With No Taxes on Vehicles; Its More Reasonable to Ship a Car to Costa Rica

There have always been pros and cons to owning a car in Costa Rica as well as the question of buying one in the country or importing one. 

It’s obviously extremely convenient to have your own vehicle but just like buying anything else in Costa Rica, it’s quite expensive. Especially if you come from a country where cars are usually much cheaper the sticker shock hurts.

Add to that the mandatory registration, maintenance, and auto insurance, and maintaining a car becomes a real hit to your wallet. Vehicles must be well maintained both to handle the Costa Rican roads and to comply with emission rates and other legal standards. 

Get Your Free Guide to Shipping to Costa Rica

If you decide that the benefits of having the freedom to travel when and where you want in your own car far outweigh the costs involved, there’s some new good news for you. You can get a car much cheaper (and in better shape!) in the US than in Costa Rica and no longer have to pay import tax on it.

This is thanks to the new “Law to Attract Investors, Renters, and Retirees.”  You will be allowed to import two vehicles for personal or family use free of import, custom, and value added taxes, greatly lowering the cost of getting a car.

The post With No Taxes on Vehicles; Its More Reasonable to Ship a Car to Costa Rica first appeared on The Costa Rican Times.

5 Amazing Reasons To Visit Manila, Philippines

Manila is the Philippines’ capital city, but it has a worldwide image of being filthy and corrupt, which is absolutely unfair. This is not true because Manila is one of the top cities in the world for sightseeing and culture, and the economy is thriving, with business-driven hip hop eateries and endless nightlife.

It’s one of the best places to get away from the stresses of daily life. Due to its terrible reputation, pollution, traffic, and overpopulation, Manila was once believed to be a boring city, but that is no longer the case.

You may go from Bahrain to Manila with Cathay Pacific and enjoy the time of your life. This is exactly what we need after a three-year outbreak that has kept us confined to our homes for the past couple of years. It’s time to get out and enjoy yourself in Manila in order to be reborn.

Here are some of the pros and justifications for choosing Manila as your holiday destination.

A Brief Introduction To Manila

Manila is the Philippines’ capital and is renowned as the “Pearl of the Orient.” This city is culturally diverse, with a strong emphasis on preserving Spanish history. There are several activities to do in Manila and other Philippine cities. It’s become one of the top spots for foodies and travel vloggers in recent years.

On the island of Luzon, Manila is a culturally rich bayside metropolis that mixes Spanish historic grandeur with modern buildings. The heart of Old Manila lies in Intramuros, a colonial-era walled city.

You will find YouTubers doing incredible vlogs about the city and several exciting things to do around. This city is recognized for its delectable cuisine as well as its vibrant street food market. Manila is full of theaters, galleries, culinary streets, bars, and much more, so visiting it might be one of the finest decisions you make.

Escape The Winter

If you want to get away from the cold, a trip to Manila is a must. As the capital of a tropical country, Manila has just two seasons: wet and dry.

From October to May, the weather is dry, and from June to September, it is wet. Excursions in the Philippines are available all year due to the fact that it is still light and pleasant throughout the rainy season, with storm cancellations the only exception.

Summer in the Philippines is from March to May, and it is the warmest season of the year. The first eight weeks of the year are ideal for travel since the sun shines but the weather is frequently cooler. Beach and resort destinations like Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu are best visited during the dry season.

It Is An Affordable Heaven

When you ask different people why they appreciate visiting Manila, Philippines, they will all give you a different answer. The official tourism motto of the Philippines is “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” yet the nation is also quite inexpensive.

For the budget-conscious traveler or adventurer, Manila may be an ideal option. Dining, transportation, and lodging are all quite affordable and comfortable. One US dollar is now worth 51 Philippine pesos.

For a dollar, you can get a can of decent beer and a couple of meat skewers from local street sellers, and believe it or not, the local cuisine is a must-try. The cost of a one-way journey on the capital’s above-ground rail system is only $0.80. You can also do a lot of shopping here because there are both local and international brands.

The Heart Of the Philippines

One of the benefits of beginning your Philippines vacation in Manila is that it allows you to begin your journey of learning about and comprehending the country. You can begin to adjust to life in the Philippines by staying in Manila at the start of your journey.

You may learn about the culture and history instead of delving immediately into the beach or resort attitude. You will go into any touring or island-hopping adventures with your eyes wide open if you do this just before you travel.

Having witnessed history, modernity, and poverty helps to put everything into perspective. Attending the National Museum and other prominent cultural institutions, for example, would almost certainly fall under this category.

It’s also the small things, like listening to the interesting mix of Filipino and English spoken on the radios as you drive around town.

The Food Scene

Whether you like Asian cuisines or not, Filipino food is a whole different experience. With the arrival of the cuisine scene in Manila, your time there would be remarkable. You will want to learn more about it and attempt foods you’ve never tried before.

Chicken inasal, a marinated grilled chicken, and pork sisig are two dishes that will transport your taste senses to paradise. You will discover about the national infatuation with calamansi, a delicious indigenous citrus fruit.

