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Viva Tom Zap!

Nancy & Tom Penick

Tom and Nancy Penick are a quiet couple who spend most of the year in Leander, Texas; they are also, as the the creators of Tomzap.com, one of the major promoters of American and Canadian tourism to the Pacific Coast states of Oaxaca, Colima and Jalisco. Just in the month of January 2014, the site received 56,000 unique visitors who together viewed a total of 1,500,000 pages!

What would-be visitors to Puerto and other places on the coast find here are comprehensive lists of hotels and restaurants as well as tourist attractions. There are very clear maps showing not only towns and highways, but also elevations, plus street maps and aerial photos of the coast taken from Tom and Nancy’s Piper Arrow. (They have been flying to the Pacific Coast from Texas in their small plane since 2009.)

Tomzap also features 12 different visitor-comment forums for communities ranging from Manzanillo to Oaxaca City and Zipolite. The most popular are for Barra de Navidad-Melaque and Puerto Escondido. The posts on the Puerto forum can be silly and infuriating, but they are also the best source of information in English about what is happening in Puerto, be it an impending storm or a protest that has closed the highway. You must register with Tomzap in order to view or participate in the Puerto Escondido forum.

Tom and Nancy began the website in 1994 when there were no commercial Internet sites in Mexico and few in the U.S. “It was an interesting time,” Tom says, “we had this new tool and we weren’t quite sure what to do with it.” Tom is an electrical engineer who designs circuit boards and LED lighting, besides being vocalist and lead guitar of a rock band also called Tomzap. He does all the technical work involved in keeping the site up.

Nancy is a technical writer, and since 2003 she has been in charge of moderating the forums. Religious and political topics are not permitted, nor are attacks on other users. Over the years, she has had to ban people who wanted to hijack the forums for their own purposes.

Tom and Nancy first visited Puerto in the early 1980s and have been back many times since them. Not to be missed are the aerial photos they took of the Playas of Oaxaca from Chacahua to Huatulco in 2009.

Growing With Puerto Escondido by Sue Repanellis

Growing With Puerto Escondido

by Sue Repanellis

El Lugar

We all know that the Oaxaca — Puerto Escondido Super Highway is well on the way to being completed. What we don’t know is exactly what impact this will have on tourism in Puerto.

We may not know what changes will occur but we can at least hope for the best. People and businesses are starting to prepare for a greater influx of tourists, since we pretty much all have the expectation that tourism will grow. So what are we going to do about growing with growth?

As someone who has run a business/restaurant in the Punta de Zicatela for four years, I personally decided that it was time to look at my own options and see if there was a way to increase my income while keeping the reputation of El Lugar (my restaurant) intact, or in fact building on it.

El Lugar

There were many options; move location to Zicatela where there were bound to be more tourists, or open a second El Lugar in another location, perhaps the Rinconada. And then there was the option of perhaps downsizing and having a more specialized menu.

While I was weighing my options, my partner Gustavo and I were approached by a local business-owner in La Punta. He offered us the opportunity to rent his entire hostel. To be honest, I was quite flattered that now I was considered a part of the local community and that they would trust me with running a business that they had built up over many years.

We took a walk 50 meters down the street to check it out. I liked it. We were both excited at the opportunity, but my concern was that it would be way too hard to run a hostel AND have a restaurant in another location. To make money, you have to work hard and the logistics of controlling both businesses would be near impossible. Another thing to consider was paying rent for two properties instead of just one. I didn’t want the scenario where one business would be covering the expenses for the other. I wanted both to work independently of each other.

La Punta, Puerto Escondido

So I put it forward to the owner that perhaps we could also include in the rent, the surf shop that he had in front of the hostel and we could turn it into the new El Lugar. He thought about it for a while, and agreed that it would be a good idea. So it was to be. Contracts signed, agreements made and we were in.

With a great team (and my poor visiting nephew, James, who had no idea what he was in for) we started the process of growing our business. We had a much smaller space to work with for the restaurant, but all of us put in 100%, worked day and night and, finally, we were ready to make the move in less than two weeks.

