Esoteric Ben

Magic Jack is smoke and mirrors

2009-02-10T13:21:00.003-06:00

Just in case you are thinking about getting the Magic Jack, don't bother. I bought the Magic Jack from a Radio Shack in Austin, Texas and took it to Belize with me. I set it up and it actually did work for a couple of calls. That's where thinks went wrong.

I've been online chatting twice now with technical support. To their credit, they tried to be helpful. We actually got it up and running last time. HOWEVER, once again it doesn't work. You dial and it immediately hangs up. It will do this repeatedly. Maybe it will work inside of the USA but here in Central America it seems like a bad joke.

So you spend time with customer service and that time adds up. It's not worth the hassle of "upgrading to Vista" and rebooting it this often. Now that I'm here in Central America for the next few months, I probably won't get a refund when I get back. I'm also sure that they'll have some excuse concocted.

Regards,

Ben

San Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Belize: Martha's Kitchen

2009-02-09T23:05:00.000-06:00

I wound up with the Preston family and friends eating at Martha's Kitchen. It's a restaurant in San Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Belize and a pretty good one. It was Maria's birthday today. This one will be short and sweet since I'm short on time right now.

The food was excellent. I had the Chia Burrito. Chia is the leave of a shrub in Central America and very tasty steamed or mixed with eggs too. Most everyone's plates looked good and the portions and prices were good. Mine was $12.00 BZD ($6.00 USD). The staff was polite and responsive. The downside was the wait.

It took about 45 minutes for me to get my food. Our party of twelve waited forever and the time difference from the first to the last dinner served on our table was probably about 45 minutes. Some of the first guests to eat had left far before the last meal was served. They simply don't have the capacity to handle a busy room.

Regards,

Ben

San Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Belize: J and K Bar

2009-02-07T12:33:00.004-06:00

If you're having a red meat attack try J&K Grill. It's not too hard to find. I'll try and get a picture up later. The local boys here think of it as a steak house and their probably right. Gary and I went there to eat last night. Gary tipped me off about this place. Maria's sister also thinks it's the best steak in town.

J&K is pretty basic but clean. They've got a small bar and the rest is seated tables. It looks as if it's all outside dining but covered for rain. A good idea around here since it's all rain forest. I usually inspect the dining area to understand the cleanliness of the kitchen. It's pretty clean and well kept and casual and unassuming.

Gary ordered the porterhouse rare with baked potato (butter and sour cream), salad with ranch dressing and hot tea. I went with the same except no potato and double the salad, steak medium rare and bottled water. We each received at least 24 oz. steaks cooked to order. The service was fast but the place was empty since it was chilly last night.

The food was excellent although the steak did have some grizzle. A good quality steak here for Belize, cooked right, and with good service. I think that Gary and I got out of there for the same price of $26.50 BZD ($13.25). I tipped $1.50 BZD on top of that. I don't think she expected a tip either.

J&K is not hard to find and most cab drivers seem to know it's behind the Saddleback Grill. A cab seems to be the standard $5.00 BZD to get anywhere around town. The also have sirloin for $25.00, lobster for $45.00, surf and turf for $45.00 and other less expensive dishes too. This place is a bargain and they serve beer too.

Carrie is our little Belizean Martha Stewart...

2009-02-06T13:31:00.006-06:00

Last night I was at casual dinner party at the Roberson's ranch just outside of San Ignacio. I guess someone in their family either runs or owns Running W brand meats. So, the dinner ended up being a picture perfect model of the Atkins diet. Actually, I guess that John (Carrie's father) cooked the ribeyes so he helped. I also chopped up some veggies with her brother Trey and Robert's wife whipped up a salad from scratch.

I expected and was a little worried that everyone there would be under 21 which would have been a bit uncomfortable. Once again, I was wrong. I was firmly in the middle. Upper age being 75 and youngest being 18 or so. Nice eclectic mix of people too.

Dinner was served and I got a Caesar Salad (home made dressing), a ribeye, and Carrie mix of meat and veggies wrapped in cabbage. She has an interesting family with some being of Lebanese descent, Belizean, and America. A very nice evening with some excellent conversation. Two thumbs up Carrie!

Regards,

Ben

Online in Belize

2009-02-03T16:11:00.005-06:00

One of the most frustrating things about Belize is the speed of the internet here. SLOW. Hell these people didn't get television until 80's. Yes, later than 1980. I think one of the major problems here is the complete monopoly of the telephone system. It's not even a quasi-utility. It's probably to the point where where this monopoly impedes the growth of this wonderful little nation.

There is one phone company with land lines and its Belize Telemedia Limited. While I want to have respect for private enterprise. This is nuts. It's like the old AT&T days in the United States where you simply pay too much for too little. Pathetic.

Get this. My friends, who are hoteliers, are paying about $600.00 BZD ($300.00 USD) for a 1 Mb downstream connection EACH MONTH. It almost never runs at full speed and at times reminds me of a 128 kb connection at times. Sometimes it can stop altogether for hours. BTL also blocks Skype connections here. I'm sure that they'd have al sorts of bullshit to ladle out if they had to reply to these comments. Believe me though, it's crap.

Regards,

Ben

San Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Belize: ATV fun in the jungle

2009-02-02T13:46:00.006-06:00

Yesterday we took the maiden voyage for “Wild Ting Adventures”. It’s a new tour business in San Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Belize! I’ve only been on an ATV once before and really enjoyed it. They really aren’t hard to learn how to drive either. We rode and toured “El Pilar” a Mayan archeological site that literally straddles the Belize Guatemalan border enveloped in lush green jungle.

The guide (Dorita) was knowledgeable, well trained, and took good care of us. The ATVs were relatively new and in good condition and the price of $65.00 USD for a ATV guided trip to El Pilar was a value. We started in San Ignacio Town at Venus Hotel (inexpensive clean rooms) rode through Bullet Tree Village and took a left straight up a gravel road for eight miles.

Since Cayo District is a series of rolling hills and mountains carpeted in green vegetation, the scenery changed repeatedly. We could end up on a high hill with a panorama of Santa Elena in the distance or surrounded and closed in by dense jungle. El Pilar itself is said to be about a 50 acre site so you could spend all day there. I liked it because it was only partially developed instead of planted grass and reconstructed temples and plazas. Two thumbs up on this one!

Driving from San Antonio, Texas USA to San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize

2009-01-31T10:03:00.006-06:00

After being disgusted paying all the tolls driving through Mexico the last two times, I decided to take the “librementos” as much as possible this time. It was a partial success since I’ve always wanted to drive through a lot of the tiny little villas along the way. However as time came to a stop several times I decided to take the toll roads between Villahermosa and Mititlan.

I’ve come to a few of conclusions regarding the drive. First, toll roads are worth it if you want to get there at top speed but you will miss out on some of the most beautiful scenery or desolate wasteland. Second, it is far better to go around a major city than through it. The exceptions are if you want to see the city or a major highway goes straight through it. Third, the coast along Veracruz is worth seeing and staying for awhile. Fourth, If you break a law, don’t bitch. Just pay the bride and hold out for $20.00 USD as long as possible. Fifth, if you get lost in a major city, have a GPS and a good map. Sixth, take the toll roads between Villahermosa and Mititlan.

In a nutshell, I drove when I wanted and stopped when I felt like it. The drive took about 4 ½ days but I only drove during daylight hours and some early evening hours. I've done the drive in 2 1/2 days. I drove 1,870.9 miles and slept at one Sam’s Club and three PEMEX gas stations in my camper shell. I'll write down the route and some cool places to stop tomorrow but for now there's a numeric breakdown below.

Total Days: 4.5
Total Miles: 1870.9
Total Hours Lost: 3.5
Food: $21.69 ( mainly grocery)
Fuel: $169.49
Bribes: $40.00
Insurance: $97.10 (4 days in Mexico and 30 days in Belize)
Tolls: $14.71
Temporary Import Tags: $31.04
Total Costs: $374.13

Regards,

Benedict Kim

www.esotericvision.com

My PEMEX Room Mates

2009-01-31T09:56:00.007-06:00

When I go through Mexico I often stay at the PEMEX gas stations. I think a lot of people do. It's a little noisy but pretty safe. I've camped out so often in my life that it's easier (and much cheaper) for me to just pull over and hop in my little bed. I've added some shots below.

Reflection Time...

2009-01-26T12:56:00.002-06:00

I'm heading south again. I'll be heading straight for Belize this time. It's time to work and I'll probably be busting my ass. I've got some pretty big hurdles to clear but it does look doable. I've got some friends on my side both here and in Belize.

My time here in Texas went way over. Not enough information gathering and planning on my part. I spent six weeks here and it was way toooooo lonnnngggggg. I got a lot done and had to get a lot done. I dealt with everything from medical issues to automotive issues. It's really fairly complex living on the road like this as a photographer.

I did catch up with most all of my friends but spent Christmas alone. I think it's my fate. A price I pay for my freedom. Money well spent in my opinion. I did work a little while here and shot for Massage Heights Corporate. That one should be a great reference and sample online for me. Overall it was good but I don't think I'll spend more than a week here next time. Better planning will let me move in and out of the area just pass through San Antonio and Austin instead of getting stuck here.

Regards,

Ben

Pet Photography 101

2009-01-25T10:51:00.004-06:00

My first adventure in pet photography. Now that I have a real camera (5D Mark II). I've got to start really trying to expand my portfolio. I've been a bit one dimensional and it's been just panoramas for the last three years. Back to still work. I was commissioned by some friends to take pictures of Bruno and Brinkley. This one is of Bruno sulking next to the door since he can't go outside. (5D II, ISO 800, 50 mm f 1.4, 1/60 sec, hand held)

Regards,

Ben

Assignment: Massage Heights Franchise

2009-01-25T10:45:00.002-06:00

view Panoramic photography of USA

Since I can now show my work on my blogs. I think I'll show at least one panorama from each place. I just got done with an assignment for Massage Heights Corporate in San Antonio, Texas. Nice people. I don't seem to get to do a lot of my work here in the USA. I guess it would help if I'm around more.

