ADO starfish
ADO – the name of a bus service in Mexico
Starfish – a 5-armed sea creature that everyone loves
I absolutely dislike traveling at night. While it may seem like a cost-effective option and works for some, I simply cannot sleep on trains, buses, or planes unless I can stretch my legs in semi-bed position. Traveling at night in Vietnam, however, had its perks.
If only Mexican night buses offered the same comfort... Currently exploring southern Mexico, I knew the time would come for a long-distance night bus. That moment arrived with my journey from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Oaxaca (pronounced 'Wahaca'), a “lovely” 12.5-hour ride. I even took sleeping pills in an attempt to catch some sleep during the trip. The bus was dark, the seats were comfortable, and it was only half full, allowing me to spread out across two reclining seats.
Spread out I did! At one point, I was sprawled like a starfish, with my feet propped against the window. I tried every position imaginable: fetal position on the left, on the right, window seat, aisle seat, on my back, on my side—you name it. Despite all these attempts, I barely managed to sleep. Finally, I gave up around dawn as we crossed into Oaxaca state, greeted by leafy mountain ranges and dusty roads, looking forward to all the heat and sun that Oaxaca had to offer!
Despite the exhausting trip, I must admit that traveling with ADO is quite comfortable. You can watch movies in Spanish to practice your language skills, appreciate the changing scenery, and there’s always a toilet on board.
My journey began a little over three weeks ago when I landed in Cancún and made my way south along the Maya Route through Campeche, Chiapas, and now Oaxaca. Along the way, I’ve experienced breathtaking sights like the Bacalar Lagoon, the remote Maya ruins of Calakmul, and the indigenous villages of Chamula. I've also faced unexpected challenges, like a police officer trying to extort money from me, witnessing tourists being scammed by a taxi driver, and even getting locked inside a hotel. Every experience, whether good or bad, adds to the journey. I learned that my Spanish improves dramatically when I have to call for help explaining that a key doesn’t work or when I need to negotiate paying a fine with the condition of receiving a written receipt (I did not pay them bribe after all, it was a battle of wills that I won in the end!).
Out of all these moments, the most significant challenge has been spending 24/7 with myself. Sometimes, I feel trapped by my own habits, as we all are to some extent. For instance, I love the idea of doing absolutely nothing on a beach—just basking in the sun, feeling the sand, and listening to the ocean, like a crocodile patiently waiting. But can I actually do it? Not really. Despite understanding the allure of being still, I struggle to embrace it completely. It’s an exercise I repeat over and over until it starts to feel a bit more natural. And while I am working on it, you can enjoy some of the photos of places mentioned above. I will let you how my 'relexarcising' goes in my next post!
Comments
Post a Comment