Monday 17 April 2017
Saturday 15 April 2017
Tuesday 21 March 2017
Monday 20 March 2017
Sunday 19 March 2017
Saturday 18 March 2017
Friday 17 March 2017
Thursday 16 March 2017
Wednesday 15 March 2017
Tuesday 14 March 2017
Monday 13 March 2017
Sunday 12 March 2017
Saturday 11 March 2017
Friday 10 March 2017
Thursday 9 March 2017
Wednesday 8 March 2017
Tuesday 7 March 2017
Monday 6 March 2017
Sunday 5 March 2017
Saturday 4 March 2017
Friday 3 March 2017
Thursday 2 March 2017
Wednesday 1 March 2017
Tuesday 28 February 2017
Monday 27 February 2017
Sunday 26 February 2017
Monday 20 February 2017
Sunday 19 February 2017
Saturday 18 February 2017
Friday 17 February 2017
Thursday 16 February 2017
Wednesday 15 February 2017
Tuesday 14 February 2017
Monday 13 February 2017
Sunday 12 February 2017
O.Z.O.R.A. FESTIVAL 2016
Dear Ozorians! The O.Z.O.R.A. Festival 2016 Official Movie is now available online.
You can now again relive some of the most golden moments of our last shared Ozorian experience in all its caleidoscopic glory. As 2016 O.Z.O.R.A. was in many ways about reaching back to the ancient, our roots and transcending those in reimagined ways, the 2016 Official Movie also reflects this inspiration. Much of the raw footage was recorded on original Super8 film, so the highlights of our latest adventure come to life in a 'back to the future' psychedelic reality, our alternate version, thanks to our amazing camera crew who caught some of the highlights, the magic we all make happen.
Enjoy the ride on this multi color whirlwind back into the lands of O.Z.O.R.A.
You can now again relive some of the most golden moments of our last shared Ozorian experience in all its caleidoscopic glory. As 2016 O.Z.O.R.A. was in many ways about reaching back to the ancient, our roots and transcending those in reimagined ways, the 2016 Official Movie also reflects this inspiration. Much of the raw footage was recorded on original Super8 film, so the highlights of our latest adventure come to life in a 'back to the future' psychedelic reality, our alternate version, thanks to our amazing camera crew who caught some of the highlights, the magic we all make happen.
Enjoy the ride on this multi color whirlwind back into the lands of O.Z.O.R.A.
TRACKLIST
HUJABOY “Ancient Memories” (Zero One Music, 2014)
ALPHA PORTAL “Full Throttle” (HOMmega Productions, 2016)
NINESENSE & OBLIVIANT “Sandstorm” (Blacklite Records, 2016)
SYBARITE “Wolfgang’s Tea Party” (TIP Records, 2013)
KAYA PROJECT “One Hundred Lights” (Grouch Remix) (Interchill Records, 2014)
VLASTUR Full Band “Live at OZORA 2016”
TRIPSWITCH “Shamanic Tea” (Ajja Remix) (Unreleased)
KABAYUN “Spectrum Helix” (Hypnotique Recordings, 2015)
VERTICAL “Paperwork” (Purple Hexagon Records, 2016)
RITMO & ACE VENTURA “Biological Computer” (Iono Music, 2016)
AVALON & LAUGHING BUDDHA “Wake & Bake” (Nano Records, 2016)
ATONED SPLENDOR “Reality Ripper vs. the Grain Stripper” (Braincell Remix) (Unreleased)
KAMINANDA “Shaman’s Tunnel” (Sofa Beats, 2016)
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Film By
Pumpui
Attila Nikléczy, Linda Varjú
Produced By
O.Z.O.R.A. Festival
Dániel Zimányi, Árpád Zimányi
Camera
Pawel Wieloch
Katarina Luka
Réka Valkai
Mercédesz Czanka
Krisztián Pamuki
András Táborosi
Levente Salma
Péter Busák
Ádám Bedzsula
Erik Kocsis
Super8 Camera
Krisztián Pamuki
András Táborosi
Aerial Footage
Pawel Wieloch,
Veress József
Additional Footage
Sam Angeli / Sam Point
Krischan de Beer
Action Camera
Zoltán Uhlár
Interviewers
Giorgia Gaia
Balázs Szász
Interview Speakers
(in order of appearance)
John Macmurphy
Goa Gil
Einat Ran
Nick Sand
Aluashka
James W. Jesso
Michael Gosney
A fellow Ozorian
Graham St John
Ray Castle
Usha Sand
Giorgio Samorini
Subtitle Translation
Enikő Koklács
Editing
Erik Kocsis, Krisztián Pamuki
Music Selection
Csaba Gyócsos (Dj Tsubi)
Animation
Benze
Earth Zoom vfx
Krisztián Pamuki
Special Thanks
The Whole Ozora crew
and
The Zimányi family (Dániel, Árpád, Dániel Jr., Erzsébet, Andrea)
Thank you for the love and support!
