Our first stop along our 16 day journey was the city of Oaxaca. If someone told me this would be the only stop we made, and that was the trip… I would be okay with that.
I had romanticised Oaxaca to the point where I was both nervous and excited at the reality that awaited. Luckily, Oaxaca was everything I had envisioned and much more. The state itself is magical… this arid terrain that lures you in, woos you and promises you very little in return for your admiration but you are in awe nonetheless. 7 hours away from anything, in any direction, the isolation of Oaxaca made it feel like a treasure you had to earn… and how. I was a bit worried about being on the road with my friend for so long. I am used to travelling alone; I’m my favourite company. Even on the few occasions travelling with friends, we have split off and done our own thing, touching base in between. While my friend and I had years of catching up to do, how would we fare for so long on the road? Our 7 hour journey into Oaxaca proved: quite easily. I forgot that we were both massive bass-heads, and basically the entire drive was a swapping in and out of ipods and a lot of, “Oooh, sick!” “Oy, check this one out!” “Yea yea, that’s a dope album!” “Hmmm… never heard this one…” “Whaaaaaa! Haven’t heard this in ages! That was my JAM!” The road was MADE for test-driving new music, and one album that got some serious rotation on this trip was Chronixx – Dread & Terrible. I can see this one becoming an instant classic… if readers are interested in a “Road Trip Soundtrack” post, leave a comment below and I will go into more detail of some of the music that got me through these 16 days on the road. 7 hours flew by with views of vast hills and drops, expanses covered in giant cactus plants, and sprinklings of the small agave shrubs ubiquitous to Oaxaca state… which I fondly called ‘baby mezcal plants’ or mezcalitos. We pulled into Oaxaca City just after 6pm and took a quick walkaround. The good ole’ interwebz recommends 2 great hostels: Hostal Don Miguel, and Hostel Alcala. Reality is, almost any hostel or posada near the old town centre, will suit the budget traveller just fine. If you’re an AirBnB fan, as I am, they’re all listed there as well. Almost all of them offer hot water showers and wifi (bonuses in my books), and a clean bed, and lockers for belongings (necessities). At roughly 150 pesos a night, we walked a few blocks outward from the town centre, and found a lovely family-run posada for 100 pesos a night. In fine newbie blogger form, I can’t tell you the name of it because I didn’t know I would need to report back to the world: but it’s a white facade with a beautiful blue brick entrance. If you’re lucky, you might also be greeted by the young toddler whose warm smile told me, “stay here.” The good thing about staying a few streets out of the town centre, aside from the drop in price, was also that it was almost deserted. Aside from a handful of german travellers who kept to themselves, and a Mexican jeweller, who was on the road through the country peddling his wares, the place was tranquil. While my friend Rico was captaining a chunk of our road trip, he still had to work, so on evenings we parted ways and while he and his laptop set up shop in one of the many coffee shops, I explored. As with most Latin American towns and cities, you will have the modern zone, and the old town. I beeline straight for the old town. As dusk hit, and the air still warm, the setting sun gave way to the rising zocalo, or square. Mariachis played, older couples danced, friends and lovers strolled around, children whizzed by. All the signs of life I witnessed were actually… alive. There wasn’t a cell phone or tablet in sight. Nobody was snapchatting their elotes or marquesas, people were simply just living in the moment, enjoying the evening air. I have a love/hate relationship with The City. They are grand and packed with booming culture and variety, but there is something about the emphasis on lifestyle conveniences that irks me. By that, I mean that cities are designed to run more efficiently than our past settler developments, and modern cities now emphasise so many amenities and aides to ease our way of life. Which is fine… that’s the whole point of a metropolis. But there is something about a simpler nature, balanced with just enough hard work to earn your harmonious environment that appeals more to my humanity. Could take the girl out of the island… As soon as I traded my Mexico D.F. boots and jacket, for some Oaxacan shorts and flip-flops… I felt way more at ease. Wooooosah. Everything slows down. And only what matters bubbles to the surface. My first night in Oaxaca could not have been more peaceful; the city couldn’t have been more welcoming. However… I had yet to set foot into my very first Mezcaleria. Spoke way too bloody soon…
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Founded in 1988, the Benchmade knife company quickly made a name for itself as a producer of high-quality blades of various sorts. Beginning with a single product line, the operation quickly branched out into a number of others, and before long was incorporating innovative materials and construction techniques into its offerings. Today, Benchmade knives are recognized by many enthusiasts and owners as among the best mass-produced blades around, with many from among its wide range of models acquiring reputations for durability, utility, and value. The company is best known in some circles for its Gold class knives, a selection of folders and fixed blades which make use of the highest-possible quality of materials. Construction of these exclusive knives is overseen by only the most experienced knife makers, so that Benchmade feels comfortable describing these products as being akin to a cross between custom-made and mass-produced knives. 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The company also now produces a variety of accessories, including portable LED lights of various sorts, which make for excellent complements to its knives and edged tools. Sources If you love to hike and camp out in the wilderness, but dislike carrying your heavy backpack full of necessities, consider tarp camping. When you camp with a tarp instead of a tent, you are partaking in a growing trend that offers several outdoor benefits. Benefits of Camping with a Tarp Benefit #1: Lightweight As mentioned, carrying a couple tarps in your pack is a whole lot lighter than lugging a tent on your back. Many campers simply use their hiking poles or sticks to stake the tarp into the ground, but even if you prefer to carry a set of tent stakes with you, the weight is still minimal. Benefit #2: Fast Shelter If you get caught in an unexpected downpour, a tarp shelter goes up a lot faster than a tent. You can quickly erect your tarp and stow your gear beneath it before everything gets drenched. 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The worst thing to be unprepared with is the type of shoes you have on. Your shoes can make or break any hiking experience. A good pair of hiking boots or shoes will give you a pain-free opportunity to view nature and wildlife with relative ease. A bad pair of hiking shoes will turn even the most beautiful scenery into what can only be described as a living hell. While putting together this checklist I'm taking a look at boot shopping tips and guides on www.wahoohiker.com. Check it out. What to Look for in a Hiking Shoe Comfort. The first thing to look for is level of comfort. The size and shape of the shoe is extremely important. If the shoe fits too loosely, it will rub and chafe your feet. If the shoe fits too snugly, the pressure will quickly form blisters. Once an ideal pair of shoes is found, they should be worn multiple times before being taken on a hike. This will give the feet a chance to accommodate the shoes and the shoes a chance to accommodate to your feet. Water Resistant. The next thing to look for is level of water resistance. Trails will often have puddles to walk through or streams and rivers to cross, so making sure that your hiking shoes are either highly water resistant or quick drying is a must. Wet shoes and socks will increase the chance for blisters and will magnify the negatives of any hike. Tread. The last thing to look for is tread. You don’t want hiking shoes that don’t have a decent grip on the bottom. Look for variation in pattern on the bottom instead of the same thing over and over. The more lines and crevasses that go in different directions, the more angles your shoes will be able to protect you from. |
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