Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia, a photo by Megan Lorenz on Flickr.

Let me start by saying "I am NOT a girly girl". I don't mind doing what it takes and getting dirty to capture the shot I'm after, I'm enthusiastic but not bubbly and I don't get scared easily. I'll happily do anything for an adrenaline rush and face any fears that I do have if I know the experience itself is something that will make my heart race. I've faced my fear of heights while practically balancing on a 100 metre cliff over the ocean and my fear of sharks and other demons in the water.

There's one thing I'm NEVER going to be ok with. Spiders. I see a spider and all of a sudden I'm turned into one of those girly girls that needs someone to make it go away. I don't care what you do, just make it disappear and do it fast. Screaming usually ensues.

Within a few nights of arriving at Selva Verde this year, we were sitting at our table and we had a situation. I say "our table" because it was unofficially "reservado" for us. Best table at the lodge....closest to the bar, the only one with a plug for the laptop right beside it and located in a place that made chatting with our friends possible when they had a few moments here and there. Only one person made the mistake of sitting at that table on our trip and he quickly offered to move. He bent down to pick up his stuff and by the time he turned around I already had the gear there and was sitting with my "pink something" umbrella drink satisfied that all was right in the world.

I'm kind of like Sheldon in the Big Bang Theory.

"But that's where I sit!"

Anyway, while sitting there with a big grin on my face after chasing away the intruder....it happened. I felt something crawl down my shirt and knew it must be one of the god knows how many species of huge nasty spiders. I immediately jumped up, made some incoherent bursts which were from sheer terror, spilled my drink and started jumping up and down while screaming. I lost all control. Totally unhinged.

Now the problem with my choice of table location was clear. Our Bartender and friend Gerardo was looking at me, laughing and shaking his head. "Crap. Now he thinks I'm one of those girly girls." He's too much of a gentleman to ever say anything but I'm sure I got a couple of embarrassing nicknames that night. I never did find whatever it was that decided to take his last stroll in such a dangerous spot.

After that I decided to face the fear. Some of the spiders in Costa Rica are actually really interesting and I spent some time watching a few of them build their webs and trap food which was spun & wrapped before being left in a good spot. It's amazing that I got this shot because it required me to break all my rules and get within a foot of the spider (voluntarily!!!) and maintain a level of control that I usually lack when in their presence. A few times I was only 6 inches away with the macro lens and close up filters and I refused to run in terror until I had a shot I was happy with.

Accomplished.

Roaming Rana

Roaming Rana, a photo by Megan Lorenz on Flickr.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog
Costa Rica

Blue Jeans

Blue Jeans, a photo by Megan Lorenz on Flickr.

These little guys are so difficult to photograph, I didn't get any photos of them on last years trip that I was satisfied with. This year I had much more luck :-D

Strawberry Poison-Dart Frog
Costa Rica

Also known as the Blue Jeans Frog, they are the second most toxic frog in Costa Rica and they grow to approximately 17.5–22 mm in standard length. They are common throughout their range, which extends from eastern central Nicaragua through Costa Rica and northwestern Panama. The species is often found in humid lowlands and premontane forest, but large populations are also found in disturbed areas such as plantations.

Tiny Toucan

Tiny Toucan, a photo by Megan Lorenz on Flickr.

Collared Aracari
Costa Rica Nature Pavilion

Catching The Red-Eye

Catching The Red-Eye, a photo by Megan Lorenz on Flickr.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog
La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Snookum Bear

Snookum Bear, a photo by Megan Lorenz on Flickr.

Coati
Arenal Area, Costa Rica

Coatis are also known as Coatimundi, Brazilian Aardvarks, Mexican Tejón or Moncún, Hog-Nosed Coons, Pizotes, Panamanian Gatosolos, Crackoons and Snookum Bears and they are members of the raccoon family (Procyonidae). They are diurnal mammals native to South America, Central America, and South-Western North America.

Two Of A Kind

Two Of A Kind, a photo by Megan Lorenz on Flickr.

Finally home after a couple of wonderful weeks in Costa Rica. I miss it already. A special thank you to my friends in CR: Alexander, Herardo, Edwardo, Yehudi, Francisco, David & David. Look forward to seeing you again soon!

Last year I arranged transfers from location to location. This year we drove which was so much fun! At times it was an eye-opening experience but from now on.....I'll be driving myself around Costa Rica and enjoying the freedom and peace it gives me. We were held up a bit on the way to the airport but luckily we'd been told it was a bad route and to leave lots of extra time. We had to wait for landslides ahead of us to be cleared before we were able to continue along the road going through Braulio Carrillo National Park. Only in Costa Rica ;-)

I was thrilled to have so many opportunities with the Collared Aracaris at David's place....the Costa Rica Nature Pavilion. This one is probably my favorite although I haven't had much of a chance to go through the images while I was gone.