How Exotic Can A Western (Cruise) Get?

[keishashadow]

why would I?

never know when an amazing piece of trivia will save ur butt

i've won money - in bars playing trivia machines

won a prize on the DCL Wonder too in contest (picture frames)

 

[loribell]

I actually have no idea how I know it. I just do. You know it is one of those things I could probably wipe from my mind to make room for something more useful.

 

[keishashadow]

I actually have no idea how I know it. I just do. You know it is one of those things I could probably wipe from my mind to make room for something more useful.

that's my theory too , only so much space!

 

[keishashadow]

Okay, we storm the beach!

nearly deserted

note the lack of vendors ; although there was a woman giving foot massages that promised nirvana lol

huge fresh water pool, always nice after a dip in the ocean!

we finally found a place where corona's were cheaper than bottled water...DH planted himself (not as much of a waterdog as me); and proceeded to support the local economy.

check out mr scratching (ps you can see the zip line over his right shoulder, final resting place lol)

Didn't notice it at the time, sure did when he got back to the ship later than night - 52 confirmed bites (sand fleas)...jr-none, me - only 2. One under armpit near where your bathing suit top would hit & one on my foot. I felt very smug, fates punished me for it later

 

[keishashadow]

Sad to leave Gumbalimba, nice/secure way to experience the island, via crusing.

As mentioned earlier it was a very poor country; yet the people were kind & pleasant. Even at the shopping area we explored before boarding the ship was there was an air of respectfulness/pride. Non of the clawing, begging business you find at other destinations. I picked up a few well, made local knick-knacks-charming.

will say though that i don't think i'd have slept easy on the island that night, the poverty was so extreme; not sure what people can be driven to in order to survive...sad. Although the people I spoke to all felt blessed to be living on the island, not on the mainland where things are much worse economically.

Hopefully, the island will become a popular attraction & elevate their standard of living; without spoiling it's beauty...tuff balance to achieve.

sat on balcony watching the ship pull away

just wanted to post 2 different pics (one sunset mode, one normal) taken on my camera - a fuji finepix that i don't know how i ever lived without lol...sound like an advertisement. DH has one of the hybrid SLR/manual fujis with all the lenses, etc. I just can't be bothered - nor see the small image on the camera without my reading glasses. Picked this up in the summer @ what i thought was a great price (it has dropped over $100 since...anyone looking for a great slim camera under $150, check 'er out)

 

[bubba's mom]

LOVE the hair in the ocean and pool! Looks so warm, refreshing and beautiful.... How did your DH get so bitten and you and Jr. not so much?? Is he sweeter than you all?? Loved the sunset pix...didn't know cameras came with a 'function' for it

 

[loribell]

Great pics Janet. What a beautiful place. Lets hope it can get some help but not get ruined.

Barb - I would bet it is because theyspent more time in the water and he spent more supporting the local economy.

 

[bubba's mom]

Barb - I would bet it is because theyspent more time in the water and he spent more supporting the local economy.

yeah...good point. When you spend more time on the SAND and not in the water...makes sense...... I'm actually impressed they counted them all

 

[keishashadow]

Great pics Janet. What a beautiful place. Lets hope it can get some help but not get ruined.

Barb - I would bet it is because theyspent more time in the water and he spent more supporting the local economy.

bingo!

think he was in the brink for all of 5 minutes, he had to drag us out

barb - oh he def. is the nice one i'm the enforcer as he so loving calls me-ha!

i made a point of counting said bug bites because he wouldn't let me spray him a 2nd time with the anti-flag stuff, just to make my point that he should listen next time...i'm still not hearing the end of it (to be revealed later - i'm such a tease lol)

 

[keishashadow]

Finally, the focus of the trip, Xunantunich, Belize

We had originally booked the cruise with the intention of visiting Chacchoben in Costa Maya; unfortunately storm season whiped out their pier so we had to cancel our cave tubing plans in Belize in order to see Mayan ruins.

Not sure why, it's always been on my short list; and DS was studying it and the rainforest in school; so i was a perfect match.

Another tender port, waaaaaay far out; almost 1/2 hour. We were on an 8 hour Carnival excursion and were instructed to meet in the showroom to get our sticker to be 1st off the boat. We were greeted by a mad-house; oh the wails of those without the golden tixs to get ashore Felt like we were fighting our way off the titanic...what part of "unless you have a sticker with #3 on it, you cannot board" did they not understand? finally, onboard the double decker tender

i picked up some sodas while the guys stood in line @ the port. Evidently, Carnival overbooked the excursion . Got stuck on the 2nd bus, with a horseback riding excursion; while the main group (complete with cruise director, videographer,etc. pulled away).

