About CaseyHalstead

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Costa Rica: Internet phone for Nicaragua AND costa RIca:

If I am correct, I need a Unlocked GSM 3g Quad Band 850/900/1800/1900 Integrated WiFi 802.11b/g A sim card (one for USA, One for Costa Rica, two for Nicaragua due to multiple telecom companies on different networks) Am I missing something What I don't understand is... The phone I am going to buy says it has, "US 3G compatibility via 850/1900 UMTS/HSDPA plus GPRS/EDGE capabilities" Does anyone know if the... UMTS/HSDPA plus GPRS/EDGE... is what I need to use it in all three countries.

Nicaragua: Buying land from a Property owner.:

Does anyone know the process behind buying land from an owner. Does anyone know how likely it is to find titled farm in the middle of know where on the Atlantic Slope...Like a few acres on the Rio Escondido or in the hills around there. I know most people in rural Nicaragua (Latin America) don't have a title to their land. What does it take for them to get one. I ask because I am looking for a remote farm property to start a sustainable agriculture and eco tourism project (a really modest one). By its very nature it needs to be in the middle of know where, and that increases the odds its never been surveyed or titled. A real estate office would charge a gringo a couple or tens of thousand of dollars an acre and then give some campensino $500. I also want to keep the family I buy from on the land for consultants and real estate agency usually move them out.

Nicaragua: Atlantic Coast or Bust:

Any thoughts on moving to the Bluefields area. I know the place is pretty lawless but I love the Caribbean flare and it needs some tourist infrastructure really bad. I'm a river guide and biologist looking for a place to start a tree farm and ecolodge. It would have to be pretty modest...I'm not some rich guy but I have a little internet income that would be more than sufficient down there. Specifically, would buying land or starting a business there be even more daunting than in the rest of the country. Is the cell phone and internet infrastructure on par with the pacific slope (OK...how far behind the pacific slope are cell phones and internet). I was there years ago but Costa Rica didn't even have decent internet back then now I hear the 3g revolution is happening. Correct me if I'm wrong but I would think you could find some really cheap farm land.

Costa Rica: Constuction Materials Information Needed Please help:

I have 2 sets of questions 1) I am going to start a hobby farm/reforestation project and build a small off grid home with minimal tourist infrastructure (a couple roofs with platforms for camping and a "Cabin" or two with a shower house) in September. I am going to use alternative and sustainable/local materials but cant get any idea of the cost of things like that. Does anyone know the cost of: -a dump truck of crushed concrete or gravel or sand or lava rock or wood chips or river rock or sawdust or rice hulls (w/delivery w/o delivery) -Per kilometer delivery cost (heavy vs light items) - Borax treated Bamboo Posts; 2" vs 4" vs 6" (3 or 4 or 5 meter) - Simple thatch roof cost per square foot or meter (1000 sq/ft or 100 sq/m) or just the thatch material cost. - Bags of cement - Pallets - How easy is to find cheap used/salvaged materials like windows / glass panes / kitchen or bath fixture / sliding glass patio doors. Do they have good recycled material stores like we do...in San Jose or smaller cities. 2) I have decided I am going to ship as little as possible but I know I will have to take a few key items. Would you buy these things here or there: - Solar Panels and Batteries and ac inverters - 2 man auger (3 to 5 hp) w 6" and 12" bits - Memory Foam mattress (and another thin one for making seat cushions) - Generator - Low watt or DC appliances for off grid - Lawn mower / weed wacker / wood chipper - uv water sterilizer (I cant find out if these are common or unheard of) - Glass panels 3' x 3' or 4' x 4' or 3' x 6' or 4' x 8' - Can you get pallets for free there like you can here I know everyone says bring your tools but does that include things like gas powered auger/mower/chipper/generator I'm pretty sure the appliances need to come from here but I could order them online and have them delivered there as part of the $500/6 month import exemption The solar and accessories are a big one. What are the odds I find a deal on it all there (or find someone jumping ship and selling a system). This is by far my biggest expected expense. I would expect the glass and foam would be the silliest to ship. But I already have the mattresses and could probably get glass free on craigslist. I saw a $700 sliding glass door for free yesterday! Any idea what kind of duties you pay on a $700/free door I am hearing good things about shipping a pallet with a company that handles customs...does anyone know a good one or agree that it is the best way to get the large heavy essentials. I am 35, have "lived" in Costa Rica and the Bay Islands (a total of about 1 1/2 years of mixed tourism/school/work between 5 trips). I'm a river guide, ecologist, ski bumb and divemaster thats gonna go native. I have decided on a remote property East of Quapiles near the west border of Tortuguero.

Date Joined:

5/23/2012

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