What do you do all day? - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

I want you to get the feel of the day.  

I want to point out to you again point out, that living here, you can be as busy as you want to be, or not (for all of you worriers). It's all up to you. If you can't find something to do, then you aren't trying very hard!! LOL

Last Saturday -- the plan was to walk to our friend's house for breakfast - it would be our first time walking to their house as they live a distance away (that's pretty much all we had on the agenda). A couple of other friends were going to stop by in the afternoon to drop off some Vitamin C. 

I'd also like to reiterate, once again, how friendly the local people are! On our walk we met a neighbor -- he even joined in on a conversation with us when our Spanish is limited and the neighbor (whom we had never even met before) spoke no English!! You can still survive!  

At our friend's home we had a very nice breakfast of homemade crepes and since they are growing their own coffee we joined in on some coffee prep and learned more about what it takes to actually end up with a fine cup of coffee. They are both very knowledgeable. 

I am still getting used to coffee so mine has more milk in it 

If you are interested in a healthy lifestyle, Costa Rica is a great place to be. We have been fermenting our Kombucha but we've been a wee bit stuck, so we get a little instruction about scoby division. Kombucha is the beverage the ancient Chinese called the “Immortal Health Elixir?” It’s been around for more than 2,000 years and has a rich anecdotal history of health benefits like preventing and fighting cancer, arthritis, and other degenerative diseases. 

We also have 2 Brazilian Aloe Vera plants which have excellent medicinal value.  We've been told that we can now start making our own medicinal aloe mixture. It has been said that aloe plus honey may be a successful cure and preventative for cancer and other afflictions. You should do your own research but here is a link 

Finally, we ended up at our other friends house and got to see his amazing aloe plants - they are such beautiful plants and he has over 100 - all grown from just 5 small plants.

We had a yummy raw vegan dinner and of course some wine and good conversation.

2 of the 3 cooks

And... as it turns out Sat was the Festival de la Luz and we got to see the fireworks from their spectacular view.

photo source and more information Tico Times 

New Off Road Project

"The Real Costa Rica" 

I am working on an exciting new CR off road project which is a joint venture for a series that I am co-producing. I don't have a release date yet, but as soon we complete it and my partner gives me the "OK" we will have it available to share. 

Lots of interviews, videos and helpful info 

So Stay Tuned. 

I think you will enjoy it

Jammin•Jammin•Jammin - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

Hey everyone

I have sort of been MIA the last week or so, but I have a good reason!

I've been putting together the new Facebook page as well as a brand new website for our 50+ travel group Jammin•Jammin•Jammin. 

We had such success with our Panama Jammin trip that we decided to branch out and make it an official group. The group is the brainchild of Jeanetta Owens and because she knows I love to travel, she asked me to team up with her for this new project. We are both pretty excited.

