Punta Gorda Belize

 

A little girl carrying water back to the village

Written By: Gary Wonning

Entering our room required unlocking two locks, and I noticed that there were four locks on our inside door, that makes one feel real secure. As we entered the room I noticed bars over the windows and barking dogs in the alley below greeted us, this is going to be quite a night.

The small boat we took on the high seas in

All of this traveling and opulence had made everyone hungry, as we made our way to the restaurant we passed through the bar.  We found several British soldiers passing the time by getting soused, can’t say I blame them. We had passed by their barracks on the way into town, the barracks were built below the road level and because of the extremely wet conditions, the solders were walking around in at least six inches of mud all day. I wondered what they had done to deserve being stationed here, it must have been pretty bad. The troops acted as if they had been lost at sea for months and we had come to rescue them.

YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE MAYAN STORE

The restaurant turned out to be a buffet, after observing the condition of the food I quickly realized that it would not be a good idea to eat any vegetables, my dinner consisted of whatever meat I could scrounge up and beer. (The bread was extremely stale, could have been used as a hockey puck.)We had traveled all this way to visit Lubaantun, the pyramid where Anna Mitchell-Hedges had discovered the crystal skull many years before. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Your chance to learn more about the Mayan Culture

An interesting photo book about the Maya Indians of central America

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments are welcome

Improve your health through essential oils and Isagenix.

Belize: Adventure the High Seas

Written by: Gary Wonning

Belize: Adventure on the High Seas

The small boat we took on the high seas in

Sunday dawned bright and sunny with storm clouds on the horizon. This was to be a day to relax on South Caye, a forty-five minute boat ride away.

As we finished breakfast, I noticed large storm clouds forming in the direction of South Caye, it was about the same time I saw the boat that we would be traveling in, a real luxury liner, about fifteen feet long with a five horsepower Sears motor on the back. Putting two and two together, I was not getting four, plus the driver looked to be all of fifteen. So I asked him if it was safe to travel in that storm, he replied with the normal Belize nonchalant answer, “no worries, Mon.”

Putting our trust where it probably shouldn’t have been , the eight of us, five tourists and two Mayas , our driver and guide, along with the boat pilot, all boarded the small boat. We hadn’t gone fifteen minutes when we were swallowed up by the most God Awful storm I have ever seen! Suddenly amid a torrential downpour, we had encountered ten foot seas, The sea was tossing us like a bunch of cookies in a drunken sailor’s stomach.

More adventures in the Land of the Maya

An interesting photo book about the Maya Indians of central America

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments are welcome

Pelican Beach Belize Thermos Bottle by lifejourneysimages
Shop for another Zazzle Water Bottle

The Mayan Culture

It doesn’t take long to discover that Belize is a land of contrasts. From the poverty and disarray of the cities to the quiet countryside, many differences are soon found.

With poverty and crime running rampant in cities such as Belize City and Belmopan, the traveler has to be constantly aware of his surroundings and protect
whatever is being carried. Remember ,that camera hanging around your neck is worth more than the average Belizean earns in a year. All that aside, the Mayan people are wonderfully warm people many of whom go out of their way to please visitors.

Traveling into the country side one discovers thatch roof homes with no doors or windows. Because of the warm climate , they can live comfortably all year with a gently breeze flowing through the open windows and doors. I was struck with the concept that although no utility lines were visible, a lot of homes had a satellite dish in the front yard. Asking my guide about this he stated that the TV’s and VCR’s were powered by a car battery.

No wonder the video stores were the largest stores in town. He stated that when the battery ran down , it would be taken into town and recharged at the local gas station.

Jokingly , I asked why he just didn’t switch batteries with the tour van we were traveling in to re-charge it? His reply, “I couldn’t do that, it would be stealing from my employer.”

Too bad more people don’t have that attitude!

There are many things to see while visiting this tiny Central American country, including Mayan temples, many exotic animals and birds, including Jaguars, and a
variety of snakes and parakeets.

Mayan Pyramid Belize

The Cays, located just a short distance off shore are beautiful with white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. Some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world can be found along this, the second longest barrier reef in the world.