Regards,

Ben

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico: Beh-Ha Cenote

2009-01-21T17:43:00.003-06:00

view Panoramic photography of Mexico

I forgot this one. So here it is now. Really late. It's Beh-Ha Cenote. If you're near the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve "Arch". It's the entrance to the reserve. This cenote is clear clean freshwater on a sunny day. It's about 100 yards in the mangroves behind the entrance building. Theres a well marked trail, well known, and free. Check it out. Oh by the way, if you want to embed my panos from 360Cities.net thats free too! It's quite easy. My work is can also be seen on Google Earth. You'll need Google Earth 4.2 and you'll have to check the "photo layer" box on the left menu.

Regards,

Ben

Service American Style...

2009-01-20T15:01:00.002-06:00

I am usually amazed at the lengths that some waiters and waitresses will go to let you know that they are attending to you. I don't frequent the high dollar establishments. I wish I could. Oh well. Here's commentary on main stream American dining since I've been here for a bit again.

I go into a restaurant (main stream ones) and the thing that I've noticed more than anything else is the staff wants to pour that glass of water or serve that Pepsi while in front of you. Most seem to have routine down. I have to wait a little extra for the show to commence. You know that they've got to get the angle on you for the best tip.

In contrast, I really enjoy my Indian buffets. Not just for the value but the insanely good service. I'm still not sure how they do it but they do. I leave my table for the buffet. By the time I get back everything I want is there. No show. No bullshit. Just insanely good service. Water is refilled before I can verbalize the thought. Plates disappear by magic. And look, one of the staff is always watching and waiting. No cigarette breaks or disappearances. I always tip better there. I feel I should.

Regards,

Ben

Broadway Camera: Grey Marketing Dealings

2009-01-15T11:27:00.006-06:00

It's interesting being back here in the USA. As a traveler, I get to see quite a few different subcultures. I find that the bottom end of the spectrum is no different than other countries. For example, I was in a bind to get my new camera. I ordered the 5D Mark II from Precision Camera in Austin, Texas. If I could have waited, I'd have gone that route.

Instead I cancelled and went with Broadway Camera (www.broadwaycamera.com) of New York. I ordered and confirmed verbally with the salesman that I'd get a domestic model 5D Mark II. They shipped a chinese kit stripped of it's lens. Since I'm in a bit a crunch for time I'll keep it.

Here's the warning I'll give about Broadway Camera and their kind. First, a grey market purchase like mine is NOT covered by the manufacturer warranty. You'll have to find your own insurance. Second, they ALWAYS try and up sell you after the purchase. It's ALWAYS a crappy add-on item that's way too expensive. Basically, buyer beware. Broadway Camera is dishonest. Oh, check out B&H Photo and Video or Beach Camera. Both of those are honest.

Regards,

Benedict Kim

www.esotericvision.com

Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico: El Potrero Chico

2009-01-07T20:02:00.011-06:00

Bret, Tiffany, and I left for El Potrero Chico on December 31st late in the evening around 8pm. After stopping for gas, water, and some food we didn't hit the border at Laredo, Texas until just before the new year. I guess it was kind of lucky since we got to drive through Nuevo Laredo as half the town shot up fireworks. VERY nice timing.

It's about a 6 hour drive from San Antonio to the climbing area and I wouldn't recommend taking the international bridge through town since it's pretty convoluted to get to the immigration office. The personnel at this particular Mexican immigration office were REALLY rude too. It's usually not like that. Maybe the Columbia Bridge just out of town would be better. We drove till 3 am and slept at a PEMEX gas station in the vehicles.

The climbing is great and the park is beautiful. There are plenty of places to camp within walking distance to the routes. We stayed at Posada El Potrero Chico for $55.00 pesos a night ($5.00 USD). They've got hot showers and a restaurant. The showers are filthy but the food is reasonably priced and very good. Portions are big too. If you want to sleep don't camp near the restaurant.

view Panoramic photography of Mexico

The routes run from 5.6 to 5.12? and go from single pitch to 12 or so pitches. There are much longer climbs. Our friends we were meeting with had a guide book that is locally available. Over the Christmas and New Year season it's packed with people. Many got up before dawn to get the routes they wanted to climb. We've seen 4 teams on the same popular climbs at once. They say it's much better at other times of the year and there are a lot of routes.

The drive home sucks. Sunday is the big day to head home across the border for everyone vacationing by car in Mexico. Bret and Tif left Saturday around 5 pm and started waiting in line on the toll road before Nuevo Laredo. Damn. They managed to cross the Columbia Bridge border Sunday at 6pm or so. All said and done, 21.5 hours waiting in line. They said the bridges in Nuevo Laredo were supposed to be worse.

That's the worst I've ever seen for the crossing. I wouldn't have believed it but we were in contact via email and phone much of the time. The other half of our group left Sunday around 9am, detoured 1.5 hours to the Falcon View Bridge, crossed and beat them across the border by about 2 hours. The others kept driving. I stayed in town and waited for Bret and Tif and then continued to San Antonio, Texas. So.... there's your hint. PLAN for the trip back if you are on wheels.

Regards,

Benedict Kim

www.esotericvision.com

Austin, Texas: Star of India

2008-12-29T19:42:00.004-06:00

Just got back from a great dinner at Star of India. It's one of the best places to eat in Austin, Texas. I'd recommend hitting this buffet if you're on the north end of Austin, Texas. The buffet costs $11.00 plus tax and tip. For those of you who know me better, you'd say that I'm only interested in the price and the quantity of food.

This is not the case... at least here. I've been eating here consistently for years now. The quality of the food is ALWAYS great. The Austin Chronicle agrees with me. They award the best restaurants every year. Star of India has gotten their awards before.

If you get on MOPAC going north of downtown Austin, go about 10 miles and turn right on Anderson Lane. Look for the restaurant on the north (lefte side) of the street abouth 1/2 mile from your turn. It's a buffet every day for lunch and dinner. The food is phenomenal. You won't be dissapointed.

Regards,

Ben

www.esotericvision.com

One thing good about the USA...

2008-12-29T12:56:00.003-06:00

MEAT. Good old fashioned red meat. Well marbled red meat. What I was really doing was testing out my new CF cards that I got on the cheap at Fry's Electronics. Damn. The 8 Gb CF Kingston cards were about $18.00 each. Another good thing about the USA is cheap electronics. They are definitely not the fastest cards around but damn they are cheap and they do work..... consistently.

I'll probably always have to migrate up to Texas once a year if not just to shop. I'm not sure that I have a choice in the matter. All the stuff I need is really just a lot less expensive here. I will, however, make sure that I gain at least a few pounds while visiting. Americans really don't know the bounty and incredible quality enjoyed here.

Anyway, back to MEAT. I found some steaks on sale yesterday. I bought three 1 1/2 pound rib steaks for about $12.00. Wonderful isn't it? I've eaten two in less than 24 hours with a BLT, a hamburger, and a 12 oz. pack of bacon. I'm going to die of gout and I'm quite pleased with myself.

It's a bit fast here but gas is cheap!

2008-12-23T19:07:00.007-06:00

I've been back in Cedar Park, Texas just north of Austin, Texas for about 10 days. It's a bit fast for me here since I've been spending most of my time south of the border. All I've done since being back is repair and tweak stuff like my truck, electronics, camera gear, or just my body. I'm finally getting caught up! NOW I can start getting back to photography.

With Christmas approaching, I expected to see more Christmas cheer in the general public. That's not going to happen. Everyone scurrying around like ants with tunnel vision to get their little world in order. Rush, Rush, Rush. It might as well be Labor Day or the Fourth of July. Why am I one of the few smiling?

As I drove on Mopac and I-35 today, it reminded me of a race track more than anything else. I was ripping down the highway at 85 mph and keeping up with traffic on I-35. Perhaps it was motivated by the gas prices or just that Christmas rush rush rush. One good point though, I saw two signs posting prices of $1.38 a gallon! Tomorrow I'm going to get out and take some pictures and drive really really fast fast fast.

Regards,

Ben

www.esotericvision.com

Back in Texas...

2008-12-21T09:43:00.007-06:00

I've been back in Austin, Texas for a bit over a week now. I don't like cold weather. Everyone I've known to go south always said horrible things about the hot season in Central America but I find it much more bearable than freezing conditions.

Yesterday I met one of my friends Bret Franson at Reimer's Ranch for some climbing. I met a whole new crew and it was refreshing. I didn't climb because I didn't have an interest but did take a few shots. I was waiting for some good old fashioned drama like someone cratering. Never happened. The shot above is really the hippie climbing next to us. Oh well.

The weather was actually warm yesterday. I broke out in a sweat a couple of times. This morning it's back to normal though. Cold. It was nice to hangout with this crew too. I was invited to head to Mexico with them over New Year's Eve. I think I'll do it. I've given up on meeting friends south of the border for Christmas. I'm waiting for my new camera to come in. I'll probably be here for awhile.

Regards,

Ben

www.esotericvision.com

Obstacle Course

2008-12-14T18:23:00.001-06:00

Driving in Mexico is an interesting event. I just finished driving from Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico to Aquismon, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The whole thing took me 12 hours yesterday and 15 hours today. It should be slightly less next time since I wasn't familiar with this new route from Poza Rica to Aquismon by going through the mountains. The tolls add up to about $600.00 pesos or about $50.00 USD with the current exchange rate and the gas was about $1400.00 pesos or about $125.00 USD.

One of the notable things about driving in Mexico is the obvious lack of standardization. This seems to wreak havoc with drivers from industrialized nations. You should beware if you are the latter. Between yesterday and today I dodged a cow, several piles of unknown debris, numerous construction sites and workers, parked vehicles, oncoming vehicles, carts, people, small boulders, missing road, and very large pot holes.

