Aloha everyone!
I know I've been back for about a month sharing my experiences with my travels but I'm afraid that I haven't really shared to much about my research in Guatemala. Until NOW!
Please click on the links below to view the research I conducted in Guatemala.
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Aloha a todos!
Yo sé que he estado yendo por un mes compartiendo mis experiencias de mis viajes, pero me temo que no he compartido mucho sobre mi investigación en Guatemala. ¡Hasta ahora!
Por favor, haga clic en los enlaces abajo para ver mi investigación en Guatemala.
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NGOs and the Surgical Referral Process
NAPA - OT - ENGLISH VERSION
Informe: ONGs y el Proceso de Refirir Pacientes para Cirugias
NAPA - OT - SPANISH VERSION
Mahalo for reading. Gracias por leer.
Until next time. Hasta la próxima.
Showing posts with label Guatemala. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guatemala. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Crying...
Crying...
It's an emotion that we rarely talk about... Crying... Is it even an emotion? Perhaps there are many connotations with crying... Most negative, some positive... Wen was the last time you made someone cry? when was the last time you were the cause of someone else crying?!? I'm going to briefly talk about the latter question...
As most of you know, I love to laugh... it's my cure for everything... Wanna know when you're a decent speaker in a other language - simple... If you make them laugh... The last time I was the cause of someone crying was about a week ago... On the 15th, I made Elena cry...
Who exactly is this Elena?! Elena is the doña of the house. I stayed with here for approximately 4 weeks in Guatemala... She made my breakfast, lunches and dinner... We spent most of dining times together at the kitchen table where we dined on her creations... From eggs and tomatoes, chocolate banana pancakes, frijoles, rice, chicken and so forth... (not at one time) I know I eat a lot, but dang!!
I never imagined Elena as the crying time, at the kitchen table, I seen her mock me, make fun of me (jokingly, of course), not to mention. Shoot tequila shots without flinching - sin salt and lime... You don't really become an older Guatemala doña by not being hard core - and Elena was one of those beings, awake at 4 am in the morning (yes, I woke up at 04:55 to head to the gym on certain days and she would already be up) , she did almost all of the cooking - I ordered pizza one day... She also cleaned the house and dealt with most of the other household chores....
Why did Elena cry?! I cant pin point exactly why, but it happened during our goodbye, I gave her a hug and thanked her for everything, for her hospitality, her funny and stern demeanor and the awesome food and company... I can still imagine here on the hallway waving goodbye. Maybe it was the pointed jabs, maybe it was because I can make her laugh, maybe subconsciously I treated her like my own grandmother - since mines are no longer with us... No matter the cause, I miss Elena as well as my maternal grandmother... Lola, thanks for loving me unconditionally and I just wanted to just write that I do think about you...
This is dedicated to all of the hardcore grandmothers.
Who exactly is this Elena?! Elena is the doña of the house. I stayed with here for approximately 4 weeks in Guatemala... She made my breakfast, lunches and dinner... We spent most of dining times together at the kitchen table where we dined on her creations... From eggs and tomatoes, chocolate banana pancakes, frijoles, rice, chicken and so forth... (not at one time) I know I eat a lot, but dang!!
I never imagined Elena as the crying time, at the kitchen table, I seen her mock me, make fun of me (jokingly, of course), not to mention. Shoot tequila shots without flinching - sin salt and lime... You don't really become an older Guatemala doña by not being hard core - and Elena was one of those beings, awake at 4 am in the morning (yes, I woke up at 04:55 to head to the gym on certain days and she would already be up) , she did almost all of the cooking - I ordered pizza one day... She also cleaned the house and dealt with most of the other household chores....
Why did Elena cry?! I cant pin point exactly why, but it happened during our goodbye, I gave her a hug and thanked her for everything, for her hospitality, her funny and stern demeanor and the awesome food and company... I can still imagine here on the hallway waving goodbye. Maybe it was the pointed jabs, maybe it was because I can make her laugh, maybe subconsciously I treated her like my own grandmother - since mines are no longer with us... No matter the cause, I miss Elena as well as my maternal grandmother... Lola, thanks for loving me unconditionally and I just wanted to just write that I do think about you...