Anna Pillár
Saturday 11 February 2017
Friday 10 February 2017
Thursday 9 February 2017
Wednesday 8 February 2017
Tuesday 7 February 2017
JAMAICA
Jamaica, a Caribbean island nation, has a lush topography of mountains, rainforests and reef-lined beaches. Many of its all-inclusive resorts are clustered in Montego Bay, with its British-colonial architecture, and Negril, known for its diving and snorkeling sites. Jamaica is famed as the birthplace of reggae music, and its capital Kingston is home to the Bob Marley Museum, dedicated to the famous singer. Consisting of the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles. The island, 10,990 square kilometres (4,240 sq mi) in area, lies about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 191 kilometres (119 mi) west of Hispaniola (the island containing the nation-states of Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Jamaica is the fourth-largest island country in the Caribbean, by area.
Inhabited by the indigenous Arawak and Taíno peoples, the island came under Spanish rule following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. Many of the indigenous people died of disease, and the Spanish imported African slaves as labourers. Named Santiago, the island remained a possession of Spain until 1655, when England (later Great Britain) conquered it and renamed it Jamaica. Under British colonial rule Jamaica became a leading sugar exporter, with its plantation economy highly dependent on slaves imported from Africa. The British fully emancipated all slaves in 1838, and many freedmen chose to have subsistence farms rather than to work on plantations. Beginning in the 1840s, the British imported Chinese and Indian indentured labour to work on plantations. The island achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962.
With 2.8 million people, Jamaica is the third-most populous Anglophone country in the Americas (after the United States and Canada), and the fourth-most populous country in the Caribbean. Kingston is the country's capital and largest city, with a population of 937,700. Jamaicans predominately have African ancestry, with significant European, Chinese, Hakka, Indian, and mixed-race minorities. Due to a high rate of emigration for work since the 1960s, Jamaica has a large diaspora around the world, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States
Though a small nation, Jamaican culture has a strong global presence. The musical genres reggae, ska, mento, rocksteady, dub, and, more recently, dancehall and ragga all originated in the island's vibrant, popular urban recording industry. Jamaica also played an important role in the development of punk rock, through reggae and ska. Reggae has also influenced American rap music, as they share roots as rhythmic, African styles of music. Some rappers, such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Heavy D, are of Jamaican descent. Internationally known reggae musician Bob Marley was also Jamaican.
Many other internationally known artists were born in Jamaica, including Millie Small, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Gregory Isaacs, Half Pint, Protoje, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Big Youth, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Desmond Dekker, Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, Shaggy, Grace Jones, Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Buju Banton, Sean Paul, I Wayne, Bounty Killer and many others. Bands that came from Jamaica include Black Uhuru, Third World Band, Inner Circle, Chalice Reggae Band, Culture, Fab Five and Morgan Heritage. The genre jungle emerged from London's Jamaican diaspora. The birth of hip-hop in New York City owed much to the city's Jamaican community.
