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WanderFam

Have Kids, Will Travel // A lot of local, a little luxe

Akumal

A True, Short Story of Conversion Fatigue (A.K.A., That Time I Ordered 11 Pounds of Takeout)

It was a long, full day for me. As it turns out, I ended up having a bit more work to take care of that week, and it required nearly a full day with strong Internet. (Things had happened with our AirBnb, like you know…a tree falling on it. Also, someone had committed bank fraud with our debit card, and we weren’t able to get cash from ATMs…sort of essential. Basically, an event like this for each day of that week. :))

In my quest for strong WiFi, I drove to Playa del Carmen in search of Starbucks. (I must clarify that it wasn’t for their coffee, but for their Internet. In my emphatic delineation between tourist and traveler, I initially refused to buy Starbucks coffee while traveling…well, at least for the first week. Fast forward to…just a week in Mexico City, I’d ordered a Cascara Latte, with a side of no shame.) In an effort to feel like I was paying for my Internet, I ordered two balls of Pan de Queso, one of the cheapest items on the menu, and also a happy snack for this gluten-sensitive gal’s body.

My view from Starbucks definitely felt well-protected

And there I sat, for many hours. Lunch passed, and supper was soon to do the same. I prefer to work in a quiet space, but in this case, Internet was the draw; and I didn’t know of a quiet, strong-Internet area. So many hours in the visually and auditory overstimulating environment, combined with getting myself in a state of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi-esque flow, and my brain was done. (Probably also had something to do with my state working of sans almuerzo.)

One of several malls in Playa del Carmen, on my walk to Starbucks

There were just 3 more things on my list of things to do before heading home: find Justus some flip-flops, buy Daniel some toothpaste, and stop at this pretty amazing little food stand that our friend Emilia had introduced us to the year before. Check, check, and…

Enjoying Las de Asada as a family in 2016

Very randomly (and definitely providentially if in regard to food), we ran into Emilia just 2 days prior in Tulum. Emilia had been our driver in September 2016, and had taken us to a cenote and some other areas near Playa del Carmen. (We hit it off instantly, though she does have the personality that I assume makes many people feel like her best friends!) We had never been with her in Tulum. Yet in April 2017, that’s where we saw each other again! We had the address of the restaurant she’d taken us to then, but when we ran into her? Of course, we asked her the name of the restaurant: Las de Asada.

I was also able to find photos of the previous year’s visit there, and using our iPhone’s geolocation feature from the previous year’s photo, I was able to find the address. (Who said technology won’t help you be a hunter-gatherer on a quest for meat?) Now with the name, I also found the Yelp reviews, and it listed an address, too.

Upon packing up my mobile office, I set off with one mission: find Las de Asada. It was in the non-touristy section of Playa del Carmen, and soon I found myself navigating the calles of PDC. But apparently not the correct Calle (street), for soon I also found myself in front of someone’s personal residence.  No one was offering to sell me any food. That was using the geolocation address. Next, I used the Yelp-listed address. Now, I found myself at the end of a dead-end street with a grungy mutt looking like he wished to eat me. Again, no food for me. Strike two.

To my dismay, there was no Las de Asada. I pulled over, and pulled out my phone and searched for solutions. In the end, I decided I would just drive back home. (Cue hangriness setting in.)

Hola, mi amor.

And then…I just so happened to pass Las de Asada as I began the drive. It was on a busier street than I had mentally compartmentalized in my mind. But once I oriented myself to the surroundings, it made sense.

Soon, I was there, at Quintana Roo’s best kept secret.

I could see that they had expanded from our time there last September, with nearly twice as many tables. They’d also noted extended hours from 6am to 1am! (But as you’ll soon find out, needing food at 1a.m. wasn’t going to be a problem for me anytime soon.)

The Las de Asada Menu in 2016

My big reason for coming was that you could order meat by weight. Of course, not being the USA, everything in the rest of the world is calculated via the metric system. For my husband, who was born in South Korea, converting back and forth between the metric system and the US alternative was second nature; however, for the daughter of a West Virginia coal miner, I was not graced with such familiarity (even though the metric system makes more sense).

Having driven at 80 and 100 kilometers per hour for several days, calculating between kph and mph was becoming a familiar routine. I’m learning that Celsius is a comfortable setting on the thermostat. Dividing the price in pesos by 20 was a quick and easy way to know the cost in USD. But in my short week here, I hadn’t done much calculating between pounds and kilograms.

I should also preclude the following story with the fact that it’s well known between both Daniel and I that when either of us have been working too hard, too long, we end up with what we call “brain fry.” Hunger and fatigue exacerbate that. My brain was experiencing both at the moment. Plus, I needed to place my order in another language, one in which I was not yet fluent.

