Pantless commuters hit Mexico City subways

While I am in India, Mexico City commuters are going New York style - commuting the subway without pants. It is kinda hilarious think if this were to repeat in India... particularly in conservative regions. Some people would hail this as a step towards greater freedom, others would say it is just plain foolish. Conservatives would seethe and gnash their teeth in anger at the amount of westernization that has taken over this ancient society. Alas... only problem is that, it is not gonna happen anytime soon here in India.       

Pantless commuters hit Mexico City subways | Watch the video - Screen India http://in.screen.yahoo.com/pantless-commuters-hit-mexico-city-180502333.html Watch the video Pantless commuters hit Mexico City subways on Yahoo Screen. Intrepid Metro passengers in Mexico City took to the rails sans pants for the ubiquitous "No Pants Subway Ride." Elly Park reports. Read the full story

 

             

Amazing Giant Crystals

I came across this article titled The Mega Crystals of Naica Mine on Yahoo. The picture looked amazing hence I read the entire article. This is one place I'd love to visit and I am pretty sure every caver would love to explore. I have seen crystal caves in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in India but none of them this huge. These crystals are easily the largest in the world and it proves once again that nature is capable of wonders that human mind can't even imagine....



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Affordable Weight Loss Surgery in Mexico

One of the biggest obsessions, especially of women, in America is to look young, beautiful/ sexy and desirable for as long as one lives. There is nothing wrong with the desire to look good and feel beautiful. In fact this entire culture of wanting to look young and beautiful has spawned a whole new industry in the healthcare field: surgical weight loss and body enhancing programs. The exorbitant cost of these surgeries have kept people away from them. There is hope now with clinics in Mexico offering low cost of lap band surgery.

This is a great opportunity for those wanting to lose weight but who don't have the time to exercise or the inclination to diet. The cost of a lap band surgery in Mexico is now affordable and easily accessible. In the US it costs around $14,000-25,000 for a lapband surgery. The same procedure would cost less than half the price in Mexico and other countries. Surgery prices start from $5,000-$7,000 and this is all inclusive.

I would say this is a great opportunity with several benefits. You could travel to Mexico, get a surgery done and with the money saved you could take a relaxing holiday and come back home feeling completely rejuvenated. That would be a great holiday gift for yourself wouldn't it?

Possible Causes of Swine Flu

Since we are talking about Swine Flu I thought it would be pertinent to discuss how and why this disease might have entered the human domain. Reportedly the first instances of the outbreak was found in Mexico from where it spread to US and then to the rest of the world. It is common to have pigs as pets in the US and I guess in Mexico too. People in the west are more demonstrative in their affections than those in the east. Hence the pictures below which received as an e-mail forward show how much love people give to their pet pigs. The mail lead me on a thought process and then I wondered if the excessive love for animals displayed by caring humans, especially the overwhelmingly affectionate westerners is one of the prime reasons for humans contracting Swine Flu??

I am no expert on veterinary science or in medicine and hence there is no technological thought or scientific inquiry for this analogy. This is just a thought which came into my mind after seeing the pictures on the forwarded e-mail.

Whether it provides a solution for understanding Swine Flu or not, the mail definitely brings a smile on our faces. The ultimate reason for life is happiness and jokes is one way to be happier than we are.

Kits to Guard against Swine Flu

Swine flu has quickly assumed global proportions. The deadly disease has left over 140 dead in Mexico and hundreds more infected. Even the world's most powerful democracy, United States, has not been spared. The first death was reported today. The deceased, a child had traveled from Mexico to Houston, Tx for treatment of Swine flu and succumbed to the deadly disease. Incidences of this disease has been reported from as far afield as in India and New Zealand too.

As of now there has not been any major breakthrough in controlling the spread of this disease. The only thing one can do is to guard against contracting this disease by getting hold of a swine flu pandemic kit. These kits are selling like hot cakes as everyone wants to protect themselves and their loved ones. Get our kit and ensure your protection. This could save several lives, including your own.

