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Published: March 10th 2008
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Crossing the border from Guatamala to Beleize was a big change as everybody speaks english!! As much as i have enjoyed all the travels through the spanish speaking country it was nice to be able to have a proper conversation with the taxi driver!
We headed straight for the caribbean coast to an island called Caye Caulker Just off the Barrier reef. Second biggest Reef in the world next to our own true blue Aussie Great Barrier Reef. The island consisted of dirt roads, a few golf buggies, lots of RastasĀ“ Dreadlocks and a hammock bar. The place was very chilled and around the island were signs that summed the island up perfectly. They read...... "Go Slow" ...... One time i was walking quite fast and a guy yells out, Go Slow Mon..... No need to hurry round here! I loved being back in a english speaking country and the caribbean Rasta english is great. Something about the Rasta accent really make me smile. The people are so friendly and always happy but why wouldnt you be if you live in absolute paridise!
We were joined in belize by our new German Friends Nadia and Christian. By the time
we reached the island we had travelled from Guatamala for about 12 hours with the germans in the same latin america style as in the last 8 months. Being thrown from bus to bus through borders into taxis, into mini buses, back onto chicken buses, into taxis and onto a boat which we were lucky to have made as it was the last one and they were running 10 mins late. Never any time to stop for food or water just go go go. The boat ride to the island was a nice end to a frantic day. The best part was when we zoomed past a miniture island with only enough room for a small fishing hut on stilts surronded by white sand and aqua water.
The next day we did a quick tour of the island. We had arrived only a few days after the catagory 5 hurricane Felix that was headed straight for the island but had changed course and struck neighbouing honduras and Nicaragua instead. The locals had just started coming back and there were still windows that were covered by Blocks of wood. Listening to stories from the locals it really struck home just
how devastating these natural disasters can be. In the days leading up to the expected hurricane, the fear of what would happen was intense. Alot of work was involved in preparing for a hurricane including battering up the windows carrying all furniture upstairs incase off flooding or even taking things over to the mainland and taking your family to the safety of the mainland. We spoke to one man who said that he and many others was still recovering finacially from hurricane Keith that struck in 2000
As it turned out Belize was very lucky and the hurricane spared them but took its toll in hunduras and Nicaragua.
The island had acually been split into two by another hurricane Hattie in 1961 This has made a really nice area for swimming and just hanging out called "The Split" There was a little Rasta Bar at the split with tables actually in the water and a diving board. We spent the whole day drinking some kind of Rum drink (basically the only type of Alcohol on the island) swimming, snorkling, listening to Reggae music and hanging out with the locals. There was a really good vibe amongst the locals
since tourists were back and the hurriane had spared the island.
Ben and I had decided that we should really experience the beauty of the reef properly and so booked ourselves onto a 3 day sailing trip down the coast along the reef. We were accompanied by Nadia and Christian and about 7 others. The next morning we set sail on our beautiful 15 m ketch called Ragga Queen. Well if this was not the definition of complete and utter paradise i dont know what would be. Our crew were three local guys, Jimmy, Kamani and Kevin.
Straight up we fell into relax mode, soaking up the rays, listening to reggae music, as we made our way to the reef. Basically as soon as we left Benny had the fishing line out the back determined to catch the big one. We were welcomed to the aqua waters of the Reef by some friendly dolphins who played at the Bow of the boat for quite some time as we sailed along to our first stop. We popped on our snorkles and off we went to explore the underwater world for ourselves. Off Course Ben took off straight away with
Kevin, spear and lobster hook in hand. I swam around totally in awe at the colours and variety of fish. There were so many different shapes, sizes and colours, It was just so beautiful. It was such a shame that Bennys underwater camera had been stolen in equador. A big spotted eagle ray swim right past me.
Back on board the crew prepared us a yummy lunch and then off to the next stop, Lighthouse Island. A small Island with only 5 houses. snorkling again Ben and I swam around the island exploring and looking under every rock ledge and cave for lobsters. Suddenly I had one staring straight at me and i yelled to Benny that I have just found the biggest lobster i have ever seen in my whole life!! Of course everything looks bigger through goggles underwater!! He told me to wait there while he went and got the lobster hook from the boat. Well I didnt realise that we had swam quite far around the island and the boat was pretty far away. So there I was waiting with this lobster treading water so i didnt damage the coral for about 30 minutes. I thought
he had forgotten about me but finally the little dingy came over and they caught the poor lobby. I had become quite attached to the little guy and felt really bad for him when we had to catch him let alone eat him later on.
After that we kicked back on the deck listened to more reggae and soaked up some rays on route for our next island where we were to spend the night. The guys pointed out a tiny speck in the distance and said there it is thats our island. The island grew slightly bigger as we got closer but not by much. It was the most beautiful island i have ever seen. Even in a postcard. As you can see for yourself in the picture it was a tiny island of white sand and only 8 coconut trees. With beautiful Pink Conch shells all over the island and crystal clear water this place was Heaven. And I went there! I dived straight over board and swam to my paradise, leaving the sun setting over the Ragga Queen. So we set up our tents which Ben and I managed to do in a couple of seconds
as he was eager to throw out a line. The English girls who were having trouble with their tent quickly comment " trust the aussies to have there tent already set up... and have electricity!!!" ( a torch hanging from the roof)
After Yet another 5 star feast on the boat Nadia and I spent quite some time star gazing before swimming back to the island to make a fire. Ben had finally caught a fish, enough to throw on the fire as a little mid night snack. The next morning reluctantly we said goodbye to our little piece of Heaven and as we sailed away I wondered if I would ever be anywhere as beautiful again.
On this second day we spent the whole day sailing along the beautiful colours of the reef again with a few snorkling stops here and there. Benny was on fire today, He managed to pull in 3 Barracuda one after the other. All were big with the biggest being just under a meter. As Kamani put it " Every day is fishin day, but not every day is catchin day"!! Well today was Bennys day! Later that night when we pulled
into our next island for the night an old local man came and took the fish to the BBq and we had a big feast!
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