Here is the announcement from Facebook.

~~~~~~

Due to the overwhelming success of "Panama Jammin"
Welcome to our new 50+ travel group Jammin•Jammin•Jammin for the perfect mix of travel and music.

Our goal is to offer 2 trips per year.

Jeanetta Owens and I are planning the 1st trip for February 2019 - Destination Lima Peru. We have some exciting excursions and activities planned that will take you off the beaten path to enjoy the local flavor of Peru. You won't want to miss this!

You can be a member of the group NO MATTER where in the world you live and for those of you who are fortunate enough to live in Costa Rica we will offer some local trips as well.

Please LIKE & FOLLOW our page for details and updates coming soon!

In the meantime enjoy the videos and information on this page which will give you some additional information about the area.

and please check out our NEW website below

https://www.jammin-jammin-jammin.com

(the site looks great on a desktop with a wide screen but on my laptop the text needs to be adjusted. Will be working on that next - but in the meantime, I think you can get the drift)  

We'd be happy for you to join us, so let us know!

Lima video below

Mercury-Free Dentistry in Costa Rica - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

Let's switch it up a little today and talk about dentistry.

“Silver fillings” are really “mercury fillings,” and mercury is highly toxic and the most vaporous of the heavy metals.

Costa Rica has a vibrant dental tourism industry -- that's a fact, but what if you seek holistic dentistry?? Is there anything here for you??

As a person who has not yet had the amalgam removed from my teeth,  that is exactly the question I have been wondering about.

What is amalgam?

Amalgam is a combination of metals that has been the most popular filling material used in dentistry for the last 150 years. Although it sometimes is called "silver amalgam," amalgam actually consists of a combination of metals. These include silver, mercury, tin and copper. Small amounts of zinc, indium or palladium also may be used.

The U.S. was one of the first countries to ratify the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international treaty to end mercury pollution, in 2013. It was a major victory, but even at that time, a central question was, "Who's going to be responsible for enforcement?" August 2017, that treaty became legally binding, as 50 countries are ratified. Now the U.S. must begin enforcement.

"It's a treaty on all major sources of mercury. Of course, dental amalgam is a major source. It's the largest use of mercury in America.  

Good News!

 Consumers for Dental Choice has successfully facilitated a total ban on dental amalgam for children under 15 and pregnant and nursing women within the European Union (EU), effective July 1, 2018 — a victory that will positively affect half a billion people in 28 countries.

My friend Reenie at the dentist in Costa Rica

This is what Reenie has to say about her experience-

"WOW, I must be the luckiest lady on the planet!! I had been “wishing” for a Biological Dentist that was Mercury FREE & SAFE, did Crowns, fillings and Implants, and one I could hopefully afford!! Found them in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 just outside of San Jose! I got TWO Biological safe Implants, Bone grafting, TWO Crowns, and FIVE mercury free fillings at a FRACTION of the cost in the US! Not only that, but they treated me like Family, even fed me a Vegan lunch, and Victor co owner and manager, took such good care of me making sure to help me arrange my Uber rides and giving me more TLC than I’ve ever gotten from a medical facility in the States and the quality of the work was EXCELLENT!!
“Costa Rican Bio Dental” went ABOVE & BEYOND to make much needed dental work possible for me!! THANK YOU Dr Krista, Victor and ALL the staff at CRBD!! 

This CR bio dentist, can remove mercury fillings with equipment that is safe and will not flood more of it into your body!"

For those of you who are still in the states!

Mercury-Free Dentistry Is Finally Reaching Tipping Point in US

Indeed, the mercury-free dentists in the U.S. were pioneers who understood the folly of placing mercury in a person's head very early on. They were vilified, criticized by their peers and penalized by their medical boards, to the point where their licenses were removed. 

Go to a Mercury-Free Dentist

Insist on mercury-free dentistry, yes. But take it another step — don't go to a dentist who puts mercury fillings in any child or any person. Spend your time, spend your money, only with a mercury-free dentist. How do you find one? Here are several organizations with lists or information:

Consumers for Dental Choice

Dental Amalgam Mercury Solutions (DAMS). (offers a packet of information)

Holistic Dental Association

Huggins Applied Healing

International Academy of Biological Dentistry & Medicine (IABDM)

International Association of Mercury Safe Dentists (IAMSD)

Talk International

Saturday at the Pure Jungle Spa - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

While on the Caribbean Coast, we had the option to select a spa treatment from Pure Jungle Spa in Puerto Viejo. Some chose the couple's massage, the chocolate facial, deep tissue and more. I opted for a mani-pedi.

The Pure Jungle Spa is the cutest little place. Very tranquil and serene. They also have natural products available for sale.

They served me hot herbal tea and organic chocolate. I would definitely go back and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys being pampered! 