So, here’s how it went down. I planned to purchase 5 kilograms of meat to take home, but I converted the opposite way, thinking i’d be taking about 2-3 pounds of meat back, and that would last us for 2-3 meals. However, pounds to kilograms go the opposite way of miles-per-hour to kilometers-per-hour.

As I sat waiting for my order, it dawned on me that I had just ordered 11 pounds of meat! No wonder it cost $66!!! (But hey, there was a guacamole order in there, too.)

I sat as the lone gringo in Las de Asadas, wondering what they were thinking of the crazy lady waiting for her 11 pounds of meat! (I mean, most people are shocked that I have four children. But how many kids could eat 11 pounds??!!)

We had been to a couple of “tourist restaurants,” and at those locations, as a family of 6, our bill had come to around $50+ But this was not a gringo stop. After a while, I consoled myself that I had actually gotten a great deal, even for buying + cooking meat ourselves.

Get in my belly, 5 kilos!

After a fairly long wait, I was ready for my…weight. 3 bags FULL of meat and the accompanying tortillas (like 50!) and sauces (which I’m quite sure were more like 15 pounds total), I prayed the bags wouldn’t break, and went back to load the van. So did a kind man from the restaurant.

In the end, I have no regrets…

Only a fridge full of over 11 pounds of Quintana Roo’s best kept secret.

I picked up some pan de queso on my way home. Wouldn’t want that hunk of meat to feel lonely, would I?

(We were well fed for the rest of the week, which I’m sure is quite important to a happily ever after story?! :))

Beautiful sunset driving home…and I was getting scared because I was a little concerned about driving after dark. (Another story for another time…)

To check out, because it’s possibly related:

 

Akumal Monkey Sanctuary: Take 1 and 2!

It’s on everyone’s travel bucket list, right? To have monkeys stand on their heads? No? Well, it was a dream come true for our kids! 🙂

It was only nine months before this visit to Akumal (April-May 2017) that The Akumal Monkey Sanctuary opened. We happened to be in the Riviera Maya area in September 2016, and had looked into going then; however, they were booked for several days out, and didn’t have any remaining openings during our stay.

As it turned out, our first accommodation for our 2017 foray into traveling through Mexico was in Akumal. After a fellow location-independent family posted about their trip, I remembered that this was something we wanted to do and quickly made reservations.

Some may consider that the admission fee is fairly high, even for American prices. However, our lodging and vehicle use was free for our time in Akumal (we did a home exchange), and most of our activities of snorkeling and swimming in the Yal-ku Lagoon were also free (included in our stay). Our kids absolutely love interacting with animals. So for us, this was a no-brainer.

I also know how challenging it can be to try to take photos with 4 kids can be distracting (plus add in some monkeys to the mix?), so I went ahead and paid for a photographer ($25 more, at the time), as well. (Most of the photos here are from the photographer.)

Daniel usually did the bulk of his work week on Mondays through Wednesday and I spent most of the rest of our free time working in an Internet cafe (setting up our AirBnb from afar), so I had our visit booked for the first Thursday morning after our Saturday arrival.

It had been such beautiful week, but we had to laugh when we woke up to a downpour on the morning of our scheduled tour. The rain let up, and our tour was just a drive across town and over the highway bridge to get the the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary. So we figured we’d still go. It was wet, but the rain had stopped where we were.

We began our tour with two other families (though ours was the only with younger kids). We made it through a number of the areas, but then the next downpour came. Tasty Mayan snacks energized us as we huddled in the hut shelter for a while, but we were eventually told the news that the animals wouldn’t be up to “meet and greet in the rain.” Instead, we could reschedule our tour if we wanted. OF course, our primary reason for going was for the animal interaction.

We were all soaked after running back to the main shelter area! After looking at the weather and consulting with the front desk, we were told the rain was the result of a tropical depression that would likely be ongoing through late Sunday. So, naturally, I selected Monday, and we drove back through flooded roads to our villa.

Monday came, and that afternoon was the hottest day of our stay so far. Going back, I had low expectations after our previous trip. We waited in the lobby with 2 other couples, who I assumed would join our guided tour.

Instead, we learned we would have our guide to ourselves, and with just our family, we felt we could go at our own pace. This was perfect for our family of animal-loving little learners!

Finally, we would be able to experience the animal interaction time! 🙂 But first, we had an amazing time watching the lemurs interact with Eden’s toy lemur, which she’s had since she was just a couple of months old (at a time when we had planned to serve in Madagascar via mission work). It’s been her dream to go to Madagascar and see lemurs the lemurs there.

Instead part of that dream came true in Akumal! Our guide said it was fine for her to show them her lemurs, and when she did, they were so curious! We wondered if it was perhaps the black and white pattern that created such interest.

Visitors aren’t allowed to take video inside the animal interaction (not even my head-strapped GoPro), but that was by far our favorite memory. (Also a good reason to invest in the photo CD: the staff will take photos of you interacting with the animals.)