Let’s take the example of the “pot holes”. I really mean holes over six feet deep, twice as wide, and three times as long. It was big enough to swallow your vehicle whole. Think about looking over to the shoulder of the road and seeing this dark mass creeping onto the highway marked by two small orange cones. I probably couldn’t count the number of smashed cones I’ve seen on freeways in the United States. We’d have a line of cones about ¼ mile long for this hazard.

Yes, I do understand that this stuff happens in industrialized nations but very with this frequency. It can be nearly constant at times but it’s usually not that bad. You will get very used to seeing this all. It can catch you off guard if you’re not familiar with it. Taking your eyes off the road of a few seconds can easily land you in the hospital around here.

Regards,

Ben Kim

Never a dull moment

2008-12-04T19:17:00.004-06:00

This place is nuts. Last night one of my friends here was "evicted" by his ex-wife (aka: "the bitch"). Actually he's part owner in a really nice beach house here in Tulum. This seems to be an ongoing saga of seven years. Everyone here seems to think the process was pretty much illegal and he'll get the property back. However, it does show some really crazy shit here in Tulum when it comes to property.

It doesn't seem difficult for a person with any flimsy reason to come in with a court order and evict someone. So far I've heard of the following:

1. The army called in to evict hotel guests in several hotels because the national park system has claim to land.

2. The infamous ex-wife invaded the beach house property twice. She was unsuccessful the first time and successful the second time (so far).

3. The family of a dead drug lord claiming property and going in and taking it back from a local hotelier and keeping it.

4. A neighboring land owner invading a hotel (under construction) twice and finally getting kicked out.

It's like a perverse game of "King of the Hill". It's a grand game where each opposing side gathers together an "invasion team", gets a flimsy document of some sort, and moves in. I don't think it's like this everywhere but here the property is worth millions for a tiny parcel of land by saltwater.

Regards,

Ben

Flying over Tulum...

2008-12-03T09:55:00.014-06:00

view Panoramic photography of Mexico

Nothing will clarify a geographic area in your mind better than a flight over an area. I recommend it if it's in your budget. It's not in mine but I was lucky enough to be included in this little trip with RJ of REMAX Paradise Properties.

Some people don't like small planes but I love the feeling of flopping around in the air like a bug hanging on to the tail of a kite! You recognize that you're not in a developed country when they offer to take off the door of the plane so you can take better pictures. No safety instructions are given. It's up to you to have enough sense to use a seat belt. I've included an arial shot of the Tulum Ruins below. Life is good without a door on your plane.

We cruised from Playa del Carmen along the coast to Tulum and circled the area a bit inspecting a client's property. The city of Tulum definitely has plans to expand the area. It will be another Playa del Carmen in a few years. The one thing I'll probably remember is the different shades of blue in the ocean extending hundreds of miles. You can see the city of Tulum in the background here with the Tulum ruins in the middle right along the coastline.

Regards,

Benedict Kim

www.esotericvision.com

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico: Mezzanine's Restaurant

2008-12-03T09:43:00.005-06:00

I've been eating at Mezzanine for a bit now. On this returning trip and the last one going through here a few months ago. They've got a Thai restaurant there. It may seem out of place but it's not. As you sip on an ice cold drink and take in the breeze right off the ocean it tends to all make sense.

I tend to eat the Red Curry with Chicken and Bamboo. It comes with jasmine rice. I never get tired of it and I've made the rounds trying the other items.. I'm told that a few things distinguish a quality restaurant from the rest. I've found the food quality and service are always good. The one item I can remember not enjoying was the veggie spring rolls with the mango sauce. It's not that it was bad tasting just bland. Oh yes, be careful about ordering anything spiced "hot" over there.

Regards,

Benedict Kim

www.esotericvision.com

Back in Mexico...

2008-11-30T07:39:00.003-06:00

Okay, I'm finally back in Mexico. Specifically, I'm in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico. I have to admit that I miss sleeping on the beach. They've cleaned up the area I've been using in Sian Ka'an. You can pull up (with a 4x4) on to a dune where you get a great view of the sunrise and the breeze. I've been invited to stay at a couple of places (real homes) but this is still the best.

As far as I've seen there is no air conditioning for any hotels in the beach in Tulum. It's a regulation for the area to make it more "eco-friendly". The small generators each hotel has can't handle the draw. So my little truck camper probably ranks right up there since I have electricity, movies, and a computer. Except for water....

Water is something that I cart around with me so I can't use a lot at once. The Sian Ka'an ranger station ran out of water and thus so did I. Getting a shower has been the only real hassle that I've had while traveling.

Now that my hair is on the longer side, I use more than before. It's also been a bit chilly for my normal cold water showers that I really do enjoy. It's not too bad though. RJ said I can camp on the property of one of his properties. I doubt I camp there but I will stop in for a shower. My place is still better.

Regards,

Ben Kim

www.esotericvision.com

Finally out of Belize....

2008-11-28T09:41:00.002-06:00

Well I'm finally out of Belize. I'm starting to make a lot of friends here now. I like Belize. It can be a bit frustrating at times since most everyone runs at a very slow pace but it's still a great place. The only place that does get on my nerves is Belize City. Being easily identified as a tourist makes you a target for the very many poor here. While I feel sorry for them, I can't give everyone a dollar. You'll literally get followed all the way down a street if you show any sign of weakness.

Santa Elena Town, Cayo District, Belize: Falcon View Hostel

2008-11-24T09:51:00.005-06:00

Last night I stayed at the Falcon View Hostel in Santa Elena Town, Cayo District, Belize. Overall it was a comforable, happy stay with a good conversation with Ray and Silva (owners). The Falcon View Hostel is located a bit off the beaten path in a small community about 3/4 mile down a gravel road. It was quite and safe. I paid $11.000 USD plus tax. The total was just under $12.00 USD altogether.

This is a tiny little eight bed hostel has a community kitchen, dining, and living area, and community bath and showers. The kitchen is fully furnished with small separate dinner tables to accomodate separate parties, two burner stove, and refrigerator. The kitchen was kept very clean. I don't think they serve any meals here on a regular basis so you are on your own. A cab ride into town can cure that problem.

The wash room has two sinks, four toilets, and four showers. The showers are small and there is no hot water. However, cold water is not cold here in Belize at least in my opinion. There is not much privacy in this room but once again very clean. I was given a clean bath towel, blanket, and wash cloth when checking in. Bring your own shampoo and soap.

The domitory is small and simple but once again clean. There are four bunkbeds each one having a mosquito net over it, very handy. The beds are small but firm covered with linens, sheets, and a pillow. I'm 5'8" tall and I had enough room but if you're over 6' tall you might be a bit cramped. On a side note, I do remember seeing small keyed lockers for your valuables.

The living area had a couple of hammocks with a couple of chairs and a small table. It's sparsely furnished but does have a TV with cable and DVD player. There are board games and plenty of interesting books available. Ray and Silva (owners) have authored several of the books. One book of particular interest to me was titled "An Early History of Belize" published in 1996 by the owners. Overall, this is a great place to stay with a very very comfortable atmosphere. Tours are available for the area on a daily basis.

Regards,

Benedict Kim

www.esotericvision.com

Succotz Village, Cayo District, Belize: Xunantunich Ruins Review

2008-11-21T17:44:00.002-06:00

I wandered around Xunantunich today. It's a Mayan archaeological site near San Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Belize. The local tour companies usually don't market it since it's too close. Tour companies farther away will market it though. Some local hotels and resorts will sell it as a half day trip. You can do it on your own though.

It's a ten minute taxi ride to the ferry boat near Soccotz Village near the Guatemalan border. You'll find a small tourist style roadside market and Benny's Restaurant across the street. The ferry boat ride is free but feel free to tip the guy that uses a good old fashioned hand crank to get you and your car across the river. I tip $1.00 BZD (50 cents USD). Why not?

I've never hired a guide here but I know they are available. Guides here in Belize are well educated on the sites. It's impressive. Anyway, you'll walk about 1.25 miles to the entrance. There's only one road so good luck getting lost. It seemed secure too since I must have seen six machine gun packing soldiers patrolling the area. The entrance area has a gift shop, snack bar, and a covered picnic area.

The most predominant feature is the pyramid standing 132 feet tall (or so they say). There is one higher by a few feet somewhere else in Belize. You can see into Guatemala and much of the surrounding area from the top which is beautiful. The far side of the pyramid has some carvings left on it. There are 3-4 other areas with pyramids, courts, and other cool things to see. I'll leave it to you to discover. See this before you wander to Tikal or Caracol which are quite a bit more extensive. Bring water and snacks.

Click for panoramas here

Regards,

Ben Kim

www.esotericvision.com

Food for thought...

2008-11-13T10:58:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I met a gal from Austrailia. Her name is Claire Vanderplank. That's a mouthful isn't it? Anyway, she's biking from Cancun, Mexico to the tip of Argentina and her website is Cycling for Cohesion. Check out her blog. She spent a couple of days here at Midas Resort before moving on. Nice gal.

What an interesting thought. I've been bouncing this one around since I met two Germans driving around the world. Hmmmm.... I can drive to Argentina and back. I think I'm up for it. No one seems to die and everyone seems to be having fun.

They come in all forms for this one. Two teams on motorcycles. One team in a beefed up 4x4. One retired couple in "wombat". The wombat is an RV that resembles a military transport (six very large wheels) more than a civilian vehicle. I want one now.

I think that I might be able to save some money and combined with working my way along as a photographer I might actually make it. It's kind of funny. All the foreigners that actually travel as I do find the people friendly and feel generally safe in Central and South America. All the people that don't travel find them unfriendly and the places unsafe. It's some good food for thought.

Call Me "El Gordo"

2008-11-12T07:35:00.004-06:00

I've been a photographer approaching a year now and it's starting to show. Living in hotels, eating vast amounts of free food, and inactivity are starting to take it's toll. I weighed in yesterday at 192 lbs. I'm not used to going over 180 lbs. I'm not fat but I'm not in shape. I need to get back into shape but a my busy little life continually evolves.

