Tuesday, January 31, 2012
PG Day
On Saturday January 28th the second annual Punta Gorda Day was celebrated. We decided to stay close to town to take in all of the festivities. The event kicked off with a local group singing the Belize national anthem in Garifuna language. There were information booths and food booths along with a table filled with historical photos of the people of PG. The city triangle park was filled with locals. We ate some delicious local food and listened to some live and some very loud DJ music throughout the day. The day ended with an all night concert in the sports pavilion on the edge of town. We bought tickets ($7.50 US) for the 7:00 concert which didn't gat started until about 9:30. We stayed for the first group of very good Garifuna drummers but we could hear the concert all night a mile away in our hotel room!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Moving On
Yesterday we packed our bags and said goodbye to Placencia. It is a 4 block walk to the Hokey Pokey water taxi stand. We boarded a very full boat for the 11 minute $2.50 per person boat ride across the inlet to Independence.
There was a taxi to meet us and for another $2.50 we got a ride to the bus station. We then boarded a James Bus for the 2 hour scenic bus ride on the Southern Highway to Punta Gorda. The bus is an old American school bus painted green and yellow. The trip cost $4.50 per person. Hot and bumpy but we made it to PG after many stops to let folks on and off. If you stand on the road and flag the bus down they'll stop for you. The bus driver dropped us off at the front door of our hotel!
There was a taxi to meet us and for another $2.50 we got a ride to the bus station. We then boarded a James Bus for the 2 hour scenic bus ride on the Southern Highway to Punta Gorda. The bus is an old American school bus painted green and yellow. The trip cost $4.50 per person. Hot and bumpy but we made it to PG after many stops to let folks on and off. If you stand on the road and flag the bus down they'll stop for you. The bus driver dropped us off at the front door of our hotel!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Jungle at Night?
"All you are going to see is glowing eyes" said Lisa the woman who owns the hotel we are staying in. We did see those glowing eyes and a whole lot more.
The last two trips we've had the opportunity to walk in the jungle and learn the names of the trees and plants and learn of their medicinal qualities so I thought I would like to do something a bit different this time. As I researched the different tours offered from Placencia I read a few reviews about a tour with Percy Gordon of Monkey River http://www.kingofthehowlers.com/. He had been written up in Esquire Magazine some years back and only a few years ago he took Jack Hanna and his camera crew into the jungle. He does day trips into his 'backyard' as he calls it, the Monkey River and the jungle that the river meanders through. On special request he'll take adventurous folks through at night.
Percy met us as the Hokey Pokey water taxi dock in Placencia at 4:00 in the afternoon. It was a gorgeous sunny day with a steady breeze to keep us cool and bug free. It is a 13 mile boat ride to Monkey River Town along the Belize coast through mangroves and past man made islands. Just off the dock in Monkey River Town ( just got electricity 2 years ago) is Alice's Restaurant run by Percy's mom and other members of his family. Before dinner Percy takes us into his back yard and shows us the lobster traps he is building; when Percy is not guiding he is a fisherman like his father and uncles for generations before him.
Mike and I are served a a cup of hot Red Rose brand tea to sip on as we wait for our beautiful and very delicious dinner of chicken, rice and beans, coleslaw, and plantains.
We get back on the boat just at dusk and head up the Monkey River. We meet a few boats of local fisherman fishing for snook. We see Green Herons, Little Blue Herons, Tiger Herons, Egrets, Cormorants, bull frogs, and many small crocodiles. A few miles up the river we stopped and got out to walk through the jungle. The moon was new and set just as we started our walk in the dark. The stars are amazing and surprisingly light up the sky but without flashlights you'd have to stay in one place until daylight because it is so dark in the jungle. We see Jaguar tracks in the mud, large spider webs with huge spiders, an owl butterfly, an opossum, we walk through a "200 year old " bamboo forest, Percy points out the poisonous and medicinal trees and plants. He tells us stories of growing up in this jungle and tells us of his interest in 'jungle medicine'.
We get back on the boat after maybe a 1/2 mile walk through the jungle and continue up the river watching the stars and the the river banks. Percy can see animals on the banks of the river with incredible accuracy. We saw 5 or 6 crocodiles and he caught a few of them for us to see up close. He handed one to me and can hardly believe that I held it. I was content to just touching it!
The 13 mile ride back to Placencia in the dark was a bit frightening but Percy knows the sea like the back of his hand and was a very capable guide. We treated him to a few cold beers in Placencia and said our goodbyes. We were shocked to see that it was 11:30 pm when we got back to our room. A truly memorable experience that we will not forget!
Here are a few photos of our amazing jungle adventure.
The last two trips we've had the opportunity to walk in the jungle and learn the names of the trees and plants and learn of their medicinal qualities so I thought I would like to do something a bit different this time. As I researched the different tours offered from Placencia I read a few reviews about a tour with Percy Gordon of Monkey River http://www.kingofthehowlers.com/. He had been written up in Esquire Magazine some years back and only a few years ago he took Jack Hanna and his camera crew into the jungle. He does day trips into his 'backyard' as he calls it, the Monkey River and the jungle that the river meanders through. On special request he'll take adventurous folks through at night.
