London, UK

My list of countries and places I have seen, I normally do not come back once I seen it, unless I was really taken.  As for India , every visit is a wonderful experience, and I never get bored with India , it just captivates me every time, and as you know, I have been there so many times.  London was this experience for me.  I would take another holiday to London .  I loved the whole feel of this place, and the people were so courteous.

Upon arrival at the Heathrow International Airport ,  I jumped on a bus to Westminster where my hotel was booked.  This is the best area to stay in as far as I am concerned.  Totally charming, classic, and very quaint, I was totally smitten with Westminster .  It is in walking distance to the Parliment, Westminister Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye, just to name a few.  There is so much to see in this area, but the ones I mentioned, you must see.  I grab a map and walked to all the sites I wanted to see, and I got my share of exercise each day.

Westminster area is very easy to get around, especially someone like me that seems to get lost in my own neighborhood.  My trip to London was one of my best trips.  Going to the Buckingham Palace was a treat.  The tickets sell out fast for the day, and I was lucky to get a ticket for the last tour that day.  Luckily, I arrived in line that morning to get my tickets for that day because apparently they sell out by late morning.  I was kind of disappointed that I could not take pictures inside of the palace, but was honored to just have the opportunity to walk through, it was breathtaking.  My other favorite spot was the London Eye, it is situated on the River Thames.  The picture of me above is on the River Thames.  They have games and entertainment along the river, it is a nice place to chill out and enjoy some entertainment.  And of course, how could I forget the Westminster Abbey.  A treasure of paintings, stained glass, textiles and other artifacts.  Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated.  More of a historical site then a religious site, Abbey is a work of architectural genius.

Onward to India now, of course.  I stayed in India a few weeks and coming back home most of the airports in the northeast were close due to a storm coming in.  So when I arrived back in London for my connecting flight back home, my connecting flight was cancelled to Newark , New Jersey .  I was stuck in London for the weekend now as my next flight was not scheduled out till Monday.  Totally unexpected, and now I get to see more of London , what a surprise, my vacation carries on.

British Airways put me in a hotel by the airport so now I had the opportunity to checkout this side of London .  Searching through the internet for things to do, I seen this weekend was the famous Notting Hill Carnival.  I jumped on The Underground AKA The Tube, which is the cheapest way to get around London .  A few tubes and I arrived in Notting Hill.  Did I luck out or what ! Notting Hill Carnival comes once a year and is one of the biggest carnivals of the year.  The carnival last for 3 days and has attracted one million people in the past year, making it one of the largest street festivals in the world.  It was jammed packed with people everywhere and police stationed at every corner.  I was having a blast so I order some rum punch and hung-out for a few hours watching all the activities taking place.  What a treat for me to be stuck in London for the weekend and have the opportunity to join in on the festival.  If you come in August make sure you see the Notting Hill Carnival, you will have a blast.  No clowning around now, go see it :-)))

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun is a world-renowned and tropical paradise that remains one of the world’s top tourist destinations.  If you’re looking for a place with fantastic weather, pumping nightlife, shopping galore, and some of the coolest activities in and out of the water, then Cancun is the place to come.  Boredom is something not possible in Cancun, this place has everything under the sun.  Whether it’s a family vacation at an all-inclusive like the RIU Cancun, destination wedding, romantic getaway, or spring break, Cancun has it all.

Home to one of the world’s largest barrier reef, Cancun is an ideal place for scuba diving and snorkeling.  For those who are not into water activities, you will find golfing or fishing areas.  For the shopaholic, you will shop till you drop, as you will find shops galore.  For the party animal, Cancun is notorious for their nightlife, this place is rocking with tons of bars and night clubs for every night owl.  As far as accommodation, Cancun runs the gamut.  It has everything from luxurious villas to all-inclusive resorts, to budget hotels, many accommodation options.  You’ll be able to find accommodations in Cancun that meets your budget and your needs.

My main purpose to come to Cancun was I had to see Chichen Itza.  I love history and have always been fascinated by the Maya Civilization.  My day tour to Chichen Itza was the highlight of my trip.  It was amazing seeing the ancient Maya ruins.  A tour through Chichen Itza is a trip back in time and a learning journey on most of the Maya history .  Remember they predicted the end of world, December 21, 2012, the end times prophecy, doomsday.  If you love history, please do not miss this place, even if you don’t love history, you will be fascinated by the Maya Civilization.  I found it mind boggling.

Okay, history in a nut-shell on the Maya Civilization.  I am so fascinated by this place that I want to give a brief history lesson.  Chichen Itza was once one of the most powerful cities of the Maya.  The history of Chichen Itza is mysterious, and written records are scarce. Most sources agree that from approximately AD 250 to AD 900, Chichen Itza existed mainly as a ceremonial center for the Maya.  Civilization weakened, and the Maya abandoned their religious centers and the rural land around them, between 900 AD and 1000 AD.  The Maya civilization stopped making monuments, why, no one seems to know for sure.  What we do know for certain is the Maya civilization was one of the most advance and sophisticated cultures in the Western Hemisphere.  The Maya are famed for their impressive knowledge of mathematics and astronomy, which were essential to their religious rituals.  When you visit you will see why I find it mind boggling, they were so ahead of time.  They are also known for the practice of human sacrifice, which was a means of appeasing and nourishing the gods.

It can take a whole day to see the extensive ruins of Chichen Itza, which occupy about 2.5 square miles.  At the entrance is a large, modern visitors' center that includes a museum, a restaurant, bathrooms, and a bookstore.  Here you can hire a licensed guide who speak Spanish or English.  A guide is not necessary, especially if you have a map or guidebook, but he or she can really give you all the details and interesting stories about the ruins that you might otherwise miss.  I hired a guide and I recommend it because there is so much fascinating history, you do not want to miss out.  It really makes it come alive hearing all the information and stories by hiring a knowledgeable guide.  The Mayan Civilization is fascinating, so do hire a guide.

Let me share with you a suggestion while visiting Cancun.  If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful holiday, then come to Isla Mujeres Island, it is a great way to escape away from all the noise and crowds.  This island is about 9 miles offshore.  This is where I stayed and I was so glad I did.  You have to take the ferry over to the island, so if you come make sure you reach the ferries by 11 pm, which is the last ferry over in the evening, but do check timings because schedules change.  I got out of the airport too late and I had to stay at another hotel till the next morning when I could take the first ferry over.

I love Isla Mujeres Island, quaint and quiet and away from all the noise and nightlife in Cancun.   It is a nice place to shop and pick up some nice handcrafted gifts.  I prefer a relaxing vacation, so Isla Mujeres worked great for me.  Unless you love the nightlife and clubbing, the real party animal, then I would suggest staying in Cancun's main strip.  Another option, you can always take the ferry back and forth, regardless of where you stay so you can visit both.  There are a few locations for ferry boarding every 20 to 30 minutes. Then again, if your planning to party all night then best not to book a hotel on the island as you will miss the last ferry over at 11 pm. I would recommend at least a visit to this lovely island.  Till next time, it’s 5’oclock somewhere.