Chemuyil Property

As I drove south on the 307 HWY from Playa del Carmen a few days ago something caught my eye.  On the left hand side just one kilometer past Atkun Chen (or 1 km before the Chemuyil exit) is a building.........

I stopped to talk to the fellows who were building and they confirmed it's a new PEMEX and OXXO!!!!  That's right folks just 2 km north of our Chan Chemuyil highway exit is a New PEMEX and OXXO!  They didn't say when it would be completed but it won't be long.  Little by Little Chemuyil is being put on the map.

Yesterday was a sad day in our community.  One of the casas on Grand Caimen caught on fire.  I heard from one of the neighbours that it started in the back bedroom from faulty wiring and a night light left plugged.  It caught on fire and then the curtains on fire and then it the jumped over to burn the mattress.  It continued into the livingroom only to melt the air conditioning unit down the wall.  When I heard about the sad event I went over to see what a cement house looked like after a fire.  The wonderful neighbours on Grand Caimen were already there pulling all of the burned items out of the house onto the front yard.  The inside of the house is all black and the clean up volunteers were exiting with black dust and sweat rolling down their arms and legs.   Bless them for taking the bull by the horns and helping out their neighbour!   Without great neighbours like them the house would just sit until the property manager or owners could get in to clean up.  The owners have been notified and I am sure they will be wanting to come and see their casa to assess the damage.   

Here it is mid March and it feels like the season is winding down.  The community is quiet, restaurants have empty tables and the beach has space to throw your towel......but wait...........Spring Break is just about to Start!  Hold onto your Sombreros the Party is Just about to Begin!  For the next few weeks the Riviera Maya will be thriving and thrashing with youngsters wanting to let loose.  We don't see many of these youngsters in our community since Tulum is so close and its a mecca for young backpackers.  Walking the streets of Tulum you will see colorfully decorated sandwich boards outside of small hotels with "Specials" and "Best Prices"  or restaurants displaying "Special of the Day" or "Todays Catch".  There are never enough days in a vacay to see and eat all of the delights in our area.   Snorkel tours - Scuba certification - Kiteboarding - Kayaking - Climbing Ruins - Cenote swimming or just walking the beach.......the activities are endless!  I found a local dive shop in Tankah a couple days ago offering scuba and snorkel tours.   They were a really fun bunch and you can find them at http://bikinibottomscuba.com/         

Frozen Margaritas are a delight during the hot season. Hot or not, this drink sure has many takers. What is more is the fact that it hardly takes any effort or time on your part to concoct this wonderful cocktail. Have the ingredients ready and you are just five minutes away from taking a sip of one of the most chilling drinks.

Ingredients

• Three parts of tequila

•  two parts of any orange flavored liqueur

•  salt to taste

•  one part lime juice

• lime cut into wedges

•  ice cubes

• Preparation This is no ordinary drink. Unlike the other flavoured margaritas, this margarita must have crushed ice to enhance the taste. Use of a blender helps one crush the ice. Add the ingredients except the lime and salt to the blender. Do not add all the ice all at once. Add the ice gradually. Blend until the mixture obtains a consistency similar to that of a sorbet. Pour it into a margarita glass. Line the rim of the glass with salt. Also attach the lime wedges and serve chilled.  It must be served immediately after it has been prepared.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful in Mexico!  Yes, your reading that sign correctly.....its less than $1.00 a kg (2.2 pounds for my imperial friends) for watermelon and about $1.20 a kg for papaya.  Even thought it is hot and feels like summer down here all of the time we do have seasonal fruits and veggies.  Right now you can buy watermelons, papyayas, pineapples, bananas, tomatoes, cucumbers, avacados and much much more.  Since coming to Mexico we have invested in a blender and have become blender junkies!  My faves are very simply watermelon and ice cubes or pineapple with some pineapple juice and ice cubes.  My hubby is into a mixture of fruits and enjoys papaya, banana, pineapple, strawberries, juice and ice cubes.  Whatever fruit is available goes into his morning shakes.   I have started to experiment with tea as well.  Iced green, mint or regular tea is very refreshing on a day of 100% humidity.  The teas take a little preparation - boiling the water, steeping and then letting it cool before it can be enjoyed but it is alway worth the effort.  Try some blender fruit or iced tea on your next hot day for a Nutritious and Refreshing treat!!

Ps.  While I was taking this picture a security guard told me "No cameras in the store" so I quickly took the shot and put my camera away.  Wonder why they have that rule?

