Hanging Out in Zipolite

Angelita y perrita Canela

Hanging out in Zipolite

Sunset

Photos by Tina Winterlik

Zipolite View & Waves

Zipolite Waves

Shambhala View of  Zipolite

Photos by Tina Winterlik

Iguana

Angel & The Iguana

Iguana

Photos by Tina Winterlik

The MEXICO Report by Susie Albin - Najera (Good News about Mexico)

Here is an excellent website about Mexico by
The MEXICO Report By Susie Albin-Najera
A Positive Image of Mexico  http://themexicoreport.com/

The MEXICO Report is the #1 source for the GOOD news about Mexico including positive news reports, inspirational stories and people making a difference. From travel, tourism, arts, entertainment to culture and community, The MEXICO Report is the trusted site in communicating positive messages relating to Mexico. Viva!

Life in Zipolite!

Check out the street life in Zipolite, as we eat at our favourite chicken place, and have ice cream and look down on the street and watch the goings on of the town.

Shambhala Karma Cleansing Ceremony Dec 31/2009

Shambhala Karma Cleansing


Once again we had the most amazing time. We went with our new friends James & Amber and our dear friend Charlotte. It was really an incredible ceremony. Gloria from Shambhala puts on this event, and it takes an incredible amount of energy and time.

The ceremony takes the best from all religions and brings it together into the beautiful ceremony. Don't miss it. It's just so special.

I feel so blessed we were able to participate in the very unique and sacred event. It's a wonderful powerful way to end the old year and begin the new.

After there is a bon fire on the beach and food and a party. We never make it for the food, we are always so tired.

At midnight, you can see all the fireworks on the beach, from the locals and that is really pretty and exciting(and loud!!).

It's hard to believe so much time has passed already. Not sure we will make it this year, I sure hope we make it next year though.

Puerto Angel

Puerto Angel

Puerto Angel is a lovely little fishing visit close to Zipolite. We visited there and Angel watched the people catch fish off the docks. She really enjoyed it.

Ohm Playa, Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico

Ohm Playa

Yayy! Back in Zipolite! Let Us Dream!!!

Back in Zipolite, Let us dream!

Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico

Huatulco, Playa Santa Cruz, Oaxaca Mexico

Heading South!

The Long, Long, bus ride!!!

Photo by Tina Winterlik

On the 16 hour bus ride

Photo by Tina Winterlik

Snow on the Mountains in Mexico City

Photo by Tina Winterlik

There actually was a much prettier photo as we left the city and got up into the mountain but I missed it.

Let's Go To The Zoo!! Mexico City Sightseeing!!!

Visit the Zoo with us. Watch Angel a pet bird (vulture), and check the White Rhino. See Giraffes, Camels, Ground Hogs, Hyhenas and more. Tour the city!

Lavender & Eucalyptus- Don't leave home without them!!!

I LOVE LAVENDER!

Photo by Tina Winterlik

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatherapy
http://www.aromatherapy.com/
http://www.saje.ca/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender
http://www.okanaganlavender.com/
http://www.sacredmountainlavender.com/mid_index.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_oil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_officinalis

Here are all the oils and herbs I like, I LOVE lavender and eucalyptus!
I really like lemon balm, sage, mint, clary sage, thyme, and well there's so many yummy smelling herbs and aromatherapy oils.

But you must respect the oils as they are highly concentrated and so please read up on them and visit a store such as Saje and/or buy a book and spend some time researchnig.  I have The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.

The information in this book has been invaluable to me.

I really like the story she tells about a young man travelling to Calcutta. He sprays the bed with this little mixture of oils that she created for him. Everyone thinks he's odd...but in the morning everyone is scratching and he is fine.

Let me be honest, people around me have suffered from bedbugs, we have not. I truly believe it's because we use lavender.

I have found that aromatherapy has helped balance my harmones and my nerves during very trying times.

Before you go to the doctor to get some pills, that were created by some giant pharmacuetical company that only cares about sales, please consider using the gifts of  the earth. This is nature...be green. Give it a try.

I find it horribly frustrating that they advertise these weird smelly things on T.V. "Now with the fresh scent of lavender"...but it's still a bunch of chemicals. Don't be fooled, that is not lavender.

Try using lavender as your anti-bacterial spray instead of the weird little bottles of gel, to prevent spreading germs and keeping yourself calm strong and healthy. If you do catch a cold, use eucalyptus. With just those 2 oils, if people all kept them handy, we'd all be so much more healthier, naturally.

We'd all be greener and healthy and the pharmacueticals would stop poisoning everyone with their man made chemicals.

Go Green Everyone!!