Bearing this information in mind, I'd like to share a new methodology to pick guides when out in the field. Other than the normal parameters such as honesty, integrity, and intelligence, I recommend using Body Mass Index (BMI). A BMI rating system allows you to effectively choose the level of cardiovascular activity you will encounter on demanding treks and activities. Of course this is all relative to how fat and old you and the proposed guide are so adjust accordingly.

You will find that although good guides will always slow down to your pace, you will always be pushed if the guide is a skinny little bastard. Instead of snapping the him in half just learn to choose better.

Guide's BMI

Less than 18.5: skinny fucker and heavy cardio (slow him down by making him carry gear)

18.5 - 25: normal and moderate cardio

25 - 30: chubby and hiking is easier for you

More than 30: heart attack victim and you breathe easy

Regards,

Ben

Pine Ridge, Cayo District, Belize: Thousand Foot Falls

2008-11-12T07:17:00.004-06:00

Thousand Foot Falls is not bad at all. Most of the view of the Maya Mountains show a very gradual climb in altitude. I thought it would be uninteresting. I was pleasantly surprised. It's just past Hidden Valley Inn. The roads pretty much suck most of the way. I guess it's about a 25-30 mile drive one way. The closest gas station would be in San Ignacio Town, Belize. The drive will take 1 1/3 hours each way.

The property is now government owned and maintained. I found one guy working there. It's still not quite the busy season yet and he had one visitor yesterday. There were three buildings. One was the gift shop, another was a decent covered area with picnic tables and chairs, another was for scientists that never come there.. You've got a few dozen steps leading down to a vista. It's well built but definitely not handicap accessible. The covered area is accessible though.

The view is decent but partial. You can only see the first few hundred feet and then the water simply disappears into the gorge. The terrain is rugged below with steep cliffs. I wish I could have gotten a full view of the falls but that only happens with a helicopter ride. I hope one day that they'd build a hiking trail to the bottom. Now that would make this area a truly worthy destination instead of a side trip. It's an easy self guided trip. The entrance cost is $2.00 BZ or $1.00 USD.

Regards,

Ben

www.esotericvision.com

Pine Ridge, Cayo District, Belize: Hidden Valley Inn

2008-11-05T19:34:00.006-06:00

I’ll take my hat off to the Belizeans this time. They know hospitality. I’ve just spent a couple of nights up in Pine Ridge in Cayo District at Hidden Valley. Yes, they have pines in Belize. Hidden Valley Inn sits on 7,200+ acres of private reserve with about a dozen different cabanas. This place is about as remote as it gets here in Belize. It covers enough terrain that it goes from pines above to jungle below. It is freaky big.

My cabana was very comfortable with a nice big bed. It was a free standing well constructed little home with a working fireplace. I should mention that Hidden Valley Inn has all the little luxuries you’d get at a top notch resort in Cancun. It actually gets chilly at night since we’re up here in the Maya Mountains and as I used up tinder and firewood more magically appears at my front door, nice. Beautiful four post wooden bed and comfy lounge chairs for the fire. VERY secure property, I’ve got tons of gear and equipment but I didn’t even bother taking my key or locking the doors while out.

Now for other stuff. They have miles of trails and roads with breathtaking views, streams, and wildlife. Everything is well marked. You’d be a moron or illiterate to get lost. It’s actually possible to spot pumas and jaguars here since it’s far of the beaten path. Freaking birds of all types everywhere. I also like the hidden swimming holes and streams in Hidden Vally Inn. They’ve got lots of clean clear water for a cool dip and plenty of waterfalls. Check out “Cascade Trail”. The regular tours go out from here daily to visit anywhere else in Cayo too. Guides are polite and well informed.

Actually, everyone here is polite and well informed. Food is great. Nice menu and Flavien and Beverly (managers) seem to know and check on the source of all the food. It’s pretty comfy in the lodge too. Big fluffy loungers and couches with fire place and plenty of books to choose from. The bar is well equipped and the pool and jacuzzi are nice. Well decorated and comfortable. Oh yeah, they have their own airstrip and helicopter pad if you want to fly in. If you don’t they’ll pick you up at the airport in Belize City. Hidden Valley is probably one of the best values for the money I’ve seen around here yet.

Pictures: http://www.esotericvision.com/VT/HiddenValley360/index.html

Website: http://www.hiddenvalleyinn.com

Bitch to a Large Rasta

2008-10-30T09:16:00.011-05:00

I'm really not sure if they are Rastafarian or not. However, between the dread lock hair and, red, green, and yellow colors I'm kind of assuming that they are. I've been working in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize for the last three weeks. One of the notable memories are the "Rastas" and other Belizeans carving away at wooden animal figurines with shards of broken beer bottles. It's really quite effective.

One of the other notable memories is one Rasta's attempts to sell me marijuana. The skinny little guy was determined to sell my something if not pot. Perhaps it's because my hair is getting long. When my hair was short everyone thought I was a cop. I've been offered several times while here walking back and forth in town or chatting with the locals (along with the wooden figurines, tours, tacos, burritos, and property). Apparently it's here if you want it.

I'd be remiss to mention that possession of marijuana is a federal offense in Belize. If caught and convicted, you'd probably wind up in prison bitch to a large Rasta. I'd also like to point out that homosexuality is once again a federal offense and you'd be in "violation" of that law as well.

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize: Coco Locos

2008-10-24T09:59:00.002-05:00

This is one little place I'd definately recommend for any thirsty beach cruiser. I wandered here while looking for photography assignments and met Linda the owner. She has a little bar on the beach where you can wade in and cool off in the poolside bar or sit under the open air palapa. You'll find Linda's bubbly personality incredibly refreshing as she hands you a drink.

Do yourself a favor. As soon as you can head to the beach north of "the bridge" do so. It's just easier and much more scenic to walk along the beach. Linda's place is just north of "the bridge" in San Pedro. I think it's on the Bermuda Beach Resort property and within eye shot of the Reef Village. It's the first watering hole north of "the bridge". Believe me when I say that the woman has tons of good karma. I'll bet some will rub off on you.

www.cocolocosbz.com

Regards,

Ben

www.esotericvision.com

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize: Joe’s Bike Rental

2008-10-24T09:54:00.001-05:00

If you don’t feel like paying way too much for a golf cart rental like me, consider renting a bicycle. Brian at Sueno del Mar pointed me to Joe’s Bike Rental. It’s located on the north end of San Pedro one block back from Front Street. They’ve got a sign hanging and everyone seems to know where it’s at so just ask. It does seem that they’d run out inventory fast in busy season.

The normal daily rental for a vintage beach cruiser is $18.00 BZX or about $9.00 USD. Brian got me the local special at $10.00 BZX. The bike was old but otherwise in perfect working condition. I did see a couple of new bikes there but that was it. The attendant (who may be Joe) got me one with a little basket up front for my backpack and a lock with chain. Lock the bike to something when you leave it. It’s always that 1 in a 100 asshole that will steal your bike to go four blocks.

You can travel the streets but I recommend going along the beach. Other than the main roads near San Pedro, the beach is actually in better condition for travel. I’m told you can ride about 8 miles north and 5 miles south (or vice versa). I rode a bit of the rural roads and they truly are crappy with not much to see. I rode north along the beach and was happy. You’ll have to steer around construction at times but not too much. You won’t be able to travel the beach easily in a golf cart out of town or during busy season either.. Stop and see Linda at Coco Locos for a cold one once you cross “the bridge” north of San Pedro.

Regards,

Ben

www.esotericvision.com

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize: Pelican Internet

2008-10-18T09:20:00.001-05:00

Need to get online in San Pedro Town? I?ve found two cafes. Both are
on Barrier Reef Drive. Barrier Reef Drive is called Front Street by
the locals. Front Street is only seven blocks long and terminates on
both ends. It?s the first street you stumble onto when disembarking
the water taxis. Pelican Internet is on the ocean side and one block
north of Central Park.

The dozen machines are new and the service is as fast as the local
technology will allow. That?s about 512 kilobits per second. Welcome
to the year 1998. Be aware that the system for the entire country can
bog down when too many people are on the net. Anyway, the place is
clean but a bit plain, air conditioned, and the machines are fairly
new and set with comfortable headsets. One machine boasts Skype but
don?t count on it around here. BTL (telephone company and ISP) blocks
Skype.

What sets this place aside from the competition? Booze! You can chug
an ice cold beer while cruising the internet. By the way, the legal
drinking age is 18 over here. Be aware that I did see four guys having
a beer in here at 9 am in the morning.
The internet service will set you back $1.00 BZX for each five
minutes. Go an hour and the price drops to $12.00 BZX / hour. The beer
will set you back $5.00 BZX. Mixed drinks are $5.00 BZX (for local
rum) and up. Open from 8am to 10 pm every day. (501)-206-2153

--
Regards,

Benedict Kim

(501) 626-8701 Belize
(415) 101-1812 Mexico
(512) 228-0923 USA

ben.kim@esotericvision.com
www.esotericvision.com
esotericben.blogspot.com

San Ignacio, Belize: It's definatly the Rainy Season

2008-10-02T18:32:00.001-05:00

It's really been awhile since I've dealt with a true rainy season. The
other night while I sat down to eat with the Prestons, we soaked up
about 4 1/2" of rain in about an hour while we dined under a porch
roof. It was great! No hurricanes or tropical storms are causing this
downpour. I know that it's the rain forest but being here for a time
really drives the point home.

It's been raining a bit in Cayo District a little bit or more every
day and cloudy. We have two one way bridges to get in and out of San
Ignacio. The low one coming in from Belmopan has been underwater for
the last two weeks or so and periodically before that time. So we all
use the high bridge with traffic cops at each end alternating traffic.

