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A little about Playa Zipolite, The Beach of the Dead . . .

Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. A little bit about my favorite little get-away on this small world of ours.

Zipolite, a sweaty 30-minute walk west from Puerto Angel, brings you to Playa Zipolite and another world. The feeling here is 1970's - Led Zep, Marley, and scruffy gringos.

A long, long time ago, Zipolite beach was usually visited by the Zapotecans...who made it a magical place. They came to visit Zipolite to meditate, or just to rest.

Recently, this beach has begun to receive day-trippers from Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, giving it a more TOURISTY feel than before.

Most people come here for the novelty of the nude beach, yoga, turtles, seafood, surf, meditation, vegetarians, discos, party, to get burnt by the sun, or to see how long they can stretch their skinny budget.

I post WWW Oaxaca, Mexico, Zipolite and areas nearby information. Also general budget, backpacker, surfer, off the beaten path, Mexico and beyond, information.

REMEMBER: Everyone is welcome at Zipolite.

ivan

Sunday, May 19, 2013

HUATULCO FILM & FOOD FEST. en "TICKETS" en Barcelona, nuevo restaur

Huatulco Filmfoodfest Huatulco Filmfoodfest




Published on May 11, 2013
En el corazón de Barcelona, "Tickets" Mundo Tapa, ofrece el nuevo 

concepto inspirado en el legado Gastronómico del Rey Alfonso X El 

Sabio,con las técnicas culinarias de "El Bull"

Huatulco press conference highlights | Triathlon.org By Erin Greene on 17/05/13 at 7:42 pm. As athletes prepare to battle the hills and heat of Huatulco come Sunday at the third World Cup race of the year, four ... www.triathlon.org/news/.../huatulco_press_conference_highlig...

Huatulco press conference highlights | Triathlon.org
By Erin Greene on 17/05/13 at 7:42 pm. As athletes prepare to battle the hills and heat of Huatulco come Sunday at the third World Cup race of the year, four ...
www.triathlon.org/news/.../huatulco_press_conference_highlig...



Huatulco press conference highlights

By Erin Greene on 17/05/13 at 7:42 pm
As athletes prepare to battle the hills and heat of Huatulco come Sunday at the third World Cup race of the year, four athletes – Mexico’s Crisanto Grajales and Claudia Rivas, and Lisa Perterer (AUT) and Andrew Yorke(CAN) shared their thoughts with the local media. 
Andrew Yorke (CAN)
On racing in Huatulco
“This is my second year racing this event, and it’s a great course that the city of Huatulco has put together for us, along with ITU. I think the biggest factor this weekend is going to be the heat and the hills. You go out too hard and maybe haven’t done your heat preparation, it’s going to be a struggle.”
On the competition he is facing
“I think there’s going to be a pretty hard pace set on the bike by some of the athletes like Leonardo Chaconand Ivan Rana. There’s a lot of young athletes trying to make a name for themselves. This World Cup series is kind of their new stomping ground, so there’s probably going to be some new faces out there from Canada and the U.S. and I think it will be a competitive race all around even though we don’t have as many London or WTS finalists as we normally see. It’s going to be challenging but I’m looking forward to it; this is my kind of course.”
Claudia Rivas (MEX)
On the racing conditions
“I like this event a lot because of the heat and the challenging course. I like when the bike is really hard like many races here in Mexico and Huatulco. In previous years, the heat has been really strong and I’ve done well. In the beginning, the heat affects you. But in triathlon, there are always different conditions.”
Crisanto Grajales (MEX)
On the challenging course
“I really like this race. It’s very hard, but beautiful as well. It’s very demanding with the heat and climbs. I suppose all of us athletes here like the challenge. So it should be a really good race.”
Lisa Peterer (AUT)
On her race experience in Mexico
“I’m here for a third time, because I like Mexico. The people are friendly, I like the heat and the hilly course, the up and downs. I hope I’m in a good form and we will see the outcome on Sunday. There are three others who were competing at the Olympic Games, so we will see.”
Find more details about this event - 2012 Huatulco ITU Triathlon World Cup


Saturday, May 18, 2013

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Here's a photo of the eruption from @USGS. pic.twitter.com/8i5vccul1X

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Here's a photo of the eruption from .