My Solution Suggestions:
Get two little spray bottles. Put 10 drops of lavender in one, 10 drops of eucalptus in the other, add water, but be careful not to overfill as all the oil is on top and it will overflow.
Spray lavender as needed, on clothes, beds, packs, shoes, hands, etc.
Spray eucalyptus anywhere you would spray "those other sprays"..don't spray directly on skin.
It's very good in the shower, to steam yourself. Great for allergies and headcolds. It opens the breathing passages

Off to Mexico Again!! Year 2

Okay so life is so strange...maybe it's just our lives but I don't think so. Life is just that! As the saying goes, Sh_t happens! (I try not to swear, because of Angel and other personal reasons, but it's sort of appropriate here!)

Bad things happen for a reason. That's my Life's Philosophy, or it's become that. I don't know why things happen sometime...and you walk around banging your head against the wall, going "Why me?" "Why me?"

I have just come to know that while I don't understand it at the time, something good will come of it, and I have made that my Life's Philosophy...because truthfully I'd go crazy otherwise...who knows, maybe I already am...but that's for another post :) ha! ha!

Last year, when we returned from Mexico we couldn't get a housing subsidy because we had been out of the country more than 3 months. The only way to get one would be to stay home for another entire year and then apply. This really screwed me up, because really we were homeless.

We ended up staying with a close family/friend for the entire summer, which definitely wasn't the plan, as it was a cramped one bedroom.

Then the fire happened. It was on the 10th floor. Angel was the first to smell it, I phoned it in...and as we rushed down the stairs, 15 flights...I was freaking and saying OMG, "Why me?" "Why now?" "Why is this happening?"

Luckily, no one was injured and nothing of ours burned but the apartment did suffer smoke damage. It was such an awful stinky toxic smell, there was no way I could let Angel stay there.

We temporarily moved to another friend's in the same building, where I housesit, while the tenant works out of town. We could only stay for a bit as he was coming home soon.

Long story short, my mom had passed away, it's just over 3 years ago now (that's another very sad "Why Me?" Why Moma? story) and she had left me a small amount of money.

I had just enough for plane tix. I had created a website for the Fogg N'Suds http://www.foggnsuds.com and so with the meager savings I said "Let's blow this popsicle stand!!"

With my dear friend Sean's help...(I had build a website for him the year before http://www.stampslanding.com) he helped me with the tickets and that was it, we were off.

And so join us now..For year two...formerly Adventures of Angel...now the more focused, bigger and better than ever AdventureZ in Mexico!!

Dancers & Gardenias in Bucerias, Nayarit

Gorgeous Gardenia growing in my friends garden in Bucerias,
reminds me of the bouquets in Oaxaca.
Photo by Tina Winterlik

Incredible Dancers from Karen's Restaurant
at the Suites Costa Dorada in Bucerias

Photo by Tina Winterlik

Mexican Culture

Mexican Culture is a huge and vast subject. I have done a little research and posted some interesting links below. The internet is so wonderful in that it is a huge library and that when I first started studying about the architecture in Mexico in the 1990's, I had to read books that were already quite old as the info took 10 years to just be made into a book. Anyways, my point is there is a ton of info out there, not all correct and perfect, but keep an open mind and research and learn about the world around us. Mexico has a rich and wonderous history, learn and share this with your children, it will be invaluable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Mexico

http://www.peyotepeople.com/culture.htm

http://www.aboutoaxaca.com/oaxaca/tourism.asp

http://www.tomzap.com/coaxaca.html

http://www.oaxacainfo.com/we-love-oaxaca.htm

http://www.roadtomexico.com/oaxaca/festivals.htm

Culture is consists of these Basic Categories:
Language, Religion, Art, Architecture, Literature, Holidays, Cuisine, Music, Cinema, Sport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Mexico

As stated on Wikipedia in the above link:

Spanish is the de facto language spoken by the vast majority of Mexicans, though the Mexican government does not legislate it as an official language.

Nonetheless, the second article of the 1917 Constitution defines the country as multicultural, recognizes the right of the indigenous peoples to "preserve and enrich their languages" and promotes "bilingual and intercultural education".

While many people believe Spanish to be the language of Mexico it actually has many different indigenous languages, approx 6 million speak indigenous languages.

Some of these are Nahuatl, Yucatec, Mixtex, Zapotec, Tzeltal Maya, Tzotzil Maya, Huichol and many others. Please check out the Wikipedia link above to see the many different diverse languages that actually exist in Mexico.

