Last Updated on December 29, 2022 by Nellie Huang
Phew I can’t believe how fast this year went by! 2022 has been the year of Mexico for me. I traveled to nine different states in Mexico, exploring various states and discovering just how diverse and culturally-rich our adopted home is. Traversing the Copper Canyon by train was a highlight of the year for me, weaving through some of the most spectacular landscapes I’ve seen in Mexico.
This year marked a major milestone in my career — I was commissioned to write the new Lonely Planet Mexico guide and I’ve been spending the last three months doing on-the-ground research and writing up a storm. I also started the Mexico Travel Blog to carve a niche and share more practical, on-the-ground tips from our newly adopted home.
Beyond Mexico, I only traveled to six countries (in contrast to the usual 15-20 countries/year) but I was ecstatic to return to Asia after being away for three years. Here’s a look at where I traveled and what I got up to in 2022. I wish you a fantastic new year ahead!
2022: My Year in Photos
January: New York & California
We spent the Christmas holidays in New York and rang in the new year there. New York is such a perfect spot for the festive season — with its atmospheric iceskating rinks, Christmas decorations, and glitzy lights. Alberto and I actually spent Christmas in New York around 15 years ago, and this time it was even more special as we had Kaleya with us.
From New York, we flew over to San Jose, California, to see my family. My sister has just moved there from Fresno, and my parents also come to visit from Singapore! It’d been two years since I last saw my family (no thanks to covid), so it was a long-awaited reunion.
February: Merida, Mexico
After returning to Mexico, we scooted off on a weekend Trip to the culture capital of Yucatan: Merida. The historical city is just a 3.5-hour drive from Playa del Carmen, but it’s a world away. An appealing mix of small-town feel and Maya cultural enclave, Merida is a tourist town that actually feels surprisingly genuine. Every day of the week, the city runs free events for the public – from dance performances to live concerts. We were really impressed by the reenactment of the Maya ball game held on Saturday nights and the carnival-like atmosphere in the city center on weekend evenings.
March: Guanajuato, Mexico
To celebrate Kaleya’s birthday, we went on a road trip around Guanajuato. The extraordinary Unesco World Heritage city of Guanajuato is the most colorful and lively city I’ve been in Mexico, with opulent colonial buildings, stunning tree-filled plazas and ochre-and-red colored houses.
Besides Guanajuato city, we also explored the stunning historical core of San Miguel de Allende, the wineries and archaeological sites worth visiting in the outskirts, and the spectacular Grutas Tolantongo hot springs. I was definitely smitten with Grutas Tolantongo, where hot spring water tumbled over calcified travertine pools, cascading down waterfalls and swinging bridges on the mountaintop of Hidalgo.
April: Peru
We first backpacked around Peru 15 years ago, before we had kids. This time round, we watched Kaleya fall in love with Peru, just as we did. Traveling Peru with Kaleya was an adventure of a lifetime: the country is a treasure trove of ancient sites and indigenous villages, packed with so much dramatic mountainscapes and immersive experiences for curious kids! Kaleya absolutely loved wandering the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, hiking up the nearby Huchuy Picchu, swooshing down sand dunes at Huacachina, learning about Pachamama and mingling with alpacas in the Sacred Valley.
May – June: Chiapas, Mexico
In May, I traveled solo around Chiapas, the state I’d heard so much about and badly wanted to explore. The southern Mexican state is known for its indigenous culture, artisanal work, and luscious nature. But it’s also one of the poorest and most conflicted states in the country. An armed insurgency by the Zapatistas ( a socialist militant group) in the ’90s that went on until recently, made the Mexican army a fixture in the region.
My trip started at the Palenque ruins, one of the most impressive archaeology sites I’ve been in Mexico. From there, I traveled to San Cristobal de las Casas by bus, stopping at many of the spectacular waterfalls along the way. There’s so much to see around San Cris too, from the indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula to the spectacular Sumidero Canyon and turquoise El Chiflon cascades.
