Astonishing consensus on reefs -- Just save them

From an article on Underwater Times:

CORVALLIS, Oregon -- One of the first set of studies to examine what tourists and recreation enthusiasts actually think about coral reef ecosystems suggests they are a rare exception to controversies over human use versus environmental conservation – their stunning beauty is so extraordinary that almost everyone wants them protected in perpetuity.

That core belief is often strong enough that if it means people have to be kept out, so be it.

The analysis, done in Hawaii by researchers from Oregon State University and the University of Hawaii, found that most people visiting the state's coral reef ecosystems care deeply about these areas and very much enjoy visiting them, but will generally endorse whatever amount of management is needed to protect them.

"It was really quite astonishing, almost shocking how much people wanted this resource protected for its own sake," said Mark Needham, an assistant professor of forest ecosystems and society at OSU. "We fish and hunt wildlife for food or sport, we cut trees for timber. In most natural resource issues, we find conflicts over management for economic value versus environmental preservation or protection, but we really didn't see that here.

Read more...

Fly fishing in México

From a post on Maine Outdoor Journal:

I'm in a fishing village in the Yucatan Peninsula, my time here has been wonderful, six months and counting.....the place is called Punta Allen, and the lodge is ¨Cuzan¨. You´ll find it at the very end of the road along the coast of the Riviera.

The little town has many things to offer, including fresh lobster, a reef barrier for snorkeling and many fish in the mangroves to catch and release.

Read more...

Mayan Riviera: Antidote to island boredom

From an article by Chris Haslam on TimesOnline (UK):

From where I’m sitting, this could be Barbados. The sun is high in a cloudless sky, the sea is brochure-blue and the sand is the stuff of dreams.

It’s that special time of day, the moment just after breakfast when you remember, deliciously, that you have no obligations other than loafing in the shade of a rustling coco palm and wonder whether it’s too early to start drinking.

From where I’m slumped in my hammock, I can see a pair of Italian air hostesses rubbing factor five into each other’s shoulders, a trio of pelicans diving for fish and a smiling waiter coming to see if I’ve made my mind up about that drink.

If this were Barbados, or virtually any other island in the Caribbean, I would be looking forward to nothing more than a gentle swim, a long lunch, an afternoon nap, cocktails, dinner, and so to bed in the certain knowledge that tomorrow was going to be exactly the same as today.

Because while the Leewards and the Windwards are perfectly lovely for the body, they offer little unction for the mind and soul. So the only real option, after you’ve done the island tour, visited the fish market and wandered around the pastel-painted historic capital, is to start drinking earlier and earlier each day in a bid to stave off the creeping feeling that you’ve flown 3,000 miles to be, well, bored.

There, I’ve said it. Boredom. Ennui. Tedium. Monotony.

Another drink, sir? Not before breakfast — ah, what the hell. But winter sun doesn’t have to be that way. Now the pandemic panic has passed, all you need to do is fly a little further, to the strip of Mexico’s Caribbean coastline they call the Mayan Riviera, and you’ll find the same perfect beaches, turquoise seas and bronzed Italian air hostesses, along with gastronomy, history and culture in spades.

Read more...

Maya Rainforest: Second largest rainforest on the planet

From an article by Jacqueline Jones in The Barbados Advocate:

The Mesoamerica’s Maya Rainforest, otherwise known as Selva Maya in Spanish, or Maya Rainforest for short, is the second largest rainforest on the planet. It is a massive expanse of dense tropical flora, fauna, species of animal and insects, which while it is mainly spread across Mexico, stretches outside Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula (south-eastern Mexico which separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico) borders, into Guatemala and Belize. In short, it is 13.3 million acres of rainforest, mangrove, savannah and wetland. Amazing!

This rainforests is often a buzz of activity, as along with the thousands of species of plant-life, there are 400 species of bird, five species of large cats, including the puma and jaguar, sea turtles and even endangered species like the howler monkey, just to name a small portion of what exists here.

The sometimes forgotten rainforest isn’t just home to animal and plants however. Co-existing within the forest’s impressive diversity of species and ecosystems, there is a culturally diverse population of over six million, from the 13 linguistic groups of the indigenous Mayan people. These peoples bring their own flair to the rainforest, as their thousands of years old histories, can be easily seen through their archaeological remnants.