Religion

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/mexico-religion.htm
Art

http://www.theartofmexico.com/gallery.htm
http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/
http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/education.html

http://www.folkart.com/home/mex.htm

http://www.artedemexico.com/3architectural.html

http://www.peyotepeople.com/art.htm

http://www.peyotepeople.com/beads.htm

Architecture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Mexico

Mesoamerica, Pre-Classic, Classic, Post Classic Periods, Colonial, Haciendas, 19th & 20th Century, Modern & Contemporary

http://www.tropicalshade.net/  How to build a Palapa
http://www.palapastructures.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZTG_iYiBYk Melaque, Building a Palapa roof from Palm Fronds


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKGpQtOEiJc
 Palapa Roof Braiding


http://library.thinkquest.org/16545/data/low/mayan.htm


http://www.criscenzo.com/jaguarsun/palenque.html


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toniná    Tonina


http://www.mayasites.com/tonina.html


http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_new=38026&int_sec=2

This is as much research as I could do right now. I will continue to research and post relevant materials.

Puerto Vallarta & Bucerias

Puerto Vallarta and Bucerias were the first places I ever visited in Mexico. I was very naive the first time I went in 1988 and I thought it was all about partying. I had no understanding of the culture.

I will alway cherish the most wonderful gift my friend Martin (Suites Costa Dorada in Bucerias) gave me and about 14 others of us. He took us on a ponga to the Tres Marietas...or I believe it was. On that boat ride we saw the most incredible things. We saw whales, manta rays, dolphins, flying fish, it was just so incredible. I remember the mantra ray went under the boat and just the wing tip was showing...I was scared, I thought it was a shark, but everyone assured me it was a manta ray.

I don't think people see that anymore...that was many years ago and there are so many many tourists. Bucerias was such a small little town, Mark's Bar & Grill, Omg! If I told you stories, about hanging out there and about him coming back and cleaning and fixing it. Now it's this incredibly successful restaurant with a super expensive menu catering to all these wealthy Americans and Canadians that built these million dollar homes all along the beach.

Progress happens...what can I say or do. My friends at the Costa Dorada have been there the whole time, thru all the changes and they have been so wonderful and kind to me and to Angel.

Do we love the pool. YES!
Did we love the super comfy king size bed we got to sleep in! Did we feel like Pampered little princesses after the 16 hour bus ride! You betcha!
Was everyone one super wonderful and helpful and friendly! Totally!
Do we recommend it! Definitely!
Is it green, no, not in many ways, but in some yes! It's semi small, compared to some of those mega huge hotels in Vallarta. It's been there a long time, and to me it's family and family oriented. So it wins my praises for that.

There are other small lovely accomodations in Bucerias, but you will have to hunt...we found one, with a pool and stove and everything we needed. I used to be called the Las Vegas years ago...it doesn't really have a name.

Do I still love Bucerias, Yes and No! It's hard when things change, but nothing stays the same...and the first part of my pregnancy, after leaving Zipolite was spent here, and that was a tough but magical wonderful time full of hope and dreams.

At that time I lived across the highway in a small incredibly noisy room for just $80 a month, that my friend at the Costa Dorada help me furnish with a bed, fridge and stove. That was a humbling experience and I shall never forget it, as it impacted me for life.

The people that rented it to me were up at dawn making juice for all the workers as they left for there jobs. I lived next door to triplets, they were just babies, an incredible site...little miracles themselves.

Puerto Vallarta and Bucerias are very special and I recommend people visit to get accustomed to the culture slowly...it's a good place to visit first, before going on a grander more extensive journey. It's a good place to get your bearings. It's also more suited to elderly people I believe as your so close to medical help in Vallarta, and the airport is close, lots of reasons.

Zihuatanejo Mexico

Be careful of the taxi drivers and hotels that will try to take advantage of you. While we met some wonderful people I believe the cruiseships have really had a negative impact on this town. I have no desire to return. We really did enjoy the fish market, fruit stand and the people at the bus depot were awesome.

Acapulco Mexico - Rescued By An Angel in Acapulco

Here's an interesting story about Acapulco...actually I have many but I will just tell this one.
This was before the birth of my daughter, I had taken the bus from Zipolite to Acapulco, it was 9 hours, hot and late, it was a 2nd class bus back then, the only one you could take, and it was the night bus and it was about 4:30 in the morning when I arrived. I got the taxi and went looking for rooms, my budget was low, I was looking for something $25 max...we looked and looked but there was an Artisans Market, and it was Sunday night/Monday morning and everything was taken. Finally I said, just take me to the airport, my plane leaves the next day, maybe I can change the tix...but the Airlines office was closed.

