CANCUN from Bay Area $299

Many dates to choose from, I just booked from a Saturday to a Thursday for $299 from San Jose. Pretty great place to see, Chichen Itza, beaches, Tulum, etc...

Days 3-6 Island Style

Top 10 things I learned about myself while on this trip in no specific order are...

#1. I like to take pictures and go into pure tourist mode while at the same time trying to look cool and keep people guessing if I'm on vacation or am I an undercover spy just trying to look like a tourist.

#2. I realized I don't need to do my hair each morning when it becomes what it is right now...some type of weave thing.

#3. I love Snow Cones, shaved ice, Slurpee's, otter pops, or anything else that is cold.

#4. I don't like sand in places, whether I know I have those places or not. But I do like putting it on others.

#5. Long car rides with real adults opens me up to various questions about girls, dating advice and free pick-up lines to try to use.

#6. I love waves, they are so entertaining and relaxing to watch, not touch, just watch. I love it when they crash into the rocks, forgive me for being sentimental, but no two waves are alike, and I like to guess what type of wave will be coming next.

#7. I like walking, hiking, public transportation as long as I can get cleaned up somewhere (like wash my hands).

#8. Renting kids is a great easy alternative to having to support a wife and my own flock of little birds.

#9. Like most singles, I do enjoy sunsets and long walks on the beach, just as long as there is a paved path and I don't have to get sand anywhere.

#10. I have no culture. I don't beat drums, dance around half naked in public or on canoes, wear leaves of any kind, or dance with fire. At least not to the knowledge of any of you reading this.

Day 2, much better

Who knew a short drive could get you out of the craziness of Honolulu and into relaxing vacation mode. My day started early, I woke up before any of my other cell mates, I set off to hike Diamond Head Crater. I thought I was in Asia a few times but enjoyed it. It wasn't as great as I was expecting but here are some pictures, you can be the judge. I also found what I want to be doing with my life when I retire. I took the rowdy city bus again, only missed it a few times but met some nice folks at the bus stop. Then found my way to the real Hawaii. Pretty good day.

You get what you pay for

Hirama reminded me I had this blog and asked if I would be updating it. Since my last post, I have spent 2 weeks in Tahoe in August, flew to Salt Lake, then drove through Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia with my friend Jordan in September, went to Utah in October to see some old friends I met while in Honduras, then hung out with Grandma and Grandpa, oh wait, they weren't home, they were off tailgating at a football game all night long and I wasn't about to break into their house again and have the cops come so I slept in my car, then drove to the Cardon house to hang with my sister, brother in law, nephews and Big Al's Food Town. Duchesne is quite the place to be. Found grandparents on my way back as well as hail, snow, rain and an ice cream bar taped to my front bumper, it lasted the whole drive, just wasn't frozen when I got to the Griff-Inn.

November I had the chance to go to Honduras with my dad and younger brother Jaxon. I pulled a last minute Santa gig and went to Idaho in December, went on a cruise to Mexico with my parents and unmarried siblings, since the single folk are allowed to have fun. That was January. In Feburary, I had a friend come out for the weekend and we did the City stuff and now it's March and I just got back the depths of Parker Arizona/Lake Havasu area and stayed in town for one Sunday and now find myself in Hawaii. Internet is too slow right now to add pictures but I will add some later.

But before I go to bed I want to say I found a sweet deal on a room in Waikiki. $23/night. The bad news is I've stayed at dives before, but I always end up being alone, this one is packed. I have 5 roomates for the night, two are guys from England, two are in the same bottom bunk (I'm guessing boy and girl but they have a sheet around their bunk) and one more girl on my top bunk. Just like home. I got in late so I didn't really get to meet them but the two guys from England talked back when I asked questions. I don't care about sharing a room with strangers, I'm more worried that I just had to put a $1 down to rent a towel to shower with. It would be a good deal if I was here longer though because that dollar buys you as many clean towel exchanges you want. What a shame I'm only here for one night. And so I end with I did get my towel because I paid for it. Best news of the night was the sheets came free!

Cancun Day 2

In my prevoius post I said I fell asleep a little late. It was probably around 11:30 pm which is not late for me by any standards. Well I had shut the curtains in my cave dwelling and the sun woke me up about 12 pm. That's right, 12 hours of sleep in Chichen Itza!!! Some vacation this is. I got up all flustered thinking I was going to miss check out time and be charged for another day. So I hurried and got showered, which was an amazing shower and left on my trek.