NEGRIL
Negril is a town in western Jamaica. It’s known for its miles of sandy beaches on shallow bays with calm, turquoise waters. Seven Mile Beach, particularly the portion overlooking Long Bay, is lined with bars, restaurants and resorts, many of them international and all-inclusive. Long Bay opens onto a lagoon protected by coral reefs and is a snorkeling and scuba-diving destination. Negril is about an hour and fifteen minute drive on the coastal highway from Sir Donald Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay. Westmoreland is the westernmost parish in Jamaica, located on the south side of the island. Downtown Negril, the West End cliff resorts to the south of downtown, and the southern portion of the so-called "seven mile (11 km) beach" are in Westmoreland. The northernmost resorts on the beach are in Hanover Parish. The nearest large town is Savanna-la-Mar, the capital of Westmoreland Parish.
For centuries, Negril, a seven-mile stretch of white sand beach on the western tip of Jamaica, was cut off from the rest of the island by bad roads and a large swamp. It remained relatively unknown to the world until the 1960s and 1970s, when U.S. “hippies,” students and Vietnam veterans gravitated towards this laid-back village. The U.S. travellers arrived in ever-increasing numbers and, towards the end of the 1970s, Negril blossomed as a tourist destination. But with the growing population and improved infrastructure, the natural beauty of Jamaica’s third largest tourism centre has suffered visible deterioration.
“When I first visited Negril from Kingston in 1960, just after the first road to the coast was built, there were no buildings the entire length of the beach. The waters were crystal clear,” wrote Thomas J. Goreau, president of the non-governmental U.S.-based Global Coral Reef Alliance, in a paper published in 1992.
“Now that it is Jamaica’s fastest growing resort area, all the tall coconut trees are gone, the beaches are crowded with people and buildings,” states the text.
Eighteen years later, the demise of the Negril environment has again been brought into sharp focus, this time by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Division of Early Warning and Assessment.
Pristine beaches, blue waters and an absolutely laid-back air that will bring out your inner free-spirit, Negril is one of the most under-rated hippie destinations in the world. Fabulously Bohemian, Negril is not your conventional hippie destination but its laid-back atmosphere, sunny weather and long stretches of beaches will surely give you the much-needed hippie vibe that you are looking for!
KINGSTON
Kingston is the capital of the island of Jamaica, lying on its southeast coast. In the city center, the Bob Marley Museum is housed in the reggae singer’s former home. Nearby, Devon House is a colonial-era mansion with period furnishings. Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo showcases native flora and fauna. Northeast of the city, the Blue Mountains are a renowned coffee-growing region with trails and waterfalls.
At the foot of the Blue Mountains, Jamaica's busy capital city offers a cosmopolitan contrast to the island's relaxed pace. Kingston can be intimidating, but visitors can view some of the town's attractions on organized tours. The Bob Marley Museum, at the reggae superstar's former home, is Kingston's most-visited attraction and the site of the Tuff Gong recording studio. Highlights are Marley's bedroom with his star-shaped guitar by the bed. Look for the bullet holes in the rear wall, evidence of an assassination attempt.
Tours will also take travelers to explore mansions like historic Devon House, as well as museums such as the National Gallery, and the Natural History Museum, Jamaica's oldest museum, with preserved specimens of the island's plants and animals. Also in town, the Institute of Jamaica's museums cover a wide range of the country's history from prehistoric to modern times, Hope Gardens is the largest botanical park in the West Indies, and National Heroes Park features statues of leading players of Jamaican history and independence. At the tip of the peninsula surrounding Kingston Harbor lies the community of Port Royal, the focus of British fortification in the late 17th century.
PORT ANTONIO
Set between mountains and a double harbor, Port Antonio exudes the relaxed charm of a sleepy fishing village. Once a center for banana export, the area is distinctly less commercial than the other resort towns. Visitors can explore the many art galleries, hike jungle trails, and snorkel and scuba dive the coral reefs. A popular swimming spot is the beautiful 60-meter-deep Blue Lagoon, fed by freshwater springs, and site of the namesake movie starring Brooke Shields. Navy Island, set between Port Antonio's two harbors and reached by ferry, was once owned by movie swashbuckler Errol Flynn and was renowned for wild parties. Today the island is a favorite for picnics and day trips.