However, Manila offers more than just Filipino cuisine. A large number of Japanese and Korean restaurants in the neighborhood proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are the most popular foreign cuisines in the area. If you are looking for something familiar, there are plenty of American franchises to choose from.

Final Thoughts

Manila’s bustling nightlife is another reason to travel. There’s much to do here, with elegant rooftop cocktail bars, secret bars, and laid-back pubs, as well as a tremendous nightlife and live entertainment scene.

Manila is a great place to start a choice of day and overnight travels in the region. Mt Pinatubo, with its moonscapes and stunning crater lake; Taal Volcano, near the quaint gourmet town of Tagaytay; and Mt Banahaw, where cult groups have set up camp at its foot, are among the most popular.

So, what are you waiting for? Take a break from this hectic routine and book your flights to the Philippines. People are already in so much stress and depression that it has become a must thing to light up your life again after such a long pandemic.

The post 5 Amazing Reasons To Visit Manila, Philippines first appeared on The Costa Rican Times.

Things to look forward to about Paris

The city of Paris is everything that you should look forward to whether it is a short term visit or a long term stay. This capital is one of the biggest fashion hubs in the world. The city has a long history when it comes to art and culture. There’s a large variety of places including museums, Cafes, restaurants and alot more to visit. Visiting Paris is a once in a lifetime experience and you should really look forward to it! Book your flight today at Cathay Pacific.

However, visiting for the first time, there’s a lot of things you would wish someone had told you beforehand for you to fully enjoy them. Following are a few things you should definitely know:

1. Red lights:

People in Paris generally are experts when it comes to crossing roads. The cross lights in Paris are generally open to the interpretation of any person. Waiting for the green lights is one option, but you can simply cross the roads by calculating the time and speed of any approaching cars. However, this is totally on your own expertise.

2. Paris and Smoking:

The practice of smoking is still very popular in Paris just like in older classic French cinema, you would often see actors looking classy while smoking cigarettes. Men and women of around all ages may be found smoking in all sorts of places. This might not necessarily be a good experience considering the city is literally covered in a cloud of smoke but it is still something that you should expect to be quite normal there.

3. Common courtesy:

Paris as a capital has its own etiquettes. The standards definitely differ across places but generally the people are very polite to one another. Other than their politeness, the locals may also prefer to socially interact a lot. This means it is perfectly normal for bus drivers etc. to greet their passengers as well as for people to greet and apologize a lot.

4. Keep off the grass:

Paris has a lot of places that you can visit and that includes many parks and gardens as well. Thinking about the grassy fields always makes one think of a picnic on a sunny day and reading books under a tree’s shade. However, in most places there are parks where sitting on the grass is completely prohibited and you may only appreciate the beauty from afar. This is also one reason why the parks in Paris are so well preserved.

5. English is spoken in France:

One of the biggest problems for foreign visitors is language. Many visitors cannot speak French and this was quite a big problem a few years back. The language barrier was quite a difficult thing for foreigners to manage. However, as the American influence is rapidly growing, many locals are getting influenced by it. Although they might not really appreciate speaking English in general, if you try to communicate with them in English, they may at least attempt to understand you. However the better option is still using French as they would appreciate that more.

6. French people are helpful:

It is highly unlikely that if you ask locals to help you over something and they outright refuse you for it. They may not generally approach you by themselves but if you ask for their help, they won’t reject you. French people are generally respectful though they might not appreciate tourists who misbehave.

7. Importance of Cheese, wine and Bread:

Cheese, wine and bread means a lot to the French people and you may generally find them in a large quantity in the French markets. In fact, you may even find a huge extensive variety of them which you might not have heard about before. Not just that, but every cheese has its own taste, combination, color and history. Same goes for wine, which is there to accompany you with your food.

8. You might need a GPS:

Paris can seem like a huge maze if you don’t have a phone with a GPS with you. The reason for that is, there are a lot of districts that tend to have similar names. This can make things really difficult for you. If you can’t speak the language then it is very hard for you to get to your destination without using a map.

9. The Fashion capital:

It won’t be an understatement to say that Paris is the capital of fashion. You may see well suited people throughout the streets of Paris. Women in fashionable dresses, high heels, and expensive bags are literally a common sight in Paris. You will also find a variety of dresses, styles and looks.

10.            Paying for the bathroom:

If you drink a lot of water, then this might be a bit of a problem. The reason for that is that you may have to pay for using any bathrooms that are not at your home or at a restaurant that you are eating at. Though don’t expect that the washroom is going to be clean just because you paid for it. In any case, if you want to stay hydrated then make sure you are near places where you can access washrooms without having to pay.

11.            Tasty Food but expensive:

Top food quality is a priority for the French people. Everything simply has to be perfect as eating is a significant social activity. Food is one way of social communication and a good company is never without food. However eating can be quite expensive. You may see that the food not only tastes exquisite but looks exquisite as well. The more effort is put into the food, the more expensive it is.

12.            Get your groceries before Monday:

Whatever you may need from the market, you may need to get it by Sunday. Usually Monday is the day where the sellers tend to refuel for the coming week.

Conclusion:

Getting your flight booked for Paris can be both an exciting and a confusing experience. However there’s a lot to look forward to, including street art and much more.

