shrubbery

Going to Mexico, Belize and Guatemala in January/February. (Leaving in two weeks...) Haven't planned much for Belize yet tough. I'll probably try to stay clear of the really tourist infested places ..

As for Tourist Police .. I'm quite sure that's just a way to get more money from charter-tourists.

I'll be travelling backpacker style.. So I'll look like hell, stay in the cheapest places and eat at the dodgiest places so I doubt that anyone will think that I'm worth robbing :P

psychicchick

We spent our honeymoon in Belize. Paradise, pure and simple. We plan to retire there when we're old and grey. Every time I get a whiff of decaying vegetation or a taste of coconut, I am transported right back.

Maruba jungle spa and resort is the most unbelievably beautiful, purely perfect place on the planet.

Sparhawk

I've been diving for 11 years (all Carribean), and I must say that Belize has been one of my favorites. 8 days of diving out of Ambergris Caye. The rides out were almost without exception the choppiest water I've delt with, but they were also very short (Cozumel, by contrast, had a 30-40 minutes ride out).

Enjoy Belize, it's a lot of fun, and Congrats on the certification!

__________________
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work."

QuasiMojo

The time draws nigh!!!!

the countdown continues as I bought myself a big-ass suitcase
with wheels(big enough to keep all my basic scuba gear and most of my clothes...light colored, summer weight...) and a 128MB
memory card for my digicam.

The weather here has a bitter, icy edge to it which makes my countdown to the carribean sun and eventual placement closer to the equator even more urgent.

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

powerclown

I dove cozumel last fall for the first time and loved it. From what I understand, Belize is supposed to be better, one of the top dive spots in the world. I hope to dive there one day myself.

If you have good or even half way decent buoyancy control, check out a cenote, I dove one myself and it was an unforgettable experience. You can't even see the water its so clear. It was a bit cold though, around 65F.

Report back when you return, love to hear how it went.

...and don't forget to exhale on ascent...

QuasiMojo

Lemme bring this back to the surface...

just completed the last day of {work} before my vacation and I can't really believe that I will be leaving the country for a week.
I took 2 weeks off even though I'll be in Belize for only 1 week.
(I like the idea of winding INto my trip and then...winding OUTfrom
my trip....)

I want to thank everyone that commented on this thread-
and be sure that all my photographic memories will indeed be
posted in one form or another HERE.

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

QuasiMojo

Back to the real world....
thought i would post an e-mail to some friends that i made while I was in Belize

!HOLA!

How goes it my friends? I trust the trip back to civilization went well. my journey back could not have gone any better...with the exception of customs hassles, a confiscated torch lighter,(which I had bummed from the tropica bar and had not given back) and a crying baby on the final flight into Philadelphia.
Did you have to take your shoes off at Belize Int'l ?

Cindy was coming into the airport right when i was preparing to exit so the timing was excellent there...I took the whole next day to....
"decompress".... doing little to nothing as I equalized myself back into my real life. ( I know...I'm subconsciously using diving jargon here) : ) I slowly and with no real plan began to unpack. this process took about a day and a half. The only discrepancy was the discovery of a broken coffee mug that i brought back as a souvenier. Those baggage handlers must've WHIPPED my shit around cuz I wrapped all of my booty pretty carefully with layers and layers of dirty laundry. Fortunately, the One Barrel and the cashew
wine went through the ordeal virtually unscathed.

So...Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know how nice it was for me to have some folks from "back home" to pal around with and allow me to have this shared experience. From the steps of Xunantunich to the cool, clear pools of the 5 sisters, the touring that I did with you guys in Cayo will not be soon forgotten. And the manic golf-cart expeditions when we met again on "La Isla Bonita"and San Pedro town....
will remain ingrained for quite a while. (Wendy....you are the golf-cartinest Gringa I'll ever know
And Ryan....it would've been great if you guys could've joined me on my dive trips to the local reef and the Blue hole and Half-Moon Caye. Perhaps the bug I put in your ear about the otherworldly grandeur of the underwater realm will inspire you to get certified there in Las Vegas and we could dive at another time in our lives. The Blue Hole Experience and the reef dives literally changed me as a human being and were beyond words...I just hope that when I get my pics back that they will relay just a 16th of what I was going through(which was sheer bliss.)

I will shoot you guys a CD of my land pics within a couple of days. The underwater ones will take a bit longer because they will need to be scanned.
I will now raise my glass of One Barrel and coke - to the Greatness that was my trip to Belize...And to my company that was bestowed.
Cheers!

B.

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

-Ever-

Glad you had fun! I'm planning a trip now for spring break. Hopefully it will be something like Belieze

__________________
Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster...
--Acknowledge your weaknesses--

QuasiMojo

B.another dispatch

The diving was fffffffffffffffffreakin' awesome. Unfortunately my stupid underwater cameras just didn't quite capture the majesty that IS the underwater world. and my digital camera went kind of haywire on the last day of my trip but I still have plenty of pics from the Mayan ruins. The whole country is in a state of burgeoning development and there are ruins that are literally undug and waiting to be discovered when the funds become available. can't wait to tell you about it all.

did I tell you I dove the Blue Hole!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the second day of dives and there I was.....130 feet straight down into a collassal sink hole that goes 480 feet. (I didn't even bother with my camera this dive)

otherworldly, man....ooootherworldly.

I actually had to quit thinking about what I was doing for fear of freaking out and just had to concentrate on anything else.(other divers...that BIG fish that just swam by...) I don't know, but I think I may have gotten a bit narc-ed, meaning the nitrogen began having a decidedly intoxicating effect on me. this is not an unnatural occurance when diving depths approaching 100 feet but it is something a diver needs to be fully aware of. The divemasters this day informed the less experienced of us about this possibility and said simply that if it happened,
"stay focused and enjoy the high. It's legal and there's no hangover."
So there I was...floating, going down...down... glancing left and right, up and down catching glimpses of my floating cadre, my submerged brotheren the only thing giving me comfort at times during this watery jaunt. I don't know if i was experiencing nitrogen narcosis during this time or i was just entering that survival zone where sheer adrenaline takes over, all I know is that felt a blissful feeling that is very, very hard to replicate above the surface.
And just when I felt like i could have stayed down there forever, It was time to ascend and chill out for our safety stop. By then I had to constantly secure my reg because of the shitty grin that was erupting from my joyous face.
and as I broke the surface I thought,
I did it. I dove the Blue Hole. It was only the third dive outside the chilly quarry dives in Pennsylvania and I dove the freakin' Blue Hole.
This dive wasn't the most beautiful of my reef dives in Belize, But...WOW. It WAS one of those occasions that when I look back upon it in years to come I will count it right up there as one of those ....Life Moments. (If you know what I mean)

tfp
I do believe that i am ruined. I don't ever want to dive this far north(Pennsylvania) of the equator. I mean...when you can see 80 feet in front of you and you stay down for 45 minutes + without a wet suit....Keeeeryst, I am changed man....

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

Alyssa

I went cave tubing in Belize last month...It rained but it was still beautiful, I'd love to go back.

QuasiMojo

you can't let mirevolvers thread, "most loved/hated cities" surpass
my Belize thread!!!

I'll get my pics up!
I will!!

: )

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

Sparhawk

I'd love to see them!

__________________
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work."

jarsh

work faster! your thread reminds me of spaulding gray for some reason...watch swimming to cambodia as a reference.

__________________
Who is John Galt?

QuasiMojo

Hahah...thats funny!!!!
Thanks for the *bump* I have seen the aforementioned monologue but I'll have to watch it again for the reference.
(damn...this project is gonna make me jump off a goddamn BRIDGE before too long...sorry)
My prob is, that I suffer from extended bouts of slothfulness at times. That, AND the fact that I am having difficulties uploading my pics to my webpage(which is how I would like to show them) is making this foray entirely too extended.
stay tuned!

I may soon have to break down and ask for help. aaiiieeeee!

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

ZenkiChica

i went there for one day on a cruise a few weeks ago... didn't really get to see much of the place because it was only for a few hours but i do remember the weather was perfect and the people could not have been more friendly. i'd love to have stayed for a week or so to get the full effect.

BigBDunk

You will love Belize....I have been to three areas and all have been great...Caye Caulker (see gocayecaulker.com) where the accommodation can be very cheap (had a 2 bedroom kitchenette about 75 yards from the beach on either side of the island for $250 / week US...cheap food and close to the reef...quite quiet and no cars...not a lot of night life but nice little bars and restaurants with good quality food and very cheap...

Placencia is also very good and reasonable (better beaches) but a long way from the reef (15 miles)..also quite quiet...great community dances on Sat nites...

San Pedro (Caye Ambergise) is more up beat and more action..cars etc....one of the reality series was done there...(not sure of the name, but couples with distractions etc.)

Belize City is somewhat dangerous....just go straight from the airport to the water taxi and head out to the Cayes....

The country was the former British Honduras...therefore English spoken..

tropicdiver

Hey, what happened to the photos that were going to be posted? Did I miss something? Am thinking about Belize, now, myself. Thanks.

__________________
Bob
Life is short. Break some rules.

QuasiMojo

/grimaces

damn!

I will need to get over to photobucket i guess and see about getting some free hosting. I uploaded my pics onto my online storage with comcast and now have no idea how to access them.
So, no tropicdiver, you didn't miss anything...except for the fact that I just may be an idiot!
btw most of my pics are of the Mayan ruins(so you won't be disappointed) the underwater pics that I took with the disposable turned out to be an abomination. Keep thinking Belize my friend...it will be a reality. (ya missed the whale sharks though)

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

tropicdiver

I'm very interested in the Mayan ruins. May not have the name right, but looking into Altun or something like that. I'm not worried about the dive photos. The dive run to the Blue Hole seems rather expensive for a 2 hour trip. Seems like the going rate starts at $185.00. Any info is appreciated. Thinking this December.

