Mexico’s National Palace, the official residence of the country’s president
Mexico had always been one of the countries I most wanted to visit, and if you have been there and written about it, there is a good chance I have commented on your blog posts about it and said how much I dreamed of going there. That is why I was both ecstatic and nervous a little over two weeks ago, when the day finally came for me to see this country with my own eyes on my first ever trip to the Americas. Mexico is on the other side of the globe from Indonesia, and it was a very long journey to get there and back – each way took around two days with long stopovers in Istanbul. But oh how the exhaustion paid off once James and I arrived in Mexico City!
Ideally, this trip should have been longer so we could visit more places. But 13 days (not including two days of transit in Turkey’s largest city) were all we could afford given the limited days off we get from work. Apart from exploring the capital (which offers so many great things to see and experience), we also went to the states of México, Chiapas, and Yucatán, mainly to visit a number of ruins left by different ancient civilizations who once built great cities in this part of the world before the arrival of European colonizers. Regular readers of this blog might have noticed my fascination toward structures constructed centuries and millennia ago, as well as the sophisticated artistic expressions often applied to embellish those monuments. And seeing the photos online of the unique and intricate sculptures and carvings created by the ancient Mesoamerican civilizations to decorate their palaces and temples further fueled my desire to go to Mexico – home to many such magnificent edifices – as they look so different from the ancient art I’m more used to seeing in my part of the world.
On this trip, we visited some of the country’s most well-known ancient sites, including Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza, and Palenque, as well as a few others that receive a lot less visitors. However, seeing the ruins were obviously not the only thing we did. We also sampled a wide variety of authentic Mexican dishes (which are rather hard to come by in Jakarta), from tacos al pastor to different types of mole, as well as some regional specialties like papadzules and sopa de lima, all washed down with various traditional drinks that include horchata, pozol, agua de chaya, and our favorite: tejate. My Indonesian upbringing really prepared me for that extra kick habanero chilies give to Mexican dishes, and despite the repeated warnings I received from the locals that they were muy picante (very hot), I actually very much enjoyed adding this pepper to almost everything I ate. To make sure we got the real taste of Mexican food, we went to restaurants (from somewhat fancy to trendy), local eateries (both at a traditional market and a neighborhood hole-in-the-wall), and a cantina. And how lucky I was that James was still able to speak Spanish despite the many years that have passed since his time in Salamanca, Spain!
Prior to this trip, I looked up information online regarding personal safety in Mexico. But in the end, common sense was all we needed. We took the metro and the public bus in Mexico City, jostling with many other people who call this magnificent city home, yet we never felt unsafe. We walked down the streets of Mérida, the capital of Yucatán, and never encountered any situation that would potentially harm us, even at night. In fact, shortly before the trip, I found out that this city is in fact as safe as Tokyo and Seoul according to the 2025 Crime Index. My travel stories from Mexico will eventually be published on this blog, but for now I will take a rest since we just arrived last night from two days of traveling with a lack of sleep since we checked out from our hotel in Mexico City. There were so many things about Mexico that we loved (which I will delve into in separate posts), as well as a few other things that we thought could have been better. One thing’s for sure, however: James and I agreed that one day we will return to Mexico despite the long distance we have to travel to get there.
Paseo de la Reforma, a major avenue in Mexico City, viewed from Chapultepec Park
Of course we went to Chichen Itza
The amazing ruins of Palenque in Chiapas
The much less-visited archaeological site of Sayil along the Ruta Puuc in Yucatán
Beautiful Izamal, one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos
Moist and tender guajolte (local turkey) with delicious mole sauce served with frijoles at La Gruta, a wonderful restaurant inside a cave near Teotihuacan
The fish tacos we had in Palenque
What an Amazing World! 
Many thanks for this very interesting post!
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More to come, Martina, when I have overcome the jet lag. 🙂
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Thanks and good first of all, recover well🤣
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Haha, thanks!
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It looks like it lived up to expectations. I know that feeling of somewhere you always wanted to go, but what if it disappoints xx
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In many ways, Mexico did live up to our expectations. I know what you mean, Jo, and honestly that’s what I have in mind when it comes to extremely popular destinations. That’s why when I travel I also like to include places that are not as famous as the big attractions.
