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Sunday, January 20, 2013
ZIPOLITE 2013 SURFISTI AL TRAMONTO - YouTube Spettacolari surfisti alla puesta del sol en Zipolite. ... ZIPOLITE 2013 SURFISTI AL ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzwOEZN1Nx8
4 Day strike mission to Puerto Escondido on 170 degree south swell Read about surfers, latest news, videos, surf wallpaper, surfboard buyer's guide, subscription information and more at SURFER Magazine online. www.surfermag.com/.../4-day-strike-mission-to-puerto-escond...
4 Day strike mission to Puerto Escondido on 170 degree south swell
Read about surfers, latest news, videos, surf wallpaper, surfboard buyer's guide, subscription information and more at SURFER Magazine online.
www.surfermag.com/.../4-day-
Read about surfers, latest news, videos, surf wallpaper, surfboard buyer's guide, subscription information and more at SURFER Magazine online.
www.surfermag.com/.../4-day-
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Solar Install From our very first conversations about what was needed in the bus and what was merely a luxury item, it was clear that Jen would go anywhere as long a cold beverages were a possibility. Whats not to love about this girl? Being that we also want to be as far away from society as we possible (we aren’t really the KOA type) for as long as possible… solar clearly became our option for staying off-grid and keeping food and bevies cold. We did a ton of research here and also got a bit of help from a local who had done a few RV and marine installs (last thing we wanted to do after dropping the change for a solar panel and batteries was to hook something up wrong and fry all the components…). After running calculations for our power draw needs online and taking into account everyone else’s setup and feedback, we ended up going with a Kyocera 135W panel. According to most blogs and posts we’ve read from other VW owners using solar this should be clear overkill for a weekend away, but should allow us to stay gone as long as we want and might even work here in the less-than-sunny pacific northwest.The solar panel feeds two 12 volt batteries running in parallel and stored under one of our seats. Since we didn’t have a method for storing the batteries outside of the bus, we had to go with AGM (sealed) batteries as they don’t off-gas like common batteries and can be used in confined and low ventilation areas (like our bus).For the solar controller we went with a Sunsaver Duo, which seems to be the controller of choice with the added bonus of being very affordable and easy to use. The handy panel tells us how much energy we are pulling off the sun, how much we are drawing at any given time and how much power we have left to draw. We also hooked everything up to the starter battery so that we can track its power level and recharge it from the sun as needed. An isolator ensures that the starter battery wont draw down and leave us stranded simply because we stay up late and leave the lights on like motel 6.We also installed an inverter to make sure we could convert the DC into AC for an outlet to charge our phones, ipod and other necessities while out and about. This should also let us run a lighting system and we’ve started looking into LED lights that will work for our needs. We purchased a Truckfridge 49 a few months ago and have been dying to use this thing in the bus. All works as planned and the system is smooth. We still haven’t really tested how long we can survive off a charge but the fridge runs fine even on wet days here in VAN and our drink are cold as planned! We have a ton to learn/discover about the real workings of the system, but our learning curve has already been huge. In case it’s helpful, here’s our whole system (a diagram I pulled together well after this post now that i really know whats going on)
http://www.thedangerz.com/solar-install/
Solar Install
From our very first conversations about what was needed in the bus and what was merely a luxury item, it was clear that Jen would go anywhere as long a cold beverages were a possibility. Whats not to love about this girl?
Being that we also want to be as far away from society as we possible (we aren’t really the KOA type) for as long as possible… solar clearly became our option for staying off-grid and keeping food and bevies cold.
We did a ton of research here and also got a bit of help from a local who had done a few RV and marine installs (last thing we wanted to do after dropping the change for a solar panel and batteries was to hook something up wrong and fry all the components…).
After running calculations for our power draw needs online and taking into account everyone else’s setup and feedback, we ended up going with a Kyocera 135W panel. According to most blogs and posts we’ve read from other VW owners using solar this should be clear overkill for a weekend away, but should allow us to stay gone as long as we want and might even work here in the less-than-sunny pacific northwest.
The solar panel feeds two 12 volt batteries running in parallel and stored under one of our seats. Since we didn’t have a method for storing the batteries outside of the bus, we had to go with AGM (sealed) batteries as they don’t off-gas like common batteries and can be used in confined and low ventilation areas (like our bus).
