The weekend was here, and we couldn't wait to be off...6 months, lotsa work-related work later, we were ready for a vacation. Thanks to AA miles, soon we were flying business class to Cancun Mexico. With much anticipation, we got off at the airport, and smelled Madras India- not at all in a bad way, but just that muggy, humid, extra-warm air...so different from the insipid, sterile US air, so reminiscent of India, and so excitingly foreign.
Mexico is a place that reminded me totally of India. Apart from Cancun (I'll come to this later), the rest of the place is typical "Des". The countryside, the weather, the water (not to be trusted), everything resembles India - with one exception - the roads. This will tie into my later point about Cancun- but to sum it up, the roads are great. Totally facilitates going from point A to point B in decent shape and form, which is one of the few things that a tourist can really ask for.
As for Cancun, its like mini-US. Totally caters to the Western tourist going there to enjoy and spend lots and lots of American dollars. But no-one complains- after all, the white sands, blue waters, sight-seeing/adventure options, and happenning night-life are all well worth it to tourists hungry for the ultimate carribean experience. So, as I was saying, Cancun looks and feels pretty much like the US. The hotels, beaches, and clubs cater to tourists. The only thing that makes it "Mexican" are - well, the Mexicans. All over the place (as one would expect, since it is their country), and in Cancun, most of them speak English, and all of them take your American Dollars in addition to Pesos (and usually make a good arbitrage profit with the exchange rate- we fell for it too, in spite of being warned at the airport by a well-meaning official). Ah yes, that reminds me - the airport in Cancun would give any other fancy international airport a good run for its money. These people have basically got it right. They realized what a gold mine they have as a tourist destination, and have built the infrastructure and system to support it. And as a result, they're making billions of dollars. It makes me want the same for India - we have so many breath-takingly beautiful places in India that can be show-cased to the world and can be potential big-time tourist destinations, if only the infrastructure and facilities are provided right...but this is changing too, somewhat...and more and more of these are cropping up...all for the better.
And what did we do in Cancun? We visited the thousand year old Chi-chen Itza pyramid, the ruins at Tulum (which, high on a cliff right by the blue waters of the Carribean, makes for a spectacularly beautiful sight). We also visited Xel-ha, a natural fresh-water lagoon rich in aquatic and marine life. Here we swam, tubed, and ah- snorkeled. What beautiful fish we saw, colourful parrot fish, big huge mantaray's and scores of other little creatures that dazzled with their colours, sizes and movements...We also tanned ourselves severely on the beaches, splashed incessantly in the blue ocean, and visited a couple of bars, did some couvenier shopping.
And how did we fare with our Spanish? Like I said, it was fine in Cancun, but in some of the other places - we did have some trouble. The sequence went something like this - first we would say something in English, then the guy would say something in Spanish. Incomprehension from both parties. Then he would whip out a calculator and show us the amount we had to pay for the souvenier. Ah, but we wanted to bargain (which is the done thing in Mexico). So we're at it again, not reaching a concensus, because basically we dont get what the other is saying. Then we try gesturing. Doesnt do it. Then we try facial expressions. No luck. Then we try body actions, and mimicking. Nopes, dont work. Finally, we say "No English?". He shakes his head regretfully. Then he says, "No espanol?" We shake our head regretfully. Then we both give up and go our separate ways.
After a sun-drenched, beach-satiated, thorougly relaxing holiday, we returned home, albeit a little sooner than we might have wanted. Cancun, Mexico - a must-do sometime, somewhere.
Mexico is a place that reminded me totally of India. Apart from Cancun (I'll come to this later), the rest of the place is typical "Des". The countryside, the weather, the water (not to be trusted), everything resembles India - with one exception - the roads. This will tie into my later point about Cancun- but to sum it up, the roads are great. Totally facilitates going from point A to point B in decent shape and form, which is one of the few things that a tourist can really ask for.
As for Cancun, its like mini-US. Totally caters to the Western tourist going there to enjoy and spend lots and lots of American dollars. But no-one complains- after all, the white sands, blue waters, sight-seeing/adventure options, and happenning night-life are all well worth it to tourists hungry for the ultimate carribean experience. So, as I was saying, Cancun looks and feels pretty much like the US. The hotels, beaches, and clubs cater to tourists. The only thing that makes it "Mexican" are - well, the Mexicans. All over the place (as one would expect, since it is their country), and in Cancun, most of them speak English, and all of them take your American Dollars in addition to Pesos (and usually make a good arbitrage profit with the exchange rate- we fell for it too, in spite of being warned at the airport by a well-meaning official). Ah yes, that reminds me - the airport in Cancun would give any other fancy international airport a good run for its money. These people have basically got it right. They realized what a gold mine they have as a tourist destination, and have built the infrastructure and system to support it. And as a result, they're making billions of dollars. It makes me want the same for India - we have so many breath-takingly beautiful places in India that can be show-cased to the world and can be potential big-time tourist destinations, if only the infrastructure and facilities are provided right...but this is changing too, somewhat...and more and more of these are cropping up...all for the better.
And what did we do in Cancun? We visited the thousand year old Chi-chen Itza pyramid, the ruins at Tulum (which, high on a cliff right by the blue waters of the Carribean, makes for a spectacularly beautiful sight). We also visited Xel-ha, a natural fresh-water lagoon rich in aquatic and marine life. Here we swam, tubed, and ah- snorkeled. What beautiful fish we saw, colourful parrot fish, big huge mantaray's and scores of other little creatures that dazzled with their colours, sizes and movements...We also tanned ourselves severely on the beaches, splashed incessantly in the blue ocean, and visited a couple of bars, did some couvenier shopping.
And how did we fare with our Spanish? Like I said, it was fine in Cancun, but in some of the other places - we did have some trouble. The sequence went something like this - first we would say something in English, then the guy would say something in Spanish. Incomprehension from both parties. Then he would whip out a calculator and show us the amount we had to pay for the souvenier. Ah, but we wanted to bargain (which is the done thing in Mexico). So we're at it again, not reaching a concensus, because basically we dont get what the other is saying. Then we try gesturing. Doesnt do it. Then we try facial expressions. No luck. Then we try body actions, and mimicking. Nopes, dont work. Finally, we say "No English?". He shakes his head regretfully. Then he says, "No espanol?" We shake our head regretfully. Then we both give up and go our separate ways.
After a sun-drenched, beach-satiated, thorougly relaxing holiday, we returned home, albeit a little sooner than we might have wanted. Cancun, Mexico - a must-do sometime, somewhere.
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