Nicaragua
Reflections: After Nicaragua
Hmm… Nicaragua – the Land of Mixed Feelings. Leaving Honduras was bittersweet to say the least. It felt as if nothing could ever compare to my time spent in Utila, so I have to admit that I had to adjust my expectations when I stepped foot into this new country. That said, Nicaragua was still a blast – despite its slow start!
- The bad:
- Repetition: It was around this time that I felt like I should have split my trip in Central America into two. At one point, it felt as if Nicaragua was a somewhat cheaper and slightly less interesting version of Guatemala. Cerro Negro, Telica, Masaya, Nindirí and Concepción paled in comparison to Acatenango. Lake Atitlán put Lake Cocibolca to shame. I mean sure, Granada bested Antigua, and Ometepe’s geopgraphy was unlike any other, but in my head, it seemed as if I was kinda repeating the same stuff over and over. I felt disappointed in myself for having become so jaded, always being the type to appreciate the subtle differences between things. That said, I have to emphasise that I really did my best to see and do everything I could, and by the end, I wasn’t disappointed at all and enjoyed my visit greatly.
- FOMO: Much like in Honduras, I felt as if there’s much more of Nicaragua that I’ve yet to see, having stuck to the more touristy route in order to save some time. I neglected the entire eastern side of the country, having decided to skip the Corn Islands after Hurricane Julia left them in shambles. Add to that the list of lakes, volcanoes, and canyons I didn’t get to see, and that’s reason enough for me to return one day – adding some of the off-the-beaten-track stuff along the way.
- Obsession: Throughout my stay in Nicaragua, my passion for writing burned brighter than ever. In fact, on many occasions, I found myself wanting to go back to my dorm just so I could write – kinda defeating the purpose of writing about travelling, if you ask me. I was meant to be out there doing all kinds of crazy things so that I’d have something interesting to write about, not just lie on a couch typing away. I needed to write less and live more. But, as I figured, I was staying true to my original goal of wanting to consolidate my memories, to remember every little detail. Having said that, I was still doing everything I had planned and then some – though deep down, I felt like I could be doing more.
- The good:
- Company: Nicaragua was also the first country I visited in company – with Amelia by my side every single day. I can’t say it felt weird having her around, despite me enjoying solo travelling way more – probably because we had been roommates for the previous two months and, also, because we simply got each other. This made me feel like perhaps, someday, I might be able to find a decent partner with whom I could potentially travel – something I used to think was kinda impossible. And with finding a great travel buddy, I also lost one. Having to part ways and go on with this trip on my own felt not only heart-wrenching but also strange. Never would I have imagined that during this trip, I’d find someone who’d make me feel as if being on my own wasn’t the best thing in the world. I had grown used to her, and most of all, she made travelling more fun. I never thought that could happen to me! So thank you, Amelia – you really are the best.
- Attitude: Probably a remnant of my “Go Slow” days in Caye Caulker and Utila, I found myself way more relaxed and calmer overall. I was now unbothered by most situations that would have previously driven me crazy – say, border checks. Also, whereas I used to plan five steps ahead, I now found myself booking stuff on the go and doing what I felt like in the moment. I also wasn’t too hard on myself for wanting to let loose and enjoy the occasional jungle rave or pool crawl. I guess, by this point in my travels, I was now a full-fledged, hostel-dwelling, party-crazed backpacker, huh?
- Legacy: Oh… and there’s one other thing. What happens in Utila, turns out, does not necessarily stay in Utila. Along all my stops in Nicaragua, I had been recognised as Baby Jesus at the most random of times – whilst walking down a road, whilst getting drunk at a party, whilst climbing a volcano. I should probably start selling some merch at some point, huh?
If Utila had stolen the show, Nicaragua had quietly taught me how to live in the aftermath. And, as I crossed the border towards my next destination, I couldn’t help but smile. Leaving Utila and Amelia behind would be hard, but I still had much more to look forward to.
- Distance:
- Total walked: 107km
- Total travelled: 413km
- Books:
- Finding Me, Viola Davis
- Song:
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