On our way driving into town, out that way is the fantastic cays/snorkeling is located. belize mainland doesn't have beaches, just this

very unattractive place, oppressive ; think the pics you've seen of 3rd world dictatorships & you'll get the gist.

Five minutes into trip, guide is overcome & loses his voice ; we get his assistant who had very heavy accent/couldn't understand her. The other guide (horseback riding one, just laughed and said we'd get used to it?)

Ten minutes later, we head back to port; evidently; a large group was left behind...finally, they are located; shopping in the port. Rounded up; they board the bus not contrite at all ; and away we go again.

Interesting facts about Belize:

1) 3 traffic lights in the whole country, 1 is broke

2) all public & residential buildings have iron gratings over the windows (to keep out the storm damage -ha!)

3) all residences outside the city's checkpoint have 8 foot fences, either electrified or covered in razor wire (to keep the chickens in - ha-ha!)

4) Belize was turned over to the native population by the British after they stripped all natural resources they could, including all the mahogany trees.

5) Many armed checkpoints on the roads, many groups of prisioners escorted by said armed guards.

6) Belize is involved in a long-standing border dispute with Guatemala; we were cautioned not to go near the tree line once @ mayan site; kidnappings for ransom evidently very popular ...also, jaguars liked to drag off the tourists too since we weren't armed. wah! the bus drivers were double wah!


toto, we're not in kansas anymore

 

[loribell]

Oh my! You just changed my mind. I no longer want to visit the place.

 

[keishashadow]

It was supposed to be a 2 hour drive to the mayan site, we had already lost a good 20 minutes.

no matter, the replacement guide regaled us with her never ending off color humor. She was challenged by another guest; who was told that it's part of their Cajun/Creole culture?

mts in the distance

Horsey-guide started with the vapors, loudly whining she was ready to faint, the bus was too hot WTH? bus was just fine. Amazingly, we found a bar/gift shop to stop at minutes away and "rest" while a replacement bus was summoned...it was called Cheers!

hey, look! i'm happy @ Cheers!

DH is standing underneath the tshirts left behind...by the garrisons of soilders that guard against someone or something TBD.

cooled our heels for over an hour, most of the bus started pounding belkian beer...lil early for me when i knew we'd be climing pyramids.

We waited nearly an hour for the replacment bus, finally they radioed as to it's location...it had passed us by and was @ the next bar up the road. Here is it's picture

Once settled in the the replacement bus, i questioned our guide as to how we were going to be able to tour Xunantunich for 2 hours (as specified in excursion description) with all these extra stops. She assured me we'd have plenty of time and wouldn't be late back to the ship.

After another detour, dropping off the horseback tour peeps, we finally proceeded to the site. Upon arrival, we had a preliminary, unwanted, shopping stop at the onsite gift shops.

here's the hand-cranked ferry that you must cross to start the long climb up the mt (we took a mini van)

river that claimed one poor guy's camera

looked like hard work

 

[keishashadow]

Oh my! You just changed my mind. I no longer want to visit the place.

you haven't read anything yet lol

however, it was one of the high points of my life

despite the BS

 

[keishashadow]

have i mentioned that it was hot, hot, hot & humid...believe they said 110...you could see the rays of the sun (as evidenced in later pics-very strange)

learned to look for shade, waiting for the mini van; checkout the hillside

remember the 4 ft iguanas in Roatan, this once had to be at least 10 feet long & he was red

another one, smaller, moved surprisingly fast, up a tree

it's the rain forest, even the ants know better to try & build nests in the ground (they'd be flooded out); they live in trees - see the nest in upper left quadrant and bottom right (looks like bee hives?)

ok, our turn to get on the bus, up to...

another gift shop area (#3 if you're counting)

 

[keishashadow]

Okay, 1st minor sighting

had our choice of these steps or pathway, took the pathway to site

another shorter set of steps we did take to tabletop of site

bit of history here on the site:

Xunantunich is dated to 200 - 900 AD; located 80 miles from Belize City (port). One squre mile in diameter, 6 plazas with 26 temples and palaces. It is still being excavated today. The tallest pyramid is El Castillo, 130 ft; 2nd tallest structure in country; as the site sits upon a mt, it is the highest spot in the country; you can easily see guatemala a mile or so away. Thought to be occupied for 1,500 years, damaged by earthquake; believe it's why the occupants moved away.

our 1st sight of Xunantunich after huffing & puffing up the hill, El Castillo is in the far background.

funny thing is you could hear the whirring noise of weed wackers & lawn mowers, evidently - they must cut the grass daily or the jungle will reclaim the site.

much more next!