We were quite fortunate that there was not a lot of work to be done apart from building a new kitchen for El Lugar. We renovated the new place while the old El Lugar was still running. We built a new kitchen bar and sink with shelves, all with recycled timber. We painted, cleaned, scrubbed and varnished everything. It looked fresh and rustic at the same time. The hostel was in great shape but we had to inject some money to make some personal, essential changes. Firstly, there would be good mattresses, good quality “matching” sheets, shower curtains, toilet seats on all the toilets and toilet paper in every room. Done.

We are almost there, with El Lugar running well in a new, better location, and all small fixes applied to the hostel, we were pretty satisfied that we had done what we could – for starters. There’s still more that we would like to do, and need to do to make it ours, but we are well on the way.

There are many folk out there who fear change and only feel comfortable in their safe space. As you can imagine, being an Australian and making my dream a reality of starting a restaurant here in Mexico, I personally love change. Being stagnant for me is not an option.

La Punta, Puerto Escondido

The funny thing is, that I know that I could have kept the success of El Lugar going (I worked four hard years to get it to where it was) and I could have kept building on that reputation in the old location, but after four years it really was time for a change. Although I am on the same street, in fact on the same side of the street just 50 meters further down, a fresh new approach to the business comes hand in hand with a new location. We are excited about the opportunities this change offers us.

Even if there isn’t a significant increase in tourists visiting Puerto, this change was a necessity for me. As a town, we are constantly changing and shifting. Businesses come and go. Restaurants are increasingly providing a wider variety of cuisines for tourists and locals alike. Quality and cleanliness are important if we are to be taken seriously as a tourist destination.

So we look forward to the future, whatever it may bring. Hopefully I am here for a long time, this is my home and right now I am in a better place (personally) than I have been for a while. I have a great challenge ahead of me. I know it’s not going to be easy, but easy was never an option.

And yet, I am waiting for a new era in the history of Puerto Escondido. And I am ready!

Tropical system could become hurricane, on track to hit Hawaii's Big Island by weekend Published October 13, 2014A

DISASTERS

Tropical system could become hurricane, on track to hit Hawaii's Big Island by weekend

Published October 13, 2014

Associated Press

Facebook Twitte Ema Prin

HONOLULU –  A tropical depression is on track to become a hurricane and could hit Hawaii's Big Island later this week.

The storm is headed toward Hawaii Island's Puna region, which was hit hard by Tropical Storm Iselle in August, according to Meteorologist Tom Evans of the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

"This is the last thing they need," he said.

Tropical Depression Two-C was about 920 miles east-southeast of Hilo, travelling 10 miles per hour Monday morning. It is expected to strengthen and become a hurricane Wednesday and then arrive in Hawaii Saturday morning.

The storm is expected to be stronger than Iselle, which hit the islands with winds up to 78 miles per hour. Two-C is expected to blow in at 90 miles per hour.

"If the forecast pans out like we have it, this will be a stronger system," Evans said. "We're looking at bigger surf...Usually it's the stronger wind and storm surge that cause the damage."

7 Tips for Budget Travel in Cancun and the Mayan Riviera JUN 29

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7 Tips for Budget Travel in Cancun and the Mayan Riviera

JUN 29

Posted by TC

You can smell the sea from the Cancun airport. No more stuffy airplane, no more boring job in your cold hometown. Welcome to paradise – the Mayan Riviera. Welcome to Cancun.

The Mayan Riviera is a jungle coastline of white-sand beaches, ancient ruins, enormous aquatic theme parks, traditional colonial towns, and clear-water cenotes, freshwater sinkholes and caves in the flat limestone sponge of the Yucatan peninsula.

The great Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, are only a few hours from Cancun on good highways. In the other direction, rocky Tulum rivals Chichen Itza with its location on limestone cliffs overlooking the sky-blue Caribbean.

You can stay at an all-inclusive resort right on the beach in Cancun, take guided tours to the ruins, and drink margaritas by the pool all day. You’ll have a great, relaxing vacation. But you won’t experience the real Mexico. Not even close.

