“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams”. –  Ashley Smith

A little over a year ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week exploring Costa Rica’s remote Osa Peninsula. Known for its immense biodiversity and raw natural beauty, I was in paradise. The week was spent visiting remote ecolodges and homes of local Costa Ricans during a trip through Lokal Travel.

One of the highlights of the trip was spending a night up in the jungle at Xiña’s rustic cabin where we had no electricity, running water or basic luxuries associated with travel. Instead, I slept peacefully with the sound of the jungle lulling me to sleep, bathed in the waterfalls near her property and climbed up to the peak of the mountain at 4 am to watch the sunrise.

As much as I love sunsets, it is rare for me to rise early enough to watch the sunrise and I must confess that sunrise is even more magical and magnificent than sunset. As the sun rises, the world comes to life in color, light and the sound of birds. It is an unforgettable experience.  Slowly, the sun began to illuminate the sleeping jungle below leaving a stunning blanket of mist on the rainforest that tumbles down to the sea.  I could imagine all the sleepy animals waking up after a good night’s rest. Best of all, we had the entire place to ourselves. What a gift!

The sunsets along the coast of the Osa Peninsula are equally breathtaking. One afternoon we rode horses to the Playa San Jocesito for a swim in the warm ocean water. We stayed long enough until the sun began to set and rode back to the changing colors and light of the Costa Rican sky. It was surreal and I felt so incredibly free.

It won’t be much longer and the weather will be nice enough here in Minnesota so I can get my fix of sunrise and sunsets. Until then, I will relish these memories.

This post was inspired by the Weekly Photo Challenge: Rise/Set.