Sunrise?? Hurricane terror...

Cancun night, originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

I took this picture on my second night in Cancun. I was taking a walk by myself in front of my hotel and decided to capture the moon. Well...it didn't turn out as anticipated...it was not a sunrise...but looks more like it, huh? Bare in mind, I took this at night time. I over exposed the camera too long...=( ... I'm still learning...Anyway, it turned out pretty cool....so I decided to post this picture.

Many of you might know, three countries are or will be hit by hurricane Wilma...Cuba, Mexico and USA. The only place in Mexico that will be hit by this category 4 Wilma is Yucatán area...where Cancun, Cozumel and Xcaret are situated at. I just read the news this morning, that Wilma just landed on the beaches of Cancun this morning. Many locals and tourists in Cancun should be now hiding in the tornado shelter or using hotel ballrooms shelters. Can you imagine, that someone that is expecting to have a good holiday and be treated like a King/Queen in a luxurious hotel...now have to hide in a shelter with hundreds of others, with possibility of not having enough food and water supply? SUCKS!

Anyway, let's hope for the best for the people there and pray for them...

Need to read more? Here's the link... http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/10/21/wilma/index.html

Boo!

Cancun Xcaret, originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

Bad ass warrior huh? Mayan costume...this guy was just posing there and was preparing for a cultural show next.

More of Xcaret...

Hmmm...I'm trying to upload these pictures using blogger instead of my usual flickr. I just wanna put a few pictures in one post, instead of one picture for every post using flickr. Hope this will turn out good.

Anyway, a few more pictures of Xcaret when I was in Cancun. Hope you guys are not bored of it yet. You know...it's been more than a month since I left Cancun. Everday, I'll be dreaming of going back there again someday...warm weather, sandy beaches and crystal clear water.

To all my friends, Kerry, Lin Zhuang, Sachin and Chin Hooi, thanks for your comments about my pictures. I'm just learning to take better and better pictures everyday...

Cancun Xcaret

Cancun Xcaret
Originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

When I was in Cancun, I went to Xcaret. Like I mentioned in my previous post...it was an awesome place. I caught this guy sun bathing somewhere in the bush....hmmm...he's not doing something 'productive' in the bush, huh? Anyway, I decided to take a snap shot of him posing.

Guys...I know it's been soooo long but more photos of Cancun will come. Bare with me please...been really busy and lazy lately!

El Calvario

El Calvario
Originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

Carina...here's your request. I'm sure this is the little church on top of the hill that you were referring to in Metepec. I found out the name of the church is "El Calvario"...The Calvary. Here's a photo that I took when I went there.

Cancun

Cancun1
Originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

Yes ladies and gentleman..this is Cancun. That was my last location in Mexico the weekend before I left.

I sorry that I posted this so late. After I get back into US...I got all lazy...busy with work...etc etc. So, might as well just get it done with it.

NO! I didn't go with other people...NO! I didn't hook up with some chicks...I was all by myself in Cancun...just in case you guys are wondering.

Anyway, I've never been to such beautiful place in my life. Unlike Pulau Redang, where you can only go scuba diving/snorkling, relax by the beach and sleep...Cancun is a lot more than that. With tons of world class hotels...countless restaurants...amazing nightlife...and of course expensive. You'll see many tourists from all around the world. Chicks? Don't even need to ask about that...they were excellent!

On the first day, I arrived there in the evening. I couldn't do anything else except for bar hopping...yes...ALONE. I jsut wanted to see Cancun's nightlife. Believe me, if you have a bunch of crazy asses with you...you'll get tons of fun.

Second day, I took an hour bus ride to Playa del Carmen. From there, I took a 40 mins ferry ride across to Cozumel Island. There, they have the second longest reef in the world after Australia. I wanted to go snorkle...but I did it many times before. So, I thought maybe I should go a little further. Took a crash course in scuba diving and I went right in. My first scuba diving was fun...really.