This is dedicated to all of the hardcore grandmothers.
Xoxo.
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Antigua - Best Restaurant?!
Before I start ranting and raving about the best restaurant in Antigua, Guatemala. I guess I'll start chit-chatting about what makes the best restaurant...First and foremost the food - No matter how great the rest of the following criterion are, or how bad they are, we'd do some crazy stuff for great food. Such as wait in line for an hour or more, or putting with the loud crowd Yet, having great food doesn't overcome all of the other factors in a great restaurant, they can still make or break the experience. When it comes to food, there are different categories, my favorite are: comfort food and high-end restaurants. Yes, dropping $175 for dinner for 2 is great, but also having some SPAM or some DIM SUM is super great too (OMG, I can't wait to get back to Hawaii - yes, I am seriously craving Zippys right now!!)
Atmosphere- I know... atmosphere can be gimmicky (spinning restaurants and such), but believe me, when I atmosphere can make or break a dining experience)... Imagine, you're dining at Sarento's Atop the I (I is for Ilikai - LINK HERE). On your way up, there is an elevator that takes you directly to the top of the Ilikai (a hotel in Waikiki) and basically dares you not to be in awe. If you go for dinner, you'll more than likely see the sunset, a spectacle that is enhanced by the fact that all of its booths face outwards into the ocean, so any seating arrangement is very intimate.
Ok, so let me get to my favorite restaurant in Antigua... As you can see from the pictures, there is ample room, great seating, a fountain, and not to mention a view of the volcano.
See the subtle hints in the pictures?!
Which restaurant am I talking about? Yes, you're looking at images of McDonalds in Antigua.Most McDonalds around the world tend to be part of buildings with an industrial decor inside. As you can see, this McD is far from uniform.
I know, what am I doing at McDonalds in Guatemala. I've been traveling for over 3 months! I was just craving french fries and was blown away by the beautiful location.
Don't forget to click the homepage for other blog posts!
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Antigua and Marriage...
Alright! I've been in Antigua now for 2 weeks.
I can't believe my field school is halfway done! I'm spending the weekend catching up on school work, blogging, and other technical things (finalized my fall schedule - Graduating this December!!, paying bills, etc.)
So... what is Antigua like?
Antigua is very similar to Granada, Nicaragua, except it isn't as hot here, the buildings are of different colors and the roads are quite unique to Antigua.
Sorry for the short blog, but I have to get some school work done! Yes, field notes here we come!
MARRIAGE? Yes, I didn't technically walk down the aisle, but a group of us went to San Antonio to learn more about the indigenous culture. How they create their crafts, how they make tortillas, coffee (which is quite labor intensive), as well as eat local traditional food (pepian - which made me really ill for the next 48 hours), as well as how they get married.
Since I was the only guy in the group, I was hitched to Erin (pictured). Hopefully, this isn't legally binding o_O
What we are wearing is traditional and the accessories symbolizes the work of each gender. I am wearing a canteen which contains coffee and another pouch which contains tortillas, so I can head to work and provide for my family.
Erin is symbolically holding our baby, she also has a lot of responsibilities mostly tied to the home. In addition taking care of the baby, she is to cook the meals (symbolized by the apron, which was gifted to her by my mother), keep the home clean and all the other logistics that involves the home.
I will post a whole blog with just pictures of Antigua.
Have a great weekend.
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
I can't believe my field school is halfway done! I'm spending the weekend catching up on school work, blogging, and other technical things (finalized my fall schedule - Graduating this December!!, paying bills, etc.)
So... what is Antigua like?
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| Antigua, Guatemala (6a Calle Poiniente) |
Antigua is very similar to Granada, Nicaragua, except it isn't as hot here, the buildings are of different colors and the roads are quite unique to Antigua.
