After the storm had passed and so had my horribly tourist ways, I went to explore Isla Mujeres and get my first glimpse of the Caribbean Ocean.
But I didn't get to see much due to being really sick! Spent a day on the island sleeping it off and left that evening feeling like I was in a sauna and a fridge at the same time!
Boooooooo
xxx
Monday, 7 November 2011
Dia de los Muertos!
Didn't really get to see too much of the celebrations in the end as due to the rain and the storm, quite a bit was washed out.
However saw a couple of pretty amazing displays and monuments that had been built especially for it....
And yes the picture below is a decoration made out of glitter showing Jesus and a Skull!
xxx
However saw a couple of pretty amazing displays and monuments that had been built especially for it....
And yes the picture below is a decoration made out of glitter showing Jesus and a Skull!
xxx
If you can't beat em...
Leaving Chichen Itza, it began to ran and HARD. Getting the backlash of the tropical storm, Mexico was set for rain for a few days.
The only option in rain - to get smashed, obvs! So headed to Cancun for a gross, predictably tourist, but very funny night out...in Coco Bongos (HA - spot Starbucks in the back of the photo) with Gia & Sara (the Australian ladies that I had met in San Cristobal).
It was a funny night with cabaret, lots of shots and many tourists!
Good job we were suitably hungover as the next day it rained solidly from morning to night with the water in the streets almost coming up to my knees.
xxx
The only option in rain - to get smashed, obvs! So headed to Cancun for a gross, predictably tourist, but very funny night out...in Coco Bongos (HA - spot Starbucks in the back of the photo) with Gia & Sara (the Australian ladies that I had met in San Cristobal).
It was a funny night with cabaret, lots of shots and many tourists!
Good job we were suitably hungover as the next day it rained solidly from morning to night with the water in the streets almost coming up to my knees.
xxx
Chichen Itza
After a full day and night in Merida chilling and wandering around the city I made my next stop to the 1st wonder of the world on my trip...
Along with many many coach loads of people and surrounded by hideous tourists (wearing items of clothing that could have only been bought from gift shops), I was herded through into the main arena of souvenirs and the ruins (in that priority order!).
The structures where pretty vast & impressive and I learnt some interesting stuff that I won't bore you with now. Oh except just one thing which is that Chichen Itza is built on top of loads of other Mayan cities so while you are walking around you are actually walking across unexcavated cities which are stupidly old!
Anyway, I completed my guided tour and did the usual 'have your photo taken in front of the Pyramid' - (see the cheesy grin below!) and was ready to leave. There are only so many times you can hear 'I give you good price' in 1 day!
xxx
Along with many many coach loads of people and surrounded by hideous tourists (wearing items of clothing that could have only been bought from gift shops), I was herded through into the main arena of souvenirs and the ruins (in that priority order!).
The structures where pretty vast & impressive and I learnt some interesting stuff that I won't bore you with now. Oh except just one thing which is that Chichen Itza is built on top of loads of other Mayan cities so while you are walking around you are actually walking across unexcavated cities which are stupidly old!
Anyway, I completed my guided tour and did the usual 'have your photo taken in front of the Pyramid' - (see the cheesy grin below!) and was ready to leave. There are only so many times you can hear 'I give you good price' in 1 day!
xxx
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Yaxchilán & Bonampak
Another MEGA long day followed with a to visit some more ruins right in the heart of the jungle and it was an early start at 6am. OH GOD!
Started at Yaxchilán - which is set right alongside a croc infested river, where one side of the river you are in Mexico and on the other Guetemala - pretty crazy!
After a 50 minute crossing to get to the ruins themselves we arrived and it was insane! The ruins are huge and covered in moss because of the climate. There are so many underground tunnels to explore with bats everywhere....needless to say I explored about 2 minutes got scared and spent the rest of the time outside!
Outside was pretty amazing too with great jungle wildlife and loads of monkeys just swinging about.