For the solar controller we went with a Sunsaver Duo, which seems to be the controller of choice with the added bonus of being very affordable and easy to use. The handy panel tells us how much energy we are pulling off the sun, how much we are drawing at any given time and how much power we have left to draw. We also hooked everything up to the starter battery so that we can track its power level and recharge it from the sun as needed. An isolator ensures that the starter battery wont draw down and leave us stranded simply because we stay up late and leave the lights on like motel 6.
We also installed an inverter to make sure we could convert the DC into AC for an outlet to charge our phones, ipod and other necessities while out and about. This should also let us run a lighting system and we’ve started looking into LED lights that will work for our needs. We purchased a Truckfridge 49 a few months ago and have been dying to use this thing in the bus.
All works as planned and the system is smooth. We still haven’t really tested how long we can survive off a charge but the fridge runs fine even on wet days here in VAN and our drink are cold as planned! We have a ton to learn/discover about the real workings of the system, but our learning curve has already been huge.
We did a ton of research here and also got a bit of help from a local who had done a few RV and marine installs (last thing we wanted to do after dropping the change for a solar panel and batteries was to hook something up wrong and fry all the components…).
After running calculations for our power draw needs online and taking into account everyone else’s setup and feedback, we ended up going with a Kyocera 135W panel. According to most blogs and posts we’ve read from other VW owners using solar this should be clear overkill for a weekend away, but should allow us to stay gone as long as we want and might even work here in the less-than-sunny pacific northwest.
The solar panel feeds two 12 volt batteries running in parallel and stored under one of our seats. Since we didn’t have a method for storing the batteries outside of the bus, we had to go with AGM (sealed) batteries as they don’t off-gas like common batteries and can be used in confined and low ventilation areas (like our bus).
For the solar controller we went with a Sunsaver Duo, which seems to be the controller of choice with the added bonus of being very affordable and easy to use. The handy panel tells us how much energy we are pulling off the sun, how much we are drawing at any given time and how much power we have left to draw. We also hooked everything up to the starter battery so that we can track its power level and recharge it from the sun as needed. An isolator ensures that the starter battery wont draw down and leave us stranded simply because we stay up late and leave the lights on like motel 6.
We also installed an inverter to make sure we could convert the DC into AC for an outlet to charge our phones, ipod and other necessities while out and about. This should also let us run a lighting system and we’ve started looking into LED lights that will work for our needs. We purchased a Truckfridge 49 a few months ago and have been dying to use this thing in the bus.All works as planned and the system is smooth. We still haven’t really tested how long we can survive off a charge but the fridge runs fine even on wet days here in VAN and our drink are cold as planned! We have a ton to learn/discover about the real workings of the system, but our learning curve has already been huge.
In case it’s helpful, here’s our whole system (a diagram I pulled together well after this post now that i really know whats going on)
Zipolite, Mexico The main “street” through zipolite is a pedestrian corridor with a few fledgling bars and restaurants. As always, we picked the one with a gathering of people, ... www.thedangerz.com/zipolite-mexico-2/?utm...rss...
Zipolite, Mexico
The main “street” through zipolite is a pedestrian corridor with a few fledgling bars and restaurants. As always, we picked the one with a gathering of people, ...
www.thedangerz.com/zipolite-
Zipolite, Mexico
We are spending our days exploring the small coastal towns and beaches of Oaxaca….and loving it. We spend most of our days (before and after the sun reaches its sweltering peak) walking the length of beaches and meeting locals. First we were hoping to find an area for camping or a restaurant that would allow us to stay beside them with a view of the ocean, now it’s simply to soak up the local atmosphere.
The main “street” through zipolite is a pedestrian corridor with a few fledgling bars and restaurants. As always, we picked the one with a gathering of people, then stopped for dinner only to realize the owner of the new establishment was the same guy thats helped us to our cabana a few nights back. We enjoy sitting with the young entrepreneur and his friends, talking about life in Zipolite and getting the insiders’ perspective. As we return to the candlelit ambience of our palapas, 100s of people now line the street sipping a beer/cocktail from the bar behind them or selling their handmade jewelry and sculptures on the curb. Several musicians are playing/drumming and as we reach the end of the street we can see the twirling glow of the firethrowers behind us…just too late for the show.
