Mexico and U.S. passport requirements.

This is the year that another phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) comes into play, and plenty of people are asking about the passport requirements for traveling in Mexico.

Here's a synopsis of what I've found according to the U.S. Department of State's Web site:

1. If you are traveling by air outside of the United States, you'll need to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.

2. Currently if you are traveling by land or sea, you must show proof of identity and proof of U.S. citizenship when entering the United States from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and Caribbean countries.

Now according to the Department of Homeland Security's Web site, acceptable documents include:

• U.S. Passport Book


• U.S. Passport Card


• Any other document approved by the Department of Homeland Security

And if you're a U.S. citizen without a single document verifying identity and citizenship, you'll need to show both an identification and citizenship document such as a driver's license and copy of birth certificate or naturalization certificate.

This is all going to change June 1, 2009. At that point U.S. citizens traveling by land and sea will need to have a passport, passport card (passport cards are not valid for travel by air) or any other travel document approved by the DHS. U.S. citizen children under the age of 16 will be able to show an original or copy of their birth certificate, naturalization certificate or citizenship card to enter the U.S.

The bottom line: Make it easy on yourself and get a passport for every member of the family. Passports can take several weeks to get, so you should start the process right away. Check out this link for more information on obtaining a passport. You can request expedited processing (for an extra fee, of course) if you need your passport quickly.

Marketing in Mexico and Southeast Asia 101

Well, Julie and I were traveling in Southeast Asia during most of November and it's been way too long since I last posted.

So I thought I would make it up by sharing some secret techniques I picked up from vendors in both Mexico and Southeast Asia, in the event that you are considering opening your own small business in those regions.

Important techniques for vendors in Mexico and Southeast Asia

1) The Hook
It's crucial to get a tourist to stop and look at your wares. That's where The Hook comes in.

Line to use in Mexico: "What are you looking for?"
This gets the tourist to stop and ponder the question for a moment, or even mention a specific item. Now they are engaged and you can move on to The Presentation.

Some clever tourists, in an attempt to throw you so you will leave them alone, will say they are looking for some item which they believe you don't sell. For example, you are selling jewelry and they say they are looking for piñatas. Simply say "Oh I have good piñatas. They are in my brother's store. Come with me." Then, lead them on a rapid tour through the market until they are so frazzled they buy a $35 necklace from you.

Line to use in Southeast Asia: "Where are you from?"
This line is ingenious in engaging the tourist because, in an effort to not offend the local people as recommended by their Lonely Planet guidebook, the tourist will stop and tell you exactly where they are from. You now have the opportunity to move on to The Presentation.

Some enterprising young ladies, especially in Saigon's Ben Thanh Market, have developed this technique further by grabbing the wrists of tourists, yanking them into their t-shirt shops and not letting go. If you employ this cutting-edge technique, keep in mind that your competitor may be yanking on the other wrist and you won't sell anything to a tourist who has been pulled in half.

2) The Presentation
You need to show off your services or products in their best light. The Presentation is an important next step after The Hook.

Line to use in Mexico: "You like jewelry, sunglasses, wallets?"
Even though it's obvious what you are selling, make sure you run through each item with the tourist. Do this even if they are shaking their head and saying "No."

Line to use in Southeast Asia: Say nothing.
That's not a typo. Simply stand in front of the tourist, smile and hold out the items you are selling. Even if they are shaking their head and saying "No," continue standing in front of them, smiling and showing your items for at least five minutes. This technique applies to all vendors, even if your service is shining shoes and the tourist is wearing flip-flops.

3) The Close
The defining moment that can make or break your day.

Line to use in Mexico: "Almost free today."
This classic line seems to work because it implies that your wares may indeed be "almost free." What tourist wouldn't turn down something that is almost free?

Line to use in Southeast Asia: "Buy something!"
Don't beat around the bush. I know, it sounds desperate. But just try it … it might work. After all, your competition is doing it.

Now go forth and sell, sell, sell my friends!

Will the Vaquita become a ghost of the Sea of Cortez?

Just the other day, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), launched the North American Conservation Action Plan for the Vaquita. What does this mean?

The Vaquita is a small porpoise that lives in the upper Gulf of California and is on the verge of extinction. The Vaquita's decline is blamed on accidental entanglement in fishing nets. As an air-breathing mammal it gets caught in the net and drowns while trapped underwater.

The CEC is a joint organization created by Canada, Mexico and the United States to address environmental concerns in North America.

The North American Conservation Action Plan is designed to help protect the nearly-extinct Vaquita while protecting the livelihoods of the local people who depend on fishing.

In other words, if you can incentivize people to find other ways to fish and make their livelihood, you might give the Vaquita a chance to rebound.

With only 150 animals currently estimated to exist, I'm afraid that this latest -- of many efforts to save the species -- may be too late. But I haven't given up hope that one day maybe I'll see one.

Now, these are not the animals that you typically see rolling and leaping from the deck of your booze cruise; those are most likely Common or Bottlenose dolphins. Vaquitas are much smaller, and if you see one of these in the wild -- alive -- you should immediately purchase a lottery ticket.

In fact, I just found some recent photos taken of the Vaquita in the wild -- photos taken by some of the luckiest people on the planet. You can see them here at Whaletrackers.com.

Let's hope we aren't the generation that saw the last of the Vaquita.

Arrrrr … Kidnapped by pirates in Puerto Penasco!

The late afternoon shadows cut across the harbor like swords drawn for battle. With little time to spare, I leaped heroically on board the pirate ship El Rey Del Mar. My wife, daughter and daughter's friend were being led to the front of the ship and I had to stop this madness before they hit the open sea.

"Avast ye!" I yelled. "Unhand those fair maidens or I'll, I'll … oh, okay. Sure, I'll take a margarita."

The young man looked at me rather strangely, and then went back to the galley to get our drinks. I plopped down on the bench next to Julie, while my fantasy dissolved into the briny air.

Okay, so they really weren't kidnapped. In fact I had to pay to get them on board, but it was money well-spent.

We had joined the crew of the Rey Del Mar on a New Years Eve sunset cruise out of Puerto Penasco. Captained (and owned) by Juan Antonio Sanabria, the Rey Del Mar is one of several boats the company uses for party cruises. It also has the most character, decked out with so many Jolly Rogers, eye patches and buccaneers that you'll be shouting "Yo ho ho!" in no time.

Once at sea the crew fills you with food and beverage, and gets you involved in playing audience-participation games (you know, the type of situation where you're not afraid to ham it up because you already are feeling "enthusiastic" from the margaritas. Not that I would know.)

It's a lot of fun and I would highly recommend it for a memorable diversion. Captain Tony also has a second ship, El Rey Del Mar II, which is currently docked in Guaymas ready for more swashbuckling action.

For more information, contact Del Mar Charters at 520-407-6054.

Alamos hit hard by Norbert.

Hurricane Norbert came ashore on mainland Mexico near Yavaros, Sonora. There's no doubt that Yavaros, Huatabampo and Huatabampito have sustained damage. The main news I'm finding though is about major flooding that roared through Alamos in the hills above Navojoa. Sadly, the press is reporting that four people lost their lives.

Here' a link to some photos of the damage in Alamos.

The road from Navojoa to Alamos was damaged, but El Imparcial, the Hermosillo paper, is reporting that the road is now open (barely) to allow emergency relief vehicles to get to the town.

Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this disaster.