First, we enjoyed the squirrel monkeys. I was a little nervous about having monkeys standing on my head, but we were all surprised at how soft the skin on their feet was. We fed them seeds and cantaloupe, and Kyrie squealed with laughter the whole time. And everyone else observing was grinning and laughing at Kyrie’s enjoyment. (Photos don’t do this justice; I definitely would have loved video of that part.)

For the interaction segment, you get to have two interactions: the squirrel monkeys, another set of monkeys, or 2 lemurs. Our guide knew of Eden’s love for lemurs, so he made sure we could be with the lemurs. There were two of them: Julian and another, whose name escapes me. (Eden thinks his name was Coco or Cocao.) Julian didn’t liked to be touched, but we could pet the other. In this case, it was more important to stay calm and still. (Have you ever tried this with 4 kids and 2 additional primates?! ;)) We fed them halved grapes, and the lemurs would go back and forth between all of us. It wasn’t quite as much interaction as Kyrie craved, but nonetheless an amazing experience for all us.

A tour includes:

  • Feeding the deer and goats
  • A walking tour of the facility with a guide.
  • Opportunities to hold snakes, birds, and other non-primate animals
  • Traditional Mayan snack cooked over the fire (usually a type of corn cakes)
  • Interaction with lemurs and/or monkeys.
  • See a cenote with bats (this was closed during both of our visits)
  • Bonus: Opportunity to run away from the peacock that might peck you 😉

 

Cost:

  • Adults: $65/adult
  • Children 5-12: $40/child
  • Children under 5: free

*There is frequently a coupon code on their website or social media accounts, so I recommend checking those before booking. Additionally, there is a discount for Mexican citizens, as well.

Other Notes

  • Tours can be done in Spanish or English. (We had one in each! :)) The guides are very knowledgeable and well-educated.
  • The tour is approximately 2+ hours
  • The area where you will feed the deer and goats is a typical farmlike area, so wear closed-toe shoes.
  • You’ll also want some protection from mosquitoes.
  • You’re usually in shaded areas, so sunscreen is not necessarily a must. However, remember that this entire region requests that you use biodegradable sunscreen.
  • The AMS is continuing to grow and expand, so I expect it will offer more in the future, and prices may also vary.
  • You’ll drive through the authentic side of Akumal to get there. Be respectful of locals, etc.. (And a stop for fruit or lunch at a little cafe is highly recommended! :))
  • This is definitely designed for tourists, but is a very educational and ecologically immersive experience.
  • Souvenirs are pricey here, but they are also very high quality.

Akumal Monkey Sanctuary Recap

If you or your family love animals, the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary is a great experience. It’s important to note that you should schedule a tour in advance. (Both times we were there, families arrived and attempted to do a tour, but they hadn’t scheduled in advance. One was turned away, and the other was able to go.)

We also appreciate that the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary has a goal of helping animals and the local ecosystem. Most of the animals in their care are rescue animals, so don’t expect to see all of these animals in the wild in this area. However, if you stay at a resort or certain rentals in the area, you may end up having just as much animal interaction with the local monkeys, agouti, or coati. But if you want to see more, I recommend the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary.

I’m grateful we ended up having two tours. As a family with multiple young children, our unexpected second visit allowed us to take things in at our own pace, and we were able to enjoy both halves much more. It also gave us expectations for the second time around.

You can also see more of our Akumal Monkey Sanctuary experience in this video (first time) and this video (second time).

And hey…it’s not every year you get a family photo with your 4 kids and 4 monkeys in it. However, if we’re going to use it as a our Christmas card portrait, I think we’ve got a little work to do on looking at the camera–kids, parents, and monkeys alike! 🙂

Note: this is not a sponsored post; we paid the normal admission fees, and simply enjoyed the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary.

Week 2 Video: Akumal Monkey Sanctuary, Muyil, & Sian Ka’an Biosphere

Here’s our week 2 video:

Places Mentioned:

Where We’re Staying:

This was our second week in a housing swap done through Home Exchange. We are on the property of The Romero Estate, which has an amazing history, and is about to change owners. We feel super fortunate to be able to stay here!

Eventually, I’ll share more, but for now I have 4 kids and just as many businesses, and a lot of adjusting to do in the meantime… 🙂

Week 1 Video: Akumal, Tulum, and Yal-Ku

Last Saturday, we flew to Mexico with one-way tickets, and we’ve now been here a little over one week. Here’s a little snippet of our journey so far:

Places Mentioned:

Where We’re Staying:

We are staying right on the Yalku Lagoon, a housing swap done through Home Exchange. We are on the property of The Romero Estate, which has an amazing history, and is about to change owners. We feel super fortunate to be able to stay here!

P.S., If it makes anyone feel better, our 4yo threw up this morning and I’m in bed with stomach cramps. 😉