DAY 46: PUERTO ESCONDIDO TO OAXACA


DAY 46: PUERTO ESCONDIDO TO OAXACA

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We were both pretty sad to leave Puerto Escondido this morning, but there’s nothing like a six-hour minibus ride through the mountains to take your mind off things…
There are a few ways to get to Oaxaca city from Puerto Escondido: the faithful ADO bus, which takes ten hours skirting the mountains; the very expensive, but no doubt thrilling, 12-seated plane which takes an hour over the mountains; and the vomit-inducing minibus which takes five hours right through the middle of the mountains… Which is the one we chose.
Every review we’d read about the Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca minibus shuttle along Highway 131 said that it wasn’t for those who suffer from a delicate constitution, with countless tales of sick – and as if to prove the point, a child stepped off the bus as we were boarding and threw up everywhere…
And so it came to pass that we found ourselves on a minibus hurtling around hair-pin bends, swerving goats and donkeys, peeking out over vertiginous drops and trying not to look when the driver overtook on blind bends. Actually, most of that is quite normal for the bus journeys we’ve taken in Mexico – this one just had more twists than usual and at higher altitude. We made up an improvised AA I-Spy Book of the Road to amuse ourselves and ate copious mints to settle our stomachs – but really it wasn’t that bad at all.
The scenery was amazing, the bus was comfy and spacious and, as with all of our Mexican bus journeys, quiet – people are very good at being silent during travel here, which makes for a nice change from UK travel.
More importantly, no-one was sick! It was definitely a bit uncomfortable when we set off and I had a bit of a queasy feel, but within half an hour I’d evident got used to it and we both had a totally fine journey. I’m sure if you were prone to travel sickness (or, god forbid, hungover) it could be a different story but overall it gets a thumbs up.
Once we arrived in Oaxaca it was on to the hostel – Casa Angel – which is spotlessly clean and smart with a nice combination of clean and modern with local period detail (more amazing tiles!) and individual touches.
We had dinner at La Biznaga, which came recommended and which serves modern updates on Oaxaca favourites. For the princely sum of £20 (we splashed out after that journey) we had tortilla horns stuffed with hibiscus flowers and chipotle, then I had red snapper with cactus, pineapple and onion and Andy had tuna with avocado and salsa. All amazing, although we were so stuffed and knackered that we waddled out at 9pm and straight to bed, wondering if our stomachs had shrink or if the journey had damaged our appetites…
(Pic from the start of the journey, when all was smooth and flat… Couldn’t really hold my phone once we got going into the mountains…)

Thursday, May 16, 2013

2013 Outstanding Stewards of America's Waters Award (OSAW) for Public Education





    • Ivan Snavely GRAND COULEE, Wash. - The Bureau of Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Chelan County Public Utility District were honored on April 23 at the 2013 National Hydropower Association annual conference in Washington, D.C.
      The agencies received the Outstanding Stewards of America's Waters Award (OSAW) for Public Education for their collaborative educational program called the "D3 Geocache Challenge", a high-tech treasure hunt offered at Grand Coulee Dam, Chief Joseph Dam, and Rocky Reach Dam, all located on the Columbia River.

      Geocaching uses GPS (global positioning system) devices or a Smartphone to receive clues to search for hidden items and learn about clean, renewable energy in a fun way.

      Upon completing the specific geocaches at Grand Coulee Dam, treasure hunters return to the Visitor Center to receive their prize, a piece of the overhead power lines that once carried electricity from the largest powerplant in the United States. To receive a distinguished D3 patch, visitors must also complete additional geocaches at Chief Joseph Dam and Rocky Reach Dam.