The post Things to look forward to about Paris first appeared on The Costa Rican Times.

Interview with John Yost, Senior Producer at RYNO Pictures

Question: Thank you for this interview John. Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

Answer: I’ve been working in the TV & Film industry for about 20 years. I’m a normal guy with a normal life. I usually tell people that I’m a ‘nobody’ because nobody has been told, ‘NO’ – more than this body! Hahaha!

Question: You have a new documentary coming out called Alien Abduction: Answers. Can you tell us a little bit about this documentary?

Answer: Sure..
The governments of the world cannot hide anymore that alien contact is happening. This is a film of what, why, and how it is occurring. Most importantly, it offers an answer to the question: Where do we go from here?

The silence of a hot summer evening is shattered by the crash of something falling down a wooden stairwell followed by the wailing of a young boy. His parents can hardly make our his terrifying account of someone…something upstairs that had touched him on the shoulder and threw him down the stairs. His father, exhausted from a double-shift at the steel mill, loudly clambered up the steps to investigate while the boy’s mother comforted her son and asked if he was hurt.

Upon a cursory exam of the rooms, the father appeared at the landing brusquely saying that it was nothing and no one was in the house. A day or so later, a very distinct, raised mark was discovered on the boy’s shoulder. A medical examination was inconclusive. The boy was told to lie about the mark and how he had received it.

He lied about it for over 45 years.

He kept the fear of that night, the shame of his father’s dismissal of his account, and the memory of that almond-eyed visitor locked tight in his mind. The boy grew into a perfectly normal man who lived in a normal house, with his normal wife and children… except for his obsessive preoccupation with home security, paralyzing fear of open skies or deep water, and his abiding sense that he was being watched.

With the help of some very good and open-minded friends, he finally came to terms with his memories and the truth that he had a Close Encounter of the Fourth Kind. But there was something missing; something that was just out of his reach. He could not remember how he got to the top of those stairs, why had the entity touched him, why was he ‘marked’, and what did it all mean?

This documentary follows him as he discovers that there are literally hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life and all over the globe who have experienced something similar – he is not alone. We witness his encounter as a boy and through a technique called Quantum Hypnotherapy we ‘sit-in’ while a highly skilled therapist with over 40 years of experience guide him back to that Summer evening; we cheer him as he masters his fear, and we finally discover what really happened that night. Where did he go? What did he learn? What can he share with the rest of us? What will YOU do when you know truth?

This. Is. Happening. – Learn to overcome your fear and get: Answers to Alien Abduction.

Question: I see that you are also in this documentary and experienced being abducted. Why do you think they abducted you?

Answer: You got me – the (kid) – is – me. That’s a great question and one we explore extensively in the film. Why are all of these people chosen? Why are some passed by…or are they? Is it possible that literally everyone on this planet has had some interaction with what I call, the ‘other’? After you watch this film, you might stop looking in the sky and start looking in the mirror.

Question: You always hear that the grays are doing the abductions, do you believe that other types of aliens are also conducting abductions?

Answer: The entities that came for me were not grays and I use the observation that there are many different looking humans with different agendas that ALL come from one planet – which ones can you call ‘Earthing’? All of them, of course. It is my position that we’re dealing with many different entities from many different origins that have some similar and some vastly different agendas.

Question: What is the agenda for the abductions? Do you believe they are manipulating our DNA to make us more like them?

Answer:   I’ve heard it all – replicate us so when we destroy our Earth, they can reseed the planet, change our DNA to give us upgrades and push our evolution along, change our DNA so we can cohabit ships, planets, or Earth with them, change the DNA so we can mate with them and save their bloodline… and perhaps the most eerie to me is that like our transhumanists are trying to upload their intelligences into computers or robots so they can gain immortality, the aliens are trying to create biological ‘containers’ to transfer their consciousnesses into because they’d prefer to retain the tactile benefits that a natural host would provide. My opinion – maybe all of them are correct, or none. What if ‘they’ are specifically here to wake us up to that ‘other’ I spoke of before? What if our understanding of the universe is paltry and limiting. Say the universe is just a shadow of what is actually – REAL. We’d be living in a flimsy dream that – under the right circumstances, or prompting in this case, we could see where the paper moon is hanging from a hook and realize that the clouds are just gossamer. What if we knew that all of this: war, hate, pollution, greed etc. were just temporary distractions and that we could, with the power of our collective consciousnesses, change everything? The agenda for the abductions is to let us know that WE are a hell of a lot more that what we believe we are.

Question: How can people watch your documentary, what channels will it be on?

Answer: Here are the dates, that this documentary will air and where you can find it. 

May 3, 2022
Apple TV
Amazon Prime
Vudu
Google Play
Vimeo on Demand
Kino Now
Comcast
Charter
Cox
Verizon
Atlantic

August 3, 2022
Netflix or Hulu – They’re still fighting it out

November 3, 2022
PLUTO
TUBI
AMAZON.COM, WALMART, REDBOX — DVDs for Purchase

Question: What is your website, so people can see what other projects you may be involved in?