Spa Services

Welcome to Cahuita, Costa Rica - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

 The Magellan Boutique Hotel - Cahuita Costa Rica

Really enjoyed the hotel with it's picturesque setting and would definitely recommend it.  Sunny - the owner -  is an expat from the US. She purchased the hotel and renovated it (almost a complete re-do). She lives on the property with her 10 yr old son. There is a also a pool and yoga studio on the property. 

They serve a delicious breakfast! There are 6 rooms w/air conditioning.

(One hotel was not big enough for our entire group so the rest of the group stayed nearby at the Caribbean Coconut - more on that hotel in a separate post) 

and just what are we all looking at?

 This little lady - a female sloth  - one of 2 living at the Magellan Boutique Hotel

We also met 2 very interesting ladies (Stacey & Chyrel) from the states who were on a Costa Rica due diligence mission! 

They joined up with our group at the Gecko Cafe & Grill. 

Once we had lunch and were all checked into our rooms   

we were just relaxing on the patio outside 

and we got to talking...

Stacey & Chyrel owners of 

Sacred Naturals

See additional pics of the hotel grounds and learn the history of Sacred Naturals in our interview 

with Stacey & Chyrel below

(we already have a list of things we want to order!!) 

Sacred Naturals Interview from Devon on Vimeo.

The 2nd Opinion - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

I mentioned in my last post that we always like to use natural holistic healthcare when we can, so to that end we made a trip to San José to consult with Dr Stins.

We last met with Dr Stins in Dec 2016.

His office takes walk in patients, no appointment needed.

Dr Hendrik Stins Ham is a Naturopath, Homeopath, Iridologist, Specializing in Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, EFT, Color Therapy, and Holistic Medicine. 

 Dr. Hendrik speaks DUTCH-1st language, ENGLISH, SPANISH, GERMAN some FRENCH and ARABIC. 

Since my brother is here visiting we wanted him to consult with Dr Stins, I wanted to ask him about my eye issues and Lavanson took a tumble on one of the muddy hills last week and wanted to make sure that he hadn't done any damage to his head or neck.

We took the bus to San Jose at 10:10 am got off at the stop for Hospital Nacional de Niños and from there it is only a short taxi ride to his clinic (which is located in Bario Chino)

There was no wait when we arrived and we all met with the doctor together, although it is perfectly fine to see him alone. We probably spent about 45 minutes with him as he diagnosed our conditions. It's amazing how he seems to "just know" exactly what is wrong - no xrays or blood tests or long medical history forms to complete. 

Initially, he uses iridology to get a picture of what's going on in our bodies.

The iris of the eye is an extension of the brain with many nerve endings that connect to every organ and tissue in the body by way of the nervous system. ... Iridology maps those regions of the iris to the tissues and organs of the body and qualified Iridologists use this map to assess its state of health.

Pretty amazing!!!

HOURS:  Monday-Friday - 9am-5pm.  Saturday - 9am-12pm/noon

LOCATION:  San Jose - Paseo de Los Estudiantes, - Calle 9 and Avenida 10 

My prescription

After the consultation treatments are prepared for each individual as directed by the doctor. The assistants then explain how to take each one. This was especially helpful to us as the directions are all in Spanish - so I recorded each of ours -- just in case we should forget!

Unlike the traditional western medicine approach to my eye problem ("nothing can be done") Dr Stins is focused on the underlying causes and thinks that I can be helped.  

Can't hurt right? And we shall see....

Oh and BTW - the cost for the office visit was less than $20. 

Here's a little snippet of my prescription directions

After Our Doctor Consults from Devon on Vimeo.

Our Interview with The Black Expat - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

One of our goals for this site is to motivate and provide information to black people who are considering making a move to a new country -- so we were extremely honored to have been asked to share our journey to Costa Rica in feature interview with The Black Expat!

The Black Expat, is a digital platform that focuses on the experiences of black expatriates/immigrants and international living.

You can Check out our interview here

If you haven't visited their site please jump on over and check them out. They have lots of helpful information as well as videos and interviews with people who have made the move! Enjoy!

Fruit Festival Class - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Overwhelmed by all the fruits at the feria?

Well worry no more...

Isabel Arguello a Spanish teacher on El Cajon in Grecia holds Spanish Conversation Classes

On Sunday she held a "FRUIT FESTIVAL". Where we learned about and experienced different flavors, colors, shapes and tastes of a great variety of our Costa Rican fruits.

Spanish only allowed, NO ENGLISH!!

It was very helpful. For any interested, Isabel will be happy to host one for you. Let me know if you are interested and I can put you in touch with her.

Fruit Festival Class in Grecia from Devon on Vimeo.

Give More Power To The People - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