 

[loribell]

It is absolutely beautiful. I m so glad you went for me and brought back pics. I can not believe what all you have been through so far!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Okay, we storm the beach!

nearly deserted

note the lack of vendors ; although there was a woman giving foot massages that promised nirvana lol

huge fresh water pool, always nice after a dip in the ocean!

we finally found a place where corona's were cheaper than bottled water...DH planted himself (not as much of a waterdog as me); and proceeded to support the local economy.

check out mr scratching (ps you can see the zip line over his right shoulder, final resting place lol)

Didn't notice it at the time, sure did when he got back to the ship later than night - 52 confirmed bites (sand fleas)...jr-none, me - only 2. One under armpit near where your bathing suit top would hit & one on my foot. I felt very smug, fates punished me for it later

I knew I liked your hubby!

Sorry about the bug bites though ... perhaps some Monkey Butt Juice would've helped his cause since you only had 2 bites?

 

[keishashadow]

It is absolutely beautiful. I m so glad you went for me and brought back pics. I can not believe what all you have been through so far!

aw, thanks; despite all the hurdles it was amazing...just could've been even more so...the guides reminded me of the worst "city hustlers" you could imagine...so different from people in Roatan we met; ver sad.

 

[keishashadow]

I knew I liked your hubby!

Sorry about the bug bites though ... perhaps some Monkey Butt Juice would've helped his cause since you only had 2 bites?

think you're on to something! However, mine was a dinger of one, just got reimbursed by my trip insurance carrier today for the medical bill details later - i'm turning into such a tease

ps i'm somewhat of an expert on Coronas...these tasted different, stronger?

 

[AlexandNessa]

Finally, the focus of the trip, Xunantunich, Belize

We had originally booked the cruise with the intention of visiting Chacchoben in Costa Maya; unfortunately storm season whiped out their pier so we had to cancel our cave tubing plans in Belize in order to see Mayan ruins.

Not sure why, it's always been on my short list; and DS was studying it and the rainforest in school; so i was a perfect match.

Another tender port, waaaaaay far out; almost 1/2 hour. We were on an 8 hour Carnival excursion and were instructed to meet in the showroom to get our sticker to be 1st off the boat. We were greeted by a mad-house; oh the wails of those without the golden tixs to get ashore Felt like we were fighting our way off the titanic...what part of "unless you have a sticker with #3 on it, you cannot board" did they not understand? finally, onboard the double decker tender

i picked up some sodas while the guys stood in line @ the port. Evidently, Carnival overbooked the excursion . Got stuck on the 2nd bus, with a horseback riding excursion; while the main group (complete with cruise director, videographer,etc. pulled away).

On our way driving into town, out that way is the fantastic cays/snorkeling is located. belize mainland doesn't have beaches, just this

very unattractive place, oppressive ; think the pics you've seen of 3rd world dictatorships & you'll get the gist.

Five minutes into trip, guide is overcome & loses his voice ; we get his assistant who had very heavy accent/couldn't understand her. The other guide (horseback riding one, just laughed and said we'd get used to it?)

Ten minutes later, we head back to port; evidently; a large group was left behind...finally, they are located; shopping in the port. Rounded up; they board the bus not contrite at all ; and away we go again.

Interesting facts about Belize:

1) 3 traffic lights in the whole country, 1 is broke

2) all public & residential buildings have iron gratings over the windows (to keep out the storm damage -ha!)

3) all residences outside the city's checkpoint have 8 foot fences, either electrified or covered in razor wire (to keep the chickens in - ha-ha!)

4) Belize was turned over to the native population by the British after they stripped all natural resources they could, including all the mahogany trees.

5) Many armed checkpoints on the roads, many groups of prisioners escorted by said armed guards.

6) Belize is involved in a long-standing border dispute with Guatemala; we were cautioned not to go near the tree line once @ mayan site; kidnappings for ransom evidently very popular ...also, jaguars liked to drag off the tourists too since we weren't armed. wah! the bus drivers were double wah!


toto, we're not in kansas anymore

Goodness! I am surprised Carnival let you guys off the ship ... I have heard of cruiseships canceling ports due to violence. In fact, my folks were on a Carnival cruise where they canceled a stop at Columbia because of an upswing of crimes against Americans there. I am glad you came back safe and sound!