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Yay!! I’m so glad you were able to visit Mexico Bama!! I can’t wait to see those sites and cities through your eyes. Maggie
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Maggie, I looked up your posts on Mexico before and during this trip. And you know what? I realized later that we actually stayed in the same area in Palenque!
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Isn’t it a great little community? We had some of our best meals on that treed street. Obviously you went to the Mayan site, but did you go to Agua Azul?
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Yes, that street has some really good restaurants. And it was very close to the ADO bus station. We spent two full days in Palenque. On the first day we went to the archaeological zone. But since it was Monday, the museum was closed. So we went back the next day just to visit the museum. We were thinking of going to Agua Azul, but in the end we didn’t and opted for eating more of the traditional food from Chiapas. 😁
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The museum was under renovation when we were there so I’ll be interested to see your posts.
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The museum was only partially open when we went. So, there were items we wanted to see that were still kept away. It was still a nice visit though.
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Oh how fun that you got to visit North America for the first time! You were only 4 hours from me! 😆
Your photos look amazing and I love that you were game to eat the local food and beverages. Very spicy indeed but I bet also comparable to Indonesian food.
The ruins are something else and you made it to Chichen Itza before me, even though we’ve been to Mexico the last three Spring Breaks! 😆
I hope your jetlag and reentry to work is not too bad and look forward to seeing your travel posts soon!
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Haha, for about 2 weeks we were technically neighbors. 😆
When it came to spicy food, there was only one dish we tried in Mexico that made me sweat. I could handle the rest. 😁
There were a lot of people at Chichen Itza, so I think it’s better for you to go there sooner than later. Yucatán was very hot though.
I’m taking a short break from work at the moment. The amount of emails piling up in my inbox was crazy!
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So awesome you finally got to visit Mexico! Despite living just three hours from the Mexican border here in the US, I admit I didn’t visit Mexico until I was 25…and even then, I only dipped my toes into a couple of cities along Baja California…I’m happy you got to see Chichen Itza, one of the Wonders of the World, and I hope to return to Mexico to see it, along with more of what the country has to offer. Looking forward to reading your trip in Mexico soon!
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I think that happens to a lot of places that are closer to where we live. For some reason, we tend to explore countries far from home more than those that are in our own backyard. Having said that, I do hope you’ll get to see more of Mexico, Rebecca.
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So cool you got to Mexico! I look forward to your posts!
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Anna! I was actually thinking of telling you about my Mexican trip since we almost bumped into each other in Uzbekistan. But work was just so crazy before I left for Mexico City, so much so I was a bit overwhelmed. Any travel plans for you this year?
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Haha thanks for thinking of me but Mexico is way too far from where we live! Like you I have limited time and it’s just too far to go for such a short amount. I am going to Dubai and Azerbaijan in July!!! I can’t wait to explore Baku and surrounds! X
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I can imagine how long it will take for you to travel from Perth to Mexico! Enjoy the land of fire, Anna! What’s intriguing about Azerbaijan for me is the juxtaposition between modern and old, Asia and Europe.
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Yes I can’t wait to see the unique blend of cultures and old vs new! Have you been?
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No, I haven’t. But I’ve been intrigued by the Caucasus region for quite some time now. My trip to Lebanon in 2019 really sparked my interest especially in Armenia.
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Ahh ok. I remember seeing some really cool blog posts a while back and thought it might have been you. Now i want to go back to those posts but cant remember who wrote them! Lol. Yes i remember your Lebanon trip and being inspired. I love this part of the world! What I wouldn’t do to visit Iran!
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Iran! It’s also high on my list. But for James, who uses a Canadian passport, visiting this country might not be as straightforward as it is for us. We’ll see.
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Take me instead of James!!!! 🤣🤣🤣
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LOL!!!
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Amazing, I can’t wait to read all your posts, as I would also love to visit Mexico one day soon 🙂
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Maybe when your project is done you can reward yourself with a trip to Mexico. I think you would enjoy it, Hannah.
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That’s fantastic. I am glad to see that you finally had a chance to visit Mexico. I find that fulfilling travel dreams is a rewarding experience that can lead to personal growth, increased appreciation of different cultures, and a broader perspective on the world. The anticipation, the planning, and the actual journey itself can be transformative, offering opportunities for learning, adventure, and connecting with new people. I look forward to reading more about your time in Mexico. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Very true, Aiva. This trip to Mexico reminds me of the importance of seeing the world with our own eyes, because the Mexico I experienced was so different from what a lot of people think of the country. The planning stage of any trip can be daunting though, I must admit.
