Honduras

I arrived in Honduras via the Northeastern frontier entrance - Puerto Barrios (Guatemalama) to Puerto Cortes (Honduras)

My Route: Puerto Barrios - Puerto Cortes - San Pedro Sula - Santa Rosa de Copan - Copan Ruins - Tegucigalpa (stop over in San Pedro Sula) - Mexico City

After crossing huge banana plantations, you will be almost there through the border. If you dun have Lempiras (Honduras' currency), people with stacks of Lempiras will ask you whether you have US dollars or Quetzals to change. But the rate was really bad - 1Q: 2L. You will need 30L for the entry tax and about 100L more for the bus rides to Puerto Cortes or Omoa. However I strongly reccomend that you change more than that - depending what time you will reach Puerto Cortes or Omoa. It was almost 9.30pm when I reached Puerto Cortes and I didnt have enough money on me to go stay in proper place - ended up staying in a Hospital instead.

The route from the border to Puerto Cortes is about 3-4 hours (non-direct) where the driver picks up passengers when he sees any. But there is a direct bus from the border, though the frequency of those buses might be lesser than the non-direct ones.

I managed to reach San Pedro Sula by mini bus at when I arrived, it was already close to 11pm. Wanted to stay over at the bus station but it wasnt a good idea - the bus stations here are not like in Mexico. Headed over to a local hospital and slept there with a free small meal - Jugo de Nance & Sandwich de pollo! =D

To get to the bus station from Parque Central in San Pedro Sula is another thing. Ask the locals for the place to get on the minibuses to the bus station. There is a comedores (foodcourt) near the parque called Plaza Famosa which sells antojitos de Honduras! Worth the try! Their fried bananas is delicious! When you arrive at the station, its not really a pretty sight. You see a lot of people (A LOT) with bags so huge and luggages. Most will be scattered everywhere. There are a lot of bus companies in the station, and most companies will provide routes to anywhere you want to go. I was adviced to go with San Jose and paid 85L (3-4 hrs) for a ride to Santa Rosa de Copan and from there I paid 50L for the yellow school bus (almost an hour & half ride) to get to Copan Ruins Town.

Something interesting happened on the ride to Santa Rosa de Copan. We were stopped by this police officer and I thought he wanted to just do a random spot check. But no! He came up the bus and asked for our identification cards. So those people who did not have any have to pay him money. Utterly corrupted, isnt it? I was so lucky - he could have find some fault with me but he didnt. PHEW! Sometimes it pays to be a girl.... Anyways - Corruption is evident in all Central America and in Mexico, nothing new and nothing to be surprised about. Just pray I dun run into them!

Copan Ruins is said to be the one of the most amazing Mayan sites. The town is really serene and the little parque central sits nicely in between the church and the municipal - like all parques. I really like way they have hacienda like walls and plants all over. Really relaxed. I didnt really appreciate the souvieners because its almost the same as Guatemala. The textiles and carved wooden boxes - Guate is in fact cheaper. Here you see alot of macaws. Not sure yet they like to paint them on things. Its pretty tho.

I decide to take the Hedman Alas (executive buses) which cost me a hefty 570L - Only because I was sick and I needed a less bumpy ride and perhaps a toliet to run to when there is a need. My immune system is a bit screwed. I was worried I didnt have the strength to carry my backpack so I had to keep my sugar levels up since I pretty much cant eat anything.

Content: North & Central America

By the time December is over, I would have conquered Mexico. If my memory serves me well, I traveled to the places in Mexico. Follow the hyperlink to read my story and review on the destinations!

1. Zacatecas
2. Guadalajara
3. Mexico City - Teotihuacan, Tepozlan, Cholula,
4. Guanajuato - San Miguel de Allende y Queretaro
5. Veracruz
6. Oaxaca
7. Cancun
8. Monterrey

Other Countries:
1. Cuba
2. Guatemala - City, Panajachel, Quetzaltenango, Lago de Atitlan, Solola, Chichicastenango, Rio Dulces, Livingston, Puerto Barrios
3. Honduras - Puerto Cortes, San Pedro Sula, Santa Rosa de Copan, Tegucigalpa
4. Los Angeles - For 1 day
5. Vacouver - Stopover
6. Hong Kong
7. Shenzhen

What's to prep?

Well well well in my prelude earlier, I indicated my challenged ability to "conquer" Mexico. So I've decided that I am going to start learning Spanish! How?

Online! I've been learning about social media and what-nots about UCC (user created content) I've found this site REALLY good: Sign up for a free membership and they will teach you basic pronounciation, vocabulary, vowels, grammar etc... Click here for basic conversation. For random translation click here.

Alternatively, you can pay about $270 for 10 lessons at Cambridge Language Centre, 3hrs a week. But I rather do it on my own. That's not a challenge if I cannot do it myself - what's more? It's free! That's the perk about UCC!

Was googling for random information on Monterrey [pronounced as Mont-teh-ray] and I got fantubulo links! ¿no es eso maravilloso? - Isn't that wonderful? They've got interactive maps, bloggers' opinions (all in spanish. crap) places to see, food to eat yah-dah-yah-dah...

