Dia de Muertos，a MUST see of Mexico

Dia de Muertos，a colorful festival of Mexico, to memorize the beloved ones who have passed away， is the festival when  I like to wander in zocalo the most.  
墨西哥豐富多彩的節日Dia de Muertos，記念已經去世的摯愛，是我最喜歡到zocalo逛逛的節日。

It is celebrated Nov 1 – 2 and  the depictions of skulls and skeletons are prevalent, however, it has nothing to do with Halloween.  The fiesta demonstrate the mix of aztec and catholic culture in Mexico.
The Aztecs had a god of the dead and its celebrations were around the same time.  in the Aztec culture, death was a positive step forward into a higher level of conscience. It’s a positive symbol of rebirth.

每年11月1至2日慶祝，普遍佈滿頭骨和骨骼的裝飾，但是，它沒有任何與萬聖節的關係。反展示了墨西哥的阿茲達克文化和天主教文化的混合。
阿茲達克人的死亡之神大約在同一時間有慶祝活動。在阿茲特克文化中，死亡是一個正面的過程，這是一個積極的重生象徵。

The common display is an altar decorated tremendously, with the incense to sends prayers to the gods, the bread depicts the body of Christ, sugar skulls as a reminder that death is always present and liquor reminds people of the good times. Special candy and toys are made for the children celebrating Dias de Muertos. Death is not feared, but laughed at in Mexico.  Catrinas, skeletons of an upper class woman, are shown as popular symbolic features in everywhere.  Pan de Muertos is the popular bread shared during this period， worth a taste of it!

常見的裝飾包括巨大的祭壇、向神發送祈禱的香、代表基督身體的麵包，頭骨糖
提醒人們死亡總是存在的，酒描繪了美好時光。特別的糖果和玩具是為孩子們而設，死亡在墨西哥是以微笑迎接的，不是可怕的。 無處不在的裝飾Catrinas，是一個上層階級婦女的骨骼公仔。 Pan de Muertos是在此期間共享的麵包，值得一試。

Independence Day of Mexico 墨西哥獨立日

Independence Day of Mexico is celebrated on 15 and 16 Sept with the start of the president shouting "Viva Mexico, Viva Hidalgo....." from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City at 11pm.

the bread with color of Mexico flag

Then with thousands of Mexicans in zocalo, singing the national anthem, the festival continued with lots of fireworks.  This is called "el día del grito" or Day of cry for independence.

This commemorates Miguel Hidalgo’s rebellion against Spain, given in the town of Dolores on September 16, 1810.

墨西哥9月15日和16日開始慶祝獨立日，首先晚上11點總統會從墨西哥城National Palace陽台，高喊“墨西哥萬歲，Hidalgo萬歲......”。然後，成千上萬的墨西哥人聚在ZOCALO唱國歌，再以放煙花來延續。這就是“el día del grito”。
這是紀念Miguel Hidalgo在1810年9月16日於Dolores鎮對西班牙的反抗。

Then 16 Sept is followed by parades and marching bands in Paseo de Reforma ( el Angel de la Independencia ) and Zocalo.  Lots of people will be crowded around to watch this while many related souvenirs are sold along.  You can find people waving national flag, trumpets, hats and scarfs in green/white/red.

跟著是9月16日是在 Paseo de Reforma ( el Angel de la Independencia ) 和 Zocalo廣塲上的遊行、樂隊。這幾處都會被圍得水洩不通，許多相關的紀念品也會在附近出售。你可以見到很多人揮舞著國旗，帶有綠色/白色/紅色的喇叭、帽子和圍巾。

At this month, it is also the season for serving Chile en Nogada, and many familities will be having this dish for celebration.
在這一個月，也是Chile en Nogada的合時季節，很多家裡都有這度菜來慶祝。

Chile en Nogada

中美明珠Costa Rica (III) - San Jose & Alejuela

San Jose is the capital in Costa Rica and some friends do ask me if there is any recommendation when they get a few days at transit of San Jose & Alajuela.

San Jose是哥斯達黎加的首都。一些朋友可能會問我如果過境幾天，有任何景點建議去看看。


Actually, San Jose is really a city and of course, it is good to have a city tour to visit the national theatre and the famous museum of gold.  The exhibits in the museum is not very special but can help us know more about the goldsmith technique in ancient times.
San Jose是一個城市，遊覽可去參觀有名的國家大劇院和著名的黃金博物館。對我們來講，黃金博物館內的展品可能不是非常特別；但可以使我們認識更多當年黃金鑄造技術。

Moreover, Volcan Poas near Alajuela is a Must-go.  If you like animals, La Paz Waterfall Garden is a good choice too.
另外，在Alajuela附近的Poas火山也是必去的。如果喜歡看動物，也可以去La Paz Waterfall Garden

Poas 火山

雨季在火山上火山湖不容易看到

黃金博物館
 

 

National Theatre

Coffee of Costa Rica

Coffee Farm Visit

中美明珠Costa Rica (II) - Beautiful Frogs and Birds

There is a national symbol for Costa Rica - Red Eyed Tree Frog which is of beautiful color and nature lovers should not miss it in the itinerary at visiting this country.