San Antonio, site of the Battle of Alamo

The last two days I have been travelling close to the southern tip of Texas state close to the US-Mexican riverine border. This is one of the lesser developed cities in this country. By lesser developed I don't mean there is any lack in infrastructure or facilities, this city is equipped with everything one could ask for. An international airport; millions of sq ft of shopping malls, parks, and leisure spaces; several old and new religious shrines; tourist hang outs; hotels catering to every taste and flavour. The only thing that is unlike Dallas in this city is the absence of large roads, but then downtown Dallas also has narrow roads.

The mainstay of the economy appears to be tourism on the surface, the city was formed in late 16th century by the Sapnish who came travelled from Mexico making a headway into north America. The city is set around the river San Antonio, which was perhaps the sole source of drinking water few centuries ago, now the river has shrunk to a few feet wide and has become the venue of cafes, shopping and other commerical activities. It is basically a tourist attraction and a place to walk by the river, there are 8 miles long walking area along the green algae-filled river. One could even take a boat ride along the historic parts of the city along the river.

Visitors enjoying a boat ride in river walk area in San Antonio

The Battle of the Alamo was fought in February and March 1836 here and was the decisive part of the Texas Revolution. Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna wanted to unify Mexico by capturing independent Texas after an insurgent army of Texan settlers and adventurers from the United States had driven out all Mexican troops the previous year. Mexican forces began a siege of the Texian forces garrisoned at the Alamo Mission on Tuesday, February 23.

For the next twelve days, Mexican cannons advanced slowly to positions nearer the Alamo walls, while Texian soldiers worked to improve their defenses. Alamo co-commander William Travis sent numerous letters to the acting Texas government, the remaining Texas army under James Fannin, and various Texas communities, asking for reinforcements, provisions, and ammunition.

I walked around San Antonio which is a happening place now, a la Goa in India but without the beach and mountains. This is full of shops, malls, music, food, bars etc. Tourists enjoy all these facilities and return to their homes. Accessibility is a great feature here, the city has its own international airport which kinda makes it easy to visit even from other countries. The city has some beautiful architecture, churches, walkways and a few parks. Here are some pictures of my travels.

Gazebo built by Mexican government in a park in San Antonio

Old Market square, San Antonio

Statue in the park in San Antonio

Old Church - San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio

San Antonio district court

River San Antonio around which the river walk shopping area has been created

San Antonio is known for its Christian missions.. there are several old churches here

Another old church in San Antonio

Modern art, sculpture installed in one of the main intersections

A new eco-friendly holiday resort

How would you like to live in a tree house sited contiguous to a turtle sanctuary and participate in hands-on community living. This is what the Playa Viva offers for discerning tourists who are particular about sustainability and conscious about the food they eat, the cars they drive, and the clothes they wear.

Playa Viva is one of the latest resort and residence community to be promoted on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. The community offers western families the opportunity to continue their purpose-driven lifestyles while away from home, without sacrificing comfort or style. These eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable vacations are aimed at providing a mind and body rejuvenative experience, while simultaneously regenerating the land.

"Every day we make choices about how we live our lives, raise our children, and better connect with the world around us, and travel should be no different. Sustainability principles and features at Playa Viva help create long-lasting connections to family, friends, and the environment that enrich our lives," says David Leventhal, founder of the project who along with his wife Sandra Kahn was instrumental in promoting Rainforest2Reef, a preserve in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula protecting over 350,000 acres of jaguar habitat.

Playa Viva is sited on 200 acres of ocean-front property on the Pacific Coast of Mexico and a mere 30 minutes drive from the Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa International Airport.

By being near the airport, the environment of Playa Viva doesn't look one bit commercial. In fact the landscape, once a coastal forest was cleared to make way for coconut plantations. But now the plantation has been abandoned and the land rapidly regenerating into a forest. The Playa Viva community's efforts in bringing seeds from local native forests and over 7,000 trees have been planted to speed up restoration work. The existing palm trees are being relocated to the beach to stabilize dunes and serve as living piers for the project's casitas or tree house suites. The Playa Viva is one resort where over 80 percent of land has been protected, and only 20 percent developed to house resort accommodations and facilities. All aspects of Playa Viva's operations are designed to be low-impact and restorative to the land and natural systems.

Activities at Playa Viva range from releasing turtles into the ocean to planting trees to playing in the waves. For further information visit the company website http://www.playaviva.com/.

Pictures from the resort website