On the third day, I took another bus ride to a nearby park, it's called Xcaret. Not exactly near, it was about 1.5 hour away. Anyway, that place was beautiful. I just spent the whole day there. I swam the natural underwater river, visited Mayan ruins and watched performances.

On my last day, I didn't do much. My first three days there, I did not actually sit by the beach and chill. So, I decided to do that a few hours before I went to the airport. The picture you see, I took it as I was walking along the beach. Just beeeeeeeeeeeeautiful!!

Guadalajara

Last weekend I was at Guadalajara to visit my cousin, and had to go to the US Embassy there. Many of you might know that Guadalajara is not only known as the gay capital of Mexico, but it is also well known for having abundant amount of girls. Yes, pretty girls. To some of you, I have been complaining about the girls here in Atalcomulco...that they all look...like...like...men? For once in Mexico, I actually saw some girls that looked like actresses.

Girls were the most interesting thing to me in Guadalajara because I did not go anywhere else besides eat, movie and mall with my cousin. My cousin doesn't like to go out that much, so after work he'll head back home and log in to the realm of World of Warcraft....even on Friday and Saturday night! So there you go...most of the time in Guadalajara, I did nothing but stayed at home and watch TV. So.....no pictures this week!

Friday after work, I started driving to Guadalajara. As usual, everyone on the road was speeding...so I HAD to follow. As I was close to Morelia, about after 2 hours of driving...lucky me...I was stopped by a Federal Police. I pulled my car over...as the police was walking towards my car...

Police, "Buenas tardes..." (Good Afternoon)

Before he was able to finish the whole sentence, I said ,"Mi no habla español." (I don't speak spanish). In my mind I was thinking, noooooo problem...I don't speak spanish and he doesn't speak english...no communication...therefore he'll let me go.

Then, Police, "Oh...you speak english?"

Damn! What do you expect me to say? All foreigners should be able to speak english in Mexico...common sense! Maybe I should say "Babi! Aku tak faham langsung!?!?"....So, being nice and a responsible citizen of Malaysia, I said "YES".

Police, "Good. You drive fast. You drive One Four Four Km/hr....eh...here...maximum...one hundred and ten km/hr. Can I see license and registration?"

So yeah...he ended up giving me a ticket and took my number plate away. Yes...they take your number plate! To make sure you actually go to the police station to pay up your fine. Unlike other police here in Mexico, Federal Police don't take bribes.

That was my last weekend, didn't do anything in a lively city and my encounter with a police that spoke english!

Cathedral ...not again?!

Cathedral (outside)
Originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

Ok ok...I will not show you the inside of this cathedral...but if you really wanna see it, go to my flickr page to view it.

Anyway, another cathedral...yes...haha. They begun building this cathedral in 1660 and completed everything a century later. Why so slow? Wa mana eh chai?!

Palacio de Gabierno

Inside the palace
Originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

Last Sunday, I was at Morelia...a beautiful colonial city. The picture you see, was at Palacio de Gabierno. I was told that was where Mexicans drafted the declarations of independance to the Spanish. Paintings on the wall shows important figures and tells stories...yeah...like I know what story and which Ah Seng or Ah Beng were the important people for Mexico. Very nice place and was a perfect day for me to take pictures!

Jump!

IMG_2009
Originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

I think there are 9 Charro activities and the the picture you are looking is the last one. You can see this kid was trying to jump over to the horse right beside him. The other three amigos behind were trying to keep the horses running. This was the first attempt, he didn't manage to do it. He did it on the second attempt, but I couldn't get a real good picture on that. I think this picture is pretty nice.

IMG_1949

IMG_1949
Originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

Last Saturday, I went to a 'charreria'...hope I got the name right. It was an event/competition between teams of Charros (Cowboys if you wanna put it that way). The picture I took is a typical look of a Charro. Well...according to my friend, many mexican girls like guys that do charro activities. Charro, beer and tequilas...perfect combination of a macho Mexican!!!! I wonder if the Mexican city girls would think that way. Would they admire a Charro riding his horse? Or a guy with a nice car with more horse power (and money)?

What?!