Sorry for the short blog, but I have to get some school work done! Yes, field notes here we come!
 |
| Ceremony |
MARRIAGE? Yes, I didn't technically walk down the aisle, but a group of us went to San Antonio to learn more about the indigenous culture. How they create their crafts, how they make tortillas, coffee (which is quite labor intensive), as well as eat local traditional food (pepian - which made me really ill for the next 48 hours), as well as how they get married.
Since I was the only guy in the group, I was hitched to Erin (pictured). Hopefully, this isn't legally binding o_OWhat we are wearing is traditional and the accessories symbolizes the work of each gender. I am wearing a canteen which contains coffee and another pouch which contains tortillas, so I can head to work and provide for my family.
Erin is symbolically holding our baby, she also has a lot of responsibilities mostly tied to the home. In addition taking care of the baby, she is to cook the meals (symbolized by the apron, which was gifted to her by my mother), keep the home clean and all the other logistics that involves the home.
I will post a whole blog with just pictures of Antigua.
Have a great weekend.
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Question time?! - Answers!
Mahalo for the questions everyone! I only had 1 comment in the previous post, but thanks for asking via Twitter, email and SMS.
Question 1... What is your typical day like?
Since my Field School has started, my days have actually been quite hectic, in some aspects it is even more demanding than a normal school day. I wake up every day around 5:30. My alarm is set for 05:35, but I always turn it off before it goes off... I run everyday at 06:00. Yes, running on my vacations, and actually next week, I will start spin classes here in Antigua to prepare me for my 100 mile bike race coming up in about 2 months (gasp!). I run for about 45 minutes, I either run by myself or with 1 or 2 other members in my class. After running, I return to my homestay, take a quick shower, and yes breakfast is there ready for me. After breakfast, I have classes all day. A morning class which either entails a class with all of the students in my Field School, or a more focused class with the individual groups (Gerontology, Pediatrics, and of course my group NGO Network and Health). After class, I head home for lunch - yes freshly prepared. I will post a future blog with the types of food, I've been eating - much probably to the dismay of my Century Ride coach. lol. 3 days out of the week, I have 3 hours of Spanish class and to be honest, its surprisingly going very well. I think coming out of my comfort zone and traveling all over Guatemala where I had no choice but to speak English really helps. Not to mention, I've recently become a chatterbox on the bus, or anywhere really. Then after class at 5, back home to relax. A full day of class is quite a bit exhausting. After than its pretty much relaxing, dinner, reading, typing field notes, and any observations. The next 2 weeks will be particularly extensive because we will be conducting interviews (yes! we finalized our questions last week). So that's sort of my current typical week-day.
Question 2 - Did you look for houses in Cuenca?
No, I did not. I spent most of my time in Guayaquil, Ecuador and with not much time left, the decision was either Cuenca or Banos... and (http://hawaiiinsomniac.blogspot.com/search/label/Ecuador) will tell where I went and why!! (ha, sorry!! Next time!)
Question 3 - Animals in Antigua?
Antigua is quite a developed city. To be honest, during the field school I can't leave, so the only animals I have seen is a lot of stray dogs (as opposed to large amount of stray cats in Hawaii), and random insects. I don't recall seeing much birds either, but I will keep you up to date.
Question 4 - Postales or Pasteles?
This is actually a joke. I was looking for postcards (postales) and you guys know I love desserts (pasteles). Needless to say, I mixed the 2 up quite frequently and asked for the other at the wrong time.
Question 5 - Where are the pictures?
Well, I've taken nearly 400 pictures so far on this trip, and a few have been posted on my blog. I am currently working on a 3G USB thumb drive from Tigo, which by the way is really cheap, $26 with 15 days of internet included - AND no data caps!
This weekend, I plan to mostly relax, finalize my school schedule for the fall, laundry and yes, take some pictures of food and Antigua itself.
Sorry for the lack of pictures, but I've a quite hectic week.
Thanks for the questions and just post more in the comment and I'll be happy to write more about what you want to know about Guatemala.
I'm currently working on my next blog: I wish I had, I wish I hadn't - Things and Travel Tips.
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
Question 1... What is your typical day like?
