Where to next on this next trip within life's overall journey?

This 49 day Central America trip was booked way back late 2012 even before my 2012 – 2013 Cambodia and Myanmar trip had started. I could not resist when Tucan Travel offered a 30% discount. Their dates suited the university's end of year semester break so why not. Finding a small group company that travelled all the way from Mexico City to Panama City when I wanted to travel was not easy. Plus they offered a single supplement which kind of offset my discount. Wonder how many other fellow travellers will be going all the way as this is a combination of 5 shorter trips?

Finishing in Panama City I just had to stay an extra day, visit the Panama Canal and if possible do the full day's canal tour. As a boy reading the story about the construction of both the Panama and Suez Canal, it has always fascinated me so I could not let this once in a lifetime opportunity go by. Plus see the new wider canal being built.

On last year’s Myanmar trip our group celebrated Christmas Day by amongst other things visiting a rubber band factory. Wonder where and how on this year’s trip will I celebrate 25^th December plus a few weeks earlier my birthday when the old body clock ticks over to another important year.

So it’s time to pack my travel bags and head back into the unknown again. But first a 6 night stopover in one of my favourite cities: San Francisco, USA.

As Frances had to go out tonight, she took me with mum to drop me off at the airport just before 5 pm. But at least I had planted out the 132 bean seeds and hopefully when I return in 60 days time someone will have watered them and they will be ready for picking.
 
I love Air New Zealand's self-check in kiosk and this was done in next to no time. No queues. Somehow I knew that I was a few kilos over in my check in bag and sure enough had to transfer 3 kilos to my near empty carry on bag. OK, I am taking some 60 packets or 6 kilos of Raro drink sachets to quench my thirst - one packet a day. Space for some more Central American dust collector souvenirs?  
 
The 7.30 pm Air New Zealand flight NZ8 Boeing 747 (Dunedin) was full and left 30 minutes late.

So will I get some sleep on this 12 hour non-stop flight? At least I had an exit row 53H seat to stretch my long legs.

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Saturday 16 November - Leave Auckland 7.30 pm Air New Zealand NZ 8.
Arrive San Francisco, UNITED STATES, 10.30 am (12 hours non-stop flight).

Sunday – Friday - San Francisco.
 
Friday 22 November - Leave San Francisco 11.27 pm United Airlines UA 412.
Arrive Mexico City, MEXICO 5.37 am (4 hours 10 minutes non-stop flight).

Saturday 23 November

Sunday 24 November – Day 1: Mexico City – group meeting.

Monday 25 November – Day 2: Visit ancient site of Teotihuacan. Overnight Peubla.

Tuesday 26 November - Day 3: Oaxaca.

Wednesday 27 November – Day 4: Visit Monte Albán, the holy city of the ancient Zapotecs. Night bus to San Cristóbal.

Thursday 28 November – Day 5: San Cristóbal.

Friday 29 November – Day 6: Visit nearby villages. San Cristóbal.

Saturday 30 November – Day 7: Visit Sumidero Canyon. San Cristóbal.

Sunday 1 December – Day 8: Palenque.

Monday 2 December – Day 9: Chichén Itzá and the Pyramid of Kukulcan. Palenque.

Tuesday 3 December – Day 10: Mérida.

Wednesday 4 December – Day 11: Mérida.

Thursday 5 December – Day 12: Cancún.

Friday 6 December – Day 13: Cancún.

Saturday 7 December – Day 14: Visit Maya / Toltec ruins of Tulúm. Playa del Carmen.

Sunday 8 December – Day 15: Cross into BELIZE. Caye Caulker.

Monday 9 December – Day 16: Caye Caulker.

Tuesday 10 December – Day 17: San Ignacio.

Wednesday 11 December – Day 18: San Ignacio.

Thursday 12 December – Day 19: Cross into GUATEMALA. Visit Maya site of Tikal. Flores.

Friday 13 December – Day 20: Boat tour to Livingston. Rio Dulce.

Saturday 14 December – Day 21: Antigua.

Sunday 15 December – Day 22: Antigua.

Monday 16 December – Day 23: Cross into HONDURAS. Copán.

Tuesday 17 December – Day 24: Copán.

Wednesday 18 December – Day 25: Roatán Island.

Thursday 19 December – Day 26: Roatán Island.

Friday 20 December – Day 27: Roatán Island.

Saturday 21 December – Day 28: Fly to Tegucigalpa, cross border to NICARAGUA and drive to León.

Sunday 22 December – Day 29: León.

Monday 23 December – Day 30: León.

Tuesday 24 December – Day 31: Granada.

Wednesday 25 December – Day 32: Granada.

Thursday 26 December – Day 33: Cross Lake Nicaragua to Ometepe Island.

Friday 27 December – Day 34: Ometepe Island.

Saturday 28 December – Day 35: Cross into COSTA RICA. San José.

Sunday 29 December – Day 36: San José.

Monday 30 December – Day 37: Visit Arenal Volcano. La Fortuna.

Tuesday 31 December – Day 38: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. La Fortuna.

Wednesday 1 January 2014 – Day 39: Santa Elena.

Thursday 2 January – Day 40: Santa Elena.

Friday 3 January – Day 41: Manuel Antonio.

Saturday 4 January – Day 42: Manuel Antonio.

Sunday 5 January – Day 43: San José.

Monday 6 January – Day 44: Cross into PANAMA. Bocas del Toro.

Tuesday 7 January – Day 45: Bocas del Toro.

Wednesday 8 January – Day 46: Boquete.

Thursday 9 January – Day 47: Boquete.

Friday 10 January – Day 48: Panama City.

Saturday 11 January – Day 49: Panama Canal tour.

Sunday 12 January – Leave Mexico City 11.42 am Copa Airlines CM 472.
Arrive Los Angles, UNITED STATES 3.17 pm (6 hours 35 mins).
Leave Los Angles 10.00 pm Air New Zealand NZ 5 (13 hours).

Monday 13 January – Lose a day crossing international dateline.

Tuesday 14 January – Arrive Auckland 8 am.