Jamaica's spicy "jerk-style" of cooking originated in the region and some of the best can be found at Boston Beach east of Port Antonio. Other highlights of the area include the 18th-century British stronghold Fort George and beautiful Frenchman's Cove, where a fish-filled river flows into the sea. The beaches here are a wonderful mix of white sand, shallow waters, and lush outcroppings of land. Nearby, Daniel's River plunges through a gorge of natural rock in a series of cascades and pools known as Somerset Falls.
BULL BAY
Bull Bay is located on the south east coast of Jamaica 10 miles to the east of Kingston on the border between St Andrew and St Thomas, beside its lesser-known sister, Cow Bay. It is said that both bays were so named because the whole area was once a slaughter center of the buccaneers and the English colonialists.
Bull Bay has an energetic, close-knit community, and at night, the coastline pulsates with rhythms from the various nightclubs that line the beach.
FALMOUTH
Surrounded by sugar estates and cattle land, Falmouth is one of the Caribbean's best-preserved Georgian towns. Once a leading port, the town offers excellent examples of 19th-century Georgian architecture including a faithful restoration of the courthouse. Greenwood Great House is a major tourist attraction in the area. Built in 1790 by Richard Barrett, a relative of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the Great House is now a museum with period furniture and a rare collection of musical instruments and Wedgwood china.
Good Hope Estate, built in 1755, was an old-established coconut and sugar plantation. The well-preserved Great House contains period furniture, the first 18th century Caribbean hot water bath, old slave quarters, and the sugar mill with its waterwheel. Half Moon Beach is a peaceful crescent of sand with coral reefs just offshore. East of Falmouth is the Luminous Lagoon, named for its eerie marine phosphorescence.
See You Soon...On Another Famous Hippie Location
Until Then...NAMASTE...
#Trotterhipp
Monday 6 February 2017
Sunday 5 February 2017
Saturday 4 February 2017
Friday 3 February 2017
Wednesday 1 February 2017
NEPAL
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked central Himalayan country in South Asia. It has a population of 26.4 million and is the 93rd largest country by area. Bordering China in the north and India in the south, east, and west, it is the largest sovereign Himalayan state. Nepal does not border Bangladesh, which is located within only 27 km (17 mi) of its southeastern tip. It neither borders Bhutan due to the Indian state of Sikkim being located in between. Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and largest city. It is a multi-ethnic nation with Nepali as the official language.
The territory of Nepal has a recorded history since the Neolithic age. The name Nepal is first recorded in texts from the Vedic Age, the era which founded Hinduism, the predominant religion of the country. In the middle of the first millennium BC, Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in southern Nepal. Parts of northern Nepal were intertwined with the culture of Tibet. The Kathmandu Valley in central Nepal became known as Nepal proper because of its complex urban civilization. It was the seat of the prosperous Newar confederacy known as Nepal Mandala. The Himalayan branch of the ancient Silk Road was dominated by the valley's traders. The cosmopolitan region developed distinct traditional art and architecture. By the 18th century, the Gorkha Kingdom achieved the unification of the region's principalities under the Shah dynasty into the Kingdom of Nepal, and later entered into an alliance with the British Empire. The country was never colonized but served as a buffer state between Imperial China and Colonial India.In the 20th century, Nepal ended its isolation and forged strong ties with regional powers. Nepal was the world's last Hindu monarchy until 2008, when it became a republic
The devastating earthquake not withstanding, Nepal is a favorite with adventurous hippies. You'd find them everywhere- from the foothills of Himalayas to the magical city of Kathmandu. The crisp, fresh Himalayan air and the sweet smoke of marijuana must be a liberating combination, judging from the popularity of this destination with hippies.