We are no longer in our plush palapa cabana (that was only a two day treat) but have returned to the bus and are parked on the opposite end of the beach. The west end was a collection of rustic chic bungalows as where here we are amidst rundown houses, tents and ramshackle palapas that look to be overrun with the group we left behind at the rainbow gathering. Zipolite has become famous for its nude/free lifestyle and attracts hippies and backpackers (primarily from europe but) from around the globe. The number of tourists we see here is higher than many other places we’ve been but they seem to leisurely fit in rather than taking over. Its almost impossibly tranquillo here, which we find out later that it might have something to do with the amount of herb and mushrooms grown in the mountains nearby.
Further down this end of the beach we stumbled across a tiny pocket cove called playa amor (love beach). This tiny secluded beach behind the point is your reward for scrambling up some stairs and down the other side. It’s a gorgeous spot that attracts most of the nude sunbathers but also an amazing place to grab a rock and catch the sunset- something tells me we’ll be returning. Yesterday we ventured north to see the beaches of mazunte and san agustanillo. Each beach has its own beauty and vibe, but all are framed with beautiful rock outcroppings and points that hug the sandy shore. We could stay in either of these for a while but we have already arranged a steal of a deal in zipolite parking on the beach for 50pesos/night, so we return to our new temporary home.
Wedged in between two locals homes on the beach, our view each morning is of the sun coming up over the point and its light filtering through the palapas built to hold hammocks for family friends and the occasional tourist in need of shade and a cold beer before continuing down the beach. Im trying to remember the last time i saw anyone in north america see a mexican (or any other) traveller and stopped them to shake their hand and say “welcome to my country, i hope you love it here”, much less would let them park alongside their home and come inside to use their sink and bathroom or play with their kids. Hospitality and community have a slightly different meaning here, and we are enjoying every second of it.
Aves de Huatulco, Oaxaca, México Birds of Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico
Aves de Huatulco, Oaxaca, México
Birds of Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico
(Haga clic en las imágenes para ampliarlas - Click on images below for larger view)
| 1 2 Violet Crowned Humming Bird-Amazilia vioiceps-Colobri Corona-violeta 3 4 5 6 Cinamon Hummingbird - Amazilia rutilia - Colobri Amazilia Canelo 7 Colima Pigmy Owl - Glaucidium palmarum - Tecolotito Colimense 8 Pacific Screetch Owl - Otus cooperi - Tecolote de Cooper; Sabanera 9 Ferruginous Pygmy Owl - Glaucidium brasilianum -Mochuelo Comun 10 Golden Cheeked Woodpecker - Melanerpus chrysogenys Carpintero Cachetidorado 11 Lineated Woodpecker - Dryocopus lineatus - Carpintero Lineado 12 Black Sripped Woodpecker - Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus - Trepador Pinto13-144Black Vulture -Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus - Zopilote Negro15 Grey Hawk - Asturina nitida - Aguililla/Gavilan Gris16 Grey Hawk (immature) - Asturina nitida - Aguililla/Gavilan Gris17 Solitary Eagle - Harpyhaliaetus solitarius - Aguila Solitaria18 Laughing Falcon - Herpetheres cachinnans - Halcon Guaco19 Osprey - Pandion haliaetus - Gavilan/Auila Pescador20 West Mexican Chachalaca - Ortis poliocephala - Chachalaca Mexicana21 White Bellied Dove - Leptotila jamaicensis - Paloma Caribena22 Inca Dove - Columbina inca - Tortola Colilarga 23 24 2526 Squirrel Cuckoo - Piaya cayana - Cuco Ardilla27 Lesser Ground Cuckoo - Morococcyx eryhropygus - Cuco Terrestre Menor28 Groove Billed Ani - Crotophaga sulcirostris - Garrapatero Asurcado 29 Citreoline Trogon - Trogen citreolus - Trogen Citrino 30 Citreoline Trogon - Trogen citreolus - Trogen Citrino 31 Russet Crowned Motmot - Momotus mexicanus - Momoto Coronicafe 32 Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus - Luis/Bienteveo Grande 33 Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis - Carinal Norteno (male) 34 Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis - Carinal Norteno (female) 35 Blue Bunting - Cyanocompsa parellina - Colorin Azulynegro 36 Great Tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus - Zanate Mayor (female) 37 Great Tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus - Zanate Mayor (male) 36 Great Tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus - Zanate Mayor (female) 37 Great Tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus - Zanate Mayor (male) 38 Orange Breasted Bunting - Passerina leclancherii - Colorin Pechinaranja 39 Rufus-backed Thrush (Robin) - Turdus ruopalliatus -Zorzal Dorsirrufo 40 Altamira Oriole - Icterus gularis - Bolsero de Atamira 42 41 Yellow-winged Cacique - Cacicus melanicterus - Cacique Mexicano 42 43 Black Throated Magpie Jay - Calocitta colliei - Urraca Hermosa Carinegra 44 45 46 48 49 50 51 Brown-Headed Cow Bird - Molothrus ater - Vaquero Cabecicafe 71 Boat Billed Heron - Cochlearius cochlearius - Garza Cucharon (female) 71b Boat Billed Heron - Cochlearius cochlearius - Garza Cucharon (male) 72 Tri-Colored Heron - Egretta tricolor - Garza Tricolor 73 Green Heron - Butorides virescens - Garza Verde 74 Little Egret - Egretta garzetta - Garceta Comun 75 Great Egret - Casmerodius albus - Garza Grande 76 Pelagic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pelagicus - Cormoran Pelagico 77 78 Rufescent Tiger Heron - Tigrisoma lineate - Garza-tigre de Silva 79 Black-Crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax - Garza Nocturna (juvenile) 80 81 82 Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularia - Playero Vagabudo; Correlimos Vagamundo 83 84 Cattle Egret - Bubulucus ibis - Garza Ganadera/Garcilla Buyerera 85 Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis - Pelicano Cafe/Pardo 86 Black-Necked Stilt-Himantopus mexicanus - Candelero Americanos;Ciguenuela Cuellinegro 87 Rufescent Tiger Heron - Tigrisoma lineate - Garza-tigre de Silva 88 Blue-Winged Teal - Anas discors - Cerceta Aliazul |
haga clic en el siguiente para más fotos de la naturaleza de Huatulco
Click on the folowing for more nature photos of Huatulco
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Life on Death Beach
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| "Life on Death Beach" chronicles the lives of a group of volunteer lifeguards as they struggle for recognition in their own town, and the patients and therapists at a rehabilitation clinic down the street, who may be able to give more than a little insight into the Lifeguards' precarious and tragic situation through their own battles with Mexican society. | ||||||||||||||||
| JeffArak@Gmail.com | ||||||||||||||||
Playa Zipolite
Zipolite
We are now on our third day settled in at Rancho Los Mangos in Zipolite (about 45 minutes south of Puerto Escondido, just a few km from Puerto Angel). I have to say, Puerto Escondido/Zicoleta was a bit of a flop – very difficult to find a spot for the Sprinters, populated almost entirely by gringos, and with a shore break that keeps all but the more experienced surfers out of the water. On the up side, the food choices were fantastic. My and Bryans favorite was a place called Cayuca that specializes in Oaxacan food. Jose, the owner, spent about a half an hour giving Bryan and I a tutorial on the different types of mezcal. The food was so good we convinced the rest of the group to return the next night to celebrate Jamies birthday. He and Kelly are otherwise known as The Tranquillos, an overlanding couple that Bryan and the rest of the STT crew got to know very well during the 3 weeks they spent at Sayulita before I got there. Happily, when we decamped from Zicoleta and headed for Zipolite they came along – good company 
We are really enjoying Zipolite and the amenities of Rancho Los Mangos – after 3 days of hunkering down in “The Alley” in Zicoleta it’s nice to have access to shade, pool, etc. The town of Zipolite is really nice and has a surprisingly active night life. The beach is great for running – flat and firm packed – but also famous for a set of dangerous rip currents that can make swimming dicey. So far while we’ve been here the currents have actually been pretty tame and Jamie proved today that there is actually some good surfing to be had at the north end of the beach.
