Sun and I went to Mexico to the Yucatan region, stopping at Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. We had an awesome holiday with fun parties in Cancun and Playa, the quiet, the beach in Tulum.

Things that you shouldn’t miss:

SEE:

Valladolid (pronounced - Bayadolid) is a small Maya town 2 hours north of Cancun.

Cenotes (pronounced SEE-Notes): Sinkholes with exposed rocks containing natural fresh water.

Chichen Itza - is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization

El Castillo is the center of Chichen Itza , a step pyramid with a square plan that has stairways on all four sides

Cozumel: A 45 minute ferry ride from Playa. Take a boat ride to the middle of the ocean to see amazing masses of School of Fishes straight out of Discovery Channel. (Sorry no photos of underwater this time)

Watching the sunset at Cozumel Pier

EAT:

Mayan cuisine: Pork Pibil, Chicken Pibil - Meat roasted in banana leaves

Tacos al Pastor - Most amazing!!

Habanero salsa - to burn your mouth

Sopa de lima - Chicken soup with lime

Lobsters, Shrimp, and all the fresh seafood

Tres Leches - Cake that has 3 milks - Recipe here.

PARTY:

Coco Bongo, Cancun- Biggest nightclub I have ever been to with performances lined up for the entire night mixed in with amazing local music. Before you get in, find out where the party is, as the clubs have an understanding of their BIG nights. While we were there, Sat was Coco Bongo.

Le Bodeguito del Medio, Cancun- A Cuban bar with live music and awesome mojitos, also its apparently a famous club in Havana.

Fireshow at Blue Parrot,Playa: Sip a cocktail by the swings in the bar.

Deseo Lounge, Playa - is a sister property of Basico, the place we stayed. It has an amazing rooftop pool lounge with trendy people and great music.

Diablito Cha Cha Cha, Playa is funky, retro and cool and is a great place to see and be seen.

RELAX:

Beaches are pristine and breathless.

Ocho Tulum: Take a Yoga class with Andrea, during sunset listening to the waves overlooking the sea. It was an experience that Sun & I wont forget!

Treat yourself to a Spa, and indulge! I recommend the Mayan Clay body wrap.

SLEEP:

Me Cancun is part of Me By Melia, a fashionable hotel with art, design and the whole hotel is like a lounge with music, darkness and sensuality. Was also home to the suite in MTV Real World Cancun 2009.

Maxim Beach Club

Ocean Front Room

Infinity Pool at Me, Cancun

Basico, Playa del Carmen: A concept boutique hotel, that is modeled after the Mexican Industrial Revolution of 1950s.

Suite ( but no ocean view)

Cool Lobby

Pool and Rooftop Lounge

Coqui Coqui, Tulum is a heavenly spa and guesthouse right on the pristine end of the Tulum Beach. Check out the HOT owners: The Selby

P.S: TO DO

1. Convert all your $$ to Mexican pesos.
2. Ask everyone to tell you the price in Pesos.
3. Drink bottled water ONLY.
4. Negotiate for the half of any vendor’s initial price.
5. Mexicans are such friendly people, when in doubt, seek help. Most of them understand English so even if they don’t speak it, they can help you with sign language.
6. Be floored with their hospitality!
7. Water that you use in Tulum is salty, I had to use bottled water for brushing my teeth.
8. The hotel zone of Tulum along the beaches, uses solar power to convert into electricity. Hence there is limited availability of electricity. Pack your hairdryers and chargers as you cannot use them.
9. Enjoy the remote nature.
10. Stargazing in Tulum is incredible, take a night out and sleep on the beach!

Have I mentioned I love eating, and taking pictures of food! Yes I do. Even though I get many looks when my take my D80 out in a restaurant.

I just like to say, I love to record what I enjoy.

New York City, its probably the biggest small city in the world that has endless options of different cuisines and for most part a real gem in each too. I can definitely attest that for Indian food. Sun and I wanted to go to NYC and check out few places that was either famous for something or got rave reviews. Also we had one night in the city so knowing us, ofcourse we partied out.

I read about this lounge Merkato55, an African restaurant/lounge in the Meatpacking District and the most interesting thing about it was the party atmosphere starting at noon. Are you hungover?, head over here and cure it with a mojito! They even had a velvet rope at the entrance! Music was great and the house made huge glass jars of mojitos get you going throughout the afternoon is Fab-U-Lous-OOH!

Our hotel was a great find in the Tribeca area. I was particular I am not anywhere close to Times Square. Duane Street Hotel was amidst all the boutiques, design stores in Soho/Tribeca area.

Evening Menu:

7:00PM - Tailor, was another place I was dying to try. It has fancy cocktails, innovative concoctions and quirky ambiance. Owned by the mad food scientist and pastry Chef Sam Mason, he also owns Wd-50.  Check out his interview with Food & Wine.

Image Copyright: Krieger

Check out the pictures, I assure you it was fabulous and brilliant. its a MUST GO!

Gummy Bear Absinthe

Beet Sangria

Tailor made shots: Biscotti Cognac, Garam Masala Rum, Pumpernickel Raisin Scotch

Solid Cocktails: Absinthe, White Russian Cereals, Bell Pepper Margarita

Seared Red Snapper, Watermelon, Olives and Ramps

9:00PM - Strolled to Little Italy, and Sun caved in for a roadside pizza from the stands, while I wanted to walk it off to be ready for our next place. Kush Lounge!

10:00PM - It was a Morrocan lounge and had a strong party environment. We were ready for some Bollywood cocktails. I wasnt too impressed since the bartender had shaked a martini with garam masala, its a no-no to mix dry spice, which by itself has a strong flavor. I had ordered another Plum Daiquiri which was just ok.

The place was very pretty and they had hookahs and yummy bites of masala crab cakes and beef sliders.

12:30AM - I think we have had enough food and drinx, very tired from all the walking. But then we had one more place in the agenda, to go to Wok to Walk, this was purely to relive our Amsterdam nights. Wok-to-Walk is a fast food chain from Holland, where we had wok all the time when we visited Ams, with the yummiest Indonesian hot sauce. What they have in University Place in Union Sq isnt quite like that but we had memories and didnt mind the taste so much.

ZZZ - Time to sleep!

Sunday -

Went for a birthday party for my adorable nephew Arya and spent the day with my cuz and had the whole spread of Indian food she cooked at home for lunch.

For sunday night dinner, we had plans to go to Anjappar, the most authentic South Indian restaurant in all of US. Atleast I love the place and its in New Brunswick, NJ. Mutton Briyani and King Fish fry is my favorite food of all and repeatedly they have proved they have the best fish.

Appetizer: Mutton Bone Soup

note: Stainless Steel is a typical serving dish in India and I think it adds to the taste!

Chicken Lollipop:

King Fish Fry

Mutton Briyani with Kushka and Yogurt Raita.

Heaven!