HotelChatter

· Self-contained: One of the most important phrases you will encounter. A self-contained room has its own bathroom. A guest in a non-self contained room will have to use a shared bathroom down the hall. So, if you want a bathroom in your room, say, "I would like a room that is self-contained."

· Net: If a room has a "net," that means it has a mosquito net. This is essential not just to your health (preventing malaria) but also to your ability to sleep. Without a net, mosquitoes will buzz around your ears and face all night long.

· Finished/There: "Eh, the milk it is finished," a waitress might tell you. She means there's no milk left. "Eh, the milk it is there," means there is milk left. So, before you check in, ask if the beer is finished or it is there. It also helps to ask if it's cold, if that kind of things is important to you.

· Sleeping: "The beer is sleeping there," means that the beer is physically located in the indicated spot. Sleeping in this context is almost metaphorical - where is the beer physically located? That is where it is sleeping.

Check back tomorrow for a look at the trademark upcountry breakfast.