IMG_1837
Originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

This is a a view out from my window on a nice day. As you can see...nice mountain and little structures you see in front of it...it's a grave yard. Hey, it's not that bad, pretty nice...for those of you from Penang...compare this with Padang Tembak graveyard ok?

I was talking to someone here...and I jsut found out...that mountain is not a mountain...it's a VOLCANO. Don't worry...not active and it is hibernating now...someday it'll be awake...hehe...

Out of breath??

I'm bored at work (lucky me!), and decided to write this. On Monday, I went to play indoor football with some amigos from work. The last time I played football was about 6 weeks ago. It's been a while and this time I was pretty excited about playing again.

First quarter of the game, a substitution...finally my turn! Guess what? I lasted only 5 mins....ONLY 5 MINS!! I was totally our of breath. I had to ask another amigo to replace me. Imagine, 12 mins for each quarter and they played 4 quarters. Out of the 48 mins, I played on 5 mins. Come to think of it...maybe less!

Here's what I think. Atlacomulco is situated about 1Km above sea level. As you know, air is thinner as you go higher. Therefore, I think that the air was to thin for me to be fooling around. My lungs were actually hurting after the game! OR...do you think I was actually too 'lemak' after stopped playing for 6 weeks? I have to admit that I never had a good stamina...hehe.

In conclusionnnnnnnn....I think both factors affected my game!

Last Weekend

In case you are wondering why I didn't post any pics from last weekend...that is because I didn't go anywhere. Yes...for once, I was here in Atlacomulco, but it wasn't bad though. I was invited by my friend Roberto, to attend his family reunion party on Saturday afternoon. It's the reunion of "Familia Rojas", in Spanish, you're suppose to read as 'Rohas'....not Rojak!

There were about close to 200 people attended the party, and that was only a quarter of the Rojas family. Imagine all of them were there....So, I started drinking from 3pm, and after the party...there was another party organized by his cousins. Yup...non stop drinking from 3pm to 3am....tequilas...beers...brandy....etc.

The next day, was Roberto's grandad's b'day. Again, I was invited to attend. Of course I took quite a bit of pictures, but I don't think any of you guys are interested to look at other family's pictures right? As usual....we drank again on Sunday...lol.

Inside Cathedral of Toluca

Inside Cathedral of Toluca
Originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

Hehe...ok..just one more picture from the inside...

Inside Cathedral of Toluca

Inside Cathedral of Toluca, originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

Yes I know...cathedrals after cathedrals...but I can't help it! I'm always amazed everytime I visit a cathedral...just look at the pic! The interior design and etc...

I took a couple more shots of the interior of this cathedral, but I'm not gonna post it here. Go to my flicks to check it out...haha...

Cathedral, build at the end of 19th century

Cathedral, build at the end of 19th century, originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

I hope it's not hard to notice me in the picture! LOL! There's no name to this cathedral except it's known as the Cathedral of Toluca. Over 100 over years old...

Botanical Garden with Cosmo Vitral surrounding it

Botanical Garden with Cosmo Vitral surrounding it, originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

This was Sunday at Toluca, inside the Botanical Garden. The yellow and orange glasses you see here it's an art called Cosma Vitral. Designed by one Mexican artist when he was drunk! Took about two year and 1500 pieces of stained glass brought all over from Europe to make this.

The central square...view from the top of cathedral

The central square...view from the top of cathedral, originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

Top of the Metropolitan Cathedral looking down. As you can see, last Saturday was pretty cloudy...

Aztec costume?

Aztec costume?, originally uploaded by Adrian Tan.

Last Saturday when I was in Mexico City, I saw a group of people performed a dance at the center of the square. I was pretty curious and went there to check it out. My friend told me that that was the Aztec dance and they were wearing the traditional Aztec costumes while performing the dance. This was one of them.

How accurate were the costumes compared the the older days? Even for the dance too, were they dancing 'real' steps or just simply move and swing around like high on weeds just to 'cari makan'? I don't know...but it's sure nice to see something diffent from our own SILAT MELAKA!!!!!