flying immediately to the Corn Islands. The vegetation and humidity of Little Corn Island brought memories of Thailand flooding back. I love this climate!!!

The beach of Little Corn Island, above, and one of the cabinas at Elsa's below.

Big Corn Island (above and below) to the right and left of our hotel.

Laguna de Apoyo - a lake formed in the crater of a volcano. We hiked three hours uphill for this photo!

Volcano night tour, above the Masaya Volcano at sunset.

Looking down into the volcano at night, standing at the edge, no guardrail between me and molten lava!

Las Isletas, Lake Nicaragua - we took a boat tour to some of the islands. There are approximately 365 islands on this huge lake. The first two photos are taken on the "chicken bus" a two hour bus ride to get about 6 miles! We picked up mattresses and a refrigerator along with passengers on the way. These kids were so cute, and so very patient!

An extended family of about 40 people or so live on this island. We stopped in for some visiting and they served us coconuts. Our tour provider sent us with some photos for them taken by past tourists that had visited, as well as some clothes for the children. They were very grateful and excited!

These children are so beautiful! I wanted to take one home!!

They thought it was funny that I was taking photos of their rooster!

Not our boat, below, but we were on one similar...

Monkey Island, a small island home to five monkeys brought there by a local veterinarian. He visits regularly to feed them and keep them healthy. The males are friendly but apparently you don't want to get too close to the only female!

The streets of Granada, Nicaragua... We loved this gorgeous colonial city!!

I seem to be drawn to bikes around the world. I love this little "chopper"!

After Grenada we headed to the touristy beach side town of San Juan Del Sur.

Isla de Ometepe, Ometepe meaning between two hills, is an island consisting of two volcanoes. Concepcion stands at 1610m tall and Maderas at 1394m. Most people come here to climb the volcanoes, but climbing up to the San Ramon waterfall was enough for us.

La Fortuna, Costa Rica, another volcano town!!!

After La Fortuna we headed down to two of our favorite Costa Rican towns, Montezuma and Santa Teresa, to spend the last 6 days totally relaxing and enjoying the beaches. If you're wondering why this is our fourth time in this area, well, pictures speak louder than words!!!

this bird wanted my pancakes!

Our favorite little place in Santa Teresa, Casa Zen

At that concludes our three weeks of bliss! If you made it this far, here is our last couple of glimpses of ocean on the ferry to San Jose.

And that's it! Thanks to everyone who made it to the end of this incredibly long post!

6 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

Trish:

Kara,
these pictures are absolutely unbelievable!

(03.14.10 @ 09:50 AM)

Erika:

I've always wanted to travel to Costa Rica, now I know I must travel to Costa Rica!! Stunning images. I love the B&W of the tree!

(03.14.10 @ 12:38 PM)

Becky:

Love that pic of the lone tree on the hill....that is definitely a piece of art that belongs on someone's wall!

(03.14.10 @ 12:56 PM)

Jen D:

Kara! Sooo fun to re-live the trip through the eye of your camera! I love the way you captured so many of the things we loved! I may want to make some of these art for MY walls!!

(03.14.10 @ 01:57 PM)

Kendra:

Oh My Sister... you are so incredibly talented!! These are amazing!! I love the last beach shot from Sta Theresea....makes me want to go back so badly.
P.S. I find it extremely ironic that you like to photograph bicycles when you don't like riding them! :-)

(03.14.10 @ 07:25 PM)

sonya:

these pictures speak volumes about your trip! definitely loved the tree on the hill shot. so gorgeous!

(03.14.10 @ 10:59 PM)

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Sister, Sister

February 23, 2010 // Lifestyle

I'm back from my 3 week vacation in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. We're all moved in to our new house, my internet is now up and running, and I am all out of excuses to not get my work done! So, now it's time to get caught up on some blogging!!

I am the proud owner of three sisters. Yup, one of four girls in my family, and no brothers (my poor father!). Growing up my two older sisters were my hero's, but not exactly my friends. They were my baby sitters, my role models, and sometimes my enemy, but as a kid I wouldn't say we were close. Of course as we grew older that all changed and now I am blessed with not only three sisters, but three great friends. My relationship with my sister Kendra changed when I entered highschool and she was in grade 12. Suddenly I wasn't just her twerpy little sister, but somehow became someone she respected. She recruited me to work on the yearbook that year, as she was the editor. I partially credit that yearbook work to the beginning of my passion for photography. When she moved out after highschool I spent many weekends visiting her in her Winnipeg apartment, exploring the "big city". When I finished highschool and didn't know what to do with my life, I moved to Halifax to live with her for a year while she went to college. We spent Christmas that year just the two of us and our two foot Christmas tree. When I started spending my summers in Sioux Narrows, she came to visit often to spend time with me at the lake. I spent 6 weeks in South America in 2005 and she met me in Costa Rica at the end of my trip for a week of what we called "the beach bum tour". She moved to Toronto and I went to visit her and get a taste of real city life. We rode the subway and she made me try sushi. I bought a house in Winkler and she moved in so I could afford my mortgage when I went to school. Our lives have been constantly affected by one another in so many wonderful ways. We fight like sisters, and we love like best friends.

These days our lives lead us in opposite directions more often than not. Real life gets in the way, work is busy, we are constantly making plans and rescheduling them. I miss her constantly (as I miss my other sisters as well). We connected one gorgeous day in October for a just for fun photo session. It was so great to just hang out, not talk about all of our problems and our busy lives, but just have fun. We drove around in the country for a couple of hours exploring the gravel roads, seeing where they would take us. We had such a great time we were almost late for our date with two of our favorite men, our Dad and our nephew Tristan and an evening of trick-or-treating!

Here's what we ended up with...

