My apologies for disappearing and somewhat dropping the ball on the Great Turtle Race (which even more embarrassingly my turtle won). I will do a final round up.
In short, things got busy, I've briefly lost internet and my blogging time is limited.
Normal services will soon be resumed.
In the meantime, enjoy the movie which updates current progress at CafeChavalos. Please watch, post, share, digg, and spread the word (and visuals).
It's been stifling hot the last few days and the storm had been brewing but it took it's time.
As it starts to slow outside, everywhere is just a little cooler. That smell is intoxicating too - the aroma of rain on long dry tarmac, dust and dirt. Nothing smells better than rain.
Hope you like the film. They're even riding in the Nica-style. Two to a bike.
This song also has one more significance. Me, the girl who would become my girl, lots of tequila and us sharing her bike back from the pub. And me singing this song.
The Great Turtle Race continues - expect a full update soon but it's pretty much as you were.
Unfortunately that includes Drexelina and Sundae who continue to do..well..nothing.
I'm concerned.
So much so that for a millisecond back there I considered heading for the border and crossing over to Costa Rica to find them and push them off in the right direction - go little ones, swim - tasty sea grass awaits in the Galapagos.
Luckily however, absolute laziness intervened and instead I have resorted to emailing the race press office.
It's a long shot but I'll let you know if they tell me anything.
Firstly I don't get the whole Lost Girls blog thing. So much so that I actually almost didn't link them but.. well that would have been too petty. But to me it's traveling for the Sex in the City generation.
Like people who tell you a place is great because it has "fantastic shopping". Traveling to me is getting away from consumerism, not seeking it out.
So, moving on before I upset anyone even more and add to a growing reputation as a grump, check out the guys of Huge in Asia.
The fact that this phenomenal vlog (is that the correct term?) remains so low-profile is a mystery to me.
When I first heard of it I really expected to hate it. I thought it'd be all MTV haircuts and people saying "wicked" while laughing at the locals.
I also was prepared to go to comment war with them - I anticipated their disrespect of my beloved Vietnam.
Not so. There is a type of person that flourishes in Vietnam and you can tell these guys have the attitude you need. They are also genuinely very very funny.
Hanoi Hustle is a work of genius and is already up there with my most-listened-to tracks on my Ipod.
With it being based in Matagalpa, I had given up on trying their organic chocolate until I found the time to take a trip over there.
However, it turned up today, here in Granada at Mavericks - a book shop and cafe.
At 40 Cs, a little over $2, I bought a bar - then struggled for 10 minutes with the robust wrapper. Embarrassingly, scissors were eventually produced.
Great Turtle Race update: Still no movement for the worryingly inert Drexelina and Sundae while Windy, cheered on here by YGYHF, opens up a 30 mile lead.
She's got to stop for a jellyfish snack soon, right?
As Windy backed by YGYHF absolutely flies into the lead - 20 miles ahead of his nearest competitor, the LFD-backed Stephanie Colburtle, it's still the two slowest turtles that remain the biggest talking point.
I wrote this for Travel Happy. One of the lengthier piece I have written in a while. It basically outlines my transition from Vietnam to Nicaragua and draws parallels between the two countries.
I'd obviously like to hope that it's not as dull as I just made it sound. Go read it...it's really not that long.