Since my Field School has started, my days have actually been quite hectic, in some aspects it is even more demanding than a normal school day. I wake up every day around 5:30. My alarm is set for 05:35, but I always turn it off before it goes off... I run everyday at 06:00. Yes, running on my vacations, and actually next week, I will start spin classes here in Antigua to prepare me for my 100 mile bike race coming up in about 2 months (gasp!). I run for about 45 minutes, I either run by myself or with 1 or 2 other members in my class. After running, I return to my homestay, take a quick shower, and yes breakfast is there ready for me. After breakfast, I have classes all day. A morning class which either entails a class with all of the students in my Field School, or a more focused class with the individual groups (Gerontology, Pediatrics, and of course my group NGO Network and Health). After class, I head home for lunch - yes freshly prepared. I will post a future blog with the types of food, I've been eating - much probably to the dismay of my Century Ride coach. lol. 3 days out of the week, I have 3 hours of Spanish class and to be honest, its surprisingly going very well. I think coming out of my comfort zone and traveling all over Guatemala where I had no choice but to speak English really helps. Not to mention, I've recently become a chatterbox on the bus, or anywhere really. Then after class at 5, back home to relax. A full day of class is quite a bit exhausting. After than its pretty much relaxing, dinner, reading, typing field notes, and any observations. The next 2 weeks will be particularly extensive because we will be conducting interviews (yes! we finalized our questions last week). So that's sort of my current typical week-day.
Question 2 - Did you look for houses in Cuenca?
No, I did not. I spent most of my time in Guayaquil, Ecuador and with not much time left, the decision was either Cuenca or Banos... and (http://hawaiiinsomniac.blogspot.com/search/label/Ecuador) will tell where I went and why!! (ha, sorry!! Next time!)
Question 3 - Animals in Antigua?
Antigua is quite a developed city. To be honest, during the field school I can't leave, so the only animals I have seen is a lot of stray dogs (as opposed to large amount of stray cats in Hawaii), and random insects. I don't recall seeing much birds either, but I will keep you up to date.
Question 4 - Postales or Pasteles?
This is actually a joke. I was looking for postcards (postales) and you guys know I love desserts (pasteles). Needless to say, I mixed the 2 up quite frequently and asked for the other at the wrong time.
Question 5 - Where are the pictures?
Well, I've taken nearly 400 pictures so far on this trip, and a few have been posted on my blog. I am currently working on a 3G USB thumb drive from Tigo, which by the way is really cheap, $26 with 15 days of internet included - AND no data caps!
This weekend, I plan to mostly relax, finalize my school schedule for the fall, laundry and yes, take some pictures of food and Antigua itself.
Sorry for the lack of pictures, but I've a quite hectic week.
Thanks for the questions and just post more in the comment and I'll be happy to write more about what you want to know about Guatemala.
I'm currently working on my next blog: I wish I had, I wish I hadn't - Things and Travel Tips.
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Question time?!
Aloha readers...
My field school has started here in Antigua and its officially 1 more month before I head home. I've been sorta of lagging on blogging (yes, I will be blogging about Quetzaltenango) but before that, I wanted to give you the opportunity to ask me anything about my travels... It could be about anything really, food, culture, Guatemala, Ecuador, my pre-travels in the U.S, Paris, my daily life... etc?!
All questions POSTED in the COMMENTS section BELOW, will be answered in a blog next week Tuesday.
Miss you all very much and can't wait to hear from you...
Yes.. you can ask in English, Spanish, French, Pidgin or Tagalog!
P.S. We are almost at the $1,000 mark! http://cyclingforacure.info Special thanks to Emralino family for their recent donation of $100!
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
My field school has started here in Antigua and its officially 1 more month before I head home. I've been sorta of lagging on blogging (yes, I will be blogging about Quetzaltenango) but before that, I wanted to give you the opportunity to ask me anything about my travels... It could be about anything really, food, culture, Guatemala, Ecuador, my pre-travels in the U.S, Paris, my daily life... etc?!