Answer: RYNOPictures.com

Question: My wife was abducted when she was a little girl in Auburn, CA. She says that the UFO looked like a large eye. She thinks of the abduction as the “Mysterious Eye”. After her abduction, she became psychic. Have you heard of cases similar to what my wife experienced?

Answer: After these encounters, many people have been healed, seen the spirits of the dead, become psychic, create incredible music and art etc.; it is more common than you think.

Question: What will be some of the things we will learn from your documentary?

Answer: Here’s a trick answer that won’t make sense to many in your readership: Be careful! Everything you truly believe with your whole heart is…true! Haha! The charm of this film is that viewers will not be drowned in facts or conspiracy -and- they will see themselves on screen. That is to say – no crazy folks with tin-foil hats. The people in the documentary are Mothers, Fathers, musicians, designers, accountants etc…they’re – us.

Question: This is the end of the interview, is there anything you would like to add, that I didn’t cover with my questions?

This film is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It is not so much about the shiny lights in the sky. The film is about you, your soul – consciousness.

Once again, thank you very much for this interview.
—

-JY

John Yost
Senior Producer
SAG-AFTRA, AEA, AGMA
RYNO Pictures
RynoPictures.com

Paul Dale Roberts, HPI’s Esoteric Detective
Halo Paranormal Investigations
www.cryptic916.com/
Email: jazmaonline@gmail.com
HPI Schedule: jazmaonline.boards.net/thread/1748/hpi-schedule-2021

The post Interview with John Yost, Senior Producer at RYNO Pictures first appeared on The Costa Rican Times.

Types of Smoking Pipes

Cannabis smoking devices are made in a variety of shapes and sizes. When considering vaporization as a means of medical-grade cannabis administration, consumers seek increased functionality, quality, and reliability in their devices to ensure optimum efficiency.

One of the best devices is smoking pipes. There are many kinds of smoking pipes, and each one has its unique purpose and benefits. Smoking pipes come in various shapes and sizes and are made from different materials.

If you wish to know the benefits of using smoking pipes like a Sherlock Holmes pipe and how to select one for yourself, here is the information.

Glass Smoking Pipes

Glass smoking pipes are some of the most popular smoking pipes on the market. They are made from high-quality borosilicate glass, making them durable and heat resistant. Glass pipes are also easy to clean and maintain.

Borosilicate is a type of glass known for its durability and heat resistance. This type of glass is often used in scientific experiments because it can withstand high temperatures without breaking.

Glass pipes are made in various shapes and sizes, and they can be used for dry herb, concentrate, or oil.

• Dry Herbs – Dry herbs include tobacco, marijuana, and other plant materials. These herbs are usually smoked in a pipe or bong.
• Concentrates – Concentrates are cannabis extract made by extracting THC and other cannabinoids from plant material. Concentrates are smoked in a pipe or bong.
• Oils – Oils are made of cannabis extract dissolved in a carrier oil, such as propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. Oils can be smoked in a pipe, bong, or vaporizer.

There are many different types of glass pipes, and each one has its purpose and benefits.

Chamber Pipes

Chamber pipes are primarily used for smoking concentrates. They have a chamber that holds the concentrate while you smoke it. This type of pipe is ideal for smokers who want to enjoy the flavor of their concentrate.

Bubbler Pipes

Bubbler pipes are designed for smoking dry herbs. They contain a chamber that captures the cannabis as you smoke it. The style is excellent for smokers who appreciate their marijuana taste.

Recycler Pipes

Recycler pipes are designed for smoking dry herbs. This pipe style is perfect for smokers who want to savor their weed’s essence. You can also use a conical pipe to smoke your marijuana.

Sherlock Pipes

The pipes get their name from famous detective Sherlock Holmes, who often used them to smoke tobacco. When you want to minimize the smell of your cannabis, a Sherlock Holmes pipe is the perfect option. These pipes are perfect for smoking dry herbs and are made from high-quality materials.

Spoon Pipes

Spoon pipes are some of the most popular smoking pipes in the market. They are best for smoking dry herbs and come in various sizes and shapes. Spoon pipes are easy to use and offer a great smoking experience.

Steamroller Pipes

When you want to try something different, a steamroller pipe is a way to go. These pipes are designed for smoking dry herbs and come in various sizes and shapes. Steamroller pipes offer a unique smoking experience perfect for smokers who want to try something new.

One-Hitter Pipes

One-hitter means that the pipe can only hold a small amount of cannabis. You can use this pipe to enjoy your weed without smoking too much at once. One-hitters are perfect for smokers who want to control their intake or save their weed later.

Wooden Smoking Pipes

Wooden pipes are some of the oldest types of smoking pipes. They are made from natural materials, such as bamboo, briarwood, cherry, and maple. Wooden smoking pipes offer a unique smoking experience unmatched by other pipe materials.

Briarwood is a type of wood often used to make smoking pipes. This type of wood is very dense and has a natural resistance to fire. Cherrywood is used for smoking pipes because it is rugged, durable, and does not affect the flavor of the smoke. Maplewood has a sweet smell that can enhance the smoking experience. Bamboo is often used to make smoking pipes because it is lightweight and easy to work with.

