ALOT has happened in the last few weeks, and its up there with the best time of the trip.
After more fun times in Leon, involving hilariously random theatre in the parque central, amazing 1.50pound breakfasts (called Tipico: Gallo Pinto (rice and beans), plantains, cheese, coffee), real cool dutch, swedish and isrealie folks...and ofcourse VOLCANO BOARDING! This was amazing. So we hiked up Volcan Cerro Negro which is completely black from all the ash (its very active) with our boards (planks of wood with some rope), trekked through the crater which was really incredible...sulphur smelling steam all around you, rising up from the ground.
It looked like mars. If you touch the floor you can easily burn yourself. the view from the top was really amazing (you could see a string of volcanoes in the distance, and also where the ash suddenly stops and a line of forest begins). We then grabbed our boards, put on gloves, goggles and a suit, and boarded down the ash on the side of the volcano. Rediculously fun, and i went pretty darn fast. Bits of ash flicking up in your face, racing down the side of an active volcano with one of the best views ive seen...(am i making you jelous yet?). For sure something i never thought id do!
I ended up next in Granada, and more gringoie city which is pretty much the same as Antigua (guatemala) but not quite so good. Had an excellent time though, partying with nice germans, canadians and taiwanese and swimming in the hotel pool next door (it was insanely hot here...literally rediculous). I then made my way to Isla de Ometepe which is a island in the middle on Lago de Nicaragua, made up of two volcanoes. Absolutely incredible place with incredibly picturesque views wherever your head turns. The first day i saw some sort of fiesta where cowboys were attempting to ride angry bulls, with local kids spitting and throwing litter on them. interesting. Then in a place nearby (Charo Verde) I went for a hike and bumped into a group of howler monkeys who let me have lunch with them (i didnt eat their monkey food). On the way back i met some great canadian women (at least 50..) who offered to buy me a beer (ended up being 2 beers and some cake), and we chatted about politics. These are the things that keeps us lone travellers going!
Next place on the island was Santo Domingo where i met some friends from Leon (the brilliant Dutch girls and an american guy i met in Xela), where we decided to rent motorbikes. The motorbike guy told us the basics (this is the clutch, this is the brake, these are the gears....go!) and you catch on very quickly (well i did, but then again i guess im english..). This has got to have been one of the funnest things of the trip so far. We biked all around the island, through mud puddles, over rocks, through fields....with locals staring at us (suprised that gringos can ride motorbikes too..!). it was suprising easy and with the views of the volcanoes, an unforgettable experience.
When we returned, there was the most amazing sunset, with everything a weirdly beautiful orange.
Next day, me, judith (german girl who was on my bike) and mike went to Merida (otherside of the island) to climb half way up Volcan Maderas to a waterfall. Really brilliant with the giant waterfall and howler monkeys everywhere.
I then went and spent a day on an organic farm, where i saw an amazing sunset from a watchtower (involving the sun setting over the side of Volcano Concepcion, and fireflys lighting up all around you) and worked on the farm for 20% off my bed.
The bread and mango chutney here was incredible.
I then came back to Managua (the capital) and flew on a small plane to the Corn Islands. these are these amazingly perfect caribbean islands off the north coast of Nicaraga. i stayed in a beach hut for C$100 a night, where if i walked 5 seconds from my door, i would be at the sea.
It looked like what you imagine paradise to look like...perfect white sand beaches, coconut palms hanging over, incredibly clear water which was almost warmer than outside.
Spent many a day lying on the beach, swimming in the sea, climbing up trees to collect coconuts and then banging them on rocks to drink the milk and eat the flesh. I met some really brilliant people here (Darius&Martius the germans, Julie&Sif the danish, Fabio the brazilian, Rebecca&Trish and some more canadians), and apart from collecting coconuts, bread fruit and sleeping, little was done.
Ate some great food though; Ron Don (the local speciality- fish soup with lobster, fish, shrimps, plantains, uka...), more lobster, coconut bread..... So much fresh seafood im suprised i dont look like some sort of fish (including 2 barracuda, a king fish and a spanish mackerel which we caught!). Actually one meal we had was the fresh fish we caught that day from the sea, bread fruit id picked that day from the tree, and plantains picked from the island. I love the caribbean.
We stayed on little corn the whole time (theres big corn aswell, which is where im typing this from) because its alot nicer. The atomosphere is so friendly and relaxed (oh you want to go fishing? go and talk to Elvis in Bridgets place..etc). So you get to know the locals very quickly (many friends including Coconut man, fishing man, empanada man and hammock man).
We also went snorkelling (as theres an amazing coral reef next to the island), and finally saw a HAMMERHEAD SHARK! Yeah! Ive finally conquered my shark fear! It was quite far beneath us, but looked so amazing (and you could still see it really clearly because the water is perfectly clear)- massive and worryingly powerful (considering we paddled out in just a canoe).
Also went on a night dive, which was absolutely insane. Its completely dark so you have a torch. Loads of lion fish, also octopus, and masssssive turtle... Also there was a thing called Bioluminescence which is basically when all the little algae lights up all around you and you feel like your swimming through the stars. Really incredible.
And now here i am on Big Corn waiting for my flight back to Managua and from there ill head down to Costa Rica (tomorrow). I have a rediculously short amount of time left, its too depressing to think about (although dont worry i am looking forward to seeing you england folks).
Update next from the Rainforest! Adios de Simòn
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