All questions POSTED in the COMMENTS section BELOW, will be answered in a blog next week Tuesday.
Miss you all very much and can't wait to hear from you...
Yes.. you can ask in English, Spanish, French, Pidgin or Tagalog!
P.S. We are almost at the $1,000 mark! http://cyclingforacure.info Special thanks to Emralino family for their recent donation of $100!
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Happy Okole - Guatemala Bus Travel Tips!
I've been quite on the go non-stop for the past 2 months. I am looking forward to a month of non-traveling in Antigua, Guatemala.
Yes, I can't believe it. On May 17th, I went from Honolulu to Paris, via Houston and Frankfurt, then back to Honolulu via Frankfurt and Narita (a round the world trip in 10 days!). Then headed to Los Angeles for 3 days, Orlando for 5 days (previous post CLICK ME and ME!), back to Los Angeles for 3 days, Washington D.C for the weekend (see previous post CLICK ME), then back to Los Angeles, before heading to Guatemala for a week, then Ecuador for 10 days (see previous posts tagged Ecuador), then back to Guatemala on a non-stop on.the.go mission. (I know, right!? BOO-HOO!?)
My okole is officially tired of sitting down. I'm trying to calculate the amount of time sitting down traveling (on a plane or on a bus) and its quite daunting... trying to add in layover time, preparation for travel time, taxi to bus time and vice versa... I will just be talking about my travels in Guatemala and some tips and tricks of the trade!
Ok... Let me show you guys what I've been up to... TRAVEL TIPS COMING (PROMISE)!!
Alright... First all of the triangles without the bottom are mountains. Since my return from Ecuador, my route has been:
Guatemala City > Flores > Tikal > Flores > Rio Dulce (south point of Lake Izabal) > Livingston > Puerto Barrios > Guatemala City > Quetzaltenango > Guatemala City
Sure it looks small on the map... but Guatemala City to Flores is 10 hours. Flores to Tikal an hour. Flores to Rio Dulce 4 hours. Rio Dulce to Livingston 90 minutes (boat). Livingston to Puerto Barrios 30 minutes (boat). Puerto Barrios to Guatemala City 5.5 hours. Guatemala City to Quetzaltenango 4 hours.
GUATEMALA BUS TRAVEL TIPS!!
1. There are many bus companies going all over Guatemala, my favorite is Linea Dorada (Pullman bus!). The bus goes direct and does not pick up people on the way, if you are concerned with safety, also note, it will be cold. If there is a "mas privado" seat available, take it, its normally $3 more, but its way more comfortable!
2. All of the bus companies offer more routes and timetables that what is listed on their pamphlets or online. Example, Linea Dorada does not have on their pamphlet a route from Flores to Rio Dulce (leaves at 10AM daily), BUT it is online. So, see the next tip...
3. If you have decided to travel from one city to another and decided on a bus company, CALL THEM! Most information online or on handouts are likely to be dated information! Example, Transportes Alamo advertises online routes from Guatemala City to Quetzaltenango at 0830, and 1230 (but they actually leave at 10:30!)
4. Most bus companies DO NOT take credit cards! Also, get to the bus station 45 minutes early, especially if you traveling on a weekend. You can call and try to reserve a seat, but they'll ask you to stop by an hour early to pay for your reservation. Most bus companies ONLINE reservation DO NOT work (e.g., http://lineadorada.info/reservacion/index.php). Sooo... if you know you are going to travel and a bus station is nearby and you have to take that bus... you may want to get information on 2 buses in case one is booked (e.g., Quetzaltenango > Guatemala City - Transportes Alamo 1430, Linea Dorada 1530).