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Mas Bamaaaa…,
Ketika baca Mas Bama sampai ke Mexico, saya ikut seneng bangeeeettttt… tapi kebayang perjalanan yang panjaaaaaang banget ya, abis Mexico itu kan di baliknya Indonesia nyebrang inti bumi 😄
One day, one day, InsyaAllah masih ada umur untuk ke Mexico… spanish ya? Uugh hrs belajar dulu 😔
Beneran sy ikut excited maa Bama, dan semoga ceritanya dikeluarin segera setelah istirahat… 🙏
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Perjalanannya sungguh menguras energi sih mbak. 😄 Pas pulang ke Jakarta flight dari Mexico City ke Istanbul sekitar 16 jam (karena berhenti di Cancun dulu sekitar 1,5 jam), terus transit di Istanbul belasan jam, terus flight dari Istanbul ke Jakarta sempet kena delay 2,5 jam. Flight dari Istanbul ke Jakarta sendiri sekitar 11 jam. Bener-bener 2 hari perjalanan deh.
Pelan-pelan nanti di weekend coba saya mulai tulis ya mbak ceritanya. Tapi paling baru dipublishnya beberapa minggu/bulan kemudian sih, hahaha.
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Bama, I haven’t been on WordPress for a while but when I saw your post in my email inbox, I had to blink twice to make sure I didn’t misread. You finally went to visit Mexico!!! I’m so happy for you! You always talked about going there someday and visit the ancient ruins and pyramids. I can’t wait to read you anecdotes and see your pictures from Mexico. I hope you enjoyed the food and it was everything you expected. I haven’t tried tejate or pozol, now they’re on top of my list next time I go back to Mexico 😊
Did you find habanero chile extremely hot or medium hot?
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Liz, I knew I had said about how much I wanted to see the ancient ruins and pyramids in Mexico in people’s blog posts. And now I remember that I had also left such comments in yours! 😁 The Mexican food we had was so different from what I have tried in Indonesia. But then, most places here in Jakarta that do “Mexican food” in fact serve Tex-Mex dishes. You know, habaneros were not as hot as I thought they would be, except for that one queso relleno we had in Merida with a habanero chili dipped in it. That gave me a lot of sweat!
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I’ve never been to South America. If I ever go I’m thinking of a month long trip to cover the whole continent including a cruise to Antarctica. I just don’t want to spend 48 hrs flying from Asia just to spend 1 week in a timezone that’s more than 12 hrs apart 🙂
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South America really is on the complete opposite side of the globe from Southeast Asia. I understand what you mean about spending longer time in that part of the world because the journey to get there must take even longer time than going to Mexico. I hope you’ll get there sooner than later, Edwin.
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When I saw comments on James’s post that you had also written about this trip, I was confused. Looks like I have not seen at least your last 5 posts even though I still seem to be subscribed to your blog. ?? Anyway, now I am here, and I am thrilled that you finally got to Mexico!
It looks like you guys covered some good ground and got a nice taste of different regions, cuisines, city versus more rural, etc. It’s so hard to fly halfway around the world and be able to spend enough time to see a country well (I know from going your direction!).
I’m so happy that you made the trip and I look forward to reading about your favorite parts as well as those that did not quite live up to expectations. J and I have been all over the country and it will be fun to see how your thoughts line up with ours as frequent visitors and Westerners. Congrats on finally getting to our hemisphere!
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Lex! Happy to see you again here. You know, our flight from Istanbul to Mexico City flew over parts of the US, and if I remember it correctly at one point we were above Chicago, then hours later, Houston. I actually thought of you because you used to live in both cities.
What we really wanted to see on this trip but didn’t have enough time to do just that was Oaxaca. I’ve read and heard great reviews about the food and culture from this part of Mexico. Maybe one day!
I’m still recovering from the travel-related exhaustion, which makes me think of your trip to Southeast Asia a few years ago. I had never traveled this far before, and I’m surprised with how bad my body is dealing with the jet lag. How did you manage? Now I have an even greater respect for people who often travel around the world.
Thanks Lex.
