http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Belize en-us Wed, 22 May 2013 17:08:03 +0000 Wed, 22 May 2013 17:08:03 +0000 We went for a weekend trip to Banana Bank Lodge which is a jungle lodge near Belmopan the capital city in the middle of Belize about a 4.5h bus ride from the clinic in Punta Gorda bus ride went quickly on the way much slower on the way back.. We got a good bargain on the weekend with everything being half price as we are volunteering in Belize at the moment.We arrived latish on Friday even http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Toledo-District/Punta-Gorda/blog-786905.html Week two started with clinic at Hillside for me on Monday. In the afternoon we all had a session with the physiotherapist here where we tried cutting grass with machetes and carrying babies like the local women do hung over their heads see picture our babies were actually large water bottles... The idea was to get us to appreciate why people get backneck pain etc very interesting and har http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Toledo-District/Punta-Gorda/blog-786113.html A group of 15 of us headed to Placencia last weekend. Placencia is a sandy peninsula about a 2h bus ride from the clinic. We stayed in a group of huts on the beach which were very good locationwise but somewhat basic inside...The first evening we all went to the Barefoot Bar where we ate dinner shrimp burritos and had some rum cocktails. One of the boys in the group accepted the frisbee chal http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Toledo-District/Punta-Gorda/blog-786112.html After Mum and Dad left I met up with my friend Steph and we made our way to the Hillside clinic where we would be spending the next 2 months.I spent a month at Hillside on my elective placement as a student 4 years ago and this time I am working as the doctor supervising the students who are here on their electives. The clinic is Americanrun and is staffed by several longterm volunteers short http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/blog-785791.html Today we were booked in for some snorkeling with Carlos tours but not before eating the best breakfast burritos at a small street vendor. They cost 2 each and were huge. We sat and ate them by the water watching the small colorful fish swimming in the shallows.Unfortunately Carlo wasn39t taking the tour today and we were met by his co worker Ramano. He was younger than Carlo and had a dry se http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-Barrier-Reef/Caye-Caulker/blog-785673.html I instantly fell for caye caulker there isn39t a lot to do on the small Belizean island but its one of the most mellow and relaxed places I39ve been. The motto of the island is go slow and the locals will constantly remind you of this.The first day we slept in before walking around the island. This didn39t take long so we headed up to the split a spot in the north of the island where a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-Barrier-Reef/Caye-Caulker/blog-785671.html The easiest way to get to caye caulker from Tulum is to take the 8.30am ADO bus from Tulum to Chetumal taking 4 hours then a taxi to the wharf and the international water taxi to caye caulker.The ADO bus was surprisingly comfortable with big seats that reclined enough to have a decent snooze. We packed our blankets this time prepared for the freezing aircon. The bus arrived on time and we quickly http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-Barrier-Reef/Caye-Caulker/blog-785667.html I39ve done lots since the last entry so have plenty of updating to do I thought I39d just write a quick entry about the highlights of the 20 days in Florida and Belize with Mum and Dad prior to starting my work at the clinic.We spent 10 days in Naples in Florida staying in a very nice apartment. We spent plenty of time eating shrimp drinking cocktails and relaxing in the pool and on th http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Toledo-District/Punta-Gorda/blog-785664.html In reality there are more and more people around the world that are seeking to have got lasek carried out in it and you will make sure that there are many explanations with this. One is that using the proper form of rk surgery it is possible to now proper perspective issues for example myopia meaning if you achieve this kind of surgical procedure completed then you will will no longer need to bo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Corozal-District//blog-784783.html Getting the digital cameras for salevery best buys could be effortless since there is a massive choice for every taste and wallet yet picking could be a headaches and in actual fact purchasing one may take longer than you would like. Most likely as you might use several hints to start with. There are many to choose from What ever your budget you39ll find dozens of digital cameras available a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/Orange-Walk/blog-784739.html When he worked so complex to put the orc criminals got to D3 Goldfound around coworkers seem to be dead his huge human body system in the peer appear to be so substitute since then he always felt that someone with an unusual look in to see him whenever you log in the WOW Silver action his middle are under amazing pressure. Finally one day he could not take other people39s mockery and a jo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/Gallon-Jug/blog-781776.html Oh hey there fancy seeing you here Weve rather a lot to catch up on.Our final few days in Belize passed far too quickly for our liking. We had an amazing taxi drive up to the junction after deciding against the relaxing hitchhiking experience that we had to get into Hopkins. Our driver was the coolest reggaeplaying rasta ever named Shaka after his instrument Maracas. After catching the bu http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Toledo-District/Punta-Gorda/blog-778753.html Today is our last day. And of course it39s raining. There is a front coming off of the Eastern U.S. and it39s hitting here. That39s fin though because its still better than being at work. One of our favourite things about traveling here is the people you meet. Over the 5 years we have come here we39ve met people from across the pond in Europe and as close as our own city. Bon this tri http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-Barrier-Reef/Caye-Caulker/blog-778243.html After a seemingly extralong and dreary Winter in the Great White North and a month straight of painting the house we decided it was time for a break and quick one week escape to warmer climes...islands in the Caribbean are typically the easiestwarmest spots to get to from where we are but as we are not all that keen on the whole allinclusive scene we turned our gaze a little further south t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Stann-Creek-District/Placencia/blog-778112.html We were out of wifi range for a few days. It was kind of nice though. We are back in Caye Caulker now but I will talk about our trip to San Ignacio or as the locals like to call it Cayo. While we were there we visited the largest ruin in Belize called Caracol. The word Caracol means snail in Mayan. This is a fairly newly discovered ruin and only a small percentage has been uncovered. The city of http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Cayo-District/San-Ignacio/blog-777668.html So off to tikal we went.. Leaving flores around 1230 pm we arrived at the park 90 minutes later and took a guided tour. tikal is different to many of the other ruins in central america as its set deep into the jungle with some temples rising more than 61 metres high. Most of the temples have been cleared from trees and vines which has grown over the villages over many centuries. As we walked betwe http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-Barrier-Reef/Caye-Caulker/blog-777378.html Whatagwan We39re writing to you from Placencia which is known for having the best beaches in BelizeWe arrived yesterday after spending four amazing days in Hopkins just further North than here. On our way we visited Belize Zoo and would have been slightly disappointed had we not seen a reallife Jaguar and Panther which made the heat and extortionate prices worthwhile. We coped with the C http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Stann-Creek-District/Hopkins/blog-777367.html Well I am finally home sweet home but thought I39d share one more post of my last week in Belizemostly to share my last round of pictures. I was very sad to say good bye but I plan on going back sooner rather than later and will forever be grateful for the opportunity. If I took nothing else from my trip I have realized that I have much more to learn about medicine and how a person39s cu http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Toledo-District/Punta-Gorda/blog-776993.html It39s our last night in Punta Gorda and I have to admit I39m kind of sad. I really like this town. It39s quiet it39s quaint and it hasn39t been reached by western style tourism but liked the rest of Belize it39s coming. We have met some super people and have enjoyed the layed back relaxation we39d hoped for.We didn39t have any plans yesterday so we grabbed the courtesy b http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Toledo-District/Punta-Gorda/blog-776828.html Silver bullion is traditionally known as poor mans gold due to its relatively low value. Investors buy silver bullion as a hedge against economic and political crises for example when currency loses its value. During the first wave of global economic crises investors rushed to buy silver bullion as it behaved more like a currency than a commodity. If you ask a consumer on how they invest in http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-District/Belize-City/blog-776746.html