Live it up in Mexico
MEXICO is six times bigger than Malaysia with a multitude of tourism opportunities ranging from the cities to beaches, mountains, jungles, Mayan ruins, delicious food and cruising. South of the US, Mexico expands from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Gulf of Mexico on the east. The Central American nations of Belize and Guatemala are on its southern border.
Mexico City of over 18 million residents is the capital and main air gateway that is home to colonial palaces, museums, industry and its notorious traffic.There are
gems within the madness including the art deco-styled Palacio de Bellas that houses Mexico’s art treasures like those of Diego Rivera. It is also home to the Ballet Folklórico de Mexico.
Teotihuacan archaeological zone in the Valle de Mexico, just north of Mexico City, is the site of the huge Piramides del sol y de la Luna that was Mexico’s biggest ancient city and capital in pre-Hispanic days (this is the world’s third largest pyramid).
Visiting many other archaeological sites and Mayan ruins is an essential Mexican tourism experience.
Yaxchilan is in the south near Guatemala, above the Usumacinta River and surrounded by rainforest, is home to ancient temples like Edificio 33.
Close by on the Yucatan Peninsula, Edzna dates back 2,000 years with the settlement originally covering 17km2 with 20 complexes. The main buildings include Nohochna (Big House), Gran Acropolis and Edificio de los Cinco Pisos (five-storey building).
Enjoy the resort life offered in Pacific Ocean destinations like Puerto Vallarta or those on the Gulf of Mexico such as Cancun and Veracruz.
All are popular destinations for cruise ships that visit these parts of the world. Isla Mujeres just off Cancύn has idyllic beach
locations such as the lively Playa Norte or more sedate Playa Paraiso and Playa Indios.
Acapulco is one of the most famous beach destinations in the world. Located on the Pacific coastline, 380km south of the capital it is one of the world’s most famous beaches.
It is known for its high-energy nightlife, long beaches, relaxed lifestyle and golf but it is definitely a destination where visitors need to be street smart.
It is also famous for its La Quebrada cliff divers and as a port of call for cruise liners between November and April especially.
The Day of the Dead (Nov 1 and 2) is a festival like no other — a reunion of beloved departed spirits with living relatives. People wear colourful costumes, eat, drink, visit relatives’ graves and hold parties in what is a celebration of life (expect to see many skull-shaped souvenirs).
Plane and bus travel in Mexico is relatively cheap with more details available via the Embassy of Mexico in Malaysia (twitter @EmbaMexMls and Facebook Embassy of Mexico in Malaysia) or log onto www. visitmexico.com
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Take a ride on the famous Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacifico (Copper and Canyon Railway) from the mountain-
The dramatic coast of Tulum that sits on Caribbean Sea.
ous interior of Chihuahua to the near Los Mochis on the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean.
It covers 655km, crosses 36 bridges and navigates 87 tunnels through dramatic canyons, waterfalls and high desert plains. From Los Mochis, ride another train from San Carlos to Mazatlan.
Culinary DelightS
No, nachos are not Mexican. While created by a Mexican, it was made for American palates. Mexican food is a global favourite and in Mexico, it combines regional ingredients with produce introduced by the Spanish when they conquered the land in the 16th century. Corn, beans, squash and chilli (tabasco sauce) form the basis of many dishes.
Street food is called antojitos with corn (elote) being popular. Popular dishes include enchiladas (corn tortillas with various fillings and chilli sauce), frijoles (re-fried beans), mole (rich sauce usually with chilli), guacamole (mashed avocado, onions, tomatoes and chilli served with tortilla chips), tamales (cooked corn dough stuffed with fillings) and churros.
Rice, seafood, meats and chocolate (it originated in this part of the world) are also popular. Coffee, beer (cerveza), margaritas, Mexican wine, tequila and mescal (the alcohol with the worm) are popular beverages.