I've got some stuff down like 10 phrases but problem is it's difícil (difficult) to remember. So tendré (I will have) to use español (spanish) as often as possible! I think spanish's sentence structure is extremely different than ingles (English) & pronounciation too. C

I'd pray to God for good encounters in Mexico, good strangers to meet and a good and safe journey. Not forgetting good housemates. Amen!

¿cuál es siguiente? (What's next?) Airtickets, Accomodation and Visas - perhaps I will worry about my modules later.

Oh yes Airtickets!

I called STA and inquired: $1280 flat for a 2 way exculding taxes so everything would be about $1780 for a 2 way! Nice price! Just last year it was $950 flat.... see how the crazy airlines regulate their prices every now and then?

At the same time, Im thinking of purchasing the youth travel card. Id think abt it when Tel de Mont's package arrive.

Monterrey Mexico - A Prelude

Listening to Kelly Clarkson's Breakway and typing on my X41 in the school library (bored studying Strategic Management)

She sings:

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging around revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but
Gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, breakaway

I'll spread my wings
And I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Breakaway

It sounded really surreal to me. I thought my previous stint to China was challenging enough. But this time, its challenging x10 - I tell you why.

I'm going to Mexico! North America - to the salsa-dancing-spanish-speaking place. Monterrey to be exact.

Language
They speak mainly Spanish. Well well.... Im in for a treat! I heard English is widely spoken, then again you are mixing with Mexican Amigos!

Air Tickets
Most likely be flying from Singapore to Los Angeles, making a brief stop in Tokyo. From LA, I will be on domestic airline straight to Monterrey. Checked out the prices - doesn't come cheap. Mexico's TOO ulu (not popular) hence there isn't a straight flight. Oh right there is on Royal Dutch! but it will cost me $3k+ (!!!!) I can sense Prof Gregor's ear ringing!

Did I mention that I will take about 20+ hours for us to get to Monterrey. Nearly a day. LONGEST flight I've ever flown in my life! my current longest was only about 7-8 hours to South Korea!

Accommodation
We dun have the luxury of that school helping us FIND accommodation. Hallelujah! its on our own. So its house hunting first thing when we get there! Who would I be staying with (????) I am super clueless.

Visas
Usually Id apply for my foreign visas here in Singapore. But I heard its cheaper to do it there. the previous batch did it. So yup. Im gonna do it there - in the name of saving MONEY!

Just like my trip to Shenzhen - I am going to do a Greater Expectations for Monterrey before my departure. I have about 3 months to go. Plenty of time =)

Finally..

the thing of the matter - KA-CHINGS! $$$$$$$ money makes the world go round round roundy! will i have enough to spend ?

How would I fare?

____
just a short thank you to Jesus. - Thank you for keeping me here in Singapore for the summer. I know you have your plans for me. Thank you for the CK Tangs acceptance. I really needed it.

For Females going on Single/Solo Travel

Alaskie's Advice for Females doing Single/Solo Travel

1. Pack Light - Everything and anything in one pack bag. Try to keep at least one hand free. Keep your zippers on your bag under a little padlock.

2. To save time, don’t check in your luggage. Another reason for this is to always keep your belongings with you.

3. Make sure whatever you pack - they meet the 100ml per bottle for all liquids etc. Except for medication etc. Click here for details for Singapore Baggage Restrictions. (for carry-in luggage only)

4. Always have an additional sling bag that is always on/with you. - Passport and other important documents, writing pens, first aid.

5. Always keep your money (with different currencies in different purses) in different places. I had 3 different ones with me. Traveler cheques weren’t possible due to the places Im went to. They dun even accept cards!

6. Try not to wear skimpy clothes - wear berms not skirts for easy travel. Its fine if you are in a female group, but alone? - Do think twice.

7. When traveling alone, I wore a ring on my wedding finger. It works for me because it gives off a "signal". Picture this situation. You are sitting alone waiting for the bus or take a rest and a strange man comes up to you and starts to get cosy with you. And so you say “My husband’s coming back in minute.” Then flash your ring and stand up and walk into the crowds.

8. If you think its necessary, you can pack some sort of tools/weapons against strangers - Pepper spray etc. I didnt have this with me.

9. Make sure your bagpack is waterproof. At least have a HUGE plastic bag big enough to hold all your stuff in your bag. I had a umbrella with me as it was summer -frequent rains.

10. I’m actually quite a smiley person but when faced with a male-dominated society in China. I'd tone down my smiles for obvious reasons.

Keep and open mind and enjoy every minute you soak into the culture! =)

So it depends on where you are and do be sensitive to the culture when holding conversations. An example I can provide is when you are China – try not to shoot off verbally and think before you speak. The Chinese are a patriotic bunch and hence when dealing with international issues relating to their neighbouring country that starts with “T’ and ends with "N". Be sensitive. I'd divert away from politics in anyway I can.