Jan 28, 2011 - Octopus's Garden

I'd ask my friends to come and see, an octopus's garden with me-The Beatles I had read on Trip Advisor (there's that news van again) about a really cool place not too far south of Playa Del Carmen called Akumal Beach. It's a small bay protected by a large coral reef where green and loggerhead sea turtles and manta rays have been known to feed, swim and nest. This late morning we walked a few blocks and jumped on a $6 "collectivo" for the 20 minute ride south. What's a collectivo you say? Collectivo's are hundreds of public minivan's that...

Jan 27, 2011 - Tulum

The 26th we arrived in Tulum and immediately asked a cabby to take us to some cheap beach bungalows. He took us to the cheapest bungalows on the beach, the entire resort was on the sand, and it was walking distance to the ruins. We forked out $40 Aus for a 'La Rustica Cabana' - we had electricity between 6pm and 6am, and cold water shared bathrooms...we spent the afternoon walking down the beach before deciding to wander up to the ruins which turned out to be amazing, on a cliff face, no vendors etc etc. That night we met some Australians...

Jan 27, 2011 - Eyes of the World

You wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world-Grateful Dead Wow, what a great couple of days we've had already. The ruin tours were lifetime events but we are, well, RUINED today! Nervously climbing over uneven ground for two days has clearly taken a heavy toll on us both. We are seriously getting old and today officially confirms that obvious fact. Whatever. Well, whoever planned this trip was thinking ahead because today was slated for recovery. But heck it might take two days to feel completely right again. Through Trip...

Jan 26, 2011 - Playa del Carmen

The 23rd we arrived in Playa del Carmen - known for being a party town. We got in and wandered around for about 30 minutes trying to find our hostel (of course it was two doors further down the first street we had walked down)...we went for a walk down the beach and down Quinta Ave before heading back to our hostel and meeting a couple of Americans who we ended up hanging out with for the next three days. After dinner we walked back down Quinta Ave and watched a fire show and some of the street artists before venturing to Walmart - yes, we...

Jan 25, 2011 - Into the Mystic

And together we will flow into the mystic-Van Morrison Today we took a tour of some Mayan ruins with a personal guide. It was like having our own ambassador to the Mayan world. Gudelio Alanis is his name his company is called Excel Tours. He picked us up exactly at 7am this morning and drove us all around the local area south of Playa Del Carmen where there are some incredible ruins. After a bunch of research on TripAdvisor, I settled on his small private tour company. Booking with them is truly like having a best friend take you on a...

Jan 25, 2011 - Wooden Ships

If you smile at me I will understand. Cause that is something everybody everywhere does in the same language-Crosby Stills & Nash Back into the van for a short ride to our first ever cenote swim. Whats a cenote (sin-oh-tay) you say? It's a huge natural sinkhole/limestone cave with crystal clear fresh water. There are over 1500 cenotes dotting the landscape of eastern Yucatan here. Some of them are connected to each other deep underground. They loosely form one huge fresh water irrigation cave system that eventually empties deep into the...

Jan 24, 2011 - Tequila Sunrise

In short, this place is worth the ride! After another long day of travel we arrived safely at hotel Playa Maya yesterday evening. After check-in, we cruised the famous 5th avenue for some sightseeing. Just Wow. The colors, the lights, the music, the wonderful smell of great food. What a funky vibe! La Quinta Avenida is a bustling marketplace. Shop hawkers all have a unique catch line to attract you into their stores. Hola, best prices in Mexico, we make a deal, Free plastic bag with your purchase! We ate at an Argentinian steak house for...

Jan 23, 2011 - Chichen Itza, Cancun & Isla Mujeres

So, on the 17th we grabbed a bus to Cancun via Chichen Itza - the world renowned ruins. We arrived to the ruins and were surrounded by vendors and people trying to convince us to do over priced tours aimed at the rich American tourists on day trips from Cancun. Even within the grounds of the ruins we were surrounded by vendors and horrified at how they had trashed the environment - just throwing their garbage into the jungle behind them. We walked around the entire site in under an hour and were pretty disappointed. Palenque and Teotihicuan...

Jan 23, 2011 - First Look

Like pure water, clean air, and good food, music is a driving force in my life. If I was stranded somewhere like Survivorman, as long as I had a headset & a live recorded Grateful Dead show and I WILL get by. Music is the soundtrack to life and can enhance any scenery for me. And since I'm comitted to writing this trip blog, I say this particular scene calls for an expert on Caribbean relaxation. Mr Parrothead himself, Jimmy Buffet's "First Look" Fun tickets in my pocket, visions in my brain Grand father always told me if I went down I...

Dec 10, 2010 - Cozumel

There were five cruise ships in town today, but Cozumel is up to the challenge. Two ships docked near the old town, which boasts over a mile of shopping, and three of us were at the new dock area, where enough shopping to suit us has sprouted, saving the cab ride into town. A huge catamaran came to our dock to take us on a snorkeling and beach tour. When you are a tourist in Mexico you can never assume that things will be timely or work properly. They often joke about themselves, telling you that you will have to wait a Mexican minute. But...

Nov 19, 2010 - Update - Punta Gruesa

Update: Went to Tulum and: - Swam with tultles at Acumal, freaken awesome!! - Dived a Cenote call Dos Ojos; like diving an art gallery as apposed to an aquarium, very pretty and great swim throughs, but no life. - Went to the Coba Mayan ruins – hired a bike and cruised the ruins. Have completed: - My Fish data collection training; I begin data collection next week, very happy about this! - My Rescue diver; all pre-requisites for Divemaster complete - Have gotten my dive placement and will be going to Majahual; the best divemaster training...

Oct 30, 2010 - Week 4

This week * No diving Mon, Tues,Wed because of the residual weather of the hurricane * Thursday I had the most exciting interaction with a Loggerhead Turtle. The water was murky (< 5 meters visibility) so a very old Loggerhead (faded shell, barnacles, the works) that was about 3 to 4 feet in length. The turle couldn't really tell what we where until it was surrounded by 5 divers. At this point it took a really close look at Tristan (Instructor), decided he wasn't a problem and then practically brushed against my shoulder as it casually...