3 Weeks Until Departure

It seems that every night I crawl into bed and start thinking about things that I have to do to make our Mexican adventure a success.  It seems I always start at the long-term parking lot at YVR and start working through the trip down.

img_1595

The planning actually started about six months ago when we booked Casa Musa in Merida through VRBO.  For a few years now we’ve spent some time in Ajijic, Mexico but because we we’re trying for March we couldn’t seem to get any suitable accommodations so we had to look somewhere new.  For a few years, I’ve been hearing good things about Merida, “the white city” so we thought this might be a suitable spot to spend the month of March.

img_1596

Casa Musa is located on Calle 57 between 34 and 36, about 12 blocks or so from the central city park which I’m hoping will be walkable.  From what I understand there is a new market, Chen Beck so I’m eager to check out the fresh vegetables and meats – hopefully the owners have positioned that “new” barbeque on the rear deck so that we can have some special outdoor dinners.

img_1597

The Casa is a two-bedroom in the old section of town.  A unit that has been totally renovated and should fit the bill, particularly with the small but wet pool that’s situated in the courtyard.

img_1599

Because of the total flying time associated with our flight from Vancouver to Merida, we’ve decided to forgo the 24-hour flight in favour of a direct flight to Cancun of 5-hours.  We’re going to spend a couple of days at Krystal Cancun and then take the “Platino” bus for the 3.5 hour drive into Merida.  Terry thinks that this might be kin to the “chicken bus” that you see in movies, but I’m told that it’s VIP treatment so we’ll see.

img_1602

There’s much more to see in the Merida area including Chichen Itza, one of the old Mayan temples just about an hour outside of town and the Cenotes, amazing swimming holes spread throughout the Yucatan.  img_1608

As I say, we’ve got a 2-bedroom casa with air and best of all king-sized beds.  We’ll have to figure out who gets the Master suite, without any curtains.  It will either come down to who looks better physically or who wins in the poker draw.  img_1604

With Mother Nature just dropping about 14″ of snow (at this time, because it’s still snowing) this will serve the great timing to get out-of-town and enjoy some of the crystal blue waters in Cancun and Progreso (a small city on the Gulf just 30 minutes east of Merida).  I have a friend of a friend who has a very large Casa in Merida that he purchased about 3 or 4 years ago and it’s amazing from the pictures I’ve seen.  I’m looking forward to hooking up with him and hopefully he can give me some tips on local restaurants and must-see sites.

Down Under Adventure

image

Hoppy

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne, Australia

image

         Swan River in Perth, Australia

temple-bracket

Buddhist Temple in Bali

pano-bracket3

Unloading

opera-bracket16

Opera House

Dijeriidoo Aboriginals

Cairns Aboriginals

Hamilton Yacht

Hamilton Dingy

Terraced Rice Fields

Amazing Terraced Rice Fields in Bali

Cats Eye Beach

Hamilton Hobie’s

image

Amazing Landscapes

harbour-climb-bracket1

Walking the Harbour Bridge

harbour-bridge-bracket12

Harbour Bridge, Sydney

Body Gloves

Life Jackets on the Ready

Hobie's Waitin For Wind

Hobie’s Just Waiting

Cats Eye Beach

Hamilton Island – Whitsunday Island Chain

image

Offset Highrise in Auckland

Cloverdale Rodeo 2016

SIN_6652

Pig Races

SIN_6767

Bareback Bronco – 8 Seconds of Hell

SIN_6773

Off The Ground

SIN_6784

Laid Back

SIN_6796

How High Can They Go ?

SIN_6809

Barrel Racing

SIN_6816

Sharp Turns on the Barrel

SIN_6820

Barrel Racing

SIN_6827

The Ultimate Winner

SIN_6852

More Bareback – Act II

SIN_7059

Ass Over Tea Kettle

SIN_7061

Thank God for Helmuts

SIN_7065

 

SIN_7087

Just a Little Too Much Horn !

SIN_7090

On Lookers

SIN_7105

The Losers ….. I guess ?

