"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!
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I just returned from 3 weeks in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. I'd be exaggerating if I said that it was the trip that changed my life, however, a few weeks away from real life usually helps a person to put things back into perspective. I had many evenings to lay awake in bed and think, many sleepless mornings while the roosters crowed, many quiet moments on the beach. I've been contemplating some major business changes, and being away for a while and taking time to think about what my goals are and what will help me stay in this business longer and what will keep me happy while I'm doing it.
With that, I have a little announcement. There will be more changes coming in the future, but for now, just this; I will no longer be doing children's and newborn sessions. It's not that I don't love a challenge, or equally love the feeling when the photos turn out great despite the struggles to get to the end result, it's just that I want to make more room for the things I really love. I will still be doing family sessions, including family sessions with your newborns, during which I always capture a few individual shots of your children, I just won't be doing individual children or newborn sessions.
The sessions I will be focusing on now are:
Family
Graduation
Maternity
Engagement
Wedding
Back to School
and any type of "Just for Fun" session with anyone over the age of ten.
I'm excited to take on 2010 with new energy and excitement! Please contact me for pricing.
And, since a post is boring without a picture, here's a tiny sneak peak from my trip:
This super cute little girl shared her chips with me!
Our cabina on Little Corn Island, Nicaragua
Pam:
You have all of my support Kara! Here, Here to your career in 2010!
(02.25.10 @ 11:56 AM)
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Adapting, Changing, Growing, Improving
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Well, I fully intended on blogging this week, but my computer had other ideas. If there's a good time for my computer to decide to quit working however, now would be it. Dwayne and I are heading off tomorrow, on our way to Nicaragua and Costa Rica for three glorious weeks. I don't plan on doing much work while I'm gone, but will be answering emails if and when I can get to a computer. Email me at kara_rhea@hotmail.com if you need to get in touch with me.
See you all at the end of February. Until then..... wish you were here!!!
(photos from our last year trip to Cuba)
Jenelle:
HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!!
(01.29.10 @ 12:46 AM)
Kim:
have a wonderful trip!!!! I do wish I was there!
(01.29.10 @ 03:08 PM)
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In 2001, I spent my first summer in Sioux Narrows, working in the restaurant at the Rod and Reel Resort. My friend Naomi had seen an ad in the paper, and after working there a month or two convinced me I should be there too. Sioux Narrows, the local people, and the Motlong family changed my life. This became my home away from home for the next few summers. And after I stopped working there each summer, I would visit, and each time I would cry as I drove out of that town, away from my second family, and my second home. What was it about this place? It was magical. Lake of the Woods is hands down one of the most beautiful places in the world. No, I haven't seen the entire world. However, I've seen a good portion of Canada, along with 14 other countries, and feel I'm qualified to judge! I used to love my morning walks across that bridge, especially in the early and late summer when the sun would still be rising as I'd walk to work. I loved jumping in the lake during work breaks, and jumping in again the moment work was done. I loved sitting near the water and listening to the sounds as it lapped up on the beach. I would walk the same road through the trees, over, and over, and over, and it never got old.
I was fortunate enough to find some time this summer to get out to Sioux Narrows with some of my best girl friends. It seems to get harder and harder to get everyone together, but those of us that could make it had an incredible time. We ate good food, drank cheap wine, and talked til all hours of the night. We sat in the hot tub at night, and swam in the refreshing cool waters of the lake during the day. We ate fresh fish (thanks Darcy!) and drank cold beer by the beach. I left feeling recharged, and ready to take on the rest of what summer has to throw at me. And this time, I didn't cry.
This is Sioux Narrows, through my eyes. Oh, and the little yellow sheep like guy is Mort. He's our mascot.... it's a long story!!!
And because my website and I are STILL not getting along, here's the rest on a slideshow!
Kendra:
aww...so awesome. What a great weekend...I want to go back!!!! Great pics!!
(09.01.09 @ 10:41 AM)
Krista:
Great photos Kara. Can't believe I haven't been there with you yet. Something to consider for summers to come. I think you should start posting/citing your music choices for your slideshows...i always enjoy it and often don't know who is singing.
(09.01.09 @ 09:24 PM)
kararhea:
We should sooo do a family trip there some time! I would be in heaven!!! And good point about the music. This is Xavier Rudd, Solace.
(09.01.09 @ 11:18 PM)
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It's only been a week and a half since Cuba, and it already seems like a distant memory. I have to admit, I saw Cuba as a Resort/All Inclusive Tourist. In other words, Cuba was a vacation, and not much more than a beach and an ocean for us. Regrettably. I normally don't travel this way. This year, however, there wasn't time for research, and backpacks, and the road less travelled. I became one of them. Someone who books what's convenient, and spends the majority of their time in another land on the beach sipping colorful concoctions. Our one excursion, our one attempt at experiencing all that was Cuba, ended us up in a luxury bus with a tour guide who spoke Spanish and Russian (I purposely left out English) and hardly let us out of the bus. We did, however, have a very relaxing week. The weather was perfect, the taste and smell of the ocean air was just as I remembered, and the time with my husband away from work, television, and internet was everything I needed.
I did have a chance to take a few photos. After many requests, here are some of them...
Click on slideshow to see more photos from Cuba!
Becky:
oooh Kara! I love them all! Especiallly love the one with sun flare....I heart flare.
(03.12.09 @ 08:38 AM)
Kim Driedger:
I love all of your pictures Kara! You sure got a lot of great shots even with being at the resort most of the time.
(03.13.09 @ 06:30 PM)
Krista:
Beautiful shots, Kara Rhea! I think I need the first bike one blown up for a wall in my house!
(03.16.09 @ 04:50 PM)
Kelly F:
Oh my....that is the craziest harness I've ever seen on a horse! Beautiful images Kara!
(03.18.09 @ 10:11 PM)
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Kara,
(03.14.10 @ 09:50 AM)these pictures are absolutely unbelievable!
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)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)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)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.
(03.14.10 @ 07:25 PM)P.S. I find it extremely ironic that you like to photograph bicycles when you don't like riding them! :-)
these pictures speak volumes about your trip! definitely loved the tree on the hill shot. so gorgeous!
(03.14.10 @ 10:59 PM)Wow Kara, I felt like I was flipping through a National Geographic magazine looking at your pics! Amazing talent!
(03.16.10 @ 05:15 PM)I've never commented on one of these before. But seriously Kara I feel like....wow I know the girl who took these pictures.....ya no big deal....she's amazing. I loved every one of them. Your talent has just exploded!!! You are amazing. I miss you lots and hope to see you again really soon.
(03.17.10 @ 08:53 AM)what an amazing trip! loved looking at your photos.... they are beautiful Kara!
(03.19.10 @ 02:01 PM)You've got IT!
(03.19.10 @ 03:03 PM)Lovely photo's Kara. The ones of the kids in the black and white..yellow..purple.. are beautiful.
(03.19.10 @ 06:30 PM)These are amazing photos. I love what you've captured!
(03.26.10 @ 02:12 PM)Your pictures are stunning. Makes me want to go there.
(03.29.10 @ 10:57 PM)Kara, I especially love the pictures you took of the children as it captures such genuine feeling. I'm amazed how you are able find perfect timing to take pictures. You have an extraordinary gift to be able to pick up a camera no matter where and when and work magic.
(04.16.10 @ 10:56 PM)