I have to say I don't think most Indians consider Mexico when thinking of a vacation destination because why on earth would we visit another third world country when we could just visit our own? Lets face it...we are a bit obsessed with the clean, dainty, quainty Switzerland and Scotland type destinations. Either that or Disney World. Or Bali, Malaysia...well ok all of Asia. The Caribbean is good too. Ok Ok basically a lot of other countries come to mind except Mexico. I know this because personally I never considered Mexico and once I decided I was going there a lot of my Indian friends said "oh really?"
Hmmm.
Well its time to reconsider my darlings. Mexico is a D-R-E-A-M.
For those of us living in the continental US its a wonderful hop, stop and jump away (less than 4 hours non-stop from New York!)to a place that’s wonderfully like home. Warm, sunny, golden. Delicious spicy food and lovely friendly locals. The trick is knowing where to go. Avoiding places like Cancun like the plague is usually a good start. That’s where the fat all-inclusive crowd hangs out...yep, the ones wearing 'I Love Mehico' T-shirts dragging sombrero wearing screaming kids and badly dressed wives wearing too much jewelry.
My husband and I scooted straight down to Tulum in our dinky little Chevy car which reminded me so much of my Maruti 800 from many years ago. Tulum is 2 hours south of Cancun. The good news is its pretty easy to avoid Cancun because the airport is outside the hotel zone and sets you off in the right direction toward the south, avoiding the spring break city altogether. I'm sorry for using the word 'avoid' so much here.
It’s so nice to see signs with distances in kilometers! The drive south is pretty uneventful barring random speed-breakers that appear out of nowhere with the 'caution' sign right next to the speed breaker mocking your mortal stupidity (and mortality) as you fly over it at 100km/hr. This, in a dinky Chevy is not so much fun. Otherwise all else is fun.
Fun, fun, fun. Alliterations are big for me this year.
There are cute little towns all the way down to Tulum...we will talk about some of those later. Playa Del Carmen is the one of note. Party city. Fun times. Don't even think about staying there unless you are 18. This is the new Cancun. Without the fat people. In fact, everyone is pretty damn thin and sexy in PDC.
Back to Tulum. And I promise to blog about Tulum in way more detail...but for now suffice to say its such a dreamy location...so Goa-like and you MUST go. Yes I know you've never heard of it...neither had I. But mi amigo...this is a truly unique place. A laid-back vibe, stunning beaches, Mayan ruins, eco-cabanas on the beach, a massive-ass biosphere. Overall, such a fantabulous respect and balance and harmony with nature. It reminded me of Pune in the 80's. I miss Pune in the 80's. Quaint little shops on MG Road, not too many people around..especially during the afternoon siesta hour, pleasant breezy evenings, lots of pretty trees, no electricity half the time.
More on Tulum soon.
