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When I was on dry land in El Salvador, done with getting bashed on rocks trying to learn to surf, I spent some time thinking and trying to figure out what to do with the last couple of months of my trip. I really wanted to prove to myself that I can be a decent surfer, I was running a bit short on time and was eager to try something new and I wanted to do something that could give me possibilites to travel and work later in life. Dive - Master training was tempting, considering that I love diving and the amazing opportunity it could have given me to go travel and work later in life. On the down side, I would have had to spend about 7 weeks in a party-backpacker mecca Utila or Roatan in Honduras, fun for 2 days max, there is absolutely nothing new to do after the first week up in the Bay Islands. And most importantly, it would have ment no surfing.
I remembered the days up in Lanquin, Guatemala, were I had been guided through a couple of Yoga-classes with some fresh Yoga-instructors. And was reminded of all the positive and inspiring things they had to say about the process. It caught my curiousity and I started to search the world wide web just to check. I ended up finding "El Coco Loco", a surf - resort in the middle of nowhere, but just a stones throw from some of the best surf-spots on the pacific. It seemed to fit all categories: Yoga was for me a completely new experience, I would get the chance to learn how to surf and, altough not in the same degree as dive - master, it could open doors for "working as you go" travels later. And considering what I actually got out of my money, the price was right as well.
About a month later I made my way through the incredibly muddy roads down to El Coco Loco and started my little Yoga-adventure. It turned out to be one of the better decicions I`ve made.
Before I arrived, I had kinda imagined that the female to male ratio would probably be a little of at a yoga teacher training, and my guess was spot on. Of the eight students, I was the only guy. Being the only major testosteron-contributor in a place like that for a whole month would have been rough, but luckily there were other non-yogis who participated in ping pong, volleyball, an occasional beer and other male-affirming activities. Crucial.
Our first week we got hit by the gentler parts of a hurricane tearing up the mexican coast. So mud, rain and wind pretty much dominated at all times of the day, and surfing was of limits. Nonetheless, eating as much as possible, enjoying yoga and sleeping served well as a replacement. The hurricane passed, and opened for volleyball, soccer and surf. The routine at El Coco Loco was up at 0515, big breakfast, yoga, big brunch, yoga, big lunch, volleyball, surf, soccer or ping pong, followed by a huge dinner and scrabble. So needless to say, I was loving it.
I just don`t have it in me to write a summary of the whole month, so just a short resumè from the absolute highlights will have to do.
1. Just a week after my second scorpion - experience, a fellow Yogi put one arm into her sweater just to rip it back out screaming. Turned out she was disturbing one of the local scorpions, who had decided to hide out in her sleeve. Scorpions still give me the shivers, but this one turned out to be about as harmless as a bee. Phhuh.
2. Haloween. Altough serious yogis, we managed to squeeze in a haloween party at the right time. I dressed up as a big baby, a great costume since it only required a diaper and absolutely no change in behaviour.
3. Playing soccer for the El Coco loconators. El Coco Loco has a soccer team in the local league system. The owners, the workers and pretty much every male neighboor play for the team, that have had a rough start of the season. I got 2 games for the team and got myself noticed. Mostly for having a big red mustasche, having a weard hair-cut and my norwegian genes got me the nickname "El Grandote". Which pretty much just means "the big-guy". I also managed to get a yellow card, for which I was fined about 10NKr.
The crowd at my first soccer-game.
4. Surfing with Holly Beck. Included in the price was to group lessons with famous pro - surfer Holly Beck. Helped alot, and also just watching a surfer with the skillset Holly had is incredibly cool and motivating.
5. Snake in the bathroom! Ok, maby not a big highlight, but definately worth mentioning! I had a mid-night bathroom break and a strange - looking little guy joined in. A decent sized black snake snaked his way under the walls on the compost - toilet and took a short tour around my feet and then up the wall before he disappeared. A little startling but also fun! Can also mention that we found a 2m snake skin under one of the beds one morning. Snaky!
Other than that I got to see a pro-league baseball game, tried horseback riding, met some amazing people,I actually learned to surf and I`m now a licensed yoga - instructor.
El Coco Loco is so much more than just a resort. The owners, Jaime and Ben, are also running a community help program called waves of hope. For anyone who is interested in volunteering in central america, I really recomend checking out what Ben and Jaime have to offer.
Sad to leave, but as always there`s adventure in the horizon and I can`t wait to get back on the road!
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