Big Sur, a portal to a fascinating coastal biodiversity

I read that, it took around 18 years to build a scenic route that has allowed lovers of nature, to discover the unique beauty of Big Sur. Most of the work was done by convicts which in exchange got sentences shortening. Driving  up North  the Hwy 1 From San Simeon to Monterrey  is a real curvy, slow and narrow path which provided us with abundant opportunities of looking very closely to the left, the Pacific Ocean; to our right the impressive mountain array and rock formations. I was hypnotized by 90 miles of  magnificent mountain range, vegetation, sea life, native flowers and Coastal cliffs.

 In a way, HWY 1, has been unconsciously designed to not rush from one town to another, but rather to breath in the Ocean and impressive  mountains and breath out all the stress we carry in our mundane life.

I am so grateful for the capability of being mesmerized by one of the most immensely  coastal portions of California. Road trips are always  incredible opportunities for meditative moments to observe closely and honor the omnipresence of this region named " Big Sur", definitely priceless.

 It was here that the California Condor was reintroduced after being extinct. I kept seeing them flying high in the sky till in one moment one came down very closely to us. The Condor who inspired the International well- known peruvian "Condor Pasa" music, kept on and on reminding me of the freedom and the looking inwards for soul searching. It was all there.

From San Simeon to Carmel, Highway 1, provided us with an infinite number of opportunities to be  in the present, moment beautiful moment that we were experiencing, The Now was Immeasurably.

 

At Piedras Blancas we met the elephant seals and learned from them to just lay back, relax, indulge in the moment. Out of a population of 2500 that gather at the beach, we met 100's.. It was hard to think about their nearly extinction.

Our second stop was to experience Pfeiffer State Beach and Park. We walked towards a peaceful gore, then the mountains, across the river saw canyons and coves filled with living nature. We met many Stellar jays here, and people from all over the world. Exhausted of all the hiking we fell asleep in a the hidden Pfeiffer Beach famous for its purple sand. Getting to the beach itself was and adventure, if people have things to say of our Southern California 100's of steps down and up. I can't imagine trying to reach the beach and discovering, that is not just right here at the entrance... No walking allowed, so buckle up for an epic drive. Are we there yet?

So much to see and savour but not enough days to do it all. Specially if we wanted to dedicate time to each place.On our last day before heading home, we visited The most amazing natural preserve I remember seeing. Point Lobos with its cypress trails, kelp forest, tentacle forest( I named It like that because kelp here looked like octopus tentacles) seals, otters, blue herons, birds, jelly fish and a variety of native vegetation. There was a whole  pelican peak communnity, which made us super happy because this descendans of velociraptor also once were extinct. In this park we learned of trentepholia aurea, the Orange formation on trees that we never seen before.

For our back to civilization moment we visited picturesque Carmel by the Sea where I got to take pictures of beautiful gardens, signs, hamlets and definitely sensing life all around us... We experienced a sunset surrounded by very welcoming and friendly communnity.

We could not come back home without visiting Dr. Wayne Dyer Asilomar. A very peaceful place for more opportunities to be in the Present moment. We kept thinking on how much Dr. Dyer appreciated this place and how amazing it is  that is available to all of us, as one beautiful State Park.

For all the book lovers and HBO series followers " Big Little Lies" tv set at "Lovers Point is another beautiful spot. We saw squirrels that were willing to pose and gorgeous reefs and coves filled with anemones and humongous starfish.

We were so grateful of all the raw Ocean living beauty we encountered without having to see them enclosed at an aquarium. For the 1st time, we  had the opportunity to enter the Monterrey Aquarium, blessed by the gift that  a patient of Manuel who lives in Monterrey offered. 

We loved the opportunity to see all the work the community of Monterrey are placing on making a sanctuary to preserve life in the Ocean. We got to hear about Luna a rescued Otter and about Baja California my hometown where whales and different species are being followed and protected by researchers and Oceanographers.

Our time was up and we had to come back. We drove on 101 in between fields and fields of lettuce, cabbage and many nurseries. We saw produce being picked by Latinos and it made me feel more than grateful for their contribution to our life and country.

