Thrusday, October 20th 2011



Distance:260Km
Departure Time:10:45
Arrival Time
:16:30
Weather
Blue skies with some clouds and occasional shower
Temperature:25C

Well, actually I was planning to arrive in Coban today, but it turns out that at that geographical location a different town was located :D



This is one of Guatemala's high ways.
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On occasions they are surprisingly similar to Japanese country side roads.


This said, it's not only the landscape, but sometimes I feel as if Guatemalans also are a bit similar to Japanese.

 

They're not too close, but not to different either – it feels like just about the right degree of 'different'


Some I feel at peace despite driving on roads.



This is the townscape of Flores, the starting point for site seeing around Tikal.
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There are a lot of three wheeled taxis around!

 

The number vehicles with people riding in the back of the trucks has increased.
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The short stretch of highway leading to Coban goes progressively worse: from being suitable for high speeds to dirty road.

And then it goes from bad to worse.

The whether is going to change by the looks of the sky.

 

Scene I saw on my way.
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At a rubbish tip, garbage scavenging children.


Today is a weekday, so actually at this time of the day they should be in school.

Close by, children riding a 'pick up' bicycle.


Probably they're going back and forth between the rubbish tip and some other place.
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It's pretty painful the understand why there aren't any smiles in their faces.


Since I didn't have a guide with me, I couldn't strike up a conversation with them and cannot judge. But I do feel as I've caught a glimpse of Guatemala's shady side.


The road gave the impression to continue throughout as a dirt road, and now it seems as if it would start to rain any time soon.


I remembered that the hotel staff had told me that the Japanese person I met yesterday, Heikichi-san, had left me a message saying that there had been landslides in the mountains, and that some of the roads had been cut off.


Also, the tyres I'm using are on-road tyres that, to make matters worse, are approaching their end of life as it stands ...


Let's change roads.


Even if it isn't the shortest way, let's find a paved road.


I hence trace by way on the road I've come from for the last 30 kilometres, to a paved road heading towards Guatemala city.

On the way I discover a tea house on top of a mountain pass.

Suddenly it's already 2pm, and time for lunch break.

 

As soon as I enter the place a group of locals having a party (?) ushers me to their table. Time for a souvenir photograph

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Today's lunch.


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The chef's recommendation is Chicken soup. What I was served slightly digressed from what I expected when ordering.


This is chicken WITH soup. :D


It was really nice. (40 Quetzal = 400 Yen)


Judging from the map, it seems as if at Rio Dulce there will be a crossing with a national highway going West.


I guessed that if I'd drive that way, I'd certainly arrive at Coban.


All went fine until I arrived in that town. But then, the sign post was hidden by a tree, and I drove to far.


When I the turned back, I was chatted up by a local on a motorbike.


He didn't speak any English, hence we had to communicate with gestures.


Essentially, what they guy said was, that the road leading from this place to Koban was an outrageously bad road to drive.

He instructed me to proceed to Guatemala City and turn back from there towards Coban.

NO way, if that`s the case, then`ll go straight to Guatemala city


Thinking this, I check the time on my watch, and indeed it's already past 4pm.

 

The whether wasn't exactly brilliant so far, and it's starting to get dark already.

 

While in the US and in Mexico this might still be OK, I have a feeling that driving at night time in Guatemala might not be a good idea.


I decide to change my plans.

Tonight, I'll stay in this town.

There was an inn at the outskirts of the town, where I check in.


Then I call the hotel in Coban where I had a reservation and cancel.


How many times did I already have to change my plans on this journey?


Travelling in unknown areas, doing the unreasonable is a taboo, and adjust and decide depending on circumstances is a must.