Staying at a tropical off-the-grid (volcanic) mountain residence can be a challenge. Both of us have sufficient experience living under very spartan conditions, but restarting the systems in a new location and without a local host on site to advice us of essential tricks and tips has been an interesting process.

The place runs of solar panels with a 240V inverter and a backup generator for emergencies and for pumping water up to the gravity fed rain water catchment system. A gas heater is heating the shower (now that we figured out how to hook it up). We had of course received instruction from Kathleen, our host, via email and phone communication throughout the months prior to our arrival. But reality is always so much more than the imagination can foresee.

Connectivity is an issue and thus communication with the outside world is a novelty. Many hours have been spent attempting to acquire local SIM cards, yet we still only get calls and messages sporadically and in very specific spots around the property. Internet is patchy and unreliable, to say the least. This of course allows for a certain degree och presence – with the place, as well as with the tasks that we perform. Unfortunately, however, at the cost of being able to keep up with social threads, and utilise the full capability of our researching tools.

Basic systems are now established, such as food, compost, waste sorting, hygiene, heating, and morning practice. The jetlag is but a memory (kinda), although we do get up around three in the morning to spend a moment enjoying the starry night sky. Current bed time is 8pm.

The mosquitoes are a struggle and the struggle is real. Fortunately they are unlikely to carry any alarming diseases, yet they are vicious gluttons, with an appetite for imported blood. Even the Finnish troll found himself hiding from the buzzing bastards in the cocoon covered bed for a period of time.

Being in a tropical paradise has certainly had a noticeable impact on our energy levels. Coming from Northern Europe, our internal calendars were heading towards winter hibernation after an intensive summer season. Now we have traded the cold and dark of the Nordics, for the heat and humidity of the Equatorial Pacific Ocean.

We are officially set up and ready to start roaming around in the jungle. Plenty of specimen plants to locate and identify, trails to clean, samples to take and invasive species to “relocate”.