5. More than likely you will either walk or take a cab to get to your bus station or once you arrive at your destination, make sure BEFORE getting in the cab... a) the driver knows the location you want to go, b) you both agree on the price (yes, do not agree with the first price stated). An extra side tip, I like to write down information on my notepad with addresses and phone numbers in case there is a problem while driving. Example, my notes for Guatemala City - Bus states "Linea Dorada - 10a Avenida 16-41, Zona 1, Tel 2415-8900" and "Transportes Alamo 12 Avenida "A" 0-65, Zona 7, Tel 2472-2355"
6. DO NOT BOOK BUSES FROM ANTIGUA!! There are no main buses leaving from Antigua to Flores!? The tour companies in Antigua merely buy you a ticket from Guatemala to Flores and take you to the bus station in Guatemala! A bus from Antigua to Guatemala is only 8Q ($1.05). If you're traveling during the day, take the cheap route...
Useful Information:
Linea Dorada - 24158900 (this will route you to all of the stations) - ROUTES/TIMETABLE - accurate!
Transportes Alamo - 2472-2355
Transportes Litegua - 2220-8840
These are the only 3 buses I have taken. I am also working on a Ecuador travel TIPS edition! You don't want THIS to happen to you!
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
Yes, I can't believe it. On May 17th, I went from Honolulu to Paris, via Houston and Frankfurt, then back to Honolulu via Frankfurt and Narita (a round the world trip in 10 days!). Then headed to Los Angeles for 3 days, Orlando for 5 days (previous post CLICK ME and ME!), back to Los Angeles for 3 days, Washington D.C for the weekend (see previous post CLICK ME), then back to Los Angeles, before heading to Guatemala for a week, then Ecuador for 10 days (see previous posts tagged Ecuador), then back to Guatemala on a non-stop on.the.go mission. (I know, right!? BOO-HOO!?)
My okole is officially tired of sitting down. I'm trying to calculate the amount of time sitting down traveling (on a plane or on a bus) and its quite daunting... trying to add in layover time, preparation for travel time, taxi to bus time and vice versa... I will just be talking about my travels in Guatemala and some tips and tricks of the trade!
Ok... Let me show you guys what I've been up to... TRAVEL TIPS COMING (PROMISE)!!
 |
| Guatemala |
Guatemala City > Flores > Tikal > Flores > Rio Dulce (south point of Lake Izabal) > Livingston > Puerto Barrios > Guatemala City > Quetzaltenango > Guatemala City
Sure it looks small on the map... but Guatemala City to Flores is 10 hours. Flores to Tikal an hour. Flores to Rio Dulce 4 hours. Rio Dulce to Livingston 90 minutes (boat). Livingston to Puerto Barrios 30 minutes (boat). Puerto Barrios to Guatemala City 5.5 hours. Guatemala City to Quetzaltenango 4 hours.
GUATEMALA BUS TRAVEL TIPS!!
1. There are many bus companies going all over Guatemala, my favorite is Linea Dorada (Pullman bus!). The bus goes direct and does not pick up people on the way, if you are concerned with safety, also note, it will be cold. If there is a "mas privado" seat available, take it, its normally $3 more, but its way more comfortable!
2. All of the bus companies offer more routes and timetables that what is listed on their pamphlets or online. Example, Linea Dorada does not have on their pamphlet a route from Flores to Rio Dulce (leaves at 10AM daily), BUT it is online. So, see the next tip...
3. If you have decided to travel from one city to another and decided on a bus company, CALL THEM! Most information online or on handouts are likely to be dated information! Example, Transportes Alamo advertises online routes from Guatemala City to Quetzaltenango at 0830, and 1230 (but they actually leave at 10:30!)
4. Most bus companies DO NOT take credit cards! Also, get to the bus station 45 minutes early, especially if you traveling on a weekend. You can call and try to reserve a seat, but they'll ask you to stop by an hour early to pay for your reservation. Most bus companies ONLINE reservation DO NOT work (e.g., http://lineadorada.info/reservacion/index.php). Sooo... if you know you are going to travel and a bus station is nearby and you have to take that bus... you may want to get information on 2 buses in case one is booked (e.g., Quetzaltenango > Guatemala City - Transportes Alamo 1430, Linea Dorada 1530).