As some of you may know, Dr Angela Davis was in Costa Rica on Tuesday. She was here to deliver the inaugural lecture for the 2018 school year for the University of Costa Rica.

And the memories came flooding back!

Founded in October of 1966 in Oakland, California at Merritt College, by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the Black Panther Party for Self Defense (BPP) became the most famous black power organization of the late 1960s. It has become a model for other exploited and oppressed people within a government.

"Free Huey" was our battle cry!

I began college in the the fall of 1968 and I was deeply affected by the Black Panther Party. Like many other young black people, I wanted very much to join.  I saw the civil rights demonstrators, the freedom fighters, and I was very impressed. I wanted to spread consciousness about black oppression and exploitation. This was the start of my social activism. Not an easy thing to do on a college campus in Colorado (located in the middle of cattle country) where there were barely 100 black students.  But, we tried. We started the Black Student Union and staged sit ins at our administration office to obtain classes which were relevant to black people.  I still remember how terrified I was that that we were going to be arrested and of course my parents knew nothing about what I was doing. I ended up with a minor in Black Studies. 

Eventually, in 1974, I left Colorado and moved to Oakland California. I lived in California until our move to Costa Rica in 2016. 

Anyway, all of this came back to me as I sat among today's young college students and listened to Angela Davis deliver her powerful speech on Tuesday. With 1,000 in attendance, Dr Davis received a much deserved standing ovation at the end of her lecture.

BTW- Getting to an event or just about anywhere, for us, is part of the adventure. We left our home on the ridges of San Luis at approx 2:00pm for a 6:00pm event, held in San Jose, a mere 27 miles away. We arrived home around 10pm. 

Angela Davis in Costa Rica from Devon on Vimeo.

We were seated in "piso tres" ( 3rd floor)  I did not take my "real" camera with the perfect zoom. 

This video was shot with my iPhone. 

If you would like to view the entire lecture you can see it here 

Music Credit

(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People is the third studio album by American soul group The Chi-Lites, produced and largely written by lead singer Eugene Record. The album was released in 1971 on the Brunswick label

Slow Your Roll - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

I find that my life is extremely calm and peaceful these days. And for that, I am grateful!

I'm sure part of it has to do with my retirement, but an even BIGGER part of it is...the laid-back, relaxed lifestyle of Costa Rica. I have almost forgotten about the "hurry up, let's get it done" energy of my old life back in the states. I only think about it once in a while now.

Sometimes when I am in the midst of the beauty and tranquility of the moment, my old life will flash before my eyes. Thank goodness it is only a fleeting thought! However, we will be going back to the states on Thursday to shop for odds and ends, so I will be thrust right back into the hustle and bustle. It's interesting because, the shift happens very quickly--as soon as we off board the plane. It hits you. The American lifestyle!! People scurrying, LOUD voices, lots of cars jammed onto freeways, fast food restaurants everywhere, high rise buildings, neon signs, parking lots and shopping malls! HaHa

OK - Get ready cuz here we come!!!

But before we go, here's a video of how I spent my Sunday afternoon.

Take Some time to Smell the Roses!!


Take Some Time To Smell The Roses from Devon on Vimeo.

And So It Bees - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Update:

What's been going on??

Sunday morning relaxing while waiting for the electricity to come back on

We had some pretty funky weather over the last week. High winds mostly and some rain and lower temps. The weather was a result of the Arctic cold front that hit the US and made it's way down through the NE and into the Gulf of Mexico and then to the shores of Costa Rica.  Some of the hardest hit were -- of course -- "those living at higher elevations in the Central Valley" which is us! Once again the trees and plants took a beating (my poor garden!). We lost power for several hours on Sunday but it was restored in time for us to watch the NFL playoffs!

short video of the wind

Stormy Weather from Devon on Vimeo.

We discovered some bees flying around the side of the house. There are so many types of bees here and some are dangerous, so I mentioned it to Erla, our housekeeper.  She didn't say anything to me about it, but later that day, we saw this box she had put up on the wall. (this has got to be the most resourceful woman I have ever met! No kidding!!!) 

When our landlord came by in the afternoon he noticed the bees and the box and told us they are a species of medicinal Costa Rica bees. That's why she put up the box as a makeshift hive for them. Who knew? 

These stingless bees are called Tetragonisca angustula, one of the approximately 60 species of stingless bees that live in Costa Rica. The particular species is known locally as “Mariola,” and it creates a honey of uncommon flavor and strong antibiotic ability.  The honey is also known as “little angel honey,” as these tiny creatures shine in the sunlight and work tirelessly to create sweetness and health for the rainforest.

