Camp Life In Belize
Posted On Tuesday, September 7, 1993 at at 8:31 PM by AlvinWe crossed over to Belize and although lacking in Mayan cultures and temples, Belize offered us a chance to sample camp life in mozzie-filled swampy low lands ! I managed to put to good use our colorful hammock bought in Mexico and Mandy ventured out for a boat trip during a thunder storm with some travellers she met and yeh she ended up wet.
Camp life in the Yucatan Peninsula was full of excitement and surprises. We enjoyed having our outdoor lunches by the blue sea; we forgot to zip up our tent and the sudden torrential down-pour completely soaked our clothes inside the tent; we slept through the nightly cries of the animal kingdom in the jungle and we survived the "very" basic communal toilets and showers in Palenque !
Camp life in the Yucatan Peninsula was full of excitement and surprises. We enjoyed having our outdoor lunches by the blue sea; we forgot to zip up our tent and the sudden torrential down-pour completely soaked our clothes inside the tent; we slept through the nightly cries of the animal kingdom in the jungle and we survived the "very" basic communal toilets and showers in Palenque !The trip was made all the more interesting as we met the virtual UN-full of fellow campsters; there was Graham from Oz, a seasoned traveller who had non-stop jokes coming out from him like a stand-up comedian; there were Rudi and Leaver from Belgium who enlightened us about the tales of how Rudi "paid" the extra "last-minute visa" for Leaver to cross the Congo border; there was Roger, a Malaysian who only had a single-entry Mexican visa and we had to leave him behind at the Guatemala border, poor chap and of course there was Wayne, a true hippy hailed from Leeds and was spending, quite likely, the rest of his life enjoying the balmy Mexican climate !
Mayan Heritage - Guatemala
Posted On Thursday, September 2, 1993 at at 8:58 PM by AlvinGuatemala offered us a unique perspective to understand the Mayan cultures as Tikal is considered one of the most sacred and mysterious Mayan heritage sites. The early dawn mist half covering the awesome pyramids did Tikal true justice for its reputation and we ventured around Tikal feeling that we had time-travelled back all those centuries to a time and land when and where the Mayans ruled.
We moved on to the volcano lake of Lake Atitlan and enjoyed some fantastic scenery with a nice Belgian couple Rudi and Leaver by the lake shore.
We moved on to the volcano lake of Lake Atitlan and enjoyed some fantastic scenery with a nice Belgian couple Rudi and Leaver by the lake shore.
Apart from visiting the numerous colorful local markets selling all manners of artifacts and flaky fake-dye local clothes, I also went to Guatemala City, not for any visits to its historical monuments or anything, a couple of us went to Guat City to help Roger, a Malaysian who only applied for a single-entry Mexican visa and he was in dire need of a multi-entry visa to get back to Mexico after his foray into Guatemalan territories. Luck deserted Roger on this sad occasion, as it happened to be Mexican National Day and the Mexican embassy was closed in Guat City ! We later had no choice and bid our sad farewells to Roger as he failed to cross the border and we just prayed that he survived and got home ok.
During our time in this lovely country, we also ventured up the Pacaya Volcano near where we stayed in the city of Antigua, and saw first hand the awesome sight of live lava flow. We started the climb around 6P.M. and took a good 3 hours to reach the top; first passing local villages, then the ascent became steep and the lush grounds gave way to black volcanic sands and our footholds became unstable with every step we took. Although these areas were known as bandit outposts but they didn't show tonight perhaps it was weekend or something. After these strenuous 6 hours we reached back to camp site and Wayne took us to this amazing water park where we soaked our tired limbs in the lovely hot springs.
During our time in this lovely country, we also ventured up the Pacaya Volcano near where we stayed in the city of Antigua, and saw first hand the awesome sight of live lava flow. We started the climb around 6P.M. and took a good 3 hours to reach the top; first passing local villages, then the ascent became steep and the lush grounds gave way to black volcanic sands and our footholds became unstable with every step we took. Although these areas were known as bandit outposts but they didn't show tonight perhaps it was weekend or something. After these strenuous 6 hours we reached back to camp site and Wayne took us to this amazing water park where we soaked our tired limbs in the lovely hot springs.