We then went to Bonampak which are much less impressive in structure but still have original painting inside from about 600AD... They were all painted by hand and the colours where made using only flowers and bugs. These Mayan fellas where pretty resourceful!
xxx
Started at Yaxchilán - which is set right alongside a croc infested river, where one side of the river you are in Mexico and on the other Guetemala - pretty crazy!
After a 50 minute crossing to get to the ruins themselves we arrived and it was insane! The ruins are huge and covered in moss because of the climate. There are so many underground tunnels to explore with bats everywhere....needless to say I explored about 2 minutes got scared and spent the rest of the time outside!
Outside was pretty amazing too with great jungle wildlife and loads of monkeys just swinging about.
We then went to Bonampak which are much less impressive in structure but still have original painting inside from about 600AD... They were all painted by hand and the colours where made using only flowers and bugs. These Mayan fellas where pretty resourceful!
xxx
Jungle Cabañas
Staying in the Palenque jungle had some definite perks...the amazing scenery, surroundings, relaxed atmosphere, the list goes on!
But also some downsides including howler monkeys talking to each other right outside your window at 3am - no joke it sounded like a tiger was waiting right outside - pretty sketchy when there are no lights and barely any windows - ha!
Oh and another downside getting 'slightly lost' on a jungle trail and getting chased by a pretty angry dog - whoops!
xxx
But also some downsides including howler monkeys talking to each other right outside your window at 3am - no joke it sounded like a tiger was waiting right outside - pretty sketchy when there are no lights and barely any windows - ha!
Oh and another downside getting 'slightly lost' on a jungle trail and getting chased by a pretty angry dog - whoops!
xxx
Friday, 4 November 2011
Palenque Ruins
So after my visit to the 2 waterfalls I made my day even more hectic and headed to the Palenque Ruins.
They are pretty impressive and sit right in the middle of the jungle so whilst looking at buildings that are around 2000 years old you can also spot monkeys in the trees!
The ruins are really fascinating and show just how developed the communities were that lived there. The expanse they cover is massive and at present the Mexican Government has only allowed for 15 sq km to be excavated so there is plenty more still untouched.
Even more impressive is that the Mayans who built them did so only by hand without the help of animals or tools - crazy when you see how large, tall & vast they are - let alone how intricately decorated they are!
xxx
They are pretty impressive and sit right in the middle of the jungle so whilst looking at buildings that are around 2000 years old you can also spot monkeys in the trees!
The ruins are really fascinating and show just how developed the communities were that lived there. The expanse they cover is massive and at present the Mexican Government has only allowed for 15 sq km to be excavated so there is plenty more still untouched.
Even more impressive is that the Mayans who built them did so only by hand without the help of animals or tools - crazy when you see how large, tall & vast they are - let alone how intricately decorated they are!
xxx
Agua Azul & Misol Ha
So I left San Cristobal early the next morning in search of better clims and people with better fashion sense and headed to the jungle town of Palenque!
It was hot hot hot and super humid which made a nice change but the mosquitos were out in force!
Had a super early start and left the hostel at 6am but that meant I could visit some more of Chiapas on the way.
So en route stopped at some amazing waterfalls: Agua Azul & Misol Ha for a little swim & paddle!
Agua Azul is a tiered cascade waterfall and you can walk up to the various viewing platforms for different views.
Whereas Misol Ha is a really high steep drop waterfall (35m) in the middle of the jungle! This one was pretty cool because you can walk almost through the waterfall to stand underneath it...
It was hot hot hot and super humid which made a nice change but the mosquitos were out in force!
Had a super early start and left the hostel at 6am but that meant I could visit some more of Chiapas on the way.
So en route stopped at some amazing waterfalls: Agua Azul & Misol Ha for a little swim & paddle!
Agua Azul is a tiered cascade waterfall and you can walk up to the various viewing platforms for different views.
Whereas Misol Ha is a really high steep drop waterfall (35m) in the middle of the jungle! This one was pretty cool because you can walk almost through the waterfall to stand underneath it...
Monday, 31 October 2011
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Heather Wherever
'Bringing the brand to life'
*designed by notbadvinny - prices available on request*
xxx
*designed by notbadvinny - prices available on request*
xxx
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