Travel Adventures - The chair on the hill top

Cerro de la Silla or “chair hill” in Spanish is a mountain distinctive of Monterrey, Mexico. Monterrey is more known as a university town in Mexico and known for its safety relative to the capital as it is rumoured that many wealthy families send their children there for school and pay for higher security around the town. If you dig deeper into Monterrey, there is Barrio Antiguo known for its night scene and salsa clubs, it is home to Carta Blanca brewery (oh course beer is a national drink in Mexico) and a drive through safari, Bioparque Estrella.

What is the most exciting part of the trip?

Reaching the top of Cerro de la Silla and watching the view from the top of the famed “Saddle back mountain”.  The trip out to Cerro de la Silla can be completed in a day but you still need to be physically fit to complete it. The best view at the top was around a fence and at the end of a cliff. So hang on to dear life.

What is your largest takeaway from this trip – life advice, values?

You will always be rewarded at the end of a hard journey. Climbing to the top of Cerro de la Silla is a short journey but one needs to be physically fit and persevere. The reward at the end is to always marvel at the landscape, even if you only spend 15 minutes at the top.

Is there a “hidden gem” that you will recommend?

Discovering Bioparque Estrella was definitely a hidden gem. It is not a very big Safari but it was wonderful to interact up close with the animals with no cages separating the connection. The best part about the park is that you can drive your own vehicle there and take your time to navigate around.

What is the most interesting part of the trip?

Mariachi ban would randomly appear and perform in the middle of a salsa club in Barrio Antiguo.

What are some gears you find most important for such trips?

Water. Mexico is a hot grill.

Did you face any challenges? How did you overcome such challenges?

I was looking for a village in the middle of dry land in Fiji. After a while, I lost the GPS as there were no landmarks and the car almost got stuck in sand and gravel. In addition, as the roads were bumpy, it drained on petrol and I ran the risk of a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. Eventually, I had to abandon my plan for the sake of safety and headed back to the main road. Whatever you do, make sure that common sense prevails to put your own safety first. Do not put yourself in a situation to get lost.

What would you have wanted in a watch?

I wanted a comfortable watch that I can sweat in and to help me keep track of the time of my activities without worrying about technical failures