Well today was one of those days that make all the travelling worthwhile. I had a very lovely trip out doing jungle off-roading followed by a 3km canoe in a cave. I'm not sure what else to say about it than that really, it's all a bit self-explanatory. Maybe I should say a few words about where I am for context.
I've been to Belize twice before, and spoken about Belize geography, history, etc. in another blog, so won't repeat everything I said in that, but this is a new part of Belize for me. Belize is a country the size of Wales but with the population of Brighton & Hove thereabouts. It is very sparsely populated country. It is so sparsely populated in fact, the bean counters of fast food America can't make the numbers work for a single MacDonalds, KFC, or Subway. The last two both tried to make a go of a store each in Belize City some while back and didn't have the custom to make them work. Good. I'm happy they failed. Belize doesn't need them. There are only about 6 towns in the entire country of any note, and I've visited the other 5 on previous trips. I'm now in the town I haven't visited before, San Ignacio. It's in the far west of the country, just next door to Guatemala, and in one of the most densely jungled (not a word but work with me here) parts of the country. It's a steamy little corner of a small tropical nation little visited except by the more intrepid backpacker.
I fell in love with Belize some 13 years ago on my first visit here. Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize had the good sense to keep a parliamentary democracy, Commonwealth membership, and English as its first language after gaining independence in 1981. When I first came here it was a 3rd world country by any sensible criteria, and it really hasn't changed that much, but there is some modernity that shows sign of progress. The internet has arrived for a start. They have a couple of banks, and one or two of the cars don't have cracked windscreens.
If all of this sounds a bit primitive, well it isn't. We really don't need a MacDonalds on every street corner do we? And anyway, Belize has street food vendors on every street corner, so they're covered. Now the banks and the internet is here, and the electricity supply is reliable, life is as modern as it needs to be. They have nail bars/beauty parlour aplenty, grocery stores, schools, it's all here! Add to that the natural beauty of the country and you get an idea of why I've come back again.
That and all, nowhere is perfect. I mean, they really could've built a few more roads by now. ...or indeed, built some roads.
....Anyway, I'm rambling. I'll come back to Belize again later I'm sure. For now, here are some pics of a cave and a 4x4 ride.
In the jungle. Less a road, more a dried up mud slide.
And we're off into the cave! I was given a boat to myself and I was the youngest and clearly most capable.
A cave. Where lots of Mayan sacrifices took place. They did love a good cave sacrifice the Mayans.
I've been to Belize twice before, and spoken about Belize geography, history, etc. in another blog, so won't repeat everything I said in that, but this is a new part of Belize for me. Belize is a country the size of Wales but with the population of Brighton & Hove thereabouts. It is very sparsely populated country. It is so sparsely populated in fact, the bean counters of fast food America can't make the numbers work for a single MacDonalds, KFC, or Subway. The last two both tried to make a go of a store each in Belize City some while back and didn't have the custom to make them work. Good. I'm happy they failed. Belize doesn't need them. There are only about 6 towns in the entire country of any note, and I've visited the other 5 on previous trips. I'm now in the town I haven't visited before, San Ignacio. It's in the far west of the country, just next door to Guatemala, and in one of the most densely jungled (not a word but work with me here) parts of the country. It's a steamy little corner of a small tropical nation little visited except by the more intrepid backpacker.
I fell in love with Belize some 13 years ago on my first visit here. Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize had the good sense to keep a parliamentary democracy, Commonwealth membership, and English as its first language after gaining independence in 1981. When I first came here it was a 3rd world country by any sensible criteria, and it really hasn't changed that much, but there is some modernity that shows sign of progress. The internet has arrived for a start. They have a couple of banks, and one or two of the cars don't have cracked windscreens.
If all of this sounds a bit primitive, well it isn't. We really don't need a MacDonalds on every street corner do we? And anyway, Belize has street food vendors on every street corner, so they're covered. Now the banks and the internet is here, and the electricity supply is reliable, life is as modern as it needs to be. They have nail bars/beauty parlour aplenty, grocery stores, schools, it's all here! Add to that the natural beauty of the country and you get an idea of why I've come back again.
That and all, nowhere is perfect. I mean, they really could've built a few more roads by now. ...or indeed, built some roads.
....Anyway, I'm rambling. I'll come back to Belize again later I'm sure. For now, here are some pics of a cave and a 4x4 ride.
Still in civilisation and on one of the few pieces of tarmac to be found round these here parts.
And we're off into the cave! I was given a boat to myself and I was the youngest and clearly most capable.
A cave. Where lots of Mayan sacrifices took place. They did love a good cave sacrifice the Mayans.
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