This little piece of ecological wonder has not been spared from the effects of climate change and the effects can be seen through various occurrences. One of these are the dried up Chicozapote trees, which once abundantly dripped chicle, which is a natural gum that is traditionally used to make chewing gum. This has caused a dent in the finances of the peoples of the forest, as this was a means of income. Another financial setback comes in the form of the Mahogany, the cost of which has plummeted drastically, due to the fallen trunks scattered across the forest floor and subsequent easy access to the material.

In light of all this, it is difficult to envision tourist activities and urban life buzzing within and outside the forest's borders, containing any similarity to the jungle, but it is this very forest that supplies water to all of the 3.3 million inhabitants of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is in short, their lifeline.

Read more...

Campeche, the spirit of Mexico

From an article by Sophie Cook in The Guaradian (UK):

While Mexico's tourist resorts are still reeling post swine flu, the beguiling city of Campeche and its surrounds is as enchanting as ever.

Mangroves and lagoons stretch along the northern half of Mexico's Campeche coast, home to countless flamingoes, while to the south the narrow bands of white sand beaches have always been cordoned off for turtles, not tourists. In the aftermath of the swine flu outbreak, Cancún, on the opposite side of the Yucatan peninsula, has been missing its usual planeloads of holidaymakers. But Campeche has never courted vast numbers of visitors and, while welcoming the few that come, can get by just fine without them. Lacking the Yucatan east coast's turquoise seas and sweeping beaches, this ruggedly beautiful western coast epitomises independent spirit. It's certainly safe again to bring your body here for healing winter sun; but more to the point, this area has always provided a unique medicine for the soul. Its inhabitants are justifiably proud of their abundant wildlife and rich cultural inheritance, while Campeche city itself is one of the most beguiling places in Latin America.

Beat-up cars rattle through the narrow cobbled streets, a rusting Dodge parked up outside the pastel blue manicured splendour of a colonial house. The whole city centre is listed as a Unesco world heritage site: a perfectly preserved 16th-century Spanish colonial streetscape, where the fierce tropical sun tears shadows through curving wrought-iron balconies and window grilles, across the painted walls. Despite its overwhelming beauty, historical importance, and extreme safety, Campeche city is no stuffy museum piece. The vigorous thrum of Mexican daily life beats everywhere just beneath its stuccoed skin. The streets are filled with independently-owned shops selling pens, or tinsel, or radios. Women and old men pray beneath the chandeliers inside the finely-kept churches, or come to read their newspapers in the pews, finding sanctuary for the flesh as well as the soul in the cool limestone walls. Pelicans dive into the navy waters of the Gulf of Mexico beyond the city's sea walls, splashing down between small fishing boats, while Mayan women from the countryside sell mangoes on street corners and lanky boys shoot pool at battered green tables in antique colonnades.

Read more...

Day of the Dead

From an article on MexExperience:

One of Mexico’s most important religious holidays is celebrated on All Saint’s Day (Nov 1) and All Soul’s Day (Nov 2): Dia de los Muertos (sometimes called Dia de los Fieles Difuntos) – Day of the Dead. Traditionally, November 1st honors deceased children and November 2nd honors deceased adults.

Far from being a morbid event, Day of Dead emphasizes remembrance of past lives and celebration of the continuity of life. This acknowledgement of life’s continuity has roots which go back to some of Mexico’s oldest civilizations: Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Purepecha. The Aztecs, too, celebrated Day of the Dead, although earlier (August) on the current calendar.

Day of the Dead is celebrated passionately throughout Mexico, and especially so in smaller provincial towns and cities.

One of the culinary highlights of the season is “Pan de Muerto” (Bread of the Dead) which is a semi-sweet sugar-coated bread made from eggs and infused with natural citrus fruit flavors. It’s traditionally taken with hot chocolate that has been mixed with cinnamon and makes for a perfect blend on a chilly November evening.

Read more...

Would you fly with the flu?

From an article by David Wilkeningon TravelMole.com:

A majority or 51 percent in a TripAdvisor.com poll said the high costs of change fees would make them go ahead with an airline trip despite being ill.

"While the thought of paying a $50 to $150 ticket change fee may cause heartburn for many travelers, we strongly recommend against flying while you're sick with the flu, both as a courtesy to yourself and your fellow travelers,” said Bryan Saltzburg, TripAdvisor general manager of new initiatives. He added:

"If you're worried about getting sick this season, you may want to take a look at trip insurance for flights being booked during peak flu months.”

He added, however, that participants should sure to read the fine print in the policy to make sure it covers the flu, though, as some only offer reimbursements for major illnesses.

Read more...