KATHMANDU
Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमाडौं) or KTM is the capital city of Nepal. Kathmandu valley includes Kathmandu metropolitan city along with Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Thimi and Kirtipur areas. It was listed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 2006. Measuring 49.45 km square in total, Kathmandu is a geographically smaller city compared to many other important cities of Nepal and its history goes back 2,000 years only. Over time, this small city attracted best minds from around the country and helped it build socioeconomically, making it the most accessible place for living, working and traveling in the whole country. Today, almost 2.5 million people reside in Kathmandu (Census 2012). If you are to visit old settlements around Kathmandu, you ought to find numerous narrow alleys, mud-built houses conjoined together like ‘making love’; inhabitants clad in their native costumes, with rich and vibrant architectures dominating the locales.
The legend has it, a famed meditation deity, Manjushree, brought the city to life by making it habitable. Following the first ascent of the Everest in 1953, Kathmandu became a popular hub among climbing enthusiasts and representatives of nations wanting to spot their flag on the top of Everest. Later, Cat Steven’s famed song “Kathmandu” helped promote the ancient city among many young westerners. The influx of Hippies in 60s’ technically opened the gates of the city for future foreign tourism.The decade of 1960 marks the moment when Kathmandu became a global city. The influx of Hippies through Bhakti movement first arrived in Kathmandu in 60s’ via silk route. Their unconventional lifestyle brought a wave of westernization and liberalization among locals. Kathmanduties started building pop joints, selling drugs, donning western attires, where branded apparels and automobiles became a taste of the group. The government’s move on banning Hippies’ movement and stop on free trade of drugs diminished their existence.
The wave of western tourism didn’t end there. 80s’ started with a bang, when Travel agencies and tour operators first started selling trek and tours in the unexplored regions of the country to the world. It made Nepal an ultimate adventure travel destination. Commercial expeditions of Everest and other Eight-Thousander peaks flourished. The concept of trekking in high altitude regions of Himalaya took over like a storm. Vacationers craving for adventure and holiday in the Himalaya started flooding the city.
THAMEL
Also known as Hippie’s Den, Tourist trap or Tourists’ Mecca, Thamel boasts a lifestyle different from the rest of greater Kathmandu. The dingy bars, loud western music, trance parties and posh diners give the real impression of the city. A famous flea-market for adventure travelers, here, you can buy or rent stuffs particular to trekking, hiking and climbing. Most of the companies from the Nepalese tourism scene are found in here. Located side by side, sometimes in a single building, these entities -catering clienteles from around the globe, represent the local tourism industry of Nepal. Despite their tiny Brick & Mortar offices, the services provided are larger than life and fairer (mainly because of regulatory bodies, like Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), TAAN and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), inspecting these organizations).
Originally, the home of ethnic tribe of Kathmandu –“Newar,” the place received international recognition for its popularity among incoming tourists, mainly Hippies during early 70s’ and 80s’. Thamel saw a large influx of western tourists; those looking for peace, eastern spiritual music and drugs. This place assimilated with the cultures of “Flower Generation” and became a known hipster town. One could easily find Hashish and Ganja (Marijuana) selling on these streets. Later, the evolution of small trade, with establishment of bars and restaurants, made this place an epicenter of commerce in Kathmandu. Despite it cultural transitions, it never lost its roots and charm of yeste-years. You can still find buildings made up of mud and brick among new concrete building, Temples dedicated to ancient Hindu Gods and Goddesses in various corners, inhabitants clad in ethnic Newari couture roaming the streets, and many local festivals celebrated inside the premise of Thamel. The ethnic inhabitants mostly Sold or Rented off their homes in Thamel to businesses that made it what it stands today.
An Urban legend is popular among the inhabitants of Kathmandu, which suggests that Rock Stars like Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison ventured Thamel during their hey day. Today, many stars of the international scene are seldom seen wandering the Thamel streets, like Bruce Springsteen and Sting.Diners and Bars are the prestige of Thamel. A bar called “Rum Doodle” and decorated with pictures from the book “The Ascent of Rum Doodle” has become a popular staging point for expeditions to Mt. Everest, and a joint for mountaineers. It serves free meal for the lifetime to those climbers who have made it to Everest summit. Messner, Lowe, Anker and the like have often ventured here.