      "This was truly a partnership project," said Lynne Brougher, Grand Coulee Dam Public Affairs Officer. "Coordinating the program with the other dams was fun and it was a great opportunity for the participants to learn interesting facts about the dams and a great way to promote local tourism. It took a lot of teamwork. The staff members at the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center worked diligently to ensure the program succeeded by assisting visitors in their quest to complete the challenge."

      Due to the success of the program in 2012, it is being expanded to 10 additional Northwest dams this summer through the Foundation for Water and Energy Education.

      The Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. with extended hours during the summer season. Geocache locations are accessible from dawn to dusk.

      For more information about geocaching at Grand Coulee Dam, contact the Visitor Center at (509) 633-9265.
    • Ivan Snavely How 'bout that!  ivan
    • Ivan Snavely How's that for a MOtley Crew! 

      Ivan Snavely Grand Coulee, Washington - La Oficina de la Región Noroeste del Pacífico de Recuperación, junto con el Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército de EE.UU. y Chelan Distrito de Servicios Públicos del Condado fueron honrados el 23 de abril en la conferencia anual de 2013 la Asociación Nacional de Energía Hidroeléctrica en Washington, DC
      Las agencias reciben los Comisarios Deportivos pendientes de Aguas Premio de Estados Unidos (Osaw) de Educación Pública para su programa educativo de colaboración llamado "Desafío Geocache D3", una búsqueda del tesoro de alta tecnología ofrecida en el Grand Coulee Dam, Chief Joseph Dam, y la presa Rocky Reach, todas ellas situadas en el río Columbia.

      Geocaching usa dispositivos de GPS (sistema de posicionamiento global) o un teléfono inteligente para recibir pistas para buscar objetos ocultos y aprender acerca de la energía limpia y renovable de una manera divertida.

      Al completar los geocachés específicas del Grand Coulee Dam, cazadores de tesoros vuelven al Centro de Visitantes de recibir su premio, una pieza de los cables de alta tensión que una vez llevaron la electricidad de la central eléctrica más grande de Estados Unidos. Para recibir un parche D3 distinguida, los visitantes también deben completar geocachés adicionales en Jefe José Presa y la presa Rocky Reach.

      "Este fue realmente un proyecto de asociación", dijo Lynne Brougher, presa magnífica de Co, Oficial de Asuntos. "Coordinar el programa con las otras presas era divertido y que era una gran oportunidad para que los participantes aprendan curiosidades sobre las presas y una gran manera de promover el turismo local. Tomó un montón de trabajo en equipo. Los miembros del personal de la presa Grand Coulee Centro de Visitantes trabajó diligentemente para asegurar que el programa tuvo éxito, ayudando a los visitantes en su búsqueda para completar el reto. "

      Debido al éxito del programa en 2012, se está ampliando a 10 presas del Noroeste adicionales este verano a través de la Fundación para la Educación del Agua y la Energía.

      La presa magnífica de Co Centro de Visitantes está abierto todos los días de 9 a.m.-5 p.m. con horario extendido durante la temporada de verano. Ubicaciones de geocaché son accesibles desde el amanecer hasta el anochecer.

      Para obtener más información sobre geocaching en Grand Coulee Dam, póngase en contacto con el Centro de Visitantes en el (509) 633 a 9265.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

tropical storm alvin

Tropical Depression ONE-E

FIRST TROPICAL DEPRESSION OF THE EAST PACIFIC SEASON FORMS RIGHT ON CUE8:00 AM PDT Wed May 15 Location: 8.2°N 103.6°W Moving: W at 12 mph
Min pressure: 1006 mb Max sustained: 35 mph Eastern Pacific


Monday, May 13, 2013

San Agustinillo



San Agustinillo


Click here to get more pictures


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The beach of San Agustinillo
The pretty little village of San Agustinillo just about 9 km from Puerto Angel can be reached by heading in a westward direction after passing Zipolite. (map)
For information on public transport: (see Transportation)