Metal Smoking Pipes

Metal pipes are made from brass, copper, and stainless-steel materials. They are perfect for smokers who want a durable and long-lasting smoking pipe. Brass is made of copper and zinc. It is a durable metal that does not rust in the presence of moisture. Copper is a good conductor of heat, making it ideal for smoking.  Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and chromium. It is a durable metal that is resistant to corrosion.

Conclusion

Smoking pipes are a great way to enjoy your favorite tobacco. There are many different types of pipes, so you can find one that fits your budget and lifestyle.

The post Types of Smoking Pipes first appeared on The Costa Rican Times.

Tips on How To Find the Right Online Head Shop

As an ardent smoker, it is convenient to have all the smoking equipment and accessories at your disposal, as you may require them at any time. You might want to enjoy a bong session one day and try out a chillum for an entirely different experience on the other. What if you’ve run out of an ash catcher, rolling paper, or other accessories? To buy smoking items in such circumstances, you will have to visit a head shop.

A head shop refers to a retail store specializing in smoking equipment and accessories. However, an online head shophas plenty of advantages over a traditional one, including convenience, range of items available, and the user experience in general. Unsurprisingly, online head shops have gained rapid popularity among smokers ever since they made their appearance. But before you place your order after having found a shop, here are some things you might consider taking into account.

What kind of items do they have?

A successful online head shop will usually have many smoking items and accessories in stock. That is one of their significant advantages over brick-and-mortar shops. You could visit their website to check the kind of items they have. It should at least have bongs, glass pipes, and bubblers in store, along with a wide range of varieties of other smoking items. For example, bongs are one of the most common smoking devices and come in various types such as scientific, colorful, large, and mini, with each offering a unique experience. Similarly, glass pipes are also of multiple types such as spoon, Sherlock, or Gandalf, color changing and themed, and even though their functioning and body parts might be the same, they vary by their shape and size and other factors.

Do they have the accessories you require?

After you have thoroughly browsed their website and checked the kind of items they have in store, you must check what accessories they have. Accessories complete and even enhance your smoking experience. Ash catchers, bowls, down-stems, storage, cases, cleaner screens, rolling paper, rolling trays, and grinders are some of the accessories that an online shop should have in its collection. For instance, a rolling tray will help you avoid scattering your tobacco or herb on your table, desk, or bedsheet. Rolling paper is indispensable while smoking a cigarette. The ash and debris would enter the bong’s bowl without ash catchers, rendering the entire experience unpleasant.

Do they have any items on sale?

Online shops enjoy several advantages over offline stores, one of which is their customers’ discounts and lower prices. Before placing an order, you might want to consider checking if the store offers any items on sale or has a separate section on its website dedicated to on-sale items. Simultaneously, it would be a good idea to check the quality of the product on sale and whether that impacts its quality in any way. You could also check the prices of the items and compare them to check the difference.

Do they offer the highest quality products?

Even if an online head shop has the product you are looking for and is offering it at a sale or low prices, you will not find that very useful if the products are not of the highest quality. Having high-quality smoking equipment is necessary because you will inhale the smoke inside your body, and a defective or slightly damaged product could interfere with your experience. Experts agree that glass-made devices are better than plastic, silicone, or wooden ones. This is because they don’t influence the product’s flavor, and are available in various shapes, sizes, and designs, while also being easy to clean. Pipes made from glass are considered far better than wooden pipes as they can withstand high temperatures without affecting the smoke’s flavor.

What is their return policy?

Even after thoroughly researching a product, you might not find it to your liking or satisfaction at times. In those situations, it would help if you could return the product without any hassle in exchange for a refund or a similar item. You must ask the company about its return policy or read the terms and conditions to understand its policy on returned items. It would be highly convenient if the online head store allowed you to return your item within a month, as 30 days is sufficient for assessing the quality and performance of a smoking item. You should also ask them about the extra charges on returned orders, if any. If the store has a refund policy, ask them how much they usually take to refund your money or replace an item.

Do they have elaborate product descriptions?

You might have all the information you need before buying a glass pipe, bubbler, chillum, bong, or any other item. Even then, the shop should have a product description that clearly describes the item in detail and includes details such as its specifications. You will find the buying process convenient if you have an idea of the item before adding it to your cart. Reliable head stores provide the product’s image with a zoom-in feature to enable you to have a close look while paying attention to every detail.

What do other customers say about them?

Reading the customer testimonials is a time-tested way of knowing the reliability of a head shop. Smokers, just like you, will not buy products from a company if they aren’t convinced about its quality, performance, and customer satisfaction. You should visit the customer testimonials section on the shop’s website and check the number of reviews of a product along with the stars customers assign to each of them. If the customers have given the highest rating to any product, it is possible that the product has been able to deliver what it promises. 

How do they pack your products?

It is vital to receive your pipe, bong, bubbler, or any other item intact, without damaging its body, and packing plays a significant role in that. You could ask the company or browse their website to learn about their packaging method. Bubble wraps are one of the safest ways of packing and protecting an item, especially a fragile one since its air-filled hemispheres provide maximum cushioning. Another question you might consider asking the company is the period within which you must return the item.

You can use questions and information such as these to form an idea about an online head shop and decide if you should buy any smoking item from them. If it is your first time, you must pay attention to every detail to ensure you get the best experience online.

