14/12/2010

Time to leave Mazunte!

Although both Zoe and I packed our things, Zoe wanted to hang around the beach before heading North into the mountains where it is quite cold. We both hung around the beach before I set off around sunset to catch the 8.00pm bus to San Cristobel.

Zoe and I got into town via a ‘collectivo’ where it was packed with people and I ended up jumping on the roof which really isn’t safe as I had to avoid branches and palm leaves – good fun though.

On the collectivo ride I met a Malaysian/Dutch guy (Edwin) who was headed to San Cristobel also. I again bumped into the 4 Aussies (Adam, Danielle, Lochy and Erin) that were also on the same bus.

I got the money from Zoe that she owed me said my farewells to her before hopping on the 11 hour bus journey.

This time I took a variety of sleeping pills (some from India) and I slept so well because I even had not only had the seat next to me available but also the two across the isle allowing me to lay flat.

On the roof of the collectivo

13/12/2010

Zoe and I were suppose to head into Pulcutla today so that Zoe could pay me the money she owed me but again we postponed the trip there by another day.

Both of us being lazy wanted to take advantage of the sun and the beach and not have to worry about going into town, not that its very far away at all.

I attempted another few Spanish lessons on my laptop and didn’t do much else for the rest of the day other than see the sunset from the hilly point to the west of the beach.

I did catch up with Sarah who I met back in Puerto Escondido when I was trying to dig up sand crabs.

Other than that it was a rather chilled day.

View of beach from the sunset viewpoint

The Sunset HDR 

this is Mexico

12/12/2010

I hate mosquitoes, last night I got relentlessly raped by them so I didn’t sleep all that well.

Zoe and I went to check out some other accommodation that was suggested to us because I wanted to cook some food in a kitchen because where we are staying didn’t provide this facility. We checked all over the town only to find accommodation that was a little bit pricier, with a kitchen and the issue for Zoe was that is was too far from the beach… after all the searching we again decided to stay in the same place and have to make do with sandwiches and salads when we were hungry.

I napped for the afternoon and sorted out some things on my laptop that involved mostly me having to write up this journal, adjust and edit a bunch of pictures, making HDR’s and Panoramas – all to who ever reads this, this is for your reading and viewing pleasure.

in the evening I used the internet from the place down the street and later finally had the opportunity to see the movie ‘Avatar’ – mind you it was on a crappy laptop screen and was pretty bad quality, not high def or 3D, shame L. It was however a fantastic movie.

11/12/2010

Zoe is now borrowing 1400 pesos from me because there is no ATM about in the area and the closest is in a town called Pochutla a good drive aways. Like I mentioned before I’m not spending much money being with Zoe because she is also travelling on a tight budget and doesn’t mind doing things cheap, also the accommodation we found here in Mazunte has a great view, is cheap but lacks a kitchen.

We went today to check out Zipolite that was a 15 minute ‘collectivo’ ride from here to see the beach and see what there was to see there.

Again it was a case of a nice beach with lush surroundings and cheap accommodation. The beach here was partly nude with old men walking about and no hot woman… shame L but this is the case at every nude beach. Zoe and I chilled there for the arvo then went back to Mazunte for a cheap taco dinner, the tacos here aren’t too bad and you get four flavours – chicken, beef, chorizo and pork.

We went back to the room to learn some Spanish for a little while before getting distracted by some people playing with poi and fire sticks… Zoe wanted to join in and so she brought her firestick to perform in front of everyone. Zoe was fantastic at it and after, when the fuel ran out we headed to a bar where I bumped into Sebastian who I first met in Guadalajara a whiles back. Zoe went home whilst I wanted to stay because I met Tilly too who I met on the beach a few days ago. I also met a few other Germans who were cool and we had a good laugh together in the relatively cheap bar.

I later returned home pretty tipsy where Zoe and we hit it off again.

Where the river hits the beach

 

Zoe playing with fire

10/12/2010

Zoe, what a girl, her having only been with other girls had no idea what to do in bed with me… it certainly was an interesting night with her . She isn’t the most feminine chick I’ve met… and with a lot of the things she does both on and off the bed can be quite a turn off – and ill spare the details here.

It’s quite obvious when getting to know this girl what role/position she takes when she is with others of her gender but also why I get along with her so well… she doesn’t have any girly issues and doesn’t really care about anything, but this also could be a result of smoking too much pot.

I wasn’t feeling too great today probably from the cheap tequila we drank last night or perhaps it was the smoke but it wasn’t till midday till I got out of bed.

We spent the afternoon again chilling on the beach and swimming in the pleasantly warm ocean.

I went for a nap before sunset hopping to hike a hill and watch the sunset drop into the surrounding hills but we somehow managed to crash for over four hours and woke up at close to 10pm.

I went to grab some hotdogs from the cart down the road and pick up some beer and drinking them before wondering around with Zoe to find some night life.