The village lies on a long beach parallel to an open sea with such an unpredictable surf that on some days you will find it very suitable for surfing but on others, just right for swimming and snorkeling. In both phases and where safety is concerned, its waters are far more recommendable than Zipolite as here there is no undertow.
Surf and boogie boards can be obtained at Mexico Lindo.
All along the beach you will come across many little restaurants providing deckchairs to unwind under the shelter of coconut trees and at the far end a beautiful bay invites those that discover it to drop by for at least a second time.
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The village San Agustinillo
Yet it remains to be mentioned that behind the beauty of this place another tale must be exposed that is all but wonderful. For many years a factory on the town's edge was responsible for the slaughtering of up to 1000 turtles a day using their skin to produce leather.
Thankfully in 1990 the factory was finally brought to a stand still and their extermination forbidden by the government.
In 1994 a museum Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga was founded and constructed just a kilometre away in Mazunte.
Today in a place once haunted through its painful past the joyful sound of children's laughter fill the air as a primary school now takes its place on the grounds of where the factory once stood.
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Restaurant Mexico Lindo on the beach of San Agustinillo


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Fishermen on the beach of San Agustinillo


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Beach of San Agustinillo


If you are interested in seeing some
photos of the beach life in San Agustinillo
just click on the picture below.
Click here to get to the pictures

Welcome to Zipolite (the beach of the dead) - Puerto Angel Nearby Puerto Angel: Zipolite - Since the 70's the hammock and hippie colony is fabled for its nude bathing, the only one of its kind in whole Mexico, and the ... www.puertoangel.de/zipolite/zipolite_en.html

Welcome to Zipolite (the beach of the dead) - Puerto Angel
Nearby Puerto Angel: Zipolite - Since the 70's the hammock and hippie colony is fabled for its nude bathing, the only one of its kind in whole Mexico, and the ...
www.puertoangel.de/zipolite/zipolite_en.html



Zipolite

 

The village of Zipolite located some 3 km (1.9 miles) to the west of Puerto Angel, stretches out parallel to a 2.5 km (1.6 miles) sandy beach, (map) and can be reached by taxi, colectivo, pasajera or for the more lively character, on foot! (See transport connections)
Restaurants catering for every taste and lodgings for every man's pocket are available all along the beachfront, although they mostly comprise of simple "cabanas" in the form of palm shacks.
Zipolite in the language of the Zapotec is known as the beach of the dead as it lies on the open sea and is renowned for its strong undertow and constant changing currents.
Any native could report on the many visitors that have left their lives here over the years, which also include athletic type swimmers. It is therefore recommended only to go to those areas that are guarded and marked with flags by voluntary lifeguards. The green flag signifies swimming no problem, yellow, attention, for swimmers only and red, swimming forbidden.
Additional warning signs indicate the dangerous areas.


Since the 70's the hammock and hippie colony is fabled for its nude bathing, the only one of its kind in whole Mexico, and the liberal contact to the drug scene.
    From the loudspeakers in the restaurants the sound of the Doors, Bob Marley, Santana, Led Zeppelin and many more still blast out at full volume, as if competing in a vigorous-like struggle against the thunderous rolling of the waves.
    At nightfall the two discos huts, Zipolipas and La Puesta vibrate in full swing, while outside on the sand the beating of drums penetrate the air above the light of cheerful crackling wood, as joints generously circulate well into the early hours of the next day. The atmosphere is somewhat calmer in the off season, where a little action can be found on the weekends only.
In Zipolite the abuse of hard drugs is sadly on the increase and to such an extent that one is even liable to be offered cocaine in the toilets of certain establishments. Consequentially criminality escalates due to the permanent rising amount of local youths becoming addicted.