5. More than likely you will either walk or take a cab to get to your bus station or once you arrive at your destination, make sure BEFORE getting in the cab... a) the driver knows the location you want to go, b) you both agree on the price (yes, do not agree with the first price stated). An extra side tip, I like to write down information on my notepad with addresses and phone numbers in case there is a problem while driving. Example, my notes for Guatemala City - Bus states "Linea Dorada - 10a Avenida 16-41, Zona 1, Tel 2415-8900" and "Transportes Alamo 12 Avenida "A" 0-65, Zona 7, Tel 2472-2355"
6. DO NOT BOOK BUSES FROM ANTIGUA!! There are no main buses leaving from Antigua to Flores!? The tour companies in Antigua merely buy you a ticket from Guatemala to Flores and take you to the bus station in Guatemala! A bus from Antigua to Guatemala is only 8Q ($1.05). If you're traveling during the day, take the cheap route...
Useful Information:
Linea Dorada - 24158900 (this will route you to all of the stations) - ROUTES/TIMETABLE - accurate!
Transportes Alamo - 2472-2355
Transportes Litegua - 2220-8840
These are the only 3 buses I have taken. I am also working on a Ecuador travel TIPS edition! You don't want THIS to happen to you!
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Livingston, Guatemala
The people, the food, the location, all different that what you would expect or have experienced of Guatemala. First tell tell sign is the only way to get there is by boat.
Now, you can either take a boat from Puerto Barrios or Rio Dulce to and from Livingston, I suggest taking both ways at least 1 time.
For me, heading down from Flores, I stopped in Rio Dulce, then to Livingston on a ferry boat (once you get off the bus, don´t be scared of the people hassling you yelling out "Livingston!", if its your first time there in Rio Dulce, the ferry isn't obviously located so just follow them, they don't cheat you, its a set price that you buy the ticket from the stand at 125Q, yes for a 1.5 hour boat ride, it is well worth the ride.
The boat ride from Livingston to Guatemala is beyond amazing. This is where pictures really do not do this place justice. The wind on your hair, the grandiose mother nature on each side of you tentilizing you with different scenery that you can't decide if you want to look at grand mountains and lush scenery on your left, or the more tamed lands on the ride side where residents live with their wooden houses and their boats and kayaks.
Oh yeah, if you take the boat the other way from Puerto Barrios and vice versa, there is a boat leaving every hour on the :30 mark (8:30) etc., get there early for your ticket as it will be packed. The boat ride itself is only 30 minutes, and if you're using Puerto Barrios as a jumping boat (e.g., bus station) just ask around for the station and they'll point you to where you have to go, its about a 15 minute walk...
Alright, so what about Livingston? This is one particular blog post that really won't go into details, lets just say, it is different that the rest of the country, you have to try the local rum, and the Tapado soup is awesome (especially if you like seafood).
Other quick tips about Livingston, its a small place, don't hesitate to walk outside of the main street to find cheaper hotels or foods...
UPDATED WITH VIDEO (You might want to MUTE IT.. its WINDY!)
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Flores... Tikal... Guatemala
Excuse me... Hopefully this blog is cohesive... Drinking red wine then blogging may leave rational gaps in the thought process. Then again, this may happen sans red wine... Hmmm. o_O NOTE: the pics are all over the place, I'm quite tired. x_x
Leaving Guatemala on an overnight bus on Linea Dorada was actually quite nice. Hueling introduced me to night buses, when we took one from Banos to Guayaquil and yup, another overnight bus, this one was quite nice, the bus ride took 9 hours, and I was able to sleep for most of it, except certain parts in the middle zig zagging through the mountains and being forced by gravity from one side of the seat to the other didn't help any...
Abruptly waking up in Flores after an overnight bus ride was quite scary actually now that i think about it, the bus was empty and apparently, I like to sleep. As soon as i left the bus, half awake, I was off to an adventure, thanks partly to a driver who offered to take me to Tikal back and forth for a reasonable price and even helped me find a hotel. (we'll get back to this), ok well I booked a hotel for 60Q (about $7.50) it was really shitty... and needless to say after the adventure I'm about to describe, I decided that I wanted AC, so I upgraded to a waterfront hotel room with AC and WiFi for 160Q (About $21).