     We are  deeply grateful for the decades of dedicated work from these humans who place food in our table. I wondered if immigration reformers, politicians, ICE workers, Congressmen, and our President  feel humble passing by the Central California majestic mountains, witnessing the farmworkers arduous work, so that we all  have food in our table. 

I did feel small standing behind the Ocean, between mountains and next to all the abundance life can offer.

Driving the 90 miles of coastal mountains, canyons, forest, bluffs, and the magic within the Big Sur Preserve and State Parks was an epic adventure. This is our 1st field trip for Giancarlo's 7th grade of education and we look forward to more journeys like this. 

This educational trip, gave GC plenty of learning opportunities in a very open and inviting classroom called nature. Definitely it was a field trip for sensing life at is fullest.

               Photographs and article by ©KarlaGMundo2018

Grateful for the summer and my love for nature and writing

I have so many topics that I want to share with whoever reads my articles but have not had a minute to write. I am grateful for those who read my thoughts and those who have given me feedback about my articles... I am not really good about marketing what I write but I  surely write when inspired and pretty much is everyday!!. I have notebooks  filled with topics from immigration to Global Warming.

I recently read the story of the Palestinian girl who got shot by a Israeli snipper. I was horrified about how Palestine keeps enduring the oppression of Israelies and how we in the West seem not able to do much. I was sadden to know that surrender, dialogue and Peace is not a word among Israelies and palestinians. I also attended a conference about gun control organized by moms across America. I heard a prominent lawyer talking about immigration law and saw many Americans concerned by the faith of children in detention centers. There is so much to do for the world, I get sad and overwhelmed but also empowered by many who care because I care..

I hope to share soon with all of you what I have read or heard recently. For now, enjoying my son and husband, vacations, the beach, sun, and  The Art of living... Intending you all are having a splendid summer... I dream of the day that all who suffer around the world are seen, are heard and are given the opportunity of Peaceful sunrise and sunset.

Mexico has spoken and has elected a new President

Manuel Lopez Obrador has been overwhelmingly chosen to lead Mexico. 54% of the votes speak of the desire that all mexicans have for change. As a Mexican born, I have mixed emotions.

It is hard to believe in anything other than your spirit when you grew-up in a society that focus on high social class oppressing and forgetting about indigenous roots, and people and exploiting the working class. While growing up in Mexico, I saw that only two political parties always won election. PRI mostly then PAN. Now for a change, a President who started as a member of PRI, then switched to te Democratic Party and ultimately created his own political party. Will he stand by the people or by the so many who have taken advantage of Mexico? We will see when he takes office in December.

 Hope and justice, is all I can wish for a country that still my country. A country that has endure so much oppression and corruption. A rich country that barely increases salaries, a country where the bureaucrats can make more than their share while farmers or working people barely exist. Mexican leaders have had its people hypnotized  with mexican soap operas and soccer for ages but that did not stopped Mexicans  who voted for change. Now we got to wait and see if Lopez Obrador is for the people and not for corruption.

Corruption is a phrase that Mexicans seem to got acostumed  due to fear. Killings, kidnappings seem to cause the fear effect that will paralized anyone. Journalist and politicians have been killed without impunity.   I read that elected president Obrador platform is focused on ending corruption and taking away the power from the wrong hands. I certainly want to see that happening.  For starters,  a more educated and well trained Police department who is not well know by " La mordida" but by their service to the community.

I read that he is focusing on the poor, the youth and the elders. If all his words become actions ,I will be overjoyed to see that Mexico my first home, the home to my family and friends will finally have  a leader who believe in change and treat his people with dignity..

Reverting the privatization of Mexican water should be one big priority. Many of us  will be waiting  to see the promises into action. Mexicans want real change the kind that will take half of Mexican population out of poverty. Perhaps selling the presidential plane, reducing politician salaries will be part of the change. We can only wait and see it happening.

http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-43578377

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/29/world/americas/mexico-election-lopez-obrador-president.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/03/mexico-amlo-president-no-bodyguards

Tea with Alice Paul

This 4th of July I will remember the legacy of the women who campaigned tirelessly for women vote and rights. " Tea with Alice and Me" an opportunity to learn more about the suffragete movement. I truly enjoyed the monologue of Zoe Nicholson. By re-visiting with Alice Paul activism we got to know Two militant visionaries that invites us all to lead, resist, persist and do something for change and justice.

