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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

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco Added to ASP North America Schedule



Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco Added to ASP North America Schedule

[ 0 ]June 26, 2012 | 

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Tuesday, June 26, 2012) – A last-minute addition has been added to the ASP North America schedule, with the ASP 4-Star Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco officially confirmed at Playa Revolcadero from July 17 through 22, 2012.
While events are not typically added to the ASP schedule in such short notice, the opportunity to add a new event in the Latin region could not be passed up. With the elimination of events in Puerto Escondido and Mazatlan this year, the Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco offers a great opportunity for emerging Latin American and United States surfers to build their ASP World Ranking.
“Having the Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco as a 4-Star event will give Latin American surfers the opportunity to further their presence on a global scale without having to travel to distant countries or continents to earn points,” Brian Robbins, ASP North America Tour Manager said. “We feel Mexico is an important part of our region and are happy we could continue to work with Quiksilver Mexico again this year.”
In addition to the benefits of having an event in Mexico, the Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco’s ASP 4-Star status allows budding talent the chance to showcase their abilities while building their careers.
“With our current schedule hosting several ASP Prime and 6-Star events, the Quiksilver Surf Open is just as important in establishing a path for the next generation,” Robbins said. “Providing these events as a pathway for up-and-coming surfers is a crucial job for our region and the Mexican event is a great addition to the schedule.”
The Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco will be the second of two Latin American events this year and will follow shortly after the ASP 3-Star Copa Quiksilver El Salvador and spots are available for entry.
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org

ASP 4-STAR QUIKSILVER SURF OPEN ACAPULCO ADDED TO THE 2012 ASP NORTH AMERICA ROSTER (0) (0) Posted By: Jason McCarthy


ASP 4-STAR QUIKSILVER SURF OPEN ACAPULCO ADDED TO THE 2012 ASP NORTH AMERICA ROSTER

 (0)  (0)
Posted By:  

Jason McCarthy

Category: 
Surfing News
  • ASP 4-Star Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco added to the 2012 ASP North America roster
ASP 4-Star Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco added to the 2012 ASP North America roster
Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) has confirmed the addition of ASP 4-Star Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco to his North America schedule.
The latest entry to the ASP schedule is slated to go down at Playa Revolcadero in Acapulco, Mexico, from July 17-22, 2012.
With the cancellation of Puerto Escondido and Mazatlan events from the 2012 ASP North America schedule, a huge void had been created. There were not enough opportunities for the surfers in the region to collect crucial ASP ranking points and consequently improve their world rankings.
ASP took notice of the void that had been created and therefore acted to fill it by introducing Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco, the second of two events in the Latin American region that is scheduled to go down shortly after the ASP 3-Star Copa Quiksilver El Salvador.
The Tour Manager of ASP North America Brian Robbins stated that with the latest addition to the 2012 ASP North America schedule, the surfers were no longer required to travel to travel to different parts of the world to compete in surfing competitions to amass ASP ranking points, prove their skills and make their presence felt on a global level. She expressed joy over getting another opportunity to work with Quiksilver Mexico in the region.
The removal of events in Puerto Escondido and Mazatlan from the region also came as a huge blow for the up-and-coming talent who were heavily reliant on such events to put their abilities on display and further their careers. The issue seems to have been resolved after the introduction of the new ASP 4-Star event.
“With our current schedule hosting several ASP Prime and 6-Star events, the Quiksilver Surf Open is just as important in establishing a path for the next generation,” Robbins said. “Providing these events as a pathway for up-and-coming surfers is a crucial job for our region and the Mexican event is a great addition to the schedule.”
ASP clearly seems to be doing its bit to promote the sport in the region and providing surfers of all levels with opportunities to not only rise on the ASP World Rankings, but also gain global recognition.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Airport Puerto Escondido to Pochutla


Airport to Pochutla

Posted by seancho 
Map of Puerto Escondido Centro

Airport to Pochutla 
June 25, 2012 10:12AM
Anyone reading this morning? I fly in a couple hours. What's the cheapest way to get from the PE airport to a Pochutla-bound bus?
Re: Airport to Pochutla 
June 25, 2012 05:46PM
taxi
Re: Airport to Pochutla 
June 26, 2012 10:03AM
walk out of the airport. take a left on highway. there are buses . the poctula bus bus leaves from stops on the route. at the cruziero, main light in the crner or rather the boundary between towns on the corner on the downhill side, leaving every half hour. get beer across the etreet.

CouchSurfing - CAR-SURFING Mexico mazunte / san jose del pacifico / oaxaca city / d.f. ... we are going from Mazunte to San Jose saturday to stay for one night at the mountain then early morning ... www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=32749&post...