The post Tips on How To Find the Right Online Head Shop first appeared on The Costa Rican Times.

Haunted Devil’s Slide & Point Sur Lighthouse in Big Sur

The year was 1972.  My high school friends Eugene Pointer, Willie Reid, John Hester and I, headed down to the Point Sur Lighthouse in Big Sur.  My high school friends and I, at the time lived in San Bruno.  For kicks, we would sometimes hitchhike up and down Highway #1.  We would hang out at Devil’s Slide on Highway #1.   If Eugene was driving, he would always stop by Free Beach and San Gregorio Beach to check out the women on the beach.  If I was hitchhiking on Highway #1 by myself, I would stop over at Sanchez Adobe Ranch to see my then girlfriend at the time, named Rachel Nunez.  Rachel’s father would have me cleaning out the horse’s stalls, before I could ride one of the horses with Rachel.  

Areas along Highway #1 are very haunted, especially around Devil’s Slide.  Many cars have went over the sheer cliffs of Devil’s Slide.  Eugene claims that on one night, he actually saw a car go over Devil’s Slide.  Eugene parked his bright orange Volkswagon along the embankment and looked over the cliff.  Eugene did not see a crashed car.  The first thought in Eugene’s mind is that he saw a ghostly car go over the cliff.  That is the only explanation that Eugene could think of.  Along Devil’s Slide there also have been suicidal jumpers.  

Here is an example of a man and woman that lost their lives at Devil’s Slide. according to a local news site:  “A man whose van swerved off Devil’s Slide yesterday was ejected safely onto the rocky cliff but apparently plunged to his death after vowing to rescue his wife from the sea below.  Drivers along Highway 1 told authorities they saw the southbound Ford Aerostar veer over a dirt berm and tumble off the roadside at about 3 p.m. The man was ejected from the van about halfway down the rocky, 400-foot cliff above the sea.  Another driver pulled over and tried to help the man, but he refused assistance, tussling with his would-be-rescuer, authorities said.  “The victim stated ‘No, I have to go save my wife,’ ” said San Mateo County Sheriff’s Sergeant John Quinlan. “The way the witness told it to us is he actually walked over the cliff. It’s quite tragic.”

In 1967, a San Francisco woman throws her 9- and 10-year-old children over the cliff at Devils Slide, then plunges after them to her death.  There have been many, many deaths at Devil’s Slide and the name Devil’s Slide is appropriate for this dangerous piece of the highway.  I remember driving along Devil’s Slide on a foggy day.  I drove 5 miles an hour and prayed and kept praying, until I was out of the fog and away from Devil’s Slide.  I white knuckled the drive and was sweating profusely.  Present Day:  Devil’s Slide is NOW Devil’s Slide Trail, a 1.3-mile pedestrian and bike path.  

Down the road from Devil’s Slide is Big Sur.  Big Sur has a picturesque lighthouse that has been illuminating the waters off the coast of Big Sur since 1889.  Legend has it that the original keeper makes his ghostly appearance seen at the lighthouse and he still wears his original uniform.  Mike Bishop of Monterey says that on a foggy day at this lighthouse, he went back into time and heard people screaming.  He looked towards the rocky edge and saw a boat with people in it and they appeared to be bleeding.  Mike yelled at them and said: “Hold on, I will get help!”  When Mike finished his sentence, the boat and the people vanished.  Mike to this day feels he had a glimpse of the past and witnessed a tragedy that happened many, many years ago.  

Nestled on the rocky coastline between Carmel and Big Sur, the Point Sur lighthouse sits perched on a volcanic rock, dutifully warning nearby ships that the Pacific’s treacherous coast approaches. Despite its powerful beam, the Point Sur lighthouse has witnessed its share of shipwrecks. The spirits of those who perished in the many wrecks are said to haunt the lighthouse and its surrounding buildings.  A tall man in dark blue, 19th-century garb has often been seen lingering around the historic tower. The lighthouse is now part of Point Sur State Historic Park and is open for guided tours.  

My experience at the lighthouse is that I was outside of the lighthouse and felt a tapping on my shoulder.  I believe a ghost was trying to get my undivided attention.  I believe that Devil’s Slide and Point Sur Lighthouse has plenty of residual energy that plays back scenes from various tragedies.  These tragedies live on through negative energy that is impacted into the atmosphere.  There may be some intelligent haunting at these two locations, like the ghost that tapped me on my shoulder, but I believe that there is plenty of residual haunting due to the many tragic events that happened at these two areas along the California coastline.

Paul Dale Roberts, HPI’s Esoteric Detective
Halo Paranormal Investigations
www.cryptic916.com/
Sacramento Paranormal Help
www.facebook.com/HaloParanormalInvestigations/

The post Haunted Devil’s Slide & Point Sur Lighthouse in Big Sur first appeared on The Costa Rican Times.

Costa Rica Biometric Bicentennial Passport

Costa Ricans requesting passports will now get a much updated version, the new “Biometric Bicentennial Passport,” which is much safer as it’s harder to forge or for someone else to use. 

