Eat, Drink, Digest, Repeat

Sunrise @ Carribean Sea

As I was waiting for my room, a Canadian caught me and started conversation. She was also alone over there, so we became friends soon. She insisted me to get ready and step in the pool. She told that I am looking as a tourist and should relax out. So I already had a good friend even before getting a room. I guess, it’s easy to make friends rather than a room. As soon as I got the room, I took shower and got refreshed to enter in the pool. Then I started the endless rounds of eating, drinking, digesting and repeating. As mentioned in the previous blog, it was an all-inclusive hotel which means you just keep on eating and drinking. When you feel that you are full, you swim, walk for some time to digest it and then start eating again. So I did the same, I ate some veggies, took some cool pictures with the help of Canadian friend. When I was full, I walked with her towards the end of beach and yeah took pictures again. Now I was ready to eat again. At sunset, I moved upstairs and took shower. There I saw bath robe which was the first time I saw it in reality, so got excited and took some pictures. After resting for a while, I came down for dinner and then took some pictures of hotel entrance hall. I also went for a small walk to digest and finally sleep.

2^nd day of my trip started early as I had to get ready by 5 AM. My ride was on time; it took people from different hotels and then finally dropped us at meeting point. Then we were divided into 2 groups. One went to Tulum and we went towards Chichen Itza. It is the world famous complex of Mayan ruins and also one of the new seven wonders of world. It took around 4 hours for us to reach there and then we were again divided into 2 smaller groups. Both had one guide which showed us the entire temple area in two hours. We reached there around 9 AM and were free by 11; they gave us 1 hour to take pictures and shopping. Beware: the vendors inside the temple will ask you dollar or Mexican dollars, always says Mexican and then you can bargain. They may reduce the price to 1/4^th of the actual price they say. For example, they were selling a piece in 80 and they may reduce it to 25, I guess they would have come down more. I completed shopping and came out on time by 12. It took around 3 hours for us to get back. Everyone was so tired that they just needed a bed to sleep. Obviously, I was sleeping on the way back to hotel. But when I reached there, got refreshed and then started eating rounds. As I felt that I was full, I walked towards another end of beach, not to the end as it was too far.

Sunset

Evening, I went upstairs to take shower and then tried Sushi. I have to say; I didn’t like it which is ok as I might not have taste of it. Then I walked on the street to explore nearby cool places. I found a picnic spot full of lively people kissing and having fun. There was a play area for kids and a Cancun sign board for cool pictures. It was so attractive that there was a line to take picture with that board. As the sun settled down, I came back and started shopping. There was a couple who helped me with shopping; they even got me some discount. Then I ended the evening with salad dinner and a new friend. As I was eating, I asked for help from a Columbian guy for taking pictures. Once pictures were done, I invited him to have dinner with me as he was alone. After dinner, we took some more pictures and then we walked on the cold sand, nice experience. It was a long and tiring day, but when it gets finished with little desert in the room, we feel special. Yes, Hotel staff kept nice sweet at night for me, hospitality at its best.

Random Pictures

Next day morning, I thought of waking up early and taking some sunrise shots. I tried, but sun rises fast at shores, I was late by 10 minutes and Sun was already up. Still I took some pictures and then slept again. I woke up finally around 8, spent some time on beach and got ready to go for lunch. I came out for my ride at 11. Super shuttle was already waiting for me in parking which helped me to be back on airport on time. Passed all the security checks and boarded flight to Atlanta, soon I was back in the States. 

Mehico

Mehico written as Mexico

Atlanta Morning-Sunrise

Note: Don’t read this article, unless you want to live rather than existing.

So here we go to Mexico. Unusual, I know. Actually, I had a Amex miles card which was about to charge me 100 bucks from next month, just to use the credit card. Instead I wanted to get something out of it. Everyone wants the same. I wanted to avoid that charge and hence had to cancel it but it had 76680 miles on it. I wanted to utilize that as well and hence I was planning for a trip. India trip requires at least 80000, so that was not an option. Next was to visit somewhere within United States, again a bummer plan as I have already seen most of the hot spots. I was looking for a place to spend those miles and have a nice trip on long weekend. A colleague referred me Cancun, a Mexican city on the Yucatan Peninsula bordering the Caribbean Sea. I checked out the city and everything was looking perfect-miles, long weekend, location, even visa and budget. I researched for few days and finally made up my mind. This is the place, I am going and that’s it. Will figure out whatever happens next.

My Flight-Ready to Fly

I have heard some scary stuff about Mexico such as its famous for drugs, you might get kidnapped over there or your identity-passport/visa might be stolen. But who cares, I am ready to face anything and almost everything now a days. I am fearless bird who can migrate from one place to another in fraction of a second. I booked my flight with 75,000miles + 80$ and then 1,680miles + 270$ hotel. The best thing about hotel is that it was an all-inclusive hotel which means the room rent includes food and drinks as well. When we say food and drinks, it’s not 1 drink with lunch. It means unlimited food in all the restaurants on hotel property and unlimited drinks as well. I would say its heaven for drinkers and eaters. I bought some beach stuff for the trip like flip flops, lower and shoes. Then I packed everything a week in advance along with passport and visa. Finally the departure day came; I took off early from office in order to have some sleep. I planned in such a way that I had to stay at Atlanta Airport overnight and hence lil bit sleep was important. I didn’t get any sleep on airport as I was talking overseas half of the time, rest it was chill and I didn’t had a blanket. I got goose bumps as soon as I crossed customs and immigration as I was in a totally different part of the world all by myself. I have forgotten to mention that, it was a solo trip, yes I was alone. Quite adventurous!!!

Selfie @ Pool

I didn’t book my airport transfers with the hope that I’ll get something cheap locally. I tried searching for some time and got one for 33 $ round trip. Since, I was single, so it’s ok. It was Supershuttle- a well-known service, so I was in safe hands. I reached hotel earlier than the check in time around 11 AM and check out time was 12 PM. None of the rooms were available. As I was waiting for the room, I thought it would be best to snap some pictures in the meantime. I used the same time to schedule my visit next day to Chichen Itza. Got a offer at Viator for booking via mobile. I booked a tour called as “Early Access Tour” it allows us to complete the tour in morning. You can avoid the extreme hot temperature by visiting in morning and you have the rest of the day to enjoy and relax. Keep reading for rest of the tour…

Home far away from Home

Next day of my Biz trip was to explore Wyomissing branch office of Pennsylvania State. I checked out of hotel in morning and visited office. Then I had lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant with a touch of Chinese decor. Once the visit was over, I started driving towards New Jersey to stay at a Cousin’s place. Her home was like a home far away from home. It feels good to see our family when we are living in entirely different part of the world. Below lines exactly depict the situation of a person living far away from home.

I've come so far

To hear the words

Of hope and consolation

With no star to guide me through the night

Through many realms of fantasy

I wander and I roam

Far away from home

I stayed overnight at my cousin’s place. D and Jiyaji were caring and loving; they were waiting for me for dinner. They even prepared desert and then gave me a good bed. Not only this, they also provided me home food for rest of the journey. Once everything was set, I picked up my colleague from airport and visited 3^rd and last branch office-New Jersey. The most crazy and funny thing about that office was-they had a code even to enter restroom. Just in case if someone is in hurry and not able to type the correct code, then God help him.

We visited the tour early, had lunch and then I dropped colleague on to his hotel. When I was driving back towards Philadelphia airport, it was a long drive and after 3 days of hectic travels, it was looking way longer. Anyhow I reached airport, returned car and now I was all set for returning Chicago. I came home and had my dinner followed up by calls and finally good night.