Other popular joints known to mankind are; Sheesha Bar, Purple Haze -Rock Bar, Reggae Bar, New Orleans Restaurant, Himalayan Java and Sandwich Point.
Old Freak Street, or Freak Street is a small street located at the south of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Presently known as Old Freak Street, this ancient street was named as Freak Street referring to the hippie trail of the 1960s and 1970s.Freak Street was the epicenter during the Hippie trail from the early 1960s to late 1970s. During that time the main attraction drawing tourists to Freak Street was the government-run hashish shops. Hippies from different parts of the world traveled to Freak Street (Basantapur) in search of legal cannabis. Direct bus services to Freak Street were also available from the airport and borders targeting the hippies looking for legal smokes. Freak Street was a hippie nirvana, since marijuana and hashish were legal and sold openly in government licensed shops. A young restless population in the west, seeking to distant itself from political and social frustration, had firsthand contact with the fascinating culture, art and architecture, and unique life style that attracted hippies to Freak Street. But in the early 1970s the government of Nepal started a round-up of hippies on Freak Street and they were physically deported to India, an action propelled largely by a directive from the government of United States of America. The government imposed a strict regulation for tourist regarding the dress codes and physical appearances. After imposing such regulations by government the hippies felt vulnerable and the hippie movement of Nepal died out in the late 1970s. It was under this directive that the Nepali government came to ban the production and sale of hashish and marijuana in Nepal. The hippie tourism was quickly replaced with the more conventional businesses of trekking and cultural tourism.
Old Freak Street’s history and plum position in the heart of Kathmandu still makes it a popular destination among the locals. Once labeled as being a place to find enlightenment, a lot of things have transformed since the deportation of the hippies in the early 1970s. This ancient street which was named as Freak Street, after the hippies, presently the name Freak Street has been converted into Old Freak Street since the place is not anymore like it used to be back in the 1960s. This place is now just a mythical magnet for hippies and other social variants of the 1960s. Cheap guest houses, trekking agencies, shopping centers, souvenir shops, restaurants are the businesses the local entrepreneurs have adopted after banning of the cannabis in Nepal. Overshadowed by the glamour of Thamel, a primary tourist area in Kathmandu, Old Freak Street has not been able to revive its charm among the tourists since then.
See You Soon...On Another Famous Hippie Location
Until Then...NAMASTE...
#Trotterhipp
Tuesday 31 January 2017
Monday 30 January 2017
Sunday 29 January 2017
Thursday 26 January 2017
MEXICO
Mexico is a country between the U.S. and Central America that's known for its Pacific and Gulf of Mexico beaches and its diverse landscape of mountains, deserts and jungles. Ancient ruins such as Teotihuacán and the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá are scattered throughout the country, as are Spanish colonial-era towns. In capital Mexico City, upscale shops, renowned museums and gourmet restaurants cater to modern life.Covering almost two million square kilometers (over 760,000 sq mi), Mexico is the sixth largest country in the Americas by total area and the 13th largest independent nation in the world. With an estimated population of over 120 million, it is the eleventh most populous country and the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world while being the second most populous country in Latin America. Mexico is a federation comprising 31 states and a federal district that is also its capital and most populous city. Other metropolises include Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, Toluca, Tijuana and León.