I'd advise being here for the rainy season. I love it. However, be
ready for lots of water. August, September, and October take rain
gear. I go with synthetic materials across the board since they dry
quick in high humidity. Dress light or blow it off and just get wet.
It feels good.

Regards,

Benedict Kim

(501) 626-8701 Belize
(415) 101-1812 Mexico
(512) 228-0923 USA

ben.kim@esotericvision.com
www.esotericvision.com
esotericben.blogspot.com

San Ignacio, Belize: Belizean Independence Day

2008-09-22T10:35:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the 27th birthday of Belize. Midas Resort decided to be part of the parade this year so I tagged along. It?s kind of interesting to note how patriotic Belizians really are. I?ve been here more than two weeks and I?ve seen butt loads of Belizian flags on cars and homes. Yesterday was almost unbearable. It?s definitely one tiny little country with a big heart.

The night before we had fireworks starting at midnight and followed by a small parade. Obviously, this practice wouldn?t go over big in the United States. I could imagine the reaction from the citizens as the horns go off and the loud explosions starting at midnight. I didn?t make it that far into the night to actually see them but I did HEAR them loud and clear. I had a deep tissue massage and a whiskey earlier and headed off the bed.

The big parade during the day started out at the police station in typical Belizean time about an hour late. We winded down the narrow little streets beeping horns blaring reggae music with the float of teenagers in front of us jumping up and down showering the crowd with candy. I handled my camera the entire time. The parade continued until after dusk and terminated at the fair only to continue partying.

I really think that this event shows Belizeans at their best. I really enjoy the interaction between the crowds and those in the parade. I think everyone that I've met in San Ignacio over three months was here. I'll have some shots posted in the next few days. It?s the same time every year on September 21st. You should go.

--
Regards,

Benedict Kim

(501) 626-8701 Belize
(415) 101-1812 Mexico
(512) 228-0923 USA

ben.kim@esotericvision.com
www.esotericvision.com
esotericben.blogspot.com

San Ignacio, Belize: Mora Soup. It may be poisonous.

2008-09-11T20:05:00.002-05:00

More good tasting stuff from south of the border, I just tried ?mora soup? this morning! Jose, who works at Midas Resorts and is from El Salvador, grabbed a bunch of leaves and stems from ?a plant in the bush? and threw them in a pot to boil. I picked out the inch worm crawling around trying to avoid it?s demise. I thought the plant was cilantro at first but was told the plant is ?mora? and this is ?mora soup?.

Jose cut up some tomato, onions, and beat a couple of eggs to throw in the pot with some chicken consume and the ?mora?. He also asked for my potato. Fair, since I asked to try the soup. He served up a bowl of this stuff and it was excellent. Other than the salt in the chicken cosume, it was probably a very healthy vegetarian soup. We ate it with a few corn tortillas on the side. I just made a batch this evening under his guidance. Even Maria tasted it.

What the hell is this ?mora? that I?ve been consuming in my soup? I?ve never seen it and I usually go local as possible. Mora soup is made from the plant ?yerba mora?. Not to be confused with the mora chile plant, it a completely different species. I haven?t noticed it in Mexico or Belize before. Evidently, Guatemalans and El Salvadorians love it.

Now I did ?google? yerba mora and found the plant. This is how it seems to stack up. It?s also known as black nightshade in English and is an invasive species. Some internet sites claim black nightshade as deadly poisonous. However, I find this confusing since everyone is still alive and the Guatemalans have it listed as their ?most edible weed?. The taste is excellent and it kind of reminded me of spinach. If you get the chance, try it. Maybe just don?t eat the berries.

San Ignacio, Belize: Midas Resort

2008-09-10T11:39:00.002-05:00

One of the places that I've really enjoyed and gotten to know is Midas Resort. This is where I'm staying right now. These people are absolutely wonderful. It's less than a seven minute walk from downtown San Ignacio, Belize just on the edge of town. You will not find any $450.00 USD a night hotel rooms here. However if you are on a budget or are looking place for a few weeks, this is a nice, clean, safe place to call home.

Midas Resort is owned by Maria Preston and Michael Preston. Maria is Michael's mother by the way. The rentals vary from rooms with common baths, cabanas, cabins, and the new suites. All are available with or without air conditioning. I think prices range from $45.00 to $75.00. Overall it's shaded and quiet. The staff is exceptionally friendly too. Midas Resort only serves breakfast but many restaurants deliver and downtown is a short walk.

Don't expect concierge service but I have personally seen the staff go way out of their way to help their guests. They'll arrange tours, place calls, and offer advice on getting around. It's definitely a family friendly atmosphere too. They'll serve beer but I've never seen anyone dancing on the tables. It's really hard to do find anything wrong with this place. Dollar for dollar I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better value in Cayo District.

--
Regards,

Benedict Kim

(501) 626-8701 Belize
(415) 101-1812 Mexico
(512) 228-0923 USA

ben.kim@esotericvision.com
www.esotericvision.com
esotericben.blogspot.com

San Ignacio, Belize: South Indian Restaurant

2008-09-07T09:56:00.002-05:00

I have to write about this place. I love the South Indian Restaurant in San Ignacio, Belize. It's like the little diners that I frequent in Austin, Texas. George and his wife own South Indian Restaurant. The food is always good, the portions are generous, and the price is fantastic.

It's easy to find. It's on West Street just one street over from
Burns. Burns is the main street running through the town. Start at PACZ Tours on Burns Street. Go north one block and turn left. Go one block and turn right. You should see a small "mall" and sign for the restaurant on the left. I came here frequently on my last visit. They have most every curry imaginable and all the other dishes. I always get the chicken curry with white rice. This meal will set you back a whopping $3.50 USD. Sometimes I splurg and get an appetizer and that sets me back $5.00 USD. I usually get just regular tap water with ice. In the couple of months of eating here, I've never gotten sick or had a bad meal. I eat here a lot.

Driving into Belize from the Northern Border

2008-09-05T17:12:00.002-05:00

It?s really not too bad at all. Here?s how it works. You?ll head south
from Cancun toward Chetumal on Hwy 307. Be very careful on this road
since the locals really do call it ?La Carretera de Muerte? or the
Road of Death. I?ve personally seen some serious tragedies here.
You?ll head south for about 3 ½ hours. A few kilometers before getting
to Chetumal you?ll see a road heading south marked ?Belize?. It?s
pretty clear. You?ll gas up here at the PEMEX. The gas prices in
Belize are about double the prices in Mexico!
If you need to take care of your FM3 or passport there is a small
white immigration office on your right across from the Mexican Border
checkpoint. Next just drive through the booths and past the free trade
zone. There?s the Princess Casino here by the way. Less than a ½ mile
down the road you?ll see a set of booths again. Pull over on the side
of the road and park. It?s the Belize border. There?s a building to
the left of the booths. Go in it with your passport and title to your
vehicle (or whatever rental agreements you have). Usually there?s a
few scruffy guys outside trying to be official. They aren?t but can be
helpful for a tip ($10 MXP maximum). Oh yes, recently they?ll ask if
your vehicle has been sprayed for pests. It?s bullshit. Move on. The
guards all have uniforms by the way.

The immigration officials all speak English but also usually Spanish
as well. The first table is for immigration. You get up to 30 days in
Belize before you have to renew your visa. You can renew every 30
days. There is no entrance fee but it is $30.00 Belize for an exit
fee. They always are gruff and accusatory at first but do loosen up.
They mark your passport and you move on.
The next table behind it is for the importation of stuff in general.
You?ll step up to the desk and they will grill you again and then
loosen up. Just be polite and make sure your story is consistent. They
mark your passport again and fill out your paperwork. You?ll get a
little white piece of paper for temporary importation of the vehicle
for 30 days. There is no cost for a temporary importation permit. You
can renew at their discretion up to two more times for 30 days each
time. DO NOT LOOSE IT and DO NOT BE LATE RENEWING IT. They ask if you
are carrying any goods into the country that you will not take back.
You say no.
They now walk outside to see the vehicle and actually will do a short
inspection. They?ll ask if you are carrying any guns, drugs,
agricultural products, or alcohol. They?ve blown off my little nalgene
bottle full of whiskey before. It?s not bad. If it?s a nice vehicle
and you own it, someone will ask you a price. It?s just conversation
because getting a new vehicle in Belize is crazy expensive due to
tariffs.
Now it?s really a good idea to cross in by early afternoon since
you?ll need auto insurance. It?s mandatory in Belize but no in Mexico.
Go figure. See the two story white office building in front you now as
you pass through the gates? It?s the ?Insurance Corporation of
Belize?. There?s a door on the right front side of the building on the
first floor. Head toward it. There are different ones but I like these
guys. It costs $60.00 Belize for liability insurance. I don?t know if
you can get full coverage. You should check with your rental agency
before leaving Cancun.
You are now about 2 ½ hours from Belize City, 4 hours from San
Ignacio, and about 4.5 hours from Placentia. It?s officially a
?highway? but most of us would consider it a crappy county road.
There?s no yellow dividing line and really no shoulders most of the
time. The speeds of drivers can range tremendously from 40 mph to over
80 mph too.
You?ll have to head into Belize City to get anywhere else in the
country. By the way, Belize City is mostly safe but most violent
crimes in the country happen here. Be careful after dark. The rest of
Belize is awesome by the way. It?s about 185 miles from the PEMEX to
San Ignacio. Also everyone here speaks English except some of the
Chinese. For some reason there are shit loads of Chinese here and they
are slowly taking over Belize.

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

2008-08-25T15:13:00.002-05:00

Sea Turtles Are Stealth Machines. Today I woke up to find a sea turtle had dragged itself past my truck, other other parties tent, turned around, and left in the middle of the night without anyone knowing it. In fact a bunch of them had laid eggs and left. The only remnants were their tracks, disheveled sand piles, and the soldiers of Tulum guarding them. I’ll have to stay up late and try get some shots.
I finished shooting Hidden Worlds Cenotes today. I’ve been flirting with a local gal by the name of Tanya. She is quite a bit younger than Liz and very pretty too. I’ve been using her as a model for the shoot. Anyway, I also met “Buddy”. He’s the owner of Hidden World Cenotes. I expected someone very wealthy but found a very simple man in a rumpled tee shirt and jeans.