10 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

Amanda Sakundiak:

Very cool pictures. i love love love the leggings and the color that it pops.

(02.23.10 @ 12:47 AM)

Becky:

Ahh! welcome back! I have missed looking at your beautiful pictures!!

These are so awesome! Love all her wardrobe! The one of her through the window of the house is fantastic!!

(02.23.10 @ 07:40 AM)

Mandy:

Wow Kara! The pictures are beautiful! The location is awesome and Kendra looks gorgeous! Breathtaking pics!

(02.23.10 @ 11:42 AM)

Kendra:

Oh I just love these!! Thank you!!!! I had so much fun being a supermodel for a couple of hours. Thank you for the memories and thanks for making me feel so pretty and special. xo

(02.23.10 @ 11:55 AM)

kelly.:

ummmmmmmmmmmmm ..... you are absolutely GORGEOUS Kendra xoxox

(02.23.10 @ 12:16 PM)

Kelli Horner:

Kendra your such a beautiful women! Your amazing! Actually all you Bergen girls are hotties and so amazing and talented in your own ways! Kara Love, LOve, LOVe,LOVE your work!

(02.23.10 @ 12:20 PM)

Kim:

LOVE THEM ALL! Kendra you are gorgeous! Kara, you are so talented!! Two of my favorite sisters!

(02.23.10 @ 01:06 PM)

Krista:

I want to do this too!!! Kendra looks beautiful and it looks like you found some fun places to shoot. My faves are the last casual couple of sets...but I love them all.

(02.23.10 @ 08:24 PM)

Trish:

I love these sooo much! I love how you can make any place gorgeous!

(02.23.10 @ 10:52 PM)

Carmelle:

Gorgeous.

(02.26.10 @ 10:01 PM)

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Sonya

November 3, 2009 // Lifestyle

My favorite shoots are always the ones that are just for fun! One gorgeous fall day I had the major urge to shoot, and nothing scheduled. Though I really should have stayed at home and caught up on my editing, I just couldn't resist Sonya's promise of cookies and a fun fall shoot. These shoots are my favorite because I have full and total control. I can choose the best locations and look for the best light, and I can just shoot and have fun, no pressure!

Thanks Sonya for the fun afternoon, and the coffee and two bite brownies (which are long gone of course!).

Love, Love, LOVE these next few! The golden colors of fall.... gorgeous!!!!

this one above is one of my favorites! I want to put her in a J Crew catalogue!

Love this one too (below)!

12 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

Tania:

Love these photos. Gorgeous!

(11.04.09 @ 10:59 AM)

sonya:

i love you kara! that's all i can say!

(11.04.09 @ 11:21 AM)

Carly:

Kara! i loovvee this shoot! Sonya is absolutely gorgeous!

(11.04.09 @ 11:41 AM)

Briony:

these are beautiful. what a fun day of shooting. i have to say i am a lot like you...i love going out with my friends on photo excursions where we can find crazy locations and perfect light. this definitely made me want to plan another trip soon :)

(11.04.09 @ 11:46 AM)

kelly:

gorgeous pictures and an absolutely beautiful girl :)

(11.04.09 @ 12:25 PM)

Kim Driedger:

WOW!! These are all so great! Great job! I wish I had Sonya's style!

(11.04.09 @ 12:53 PM)

Joelle:

Love the pics Kara! Sonya you look great as always. Falls pics are so much fun!

(11.04.09 @ 01:57 PM)

Becky:

Sonya never takes a bad picture! She is so beautiful!!!
#6 is my fav Kara! oooh so warm and cozy!

(11.05.09 @ 08:43 AM)

Carmelle:

These are awesome! Sonya is the perfect model :)

(11.13.09 @ 08:51 PM)

Anna:

And by "2-bite brownies" you really mean "1-bite brownies?" Haha! Fun shoot. Beautiful Girl!

(11.17.09 @ 10:51 AM)

Pam:

Oh my... where do I start!? These are SOOO stunning. Every single one is my favourite!

(11.29.09 @ 11:44 AM)

Russ Dueck:

wow! this whole shoot is just so good! ...must have been one of those ones where you can just feel the whole thing is working out great. great work Kara!
-Russ

(01.21.10 @ 10:40 PM)

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Goodbye October, you've been good to me!

November 1, 2009 // Lifestyle

A sneak peek from one of yesterday's sessions.

My sister Kendra... gorgeous!

6 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

sonya:

so pretty!

(11.01.09 @ 12:23 PM)

Kim Driedger:

She is very gorgeous!!! I love the pictures, (and her too!)

(11.01.09 @ 01:47 PM)

Anonymous:

What a beauty! Gorgeous gal!

(11.01.09 @ 10:25 PM)

Becky:

She is a beauty! Love these shots Kara, the second one is my fav! The fall colors are fanstastic!

(11.02.09 @ 07:58 AM)

Kendra :

Thanks everyone!! Everyone should treat themselves to a fun shoot with Miss Kara Rhea -- you will feel so pretty, oh so pretty!!

(11.02.09 @ 04:22 PM)

Tara B:

Absolutely love this picture, love the fact there is a corn field in the background and Kendra looks absolutely stunning!!! Good work Kara!

(11.04.09 @ 01:17 PM)

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Amazing!

October 24, 2009 // Lifestyle

So this October has suddenly decided to throw a couple of gorgeous days at us. Who knew!

Stay tuned for more of Sonya!

3 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

Becky:

I love Sonya! She always looks so beautiful!
Love these shots Kara! I wish I couldda been out shooting with you guys that day!!

(10.25.09 @ 06:47 PM)

sonya:

autumn is the best, and so are you kara! :)

(10.26.09 @ 08:34 AM)

Kim Driedger:

these are so pretty!

(10.28.09 @ 04:01 PM)

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