Christchurch is nice but a little dull. Access to rest of south island is worthwhile though, amazing place.
been to NZ twice, then Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala and through Belize in 2015 on this trip, now in the states.
- Mexico City was a good introduction to Mexico. Good street food, good company, cheap. Pyramid of the sun/moon well worth visiting, food museums also. Downside was sewage smell, lack of greenspace inner city and having to go back for an extremely underwhelming new years.
-Cuba was unlike anything else, crumbling architecture and classic cars. Healthy, vibrant people with no money. Havana was pretty wild, but people did try and swindle you. Filthy also, infrastructure was broken. Not a shining advert for communism but well worth visiting before it opens up to the states and becomes another Cancun. Beaches were great. Food was abysmal, and i got food poisoning. Not so fun.
- Tulum was fine. Like going to byron, which was needed post Cuba - some creature comforts. Nice food, if pricey. Beaches all resort dominated was a bit shit, but swimming in Cenotes amazing.
- Play del carmen was a toilet with the best hostel, from a partying perspective, ive been to (the yak).
- lake Bacalar well worth visiting, sleepy town on a beautiful lake. There for two nights, one full day, paddled around on kayaks, had a swim, enjoyed the serenity. Then 12 hour bus to Flores, Guatemala.
- Arrived there via Belize, stayed off the island in San Miguel. Stunning views of Lake Petan and Flores, great hostel and hostel owner. Flores was v sleepy though, but nice.
- did a 5 day hike from christmas, though, to El Mirador. That was awesome, in dense jungle with mules carrying the food. Hiking up the pyramid structures at el mirador gave 360° views of jungle which was pretty great. Saw monkeys including howler monkeys, which are terrifying sounding. Also toucans and frogs and such. Rural guatemala was pretty intense, so poor, so isolated. Chicken bus back to flores also an experience.
- from there another flores night, overnight bus to Guatemala city, plane to mexico city and a few wasted days. Then flew to the states.
Austin, Texas is an amazingly good city. Great music everywhere with a decent amount of variety. Clean, friendly. University worth exploring, LBJ museum and library worth visiting, capitol building likewise, good food and beer, great paths along the river and clean, healthy, vibrant people. Really loved it.
New orleans im just leaving. Enjoyed the music and Frenchmans st. Prefer both Austin and Nashville as music towns though. Fun but not sure i did it well, not sure its that great a place.
Now going to visit relatives in Orlando, then flying to LA, getting a car and driving out to Death Valley, through Vegas to flagstaff, arizona, to go visit the grand canyon and also go snowboarding. Then back via Joshua Tree before a final night in San Diego and then home to Australia.
so highlights were hike in guatemala, cenotes in tulum and Austin. Lowlights cuban food, long buses and Playa Del Carmen.
good trip though.
Will be lucky to do much else, have a full time job and unlikely holidays till christmas, so more low key this year. Places on the agenda in next little while are tassie, uluru and the territory, sri lanka, principally.