We did find the ending of a 15 y o birthday party that was finishing up with only a few people there and almost entering a reggae bar then changed our minds and headed back to the room for another beer and another round of interesting sex…

View from our guesthouse in Mazunte

09/12/2010

An American couple I met a few days ago(Laurel and Max)   who where driving their way around Mexico asked whether I wanted to join them and another girl from Israel (Zoe) to Mazunte about 100km east of Puerto Escondido, I thought this was a good excuse to leave because although it had only been 4 days I felt like I hadn’t done anything and all the days felt like it was rolling into one.

I checked out and hopped in the car and headed out around midday.

Zoe, like me was travelling for a long time and also on a strict budget she is a nice girl and although she bat’s for the other team and smoked far too much green but we got along well.

Mazunte wasn’t nearly as busy as Puerto Escondido in terms of backpackers but there were quite a few people here that come to learn yoga and stay in retreats.

We spent some time on the beach chilling, eating cheap fruit before getting some really overpriced pizza for lunch and a couple of beers.

Max and Laurel were not fans of this place and really neither was I but even still Zoe and I found a cheap room priced only 100 pesos for the 2 of us and it was right on the beach and although there was a lot of construction surrounding the place decided to spend at least one night here.

Max and Laurel only come here for a day trip so they headed back to Puerto Escondido and left us here where we munged out for the evening.

Because Zoe smokes a lot of weed she pretty much is consistently high. I haven’t smoked in the longest time but when she offered me and as there didn’t seem to be much going on in Mazunte I thought id smoke one and just one.

To be honest it just reminded me of how much I hate smoking this stuff because later when we were walking the streets to get some food I get a little paranoid thinking everyone’s watching me. At the beginning I did laugh a lot but looking back now I dont remember what was so funny. I love chatting to people when I’m sober and even more so when I’m drunk but when I’m high I simply nervous and self conscious with everything I do. This (mum and dad) is the last time!. J

The night got even more interesting when Zoe made a move on me, the girl is a lesbian (she claims) and I did see her as a bit of a challenge that would take at least a couple of days to hack into. Its like the forbidden fruit kind of deal, where you want what you cant have, I just didn’t think it was going to happen so soon.

Some guys chilling making tunes for everyone

4/12/2010 – 8/12/2010

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The journey last night was an absolute nightmare, a nightmare that didn’t require any sleep because that was impossible. Over the past 5 years of travel I don’t think ive ever been on such a horrible overnight bus ride. The driver was a nutcase who took every sharp bend through the mountains from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido cutting into the opposite lane despite whether there was oncoming traffic or not. The seat I was sitting on wasn’t very secure with the backrest moving as we getting beaten around the van; left, right, forwards and backwards.

Half way through the journey I was fighting the effects of the sleeping pills I took earlier in the journey because I had too keep my eyes on the road because I didn’t want to throw up.

When we arrived in Puerto Escondito the three of us were nackard… Paul wanted to leave to Zipolite right away but I was told the ratio of girls to guys here were 7 to 1… naturally I wanted to find a nice hostel on the beach and chill here for a few days and managed to convince the others to come with me.

We hopped into a taxi that took us to a hostel some Canadians recommended in Oaxaca where there was nobody was there at reception to check us in as it was 5 am but luckily there were unused hammocks everywhere right on the beach.

We really didn’t have a choice other than to take over the hammocks until someone showed up at reception.

This area of Puerto Escondido is called Zicatela and the hostel had plenty of cabanas (makeshift rooms made from natural cheap materials) starting at 250 pesos where I spent and shared the room with Paul and Juliet then moved into my tent that set me back 60 pesos a night.

For the rest of the day and for the next four days I just chilled on the beach and meeting and chatting to randoms at the hostel and did not venture further than the shop to buy food and getting wet in the sea to go for a swim in the soothing warm ocean where at sunset the view was magical.

Volleyball was played most afternoons when the sand had cooled from the heat of the midday sun and was always a good laugh.

The hostel was run by very cool character from France named Piere who was incredibly friendly and helped out with anything you needed.

I hired a surfboard with Zoe who ill mention later in this journal from a hire shop down the road. I thought I might just for fill everyone’s stereo type that an Aussie with dreadlocks surfs.

Surfing is nothing like boarding and despite the waves being pretty small I didn’t enjoy it too much. Also I accidentally broke the board’s fin because I rode it into the sand the one time I managed to stand up setting me back 100 pesos for the repair.

The evenings consisted of playing party games and drinking cheap alcohol before heading out in a cheap taxi into the next beach west where there bars were. It was certainly my scene with lots of tourists, especially Scandinavian ones where id run about introducing myself and getting people involved with more drinking.

I met Sarah, an Australian chick from Sydney who was also staying in the hostel who was a little loud mouthed but cool and was travelling with 2 friends, let’s just say we had a lot of fun together around the hostel one night that involved skinny dipping in the ocean where I saw some phosphorescence, down at the beach in the shower and later in my tent (which I fixed using some duct tape and bamboo)… good times.

Juliet and Paul headed out earlier than I wanted too because they had to get to Cancun and then make their way over to Cuba, but I was loving the tranquility of this hostel so I stayed. This Place is Paradise! Zicatela, highly recommended.

Pictures that i took over the days i was staying in Puerto Escondido: