Sunday, January 28, 2007

Adventures in Belize Continued


The Adventure Begins

Our breakfast was a big scrambled egg feast, with fresh fruit, bacon, and flat biscuits with peanut butter and jelly. No one would be hungry today! With great excitement, we once again boarded the Kia Bus to head down the Hummingbird Highway for Dangriga. The scenery is, well...green. We saw a lot of small village schools and churches in this mountainous area. But enough sightseeing - where was the water?!
Finally we arrived in Dangriga where we met our guides, Kris & Omar. We loaded up on the motor boat and headed for Tobacco Range for lunch and Kayak lessons. Everyone had to practice the "wet exit" by rolling the kayak, falling out, and then getting back in. I don't see why I had to learn it, but then, did I really need a Kayak? After practice, we loaded the kayaks and proceeded to paddle to Tobacco Caye, our home for 2 nights. I wasn't really sure we would make it in 45 minutes, but sure enough, it was easier than I thought. We all landed safely on the beach behind the kitchen of Paradise Island Resort (Resort? Well....maybe) and Kris sorted out where each of us would spend the night.

Paradise Island Resort

This was going to be home for 2 nights and although I was really hungry, I was too tuckered out to eat so I had a snooze in the hammock and then a cold shower (YIKES). We had a satisfying dinner of fish and rice with ginger spice cake before we bedded down for the night. Next morning after another big breakfast of scrambled eggs, fresh fruit (mmmm, papaya!), biscuits with peanut butter & jelly, we went out to learn how to snorkel. I told them I did't need fins since my feet are already webbed, but nobody believed me. I would just have to prove myself. And by the way, why did anyone think I needed goggles or a snorkel? Rules! Rules! Rules! Well, we walked to the dock and jumped in. I had never snorkeled in a pack before and as soon as we hit the water, there were fins and hands in my face - HELP - get me out of there! After a full day we had a lovely dinner of rice and beans with chicken. This was the last night here. The next day we would learn to sail.

Next post: Sailing the High Seas and the IZE

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

An Excellent Adventure in Belize


I've just returned from a most excellent adventure in Belize, Central America. Let me see if I can give you a complete picture of my trip to the Barrier Reef of the Carribean.

The Arrival

We left OKC early Saturday morning for Belize via Houston. M & The Man had booked the most awesome adventure trip through Island Expeditions. We were to kayak and snorkel for 5 days.

We arrived at 4 in the afternoon where we were greeted by a most gracious Island Expeditions representative. Being the 1st to arrive, we waited patiently for the rest of our group to land. Twenty minutes later, Mike and his boys, Steve & Austin, Rob & Andrea, and Doug & Laura were gathered up and brought out to the bus to meet us. We all happily boarded the Kia Bus and headed out for the TEC (Tropical Education Center), our home for the evening. After our arrival we met the rest of our tiny group of twelve, Johanne & her two girls, Jac and Annie. We were given a brief history lesson before a delicious dinner of native delicacies and then a night tour of the Belize Zoo. To say the animals were interesting would be a bit of an understatement. Some of us were peed on by a very excitable tapir. Then the Howler Monkeys started up. You'd have thought we had invaded some private island the way they kept at it! It was too eerie. After all that excitement, we headed for our "cabins in the sky" where we all promptly fell fast asleep. Next morning we were awakened by the sound of thousands of tropical birds. What a delight! After the night's peaceful slumber, it was time start the adventure!

Next Post: The Adventure Begins

Sunday, January 7, 2007

Mexican Me!

Did I ever have an adventure last May! I hid in my owner's tote bag when she wasn't looking cuz I heard her saying she was heading for Mexico for the weekend and you know me, I'm not getting left out of anything! I thought I was caught when she snapped a picture of The Man at the DFW airport, but I DUCKED back inside before she noticed. Whew! I really didn't relish the idea of spending the weekend in an airport locker. I almost made it undetected, but darn her, she just had to get out that book to read. I got the "no squawk please" look and had to sit carefully stowed under the seat in front of her for the rest of the flight.

After arriving at the resort, I was allowed free range of the balcony to stretch my legs and wings. What a view of the beach! After dinner "M" and The Man brought me the cutest red velvet sombrero (forgiven at last!) so I showed off to the towel swans who weren't the least bit impressed. I guess they've seen enough tourists by now.

I finally got to spread my toes in the sand after snorkeling with the sea turtles, sting rays and various other sea creatures. M & The Man said this was some really great snorkeling. We saw big sea turtles everytime we went out. We saw "Barry" the Barracuda several times and you shoud have seen the "Wall of Fish" we were surrounded by! We even went night snorkeling and I saw a baby octopus! I gained about 100 lbs eating at the all you can eat buffets (breakfast, lunch & dinner - I didn't miss one meal). Being a very European resort (I swear we were the only Americans there) we were subjected to way too much topless sunbathing. NOT A PRETTY SIGHT!


On the flight home we were bumped to "business class" where I enjoyed hot towels and wine. I drunkenly said good-bye to Mexico out the airplane window, and headed for home. I hear there may be an adventure in Belize planned for the future. If so, I'll have to be far more clever at hiding. I'll let you know what develops.