Turns out he lives in a four story homemade tree house. I saw it and offered to shoot it for free immediately. This is a “must do” for me! How often do you meet someone that lives in a plywood and plastic film construction four story tree house in the jungle. This monstrosity is an advanced version of the one you built as a kid. I’ll be back Friday to shoot it. Very cool!

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

2008-08-15T15:09:00.000-05:00

I’ve picked up four hotels since a week ago and need to shoot them all in 10 days. I was supposed to be in Belize by now. I need to money though and don’t know what to count on in Belize yet. Today I have a butt load of stuff to get done.

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

2008-08-14T15:09:00.000-05:00

Salsa class worked out good. Zamas is definitely a good place. I sat down with Mara while I was there and chatted a bit. The classes are all free and the instructors are great too. I’m learning a bit quicker now and I don’t feel quite as cumbersome. It’s kind of freaky how many really good looking women like to dance salsa. There was also some gay guy doing a pirouette on stage.

I’ve spent the last couple of days shooting Amansala here in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico. It’s been difficult due to the wind and environment but it’s working. Melissa is the owner and she runs the famous “Bikini Boot Camp” at times. It’s seems that most of the women guests are from Europe so I’m seeing a lot of boobs. I like the environment. The food is awesome too!

Carla gave me a bit more of a run down on the word “Chilango”. She’s from Mexico City and not only is she stunningly beautiful but actually nice. I wonder if she drives like the rest of them. Carla says that Chilango is a misunderstood term. It was originally designated for an influx of outsiders that came to Mexico City long ago. I’d like to go out with her but I think she’s dating someone. Once again, another hot chick in Mexico that dances...

Deli Food and God’s Little Toilets

2008-08-12T15:11:00.004-05:00

I’ve found that many of the restaurants really aren’t that great. Many are overpriced and serve bland small portions. Lately I’ve been eating “deli food” at Saint Francis Grocery of Tulum. Didn’t know that one of the saints owned a grocery store, huh? For example, yesterday I stopped in and got a kilo of cooked rice and a half kilo of riblets in salsa for about $60 pesos. It’s enough to get three meals. My bottled water is $5.00 for 1.5 liters.

I also just discovered that the pervasive little “crab holes” in the mangroves of Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve(4 inches in diameter) are quite convenient. They are the perfect “cat holes”! No muss. No fuss. Just squat, aim, and squeeze. Put the toilet paper in there and bury the hole by moving debris over it. I just hope a crab doesn’t pop out trying to take off a nut. Of course, it’s probably not ecologically sound but who gives a crap (hah, I made a funny).

I wrapped up Hidden Worlds Cenotes and got paid $5000.00 MXP. It’s really not enough money. It also now looks like I’ve got to shoot Amansala AND La Zebra before I leave. It’s going to be tight. I tried several times but couldn’t reach John from La Zebra to try get started. If all goes well I’ll have 5-6 hotels scheduled to shoot when I get back in October. This evening it’s remedial salsa classes at Zamas.

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

2008-08-10T15:16:00.001-05:00

God Blinked. I was on my way to Hidden World Cenotes to scout out the activities for the shoot tomorrow when it started to rain. It is the rainy season down here in Tulum you know. Anyway, traffic slowed and I past an emergency vehicle crumpled and bent like a cheap beer can. It had plowed into a vehicle trying to beat it on a turn. There’s a risky game for you. It seemed like every cop and ambulance driver from Tulum was on the scene. I glanced at it as I moved on.

Five more minutes go by and I see another crash. This time it’s a bus and lying on its side like a beached whale on its dying breathe. “Shit. I have to stop and shoot it!” I thought. When I got on the scene and started to work, it was pandemonium. Most everybody was screaming. I looked down and found a younger man cradling his wife’s head and sobbing quietly behind the bus. She had been thrown from the bus and then crushed to death. Her head and shoulder were visible from beneath the rear of the vehicle.

“MY WIFE IS DYING! SOMEONE GET HELP!” bellowed a man from the interior. He waffled between screaming these words and sobbing uncontrollably. His wife’s left arm was cut to the bone near the elbow. She had been partially thrown through a window. Her legs were trapped under the bus while she was still inside it. Once she heard him scream that she was going to die, she started to scream she was going to die. I thought she was going to die.

The bus driver was in the front of the bus dead. He died instantly when they hit the telephone pole. One gal that the locals extracted was really fucked up but as time went on she became more coherent. I thought she was a goner at first. Several victims more were outside waiting for immediate attention that would be VERY late. All of the local emergency workers were busy down the road. About 25 minutes later help started to arrive. I drove two couples that escaped this nightmare unharmed back to their hotel near Cancun later.

I found out from Drew at Teetotum that the locals call this road from Cancun to Tulum “La Carretera de Muerte” or “The Road of Death”. Drew told me that buses wreck in this manner all the time. The odd thing is that there are no wicked turns or 500 ft deep gorges. This highway is just straight and flat. Here’s the kicker. All the tourists were either honeymooners or on an anniversary. God blinked. He seems to do that a lot.

Tulum, Mexico

2008-08-10T15:14:00.002-05:00

It’s been a couple of days since I’ve written anything. I’ve been working pretty hard shooting Hidden Worlds Cenotes. That’s been a pain in the ass. It’s really a worst case scenario shooting here and technically very difficult in post processing. Dark places with people moving really fast. Damn. I’ve most of the way through it but I need more time. I shot a sample for Cabanas Tulum also and sealed the deal for a shoot in October. Earlier this evening, I closed the deal for two other jobs too! I got both La Zebra and Mezzanine.

On another note, I’ve taken two salsa classes now. I really like it. I still suck but I’m getting better at it and most importantly I enjoy it. Right along that line of thought, Liz (my salsa dancing honey) text messaged me that she misses me and wants me around. Cool! I do miss her too. I messaged back that I’ll call soon as I get a chance.

Of course as life would have it, I also got an email from the Universal American School-Kuwait today. They are hiring immediately for a special education teacher! Those that know me have heard me talk about getting a teaching job in Kuwait long ago. I replied back that I’m interested in a phone interview. They offer tax free competitive wages, free housing, and more. I may have to move my little fledgling photography business over there! I wonder if I can get Salsa and Spanish lessons in Kuwait City. I wonder if I can get into Iraq and take pictures.

Right now, it’s getting dark. I’m watching some novice campers (two girls and a guy) set up camp about 20 feet from me. It’s important to point out that they could have picked any place else since there’s no one else here. The other side of the beach would have been a good place for them. I guess I look safe. Oh well, I can feel the ocean salt in the wind and hear the waves crash right in front of me. Damn that is one big fucking tent. I guess I should give them a light to finish setting up.

Tulum, Mexico

2008-08-10T15:14:00.000-05:00

Puente Allen, Mexico

2008-08-07T15:17:00.001-05:00

Dodging potholes, little blue crabs, and two women in my bed. Last night I headed in to the reserve as usual. But this time there was a shadow of a very chubby little man waving me down (belly jiggling) as vigorously as possible. Once he got my vehicle I saw it was Thomas! I’d met him earlier this year in Puente Allen where he runs a business taking tourists out by launche for fishing or sightseeing. Anyway, I couldn’t leave him and his friends stranded.

So…..I ended up driving about 45 kilometers over crappy dirt road dodging potholes and little blue crabs scurrying about the road. It’s about an hour drive one way. On the bright side, I can now say that I’ve had two women in my bed at once. Of course, I wasn’t in bed with them but that’s just a minor detail. Thomas and the other guy shoved themselves in one seat of my little regular cab truck while the ladies piled in the camper shell in back. I listened as Thomas and the other guy sang along with the music on the radio most of the way there. Singing along is definitely a big Mexican pastime. The ladies just slept.

I pulled up on the beach near the dock at Puente Allen and set up camp. It’s really pretty quick. A few things extra in the camper shell get thrown in the front cab. This time I had to make the bed since I just did laundry. It stormed really hard last night. It was awesome seeing lightning and thunder rolling in over the ocean horizon.

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

2008-08-06T15:18:00.002-05:00

Last night I stayed up late drinking the Mescal that Mario gave me from his 20 gallon or so stash. He doesn’t even drink. He just keeps it for parties and friends. The stars were shining we had a nice cool breeze right off the water. I was half heartedly waiting for the turtles to drag themselves ashore and lay eggs. Here’s a shot of the palms and stars above me. It really does describe why I’m here.

Right now I’m doing laundry. I finally found a place where I can do my own laundry and not feel financially raped. I’m paying $18.50 MXP to wash a small load and $15.50 MXP to dry for 15 minutes. I’ll l probably need to double the time for the dryer.
The rest of the day went pretty good. Sergio at Paplana Playa backed out on me but Hidden World Cenote confirmed. I put out the rest of the quotes. It looks like I’m going to have to really plan ahead with expenses and shoots.

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

2008-08-05T15:19:00.001-05:00

I went into Teetotum today to get my emails and get my sample shot of Xel Ha done so I could upload it and the folks at Xel Ha would have something to show the suits in Cancun. Drew walked in and told me that Chris at Hidden Worlds wanted to speak to me too. Cool. I also walked back into Zama and spoke with Mara. I gave her a low ball price of $400.00 USD and the balance in trade. They have Salsa lessons there on Thursdays at 7:30pm. I’ll be there. She promised to dance with me too.

I’m beginning to figure out the pricing game in Mexico. If there isn’t a trade involved the price is too high. Then I sat down with Sergio and his crew and offered the same deal. I found out later that Sergio thought I said “for a hundred and trade”. That’s quite a bit different than “four hundred and trade”. I hope the rest of the guys heard it right. I did correct him and made sure he knew it was $400.00 USD for six shots. I’ll email the architect and confirm the whole thing.