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We, too, have not been to Oaxaca and consider it a serious gap in our Mexico travels. We hope to go very soon.
I’m pretty good at ignoring jet lag. The only thing I sometimes succumb to is waking up in the middle of the night, but I just stay in bed until the proper time!
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I should learn from you!
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That’s a long day, or rather days, of travel to get to Mexico City! Glad to hear it was worth it and that you enjoyed your time there. We went diving in Cozumel about a decade ago and took a day trip to see Chichen Itza. I’d love to return to explore more of the ruins and cenotes, and to eat more of the food!
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So long, indeed! And I can imagine how much longer it will take for me to go to South America — hopefully one day. I envy you for having Mexico just a few hours’ of flight away from where you live! Actually yesterday in a work meeting, I talked to someone who used to live in Vancouver. He told me that when he went to Mexico he also went diving. Your story really reminds me a lot of his experience.
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Glad you made it there, Bama! I only visited CDMX, but Roma, Condesa and the beautiful Museo de Antropologia are must sees. Looking forward to reading more about your adventures!
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We spent hours at the museum and still couldn’t see everything. I think we should’ve budgeted the whole day to visit every section of this place. The collection was just so amazing! Someone even said that it’s one of the world’s greatest museums, along with the likes of the Grand Egyptian Museum. We had lunch at a place in Roma, but we didn’t have enough time to explore Condesa. Next time we will — with a second visit to the Museo Nacional de Antropología.
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I totally agree, it is one of THE museums of the world.
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Had you told me a year ago that we’d be going to Mexico this spring, I would not have believed it! What an unforgettable trip this was, Bama. All the interesting regional Mexican dishes we tried, the many Maya pyramids we saw, bonus places like Izamal, and of course the incredible Museo Nacional de Antropología — there was so much we covered in those two weeks. And how lucky we were that the weather worked in our favor the whole time, with such beautiful blue skies every single day! I look forward to planning our eventual return to Mexico when the time is right. 😉
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I know. We had been talking about going to Mexico for many years, but we never went because it’s so far away and we would need at least two weeks just to see the main sights. However, when the likelihood of doing this trip became more and more apparent, I thought why not grab the opportunity? We will definitely go back to Mexico (and maybe we should also visit Guatemala?).
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You visited Mexico! Wonderful 👍 well shared
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I still can’t believe I actually made it. Thanks Priti.
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I am in awe of the distance you had to fly to get to Mexico, Bama. What a journey! From the sound of it you had a wonderful trip, which makes it all worth it. I’m looking forward to reading all about it, especially your visits to the ruins. That has always intrigued me, and although it used to be on my wish list, it no longer is, so I will just enjoy it through your experience.
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This past weekend, exactly one week after I came back to Jakarta and with the jet lag completely gone, I was thinking about the trip and couldn’t believe that I actually made it. I never traveled that far before, so obviously Mexico is now one of my most memorable travel experiences. I wonder why the ruins are no longer on your wish list, but I will definitely write about them at some point in the future.
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Mostly because other places have made their way onto my list, Bama. Initially it was the distance and cost that prevented me from visiting Peru, which is the country I most wanted to visit in South America, but in the intervening years, other countries have made it onto the list that I would rather visit, or were/are easier to get to.
I must admit it is a list on which the order changes constantly! Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of time or money to travel, and the fact that I have to regularly go back to South Africa to visit family further limits what I can do with what I have, which means that it is either opportunity, or carefully considered priority that influences my choices.
Also, now that I live in a place where I feel less of a need to escape from, I have less of a desire to travel. My curiosity is constantly fed by reading about places that I would love to know more about, but it doesn’t necessarily translate into a desire to experience them for myself.
I have just signed up for a beginners pottery course here in Portugal in January. It is something I’ve always wanted to do, and the timing for it is finally right. The setting is absolutely magnificent, which, in a way, will make it feel like a travel adventure.
One of my best travel memories was when I spent 3 days at a leather making workshop just outside Yogja, so I guess it is fitting that my priorities and how I view travel have changed over the years. I love how it isn’t just a stagnant list with items I need to tick off, but an ever-evolving way of how I live and see the world. Makes sense?
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That makes perfect sense. I must admit, to be able to travel regularly, there are sacrifices I need to make when it comes to personal finances. As long as everything is under control.