The Tropic of Cancer effectively divides the country into temperate and tropical zones. Land north of the twenty-fourth parallel experiences cooler temperatures during the winter months. South of the twenty-fourth parallel, temperatures are fairly constant year round and vary solely as a function of elevation. This gives Mexico one of the world's most diverse weather systems.Many large cities in Mexico are located in the Valley of Mexico or in adjacent valleys with altitudes generally above 2,000 m (6,562 ft). This gives them a year-round temperate climate with yearly temperature averages (from 16 to 18 °C or 60.8 to 64.4 °F) and cool nighttime temperatures throughout the year. Many parts of Mexico, particularly the north, have a dry climate with sporadic rainfall while parts of the tropical lowlands in the south average more than 2,000 mm (78.7 in) of annual precipitation. For example, many cities in the north like Monterrey, Hermosillo, and Mexicali experience temperatures of 40 °C (104 °F) or more in summer. In the Sonoran Desert temperatures reach 50 °C (122 °F) or more.
Long an escape for the gringos, still an interesting country to visit from Baha to the Yucatan, lots of places to explore and hang out.
TULUM
Tulum is a resort town on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, around 130 km south of Cancún. The 13th-century, walled Mayan archaeological site at Tulum National Park overlooks the sea. It incorporates the clifftop Castillo, built as a watchtower, and the Templo de las Pinturas, with a partially restored mural. Inland, the Cobá archaeological site has pyramid-shaped temples with views over the surrounding jungle. Tulum’s spectacular coastline – with all its confectioner-sugar sands, jade-green water and balmy breezes – makes it one of the top beaches in Mexico. Where else can you get all that and a dramatically situated Maya ruin? There’s also excellent cave and cavern diving, fun cenotes, and a variety of lodgings and restaurants to fit every budget.
Some may be put off by the fact that the town center, where the really cheap eats and sleeps are found, sits right on the highway, making the main drag feel more like a truck stop than a tropical paradise. But rest assured that if Tulum Pueblo isn't to your liking, you can always head to the coast and find that tranquil beachside bungalow. Exploring Tulum's surrounding areas pays big rewards: there's the massive Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka’an, the secluded fishing village of Punta Allen and the ruins of Cobá.
Arguably the most placid place on earth, Tulum is a magical combination of ancient ruins, fabulous coastlines and charming restaurants. It has everything going for it as a hippie hot spot ; its undiscovered, its got relaxed bistros and bars, and cute local markets that sell everything from dream catchers to local organic produce.
MARUATA
Maruata is a Nahuat indigenous town on the coast of Michoacán, Mexico. It's part of the Pomaro indigenous community; an isolated, autonomous group of towns that banded together following the genocidal "motines" era of the 16th century. Pomaro and the nearby indigenous communities of Coire and Ostula still hold communal titles to their lands. They have so far rejected outside offers to create large-scale tourist developments in their territory. Maruata still retains much of its rustic character, as it slowly develops into a locally run Eco-tourism center.With clear turquoise waters and golden sandy beaches, Playa Maruata (Turnoff Hwy 200-Km 150) is the most beautiful beach in Michoacán. The Nahua fishing village has a bit of a hippie reputation, attracting beach bums from all over. It’s a tranquil, friendly place to hang out with your sweetie or a large stack of paperbacks. It’s also a prime nesting site for green turtles (nightly from July to December).
This is a rural zone lacking the amenities of more developed areas. Infrastructure is minimal, services mostly unavailable. There is a new IMSS hospital here, as well as a medic at the small marine base on the beach east of town. A small naval station is currently being built here. The nahuat communities of the coast have had their own police force for many years- the federals auxiliaries. Federal police regularly patrol through here and army troops sometimes pass through with heavy equipment. Occasionally agents of the PGR will touch down here in their helicopters. Maruata is a traditional community rapidly transitioning into the modern world. The highway arrived here in 1980, electricity in 1996. Rapid change has brought various problems, including sewage, contamination and crime. Alcoholism and drug abuse are fairly common, as in most of north america. Burglary is a real concern if you are camping here. Money, passports and valuable electronic items should never be left unattended. A money belt and a small day pack are useful here. Food should never be left in tents. Free range pigs have destroyed many tents here, in their insatiable quest for food. Hang food bags from the ceiling of the camping Ramada.