I wish that I could get Richard (Teetotum) to listen to me but he politely keeps avoiding me. He’s a pretty cool kind of guy but I guess there’s still a bit too much city boy left in him to trust a stranger just a little bit. It’s really too bad since I was going to comp and trade the whole deal. I just wanted to do something for him and his wife since I’ve been hanging there and using the internet on the cheap.

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

2008-08-04T15:21:00.003-05:00

I hit up all the people that promised me business before but got nowhere. It’s looking pretty bleak. Here’s the breakdown for me to get from San Miguel de Allende to Tulum mostly using the toll roads.

1,955 kilometers or 1,185 miles from door to door
$ 1,810 MXP in fuel costs at $71 MXP per liter
$ 907 MXP in tolls
$1000 MXP to bribe the nice policemen
$ 50 MXP for food

So… here’s how it works (at least in my mind). I have my FM3 and I’m doing the right thing but I’m really fucked. Why you ask? Well first, I can’t write off the fuel costs for a variety of logistical reasons. Write me and I’ll spell it out for you. Secondly, I had to bribe the nice policemen. Third, I’ll have to pay full taxes on anything I earn. Fourth, I can’t really write off any expenses for food and there is no per diem standard write off.

For you, expect to pay tolls that add up to about half of what you pay in fuel here in Mexico. That’s the number I’ll count on from now on. Let’s see…. It’s $72 MXP for a liter and that converts to about 270 MXP per gallon or $2.70 USD/ gallon right now. I get 18.5 miles a gallon and it costs my 14.59 cents per mile. Add the tolls at 2:1 and it adds up to about $0.21885 USD per mile for me to travel across Mexico.

Veracruz, Mexico

2008-08-03T15:22:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning at a PEMEX gas station north of Veracruz nearly walled in by three trucks and a curb. I did the hygiene thing and hit the road at 6am. After awhile, I finally hit a military inspection station. Look out you pot smoking hippies; Mexico has a new tool in the battle against drugs. It was here that I saw and marveled at “the magic wand” of drug enforcement. Ready? Okay now, close you bloodshot eyes and imagine a little handheld black box with a grip and grey trigger. Following me on this? Good. Now imagine a 2 foot long telescopic antenna protruding from the top of it. Still with me? Good. That’s it! Now was that hard to do?

Honestly, I have no idea if or how it works. They stopped us five vehicles at a time and circled all the vehicles as a group and then dismissed them. It really looks like something you’d use to detect radiation instead. That was my first guess. Nope. Wrong. I couldn’t resist asking about the thing any longer. The young man explained that it was for marijuana, cocaine, and other drugs. After a bit, he popped a small card out of the bottom labeled “cannabis”. The card resembled a credit card and even had a magnetic strip on it. I would have loved to see it go off and everyone swarm a hippie with a Rodney King style beat down. Too bad.

I just got here to Tulum. I spent about 22 hours driving over two days and checked my email immediately. As I thought, Sol Caribe backed out on the deal. I’m getting tired of being fucked like a whore and left out in the cold.. I’ve got some leads though. I’m also going to try nail down a method to generate business fast and on the spot. I have some ideas for more business. Tomorrow I’m also going to add up the tolls and gasoline costs to get here. I’d like to know if I spent more in tolls or gas.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-08-02T15:23:00.001-05:00

I learned a new term in San Miguel de Allende: “Chilango”. It describes someone SPECIFICALLY from Mexico City that has no regard for others. MANY view them with true disgust. It’s difficult to really express the distain I have for Mexico City after just a few hours there. I was actually trying to skirt around it but that didn’t work well at all. When you read this remember this I’m not ranting. I’m telling as it is.

If San Miguel de Allende is the heart of Mexico and has heart disease, then Mexico City is a dead rotting corpse. As I got closer to the city the all the road signs were covered in so much graffiti that I literally couldn’t figure out where I was or what road to take. I exited to turn around but couldn’t get back on the freeway. I ended up taking a random main street north but still couldn’t figure out where I was because the road signs overhanging were now covered in political banners of some bitch running for office. Eventually I found the “highway” skirting Mexico City. Here’s where it gets really ugly.

Have you ever seen two stubborn drivers competing for the same stupid spot? No one gives up as their cars inch closer and closer together in a game of “chicken”. Pathetic, huh? Now imagine EVERYONE doing this. Imagine occasional intersections with no traffic lights or signs. Cars cram together in every direction trying to inch past each other in what is truly a giant cluster fuck. People pay kids a couple of pesos to stop traffic to let them in. I drove in Los Angeles for seven years in some of the worst known traffic in the world. Los Angeles doesn’t hold a candle to these people. They are ASSHOLES.

Next item up for review, please. Oh yeah, I got stopped by four different sets of cops in four hours. Two sets of good cops and two sets of bad cops. They ALL stated that I wasn’t allowed to drive my vehicle on Saturdays. Three of the four sets of cops handed me an English translation of a law showing different days that vehicles with specific last digits may drive in Mexico City. ALL the translations showed that ALL vehicles were allowed to drive in Mexico City on weekends. It’s fucking SATURDAY. This minor detail didn’t faze any of them.

The first set off cops just asked for papers and dismissed me. The second set wanted a bribe. Now I’m assuming that when a cop says “pagame!” (pay me) and offers a half price on the fine payable in cash only, it’s probably a bribe. I wore him out and he went away after about 20 minutes. The third set tried to explain the laws better and I deciphered that it’s really the digit immediately BEFORE the first LETTER in your license plate number that determines your driving days in Mexico City. They kindly escorted me to the correct turn and told me that the toll road is okay to drive any day without a problem. Cool. The fourth set finally got me. I just wanted to get out of this hellhole. After about 30 minutes of pleading, bargaining, and negotiation, we settled on $1000 MXP ($100 USD) and a personal escort to the toll road. They did honor their agreement and actually stopped traffic a couple of times for me.

Here’s another assumption on my part, I’m guessing that this is the NORMAL behavior of the NORMAL citizen of Mexico City. I can easily envision these people a millennium ago, ripping out hearts and rolling lifeless corpses down temple stairs by the thousands and cheering wildly. If I could pick one city to wipe off the planet, this would easily be my first choice and without hesitation. Twenty five million assholes gone in a flash, it’s an inspiring vision. What exactly is a “chilango” then? How does one adequately expand the term “asshole” to encompass one such as this? I shall ponder this question as I fall asleep in the parking lot of the PEMEX gas station.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-08-01T15:30:00.000-05:00

If San Miguel de Allende is the heart of Mexico, then it has heart disease. It took me 45 minutes to find a parking place and I still walked over ½ mile to try meet Kimberly. By the time I got there she was gone. Fuck. The streets are narrow, rough, and clogged like an 800 pound fat man’s arteries. NOTHING moves through them swiftly or efficiently. The cars are like little globules of fat stuck to the sides and EVERYTHING SLOWLY squeezes by them.

Anyway enough of my ranting, after getting through Migracion for the last time to pick up my FM3, I met Patty. Next time for renewal, I’m using her for this crap. For $600 MXP, she’ll stand in line for you and deal with the entire process (plus the regular Migracion fees of course)! I’ll get her information to you if needed. I think that I’m going to summarize the process of getting an FM3 soon and put it online for all to use. I also met with my accountant, got my facturas ordered from my new printer, and set up the blog by telephone with Kimberly.

I know that I’m still missing details but tomorrow I leave for Tulum. I’m hoping that I can make it to Vocan Orizaba by tomorrow evening. I’d like to be in Tulum by Monday late afternoon. From my email correspondence with Sol Caribe it sounds like they may be waffling on the photo shoots too. I’m scheduled to shoot two locations by the same owner there. I’ll check email before I head out tomorrow.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-30T21:45:00.002-05:00

This morning I went to La Hacienda to get my RFC Number to collect taxes. I met Javier Salizar my new accountant there. Javier is Mario’s brother in law. He walked me through the process. I’m glad I had professional help for this part of the process. Next I set up a bank account with Bancommer. Later I went back to Migracion only to find that I had more paperwork. I should be completely done by Friday morning. I think I’m going to let Javier place the order for the receipts (facturas) so I don’t fuck it up. I realized that I am now officially a resident of Mexico. Cool! At least I’ll be legal in one of the countries.

Later I went to El Charco to meet Mario and make some calls on Skype. I’ve got a couple of projects running and needed to catch up with everyone. I wrapped things up with Susan at Casa Schuck on the phone too. I like her. I think that over time we’ll end up good friends. I talked with Nate too. He promised a working website to demonstrate our capabilities to the Belize Hotel Assocation by tonight.

Then it was time for Liz. I didn’t like ending things poorly with text messages. I went to El Charco’s tienda to talk. We came to the same conclusions. She wants me to show love and ignore his crap. I still want to show love by shoving my boot up his ass. In my opinion, sometimes you need to keep them in line long enough for love to take root. She said she needs time and it’s apparent. I’ll miss her. Two days until departure. My time in San Miguel is coming to a close.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-29T21:44:00.002-05:00

Light night I ended up driving Liz around in pouring rain and large hail to try find Ulysses. The hail was bad enough that I wondered if the windows would shatter. He was late by about 2 ½ hours. Of course the kid had an excuse. He always does. I’ve decided that Ulysess is a shit bag. I’ve seen this pattern as a teacher; lazy, selfish, unfeeling, blames others, manipulation, lies, and poor grades to boot. He didn’t put himself in the place but the fact remains that he…..well…. is a shit bag.
His friends are the same ones as his booze serving coach (Manuel) so he ended up there after practice. Not even a fucking call from coach or son that he would be late. So there we were driving around.

