Preparation
Once my project got approved by college and after I showed the proposal to Mr. Travis Day, I began working on
equipping myself to do this adventurous project.
First I had to polish my camera skills a little bit. I got myself a new good camera and learnt how to use it properly. I
also read up about some practices and concepts that relates to sustainability. I spent some amount of time reading
the Spanish dictionary too.
I am very thankful to Mrs. Suchitra Narayan, a facilitator in the college’s resource team, who helped me organize my
thoughts about sustainability and helped me put down a chart which was going to be the basis on which I would
go out and do my research. She also helped me get an appointment with the eco-resort properties of CGH group
in Marari and Kumarokam. I visited both these places with my new camera trying learn what was happening in these
places.
The people at CHG were warm and welcoming. They took us on a tour through their property and explained how
their flower garden, fish farm and processes such as composting and biogas worked. As a person who is not great at
comprehending large masses of information, I couldn’t gather a big picture of what was happening there. But I did
refer to the videos and photos I took with my camera and did my own research up on the internet later.
The process of applying for a visa to Costa Rica took me a complete month. When I got through the interview and
finally got the visa, I realized it was just the beginning of something which was greater than just a travel abroad.
Pictures taken during my visit to the CGH properties ..
8