Location: Ideas >> CAR-SURFING Mexico

Fhernandinho
mazunte / san jose del pacifico / oaxaca city / d.f.
Posted May 18th, 2012 - 8:44 am by Fhernandinho from Mexico City, Mexico (Permalink)
we are going from Mazunte to San Jose saturday to stay for one night at the mountain then early morning going to Oaxaca city for a brunch to finally be in mexico city sunday night.
i have 2 free seats in a very confortable van...
let me know
Fhernando
ogirofher@gmail.com

    Reply    
Fhernandinho
Posted May 18th, 2012 - 8:46 am by Fhernandinho from Mexico City, Mexico (Permalink)
mind we have to share the cost for roads and gas... but is cheaper if we go 7 :)

    Reply    
Jimena Paz
Posted May 18th, 2012 - 4:23 pm by Jimena Paz from Cuernavaca, Mexico (Permalink)
When is that??
I need a ride to mazunte for next weekend (may 26th). I live in cuernavaca. :)

Old Huatulco and Mexico's Traditions - Colors, Flavors and Tastes


Old Huatulco and Mexico's Traditions - Colors, Flavors and Tastes


if you want to take a piece of our Mexico back home this is the tour!

Old Huatulco and Mexico's Traditions - Colors, Fla

You will feel like a real “Huatulqueño” wearing your own hat and tasting the Mezcal. We will begin the tour in Piedra de Moros, where you will visit the medicinal plants and herbs walkway. Also you will have the chance to taste a tea of lemon herb and to see the traditional way of making “tortillas” and bread. Then visit Santa Maria Huatulco where with its beautiful church. Then, visit a Rustic Mezcal Factory to know the process of distillation of this traditional Oaxaca´s beverage.

Huatulco Cannibals

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Bambu San Agustinillo huracan Carlotta II

SAN AGUSTINILLO BAMBU CARLOTTA 1

SUNDAY, 24 JUNE 2012 Taxco, and Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido, MEXICO Ahhhh, the little charming city of Taxco outside the big city of Mexico. I love it already!



Taxco, and Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido, MEXICO

Ahhhh, the little charming city of 
Taxco
 outside the big city of Mexico.  I love it already!


It was only about 180 km to ride here from 
Mexico
City, but as you can imagine, the traffic took forever to navigate out of the city. The traffic carried on until I was well away from the city.  So 180 km seems like it is just outside Mexico City for me.
I'm looking forward to one night here.  Not longer.. I am feeling very behind and wanting to make tracks now through Mexico.  But I would put Taxco up there as a worthy place to visit.

First job on the agenda is to find a place to sleep tonight!  I can then park the bike and explore...

I was excited to come here for the silver.  Once I investigated, silver USED to be mined here; however, the mines have since dried up.  It was a bummer to learn that most silver for sale in Taxco didn't come from around here.  Kind of put me off even looking at it.  The town does have a rich history though. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TaxcoThe locals suggest I head up the hill and say G'day to Jesus. Quite a trade off! ;-)

I went up the hill and the first thing I saw this little girl playing near the cops with big guns. Sort of made me smile.
But what really made me smile was meeting her.  A little ball of energy!  She just started talking and talking and TALKING to me in Spanish like she had known me forever.. too cute!!

Then she thought she'd share her used Yakult bottle with me.
Her brother Miguel came around and told me her name is Hiromi.  A Japanese name her mother loves.
What an awesome big brother!!

I enjoyed my time so much with these two, I totally forgot about Jesus.

Miguel took this photo.  And guess what!  I can wear my new t-shirt without worrying that somebody else doesn't already have it on!!



It just doesn't phase me that I've been hanging around these guys with the big guns.  They've been really nice and pointing out sites in the town below.  I've been around the big guns since I arrived Mexico and they have just become part of the norm.
A quick view to Taxco, and I am starving!  Need to get back down the hill for dinner.



Now this morning, I've got the tricky job of navigating my way to 
Oaxaca
 through the back roads.
Hasta luego Taxco!

Yes!!! I'm in the country again.. no smog, freedom from traffic....  Hallelujah!!!!!

And an opportunity for more street food in some little town along the way.  So good!
These men started off telling me to move away from their 5 star hotel front door.  After I told them I just needed to stop for a minute to read the corner streets signs.  I explained I was lost and wondered if they knew where the 1 star Hostel was, they didn't.  However, they pulled in everybody they could ask to help me figure it out.  Once they felt confident of the location, they not only called the people for me, but drew a very detailed map.  How nice are these men!!  They were not going to let me go until they felt I totally understood.

I found the place with no troubles after that, and I found a lovely large KTM!!