What to do? What to do?  Finally I just sat on the floor near the tix counter and starting painting/drawing, waiting...Ugh, was I going to have wait 24 hrs in the airport. A cleaning lady came by, I told her about Zipolite and the fire and how I had been living there the last 3 months and now was going home...she said she would try to find me some help.

A few minutes later man from the tix counter said that he would try to help me. He said he was off work soon and that he would take me to look for a hotel. His name was Gabriel (to his name be true, he was an Angel)

He could not pick me up in the airport space, he was driving a friends taxi and so I had to walk down a bit. I was leary but had faith. He picked me up and we drove around and around looking...nothing, everything was booked. Finally I gave up hope, I said just take me to a big hotel and I will put the $120 a night bill on my Visa. Ugh! But he said "No, let's look a little more"

The next hotel was a SUCCESS! Hotel Lilianna- $12.50 a night! Yayyyyyyy! I couldn't believe it. And that is my story of how I was rescued by an angel in Acapulco.

I have lots of  other stories of people of  how people have been so kind and gone out of there way to help me,...once a taxi driver dropped me at the bus depot and came all the way back to give me my dictionary that I forgot in his cab.

 People in Mexico are very kind. I love Mexico. I love Acapulco. For some reason...whenever I arrive I get a little teary...even now. There is something very Special about Acapulco. Yes it's a big city, and it's had some bad press lately, but I hope you will visit and give it a chance.

Meditation, Mantras and Yoga links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation  Meditation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantra  Mantra

http://www.kundaliniyoga.org/mantra.html Kundalini Yoga

http://www.solstice-mexico.com/index.php  Yoga in Zipolite

http://www.solstice-mexico.com/yoga-retreats-mexico.php  Yoga Retreat

http://www.yogajournal.com/  The Yoga Journal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga  Yoga

http://www.yogabasics.com/  A cool blog about Yoga

Hammocks, Clouds and Sunrise in Zipolite

Hammocks
Photo by Tina Winterlik

Clouds in Zipolite
Photo by Tina Winterlik

Early Morning- Sunrise in Zipolite
Photo by Tina Winterlik

Drumming, Sarongs & View

Bolsa, Sombrero & Sarong
Photo by Tina Winterlik

Drumming by the Fire
Photo Tina Winterlik

Photo by Tina Winterlik

View of Playa Zipolite from Shamhala and Elephante Roca

Playa Zipolite
Photo by Tina Winterlik

Elephante Roca, Playa Zipolite
Photos by Tina Winterlik

Meditation Point, Shambhala Zipolite, Oaxaca Mexico

Meditation Point, Shambhala
Photo by Tina Winterlik

Meditation Loma/Point
Photo by Tina Winterlik

Homeschooling / Home Education/ Unschooling

"I am beginning to suspect all elaborate and special systems of education. They seem to me to be built upon the supposition that every child is a kind of idiot who must be taught to think. Whereas, if the child is left to himself, he will think more and better, if less showily. Let him go and come freely, let him touch real things and combine his impressions for himself, instead of sitting indoors at a little round table, while a sweet-voiced teacher suggests that he build a stone wall with his wooden blocks, or make a rainbow out of strips of coloured paper, or plant straw trees in bead flower-pots. Such teaching fills the mind with artificial associations that must be got rid of, before the child can develop independent ideas out of actual experience." -- Anne Sullivan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Sullivan_Macy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeschooling

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/home_school/

http://www.bchomeschool.net/

http://homeschooling.ednet.ns.ca/

http://www.hlnfamily.com/



http://www.unschooling.com/
http://www.unschooling.ca/

http://www.lifelearning.ca/

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/methods/UnschoolingOnline.htm

http://www.networkedblogs.com/topic/unschooling/

Travelling with Kids!

Here are some great link for Travelling with Kids!

http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/why-travel-with-kids-is-an-enriching-experience

http://www.deliciousbaby.com/  Delicious Baby

http://www.soultravelers3.com/  Soul Travelsrs3

http://www.ramblingtraveler.com/  Rambling Traveler

http://familyonbikes.org/blog/  Family on Bikes

http://minnemom.com/  Travels With Children

http://travelingmamas.com/   Travelling Mamas

http://wandermom.com/  Wandermom

Photo by Tina Winterlik

Besos & Abrazos Zipolite! Adios Amigos, Adios Paradise!

Join Adventurez in Mexico for our Ultima Dia, our last day. We say good-bye to our amigos and treat ourselves to Lasanaga at Franco's Italiano Panaderia. Adios Zipolite, we will miss our home and friends, it's hard to say good-bye! Besos y Abrazos!

Life in Paradise!