What you said about how living in the quinta makes you feel that there is less urgency to escape is extremely intriguing for me. I’m always curious about living in the countryside and how it will affect me. Knowing that we share a lot of things in common when it comes to personal traits, I wonder if I would feel the same way should I ever decide to do what you do.
And speaking of similarities, I’m not surprised you enjoyed the pottery course. It’s also something I’d love to try one day, although I have to admit, when I was little I wasn’t good at making crafts at all. When you were in Yogya, did you also try painting batik? I can imagine it’s something you would also enjoy.
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Making sacrifices for the things we want in life is not a bad way to live, as I think it makes us so much more appreciative of it in the end. It certainly holds true for me.
I didn’t try my hand at painting batik, but you are right in that it is exactly something I would try. I definitely won’t describe myself as being ‘artistic’, but there is something very soothing and rewarding at trying one’s hand at practical crafts. I bought 3 pieces of batik cloth in Yogja, though. One is was done on silk and they are simply gorgeous, but now I’m too scared to sew myself some dresses, as although I can sew, I don’t want to mess it up. I grew up poor with a mom who made all our clothes when I was young, and then later for all our special occasions, so I were taught how to sew, but certainly don’t have a natural talent or passion for it.
You are so right in that we have a lot in common and share a lot of personality traits, so I suspect that you may well take to living in the countryside like a fish to water. What I love the most (apart from the lack of people around me), is this deep peace I experience on the land. I’ve never worked as hard physically as I do these days, but I love it. Especially being over 50, I view this as a new lease on life, as our bodies were meant to move, and it feels good when daily life forces one to be active. It is so different from living in a city where I often had a deep urge to escape from. I hope that you and James will one day come to Portugal and visit me on the quinta to experience it for yourself. We should have a guest bedroom within the next two years. 😇
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If I could sew, I think I would also be intimidated by the idea of sewing a batik cloth, let alone a silk one. Maybe also because I’m Javanese, so I know each pattern has its own philosophy and meaning that I don’t want to inadvertently mess with.
You know, Jolandi. The idea of doing physical work on our own backyard or garden really appeals to me. The older I get and the more I read, the more I realize the importance of staying active. It’s good not only for our body, but also for our brain. So, I totally can relate to what you said.
Thank you very much for your invitation, Jolandi. That’s very kind of you. I hope sooner than later James and I will get the chance to visit Portugal.
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That is so true! And I suspect that you will love living in the countryside.
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I’m thrilled to see you have had the opportunity to visit Mexico. With all your extensive travel (and tastes of outstanding cuisine), I have been waiting to read this post to get your opinion of our (USA) neighbors to the South. Having James there with his Spanish-speaking ability must have added so much to this trip. You have visited some beautiful areas, and I very much look forward to your future posts.
It is interesting, for me, living on the West Coast in the USA (when I am back in my home country), the first request I always have is to go out for Mexican food. We are lucky because a few migrant workers who help with our agricultural sector have opened Mexican restaurants – each different, depending on the region in which they grew up in Mexico. And whether I am in Asia or Europe, there isn’t any place where I can have authentic Mexican food, so I am very curious about your take on it (from your post, it is positive, which makes me happy). I’ve always thought Mexican food was so different from Asia food. Take care, and get some good rest after all your travel.
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I can see why you love Mexican food, Randall. The street food was especially very vibrant, colorful, and exciting. I did try quite a lot of local dishes at restaurants as well, and I realized how much I loved mole.
It’s great that you have a great variety of Mexican regional dishes at your doorstep. Through this trip, I learned the obvious as well as subtle differences among local dishes from the country. I tried four types of mole, for example, and I was surprised to find out that each of them has its own character.
During the flight from Istanbul to Mexico City, James was talking to a Mexican woman sitting next to him. She has been living in Turkey for many years, and she agreed that authentic Mexican food is quite difficult to find outside of her home country. But that makes every trip there even more special, don’t you think? I will eventually write a post on the Mexican dishes we tried.
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I’m behind in reading your blog!
Wow – Mexico! Gosh, I’m getting tired just thinking about the time it took for you guys to get there. I wish you guys would have been able to get a longer time off next time. Food, architecture and ruins – what a great vacation!
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We surely hope so, Matt. I think for our next international trip we won’t travel as far. But we’ll see. I actually start to miss Mexico now.