Percy met us as the Hokey Pokey water taxi dock in Placencia at 4:00 in the afternoon. It was a gorgeous sunny day with a steady breeze to keep us cool and bug free. It is a 13 mile boat ride to Monkey River Town along the Belize coast through mangroves and past man made islands. Just off the dock in Monkey River Town ( just got electricity 2 years ago) is Alice's Restaurant run by Percy's mom and other members of his family. Before dinner Percy takes us into his back yard and shows us the lobster traps he is building; when Percy is not guiding he is a fisherman like his father and uncles for generations before him.
Mike and I are served a a cup of hot Red Rose brand tea to sip on as we wait for our beautiful and very delicious dinner of chicken, rice and beans, coleslaw, and plantains.
We get back on the boat just at dusk and head up the Monkey River. We meet a few boats of local fisherman fishing for snook. We see Green Herons, Little Blue Herons, Tiger Herons, Egrets, Cormorants, bull frogs, and many small crocodiles. A few miles up the river we stopped and got out to walk through the jungle. The moon was new and set just as we started our walk in the dark. The stars are amazing and surprisingly light up the sky but without flashlights you'd have to stay in one place until daylight because it is so dark in the jungle. We see Jaguar tracks in the mud, large spider webs with huge spiders, an owl butterfly, an opossum, we walk through a "200 year old " bamboo forest, Percy points out the poisonous and medicinal trees and plants. He tells us stories of growing up in this jungle and tells us of his interest in 'jungle medicine'.
We get back on the boat after maybe a 1/2 mile walk through the jungle and continue up the river watching the stars and the the river banks. Percy can see animals on the banks of the river with incredible accuracy. We saw 5 or 6 crocodiles and he caught a few of them for us to see up close. He handed one to me and can hardly believe that I held it. I was content to just touching it!
The 13 mile ride back to Placencia in the dark was a bit frightening but Percy knows the sea like the back of his hand and was a very capable guide. We treated him to a few cold beers in Placencia and said our goodbyes. We were shocked to see that it was 11:30 pm when we got back to our room. A truly memorable experience that we will not forget!
Here are a few photos of our amazing jungle adventure.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Placencia Belize
It always amazes me that one can get on a plane in one part of the world in the morning and go to bed in a totally different environment! Yesterday leaving Helena it was about 20 degrees and a beautiful sunny snow capped day. This morning leaving Atlanta it took over an hour to get down the runway " we are number 23 for take off, we should be off the ground in 45 minutes!" says the pilot. It was pouring rain and very dark skies.
We finally take off and before long we were headed south over the Gulf of Mexico. We arrive in Belize City and after getting through Customs we get our confirmation for our next flight to Placencia and head straight to Jet's Bar in the airport for our first Belikin and a Belizean hot dog. Jet himself insists on taking my photo with him and he talks me into drinking one of his famous rum punch drinks!
The flight from Belize City to Placencia was gorgeous. Cotton candy clouds hung in the air over the turquoise ocean.
Placencia is a great little town like a busier Caye Caulker with a beach. The sand is coarse and the color of light brown sugar. Like the other towns we have visited in Belize, the people are all friendly and welcoming.
Our room in the Westwind Hotel is modest but clean and faces the Carribean ocean. Breezes blowing though the window in our corner room is the only air conditioning provided and will be just fine. We will sleep well tonight after a dinner of chicken and shrimp and a few Belikins. Life is good...
We finally take off and before long we were headed south over the Gulf of Mexico. We arrive in Belize City and after getting through Customs we get our confirmation for our next flight to Placencia and head straight to Jet's Bar in the airport for our first Belikin and a Belizean hot dog. Jet himself insists on taking my photo with him and he talks me into drinking one of his famous rum punch drinks!
The flight from Belize City to Placencia was gorgeous. Cotton candy clouds hung in the air over the turquoise ocean.
Placencia is a great little town like a busier Caye Caulker with a beach. The sand is coarse and the color of light brown sugar. Like the other towns we have visited in Belize, the people are all friendly and welcoming.
Our room in the Westwind Hotel is modest but clean and faces the Carribean ocean. Breezes blowing though the window in our corner room is the only air conditioning provided and will be just fine. We will sleep well tonight after a dinner of chicken and shrimp and a few Belikins. Life is good...
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Morning After the Snow
We ended up with 13 inches of snow after the big storm hit. Beautiful fluffy, powdery snow!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Winter Storm
The winter storm hit Helena in the middle of the night. We dug out this morning but it isn't going to stop until Friday morning!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Getting Ready For the Storm
Very cold (10 degrees) morning for the chickens. I had to lure them out with bread. There is a major winter storm scheduled to hit the area tonight and last for a few days. I have the snow shovel ready!
Friday, January 13, 2012
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