As I’ve seen before, it starts with the parents. Liz tries her best to ignore it and deal with it. She wants me to ignore it too. It’s a mistake that will cost her boy dearly in the end. I KNOW why the neighborhood kids don’t seem to want him around. It’s also not hard to see why they chase him around the neighborhood for hours trying to kick his ass. Hell, I want to kick his ass. I confronted him later that evening and pretty much got in his face. He had no remorse for dragging us through this crap. I don’t think I want to be around her place much anymore. I left a 5am because I couldn’t sleep.

I’ve had a single mother for a girlfriend before. Cathy had two kids and they were straight from hell. She could never figure out why the kids were screwy. They are probably both shit bags too by now. I won’t get pulled down into that mess again. I’ve known guys in my position as well. You can’t correct the child because they don’t belong to you so you end up putting up with it ….or just leaving.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-28T21:44:00.002-05:00

I got back to Casa Schuck today. Susan decided to tone down on the colors. The shots were oversaturated and I should have said something before. I’ll know next time. Anyway, I met another photographer named Antoine Hunt. He seems quite a bit more experienced than me but not at all in spherical panoramas. My work here is nearing an end. I learned a lot today.

I drove to el charco and told Liz that I’ve decided to stay in Alcocer tonight. I told her that I need to get up early but I really don’t need to hear Ulysses until I figure out how to handle this better…. or not. I guess that it all comes down to standards. Maybe letting a 13 year old boy decide his fate (professional basketball) is perfectly okay here in Mexico. He could find work (not professional basketball) and get a job eventually but it does seem a shame to let a kid lose out on his full potential. It’s hard to ignore that much and I really don’t want to relive my childhood. It definitely colors my view of Liz.

Liz just text messaged me that we should just be friends. Can I blame her? I’d never respect her if she chose me over her son. Well, at least she has that part right. What a pity. I really like her but I can’t ignore it. I shouldn’t intervene but she has little control or the respect of her son. Maybe she deserves it? I don’t know. I messaged back that it could only end this way and I’m sorry. Are all single mothers “nucking futs”?

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-27T21:43:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a pain in the ass. Liz was upset with me. Evidently I’m a bit overaggressive in bed and she feels used. I apologized when she started to cry. I almost always give in when they cry. I did the dirty for 30 minutes this time and tried not to pin her to the mattress. Anyway, she is now happy and smiling again.
Today I went in to pick up my FM3. I keep hearing horror stories about Mexican paperwork but I just don’t see it. These guys went out of their way to make sure I got my paperwork FASTER by one week. Now I have to go to Hacienda to finish up. I’m told by a local gal that it’ll only be a couple of days for that to go through. Then again, everyone tells me I’ll be raped, robbed, and murdered every time I go into a new area or country.

Oh yeah, I was just reminded about “bofe” (b??f?). This is truly one of the nastiest things I’ve seen in awhile and it’s edible. In other parts of Mexico you feed it to cats and it costs $10 pesos a kilo. Here, you fry it and somehow it magically goes to $120 pesos a kilo and YOU eat it. Mario just told me that it’s the lungs of cattle. It was black, SLIMY, and shriveled up and looked like the vanguard of an alien invasion. Liz wanted me to try some but I didn’t even want to kiss her after seeing this crap.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-26T21:43:00.001-05:00

The carnitas were everything I expected and more. I had always avoided ordering the skin with the meat because it looks really gross. HOWEVER, it was explained to me that you eat a slice of the skin with the meat. The skin is basically a slice of salty fat. Pure bliss got better.

Last night we went to a salsa dance club in Celaya for Anna’s birthday party. Nice girl. It was actually a REALLY nice place and it’s been awhile since I’ve been frisked to get in a building. Celaya is an industrial city about 60 km from San Miguel de Allende. Apparently if you want something reasonably priced you’ll go shopping in Celaya instead of San Miguel de Allende.

I am a fish out of water. Everyone swished from side to side as they paraded about the room even a lot of the men. I’ve also never seen so many narcissistic effeminate men in one place. I want to leave them stranded at the bottom of Sotano de las Golandrinas to die. But Liz and all the hot chicks like salsa so here I go.
It’s soooooooooo different than my life for the last 15 years. Salsa has got to be one of the most romantic dances I’ve ever seen but it is complex. People dance for years to get this shit right but I do like it. My salsa is getting a little bit better but I’m splitting hairs. I suck. We got back at 4am. My de-worming process is now complete.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-25T21:42:00.001-05:00

I ate a huge juicy tender rib eye steak with fries at Nirvana yesterday afternoon. It’s just nice to sit down there in the middle of the afternoon. I went back to El Charco to finish uploading my new virtual tours. I’m running a bit late for the monthly updates (like by about a month).

Later that evening, we finally figured out why I couldn’t text message from my local cell phone. Mexico has some different dialing patterns than the United States. For example, if you call from a landline to a cell phone you have to add an extra cellular area code to the regular ten digit number. HOWEVER, if you are calling from a cell phone to a cell phone you DON’T add it. NOW, if you do (by mistake) add the extra cellular area code to the number you are dialing (cell to cell) you can call and talk with that person but CAN’T text message them.

Right now I’m sitting at the computer tweaking my crappy web pages and revising them. I’ve got at least four dozen business cards to add to my database. I’ll be heading to the local market to meet Liz and Ulysses at 2pm for carnitas tacos. Carnitas is pork for the uninitiated. Two corn tortillas (soft) with filled with fatty, salty shredded pork, topped with onions and cilantro, and smothered in spicy salsa. It’s pure bliss. I can feel my arteries hardening even now.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-25T21:41:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I went to Liz’s neighbor with her. His name is Francisco and he’s pretty solid kind of guy. Sure enough, we found out that Ulysses wrote “bitch” on another neighbor’s wall and has been having trouble with Francisco’s girl too. I guess everyone knows that Ulysses is trouble. Basically the neighborhood boys are protecting the girls from Ulysses and probably just hunting him down for sport. I really can’t blame them because I want to kick his ass. There had to be at least two dozen kids out last night in 4 -5 different groups. ALL the kids were having fun. The only kid that wasn’t outside was Ulysses. Last night I got my back scratched and a shoulder rub.

Right now I’m trying my new Mexican foot powder called “Pedi PIE”. The last time I used a foot powder from south of the border, my chronic athletes foot went away in days! I’ve tried all the other ones in the USA. Some were very expensive. This stuff is 8% boric acid and 8% zinc oxide and would probably make a fairly good insecticide as it is. It’s the second day of my de-worming process.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-24T21:41:00.001-05:00

My FM3 should be ready in a few days and I’ll be leaving soon. I’ve been thinking about what to do with Liz. She really does take care of me. Last night she cut my toe nails and then filed them. I think that it was basically my first pedicure but she told me otherwise. Evidently there are some critical aspects of a pedicure that are missing. This morning I got a full blown breakfast, a pill for worms (first of six pills), and a serious scolding for not brushing my teeth last night.

I like Mexico.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-23T21:40:00.001-05:00

Today was a good day. I spent most of the day working on catching up with work. I processed the panoramas of Los Piscachios. Los Piscachios is the mountains immediately east of San Miguel de Allende. If you can get there, you’ll find beautiful Live Oak forest and fantastic vistas. The doctor takes a hike up there every Thursday. Here’s the link for panoramas of Los Piscachios.

Last night I reshot one of the rooms at Casa Schuck. Casa Schuck seems to always be ranked number one in Trip Advisor for San Miguel hotels. It’s pretty obvious to me why this is so. The service is freakishly good. The themed rooms are beautiful and unique but with the different types of light sources and colors are playing havoc with the white balance to shoot them. I think I’ll reshoot the Royal Room and the Yellow Room if I get a chance. I’ll post the pictures for everyone to see soon.
I also keep telling Liz that Ulysses’ basketball coach isn’t right in the head.

Apparently, coach had let the kids (12-17 years old) taste Michaladas. A Michalada is a beer with a hot sauce to spice it up. Now I am making the assumption that it’s the same in Mexico and the USA, teachers and coaches don’t feed booze in any form to youngsters and bone them in the ass. There seems to be a rumor going around that basketballs aren’t the only type of balls that coach likes to play with. Liz is starting her new job soon and should have more resources to get a Ulysses a coach that doesn’t want to play “hide the chorizo” with them after practice.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-22T21:39:00.001-05:00

Last night I discovered that the neighborhood kids have been trying to beat up Liz’s boy Ulysses. He’s been chased around the neighborhood literally for hours . He says that they just don’t like him now and “doesn’t know why”. What a pile of crap! He treats his mother pretty bad and I could see him doing the same to someone’s litter sister and pissing them off. For a thirteen year old boy, is he pretty immature or just becoming the man he will be for life. I could see someone wanting to kick his ass. That was worth a couple hours of drama.

I screwed the hell out of Liz this morning. Guess I’m just marking my territory. I’m back at Mario’s place now and working on catching up with the photos I’ve shot already. Here’s a link to a panorama that shows where I’ve been living for the last 7 weeks near San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2008-07-22T21:37:00.001-05:00

This morning was interesting. My new girlfriend has decided to let me know that she is going to fart in bed from now on. I didn’t know it was such a big deal. Evidently, she’s been holding it in and has caused quite a bit of pain for the last two days. I did see her sit up in bed and double over in cramps a couple of times last night.

I laughed pretty hard and it embarrassed her even more. She told me that she tried to let one out on the sly while I was sleeping and I’m told that I yanked my hand off her ass and rolled over like a croc in a death roll. That’s why she’s been sleeping so badly.

It’s 3pm and I just got done meeting with Kimberly at Starbucks and we decided to a blog together. Maybe it’ll make some money. Who knows? Anyway, Liz works at an art gallery in San Miguel de Allende. I stopped in and found out that she was going to lunch with some guy to “trade books”. She offered to let me come along. I did. I felt like I was intruding on a date. Ricardo definitely wants to play “hide the chorizo” with my chick. My first Mexican cock block maneuver. I feel complete.