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vivaloha
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Posts: 140
Registered: 11-12-2007
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simple advice for surf-campers
Ahem....just a new member, really, but NOT new to surfing in baja
or the threats of banditos, thievery, baja risk factors etc...
A couple of things to consider in this realm...The third world factor....
When we go down there with SO MUCH STUFF, we are basically
flaunting our wealth / possessions / stuff right in the faces of both
the humble poor who mind their own business (not a threat) and the
nasty dangerous criminals who are looking for a FAT CAT who is an
easy target. Camping at Cuatros Casas is fairly nasty to begin with...
Sorry to dis that scene but it is...Its been sketchy for years and its
a spot to avoid....Camalu town is super poor, Shipwrecks and Cuatros
and Camalu point are all NO GO zones as far as I am concerned.
What makes these spots NO GO Zones- okay - here goes:
1) Above the Guererro Negro Checkpoint is just not safe...
Why? Because in order to pass into BCS you have to have
proper documentation to cross the checkpoint. Sketchers,
hackers and Banditos - both American and Mexican don't
have it together enough to cross the BCS (Baja California Sur)
checkpoint.
2) The Northern Baja region is filled with sketchers - Americans
on the run and Mexicans who aren't satisfied with the rich / poor
gap they see so clearly everyday driving on the roads right in front
of them, other side of the border...Not to say that most americans
in the North are sketchy and not to say that most mexicans in the
north are sketchy cuz they are not....BUT...there are more #s of
sketchy folks in the Northern Region. I consider Tijuana to be a war
zone....Rosarito is scary too...NO GO ZONE...
3) The Southern Region is just a little bit better cuz the people
are relaxed by the warmer temperatures year 'round...They are happier
with their lives and not constantly comparing themselves to RICH americans...
They are not thinking of running across the border and escaping their scenes...
They have more veggies and fruit in the south and many mexicans have
good lifestyles, albeit still relatively poor, but solid healthy, happy traditional
lifestyles...
4) Bad Combinations = Bad Results:
Expensive vehicles with expensive toys attatched-Flaunting Wealth =BAD
Driving at Night or Pre-Dawn= BAD (This is the #1 no-no)
Camping near the main road, ez access spots= BAD (Banditos see you, rob you then bail)
Leaving any valuables out while camped in an ez access spot = BAD (see above)
Camping in Northern Baja in a highly travelled area near poor populations =BAD
So, basically, camping should be done in safe, remote locations, far from Hackers,
get to know the locals, check the vibe, talk to the locals, befriend the locals or if it
doesn't seem right, bail and find a place that seems right...RV campers should stay
in RV parks where they won't get hassled in the middle of the night by the baddies...
Cheap hotels are safe and often have secured parking.
Plan on a going to a war zone, take all the precautions of going into a war zone
and don't flaunt your wealth or get sloppy with your stuff or drunken antics...
Lock your stuff, stay out of site, stay away from the main roads when camping
and always feel the vibe....Don't force a bad situation - Like driving at night...or
like planning to camp at the last minute...plan out your days and provide for
enough time to do the safest thing...Don't squid out like high school kids on
their first trip to Baja...Take a rational - safety first approach.
Think about how desperate 3rd world people in Northern Baja think about
what you have and why they don't have it...Jealousy and desperation lead
to nasty things and sometimes they lead to gangs, drugs, and crime...
If you enter the baja with this awareness then less bad things will happen...
My wife just came in the room and reminded me to remind you all....
"Don't drive alone" - thanks honey...
Wishing you happy travels, always err on the safe side, good luck
and enjoy the warm mexico as the rest of North America begins
its cold winter..
Baja California can be a heaven or hell experience - often the determining factor is your AWARENESS in the moment.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
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Vivaloha
Welcome to the paranoia mongers. 
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larry
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Posts: 233
Registered: 8-22-2005
Location: Orinda, CA
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What a load of nonsense.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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GOOD STUFF, Vivaloha. Thank you again.
barry
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dccf
Junior Nomad
Posts: 98
Registered: 10-20-2007
Location: S. Cal
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WOW, you guys are a tough crowd.
