everything in its right place...

Traveling was great and I'll catch up on stories when I get back state side. For now I'm mending from what is going on to be 2 weeks of illness. Food poisoning had me down for the count for a good 4 days and I haven't been right since. Now that the belly is beginning to feel slightly better and able to tolerate more than bananas and papayas I seem to have gotten a pretty rotten cold. Damn weakened immune system. This is when mama's soup comes in handy. So so soon!!!

New music! Sorry it took me awhile. I've been using this new playlist, with some old favorites, for the past month and a half or so and people seem to love it. I promised a few I'd post it so enjoy!!!

ping

Moving on...

Fear conquered! Not too bad kiddos, not bad at all. Actually, it was really fucking awesome. Class turned into a mini flow in the Amansala restaurant followed by mango margaritas in the torrential downpour and kick ass conversation. Sadie is awesome and if you ever get a chance to take a class with her, go on retreat, or just hold some space with her take it. One unicorn down just a lifetime more to go!

And now on to do some traveling. Palenque, San Cristobal, Guatemala and Belize are on the horizon and I'm out for the next couple of weeks. I'll post a new playlist when I get back along with some tales or courage and heroism. Okay probably not but I'll think of something juicy for you! xo

getting some perspective...

I've been asked so many times in the past few months about safety and traveling in Mexico and I tell people over and over again, it's fine. Safer than you think. All this business about murders and death and destruction? Well that happens everywhere guys and ladies. Think that all the drama about illegal immigration and the sudden appearance of violence in Mexico is coincidence? Rather than listen to my long diatribe on the matter I'll pass along some excerpts from Tim Leffel's blog.


"...according to the FBI, “An estimated 15,241 persons were murdered nationwide in 2009″ in the United States of America.

Officially, 111 U.S. citizens were killed in Mexico last year, a third in just two cities. Almost all of them were involved in illicit vocations, usually the trafficking of guns, drugs, or people across the border. This is 111 out of close to 8 million visitors, with nearly 1 million of those being part- or full-time residents choosing Mexico over the U.S. or Canada.

You know who else had 111 murders in one year recently? Boston. And Las Vegas. And Orlando. Are any tourists scared of going to those places?"

Now let's address the Yucatan, the state in which I am currently finding paradise.

To put things in perspective, the murder rate in the Yucatan state of Mexico is 2 per 100,000. That’s about the same as Fond du Lac, Wisconsin or Evansville, Indiana. Mexico City’s is 8 per 100,000. Despite being one of the most populated cities on the planet, that’s on par with Albuquerque, NM. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never felt scared in Albuquerque…

I think the most important point to take home here is that yes, it is safe to travel to Mexico, just as it is safe to travel to New York or Baltimore. You just travel to the right neighborhoods.

cravings...

The thing I miss the most when traveling? Food from home. And coffee. Oh, coffee. Don't get me wrong, there is something wonderful about drinking a hot cup of Nescafe every morning but damn it, I miss my ethiopian yirgacheffe! So the spoiled, amenities and stuff loving lady is coming out in me today.

- 2 lbs of coffee from Heart
- small grinder
- french press
- 5 gallon tub of peanut butter
- American Apparel racer back tank tops
- TYR reversible bikini
- Any lululemon apparel
- st. eve cotton panties from The Rack

I always bring along a couple of comforts that make anywhere feel like home; the medicine bag my sweet mama made me, mala beads, journal and my yoga. What do you miss most when you're traveling? What are the things that make home home for you?

Playa del Carmen...

Due to an insane craving for peanut butter and the inability to find such a thing in Tulum I spent the second day off I've had since arriving in Mexico in Playa del Carmen. Yep, an hour and a half on a bus to get peanut butter. Playa used to be a quiet little beach town on the highway heading south from Cancun. Not so much anymore. Restaurant after restaurant, pushy sales people peddling the same blankets, scarves, sombreros, steaks, lobsters and massages as all the others, dance clubs next to one another so that as you walk down the street your ears and organs are filled with the thump thump and whoop whoop of 5 different techno songs converging into one seemingly discordant yet beautifully crafted score of beats.

All in all the experience was, at best mediocre. Found a great little place to sleep with a balcony overlooking the main drag through Playa. There was some question as to the legitimacy of the place while standing at the reception desk which doubled as the cash register of a cd store around the corner and down the block from the actual room, but everything worked out fine and Pedro and Aldo said they'd give us a deal next time. Unfortunately I don't think I'll make a point to get back to Playa anytime soon. Give me a sleepy beach town like Bacalar any day over the insincerity and exploitative qualities of Playa. If I want to party party party I'll head to Ibiza. However, the beach was beautiful and in the end I got some peanut butter, crema de avenella, natural yogurt, and a sports bra. Success!!!

prelude...

After a couple of weeks of hard work a day off is on the horizon. I'm sad to see this last group of ladies leave but very excited to be heading out of town for a couple of days. Today we leave by bus from Tulum to Valladolid for the next day and a half. Little colonial town, tons of cenotes to get our swim on. Being on the giving end of things everyday all day for the past few weeks...well, I'm ready to receive. More on that later, right now my brain, body and heart can't write another word.

Beginning...

Bartendress extraordinaire gives up amazing life to become a traveling yogi in Mexico. Shirking off all adult responsibilities and absconding friends and family she finds herself in paradise. Paradise? We'll see how this little country bumpkin, workaholic fares in the amazing jungles of Mexico!!! So on and so forth it goes. It has been interesting getting here. Only took me two years....or two weeks depending on how you look at it. Two years from the first time that little seed was planted about attempting to make a little life here and two weeks since I was here last on vacation, offered two opportunities for rooming and board in exchange for teaching, and took them without hesitation.

Yep, two weeks ago. I absconded. Left behind 3 amazing jobs, wonderful roommates, family, friends, and a lover. All to teach yoga in this little town along the Mayan Riviera. I flew home two weeks ago with a laundry list of things to do...quit jobs, make as much money as possible, sell my camper van, transfer bills, rent my room, and pack. Oh the packing!!! I hurriedly searched for more yoga clothes about my home, knew I had buy copious amounts of underwear, and figure out how to fit 50 tampons into my suitcase. You see, the underwear purchasing situation down here is fairly non-existent. It's at least an hour drive to any store where I could buy something and having spoiled myself on American Apparel undies and fancy french silk things makes the all cotton, full coverage options they have here less appealing. I won't even get into the tampon thing. Not on here anyhow.

So, here it goes kiddos. My little adventure. I'm curious to see where it takes me, who it puts in my path and how it shapes my life. The very first entry in my book of daily Taoist meditations talks about Beginning. We are always beginning something, even if we are unaware of it. Beginning a new job or task, new friendship, new day, new breath.


currently residing::Amansala Resort