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Hola Bama,
So glad that you got to visit Mexico. Its very charming and full of history and of course great food. We look forward to your post.
Saludos!
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Hola John and Susan! I actually looked up your posts on Mexico City several times prior to the trip and during our stay there. Unfortunately, we only had a few days in the capital, so there are many places you went to that we simply didn’t have enough time to see ourselves. But one thing’s for sure: we know we have to go back one day!
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I just read James’ post and can hardly wait to read all your coverage of Mexico! I loved this part of the Yucatan! Merida was amazing and the food so incredibly good. Very excited to read about your trip and your thoughts on this special part of Mexico. I too want to see more after I went to the Yucatan. I’ve been to the touristy parts like Cabo, Cancun, Acapulco and Mazatlan but found the true soul once I hit Merida and all the beautiful towns along the way.
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Nicole, I remember your posts on the traditional communities you visited in the Yucatan. Unfortunately, we only had so much time. Speaking of Merida, despite the heat, we actually enjoyed the old part of the city. And I agree with you about the food in this part of Mexico being so delicious. How lucky that you don’t have to travel halfway across the globe to visit Mexico!
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I can’t wait to read more about your trip to Mexico and see your photos, Bama! I had been dreaming of going for years and visited for the first time last year – it totally exceeded my (already very high) expectations. The food, the culture, the history, the people, the beaches and the climate… it has it all. Looking forward to the next installment 🙂
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Tali! Mexico was special, wasn’t it? I do miss the country, and sometimes I randomly watch videos in Spanish on YouTube because they remind me of how the locals I met in Mexico talked. If I remember it correctly, you moved to Uruguay a few years ago, didn’t you? That makes it easier for you to explore those fascinating Latin American countries!
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You have a great memory, Bama! I visited Uruguay and I’d love to go back, but I’m still living in Auckland… which is closer, but still two flights away from Mexico. I enjoy watching videos of people in wandering the streets of Mexico too and seeing the vibrancy of it all!
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Oh I’d love to visit New Zealand one day, especially to see and experience the Maori cultural sites.
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Great to hear you have finally made it to Mexico. We visited Mexico City a few years back and loved it. We also have been in the Yucatan Peninsula as soon as the country opened up after the pandemic. Your photos are lovely (Suzanne)
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I remember your blog posts on Mexico, and they were among the reasons why a few years later we decided to really plan a trip to go there. How nice to visit all those places right after the pandemic — I can imagine the much lower number of tourists when you went. Merci Suzanne!
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Mexico is a very fascinating country regarding the food, history and architecture, and it’s great you finally got to visit there. I’m glad to hear the cities you visited were quite safe and I take it that southern Mexico is much safer than the north as I think that’s where most of the drug cartels are active.
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Mexico City, in particular, felt a lot safer than I expected it to be. But then we didn’t wander too far off the main touristy areas, although we did take the metro and the city bus to go around. Some states are known to be less safe. I guess that’s why when they interviewed me at the Mexican embassy in Jakarta for my visa application they asked me which parts of Mexico I was planning to visit, just to make sure I wouldn’t go to places that are less safe.
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I would still have concerns, though I will certainly use your blogposts as a reference if I go, plus check with the Mexico office (unofficial embassy) in Taiwan.
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In general, the Yucatan peninsula is among the safest places in Mexico. According to one index I found on the internet, the safety level of the city of Merida (not the one in Spain) is actually better than many places around the world most people consider safe.
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I’m glad to hear that. I know about the Mayan Empire and Chichen Itza and it’s good to know that one can visit there safely. Interestingly, I’ve never heard of Merida though I’ve heard about the Yucatan Peninsula as well as Cancun, ha.
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What an amazing trip, Bama! I am also interested in the country, but there is one main deterrent factor: the super-long-haul flight across the Pacific. Safety is a concern, but I found the world is not as “deadly” as it seems. For some reason, I thought you visited Peru 😛 Perhaps I saw those stone pyramids and mistook them for Cusco.
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For us, the Americas quite literally are located on the other side of the globe. I would love to visit Peru one day. But the journey will even be longer than getting to Mexico! I need to mentally and physically prepare myself for the long flights. I think you would really enjoy exploring the ancient sites in Mexico, Len.
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