The food was surprisingly good. The first evening, dining in a bread and breakfast at The Fort Street Guest House frequented by Earnest Hemingway, I enjoyed Red
Snapper wrapped in a banana leaf , whilst sipping on a quart sized $5 margarita. Although the sandwiches we consumed for lunch were not very appetizing. I finally settled for my old favorite , a peanut butter, mayonnaise, lettuce and cheese sandwich. As a child , it took me years to perfect this masterpiece.

Fillet Mignon was to be enjoyed several nights, and to celebrate the completion of
our expedition, the grand finale! Sweet and sour lobster kabobs were enjoyed while overlooking the Caribbean Ocean from the top floor of a waterfront hotel.

While the Belize annual rainfall ranges from 80 inches to 180 inches a year, it was rather difficult to imagine a day without rain, due to the large amount of rainfall most of the roads are nearly impassable even in good weather.

Be sure to take along a chain, and after getting stuck five times, the closest thing to a chain we saw was a Texan cowboy driving a Ford Bronco 2 equipped with a winch on the front. The normal procedure is to wait alongside the road until enough people come along to push the vehicle out of the ditch, the ditches can be quite deep, so sometimes this can take a while.

If planning a Belize vacation, be sure to bring along a
rain parka and boots. And a chain.

To learn more of the Maya and their culture.

Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied  the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!

He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.

For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com

Your comments appreciated

It doesn’t take long to discover that Belize is a land of contrasts. From the poverty and disarray of the cities to the quiet countryside, many differences are soon found. With poverty and crime running rampant in cities such as Belize City and Belmopan, the traveler has to be constantly aware of his surroundings and protect whatever is being carried. Remember,that camera hanging around your neck is worth more than the average Belizean earns in a year. All that aside, the Mayan people are wonderfully warm people many of whom go out of their way to please visitors. Traveling into the countryside one discovers thatch roof homes with no doors or windows. Because of the warm climate , they can live comfortably all year with a gentle breeze flowing through the open windows and doors. I was struck with the concept that although no utility lines were visible, a lot of homes had a satellite dish in the front yard

 

Belize; Driving the Highways and By-Ways.

For the ultimate test of your driving skills , there is no place on earth like Belize. Although picturesque and filled with antiquities and monuments of the Mayan culture, the roads test one’s driving abilities and patience to the max.

The roads are narrow at best, with many still unpaved, full of potholes, and very rough and treacherous. Belize has a tremendous amount of rainfall every year, up to 180 inches in the southern part of the country. Combine that with the fact that many of the roads, even the major thoroughfares are clay dirt roads that are crowned in the middle so the water runs off easily, makes for interesting traveling.

While meeting another vehicle on such roads, it normally becomes a game of chicken as to which driver gets over farthest to their side of the road. Especially after a heavy rain, the road gets extremely slick and as a result getting over too far means sliding off into a ditch as deep as three feet.
 

This means an extremely long delay, in spite of the fact this happens quite often, no one in the country has a chain to be pulled out with. It boils down to waiting until enough people come along to make it possible to be pushed out onto the road so the journey can be resumed.

It was never a dull moment as we traveled the roads of Belize, the driver had to be constantly aware of the changing road conditions, and even then  we slid off the road a total of six times in two weeks, one time barely missing a school bus who wouldn’t get out of the middle of the road.

Even the South Hummingbird Highway, which connects the southern part of the country with the rest of the world is only a one lane dirt road, demanding extreme caution.

 

Now you can follow me on Kindle. I also recently published a book featuring the Maya and their culture.Enjoy!

Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied  the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!

He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.

For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com

Your comments appreciated

 

Belize : Corozal Town , Adventure Inn

Corozal Town , Northern Belize

What a Welcome relief from the rigorous travels from the past two weeks!

Located in the northern Corozal  district of Belize , we were only about thirty miles from Chetumal Mexico. These quaint little huts located on Consejo Beach at a little village called the Adventure Inn were just what the doctor ordered. Arriving late at night, after spending the day traversing Belize it was past time for a relaxing dinner and a good nights sleep.

