Bugs can be a deal-breaker. Just as you have that tropical package all sewn up and ready to go THAT question jumps up. “Er, do you think there will be bugs there?”. Well, it’s Costa Rica. Pretty good chance of there being bugs. Same thing in Belize, or Mexico or Africa. Bugs kinda like hanging out in hot tropical humid destinations.
What is it about bugs that most of us don’t like? Is it because they are small or that they scuttle (shudder) or just that they look so strange? Maybe it is because we don’t like the idea of them creeping up on us and looking for one of those warm humid places they like so much! When you see them in the jungle that’s no so bad. After all that is their natural habitat. But when you see them in your natural habitat – well that’s just freaky.
I once had people come back from Anaheim telling me how their vacation was totally ruined because the room was full of bugs. Upon examination it turned out that the bugs were actually ants – and I agree that is annoying. When I asked if they had advised the management they said they sorted it out themselves by plugging up the ant holes with toothpaste….. mmmm – novel approach. I wonder if the mint in the toothpaste made the ants’ eyes water.
And I must admit having been guilty of bug-fear too (before I was cured that is). I spent an entire two nights at Umgazi River Bungalows on the Transkei Coast in South Africa just petrified of falling asleep in case one of the geckos on the thatch ceiling fell on me. I learnt very quickly that you can get used to anything in time. It’s so tiring being scared all the time, really!
And ignorance is bliss – young children haven’t learnt to be scared yet but copy our reactions. So when I found my young son sitting on the doorstep in Africa with the remains of a huge millipede scattered over his bib I just had to merrily say “Oh dear – what have you been up to?” while I got rid of the debris.
Double shudder.
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