I'm back bloggies!

So far this constantly updating the blog thing is working out rather well. Turns out it's way quicker and much less overwhelming than letting things build up. I think I found a new plan! :o)

Now for dinner . . .

Yummy, huh!? Yup! :o)

The other day I was at work and noticed that one of my co-workers went out and bought herself a whole roast chicken and some veggies. She then proceeded to assemble a delicious salad. BTW - and this is a total aside - have I mentioned she's done a couple of marathons? Two of them in Victoria (British Columbia) and the third at Boston. Oh and she qualified for Boston twice but was too busy being an awesome lawyer to run. She's cool beans.

Back to my story . . . the salad looked delicious and I was inspired! So tonight I decided to mimic her salad. But instead of buying grocery store roast chicken I made my own. To up the healthy/ethical/and expensive quotient I bought a free-range organic chicken and roasted it in the oven. It turned out delicious! In fact I've definitely noticed a difference in the quality of my chicken eats since I started buying only the good stuff. Yes it's more expensive but I feel like it's an investment in the happiness of the chicken (while it lived) and my health.

There's no going back now! :o)

My Happy Place

I've decided instead of posting huge entries about my Mexico trip I'm going to scatter pictures here and there.

Milamores in Tulum was full of wonderful details. I know it's the kind of place that isn't everybody's piece of cake but for me it was perfection. Take the breakfast area pictured above. Rustic wooden furniture . . . fresh flowers . . . the salty air . . . it was amazing!

Tulum may be far from the luxury of all-inclusives and the hustle and bustle of Cancun/Playa BUT it is close to wonderful places like the Tulum ruins (above). It's also located near about half a dozen cenotes.

A cenote is essentially a sink-hole. They are caves where underground rivers bubble to the surface. And they're gorgeous! Unfortunately I don't have a picture that shows just how amazing they are. But I borrowed one:

Having been to a cenote I can tell you the water really is that colour. They're also full of these little fishes that nibble on you a little. Oh and of course there are bats! But they don't hurt you. They just fly in and out and return to their little hiding places in the corners.

Our particular cenote (calavera) also had swallows nests. The swallows would swoop all over the place. Honestly it was incredible!!!

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm a bit of a chicken but I jumped right into this magical hole in the ground and LOVED it. Next time I'll bring an underwater camera with me. Maybe I'll even learn to dive so I can explore them even further.

Near Tulum you'll also find the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Sian Ka'an is where I discovered endless pristine beaches, massive untouched jungles, and lagoons teeming with wildlife.

The picture above is taken at the observation deck of the visitor centre. And you see that sweaty smirking girl in the picture? She's having the time of her life!!!! The views from up there take your breath away!

There's no way you could stand where I stood and not be moved by the absolute splendor of the place!!!

My time up there was much too short. MUCH too short. In fact I dream of the day I can return to Sian Ka'an.

I guess it should come as no surprise that there in Tulum. Amidst all that beauty. I found my happy place.