[Edited on 11-15-2007 by dccf]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Viva...
You forgot to mention barbed wire and guard duty. Your vacation destination doesn't have many pluses left to offset the negatives.
I have no idea where you live so I won't assume that you know where Watts, Los Angeles is. It is or was a Black community and has an infamous
troubled past. Riots over issues of race, specifically. I don't know what the predominant ethnicity is today but in the past it was no place for a
White man. It was dangerous for a White person to be in that area. In spite of that, I knew Whites who would go there. They would survey the
situation, enter only in the light of day and excercise utmost vigilance in regard to their immediate surroundings. They tried to be low key,
invisible. And they thought that because they were good people that they were above the hatred which came with their color.
Why would these guys do this? They did it for Soul Food. Freakin Soul Food. They got away with it for a while and attributed their acceptance to
their "goodness" and inate understanding of the equality of man.
What stopped them from making these equality statements was an epiphany of sorts when they returned to the parking lot, full of Soul Food and
"goodness" to be met by commitee of six who proceeded to show their "goodness" and appreciation of these sincere gestures of equality by beating them
half to death.
My point is that your list of precautions and preparations, the vigilance and the studied understanding of the Mexican people reminds me of the sad
story above.
My friends wouldn't ever go back to Watts. Their silly preconceived notions failed them. They were crestfallen. They thought they had the ellusive
answer to brotherhood.
Edited to normalize the rate of Vandenbergs pacemaker.
[Edited on 11-15-2007 by DENNIS]
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by larry
What a load of nonsense. |
I like to apply this to Dennis's post.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vandenberg
| Quote: | Originally posted by larry
What a load of nonsense. |
I like to apply this to Dennis's post. |
Well, thank you Ed, for taking the time to read it. I'm flattered that you would fit it into your busy schedule.
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Fred
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 3-15-2007
Location: Las Vegas
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Dennis..............been there for soul food........no problems
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Glad for that, Fred....
Did you ever find a dentist/denist? I'll bet there's somebody in Watts who would like to work on your teeth.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Glad for that, Fred....
Did you ever find a dentist/denist? I'll bet there's somebody in Watts who would like to work on your teeth. |
Or .... work your teeth over.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Yea....Over and out.
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Fred
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Location: Las Vegas
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I would find one in Watts, but do not have pearly whites. Too much beer and t-kill-ya have been over my gums making my teeth tan in color.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17628
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vivaloha
1) Above the Guererro Negro Checkpoint is just not safe...
3) The Southern Region is just a little bit better cuz the people
are relaxed by the warmer temperatures year 'round...
They have more veggies and fruit in the south...
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what nonsense!
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Here we go again------ 
When I was a street cop, I had a walking beat in Logan Heights in San Diego from 6pm to 3AM-----supposedly the "rough" section of town-------I NEVER
had a problem-----but I was very vigilant, and tried to do nothing stupid-----excercising caution as VivaLoha suggests---------that is not paranoia,
just good sense, if you ask me.
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
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What winter it's 87 at my house today and 83 at the beach earlier when I went surfing.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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I have a feeling that Logan Heights has become a bit more dangerous than it was way back when.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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You know Dennis, I was just down there a couple of weeks ago with friends, and we drove around in Logan Heights just to see what was happening after
so long, and I was amazed at how much better looking it was now than back in the '60's when I patrolled there. The place actually looked clean and
somewhat prosperous.
Again, all is perception and relative----we each see what we want to, I am thinking, thru our own "filters", and give off karma to boot.
But then I used to walk thru downtown Washington DC for miles back in the late '50's and tho it WAS a little spooky, I never had any
problems------just naive, maybe.
barry
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Granted, they do have a tight community but things have changed since the sixties. There's a lot more crime and a lot more "Viva La Raza" pride.
Whatever it takes to keep the streets clean.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Dennis, it is sure GOOD to be retired!!!! and in a small city, and not have to "deal" with all that "stuff" anymore. 
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