Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Thought that I’d start this going as my journal is failing slightly but I think it’s easier to remember to write about things if it’s updating people back home.
We’ve been in Belize just over a month which seems insane, it’s gone fast and slow at the same time. For the first two and a bit weeks we travelled around Belize. The journey here was relatively easy but long, a flight to Houston with over 100 films to choose from! A flight from Houston to Cancun where we stayed the night and then a bus to Chetumal. Then a bus from Chetumal over the border to Orange walk. The buses got progressively worse condition (as did the roads) and more crowded. We stayed our first night in Belize in orange walk, not a great start as the hostel was um interesting! The next morning we took a bus down to Belize city and then to TEC where we would be staying for the two months of research. The bus from Belize city was insanely packed, we were rushed around to the back of the bus and thrown on by our backpacks. We had planned to next head out to the Cayes (islands) but found out that a tropical storm was headed for Belize and everyone was being evacuated from the coast (hence the crowded bus!). We arrived at the TEC to torrential rain and to find all the paths flooded, but the cabanas were really nice if a little noisy from all the surrounding frogs!
Next morning we decided to head inland to avoid the storm and so caught a bus to San Ignacio. Spent the rest of the day being shocked at how hot it was and booking a tour for the next day. Somehow was nominated as group leader while haggling foir the tour price and therefore got offered a free place on the tour, which we then shared out the cost for. Had amazing buffet dinner cooked up in a local restaurant for us with all local Belizean food, rice and beans are surprisingly tasty!
Our guide, Rudi, picked us up and drove up to the pine ridge forest. The roads rapidly deteriorated and at times it seemed unlikely that the car would make it. As group leader had to sign everyone in from a scary looking soldier armed with a gun and machete. The first stop was a huge cavern in the middle of the rainforest with a river running through. Then headed down into a proper cave system used by mayans. Plenty of mayan pottery and some very tight spaces to squeeze through! Saw bats and scary looking whip spiders. After lunch we swam and slid down waterfalls. Headed back to San Ignacio via Rudis house where we met his daughter and were given a large bag of fresh mangos.
Headed to some local mayan ruins, which happened to be up a massive hill. Got disgustingly hot and sweaty but pretty impressive ruins. Took refuge in an internet café with air conditioning and then headed up to a posh hotel for an iguana tour. Felt disgusting sitting in their posh lobby and got some slightly odd looks! Igunana tour mean visiting and feeding the iguanas as they clambered over our heads. Also ate termites which tasted of a mixture of carrot and mint….. surprisingly nice.
Decided to head down to c*** comb basin to see some proper rainforest and in the hope of seeing some wildlife. Took the bus to Belmopan where we caught another bus to Maya Walk. There we bought enough food to last for two days from a very limited choice and took a taxi into the jungle. The dorms were basic but nice, with a bathroom and kitchen complete with a very large spider. Immediately headed to the river for tubing. Lots of fun and a great way to cool down, once we’d learnt how to steer and avoid the rocks and fallen trees. Had a feast of instant noodles and tinned veggies. Went out for a nightwalk down the main path, saw a few birds and two kinkajous peering down at us from high up in the canopy.
Got up very early the next morning for a sunrise howler monkey walk but had no luck. Got back to find that termites had invaded our breakfast rolls but ate them anyway. Walked up to a beautiful waterfall that we could swim in, under and behind ad was ridiculously cold. Stayed there until a group of annoying American tourists arrived and then decided to walk up to the lookout point, turned out to be a bit further than we’d realised and a lot more uphill but the view from the top was worth it. In the afternoon we went tubing again and this time stopped along the way to make a human pyramid! Dinner was a feast of rice, tinned mackerel, baked beans and salsa…. Surprisingly tasty although I chose to avoid the suspicious tinned chicken sausages!
Gen wasn’t very well so we decided to leave relatively early and head to Hopkins via two taxis and a bus. Arrived at Kismet inn which seemed lovely at first even though the owner was a little bit insane and probably drunk. The hostel was right on the beach so we wondered down to find a pizza bar showing a world cup match which pleased the guys. Ended up back there for dinner as everywhere else was closed. Our room was a little odd as the toilet was in the room and only separated by a curtain but we had the better deal. The others found that their sheets were covered in mice poo and urine, the owner (crazy Trish) didn’t seem to understand the problem although did kill the very large scorpion that was in the boys room. Eventually they gave up and slept in the hammocks outside or squashed into the only clean beds.
My birthday!!! Got up to watch the sunrise over the sea and then unsurprisingly decided to move on from kismet inn. Headed out to Caye Caulker via several taxis, buses and a boat. Caye Caulker is a very small island just off the reef, the only vehicles permitted on the island are golf buggys. We were met by a slightly crazy british guy (Adam) who one of the taxi drivers had phoned to ask him to book us in to a hostel. Had lobster for dinner which was amazing and took part in a random quiz run by Adam at his sports bar, Zoe managed to win a voucher form a free meal at a restaurant. Had chocolate brownies with candles in
We ended up staying on Caye Caulker for over a week mainly just relaxing and swimming. Did two snorkelling reef tours, one with a proper company and the other with Ras Creek an amazing rasta guy. We saw turtles, loads of fish, rays, nurse sharks, a manatee, conga eel and lots of coral. Ras creek also cooked up some fresh lobster, conch and barracuda which all tasted amazingly good. We ate lobster almost everyday and every meal seemed to come with free rum punch. The locals were really friendly and we got to know a few of them quite well.
- comments