__________________
Bob
Life is short. Break some rules.

QuasiMojo

your thinking of Altan Ha...I went to Xunantunich and Cahal Pech. Wonderful glorious places both. And I must say that if you've never been there, the tour guides really make the adventure stand out. I had a guide by the name of Fidelio who worked for a company called Discovery Tours...insanely knowledgable on every aspect of his country.
Tropicdiver....spend the $185 when you get to Ambergris.

here is a list of my dives in while in Belize

on 08 Feb 04
Local reef dives...about 15.min out

1) Dardanelos- 66ft for 45 min.

2) Tuffy- 60 ft for 50 min.

this was a half day trip and cost about $80 US...(please don't quote me because i only recently threw out my receipts)

Then on 09 Feb 04
I went on the Blue Hole trip. Now this was an all-day 3 dive adventure
that cost somewhere around what you mentioned. It took about 2 hours to get where we were going

1) Blue Hole- 130ft for 30 min those 30 minutes seemed like an eternity actually....

2) Half-Moon Caye- 56ft for 50 min.
then we docked at Half Moon Caye for lunch consisting of rice and red beans, bbq chicken and potato salad....god i can taste it still!
on half-moon caye there is a national park where they have the only sanctuary for the red-footed booby birds who live side by side with their natural enemy, the frigate bird. I remember spying an iguana in the bush there and noticed that it had a forked tail....
I thought i discovered some mutant until i saw the sign indicating
that this island was a habitat for the....you guessed it, Fork Tail Iguana.
I am digressing

then onto our last dive spot
3)The Aquarium at Long Caye- 50 ft for 50 min.

I didn't have a computer tropicdiver so I gathered my info from a seasoned diver who I kinda never let out of my periphery.

In writing this here today I find myself really longing for my next underwater journey.

Thanks

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

tropicdiver

Sounds like a great time to me. Thanks for the tips.

__________________
Bob
Life is short. Break some rules.

QuasiMojo

This is a really nice newsletter about Belize~
http://www.belizeanjourneys.com/

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

tropicdiver

Thanks for sharing.

__________________
Bob
Life is short. Break some rules.

QuasiMojo

voila`

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

tropicdiver

Are the archelogical areas something that you can explore for hours or are they small areas?

__________________
Bob
Life is short. Break some rules.

QuasiMojo

man, I could have hung out for days in Xunantunich...Cahal Pech(Mayan for "the place of ticks") was was smaller acreage-wise but had more rooms and passageways to explore.

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

tropicdiver

I managed to do some online searching of Altun Ha, but didn't check out Xunantunich...Cahal Pech (is that one or two different places?).

__________________
Bob
Life is short. Break some rules.

shrubbery

I just came back from my trip, where I've also been to Belize.

Didn't spend much time there, except for at Caye Caulker, wich was nice. I despised Belize City tough, even if the people was really friendly.

As for the reason I left Belize quickly: I got the impression that they have so little to offer and is so much more expensive than their neighbouring countries.

QuasiMojo

Cahal Pech is just one place. very easy to get to from San Ignacio. Whats really wild is, as you move around and especially when you exit, your guide will point out these mounds where they tell you that archaelogists know that there are undiscovered ruins buried within.
They just don't have the funds to go ahead and explore.

I believe I expressed my feelings that all I needed was a shovel and a brush and I could be slave to the past.

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

QuasiMojo

I can dig what your saying about Belize City. I helped spend 'bout an half hour downtown searching for a battery pack for my compadres camera 31 minutes before they were to fly out to Ambergris Caye. What a third-world rush.

From what I understand Caye Culker is Hippie central.
we had to stop at Culker to pick someone up on the way to Ambergris Caye. I think that their backback was filled with cannabis.

If you get the opporitunity, shrubbery...check out the country.
I don't agree with the last part of your response. I found everything from beer and rum (carribean) to furniture (hardwood teak) to be very inexpensive.
You Better Belize It

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AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

greytone

I feel like I should revive this thread because I am so excited about my future trip to Belize. It is a year later than I hoped, but I am going. It will be a full year after my last vacation, and 18 months after my last dive, when I get to Belize in March. I will not get to see much of the country, because I will be on a SCUBA live-aboard. They pick us up at the airport and we will spend the rest of the week on the small boat (big enough for 32 passengers) around Turneffe Island and Lighthouse reef. I had my regulater refurbished and I have a new wetsuit.

By the way, trying on wetsuits may just be the most strenuous form of exercise I have ever participated in.

__________________
I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing.
Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"

ktthequeen

Belize is fabu! Went August of 2005 and stayed in the Placencia area (Maya Beach, to be specific)

Have a friggin blast! You're missing the lovely wet season I got to enjoy!