I met the KTM rider, Anders straight away in the hostel.  He was on the way out the door for the night to meet another guy, and invited me to come along once I settled in.
Nick on the left is from Canada on a Kawasaki KLR, Anders is from Denmark on KTM 990. And plenty of Mexican beer.  Super fun night out in Oaxaca!!!  Thanks for the photo Nick!!!
The next morning I quickly followed Anders advice to check out the ruins around Oaxaca, Monte Alban.  Thought to be one of the oldest cities in Mesoamerica.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Alb%C3%A1n
I'd love to check them out thoroughly, but it became really clear that I didn't want to be away from the bike and all my gear that long.  I was hounded by locals to buy stuff from the moment I arrived.  If I had wanted to hang around Oaxaca longer, I would have left my gear and/or the bike locked up in town in the garage.


Views from Monte Alban, the white mountain, ab...
Views from Monte Alban, the white mountain, above Oaxaca (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This isn't going to work today.  Besides,  I'm really happy with the ruins I have just visited at Tula, Teotihuacan and Mexico City.  So I gave in to my worries for the bike and got on the road to Puerto Escondido.

Watch out for missing roads!!

Absolutely gorgeous ride through the mountains toward the west coast.  






After a long and twisty ride,  I made it to the lovely Puerto Escondido!  This is a nice change of pace!!





The bike is parked for the night.  Nick made his way here today as well and we meet up for dinner, swapping plenty of bike stories.

Not really interested in hanging around though.  I am more interested to continue south and see where the road takes me tomorrow.  Buenos Noches!!


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HURRICANE CARLOTTA HITS PUERTO ESCONDIDO


HURRICANE CARLOTTA HITS PUERTO ESCONDIDO
Hurricane Carlotta, the third named Pacific storm of the season, briefly saw Category 2 status on Friday before weakening to Cat 1 and plowing almost directly into Puerto Escondido on Friday night with 90mph+ winds.

Local photographer Edwin Morales was in Puerto as the storm hit. Here is his firsthand account:

For starters the whole population of Puerto and the towns nearby were definitely NOT ready for this. The authorities were saying on the local radio it was a tropical storm and not a Category 2 hurricane. So lots of people were not ready for what we all felt.

I was tracking the storm for about two days before it hit us, and a couple of hours before it started, I was able to warn my family and all of our friends. Also: People here generally don't take things seriously. Therefore, no one had the essentials.

The storm started hitting us around 7pm with strong winds, about 50mph. The winds increased slowly until the eye of the storm was right on top of us and everything stopped. Lots of people thought it was over, but it was far from over.

That was around 8pm. As soon as the eye moved on, the winds finally came on strong, around 90mph, with gusts up to around 120mph. The darkness made things a lot worse, I think. No one could actually see what was going on.

Lots of houses lost their roofs and those inside had to run to find shelter somewhere else. I gave shelter to a family of 10 -- all in one room, hiding till next morning. The windows were whistling like crazy. It was scary. Lots of windows split apart.

Winds lasted until 10pm, I think and then the rain came. It was maybe not as strong as Pauline Hurricane in '97, but some people think the winds were stronger this time due to the wind direction.

Only a little part of the harbor area has electricity as of Monday morning. Slowly, it's getting fixed and power's being turned on in other areas of town. The area by the Point still has no power or running water. I don't even want to imagine how it is for the little communities far from here were the hurricane blasted them as well. (Note: two children died when their house was taken by a mudslide nearby, and one older woman passed away when the wind flipped her car.)

Saturday morning was really sad and awful to see all kinds of people who had lost everything the night before. Hundreds of trees had fallen all over the town. Dogs were running like crazy, as if they were wild dogs on the streets. All streets were still flooded. I can't even imagine how they were when the rain was at its strongest point on Friday night.

Lifeguards were the first to evaluate all the damage by the beach. All eight towers were completely smashed. At the harbor, there was not a single boat in the water. All boats had to be taken out. Ironically, a restaurant called the Split Coconut was split in half by the only palm tree that fell down in the entire area.

Now there's been lots of helicopters flying the area trying to evaluate all damage in the region and federal resources should be coming in shortly. I feel really bad for the people that lost everything.


The last big hurricane to make landfall here was Pauline in 1997, with winds of 109 mph, killing at least 230 people along the Pacific coast.

Luckily, other surf areas in southern Mexico fared better than Puerto. "In Salina Cruz, so far everything is good," says local surf tour operator Cesar Ramierez. "Lots of rain for five hours on Friday and showers on Saturday and Sunday, but everything is OK."

The Pacific Ocean hurricane season began on May 15 and ends on Nov. 30. Stay tuned to Surfline's Hurricanetrak for up-to-the-minute info on hurricanes around the world.

Sign knocked down by Hurricane Carlotta June 16, 2012

Puerto Escondido, Mexico June 16, 2012 AFTER Hurricane Carlotta Hit

Puerto Escondido, Mexico June 15, 2012 BEFORE Hurricane Carlotta Hit

Puerto Escondido, Mexico June 15, 2012 BEFORE Hurricane Carlotta Hit