Monday, August 13, 2007

The animals of Mexico

While sorting through the photos that journaled my mexpedition, I was unsure as to the direction that my presentation shoud take. Chronological? Footloose and Fancyfree? No, niether of those options seemed very good. So I grouped them according to the basic elements of the universe: Earth, Wind and Fire.
This is, I'm sure you will agree, the best and most scientific way to go about things.
So with out any further ado,
I present to you the rich and lusturous animals of Mexico.


Horses, skinny tiny horses are everywhere. I think the diminutive size is a defence. Against what I'm not sure.


They say Death rides a pale horse, well tourists from Mid-America with sunburns and the runs ride skinny donkeys.

Some local horses exhibited odd behavior. This fellow and others in the same stable took to rolling in the dirt, much like a dog.


Perhaps the dirt rolling was in an attempt to appear like a dog and escape a fate such as this:

Sweet Jesus, take pity and release that horse from its unholy duty.
I for one, cannot imagine what it would be to spend a sweltering Mexican afternoon, trapped in the no doubt swamp like crotch of a tourista. I swear I heard this horse weeping as it went by. A sound that will haunt me for the rest of my days.
Aye Carrumba!

In addition tourists, horses are used to pack everything people are too lazy to carry themselves




And while some of the smarter beasts tried to go their own way


Most of them are (com)pressed into service as tourist taxicabs and end up thusly




I think its funny that a girl in a bikini is riding a horse that is heading straight for a pile of horse poop.


Proud, noble, and skinny, the horses of Mexico.


Dogs.
Dogs were everywhere and like the horses, skinny.
Some dogs, like this one are specially trained to protect roof tiles, a very rare and valuble commodity.


While there were many many dogs, there were a pair that stood out.

Paloma. Trustworty, loyal, killer of odd nocturnal jungle stuff.


A Mexpedition member picking fleas off Paloma's ass. Yep, the dog is as happy as it looks.


Dhumbo. Young, brash, ready for action.


They may look cute in some tramp's handbag but make no mistake, these dogs in the wild are ferocios beasts witha taste for blood. Notice if you will, the lack of fear exhibited by myself, the photographer and my teammate. We stood inches from the fangs of this killer just to get this shot. You are all welcome.


Chickens. Terrifying Mexican chickens


This magnificent example of the mountain chicken, or Pollo de Montana, was spotted only feet from the base camp Palapa.


The male of the species, the dudechicken


This next picture may be inappropriate for more sensitive viewers. You have been warned.

Feeding frenzy. It was an orgy of animals and slop. Horrifying.


Pellicans and some Pellicants-those are the skinnier ones.


This clever snake was disguising himself as dead. I did not fall for his ruse and left the area immediatley lest his body return and I suffer a bite.


Cicadia. Big and hellishly noisy. They arrive enmasse and the sound drowns out most other noise.


No idea what this was. No doubt very deadly. I escaped with my life.


Tiny Hermit Crab. They are everywhere.


The larger, Get Out and Live a Little Crab.


Frog. Green. Small.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Hola Amigos!

After a week, I have returned. Safe from my long and arduous journey to the south, I have readied a few highlights from my trip. Not all to be sure, but for now, a sampling for I am tired and must rest.

The creatures were many and ferocious all


Behold! As it springs into terriffing action!


The food, while strange, was not at all unpleasant. And, as can be seen below, was available in great quantities


All of the expidition members enjoyed the local fare. Being enjoyed here is some unnaturally hard corn that was covered in a heavy cream and topped with a rancid dry cheeze. Delightful!


This corn treat was not without its consequences however.



Despite the rancid cheeze corn taking a toll on my physiqe, I still managed to delight my fans.


I believe this is perhaps the highlight of this girl's trip, if not her entire life.




As time allows, I will post the remainder of my photos, including pictures of every meal I had-one of every course at Brasil, a palace of meat. Where, it is with a heavy heart that our youngest team member let her gaurd down and got meat drunk. While not pretty, it was a lesson that we have all learned.

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Dia Tres, not much progress...

Progress was somewhat stunted today. It is now less than 12 hours until I get on the plane and I feel good about my current status, yet still like something is missing....
I spent today running around doing things that needed to be done.
Renewing dog licences, visiting friends babies, the usual.
There were however some high marks, like when I was told it would be best if I never came back to a store.
I was buying a new T-shirt, I enjoy a new shirt to travel in, it makes me feel better and I think I look less like a drug trafficker so somehow a $19 plain white tshirt will ease my travelling..like mantaquilla on a hot tortilla if you will.
Any way, the young lady behind the counter told me, after I had made some comments-not to sarcastic, that it would be best if I didn't shop there again. To which I replied I might as well just hang myself in the bathroom, how much is a scarf?
She gave me a magazine for free and I left.
My first stop of the day was the local thrift store where I dropped off some old clothes that I didn't need, (blah blah blah, listen to how great and selfless I am)
long and short of it, I found not one or two, but three new pieces for my art gallery, two of which go directly into the velvet wing of the collection.


This is the second horse addition, there is a certain proud and noble look in the eyes of the beast, a look that says, "I will not go to the glue factory."


The valliant Matador. This is the eighth Matador, fourth in velvet. A classic pose, man and beast locked in their eternal struggle. Stunning.



The third accuisition was a vintage mary print, beautifully done, it has garnered the coveted top place on this blog, where it will sit until something more grand comes along.

Friday, August 3, 2007

Preparación M, Dia dos

Time is running short, so I have to accelerate my Mexiformation.
Lunch today included some nachos from a local pub. I was assured they were very authentic.
Tonight I plan on watching El Mariachi and Nacho Libre.
I think that to fully Mexperience everything there is, I need to dive right into the soul of Mexican culture...

Luchador.

without further delay, I introduce....

El DIABLO BLANCO!If, after my arrival in Mexico, posts are few and far between, do not worry. It is because I have become a hero to the children and adults alike.
VIVA DIABLO BLANCO!


Thursday, August 2, 2007

Preparation M


Three more sleeps and I'm off to Mexico! Only a week, but good nonetheless. I've decided to document my preparation for my trip as thouroghly as possible. I imagine you will find my attentoion to detail amazing and impressive. It may just ruin your life because you will realize that you are not as good at as many things as I am. Sorry.
I decided that the most important thing I can to for my trip is to LOOK Mexican. (see moustache).
rather than swan into a foriegn land like some piche Gringo, I'll have the look that tells people "That man knows what's what"






Now I have the "look" I needed some gear.
Something that really says me.





















I think plastic ACDC sandals really sum up what I am.
Flat, sensible, uncomfortable, but oh so stylish.
These sandals, I think, are my most precious accuisiton for my journey. After these, I think everything else should just fall into line. I will however need to make a stop at the lcal martial arts supply house , or den if you will, and get some black ninja socks to wear with them.


I have to send a mad shout out to my homeboy Matt at Mission snow and Skate.
He hooked me up with a mountain of swag that I am going to take with me and give to the kids in Yelapa, where I am going.

So very soon, there will be a small village in Mexico with kids dressed more stylishly than I.
Hahaha, ok so not more stylish than I (see ACDC sandals above for a quick reminder why) but certainly more stylish than most of you.


That really sums up preparation M. there are other things of course but really this is the nexus, the very core of what it is.


peace out my homies, peace out.