My trek started in the opposite direction I wanted to go. I was planning to go to the Balankanche Caves near Chichen Itza. I was looking for a taxi as the man in the hotel said it was about 5 km. I quickly found a taxi on the side of the road but he wanted 100 pesos to go there. I said no to that idea and thought it would be cheaper to walk. I walked right back to the hotel, tried to find out where I was going by looking on the internet and worked for a few minutes and was off.



1/2 km into the journey I thought to myself, "oh self, look, you have reached the main road. The ruins are to your left, the caves are to your right"? I wasn't really that sure so I walked towards the ruins only for a minute until I saw a sign pointing me in the right direction. So there I was, walking and walking and walking. It really wasn't that horrible but it was hot. I enjoy a good walk but usually off the main highway. Cars were zipping by me and I kept on walking. I bet you'll never guess what song came to mind? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njzeq9t95ZE


If you don't want to go there it a minute video of "If I could walk 500 miles". After about 1 km I reached an open space where I asked a guy on a motorcycle if I was headed in the right direction. He said yes and do you see where this is going? Next think I know I'm one his bike crusing along highway 180 going faster than I enjoyed but it was awesome. It was a quick ride, much faster than walking and he dropped me off at the enterance. He offered to take me up the path but I was fine walking. It was about another 1/2 km to the caves. It was well worth it all. I loved them and wish there was a way to take more pictures. I learned in the cave that on my camera the flash takes about 10 seconds to recharge after taking a picture. I took lots and will post them once I get to but here is a pic from the internet to keep your attention.

I met two people in my group and while we didn't really talk during the tour, after we talked for a few minutes. They were from Mexico City and worked for some Anthropology place. I was jealous of them and they gave me lots of good ideas of what to see next time I'm looking for a place to go. I got away from them to go buy water and pick up my things only to start walking back to the main road to find a bus to Cancun. As I got to the parking lot they were just leaving and asked me if I wanted a ride. Hmm, to walk in heat or ride in AC? I took the ride and though the thought crossed my mind that they could be Mexican druglords and kidnap me I stayed. They didn't drop me off on the side of the road as I asked, they took me all the way to the bus station. They were very kind to do this and it saved me alot of time.

The bus ride was pretty uneventful, got back to Cancun, realized I like the no taxi life so I walked to my hotel and ya. I got in about 8:30 at night, left about 9 to go find some food and because on my walk to the hotel I saw a great party going on in the downtown plaza. I went there and it was really neat. They had all sorts of things and I guess they do some sort of activity every weekend. It wasn't full of tourists, just locals having a good time with their families. I ate great food and drank some tasty horchata. Also had real Mexican Churros for dessert. It was way too much food in a short amount of time but I was still able to watch this comedy show of clowns but it was mostly a dance off between two kids from the crowd. It was so funny. I liked it so much I even gave them money when they asked which is not something I do.

Cancun Day 1

First day was simple, landed around 10 am, took a taxi to the bus stop, traveled 4 hours to get to Chichen Itza and toured the ruins for about 90 minutes. Bought some little things on my way and took some pictures of the great Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. It really was a great place. I found myself wishing I had studied more about them before I saw them and also wishing I had booked two nights in the area vs. only one.

The park closed at 5pm so I went back to my hotel. I was going to walk but forgot and took a taxi that overcharged me and I paid it. It cost 70 pesos ($5.45) and was a quick ride. My hotel was pretty cool. Much nicer than I was expecting for $30 a night. If you ever plan on going let me know and I will hook you up with a hard to find deal at this hotel. Of course I will charge you a booking fee, I don't care who you are...Brother Tyler.

I sat around the hotel, relaxing, working, enjoying the AC until about 7:30 and then I walked over to the ruins the back way and watch the light show. The show was cool but after they shine lights on the ruins so many times it got boring. I was sort of listening to the story that went along with the lights but then I fell asleep. I'm pretty sure the guy next to me thought I was dumb but I couldn't help but doze off. Pictures will come once I can upload them from my camera. I went back to the hotel and enjoyed a poptart I had brought for dinner. Nothing sounded good at the restaruant and besides, it cost money. It was a pretty fun day and I would recommend seeing Chichen Itza to anyone. However, you cannot climb up them like before. The ball court was also cool to see. I went to bed a little late which was weird since I was so tired at the light show.

Cancun Anyone?

I have this problem...it may not be one of my many problems you are thinking about. My problem is I am wanting to go to Cancun for a quick little getaway in August, but the fares are so cheap that I feel bad not telling people that from SFO it is only $247 and from SJC it is only $258. If you are into the beach thing you can do that, but I just want to go see the cool ruins of Chichen Itza. I have heard great things about them.

I was going to take my brother but since he is only 13 it would end up costing another $200 since he is a minor and I don't want to fly to get him. If you are flexible, let me know. Pictures to come after.