Some of its safety features include holograms, visible figures in special print, 3D drawings, and a secure polycarbonate sheet with personal information. Additionally, it’ll have an ID number that is different from the person’s regular ID card number. 

The new type of passport was announced last year and a pilot plan for it was started on February 23 of this year. As of today, March 6, the passport database is being officially changed to store the data from the biometric passports. This is a big step in technological modernization and digitization.

The new passports will have a chip with biometric data such as all ten fingerprints. The old ones only required two fingerprints. Another update is that the person can indicate their perceived gender on the personal information part.  

The passports will have a cost of $75 plus ₡250. They will have a validity of 10 years. 

The artwork on them was all designed by Costa Ricans. 

You can make an appointment to get a passport at:

https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Pasaportes-y-Permisos-de-Salida.aspx

Those who already have passports do not need to order a new one at this time, as the old ones will remain valid until their original expiry dates. That will be at some point within the next ten years. 

Cases of emergency travel that must happen today should be attended to in the central offices of the DGME in La Uruca. 

The post Costa Rica Biometric Bicentennial Passport first appeared on The Costa Rican Times.

Costa Rica Medicinal Cannabis & Industrial Hemp Law

The medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp law was signed by President Carlos Alvarado on March 2. In January, he had partially vetoed it. He promised to leave the regulation published before the change in government. 

Costa Rica is now one of just a few countries where it is legal to produce, distribute, and consume medical cannabis and industrial hemp. Of course, there will be strict rules to control, regulate, and grant permits related to these activities.

The law allows for the cultivation, production, industrialization, and marketing of non-psychoactive cannabis and it’s by-products. All parts of the plant can be used, such as seeds, derivatives, and extracts, as long as the THC content is less than 1% by dry weight. It also authorizes the use of psychoactive cannabis for medical and therapeutic purposes in cases where doctors deem this would increase the patient’s quality of life.

Industrial hemp can be used to make ropes, construction panels, shampoo, clothing, hemp cement, plastics with natural origin, and many other products. It can be used to derive 24,000 by-products. The global hemp industry was estimated at $5,733 million between January and October 2020. Opening up this economic activity in Costa Rica will have a positive effect on small agricultural producers. 

The medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp law was signed by President Carlos Alvarado on March 2. In January, he had partially vetoed it. He promised to leave the regulation published before the change in government. 

Costa Rica is now one of just a few countries where it is legal to produce, distribute, and consume medical cannabis and industrial hemp. Of course, there will be strict rules to control, regulate, and grant permits related to these activities.

The law allows for the cultivation, production, industrialization, and marketing of non-psychoactive cannabis and it’s by-products. All parts of the plant can be used, such as seeds, derivatives, and extracts, as long as the THC content is less than 1% by dry weight. It also authorizes the use of psychoactive cannabis for medical and therapeutic purposes in cases where doctors deem this would increase the patient’s quality of life.

Industrial hemp can be used to make ropes, construction panels, shampoo, clothing, hemp cement, plastics with natural origin, and many other products. It can be used to derive 24,000 by-products. The global hemp industry was estimated at $5,733 million between January and October 2020. Opening up this economic activity in Costa Rica will have a positive effect on small agricultural producers. 

The post Costa Rica Medicinal Cannabis & Industrial Hemp Law first appeared on The Costa Rican Times.

Haunted Tombstone, Old Tucson Studios

I have a strong connection to the State of Arizona.  I have a daughter named Illianna Vega, a former Tucson police officer that lives in Arizona and I have other connections that I consult with in regard to paranormal activities in Arizona.  Illianna is very familiar with ghosts.  She was also a correctional officer for two Arizona state prisons.  Prisons are always haunted by prisoners who have died of natural causes in prison, committed suicide or were murdered by other inmates.  Arizona has many “paranormal hotspots”.  When I was stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona in 1979, I investigated UFO activity and spiritual activity at Superstition Mountains and Sedona.  In 1979, Illianna Vega’s mother would take me to very haunted places like Tombstone and the Old Tucson Studios.  While I was in Military Intelligence school in Fort Huachuca, I heard stories of “ghostly soldiers” that would walk around the perimeters of the fort.  Military Police who were on late night duty would see these ghostly soldiers and confront them, only to see them vanish before their eyes.  