How could you? Why would you venture into downtown Cancun for real tacos when you have a free buffet in your luxury hotel? Why would you travel inland to Valladolid when the beach party starts at 10 a.m. every day?

Independent budget travel in the Mayan Riviera is safe, easy, and cheap – even if you don’t speak Spanish. Here are a few tips to help you plan your trip.

Tip 1: Getting to Cancun from the airport

If you stay in a resort, they will probably arrange transportation from the airport. If you want to do it on your own, the cheapest way to get from the airport to downtown Cancun is on the ADO bus.

At the time of writing, it leaves every half hour until 11:30 p.m., takes about 30 minutes, and costs 62 pesos ($5 USD).

After you pass immigration, before you exit the airport, look for the ADO booth among all the booths for rental cars and hotels. Ask for centro (downtown). Then as you leave the airport, take a right and walk toward the bus area.

The bus takes you to the ADO station downtown, and from there you can walk to cheap hotels.

There are also direct buses from the airport to Playa del Carmen. They leave every half hour, take about one hour, and cost 140 pesos ($12 USD).

Tip 2: Choosing a Hotel

You can find budget hotels all around the ADO bus station in downtown Cancun, or a few blocks from the beach in Playa del Carmen.

Downtown Cancun is a 20-30 minute bus ride from the Hotel Zone, the beach and all the resorts. By staying downtown you can get better prices on everything, including hotels, restaurants, and souvenirs.

Give yourself some time to walk around. Many hotels have the prices posted behind the front desk. If not, you will have to ask, and don’t expect everyone to speak English here, though they should figure out what you want. Bring a pad of paper and a pencil so they can write down prices for you.

It’s a good idea to look at the room. Try out the bed. Check the water pressure. Turn on the air conditioner. Is it too weak, or too loud? Some hotels have kitchens, some have a computer for guests to use, some have tourist information. Compare.

If you want to stay more than four or five days, try asking for a discount.

Outside of high season (around Christmas and New Year’s, the week before Easter, and late July/August), you should be able to get a decent room from as low as 250 pesos ($20 USD) to 500 pesos ($40 USD) per night.

During high season, everything gets more expensive, and I recommend making reservations beforehand.

Tip 3: Choosing a restaurant with authentic food

In general, you find three kinds of restaurants in the Mayan Riviera: foreign restaurants that serve burgers, pizza, or sushi; Mexican restaurants geared towards foreign tourists; and real Mexican restaurants, geared toward Mexican tourists or locals.

Beware the Mexican food in big, touristy restaurants on the beach. Mexicans tend to think that foreigners don’t like spicy food, so they dumb it down. If a tired basket of nachos sits on every table and the salsa tastes like marinara sauce, then you are in the wrong place.

Seek out real Mexican food in restaurants patronized by locals. Some tip-offs are: the menu painted on the wall or written on a dry-erase board, a big flat grill and the cook up front, bright lighting, very simple décor, plain white walls, and even a little peeling paint or exposed concrete.

But the most important way to know if the food is authentic and clean is to look at how crowded the restaurant is. If it’s packed, it’s probably good. If it’s empty, it’s empty for a reason. The best way to avoid food poisoning is to never eat in an empty restaurant.

It’s good to ask for suggestions, like at the front desk of your hotel, but explain that you want something real. Otherwise you will be directed to a restaurant with the “Americanized” Mexican food they think foreigners like.

Some good places to find authentic food are Parque las Palapas in Cancun, the Bazar Municipal in Valladolid, and smaller, “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants two blocks or more from the beach in Playa del Carmen.

Tip 4: Communicating with the locals

Many people speak English in this part of Mexico, especially those who work in tourism. But once you get off the beaten path, you’ll need a little Spanish.

Whether the person speaks English or not, it’s polite to start the conversation in Spanish. Start with one of these at the right time of day:

Buenos días (good morning)

Buenas tardes (good afternoon; used until after sundown)

Buenas noches (good night; a greeting, not a goodbye)

Then say ¿Habla usted inglés? (Do you speak English?) and No hablo español(I don’t speak Spanish).

That’s easy enough, right? Just 5 phrases.

After than, learn more Spanish. Mexicans are friendly and patient, which is good for the foreigner struggling with Spanish.

Tip 5: Visit archeological zones on your own

The two most common forms of public transportation in the Mayan Riviera are buses andcolectivos, big white passenger vans.

From the ADO bus station downtown, buses go all over Mexico, including Valladolid, Chichen Itza, Merida, Chetumal, Palenque, and beyond.

Use the website (www.ado.com.mx) to get an idea of prices and routes, and then buy your tickets at the bus station. Most workers at bus stations speak English, but just in case, write down the destination and the time you want.

For example, here is the schedule from the airport to downtown Cancun:

If you are on a budget (and speak Spanish or have a helper), ask at the station for a second-class bus. They can be much cheaper than ADO and go to the same destinations. Be sure to ask how long the trip will take, and compare it to ADO, because the second-class bus could take much longer.

For points south, like Playa del Carmen and Tulum, take a colectivo. The ones for Playa del Carmen leave from just outside the ADO station. They are cheaper and faster and leave more frequently than the bus.

You can take a guided tour to Tulum and Chichen Itza, and though they will explain everything in English, they may rush you through it. If you go on your own, you can get there early and have lots of time to explore.

For example, inside the archeological zone at Tulum is one of the most beautiful and iconic beaches in Mexico. If you go on your own, you can stay and swim as long as you want.

If you have the time, I recommend staying in Valladolid before going to Chichen Itza. Valladolid is a beautiful colonial town full of local culture. By staying in Valladolid, you can have several hours at Chichen Itza in the morning before all the tour groups from Cancun arrive.

Colectivos go to Chichen Itza from several parking lots a block or two from the ADO station near the central park in Valladolid.

Tip 6: Safety concerns

The good news is that the Mayan Riviera is one of the safest regions in Mexico. However, it’s a good idea to ask at your hotel what the neighborhood is like, especially if it’s safe to walk at night, and if there are any places to avoid.

Besides that, regular common sense for travel applies: Don’t wear expensive jewelry, don’t pull out large wads of cash in public, keep your wallet in your front pocket, don’t let your purse or camera bag out of your sight, and don’t look at a map in public – take it indoors.

Tip 7: Buy my guide to Cancun and the Mayan Riviera

Shameless plug: These tips and many more are explained in detail in my Cancun and Mayan Riviera 5-Day Itinerary, available on Unanchor.com and the kindle version on Amazon.com.

The guide is for the independent traveler who likes the beach, but also wants some culture. Besides saving a lot of money, you will:

• Have two full days on two gorgeous beaches: Cancún and Playa del Carmen.
• Explore two Mayan ruins: Chichén Itzá and Tulum.
• Dip your toe into Yucatán culture in Valladolid, a small colonial town in central Yucatán.
• Swim, snorkel or scuba dive in the clear, freshwater Dos Ojos cenote.
• Eat what Mexicans eat: seafood, tacos, and Yucatán specialties like panuchos and salbutes.
• Shop, party, get tan, and learn some Spanish, history and culture. And, if time permits, venture farther into Mexico and Central America.

The guide’s full appendix includes information on hotels, public transportation, restaurants, culture, and Spanish phrases. You’ll save more than the $4.99 price the first time you follow my advice on a bus, restaurant, or cenote.

This part of Mexico may be the most popular, but in some ways the least understood. I try to remedy this with my modest guide.

Click the book for more info

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About TC

TC lives in Mexico and writes about travel, culture, music, food, and mountain biking on No Hay Bronca. http://nohaybronca.wordpress.com/

View all posts by TC »

Posted on June 29, 2014, in Learning Spanish, Mayan Ruins, Mexico, Travel in Mexico and tagged budget travel, cancun airport, cancun bus, cancun centro, cancun cheap, cenote, chichen itza, mexican phrases,mexico, playa del carmen, travel tips, tulum, valladolid. Bookmark the permalink. 4 Comments.

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