hasta luego

last minute footage 

Cataracts

a little taste of comondu'

hannon 10'4

Braden con más reparaciones

morning delight

the journey starts again

volcan

Travel where you discover the wonders of the earth, and help protect them at the same time. Embark on unforgettable journeys that will enrapture your soul, enlighten your mind and enkindle your spirit. 

Whilst in Guatemala we immersed ourselves in the Mayan culture by doing a home stay and studying the language at the school of Jabel Tinamit in the village of Panajchel, Lago de Atitlan. We were introduced to our Guatemalan family late into the afternoon, brought together under the one roof with little means of communication, forced to use the little spanish we do have. Their house is right off the street in the centre of the village, no less then 20 meters from the school itself.  Woken the following morning to the sound of bells ringing from the nearby church, the sun was just starting to rise and I could feel the cool morning  air begin to seep through the cracks in the windows above. Several hours later we found ourselves walking the streets of the village amongst the Mayan women and children, store fronts that line the cobble stone streets are beginning to open for the day, the smell of tabaco and diesel fumes fills the air. We spent the morning browsing store fronts, drinking coffee and with more then enough time to spare I spent the remainder of the afternoon buried in my book, A River Sutra a novel by Gita Mehta. We spent the following morning walking through the narrow terraces of the Natural Reserve, a narrow bridge spans the stream that runs from the waterfall above us. There is a placidness to the scene that suggests the calm and simple lives ordered only by the passing of the seasons. As I revise on my notes from today's lesson I begin to hear the sweet sound of Amarlia's voice coming from the kitchen as she prepares for this evenings meal, freshly baked quiche torta with a bowl of vegetable soup, served with freshly baked bread. Only now as I begin to write this had I wished I asked Amarlia for the recipe. The day that followed led us to the Mayan caves, often described as the entrance into the watery Maya underworld, located halfway down the mountain just outside the village of Panajchel. Mountains and caves are important elements in Mesoamerican creation myths. Mesoamerican belief systems liken water to fertility and mountains give flowing water and rainfall through the caves. Accordingly, these natural features were and still are considered sacred, sought out by Mesoamerican migrants looking for a new home. We learnt that agricultural products are common offerings in caves and the Mayan people perform rituals as a way of asking the Gods for healing, good fortune and direction in their lives. As expected sundays are a time for family and religion which meant no meals were provided during our home stay on this day, enabling us to explore the village in search of a good restaurant, that lead us to a 100% vegan restaurant, Alice and Robert's. I ordered a delicious flafel whilst Braden ate pita bread stuffed with veggies. Over the next two days we continued to study the language and incorporate that into everyday interaction. Leaving Panajchel early on Wednesday morning, now with a greater understanding and knowledge of the language, the culture,  the people, the food and their beliefs. 

there is one of its kind.

december monday twentieth, Nexpa

surfed early, 3-4ft long clean lefts, only ones out at 7.30, fun waves, great tree house accomodation right on the sand, 37 and a half pesos per person per night.

Michoacán from Image^ on Vimeo.

thursday sixteenth, La Ticla. Surfed earlish, Ellen filmed, was okay but alot of bad ones, a few amongst them, ate five huevos for breakfast, q-celled the 6.0.

one and a half hours south on a narrow windy road through jungle and we arrive in the small village of La Ticla. 50 pesos per person per night, surfed late on the right rip, similar to CT right, good air sections. Ate pasta that Ellen cooked it was Muy Bueno.

Mushrooms, cooked in pesto with whole wheat pasta

1 purple onion
3 garlic cloves crushed
chili to taste
1 kg mushrooms
sun dried tomatoes
handful baby spinach leaves
handful basil
whole wheat pasta
small jar of pesto
olive oil

Dice up a purple onion, garlic and chili, fry in a little bit of olive oil, leave the seeds in the chilli if you want the extra spice. Add mushroom, cut thick slices so they don't cook down to nothing, add pesto to the amount you are cooking, a small jar of pesto or close to it. Add sundried tomatoes,baby spinah leaves and basil, don't be shy go for a handfull in you like a stronger taste of basil, otherwise a small amount will do. Cook on a low heat and add to whole wheat pasta or you can choose to have it on its own. Enjoy