TOMBSTONE
When visiting Tombstone, you can feel the presence of being watched.  When I walked around Boothill and came upon Billy Clampton’s grave, I distinctly heard a man whispering in my ear.  Boothill is very haunted.  I am not the only one that heard whispering in my ear.  An unnamed journalist said he was visiting Boothill and heard a strange tiny voice.  The journalist was at an unmarked grave and the whispering started.  The childlike whisper says:  “It was nice of you to do that.”
The journalist was shocked that he heard a disembodied voice at the unmarked grave.  The journalist stepped away from the grave and finally gained enough nerve and came back.  Then again, he hears a childlike whisper and the whispery sentence was: “You came back. You must like to play with me a lot.”  The journalist could not believe what he hard, then all of a sudden he hears childlike laughter.  The journalist at this point of time is getting scared and with his peripheral vision, sees a humanlike shadow.  The shadow was moving along the tombstones, getting closer to the journalist.  The journalist had enough and ran out of Boothill cemetery.   Other ghosts that haunt Boothill is China Mary.  She is also known as the Lady in Red, because her flowing dress is the color of red. China Mary is a Tombstone notable.  The living China Mary was aka Sing Choy, an astute businesswoman who managed the Tombstone’s General Store.  She was also the overseer of Tombstone’s opium dens and Tombstone’s Redlight District.  China Mary was the “god mother” aka the Madam of the Redlight District.  China Mary was known to run her opium dens and Redlight District like a tight ship and she made a lot of money from her legal and illegal businesses.  Because of the strong money flow into her purse, she was also known to be a generous woman for people in need and showed compassion to the poor people of Tombstone. China Mary is sighted at Boothill Cemetery and is also seen “gliding” around the town late at night.  China Mary may have died in 1906 by heart attack, but she still makes her presence known and keeps watch on the town of Tombstone, like she did when she was alive. Another ghost that makes his nightly rounds is the ghost of Billy Clanton.  Locals and tourists say that Billy Clanton’s ghost is known to patrol the town and he walks up and down Allen Street.  Billy lost his life at the gunfight at the OK Corral.  Billy is another one buried at Boothill.  Notable markers include Marshal Fred White, killed by Curly Bill Brocius, and Tom and Frank McLaury, buried alongside Billy Clanton. Curly Bill and the McLaurys were lost to the “Gunfight at the OK Corral,” the infamous 30-second shootout.  Jack Dunlop aka “Three Fingered Jack,” is another Boothill resident. Three Fingered Jack was shot to death during an attempted holdup. The ghost of Three Fingered Jack was seen at the Tombstone Courthouse by a tourist named Jay Mattheus from Phoenix.  Jay says he was visiting the courthouse with his family and his little daughter ran up to him terrified and said a sloppy looking man with 3 fingers was asking her where she was from.  Jay says he saw a disheveled man walking away from his daughter and vanish before his eyes.  When Jay got back to Phoenix he discovered on the Internet that Three Fingered Jack lived in Tombstone and he believes to this day that his daughter encountered Three Fingered Jack. 

OLD TUCSON STUDIOS
Illianna Vega’s mother in 1979 drove me down to Nogales, Mexico and showed me an old church haunted by a ghostly priest.  The priest is said to walk around the old church and if you encounter the priest, he will display the sign of the cross with his right hand and then vanish.  I was fascinated with this story and learned that there was also a ghostly priest seen not at a church, but seen at Old Tucson Studios!  I believe that this priest ghost seen at Old Tucson Studios is probably an actor that portrayed a priest and enjoys that role in the afterlife.  Doug Elliott of Los Angeles and former resident of Arizona says that he encountered the ghostly priest at Old Tucson Studios and the priest gave him a quizzical look, smiled and  then laughed uncontrollably.  Doug couldn’t figure out why this guy in a priest costume was laughing at him and Doug placed his hand on his shoulder, only to feel nothingness.  Doug was taken aback, and to his amazement the priest disappeared. Doug did not recognize the face of the ghost, but it was something that gives him goosebumps every time he thinks about this encounter.

Another ghost that is seen is the ghost of a very recognizable face.  The face of actor Leif Erickson who played Big John Cannon on High Chaparral.   When I walked around the High Chaparral lot, I heard strong footsteps behind me and when I turned around there was no one there.  Could I have possibly heard the footsteps of Leif Erickson?  Many tourists make claim that they have seen the ghost of Leif Erickson wearing his cowboy get up.  Nicole Howell, a tourist from Flagstaff, Arizona says that she saw the ghost of Leif Erickson and he showed her recognition by smiling at her and gave her a short wave before vanishing.

SOME HISTORY OF OLD TUCSON STUDIOS:
Old Tucson Studios is an American movie studio and theme park just west of Tucson, Arizona, adjacent to the Tucson Mountains and close to the western portion of Saguaro National Park. Built in 1939 for the movie Arizona (1940), it has been used for the filming of many movies and television westerns since then, such as Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), Rio Bravo (1959), El Dorado (1966), and Little House on the Prairie TV series of the 1970s–1980s. It was opened to the public in 1960, and historical tours were offered about the movies filmed there, along with live cast entertainment featuring stunt shows and shootouts. On September 8, 2020, Pima County, which owns the land on which it stands, announced that it was being shut down for an “indefinite” period.

On April 24, 1995, a fire destroyed much of Old Tucson Studios. Buildings, costumes, and memorabilia were lost in the blaze. Among the memorabilia destroyed was the wardrobe from Little House on the Prairie. Also lost in the blaze was the only copy of a short film about the history of Old Tucson Studios. This film included rare behind the scenes footage of stars such as William Holden, John Wayne and Angie Dickinson. The Reno, a steam locomotive from the Virginia and Truckee Railroad on static display in the park, was also badly damaged.

Paul Dale Roberts, HPI’s Esoteric Detective
Halo Paranormal Investigations
www.cryptic916.com/
Sacramento Paranormal Help
www.facebook.com/HaloParanormalInvestigations/

The post Haunted Tombstone, Old Tucson Studios first appeared on The Costa Rican Times.