In recent months the debate about violence in Mexico has heated up significantly. Most news channels and newspapers have been giving a broad coverage on the facts of crime, which are usually focused on the issue of combating organized crime.When it comes to human lives, it is always difficult to speak coldly about figures. But when we need to know what really is going on, in terms of crime, we can do nothing but refer to them.

The indicator that measures the violence in a country is the number of violent deaths per 100,000 people. It has the advantage of allowing comparisons among countries’ figures with different population sizes and it is highly reliable since in all countries it is necessary to produce death certificates to account for a death caused for any reason whatsoever. Therefore, in the case of violent deaths, there is no possibility that this indicator, unlike others, could observe significant levels of sub report given that violent deaths are registred by law in all countries.

According to available indicators, Mexico as a country has a general level of 13.3 violent deaths per 100.000 inhabitants, making it one of the safest countries in Latin America. Levels in Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela surprised us since they are at high as 16.8, 36.7 and 44.9 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively. Brazil and Venezuela are two and almost three times more violent than Mexico, respectively.

Moreover, if we compare this indicator with some U.S. cities we will see that our country is much better than we would expect to imagine. Comparing Mexico to Washington DC, New Orleans or Detroit the difference is very big, violence is a tangible problem in those cities. And without going too far, Mexico City has 9.8 violent deaths per 100,000 people, far below of other major cities like Houston, with 12.5, Phoenix, witn 12.6, and Los Angeles, with 17.1. It is true that there is a big problem in Ciudad Juarez and three other municipalities, which altogether sum up to more than 50% of violent deaths in Mexico. The rest of the 2,396 municipalities which form the country have relatively low violence levels.

According to figures provided by the Mexican Government, the battle against organized crime has caused 24,826 violent deaths in the last four years. As it is continuosly said, inside and outside the country, it has turned Mexico in an extremely dangerous country to live. A country that sadly some have said is in “civil war” and that is a “failed state.” This is definitely not true.

Although a number like 24,826 seems pretty high, it is time to put it in context. This number represents a little over 6,000 deaths per year on average. Each year, 20,000 people die in Mexico in road accidents and more than 50,000 because of diabetes. If we look at violent deaths to compare, in the U.S. 6,000 veterans commit suicide every year. So, during the same period, the same amount of persons have died as a consecuence of the U.S. post-war trauma, as the war on drugs in Mexico.

And while there is some exposure about this phenomenon in the U.S. media, it does not reach the same exposure as in Mexico. Here we are in a frenzy of daily information that the only thing that portaits is the presence of violence. Our conversations with family, friends, at office, in restaurants, are all about violence. We enroll ourselves and enroll others, including foreigners, in the idea that violence in Mexico has reached unsuspected levels. And there’s no evidence to support that. It is only our perception. We find ourselves filtering and searching all events and news, looking for those that speak of violence. And likewise, those are the news we speak about. It is a conversation, just a conversation.

This has affected the levels of tourism, investment and economic prospects for the country, and it is not supported by real figures, data and facts, it is only a perception. The good news is that we have the power to change that perception. It just takes to take a look at the data and facts.

Ultimately, the best way to combat violence is to leave behind the fear that generates in ourselves and do something that makes us feel safe. We have to realize that by enrolling ourselves and others in a violence conversation we end up being paralyzed. What would be possible if we focus on facts and data to make us and others see that we can be responsible for creating an environment to grow and prosper instead of creating a violent space with our everyday conversations? You have this power, do it for North America and in the end you will be doing something positive for yourself and for others.

as reported on http://thecatalist.org

I found a FANTASTIC Newspaper that will bring you up-to-date with news and info from around the Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya Report

Grab your morning coffee and ENJOY!

12 Basic Asanas

Asana is one of the eight limbs of classical Yoga, which states that poses should be steady and comfortable, firm yet relaxed helping a practitioner to become more aware of their body, mind, and environment.

The 12 basic poses or asanas are much more than just stretching. They open the energy channels, chakras and psychic centers of the body while increasing flexibility of the spine, strengthening bones and stimulating the circulatory and immune systems. Along with proper breathing or pranayama, asanas also calm the mind and reduce stress. With regular practice one can ensure overall physical and mental health and the possible prevention of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and arthritis. In time, performing the poses slowly and consciously, becomes a mental exercise in concentration and meditation.

Sivananda Yoga