In addition, there are also other types of frogs which can be poisonous and some can compose a song for you after rain.

哥斯達黎加的國家象徵 -  擁有美麗色彩的紅眼樹蛙，大自然愛好者在訪問這個國家時一定要看看。

此外，也有其他類型青蛙，包括有毒的和喜歡雨後歌唱的。

Red eyed tree frog

Blue Jeans Frog - beautiful but poisonous

Black and Green Dart Frog

There are more than 850 species of birds, which can be observed in high mountain area or the cloudforest area.

哥斯達黎加有超過850種鳥類，可以在高山區或雲林區觀察.

Rufous tailed Hummingbird

National Bird (Clay-colored Robin)

Tanager

Keel-billed Toucan

Chestnut-mandibled Toucan

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝實用資料 Practical Info＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

1.熱門觀賞青蛙和鳥類的景點包括Monte Verde(雲林）、Arenal（火山區）

Monte Verde and Arenal are the popular areas for observation of frogs and birds

2.由於前往Monte Verde的路程比較遠，加上我的時間有限；故集中在Arenal觀賞，那兒還有其他不同活動設施如溫泉、canopy、四驅車......等等。

I have chosen to stay in Arenal as Monte Verde is far away from San Jose.  You can enjoy different activities in Arenal with hot spring/ canopy/ ATV......etc

3.可按不同預算挑選住宿，我住在Arenal Oasis Lodge, 原因是那裡的後山有一大片自然保育區，有night observation tour、bird observation tour.  住客也可以早起在那裡觀鳥，和雨後找青蛙。牠們有時就在房間附近。

There are many choices of accommodation which you may choose according to your budget.  I have stayed in Arenal Oasis Lodge which owns a forest behind with many species of birds and frogs.  You may join their night observation and bird observation at discount, or you can wake up early to do the observation yourself.  They are sometimes just flying in front of your room.

中美明珠Costa Rica (I) - Turtle Nesting and Sloth

Costa Rica is famous for its eco tourism, which can provide you with well established facilities to do bird watching, whales/dolphin observation, canopy, rafting and turtle nesting observation.

哥斯達黎加以生態旅遊著名，無論觀鳥，鯨魚/海豚觀察，激流和海龜產卵觀察等活動都有完善的設施。

The wildlife is spread over different areas depending on the seasons.  I chose to go over Caribbean side to see turtle nesting and sloth.  Basically, in Tortuguero village,  the primary Atlantic nesting site for the green turtle, early in the turtle season, it is also possible to see Leatherback turtle. (Beware that due to the conservation rule for the turtles, it is not allowed to take pictures at night tour to see the turtle nesting)

不同季節，野生動物會於不同地區出現。我選擇了去加勒比海邊，看海龜產卵和Sloth。基本上，在Tortuguero村莊 - 大西洋綠海龜主要的產卵地，海龜產卵季初期，也可以看到Leatherback龜。 （由於保護海龜的規則，不會允許看海龜產卵的夜遊團拍照片）

Buttercup

Looks like the mark from Car but it is actually made by Green Turtle at Nesting

Tortuguero is with many tourists because even in the season like November to early January, when there is no big turtle, we can see a nest of baby turtles make their first run to the ocean.   Moreover, the National Park and the Canal Tour are fascinating with plenty of wildlife to see.
即使是在11月至1月上旬，沒有大海龜季節，我們也可以看到小海龜從巢走向海洋。此外，國家公園和河畔遊也有大量的野生動物。故此，Tortuguero常有許多遊客。


Along the Caribbean side, there are some famous sightseeing points like Puerto Viejo (which is good for surfing and really a beach town), while the quieter sister Cahuita is relatively cheaper and is where Cahuita National Park located.  
Also the Sloth Sanctuary(Aviarios del Caribe) and Jaguar Rescue Centre there are worthwhile to visit too.

加勒比海邊也有一些著名的觀光點，如Puerto Viejo（一個以衝浪聞名的海濱小鎮）、Cahuita(相對便宜，而且Cahuita國家公園就在那裡）。

另外那裡的Sloth Sanctuary和Jaguar Rescue Centre也值得參觀。

Cahuita National Park