SIN_7124

Face Paint – Anonymous

Chinatown/Indiantown – Singapore

Majong Bracket

Friendly Mahjong Game in Chinatown, Singapore

Banana Lady Bracket

Banana Lady – Chinatown, Singapore

Statue Bracket Two

Indiantown – Singapore

Mailbox Bracket

Mailboxes – Chinatown, Singapore

Vegetable Bracket

Shopping for Veggies – Indiantown, Singapore

Scooter Bracket

Motorcycles – Singapore

Statue Bracket One

Religious Statues – Chinatown Temple, Singapore

Bell Bracket

Chinese Ceremonial Bell – Chinatown, Singapore

Bowleg Bracket

Bowlegged – Singapore

Singapore Zoo

SIN_6218

Take What Bus ?

SIN_6230

Zoo Critter #1

SIN_6231

Singapore Zoo Layout

SIN_6240

Just a Little Too Nosey for My Liking

SIN_6251

Is This Yours or Mine ?

SIN_6255

Where’s My Ball ?

SIN_6274

Preparation What ?

SIN_6294

A Few Friends We Met At The Zoo

SIN_6315

You Lost What ?

SIN_6319

Ah Meng Memorial Statue

SIN_6321

Even The Locals Felt The Heat

SIN_6327

How Far ?

SIN_6331

The Little Asian Kid Exhibit

SIN_6336

Flowers  SIN_6340

Where Did I Leave My Bike ?

Asian Adventure

SIN_6449

Flowers – Singapore

Marina Sands Pool2

SIN_6443

Raffles Hotel – Singapore

SIN_6453

In the Raffles Hallway – Singapore

SIN_6456

Bob – Singapore

SIN_6459

Waiting for the Onslaught – Carlton Hotel, Singapore

SIN_6199

Giant Tree Light Show – Singapore

SIN_6208\

The Lobby of Marina Sands Hotel

SIN_6181

Dusk at Giant Trees – Singapore

SIN_6161

The Giant Trees at Garden Bay – Singapore

Ponch Bracket

Rain On / Rain Off – Hong KongStatue BracketJust One The Many Statues in Patong, Thailand

Big Buddah Bracket II

Big Buddah in Phuket, Thailand

Singapore Museum Bracket

Museum of Modern Art in Singapore

Marina Sands

Marina Sand Hotel & Spa – Singapore

Merlion Bracket

The Merlion in Singapore

Skyline Bracket

Singapore Skyline At Night

Gardens Bracket

The Gardens Complex – Singapore

Singapore Skyline Bracket

Singapore by Day From the Marina Sands Rooftop

Marina Pool Bracket

The Rooftop Pool At The Marina Sands – Singapore

Marina Roof Bracket

On the Roof – Singapore

Canal Bracket

Shopping Center in Singapore

Singapore Subway Bracket

Singapore Subways – Clean as a Whistle !

Sleeping on the Job

Sleeping on the Job in Singapore

Novotel Bracket

Novotel Resort & Spa – Patong Beach, Phuket

Tiger Tale Bracket

Tiger By The Tail – Patong Beach, Phuket Thailand

Tiger Scratch Bracket

Deborah’s New Friend in Patong Beach, Thailand

Tiger Bob Bracket

Bob’s New Friend – Patong Beach, Phuket

Tiger Touch Bracket

Family Shot – Patong Beach, Phuket

Tiger Face Bracket

Tiger Fight Bracket

Just Playfighting – Patong Beach, Phuket Thailand

Sand Girl Bracket

Fun in the Sand – Kata Beach, Phuket

Fishing Boat Bracket

Thai Fishing Boats – Kata Beach, Phuket

Karon Beach Bracket

See Through Pool – Kata Beach, Phuket

Lookout Bracket

Phuket Overlook

Elephant Trek Bracket

Elephant Trek – Phuket, Thailand

Hear No Evil Bracket

Hear No Evil – Speak No Evil – See No Evil in Phuket

Big Buddah Bracket

Big Buddah – Phuket, Thailand

Temple Bracket

Thai Temples – Phuket, Thailand