July – August: Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam
In summer, we finally went on our much-anticipated trip back to Asia! The last time I was home was three years ago, so you can just imagine how excited I was to go home and see my friends and family . We first spent two weeks in Singapore revisiting places I love with my family, eating all the amazing Singaporean food, and hanging out with our loved ones. Then we flew over to Chiangmai and went on a road trip through the rice paddies and misty highlands of Pai. From there, we headed to Bangkok and spent our days floating on the Chao Phraya River, exploring the Royal Palace, and seeing all the impressive temples.
I was stoked to return to Vietnam, one of my favorite countries in the world. We spent our time between the capital city of Hanoi and the charming colonial town of Hoi An — slurping delicious phos and bun cha, dodging bicycles and paddling past pagodas and rice fields. Ninh Binh turned out to be highlight, with its dramatic karst mountains, jade green river, and vast lotus ponds. Just 2hours from Hanoi, this rural region is brimming with natural sights and yet it’s not quite as popular and touristy as Halong Bay.
September: Isla Mujeres, Mexico
October: Oaxaca, Mexico
After the intense celebrations in Oaxaca city, we drove up the zigzagging roads into the Sierra Madre mountains and stayed in a ridiculously cute and cozy cabin, before arriving in the tropical Pacific Coast to splash in the waves at the rustic beach towns of Huatulco and Zipolite. We even got to release baby turtles in Puerto Escondido and eat our weight in fresh seafood!
November: Veracruz, Monterrey, Chihuahua, and Copper Canyon
From Oaxaca, I continued onto Veracruz solo on assignment for Lonely Planet. I hit the ground running in Veracruz city, meeting local expats, strolling along the waterfront malecon, and popping into naval museums. Then I headed inland to Xalapa, a vibrant city in the highlands dripping with character, before exploring Orizaba, which really impressed me with its European-style historical center and hilltop ecoparks offering glimpses of Mexico’s highest peak, Pico de Orizaba.
Thereafter, I flew over to Monterrey, the wealthiest city in Mexico. The cosmopolitan city had the perfect mix of old and new, traditional and contemporary, city and mountains. The world-class museums were impressive and range of restaurants amazing, but most of all, I loved that mountain trails and spectacular hiking spots were just a leap away from the city center.
My next stop was Chihuahua, the starting point of my journey on the Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacifico – nicknamed “El Chepe” – considered one of the world’s greatest rail journeys. The train traverses the Chihuahua highlands right to the rim of the Copper Canyon, revealing some mindblowing views of the rugged area. Unknown to many, the Copper Canyon covers an area 4 times the size of Arizona’s Grand Canyon!
December: Belize
December has been a pretty relaxing month, as I spent most of the month writing and hanging out with my family. We had a really fun Christmas party with all our friends here! One of the reasons why we love living here in Playa del Carmen is because of our community of friends who have become like family to us.
In a few days’ time, we’ll be driving to Belize for a road trip, hitting up places new to us and revisiting islands we’ve been and loved. On our first trip there, we were charmed by the laidback, reggae vibes of Caye Caulker. Can’t wait to go sailing, swinging on hammocks, and snorkeling with nurse sharks!
What’s Next?
In 2023, we already have plans for a ski trip to Alberta, Canada, in February, and Hawaii in April for Kaleya’s birthday. My goal for the new year is to travel more of the Americas, specifically places I’ve never been, like Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Uruguay, and Paraguay. We are still loving life in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and it looks like we’ll be in this part of the world for a bit more.
I hope 2023 will be a year of adventure for all of us! Don’t stop exploring!
Interesting in reading more?
2021 in Photos
2020 in Photos
2019 in Photos
2018 in Photos
2017 in Photos
2016 in Photos
2015 in Photos
2014 in Photos
2013 in Photos
2012 in Photos
2011 in Photos
2010 in Photos