In the last few years a new residential quarter has been developed in Zipolite bearing the same name as the rocky island Roca Blanca just off the village's coast. The white colour of the rock is due to Guano, the excrements from the seabirds that nest there.
In Roca Blanca an absolute building boom has broken out. Ironically no restrictions are imposed on how one should go about doing the job, and as a result everybody ends up creating their own masterpiece!! The beachfront is therefore somewhat grotesque! (See photo above and below)



Piña Palmera

The Rehabilitation center Piña Palmera was founded and set up in 1984 by the American Frank Douglas. He cleared a huge piece of land in order to finance the construction of Bamboo huts equipped with plank-beds and sanitation facilities.
By so doing he took effectual steps in establishing a Home for children with a wide group of disabilities; this includes not only children who are spastic, autistic or lacking certain forms of stimulation necessary for a healthy development, but also children who have been left abandoned.
After his death in 1986, the Center was taken over and further nurtured by Anna Johansson, a native of Sweden. With the support of her husband, Dr. Balbino Cano Perez she continued her struggle against affliction and achieved in obtaining financial support from Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca.
The continued existence of the Institution Piña Palmera is thanks to the dedication of voluntary workers from all over the world who work, not for money, but for food and lodgings only.

You can find more information about Piña Palmera and its projects on theirHomepage in English, Swedish, and French or at the website Auricula Bern in German with the relevant contact addresses.


Yo bailando Pochutla 2006 William Freed. jajaja xD

Tangolunda Bay, Huatulco, Mexico. pic.twitter.com/6v1qIugiou

Tangolunda Bay, Huatulco, Mexico.

Festival de PapalotesAndKites en Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mothers Day – Through The Words Of Nas, Ghostface, Ace Hood, Tupac, Jay-Z And Others Rappers!

BLOODBONES SKATESHOP EN HUATULCO

Happy Mama Day!


Relaxing in Puerto Escondido


Relaxing in Puerto Escondido

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Well to say the lest I’ve had a very relaxing few days here in Puerto Escondido, waiting for my new tyre to arrive. It is a few days late, nothing that I wouldn’t expect in a Latin American country, but I’m now ready to hit the road and venture into the hills and canyons of Mexico.
Yesterday I think I probably had the closest moment to death of my life. Sitting on the beach with my cup of PG Tips, which I’ve done every morning here straight out of bed, I decided that I couldn’t be in such a renowned surf spot and not get my hair wet! As I sipped away at my cuppa, I was watching some pretty awesome surfers!
The waves were so big and fast that there were quite a few being towed into the waves behind jet skis and those that managed the 12ft drop were getting huge barrels and then pulling aerials and other pretty impressive tricks!  They would then all have to swim in to shore, walk down the beach and paddle out in the rip because the waves were making it impossible to paddle out.
I also noticed that no one was using a leash for the sole reason that being in the washing machine of those waves with a 7 or 8ft Gun pointed like a spear at each end was a bad idea.
The amount of times that the lifeguards had to go out and rescue these surfers and the fact that half of them crossed themselves and then looked to God before getting back in the sea should probably have been a danger sign, but it only got me more excited! I skipped breakfast and went out to rent a board for £4/hour. I have never ridden a gun before so I decided on a 6.1 short board, which if anything would be easier to duck dive under the waves. I paddled out very easily in the rip but as i got closer to the peak, I immediately felt so insignificantly small along side these surfers who looked like Greek statues (except thank god they were wearing clothes!) and these waves that not only were far bigger than anything I’ve surfed before, but also seemed to have the whole power of the ocean behind them.
Sitting there for a few minutes, not catching anything, I was mesmerised by these tow surfers and was caught off guard as all these other guys started paddling like we were being circled by sharks. Well that’s already happened to me on this trip and I think the fear from that was smaller than what I saw on the horizon. I paddled out as fast as I could but was no match for the others along side me who glided in the water. I then had that moment of jealousy where you see one person comfortably over the wave as I was still with in the destruction zone. The wave came closer and the feeling of dread and adrenaline overpowered me as the wave was just starting to break and I luckily managed to duck dive under it but the power and might of all the sea behind it dragged me backwards into the raging water.
I can’t explain how long I was held under but it felt like ages and when I finally managed to get up, get some air, let my eyes adjust and orientate myself, the next set, just as big, hit me. It’s happened for three waves and halfway during the second I remember thinking ‘I’m going to die’. Well I’m not dead and writing this from beyond the grave but I could well be! And happy that I have been out at this notorious surf break, even if it was only to get washed up on the beach unlike my image of stand up barrel!