Budget travel series: An afternoon in Mexico

I thought I'd write about this given Mexico's heightened appearance in the media recently because of Trump's pronouncements.  This is not in any way political but pure adventure. 

Two years ago, I was in Mexico. It was a side-trip as I was visiting my relatives in the US.  While planning for the trip, I wa already toying with the idea of going to Mexico.  So I googled what I had to do to cross the border.  The Mexican Embassy website said that I needed a Mexican visa to visit.  I didnt have time to secure that so I said, ok, maybe I'll visit the place next time.  Besides, I've also seen a few episodes of border patrol on National Geographic so I was a bit hesitant to go.

When I was in Camarillo my cousin L asked me what food I wanted to eat so I told him that I wanted to have authentic Mexican food.  He suggested that I wait until I get to El Centro where I can get proper Mexican food.  So I did.

In El Centro, my cousin A also asked me what I wanted to eat.  And I told him the same thing.  So they asked around, and a cousin of M who works for border patrol checked my visa ( I had a multiple entry B1/B2 visa).  When she said Im good to go, we all went to Mexico.  And this was the trip in photos.

I think I only exchanged USD20 and this was its equivalent in Mexican Pesos

We went through the Calexico-Mexicali border. Going out of the US is not a hassle. I think they just checked our  IDs and that was it.

This is what separates the US and Mexico.  A fence made of GI sheets.  Fences in  gated villages in Manila seem to be sturdier and higher than these.  Probably that's the reason why Trump made the "border wall" as his campaign promise lol

And we're in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico! After we crossed this sign, they all said Welcome to Mexico!  When I asked where the immigration is, they said there is none.  How amusing!  

I felt like I was in the Philippines, except that the signages were in Mexican. A lot of household stuff on the sidewalk: clothes, containers, etc.  And potholes too!

I dont know why they had such pretty canes.

Right. Breastmilk is the best for babies.

Me trying a Mexican sombrero

Pacquiao's photo in a bar that we passed by.  I dont know what's written on it.

Street food peddlers 

And this was the traffic jam in the border on our way back.  To have a complete experienced, I hopped off from the car together with my cousin A and M and together with people who regularly cross the border on an everyday basis, we walked the underpass going to the US side.

Getting back to the US was more strict that leaving.  I was told by an immigration officer to fill up a form but M had a chat with another immigration officer, who apparently was a neighbor or a cousin (I couldnt remember anymore) and got a chop instead without such form.

It was an exciting experience :)

This is really a budget travel because I didnt spend anything except for the souvenirs which consisted of 2 mugs, a small sombrero, and a keychain.  They cost less than USD20.