Ensenada, Mexico - 24-26 May 2008

I went on yet another road trip over the long Memorial Day weekend to Ensenada, Mexico. Leaving San Jose a little before midnight on Friday, I arrived in Ensenada at 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 24. The 11-hour overnight drive was hardly challenging - an endurance perhaps developed from my month-long European road trip a year ago.

Traffic was non-existent as I crossed the border into Mexico at 8 AM Saturday. This must be the easiest border crossing I had ever done, save for the 27-countries EU. There was no immigration or customs inspection entering Mexico but (as we all know) it was a different story on the return.

I had bought Mexican auto insurance for ~US$10/day at a CA city close to the border but on hindsight, I probably didn't need to as the Mexican drivers were cordial and cautious - unlike the drivers of California licensed-plated cars! I was on defensive-driving mode against my fellow mates from Cali in MX! Go figure!

Tacky coastal bungalows in odd shapes, sizes and color-combinations populate the 1D coastal toll highway en-route to Ensenada. Grey, rainy skies soon cleared to blue, sunny skies as I approached Ensenada, a popular port stop for cruise lines. After a brief siesta at Hotel Royal (for less than US$40/night - a good deal considering the central downtown location and on-site free parking), I drove to El Taco de Huitzilopochtli for lunch. Their famed mixiote - seasoned lamb wrapped in maguey leaves and roasted in fiery pits the night before - was DELICIOUS.

Above: Mixiote

Admittedly a sweeping generalization, I had observed that many Mexican women there were short and swarthy with a veer towards naivety. There was a watershed between them and the Vietnamese women I encountered in Vietnam in 2006. The latter was more gregarious and ambitious. I was also a curiosity to look at in this tiny port town. Typical guesses of my origin were 'China' and 'Korea' - the Mexicans were not as creative or great with geography as the Turks, who came up with wilder guesses such as 'Azerbaijan', 'Kazakhstan' and even 'Malaysia'!

On Sunday, 25 May 2008, God led me to a 10:30 AM Mass within walking distance from the hotel. The padre was calm, soft-spoken, warm and funny. Although I did not fully understand his homily, I caught the core message of "pesos" (as in money) versus "besos" (kisses - symbolizing love and affection) - which of the two is more important in your life now? The choir was also very good and lively - a testament to their sunny Latin culture. One of the muchachas (ladies) played a guitar while another strung a banjo.

After Mass, I drove to La Bufadora to witness one of the world's most powerful tidal blow holes in action. En-route, I stopped at a few tamale stands to eat...there were different kinds - pinas (pineapple), beef and sweet corn tamales, each for only a buck (US) and they were GOOD!

Above: La Bufadora


Above: Pinas and Beef tamales

While out strolling at night in the local market area, I came across an elderly man who was selling candies from a push cart. He was chatting with his friends when I peered into his cart out of curiosity to see what they were and how they looked like. He asked if I wanted to buy some. I shook my head and he asked gently, "Por que?" I replied, "No hablo Espanol". Then the sweet man tried his best to convey "God bless you" to me. He pointed his hand to the sky and said "Christo" and then pointed to me. I was touched by his unassuming generosity. He might not appear to have the riches but he has all the love in him to share. This simple gesture from him was the big highlight of my short trip to Ensenada, Mexico.

Food was also definitely on the agenda. Some food I ate over the long weekend:

Above left: Cabeza taco and Camaron (shrimp) taco (right); Above right: Adobada taco


Above left: Pescado (fish) taco; Above right: Condiments for the fish taco


Above left: Fried fish (seafood is great in Ensenada); Above right: Rojo Pozole - Mexican pork and hominy stew