Hello,
Left Mexico City after sorting out some very cheap, but interesting accomodation for the new year. I headed for Oaxaca, pronounced
(WooHaKah) and there met up with loads of other travellers that Id met in Mexico and then again in Oaxaca. One of the guys, a Kiwi from New Zealand called Jeremy, was a chef at home, so we decided to cook up a big meal for everyone in the hostel, as it had a kitchen with an oven. We got to work collecting 20 pesos (1.30 pounds) from anyone interested and the next day headed to the market. We cooked up a great veggie meal, roasted vegtables, salsas, guacamole, stuffed eggs, pasta, salad... 20 people joined the party in the end and it was the highlight of the trip so far without a doubt...

There is more to do in Oaxaca, but as its only 6 hours from Mexico City, I decided I could go back on a day trip and left it for another
time, headed south to the coastal town of Puerto Escondido, which means something like "hidden port." I think the name is out of date, as the beach was full of deckchairs, umbrellas and people selling t shirts and necklaces... left after a day with Jeremy, and as he is on a similar budget to me, we decided to try and hitch hike along the coast, ended up getting the bus to the next town along, Muzunte, which was really nice, we stayed there a couple of days in a hotel with a great view of the beach and a dodgey kitchen for 150 pesos, 10 pounds a night, accomodation is now cheaper as we can share a room, Oaxaca was the cheapest plaec so far though, 45 pesos a night in a dormatory. The waves along the Pacific coast here are fantastic, dangerous to swim in, but great fun, surfing is popular, but I have not had a go yet...

Met up with another guy we had met in Oaxaca on the beach who informed us that we were not in Mazunte, but in San Agustanillo, (we had walked through Mazunte by accident.) After a night of getting drunk and forgetting to put up the mosquito net, we both woke up with really bad mosquito bites. I woke up at 6, before the sun, and headed along the beach to the fishing boats Id seen the day before. I jumped in and off we went for a two hour fishing trip to collect the previous nights fish. We picked up a Manta Ray and a small shark as well I think, plus tonnes of fish, big and small, I got to keep a couple of them, which they wouldnt take any money for, and we had a great BBQ on the beach that night.

Headed off again hitchhiking, and after 7 different modes of transport, including bus, taxi, and 3 wheeled Motos we arrived in Tehuantepec, after going to the two hotels mentioned in the lonely planet and finding them too expensive, we asked a couple of locals in the market place and they sent us to this really cool little house/hotel for 70 pesos a night, 5 pounds. really cool, and we havnt seen any other toursists the two days we have been here. The Senora let us use her kitchen tonight, and we have been cooking ever since the big meal in Oaxaca, which saves lots of money. Today trekked up a mountain to some old Astec ruins, not that impressive, but still good to see and good to get out of the cities. We have also invented a new meal here, Avocados are really cheap here, about 15p each, you mash one up, and onion, chillies, tomatoes and lime juice, put it in a sandwich bag and take it with you for lunch, then buy a couple of bread roles, and take them as well. when you are ready for lunch, cut the role in half and bite the end off the bag and squirt the filling into your role, no mess and really really tasty...

Leaving tomorrow, hitching again, not sure if off to Guatamala or heading up to Cancun to Cuba... I think Cuba can wait until another year, as my money is tight still, and the flight will be 200 pounds or so, Guatamala is supposed to be good and cheap...

All is going well, not sure where I will be at christmas yet, but not at home unfortuantely...

see you soon,
john