
The Santa Elena Reserve in Monteverde, Costa Rica
The rainforest calls to you at night, and it's so loud you can't sleep. Behind the sound of rain hitting the steel roof above, bats and unknown creatures fly quickly, squeaking and hissing. Glowing insects come out from their hiding places. The deep yells of howler monkeys echo off the trees. Bugs as big as your guidebook scurry around your room. Cracking and clicking, they seem to be all around you. Hopefully, they can't climb beds.
You're brave, and in hopes of sleeping better the next night, you decide to meet the creatures of Monteverde, Costa Rica. Set amongst lush rainforest, eco-tourist spots big and small invite you to meet these jungle creatures. Walk through bat houses, hold strange beetles, and stay long enough in butterfly greenhouses that one just might land on you. But for now, we just visit the bugs.
These are Kyle's brave hands:

Sort of friendly, a bug that looks like a leaf.

A cross between a grasshopper and unicorn, still likable.

Ok, less cute, but points for fashion sense.

Getting a little rough around the edges.

Wow, now that's a large beetle, and he doesn't look friendly.

Eww, is that a cockroach??

Tarantula - ohh definitely not. He doesn't have a big family, does he?

Wow, now that's a large beetle, and he doesn't look friendly.

Eww, is that a cockroach??

Tarantula - ohh definitely not. He doesn't have a big family, does he?
On second thought, it may not help you sleep better holding all those bugs. But hold them or not, they're still out there.
--
Additional Reading:
"Searching for "Wolf"" - Kyle's search for one of Monteverde's legends that helped shape it's future.
"Imaginary Numbers and the Subjunctive" - Kyle's fight with learning 'el subjuntivo'



We're silly and adventurous, computer geeks and yoga peeps.
September 17, 2010
Andi
September 17, 2010
Bessie
September 17, 2010
Ryan
September 17, 2010
Anil
September 17, 2010
Bessie
September 17, 2010
Lily
September 17, 2010
Bessie
September 17, 2010
lara dunston
September 19, 2010
Bessie
Knock on wood, but no enormous bugs yet here in Thailand. I might have just jinxed myself though!!
September 18, 2010
Rose P.
September 19, 2010
Bessie
September 19, 2010
mumsie
September 19, 2010
Evan
September 20, 2010
Thom and Sean
Hate bugs, hate bugs! Hate bugs!
September 20, 2010
Earl
Glad to know these weren't photos of creatures that crawled into your room!
September 22, 2010
Erica
September 22, 2010
the destination india
September 22, 2010
Ashley
September 28, 2010
Bessie
September 23, 2010
Laura
September 28, 2010
Bessie
September 28, 2010
Migrationology
September 28, 2010
Bessie
July 31, 2011
Jeri