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.