Since Mazatlan I´ve travelled east towards the northern center of Mexico, to a place called Creel (right next to Copper Canyon). To get out there you catch a 10hr train ride which goes through the canyons, very very cool. We left at 6am and around 8:30am I moved to the dinning car for some breakie - the following is what I wrote in my journal - to give you an idea of the experience.

"The breakfast cart of this train is great. Filled with small booths, each with effectively designed non-slip place mats and a colorful array of plastic flowers glued to the table. The forest green curtains and the 1960´s light fittings give the carriage some old world charm.
One of the waiters is very nice. He treats me like the gentleman that I am, while doing his best to speak English. The other waiter treats me like Im the normal abusive American tourist - which ofcourse I´m not.
Eating breakfast is a challenge. When you order an omlete you get a side of veggies and beans with about 15 tortillas. Breakfast suddenly turns into lunch and then into dinner. Drinking coffee is also a difficult but rewarding feat. The train constantly rocks and shudders like an old, unserviced, unoiled rollar coaster. Thus anything that can be split becomes an immediate concearn. They give you your milk in a porcelan cup, no spout, no handle and filled to the brim. Succesfully pouring the milk into the coffee without spilling should be added to one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. I´m coming back at lunch to give it another try!"

Times I´ve stopped and thought "Wow Im in Mexico"
1. In Maztlan, the taxis are just souped up golf carts. Many of the drivers like listening to loud hip hop music. So last Tuesday night I found myself, beer in hand, bopping to snoop dog and racing to ´Joes Oyster Bar´ in a golf buggie!! I thought "wow, Im in Mexico."
2. The train ride from Los Mochos to Creel is truely amazing. Huge canyons, beautiful rivers and snow topped mountains make it an awsome sight. The rail line snakes its way through and around the canyons, popping through tunnels and over bridges. I stood for an hour between the carriages head out the side like a dog in the back of a ute and thought "wow, I´m in Mexico."

I went and saw The Last Samauri 2 days ago. Even though all the Japanese sub titles were in Spanish, I loved the movie. Really challenged by the disciplined life that the Samauri lived......and heaps of cool battle scenes.

I´ve enjoyed reading through Ephesians over the last few days. I set myself the challenge to read the whole thing whenever I have a QT. After reading it several times some sections have jumped out. The fact that the holy spirit is a seal that marks our inheritance in heaven is something I hadn´t thought of before (1:13-14), I think its a cool image, that we have been stamped and the deal has been done. I have also found the command to "live a life worthy of the calling you have recieved" a challenging one - especially one the back of a great email I recieved from Dan.

I have 2 more days in the Canyon and then start the drive north to the US.
until then
in Him
Craig

I'm currently sitting at a computer in another beach town called Mazatlan. I don't know why but for some reason I can't find question marks, dashes or backslashes on the keyboard.......everything is just that little bit different here in Mexico.
It is amazing how the beach slows everything down. Boardies, bare feet, coffee on the beach, I feel like I've been here for months. Unfortunately in this time I haven't been out for a surf. There are a couple of reasons for this.
1. The waves are only good in the morning and I've slept in a bit.
2. My travel companians think Im a far better surfer than what I am and I dont want to destroy my rep.!! In fact last night I told a young mexican girl that I was a pro surfer back in Australia, but pulled out of the tour because I was getting too old. I think she believed me!!

Two things I've discovered so far....
1. Music is so transportational. Last week in Mexico City I stopped in to the Hard Rock Cafe for a coke. When Jewels "You were meant for me" followed by the Counting Crows "Mr Jones" came on. I had been walking all day but after hearing those songs I could have floated out of the joint. Thus my discman breaking down yesterday was a mini disaster...I'm working on it. I could buy another discman in the street markets here for about $10. However I am a little dubious as to their reliability and whether or not they should have a sticker on them "Stolen goods".

2. Email is oxygen. Thanks for the updates you send me. I love it. Keep it coming.

I finished reading the book of Joshua and found it really good. I'm thinking of starting Ephesians today. One prayer point for me is that I can think and engage with my bible as I read it. When Im always on the move I find it hard to concentrate. Often I need to feel comfortable in a place before I really get into reading my bible, sounds strange I know, but its true.

Tomorrow I head up to Creel and Copper Canyon. Hoping it will be nice, then on to the US.
I'd like to use this space to remind you that your all working far too hard and prob. need a break...perhaps in America. When the penny finally drops send me an email and I'll meet you in New Orleans.

When you ride a horse you expect sore legs, maybe a sore butt from the whole experience. I woke up the next morning and felt I had been hit by a truck, my back was stiff, my shoulders concrete......but a small price to pay for riding out to climb one of the 7 natural wonders of the world! The Paricutin Volcano is a strange one. It was formed about 40 years ago and rose from a corn field. In one year it rose 1000 feet and then continued to grow for the next 8 years. The first flow caught the town by surprise and while no one died the entire town was covered, everything except the top half of the church. Anyway, enough of the history lesson - it was amazing. Your horse galloping through the Mexican country side, mountains in the background, its like something out of a movie!