From the southern border, just south of Puenta Gorda to the northern border with Mexico ,Belize is only about 180 miles long . However the road conditions can be best described as extremely hazardous, most are dirt and only paved in certain areas,  most times a top speed of 20 MPH is all that can be expected.

Our van encountered a cracked transmission housing , so a stop in Belize City was necessary to obtain a different vehicle. Due to the fact the roads are so hazardous and slippery,  breakdowns and getting stuck in the ditch are common and need to be scheduled into the travel time.

Hurriedly we checked in , dropped our bags in our room and ventured to the restaurant before it closed. A real treat awaited us,the restaurant was something out of a movie , located on the beach, complete with a thatched roof and completely exposed to the night air we dined on lobster Kebabs and all the trimmings, throw in a little calypso music,a cool drink and it just doesn’t get any better than this, takes away all of one’s worries, Mon!

This was to be our last night in the tropical paradise called Belize, after spending two weeks studying the ancient Maya and their culture, it was time to think of returning to the good old USA. Tomorrow it would be back to Belize City , where we would board a flight for Houston and consequently our final destination, Indianapolis.

The sleeping accommodations couldn’t have been any better, the huts were modern, with screened in open air quarters and a convenient outside shower. An early morning breakfast, a short good-bye on the pier and we were on our way back to the good old USA.

It had been quite a trip, visiting the Mayan temples and pyramids, meeting Don Eligo Panti, the medicine man and learning a lot of the Mayan and Belizian culture , there was a lot to absorb. I was impressed with how the Belize people look at life and the way they want to advance their country. It was said to me many times, “We don’t want money from the United States,we don’t want you running our country, we just want your knowledge so we can improve our country and make a better life for everyone. “

I wish all countries had that attitude.

Gary is a travel writer and photographer living in Sarasota, Florida. He maintains a website featuring some of his travel photos and has recently published a book featuring the Maya and their culture.

Now you can follow me on Kindle.

The Mayan Culture

With the hullabaloo being created due to the fact the Mayan calendar ends in 2012, there is much interest concerning the Mayan culture, Mayan religion, and Mayan symbols. Existing mainly in Central America, Belize, and Mexico, they have a varied and interesting history.

Everything you would want from BELIZE.

The 2012 Mayan Calendar does not signify the end of the world, it only signifies the beginning of a new era or age, a new level of consciousness and time.

The Maya believe the cycles are approximately 5,000 years in duration and the year 2012 only signifies the end of a particular era, as that era ends, a new cycle will begin, a change most humans won’t even notice.

According to Mayan belief the Cosmos was made up by nine underworlds, this belief was expressed very powerfully in their pyramids, which were all built based on nine different stories.

The traditional Mayas believe in the existence, within each individual,of  various sub souls, usually described in quasi-material terms(such as ‘shadow’, ‘breath’, ‘blood’, and ‘bone’). The loss of one or more sub souls results in specific diseases ( such as heart disease, cancer, etc.) They were very adept at natural healing, using herbs and plants from the surrounding jungle to heal and nourish their bodies.This art is still evident today, although it is dying out as the old medicine men pass on.

The Mayas accomplished a lot of “firsts” in this era. Not only did they build a lot of pyramids and temples, they were experts on building roads and also knew how to make rubber. Thus, they built the most advanced road system of their time.

They had the first advanced system of writing in the western hemisphere and had two calendars, one with 365 days.They used their system of writing, (hieroglyphics), to record information in books made from the bark of fig trees.

They developed a mathematical system based on the number 20 and were the first to use the number 0.

It wasn’t a life of all work and no play. They had developed a form of the modern day game of basketball, where a gourd  or other round object was attempted to pass through a hoop high on the wall. They took this game very seriously, as the losers were often sacrificed to the Gods. In some instances, the victors were sacrificed as a way of appeasing the Gods for some ill conceived misfortune that had befallen the tribe. In this circumstance it was an honor to be chosen as a sacrifice and most athletes willingly volunteered.