Photos by Tina Winterlik

Visiting Our Favourites Places Before We Leave Zipolite March 2009

Hanging Out with Traveling Dave, Playa Cameron, Playa Zipolite, Sunsets & More

EL Boheme, Franco's Italiano Panaderia, Ohm Playa & More

Sunset in Paradise!

Elephnate Roca

Sunset in Paradise

Checking Out a Baby Octapus!

Photo by Tina Winterlik

Think Green or Good-bye Paradise!

This place charges $1000 pesos a night, and was about half a months rent at the time for us. I think it's a nice place for a honeymoon or something, but there are many things to consider. While the pool was wonderful and helpful when the waves were so big and dangerous we could not swim...on the otherhand there is barely enough water for the town. Unfortunately the very scary part is that all of Zipolite could go this way unless people work at it staying green and just renting basic accomodations. More and more the hotels/posada are charging very high rates.

Even now there is a group of Canadians building condos right on the beach. You can try to fight it, but the people of Zipolite have a right to prosper just like everyone else, but with that prosperity, that simple, backpacker laid back life will disappear to become a beach filled with huge hotels. Paradise will disappear.

As I write this blog I feel somewhat guilty by telling everyone about this paradise, but it's changing already and perhaps, just perhaps by reading this people will stop and think and then when they visit they will make every effort to be a green eco-friendly traveller.

How do you do that?
Stay at local, small accomodations.
Eat at small local restaurants, bars etc.
Use local transportation.
Give right! Help support the schools and clinic, and places like Pina Palmera- that helps children and families with disabilities and challenges.

Don't get me wrong, I love the pool here, and the people were very nice to us, but if the whole beach goes this way...say good bye to Paradise!

Zipolite Days - Parade and Rides

Carousel at Zipolite Days

Punta Cometa - Mazunte, Oaxaca Mexico

Zipolite, Aqua Azul, Palenque ~ Mexico

Agua Azul

Palenque, Chiapas

Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico

Let's Go Boogie Boarding!!

Join Adventurez in Mexico as we check out the Incredible Wave action, watch Angel learning to boogie board, and playing at her Sunset restaurant feeding snails to baby anenomes, and also see the iguanas that live at Shambhala. Enjoy! Have a great Friday!!

Camioneta - Local Transportation for Zipolite, Mazunte & La Ventanilla

This is a Camioneta, it is the local transportation for Mazunte, La Ventanella and Zipolite. Of course Angel doesn´t ride up there, that´s for the luggage, but I have seen other kids up there, not often though. Definitely, not on the highway, Angel wanted to ride up there and I said "no way" and a man said the Federales would stop us if she did, but when we got to the back road he said she could and I said "No Way!!"

One of the reasons we take the camioneta is because it economical and is how the locals travel, but the other is that the road to Zipolite is so windy that Angel threw up every time in the taxi/collectivo. After the 6th time of  losing her breakfast we just started using it, even though it takes 3x as long and goes the scenic route. On the bright side, we have met the nicest people in the camioneta and it's nice and airy and we like it.

You Lift Me Up! My Life Is Turning Around!

Join us for a Visit to Punta Cometa, my Birthday, Butterflies, Baby Chicks, Helping the Fisherman and more!

February/Febero 2008 Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico

Fun at the beach, gorgeous sunset, clouds, boogie boarding, playing with friends,
relaxing, and loving life in paradise.

Shambhala, El Boheme & Karma Cleansing Ceremony Photos

El Boheme

Meditation Point

All photos are copyright of  Tina Winterlik

Shambhala in Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico

You can read more about "Gloria's" Shambhala in Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico
 their website http://www.advantagemexico.com/shambhala
A message from Gloria:

LOOKING FOR AN ADVENTURE OR A NEW LIFESTYLE?

There is space and good will for any genuine spiritual self-awareness group to establish a long term presence here. In Shambhala living is not expensive, and most visitors arrive here "looking" for something. We are offering our property in Mexico for spiritual inner growth workshops; massage parlors, yoga, meditation, ceramics, painters, or any field which feeds the soul -- or anyone wishing to run a vegitarian restaurant.

Fax us ( 011-958-43151 or 011-958-43153 -- Attention: Gloria's Shambhala, Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico) if you think we may have some common spiritual ground to work with. Visit us if you would like to open this door to another adventure in living. We have very basic facilities which may be expanded to accommodate your specific necessities.

We would like to attract visitors which may have visited an Ashram or Wat -- perhaps one who is looking to fill a hole in their life with spiritual inner-growth in this pristine natural environment.

If your curious. . . Join us. . . Let's talk. Who knows, this may be a fantasy dream come true.

Namaste, Gloria Esperanza