I'm currently in Sayulita and I must say it has confirmed that I am a coastal person through and through. This small fishing town is right on the beach, great surf and a relaxed feel - it feels alot like the south coast of Sydney, except the sun sets over the water!!!! Love it.

Whats Hot and Whats Not in Sayulita

Whats Hot
Doing......nothing
surfing
grass huts
English!!!!!!

Whats Not
Anything involving work
Long pants and shoes
dogs - there are about 25 in the camp site, they wake you up v. early

until then,
in Him
Craig

In my last post I finished with 'till LA'. Well, I've found some internet in Mexico, so it continues!

As you travel you learn many different things - Focus, control and balance. I've experienced all three after yesterdays mexican lunch and 5 hour car trip. Now don't get me wrong, Mexican food is great, but if you think I'm talking about the old El Paso taco kit then your way off. Real tacos have a taste all they're own and for an aussie kid its all too much. Focus, control and balance were all need to stop the inevitability of a bus trip vomit.......but I made it.

I'm now on tour with a very small group of 4!! plus our guide. Most groups sizes are 15 so as you can imagine this is very intimate and flexible. There is a woman from Japan, 2 women from Norway and myself and we all get along very well.

Its time for a short internet exercise..read on
If you have time..I want you to close your eyes and think of everything Mexican. It may be scenes from the Three Ameigos, or some famous photo, I dont' know.

I am currently in San Miguel de Allende. And it is classic Mexico - the town has narrow streets and is splashed with orange, yellows, greens and whites. Everything that comes to ones mind about Mexico is here! It is beautiful, and if I could understand a damn word anyone was saying I may well want to live here!

The last few days I've been reading from the book of Joshua. There is a cool bit in chapter 4, where after the Israelites have crossed the Jordan River Joshua gets 12 men to go back and bring 1 big stone each from the centre of the river. They then place these on the edge and are to be used as a constant reminder that God got them safely across the Jordan.
The thought that came to my mind is that we all have to "Choose our stones". We all need to have things in place that constantly and obviously remind us of the God we follow and the things he has done for us. I guess its different for each one of us, As for me right now...I've got my bible and that is about it - but I'm working on a few more 'stones' to help me.

thanks for your prayers - they have already helped..trust me.

in Him
Craig

The flight was long, the Mexican airport a little confusing and for some time it appeared as though I did not have a reservation at the Hotel Virreyes (at 2am in the morning).

That night I thought.....´what the heck am I doing???´ However, since then things have improved, thanks mainly to a guy called Tony Taka Browne.

But before we jump to that, I need to speak of some of the differences found in Mexico City. Cause there are a few. To start, the road rules are all different. Traffic lights seems to be merely a warning for cars to slow down a little. Its so bad that they even have to post police officers at the intersections....because the lights are useless. I am also unsure as to if there is any speed limit. My taxi driver from the airport certainly didn´t seem to think so. I was relieved however to see him slow down to 85 in 40 zone! It just so happened that he had 106.5 on the radio. I couldn't hear the Love Gods soothing sound, but it was enough to win me over.

Now...Tony Taka Browne. His a black guy with dreadlocks from the U.S. He lived for 6 years in Japan, 2 years down in Can Cun and now resides in Mexico - in my room. Tony's trying to crack the music scene and his the kind guy whom you always want by your side when entering anything in which you need to be 'on the list' for. From the bald dude playing keys for Dave Ledderman, to James Taylors brother, to Slash from guns and roses - Tony has played with them all.
On the Friday night he had a gig in Palento at a small pub. The night was fun and to cut a long story short - anytime you end up sipping free drinks and staying to after hours with just the manager and his mates - you know that you've really experienced mexico.

Tomorrow, I hit the group tour thing - should be good.
finally - a short poem. (that doesn't rhyme)

In Mexico City:
traffic lights act merely as a signal for people to slow from 100 to 85
In Mexico City:
Everyone speaks Spanish....i think 2% speak English.
In Mexico City:
Your nobody unless you have a street stall selling either DVD's, CD's, magazines or making cups of half cooked onion with a lime on top.
In Mexico City:
Everyone is kissing...all the time. Not just the meet and greet thing, but the real deal...everywhere you look!

until LA

in Him
Craig

Hi all. Well I've managed to get my web page up and running with one day to spare! Some would say - perfect timing. (quick thankyou to walshy - you're the man)

Tomorrow 3:30pm, I fly out of Sydney headed for Mexico. What follows will be a year of traveling round the world. Seeing some cool places, meeting interesting people (I hope) and learning a little more about life and the God who runs the show.

I'm hoping to update this site as regularly as I can - but finding internet access at times maybe be tough, so bear with me.

Below is a quick itinerary of what I will be doing. This of course is subject to change - but gives you an idea of my journey.
Jan - Mexico
Feb - USA
Mar - USA
April - USA
April 24 - May 8th - Canada
May - London/Scotland
June - Scotland
July - Scotland
sometime in Aug - Europe
Sept - Europe
Oct - Europe
Nov - Europe
Dec - Egypt/Cape Town

until then,
Craig