Astronomy was very much a part of their life as was the calendar, and mathematics.. Social class was determined by economics, religious beliefs and politics. As evidenced still today in the beautiful art work displayed throughout Central America and Mexico, there were many talented potters, sculptors and artists with abilities in carving jade and other semi precious stones. The Mayans were intelligent farmers and architects as well.

The earliest evidence of the Mayan existence was in A.D. 250.Geographers soon found that in A.D. 900 the Mayan had abandoned their cities and thus their civilization slowly vanished.

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments welcome
Now you can follow me on Kindle.

 

 

It doesn’t take long to discover that Belize is a land of contrasts. From the poverty and disarray of the cities to the quiet countryside, many differences are soon found. With poverty and crime running rampant in cities such as Belize City and Belmopan, the traveler has to be constantly aware of his surroundings and protect whatever is being carried. Remember,that camera hanging around your neck is worth more than the average Belizean earns in a year. All that aside, the Mayan people are wonderfully warm people many of whom go out of their way to please visitors. Traveling into the countryside one discovers thatch roof homes with no doors or windows. Because of the warm climate , they can live comfortably all year with a gentle breeze flowing through the open windows and doors. I was struck with the concept that although no utility lines were visible, a lot of homes had a satellite dish in the front yard

 

Belize Culture: Land of the Mayan Indians

Written by :Gary Wonning

Belize: Land of the Mayan Indians

It doesn’t take long to discover that Belize is a land of contrasts. From the poverty and disarray of the cities to the quiet countryside, many differences are soon found.
With poverty and crime running rampant in cities such as Belize City and Belmopan, the traveler has to be constantly aware of his surroundings and protect whatever is being carried. Remember ,that camera hanging around your neck is worth more than the average Belizian earns in a year. All that aside, the Mayan people are wonderfully warm people many of  whom go out of their way to please visitors.
Traveling into the country side one discovers thatch roof homes with no doors or windows.With the warm climate , they can live comfortably all year with a gently breeze flowing through the open windows and doors. I was struck with the concept that although no utility lines  were visible, a lot of homes had a satellite dish in the  front yard. Asking my guide about this he stated that the TV’s and VCR’s were powered by a car battery. No wonder  the video stores were the largest stores in town.
He stated that when the battery ran down , it would be taken into town and recharged at the local gas station. Jokingly , I asked why he just didn’t switch batteries with the tour van we were traveling in to re-charge it? His reply, “I couldn’t do that, it would be stealing from my employer.”
Too bad more people don’t have that attitude!

There are many things to see while visiting this tiny Central American country, including Mayan temples, many exotic animals and birds, including Jaguars, and a variety of snakes and parakeets.
The Cays, located just a short distance off shore are beautiful with white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. Some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving can be found  along this, the second longest barrier reef in the world.
The food was surprisingly good,the first evening,dining in a bread and breakfast frequented by Earnest Hemingway I enjoyed a Red Snapper wrapped in a banana leaf , whilst sipping on a quart sized $5 margarita. Although the sandwiches we consumed for lunch were not very appetizing. I finally settled for my old favorite , a peanut butter, mayonnaise, lettuce and cheese sandwich. As a child , it took me years to perfect this masterpiece. Not sure why, but the waitress turned green when I ordered it. And she was an African American, never saw that before!
Fillet Mignon was to be enjoyed several nights, and to celebrate the complete of  our expedition, the grand finale! Sweet and sour lobster kabobs were enjoyed while over looking the Caribbean Ocean from the top floor of a waterfront hotel.

With the Belize annual rainfall ranging from 80 inches to 180 inches a year, it was rather difficult to imagine a day without rainfall,due to the large amount of rainfall most of the roads are nearly impassable even in good weather. Be sure to take along a chain, after getting stuck five times, the closest thing to a chain we saw was a Texan cowboy driving a Ford Bronco 2 equipped with a winch on the front. The normal procedure is to wait along side the road until enough people come along to push the vehicle out of the ditch,with the ditches being quite deep, some times this can take a while.
Looking at a Belize map it can be realized how small the country really  is, only approximately 180 miles from the southern end to the northern border with Mexico, it is hard to imagine the rainfall could vary that much in  such a short distance.
If planning a Belize vacation, be sure to bring along a rain parka and boots. And a chain.

Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied  the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!

He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.

For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com

Your comments appreciated

 

 

The Cocoa Tree

 
The cultivation and use of cocoa was began  early in Meso-America.Studies suggest the tree was domesticated and originated in Amazonia.

Cacao or Kakaw, according to Maya belief was discovered by the gods in a mountain that also held other delectable foods that were used by the native Mayas. Mayan mythology states that after humans were created from maize the Plumed Serpent gave cacao to the Mayas. Cocoa was regularly given as a sacrifice to the many Mayan Gods , often times priests would lance their ears and cover the cacoa with their blood as a sacrifice. This ritual was only performed by the men, as cacoa was thought to be toxic to women and children.

Soon the Maya learned to flavor the cocoa by mixing it with maize,chili, vanilla, peanut butter and honey. (Cookies and Cream came later.) It is believed the Aztecs learned to grind it and mix with tobacco .

Christopher Columbus was the first European to encounter cocoa after capturing a canoe at Guanaja and finding a large quantity of odd looking almonds. From this encounter cocoa naturally spread throughout Europe and became a popular drink the world over.

Cocoa trees produce the cocoa bean that is responsible for making chocolate. The trees are known to grow naturally within 15 degrees of the equator all around the world.Growing the cocoa plant is very difficult because they are so picky about the care that they need and will not survive in all conditions,but a healthy cocoa tree growing 20 or more feet tall can produce fruit for 75 to 100 years. The cocoa tree needs a well-draining and slightly acidic soil, at least 80 inches of rainfall or water a year and it needs extremely controlled sunlight, preferably covered shade from taller trees and vegetation.

Chocolate contains many chemicals, among them are , caffeine,serotonin , theobromine,and phenylethyamin are anti-depressant and anti-stress agents.

Gary is a travel writer and photographer living in Sarasota,Florida, and has recently published a book featuring the Maya Indians and their culture.

Belize, The Panti Mayan Medicine Trail

 Written by; GARY wONNING

Belize, The Panti Mayan Medicine Trail

Ix Chel was founded in 1983, the first major step was to clear away the high bush in the area. It was founded with the desire to be of service to those interested in learning of the useful plants in Belize and their role in healing and tradition. The whole farm is a nature study center that is self sufficient in food, medicine, and the conversion of solar energy.

 The Maya Indians were very knowledgeable in the healing capabilities of plants and herbs. One  off the last remaining medicine men , or H’men was Don Eligio Panti of San Antonio , Cayo  District.
 H’man is an ancient Mayan term used to designate one who is both a doctor and priest. The m

 medicine men were very influential in the lives of the Mayan Indians.

 The Mayan herbalist is adept at combining medicine and religion according to ancient healing  traditions.The procedures all contained nine different medicine leaves. Nine being a most vital  number in the Mayan civilization, as there are nine Mayan Spirits who watch over all the Mayan  empire, there are nine Lords of the underworld, nine levels of the underworld, and most ancient  Mayan Temples had nine tiers of nine steps each, also the rituals are repeated nine times.

 

The Ix Chel Medicine Farm was founded mainly by Dr. Rosita Arvigo, after being an apprentice of Don Eligo Panti for several years. She wanted to  learn of his knowledge, to preserve the tradition of ancient remedies and the Mayan medicinal system of intermingling the physical and supernatural worlds to create what is called a medico-religious system, before it was lost to the world.
Twenty-five percent of the world’s commercial medicines come from plant based chemicals  found only in tropical regions. In the future the research could reveal cures for cancer, high blood pressure and many other diseases. 

Dr. Rosita says, “They are participating inn the National Cancer Institute’s program to scour the tropical world in search of medicinal plants to be tested against one hundred types of cancer cells and three AIDS viruses.Through holistic medicine stressing  manipulation , herbal remedies, diet therapy, and Back Flower remedies , Dr. Rosita Arvigo and her staff hope to continue their work and find cures for many diseases affecting modern man.”

Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied  the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!

He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.

