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I first heard of “the green flash” in the Northern Territory where watching the sun set at East Point was a bit of a hippie tradition in the old days. Just as the sun sinks below the horizon you will see a green flash…. if you’re lucky?…… enhanced?
Tonight I’m watching the ever-spectacular sunset from my balcony at the Hotel La Siesta in Mazatlan, Mexico, still one of my favourite places, even after all the rest.
The sun sets through a low layer of glowing red coals clouds then breaks clear for the last free plunge into the Pacific. My third time here and still magic.

WAS IT THE GREEN FLASH?

Bill Shum
2006-08-21 17:06:57

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I first heard of “the green flash” in the Northern Territory where watching the sun set at East Point was a bit of a hippie tradition in the old days. Just as the sun sinks below the horizon you will see a green flash…. if you’re lucky?…… enhanced?
Tonight I’m watching the ever-spectacular sunset from my balcony at the Hotel La Siesta in Mazatlan, Mexico, still one of my favourite places, even after all the rest.
The sun sets through a low layer of glowing red coals clouds then breaks clear for the last free plunge into the Pacific. My third time here and still magic.
A line of 7 pelicans drifts effortlessly across the bay, half a mile offshore the twin rocky outcrops reflect the last light, skateboarders and roller-bladers cruise the boardwalk, a chain of quad bikes cruises the malecon, battling it out with bikes, taxis, cars and buses, just at sunset there’s a rush of traffic, seeing and wanting to be seen, then it all calms down again, very tranquil.
A few swimmers catching waves in the twilight, kids screaming as they play chicken with the incoming tide waves, fitness freaks power walking, jogging and cycling, the gringos Rip Curl, San Clemente 01/07/2005with iPods or cell phones, the locals with style and grace. The retirees trying to outrun geriatricity.
I’ve put in a couple of long days getting thru’ from Puerto Escondido, some 1,700 kms, much of it like a constant Great Ocean Road, but no cops!..the only laws here to be obeyed are gravity, Newton’s third and supply and demand.
The asphalt is thick and rich, like a giant licorice strap laid out around the hills, clinging to the cliffs over the rocky shoreline below.
Then out along the flats, little surfwave bays lined with coco palms and shacks, then up onto the cliff tops and twists and turns again.
The roadside shrines, testament to both the dangerousness of the curves and the idiocy of the drivers, lots of little canvas roofed utes with ...