Belize It-People & Places Part Two

View from Cabana

Second Stop - Colinda's Cabanas


On the laid back island of Caye Caulker, where the theme is "Go Slow" we stayed in a beach front property called Colinda's Cabanas.  We felt fortunate getting reservations since they are booked a year in advance, but lucky for us we found a cancelation.

Well deserving of all the reviews, they provided everything you would want on the island. Our stay included free use of bicycles, kayaks, snorkeling gear, a kitchenette in our room and fresh ground Belizean coffee. There are no personal cars on the island, instead you can rent golf carts or hire one as a taxi.

Cabana #8

The colorful cabanas with private bathrooms were a delight, with deck, clothes line and of course a personal hammock. With only about 10 cabanas you got to meet your neighboring visitors.

Barrier Reef

Boats lined up at Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Snorkeling the Reef

Caye Caulker is one of many islands off shore of Belize and a great launching point for the barrier reef. The waters are calmer since the reef (only a mile away) reduces the amount of waves.

We snorkeled several times visiting Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley and Coral Gardens. There were so many different fish to see, plus nurse sharks and sting rays.

We also  partook of a night dive which at first seemed very creepy, but well worth it since you get to see many other creatures including Octopus, Crabs, Lobsters and see how fish sleep at night.


"The Split" dividing the island

The guide provided a flashlight or torch as they say. The reefs and water have bioluminesense features, FYI but you need no moon to see them.

Caye Caulker from the Airplane

We also enjoyed a dip at the split, a natural separation of the island after Hurricane Hattie.  The view from the plane shows the developed part of the island on the right, then the split, and the estuary area is on the left.







Mango Trees


The islands, like Caye Caulker, are the result of Mango Trees establishing themselves, then the sand builds up and begins to create an estuary for other plant life and animals.




Estuary Walk







Estuary Walk

We visited an protected estuary on the Caye (pronounced Key) to check out the birds and crocodiles.


Estuary Birds

Young Green Herons in Estuary


Beware there were quite a few spiders along the walkway. Golden Orbs to be exact (aka banana spiders), as you may recall I don't care for spiders, so it was very distressing.








Event at Sportsman Bar


Lionfish Derby

We arrived on the island just in time for a fun fishing event. In order to help eradicate the invasive "Lionfish". They held a derby, rewarding fishing teams for the largest, the smallest and the most caught.




Team Participants


After awards they cooked up samples of the Lionfish to promote their use on local menus, helping keep the populations under control. Tasted like fish.

Removing Lionfish Spines



 

Canadian Neighbors after successful Fishing Venture

Fishing Techniques

Eye Catching

Fishing is big on the island. Originally just a fishing village before the tourists arrived.

Here are our friendly neighbors after their expedition.

Line Fishing from piers

You'll see all sorts of fishing techniques, from casting out a single line, to net fishing, even the pelicans have their own technique.

Brown Pelicans

A short net fishing video. They were catching a small fish they used as bait. Enjoy

Belize It-Places & People

 First Stop - Savanna Guest House

We selected this unusual B&B property in La Democracia, Belize near the Zoo for the first leg of our trip.

Unusual not only for it's remote location in the savanna, it also offered a intimate view into the lifestyle of owners Richard and Carol Foster, who are both filmmakers.





They primarily produced and filmed nature segments, many for national geographic.

Richard gave us a personal tour of the studio sets where they filmed events staged to reveal everything from tarantula mating dances, hummingbirds secret lives and bat echolocation.




Capturing Rain Water

Their guest house is not only open to travelers but also scientists and biologist who use the convenient location while doing their work in Belize. The stories the Fosters have to share are truly amazing.

During our stay we got to chat with a primate specialist, zoo worker, film editor and artist.







A bit off the grid they need to collect their rain water, but it wasn't too remote not to have WIFI.

Also for a reasonable fee they offered airport pickup and transport to the local restaurant. This made it very convenient to stay in a more remote location.








Savanna Nature Walk

They've developed a wonderful nature walk around the property which was beautiful in the early mornings.

Not pictured but seen: Parrots, Vultures and Chachalacas

Local Flora




Local Flora

Savanna Nature Walk

Local Flora

Best Little Zoo in the World



Keel-Billed Toucan

Sometimes when visiting a country the best place to see more native animals is the local zoo. The Belize Zoo, a half a mile away, offers a close up view of native animals.

The residents of the zoo are rescued and rehabbed animals, saved from a variety of situations.