For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com

Your comments appreciated

It doesn’t take long to discover that Belize is a land of contrasts. From the poverty and disarray of the cities to the quiet countryside, many differences are soon found. With poverty and crime running rampant in cities such as Belize City and Belmopan, the traveler has to be constantly aware of his surroundings and protect whatever is being carried. Remember,that camera hanging around your neck is worth more than the average Belizean earns in a year. All that aside, the Mayan people are wonderfully warm people many of whom go out of their way to please visitors. Traveling into the countryside one discovers thatch roof homes with no doors or windows. Because of the warm climate , they can live comfortably all year with a gentle breeze flowing through the open windows and doors. I was struck with the concept that although no utility lines were visible, a lot of homes had a satellite dish in the front yard

Available in both Hard Cover and Ebook format.

Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve Belize

The worlds first sanctuary created specifically for the elusive jaguar

The Cockscomb Basin, is ringed on three sides by high ridges and mountains , being a protected rain forest it’s name comes from the
cockscomb profile of the nearby Maya Mountains. Home to the elusive Jaguar and other rare species such as the red eye tree frog, this Reserve can only be reached by a very rough six mile mud road.

It is best to visit during the “dry season” which runs from February – May. During the wet season June-January most of the annual 180 inches of rain occurs thus roads can be impasable.

Inside the Preserve well-maintained trails have been cut to give visitors a taste of the area’s bio-diversity, offering impressive views and an ideal environment for plant spotting, serious birding or seeking out wildlife, jungle flora and fauna in a wilderness state.
There are numerous hiking trails for exploring the area,including a 3 day hike to Victoria Peak, the second highest mountain peak in Belize. Inner tubes can be rented to float down the Stann Creek River. Although Jaguars inhabit the area, it is unlikely you will see one as they are nocturnal.

This was to be our home for one night, which would give us the opportunity to learn more of the Mayan culture.After which we would  continue on to the Mayan Temple deep in the jungle. It was an interesting visit , as many items were in the tiny museum located inside. One of the items was a skull from the Fer-De-Lance ,a large snake that can grow up to eighteen feet in length. Looking at the skull, I first thought it to be a horse head,guess I don’t want to meet up with one of these in some dark corner of the jungle.

Beings our expedition to the “Secret Temple” had been canceled due to storms and raging rivers, we were obliged to stay 2 nights . The little cabin we were staying in had no facilities or electricity. For entertainment our little group decided to play shadow puppets by the light given off by our kerosene lantern. What a  thrill, sitting in the middle of

The jungle playing shadow puppets, it turned out to be a real hoot.

The second night Ernesto, the manager of the Jaguar Reserve offered to guide us on a night time expedition into the bush to see if a jaguar could be spotted. He explained that if we did see a jaguar, we should aim our light at him, as it would drive him off, he then explained that if a Fer-De-Lance was spotted it would be best to turn our flash lights off, as the light would attract the snake to us. I’m sitting here thinking, “What if we see one of each.”  He further stated that a quick get-a-way might be in order in case the snake decided to follow us. The ground was extremely slippery and several of the tribe had already fallen, so the enthusiasm quickly faded.

Some how playing shadow puppets seemed like a good alternative.

Ernrsto stayed with us this evening and thus we learned a lot more of the Belizian way of life and the Mayan culture.

 Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied  the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!

He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.

For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com

Your comments appreciated

It doesn’t take long to discover that Belize is a land of contrasts. From the poverty and disarray of the cities to the quiet countryside, many differences are soon found. With poverty and crime running rampant in cities such as Belize City and Belmopan, the traveler has to be constantly aware of his surroundings and protect whatever is being carried. Remember,that camera hanging around your neck is worth more than the average Belizean earns in a year. All that aside, the Mayan people are wonderfully warm people many of whom go out of their way to please visitors. Traveling into the countryside one discovers thatch roof homes with no doors or windows. Because of the warm climate , they can live comfortably all year with a gentle breeze flowing through the open windows and doors. I was struck with the concept that although no utility lines were visible, a lot of homes had a satellite dish in the front yard.

Available in Hard Copy and EBook format.