While stingless, they are not defenseless. The hive has a small population of soldier bees, and when the hive is invaded the soldiers will latch onto the invader’s body and beat their wings. As their metabolic rates go up, the soldiers generate enough heat to immobilize the invader. You can see these soldier bees hovering near the entrance to the hive. Fear not: they can’t hurt you.

Lastly, we found a new vet clinic at the Grecia Mall and decided to take Lily & Lola there for grooming. Cost was $20 each for bath and grooming (includes hair cut).

Lily (a couple of days after her grooming)

Lola - well, she would rather have a tummy rub than a photo. Can you blame her?

In the next few weeks we will be heading back to the states for our 90 day Visa run. Decided to use our Houston return ticket and stock up on some things we need. I still haven't received the lights I ordered from Amazon back on Dec 1st. Still stuck here in customs, so for now I will not be shipping anything else to Costa Rica! 

Oops here's another short video I forgot to post. 

We invited an expat family over for lunch and Erla fixed empanadas for us

Cooking with Erla from Devon on Vimeo.

Now... 
all caught up!

What price are you willing to pay for a view? - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions because, well let's face it, most of us don't stick with them longer than a month or maybe two, if we are really dedicated!

This year I decided to try it again. I'm not calling them "resolutions" though, I am calling them

 "goals that I aspire to" 

There are 4 of them

The 1st one is

 Start walking everyday - up and down the ridge. 

This I do with my my friend Verdette. She is back in Costa Rica and staying with us until July --

 and she LOVES walking the hills.

 I am totally motivated and enjoy walking but I absolutely suck at walking up steep hills! 

I am 8 yrs older than she is (which I think can make a big difference when you are over 65) so I am using that as my  excuse reason for lagging behind her on the hills. WE have agreed that she should just go on ahead of me and I will catch up. That seems to be working out OK so far.  Anyway, although I welcome the exercise, I mostly enjoy walking and listening to my music and enjoying the beautiful scenery. 

Today I got to thinking...

what price are we willing to pay for a beautiful view in the states?

Of course it depends on the city, but back in the states on average

An Unobstructed View from a High Elevation adds at least  (9% – 12%) to the cost of the house

Here in Costa Rica, there are beautiful views just about everywhere!

Locals build houses perched on the side of a ridge and enjoy its beauty on a daily basis. 

Very peaceful and beautiful. They don't have to pay an arm and a leg for it either!! 

It's part of life here.

Just like it should be!

Reminds me of a beautiful painted postcard

I'll share the rest of my "goals" in another post

For today, here are a few more pictures from our walk 

(oh - also - in one shot you can see Verdette way down the hill ahead of me and in another she comes back to find me - I had stopped to take some pictures. we also met up with my neighbor and another lady from my yoga class as we approached our turnoff)

What price...for a view? from Devon on Vimeo.

Come to Grecia for the Healthy LifeStyle - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Today, hundreds of doctors and medical researchers worldwide are investigating electro medicine as both an effective alternative to traditional methods of treatment and an avenue for discovering new possibilities for treating conditions such as spinal cord injury, muscular restoration, nerve regeneration, brain stimulation, bladder disorders, heart disease, tumors, and other chronic catastrophic diseases and disorders.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have this treatment done at La Terraza.

... a revolutionary new electronic machine, distinct in that it is based on the concept that the biophysics underlying the body's biochemistry also plays a significant role in regulating all of life's health processes. 

This is the ONLY machine of it's kind in Costa Rica.

see video below for more information

Do you want to know a secret? from Devon on Vimeo.

Experience the feeling
of true energetic and harmonic health
with Photon Genie

For information or to reserve your spot

contact La Terraza @ 

Email: Laterrazabb@gmail.com

Phone: 877- 298-7439

Today in pictures - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

We are nearing the end of the rainy season and the beginning of SUMMER in Costa Rica.
The days have been sunny and very pleasant up here on the ridge (it has been pretty hot in town)
The mornings sometime start with some fog over the mountains which usually clears by 7 or 8am.  Then sunny and warm all day!

The end of rainy season also means the beginning of the "windy" season. They call them the Xmas winds. So far it hasn't been that bad but if it's anything like last year - hold on to your hat!!

 Coffee is ripe all around us. I expect to see the pickers here any day now

Speaking of hats...I stored these in a plastic bag and put them in the closet in one of our bedrooms. That bedroom will be occupied shortly so I had to move them, but 1st I put them out on the line to air out and get rid of any signs of mold.

Houston I think we have papayas!!! We have the 2 trees that our housekeeper planted out back shortly after we arrived. According to research "Most healthy, established papaya trees (Carica papaya) bear fruit seven to 11 months after planting." Since we are going on 1 1/2 years here, it's pretty possible that these are papayas. 