We had to go twice to visit, once for the night tour for the nocturnal natives and again during the day.





Tapir and Local Flora



Rare Jabiru Stork and Local Flora

Rescued Jaguar

During the night tour we got to feed and pet many of the  animals. From the countries national animal the Tapir and even gave a high five to Luck Boy, a rescued Black Jaguar.

Here's a video of Lucky Boy and a Margay Cat.

 

Green Iguana Conservation Project

We traveled by bus to San Ignacio and stopped by to see the Iguanas. They're protected here and released when pregnant to lay their eggs. New nests are found and eggs are retrieved and raised in captivity to ensure they grow to adulthood.
You can feed them and even handled them with a guide.

One word of caution-don't eat Bamboo Chicken, it's actually iguana.

Belize It-More Mayan

River runs thru it.

Mayans believed caves were the entrance to the underworld.

 



Roots trying to reach soil.

Often a site for ceremonies and sacrifice by the Maya, the caves of Belize have turned into tourist entertainment.

 

 



We did the cave tubing experience at the Nohoch Ch'en Caves Branch Archeological Reserve.



Cave tubing entrance

Kinda like a lazy river ride at the Dells, but with beautiful scenery and the warm river was crystal clear.

 

Go on a Friday when the cruise ships aren't in dock.

Kinda like the Dells

Belize It-Mayan Ruins

Xunantunich

The Mayans advanced culture is still being unearthed in the jungles of Belize. Many restored sites are available to visit.

We hired a guide to help interpret this amazing culture at the ancient Maya archeological site of Xunantuncih.
(Kinda sounds like z-tuna-sandwich)



At it's peak around 700 AD, Xunantunich had many temples, a ball court and several plazas.

Car Ferry over Mopan River

Located in the Cayo District along the border of Belize and Guatamala, you cross the Mopan River on a car ferry. The color of the river is really this unusual.

El Castillo pyramid

The site's El Castillo pyramid offers a beautiful view of the jungle mountain top.






View from El Castillo

Still being unearthed and restored. The frieze shown here has been preserved by a replica being placed over the façade to protect it.

El Castillo Frieze

Belize It

Like many people from Wisconsin, we joined the mass exodus of "Snow Birds".  Searching for a warm
weather destination we landed in Belize for this years adventures.

Why Belize? Answer: Mayan Culture, Best Snorkeling and a Tropical Climate.







Mayan Culture Experiences



Adrian & Elida teach us how to prepare cacao.

Enjoyed by the Mayan elites, we participated in the art of making chocolate at Ajaw Chocolate in San Ignacio, with husband and wife team Adrian & Elida.

Dried Cacao pod

Fire roasted beans were ready to be deshelled. We helped grind the cacao and sampled chocolate drinks and prepared our own spiced chocolate bars.

Drinks and Bars

Local spices of hot pepper, cinnamom, nutmeg and local honey were options.




Mayan Language

Even a short lesson in the Mayan language.

Shop in San Ignacio, Belize

Enjoy a short video of the grinding of the cacao, as the oils are released it becomes a liquid.


Ice is Nice

For some people the more ice the better. Area ice fisherman communities of shacks are beginning to appear on Lake Onalaska, as the depth of ice reaches 12" and more. Known also as shanties, the small fishing accommodations put the new trend of "tiny houses" to the challenge. Come March when spring is right around the corner, they are forced off the ice before they fall through.

A great rule of thumb-
Thick and Blue, Tried and True
Thin and Crispy, Way Too Risky

My new favorite recreational trailer, a tiny log cabin, built by a dedicated winter fishing enthusiast. He's brought all the comforts of home, including, bed and bathroom and of course heat. In this ice hut there will be an opening in the floor to access the ice and using an augerthey create a hole in the ice from which to fish from.

If you've never been ice fishing before the State of Wisconsin-DNR offers a free fishing weekend every year in January. You can even borrow jig rods and tip-ups from many area state parks.

Besides fishing, many other activities take to the ice in these northern climates. Area winter festivals sponsor softball games, broom ball and snow mobile races. Western Wisconsin even hosts an annual ski jumping contest in Westby , WI.

For me I think I'll wait it out with a good book or movie then head out with all the other snowbirds in Wisconsin to a warmer climate.

Park Wars

Riverside Park in La Crosse, shined with millions of lights on display. We made it to the last night of 2015 for a New Years Eve stroll.

Spectacular displays, thanks to the Rotarians of La Crosse and many volunteers.

Here's my favorite, a very timely display.

So what's your favorite park?