Ok, back to adventure... To be honest, I was really filled with anticipation, I have read about these Mayan ruins where a game similar to basketball is played and the losing team dies. (ouch!) well that and the travel, the views of the beautiful island (Flores) and the scenic drive, sort of like you're heading to Jurassic park, coupled with what I've read and researched in classes, Tikal had a lot to live up to, and about a 45 minute drive later (about 0800) we arrived in Tikal and what perfect timing, the weather was cool, the sun was just starting to peek through the clouds to say hello, and here I was armed with a map of Tikal and my eager spirit ready to explore these ruins from many, many, many, many (many, MANY, MAAAAANNNNNNYYYYYY) years ago... :P
As soon as I entered the Preserve, I was walking through a light jungle like hike (does that make sense - ha! seriously, maybe a comment or two to keep me in check?!) I could hear spider monkeys telling each other my location, that i have impeded in their territory like a vocal GPS system, the various insects each with their own sounds of welcome (maybe panic, perhaps even warnings!) with every step I took. Then there it was from 1000s of years ago, within my sight, it gave me chicken skin the closer I got, like I was about to intrude on something sacred and holy, there it was, the main square, where they played "basketball", I was sort of freaked out actually, i couldn't bring myself to enter certain parts of the ruins... Partly because it appeared sacred, but mostly because I heard howler monkeys, which I just took as a sign do not enter. I've actually studied both spider and howler monkeys and they are both quite harmless, just lots of noise for intimidation's sake.
Each site had its own unique beauty, the crazy thing is how intricate the temples where.
Then it got crazy hot, yup around 11:30, the weather guy was right 94F and humid, which I didn't believe because it was so cold... ohhh no, it was humid... so on my way back, I took a different route, took some more pictures, thought I got lost and freaked myself out when i almost ran into this insect like thing that was just floating there, with no one around, i thought it was bait for a larger bug, which I really didn't want to find out, so I sorta ran out of there... ha ha.
More exploring, more travels, and a different hotel (see tweet: "That last picture suxxx. Lol ok here's a new one. Toast from Guatemala! Get ur drink on... http://t.co/12hKh8v)
I was going to try to explain more, but sometimes you just have to see things for yourself, which is actually what my next blog is all about. Imagine going from Rio Dulce to Livingston Guatemala on an 1.25 hour boat ride, where the water is calm and the mountain on your left look like Kauai and the swamp like vegetation on your right looks like Florida, or Mississippi. The breeze going through your hair, and ladies in front talking to me in Spanish, wondering what a guy from Hawaii is doing in Guatemala... Yup... next blog.
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
Abruptly waking up in Flores after an overnight bus ride was quite scary actually now that i think about it, the bus was empty and apparently, I like to sleep. As soon as i left the bus, half awake, I was off to an adventure, thanks partly to a driver who offered to take me to Tikal back and forth for a reasonable price and even helped me find a hotel. (we'll get back to this), ok well I booked a hotel for 60Q (about $7.50) it was really shitty... and needless to say after the adventure I'm about to describe, I decided that I wanted AC, so I upgraded to a waterfront hotel room with AC and WiFi for 160Q (About $21).
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| freaky white furry thing hanging |
Each site had its own unique beauty, the crazy thing is how intricate the temples where.
 |
| View from my hotel (the latter one) |
More exploring, more travels, and a different hotel (see tweet: "That last picture suxxx. Lol ok here's a new one. Toast from Guatemala! Get ur drink on... http://t.co/12hKh8v)
 |
| small taxis in Flores |
I was going to try to explain more, but sometimes you just have to see things for yourself, which is actually what my next blog is all about. Imagine going from Rio Dulce to Livingston Guatemala on an 1.25 hour boat ride, where the water is calm and the mountain on your left look like Kauai and the swamp like vegetation on your right looks like Florida, or Mississippi. The breeze going through your hair, and ladies in front talking to me in Spanish, wondering what a guy from Hawaii is doing in Guatemala... Yup... next blog.
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
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