About our environment and how do we impact it...

A great gift was given to me and I have embraced it deeply. Caring for my planet and its well-being is in my thoughts constantly.  I cannot change the fact that as a child I was not really involved with anything that had to do with the environment, but I am glad now I am.

I guess our project of planting our own pot-patio garden for the past 11 years has made a big impact on me. It has inspired me to learn more and more about how to contribute to our natural world rather than its destruction.

 The idea that in this country we have the pleasure to enjoy gorgeous gardens and the inmense Redwood and Sequoia forest while in other countries deforestation has been occuring for a long time,  makes me want to become an enviornmentalist educator.
                                             
I have a deep fascination for documentaries and books, because in them I have found so much information. Documentaries and books can help us reflect about how our life support system is doing and what can we do to improve it.

                                                 

I recently learned from "The Monarchs are missing, a Butterfly Mystery" by Rebecca Hirsh that the numbers of Monarch reaching winter in Mexico have been decreasing in the past 20 years. From 45 acres seeing in 1997 now only 4 acres. From 1 billion the population went to millions.

The gorgeous Monarchs fly 3000 miles from across the USA, Canada till Mexico is impressive considering how fragil butterflies are. Having done road trips to Mexico and Canada, I can imagine the Monarch journey which is considered one of the greates Migrations. I get fascinated by their ability to travel that long  while during this period laying 700 eggs which only 5% will survive.

                                     

Last year I had the opportunnity to see clusters of them at Pismo Beach. They were an amazing gift and for that reason I really hope all of us consider something very simple as to having some common native milkweed in our gardens.

I read that butterflies represent freedom, transition and peace and with that in mind, plus them being part of the cycle of life, I will like to continue seeing their population grow.

Talking about that freedom of flying, I recently learned that in Europe 1/2 of billion birds a year are poached specially the Ortolan. These birds are caught in really cruel forms using lime sticks or trap rocks and cages. Although it is illegal to hunt birds some famous restaurant in France still serve them for 40 to 80 euros . "Emptying the skies" a wonderful documentary based on the Essay of Jonathan Franzen published in The New Yorker in 2010, will inspire all of us to take action in regards of protecting our birds.

                                                     

It is hard for me to believe that we hunt for eating, or worst for "sport" in a no longer hunting-gathering society.

At this point of our lives, we must make an effort of doing all that supports the sustainability of our planet rather than the destruction of it.

 In the book "Trash revolution" Breaking the waste cycle I read that everything we  consume is connected to the impact that our earth receives from producing our demands for consumption.

300 million barrels of oil are used every year to make food and 1.3 billion tons of food end in a landfill almost 40% of food we produce ends in the trash generating methane gas which is one of the green house gases.

It is estimated that we will have 600 hundred our weight in waste over a life time!! Is it possible that we end waste and overproduction so that we can prevent Global warming and at the same time help people in poverty that really will benefit from having acces to food? It is possible and simple we just need to eat locally, sustainable, Reduse,rehuse and recycle.

270,000 trees are cut every day for paper production. 10% for toilet paper, 18 million acres are deforested around the world every year and as we know this business of deforesting is having a great impact in our ecosystem.  70% of clothing production ends in Africa landfills!!

All of this wasting of resources while we hear that 795 million people around the globe do not have enough to eat are calling for our attention and we can do something as simple as to not consume what we don't think is good for us and the planet. Becoming green, organic, more conscious of instead of throwing away clothing repurposing it, trading or giving it  away.

                                 

Kids are amazing educators and activist for the environment. In the docuemtary "Saving my tomorrow" you will  learn from activist like Xiuhtexcal Martinez, Ta'Kaiya Blaney  both Native-American activist who with their work they been inspiring children and adult to do something in regards protecting our planet. They both started at an early age,same as many other children in the video. In  watching"Saving my Tomorrow", any individual can get vital education; from protecting bees colonies,  Ocean pollution, renewable energy, how mining is deforesting our forests, fracking and  much more. I love to feel the power of children caring for our planet. Definitely inspired!! I hope you too decide to become an Earth guardian.
           
                          ©KarlaGMundo2018