Viva Mexico!

Couldn’t help myself being emotional when I saw the scene that signified the conquer of the indigenous world (when the mayan temples were knocked down and replaced by the cross). 4 years later, the show still moved me, it reminded me of the discussion among me, nozomo, and paco four summers ago..recalled why I succumbed at the end, ‘yeah, the Rockies are from Mexico!’ Must adore the rich diversity and history of the country- viva Mexico!

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Under the Sea!

It was the sensation that I had never felt before-being so deep under the sea. Went SNUBA (it was like scuba diving except that we didn’t carry our own tanks). Never been this deep under the water, 7m deep. It was surreal; felt that I was in a gigantic fish tank. It was so quiet and peaceful. There was no sound. The only sound I could here was my own breath. Funny how it could be so stormy and rough on the surface, yet, 21 feet under, it was another world, world of tranquility, which had nothing to do with the roars above. The first 5 minutes going down was rather nerve-racking for me, but once I experienced how it was suppose to feel, got used to the sound and pressure, I was relaxed and started my exploration of the underwater world. Friendly sea turtles, stingrays, colourful tropical fish…Now I know how people can be so hooked to diving.

Too hot, too crowded, and too small?

(dated July 22, 2007)

After almost 400 km of driving, we arrived Chichen Itzá to pay a visit to the infamous mayan shrine, which was just recently voted as one of the new 7 wonders in the world. Honestly, it was not as impressive. I expected it to be more ‘marvelous’, well, at least, bigger and higher. Couldn’t help myself ranting that Angkor should have been chosen instead. Poor papi, had to put up with my complaints on top of the heat (37˚c), the humidity, and the crowd. Yet, I must thank to the mayan god for the trip…if it weren’t for the pilgrimage to the ruin, we would not have been ‘restored’.

La tierra de nada

(dated July 15, 2007)

I must give it to the Nicas. It is beautiful. The land of nothingness but abundant untouched landscape. First time seeing an active volcán (Cráter Santiago de Volcán Masaya) so close. The smoke coming out of the crater looks like a mushroom of Hiroshima (definitely a very bad joke to crack with K-san).

Ojalá que haya luz!

(dated July 14, 2007)

‘Ojalá que haya luz!’, my friend K-san prays for everyday when she arrives home from work, who is ‘living large’ in the second poorest country of this hemisphere, Nicaragua. Funny that you realize that simple things such as having lights and water can make you so happy when you find yourself in a place where what you worry about is not which job to go for, which pair of shoes to buy, or which restaurant for dinner; but rather if it is your turn to have ‘apagón’. Waking up as the sun rises and going to bed as the sun sets Simple, down-to-earth life, hard to find it in any ‘civilized’ world these days.

Chichi

(dated July 8, 2007)

We (mi Chapín ex-roommate, su mama, su novio, y yo) hit the road in the early morning so we could catch the Sunday market in Chichicastenango (Chichi), a colourful indigenous village in the highlands. Reminded me of the market in Otavalo where the indigenas gathered to trade. Most impressive feature is ‘Inglesia de Santo Tomás’, where both catholic and mayan rituals are practiced. The candles were everywhere inside. While the catholic altar was erected in the middle of the church, the floor was dotted with offering such as corn, flowers, and liquor with people chanting Popul Vuh. It was definitely more mayan than catholic-another example of synchronistic religion practices in Latin America (Catholic-Maya). Had a flashback of the church in San Juan Chamula, but this one is less morbid.

La boda en Antigua, Casa Santo Domingo

(dated July 6, 2007)

Think it was a bad idea for any guy to bring his girlfriend to a wedding held in Casa Santo Domingo (Antigua, Guatemala), a 16-century monastery turned hotel with a capilla formed by a torn wall from earthquake, amazing gardens with both prehispanic and colonial relics--the experience was hard to beat. At least 3000 candles were lit up in the garden and capilla where the mass and reception were taking place. Hard to describe how magical the place is. The town itself (Antigua) lives up its name, an old Spanish colonial town, the second capital of Guatemala from thed era. Totally reminded me of San Cristóbal de las Casas - the cobble-stoned streets, the colourful one-floor colonial buildings, and the artisan shops.

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