After the stressful and arduous journey through some of the most corrupt and unorganised border crossings on the planet - we finally arrived in Nicaragua. The landscape and the vibe instantly changed as we found ourselves driving in between huge snoozing volcanoes through lush fields and waving to kids mustering Brahmans bareback. Apart from the occasional deadly pothole - it was a pleasure driving through these parts. The traditional way families worked and laughed together made me reflect warm heartedly on my only family oceans away.

Ham at Santana

Chappo getting sneaky

More from Moacir...

The Volcano towering over the city...

Today is our last day at the orphanage and I can´t help but reflect on the incredible time we´ve had here. We have had so many challenging, inspiring, funny and moving moments with these kids - it will be sad to leave them.

Before deciding to work here, I thought ¨man that´s a month I could be surfing perfect Barra - and I´m not getting paid!¨. However the month went pretty quickly and I got to know the real kids from the real Central America and Mexico - and the stories we heard on a daily basis blew my mind! It was a life changing experience and we can leave knowing that we made a difference and really gave something back to those less fortunate. I also have to praise the work of Pam and Allan Skuse, aka Mamma y Pappa. They have built this impressive refuge up from the dirt and battled though 10 years of various hardships - curruption, cultural adjustment and emotional dramas to literrally save kids lives. Even with the help of the volenteers - they work flat out everyday parenting 58 kids and still remain positive and enthusiastic. Their ultimate goal seems to be nothing more than providing opportunity and hope for their children - it´s really inspiring. I believe if every surfer did something small on their trips for the local communites, I think it would make a huge impression. So if your in the neighbourhood, somewhere near Tapachula, come by for a month or so - it will open your eyes and change your life...Gratias niños, mucho gusto y hasta luego!!!

Next stop - Playa Mizata - El Salvador...

Audios Mission Mexico - see you next year (maybe)!

A la playa!!!

Tapachula at dawn

More from Moacir...

Ham

Sequence of Willy

Moacir

Serenading in front of a tomb

Chicks for sale outside the cemetry

Moe setting up

You may notice a couple of photoes with graves and tombstones in the background. This is because Moe, Willy and I did as most Mexican people do on ¨Dia de la Muertos¨(day of the dead) - visited the city cemetry! It was so strange buying a beer from the many stalls around the cemetry then casually strolling through the beautifully decorated graves listening to people serenading and partying for their lost loved ones. Ordinarily I would´ve been freaked out walking through a cemetry at night - however the upbeat, tipsy party atmosphere made it feel like a walk in the park on a sunny day. Also as we were the only Gringoes - we were often invited over to a family gravesite for a beer and a chat!

Tapachula through the eyes of Moacir

Our new good buddy Moacir Zeledon has a great eye for classic shots - and living, working and surfing in Tapachula with a camera, he has built up an impressive library of images that had my eyes glued to his laptop screen for a couple of hours. The following shots should give you a feel for the Tapachula street-scape and some pumping days at the beach that will be talked about for months. Thanks Moe!

Tiempos de Tapachula

We´ve really been getting into the groove of Tapachula, surfing deserted waves all morning, devouring ¨tacos con carne asada¨ then heading back and organising the 58 kids in the afternoon, often just the two of us. It can get pretty hectic trying to wash, feed and supervise four different age groups with different schedules, but flashing back to the mornings oceanic delights gets us through just fine.

Walking the kids to the different schools in the morning must be a peculiar sight for the locals, I have never been stared at so much in my life! A big mob of skipping, running or wrestling latin kids, herded by a tall scruffy lad with long ratty blonde hair and colourful surf attire. Sometimes I´ll have two of the micro groms holding my hand while I´m shouting at some of the others to get off the road. The afternoon collections are just as crazy, I´ll be trying to gather everyone to walk home - asking some how school was, while interupting the conversations to yell ¨Jonny, alto molestar Yimmy...Eh Ene y Albi, Vamos aqui ahorita!¨. It makes me appreciate my upbringing so much more...

Willy and the breadman...Junior testing his luck... Unsuccessful Junior...

Late in the afternoon the breadman arrives with a basket full of assorted pan (bread) for dinner and breakfast. Here little 4 year old Junior (younger brother of Yimmy)ran up to test his luck yelling ¨Pan para mi! Pan es solo para me!¨ (¨bread for me, bread is only for me¨). When he got denied a piece, he threw a mini tantrum, then in about 2 minutes he was climbing all over us giggling again...

Some of the kids fighting..

Moe and his brother, Moe is an ex-resident who helps out and plans to initiate a surf industry in Tapachula. He studied Surf Science at Southern Cross on the Gold COast for a year...