No Cure For The Death

I pick up the shovel and sink it into the ground. After digging a hole, I bury myself. Now I stand at my grave shedding tears at my own death. All my dreams, quests, and achievements rest beneath the dirt with me. I look around, but there is not even a single soul in the … Read more

Dear Guatemala

Dear Guatemala, You are my favourite country in Central America. I clearly remember the day when I crossed a river bridge from El Salvador and entered your home. Your steep slopes hugged me so tight that it hurt. Your beauty lured me from first sight. It took my fears away. Your tall symmetrical volcanoes waved … Read more

Preservation of Indigenous Spirituality Through Syncretism

When Hernando Cortes and his six hundred Spaniards arrived in Mexico City in 1521, the indigenous Aztec people believed that the white men must be the promised gods returning at last from across the Gulf of Mexico. Thus the Spanish conquistadors entered the city, not only as welcomed guests, but also as gods coming home. … Read more

Horse Show in Tactic, Guatemala

I push the bicycle through streets and follow the distant sound of music. Soon I reach the central square where loudspeakers are blasting live Marimba music. In front of me are the backs of hundreds of people who are looking over each other’s shoulders. Unable to see anything, I park my bicycle on the side … Read more

Saint Maximón

Somewhere in the Guatemalan Highlands, there is a lake which goes by the name Lago Atitlan. Considered by many the most beautiful lake in the world, the Lago Atitlan is surrounded by a number of Maya villages, with Santiago de Atitlan being the largest of them. In Santiago de Atitlan, an elderly man guides me … Read more

Carmen — The Souvenir Seller

Carmen is one of the many people who travel from San Antonio de Aguas Calientes to Antigua every day to sell handicrafts. She is of Maya descent and speaks the Maya language Kaqchikel as a native language and Spanish as a second language. Despite half a century of European dominance in Guatemala, most of the … Read more

A Special Gift

Marta is from San Antonio de Aguas Calientes and comes to Antigua every day to sell handicrafts here. A few of days ago, I took some photos of her and her friends at the Central Plaza in Antigua and promised that I would come back soon to give them the pictures. So today, after my … Read more

Volcano of Fire

Three tall volcanoes overlook the former capital of Guatemala, Antigua like giant sentinels. The 3763-m Volcán de Fuego (Volcano of Fire) is one of them. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America. To see the volcano from up close, I hiked to a nearby Acatenango Volcano with a group of tourists. … Read more

You Don’t Have Anyone in Your Family?

The Mayas are indigenous people of ancient Mesoamerica, which now comprises of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Maya people make up 40% population of Guatemala. The traditional clothing of Maya people exhibits colourful patterned designs on women’s blouses and skirts. The blouse, called huipil in Maya language, is generally hand woven with heavily … Read more

Crossing the Border Into Guatemala

Today I entered Guatemala, my 40th country by bicycle. The border crossing was as easy as it gets. Apart from the long queue, the immigration itself didn’t take more than a minute on each side of the border. No security personnel patrolling the border and no sniper guns pointing at you from security posts. This … Read more