On the coast of Michoacan, Maruata has been a mecca for some time now. The big Parties are Christmas and Easter. No hotels, only camping. Lots of drums and other music. The locals are Nahuatl Indians, and extremely friendly. Best beach on the West Coast of Mexico. Good herb for around five dollars an ounce, plus the occasional peyote surprise. Please bring sheets of blotter acid, there's always a terrible shortage. Things are a bit weird since the gathering of '95-'96 but there's always room for a few more freaks.
GUADALAJARA
Guadalajara is a city in western Mexico. It’s known for tequila and mariachi music, both born in Jalisco, the state of which Guadalajara is the capital. Guadalajara’s historic center is dotted with colonial plazas and landmarks such as the neoclassical Teatro Degollado and a cathedral with twin gold spires. The Palacio del Gobierno houses famous murals by painter José Clemente Orozco.
If you’re intimidated by the size and intensity of Mexico City, Guadalajara delivers a less frenetic alternative. Many of the cliched images recognized as Mexican have roots here: mariachi music, wide-brimmed sombreros, the Mexican hat dance and charreadas (rodeos). But, Guadalajara is as much a vanguard of the new Mexico as it is a guardian of the old. Chapultepec hipsters drive the cultural life forward, fusion chefs have sharpened the edges of an already legendary culinary scene (famed for its tender stews and ‘drowned’ sandwiches), while foresighted local planners are doing their damnedest to tackle the traffic and congestion (a bike-sharing scheme is the latest wild card).
With over four million inhabitants in its broader metro area, Guadalajara can’t match the intimacy and architectural homogeneity of smaller colonial cities, though its historic core is handsome enough, anchored by the twin wonders of the cathedral and the Instituto Cultural de Cabañas, the latter a UNESCO World Heritage site. Modern and spread-out, the Chapultepec neighborhood is sprinkled with fashionable restaurants, coffeehouses and nightclubs. Mellow suburbs Tlaquepaque (upscale) and Tonalá (grassroots) are a folk-art shopper’s dream destinations. Zapopan has some interesting colonial sites and is known somewhat euphemistically as Guadalajara’s Beverly Hills.
The inland city of Guadalajara is bursting with history and culture. Many attractions are in the city's historic center and in the neighboring city of Zapopan. Museums, parks and churches flourish alongside bullfights, rodeos and ‘football’. Nearby are the towns of Tequila, where the drink of the same name is produced, and Tlaquepaque and Tonala, where Mexican artisans create an abundance of craft items. Mariachi, which originated in the area, is a common sight and sound in Guadalajara.
PALENQUE
Palenque, also anciently known as Lakamha, was a Maya city state in southern Mexico that flourished in the 7th century. The Palenque ruins date from ca. 226 BC to ca. AD 799.After its decline, it was absorbed into the jungle of cedar, mahogany, and sapodilla trees, but has since been excavated and restored and is now a famous archaeological site attracting thousands of visitors. It is located near the Usumacinta River in the Mexican state of Chiapas, about 130 km (81 mi) south of Ciudad del Carmen,150 m (164 yd) above sea level. It averages a humid 26°C (79°F) with roughly 2160 mm (85 in) of rain a year
Deservedly one of the top destinations of Chiapas, the soaring jungle-swathed temples of Palenque are a national treasure and one of the best examples of Mayan architecture in Mexico. Modern Palenque town, a few kilometers to the east, is a sweaty, humdrum place without much appeal except as a jumping-off point for the ruins and a place to find internet access. Many prefer to base themselves at one of the forest hideouts along the road between the town and the ruins, including the funky travelers’ hangout of El Panchán. Where the mushrooms are grown! Small town full of all kinds of people, about half are hippy foreigners that come to escape froth rush and live amongst others who
share their lifestyle.
Palenque in particular draws a good crowd of hippies who take a break from the cute beach town of Tulum to head to the rain forest jungles, get bitten by mozzies and trip out on strong grass and magic mushrooms.
See You Soon...On Another Famous Hippie Location
Until Then...NAMASTE...
#Trotterhipp
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