Jamie tears it up
Nude beach at north end of Zipolite – sorry, no closeups
The main drag in Zipolite
Christmas is coming fast and we’ve decided that we’re going to head inland to Chiapas to post up in San Cristobal for the holiday and a break from the hot weather. Hard to break away from Zipolite though…
7 Reasons to Go to Mexico City Now Posted by Fodor's Guest Blogger on January 14, 2013
7 Reasons to Go to Mexico City Now
By Jill Fergus
You may have been to Mexico’s beach resorts like Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, or perhaps you’ve visited its beautiful colonial-era cities like San Miguel de Allende. But if you’ve never been to Mexico City, now is the time to go. This thriving, cosmopolitan capital city has plenty of exciting aspects—from a new museum showcasing works of renowned Mexican artists to a growing culinary scene led by innovative chefs like Enrique Olvera. There are also hip boutique hotels and up-and-coming neighborhoods—along with some classic can’t-miss attractions. So when planning your next trip to Mexico, make Mexico City your first stop.
A welcome addition to the city’s cultural scene is the recently openedSoumaya Museum whose ultra-modern design (it resembles a trapezoid in motion) has architecture buffs buzzing. Owned by Carlos Slim, the world’s richest man, the world-class collection features Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros murals, El Greco, Miro, Van Gogh and Matisse paintings, Rodin and Salvador Dali sculptures and rare colonial-era Mexican gold coins.
The city is known for its design-conscious boutique hotels, many owned by Grupo Habita including fashionable Condesa DF which attracts those in the film and art worlds to its rooftop bar, and Habita, the brand’s first property. Its latest hotel is Distrito Capital, located in Santa Fe, the city’s commercial district, whose 30 minimalist rooms on the top floors of a sleek skyscraper offer fabulous city views.
The city has a vibrant culinary scene lead by young chefs like Enrique Olvera whose Pujol restaurant in the Polanco district is widely considered to be the best in Mexico City. Savor his modern take on traditional Mexican dishes during a tasting menu in the intimate and elegant dining room. Some of the unique and whimsical creations might include smoked corn "lollipops", a goat cheese ball in a spicy tomato broth, caviar souffle and berry sorbet in mezcal.
Tequila’s lesser known sister spirit, mezcal, is the all the rage in Mexico City with the fashionable set flocking to the many mezcalerias that have been springing up all over town. One of the mezcal pioneers is La Botica in Condesa (it now has several other locations). Other spots to sample this smoky spirit made from the maguey plant (a form of agave) include La Clandestina and Corazon de Maguey.
Explore up-and-coming La Roma, a former gritty area that has been transformed into an artsy, bohemian neighborhood with plenty of galleries, vintage clothing shops, boutiques (from emerging Mexican fashion designers to independent bookstores to coffee houses). Popular meeting spots are Hotel Brick, in a restored mansion with a small but fun cocktail bar (try the cucumber-peppermint martini) and Brasserie La Moderna, by celebrity chef Richard Sandoval.
Another cultural highlight is the newly-minted Museo Tamayo, which reopened last August after years of renovations of its building and facilities. The contemporary museum, named for Mexican painter Rufino Tamayo, has also expanded its exhibition space offering opportunities for visitors to see more of its permanent collection, including numerous Tamayo works as well as pieces from Picasso, Max Ernst, Francis Bacon and Isami Noguchi.
And while there are always new things happening in the capital city, its heart and soul is still the Centro Historico, dominated by the Zocalo, an enormous public square surrounded by historic churches and museums. Since the times of the Aztecs it’s been a gathering place—nowadays there are religious festivals, citizen protests and concerts (including a performance by Shakira, which drew a crowd of 210,000). Steps away is the archeological ruins of Templo Mayor, one of the main temples of the Aztecs when the city was known as Tenochtitlan.
Photo Credits: Soumaya Museum: Arturoosorno | Dreamstime.com; Grupo Habita: Habita Hotel pool by animalvegetable Attribution License; Pujol: Courtesy of Pujol; La Botica: La Botica MezcalerÃa: DF, MX. by Alejandro De La Cruz Attribution-NoDerivs License; Hotel Brick: Courtesy of Hotel Brick; Museo Tamayo: museo rufino tamayo by transient musket Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License; Centro Historico: dubassy/Shutterstock
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