Paradise

Trip Start Apr 09, 2008

115

Trip End Apr 19, 2009

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Flag of Mexico Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

I was detirmined to use my hammack I had two possible sites recommended to my by a friend. The bus dropped us off at a wide point in the road. I knew that Tulum was quite a spread out town and that although walking was possible with bags it was just easier to take a taxi. I gave the two names to the taxi driver and he told me one was gone but took me to the other. This involved driving round three sides of a square and took about 20 mins to reach the place. He dropped me off at the edge of a beach with little huts spread all around, palm trees and bright white sand. I found the reception desk and there were already people there complaining about toilets and prices and general things. I asked if there was anywhere I could hang my hammack and was told no. I asked if there were any other places I could try on the beach and was told no.
So I took my bags and walked back to the road and continued walking right to the end of the road

My hammack

. I passed a place that looked like it used to be accomodation but was now closed. The end of my walk brought me to Tulum ruins, I was starting to feel dehydrated by now and turned back. I got back to the same place and spoke to two nice Italian boys who were having the same problem with reception but were trying the restaurant before giving up. I refused to give up just yet and left my bag in the reception and walked along the beach. Within 50 meters I could see another group of huts and beyond that another and another. I found the new reception and asked about my hammack. They said that I could hang it between any two trees and use their facilities for 80 pesos. I would have paid anything I just wanted to use my hammack. I returned to get my bag and after buying some new ropes and help and advice from other people more experienced hammack users but I had erected my hammack and was ready to sleep under the stars.

I was really dry so I went to the restaurant first and got some drink inside me and second got straight into the sea. It was walm, calm and shallow. Perfect. If it wasn't for all the other people I could have been in a tropical paradise. I just rested in the sea before returning to my hammack and reading a book with a towel wrapped aroungd me. I spotted the two Italian boys buying hammacks just up the beach from me so I walked over and showed off my new found knowlege on hammacks

Straight Up

.

My first night in the hammack was a little cold but much more comfortable than I had expected. I woke up with a bit of a crick in my neck and decided I needed some sort of head rest but otherwise all was well. I went into town to buy supplies and use the internet I also bought dinner there and then headed back to the beach. I went for a drink or two or three with some of the other hammack people and then retreated to bed quite early. Once it gets dark that is pretty much it on the beach.

I woke up in the middle or the night needing the toilet. I knew the toilets would be locked because they are attached to the restaurant. So I went down to the sea. It was about 3 or 4 in the morning and no one was around. I could see quite well by the light of the moon. I took off the clothes I had been wearing at night (it actually got quite cold at night) and swam in the sea. I didn't stay in for long because I saw a car along the beach a way and thought there must be people there, still it was great.

I also visited the ruins which are diferent to Chichen Itza in themsleves, the construction etc. But special because they are on a cliff over the beach

The Beach

. You can take some great photos of ruins with sea in the background. On my last day in Tulum I wondered down to the tour office and asked about snorkling. There was a tour about to leave so I joined a group of Dutch students. I had never been snorkling before that and it was quite amazing for me. I cant float on my own but using the flippers I could just hover over this alien world using my arms to manouver about. The strangest thing was that looking through my goggles was like watching TV or a windows screen saver but when my hand passed my vision I had a feeling that my hand did not belong there. I didn't see anything more spectacular than the coral reef, (second largest in the world) and some pretty fishes but it still blew me away. I stayed in the water long after everyone was back in the boat. On the way back to shore the driver took us alongside an enourmous yaught and we briefly joined a yaught party, we shared one beer and then headed back to shore. I sunbathed a little until I realised I was sun burned from the snorkling and I was just burning the front to match the back. I shared a taxi with the dutch to the bus station where I took an overnight bus to Palenque.