Our 2nd tree shows no signs of fruit."Papayas express three different sexual forms: hermaphroditic, female and male. Female and hermaphroditic papayas are capable of bearing fruit, while male plants cannot. The flowers indicate which sex the plant is, although the differences are often subtle."

Attack of the Cleaner Ants! - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

There are days when living in harmony with the environment can be difficult. 

Yesterday started out pretty much like any other day. A beautiful morning. We took the dogs out for a quick walk to do their "bid-ness" and we went back inside.  I was working on getting more pictures up from the wedding (in case you are interested, everything is posted on our video channel) anyway around 11:00 I just happened to notice a couple of ants in the master bedroom and one on Lily. As I got it off, and then tried to kill the other 2 ants, I noticed that they were extremely hard to kill. I mean I have become a pro at ant killing and these 2 little suckers refused to die. So, I looked out the window to see where they came from and lo and behold I saw a gazillion ants streaming past the window. I grabbed my diatomaceous earth and headed out the door to discover their trail and put a halt to them. That is when I found  a battalion of them streaming all over our patio and up the wall heading for the attic. "OMG WTF" is all I could think. I called Lavanson outside and we tried to figure out whether they were the infamous "cleaner ants".

These ants are legendary and I had read stories about them before moving to Costa Rica, but NEVER thought I would actually have to confront them.

They are the Costa Rica army ants, also known as "cleaner ants" because the ants come to clean out the cockroaches, spiders and any and all other vermin in every nook and cranny as thoroughly as any exterminator -- and then they leave! This can take anywhere from half an hour to several hours, but I am told they always leave before nightfall.

Freaking out, I called our friend Shirley and our landlord Marcelo. Marcelo confirmed our suspicions and verified that they were indeed cleaner ants. He told us to keep our distance because their bite is not very pleasant and assured us that they would not be at our home for long. "they come and they go as a group" he said. He also told us he had phoned his sister (who lives next door) and she would be coming over to help. In a few minutes she appeared at our gate with a can of insect spray and began spraying. She told us that they had visited her home as well. She said she was also spraying each doorway of our house to help deter them from coming inside. If several of them got inside they would all follow. Truly, just like a marching army troop! 

(A couple of things that probably contributed to the invasion are; the season is changing from wet to dry and the coffee beans are ripening and there are workers in the fields next to our house picking the coffee beans)

We watched as the ants began dropping from the walls, and as she left us, she told us to continue to monitor them. Shortly thereafter, Shirley sent her brother over to take a look as well. He is a gardener and landscape architect. He arrived equipped with a sprayer (it contained a powder that he put in several open holes). He said they would take it back to the nest and it would suffocate them. He said that the product would not hurt our pets. His description fits that of Diatomaceous Earth which I also have on hand and have used against the leaf cutter ants in the past, along with essential oils. Trust me, with all the different species of insects in Costa Rica, I have tried every trick in the book!

We were assured by everyone that the ants would be movin along shortly - usually gone by sundown. Later we went outside for the clean up. Lots and lots, and LOTS of sweeping up of dead ants -- and surprisingly many that had miraculously survived the spraying. We swept several heaping amounts of them into the dustpan and threw them into the coffee fields.

We have heard and read many stories - 

Here is an excerpt from one story:

In the tropics, bugs are a fact of life.  From the teeny-tiny ants that get attracted to a drop of water, to big fat rhinoceros beetles, bugs are all around us.  Bugs that bite and make us itchy, bugs that strip a plant of its leaves, bugs that infiltrate any food source not sealed up, bugs, bugs and more bugs. 

Of all the bugs, probably the largest group are the ants.  And there are many different types of ants, none of which are my friends.  This week, we had a run-in with the house-cleaning ants.

The house cleaning ants have colonies in the thousands.  They normally come just before a rainfall, and if you're unlucky, they might target your house, or in our case, our hostel.  They invade for a couple hours, clean up all the mess (take away bug corpses etc), and then pack it up and leave a few hours later. 

Read the the rest of the story is here

So far there is not much you can do about these ants.  I read that if they do not get inside the house they may return (so it's better to let them in). Hope not! In an effort to continue using non toxic products (always my preference), we will try cinnamon around the doorways if we see them again! (if that doesn't work I will spray! LOL)

Oh and y'all, please feel free to say a prayer for us!!

Check out our (updated) video below 

The Attack of the Cleaner Ants! from Devon on Vimeo.