Friday, January 17, 2014

The Beauty of Belize



White sand beaches, untouched coral reefs, ancient Mayan civilizations and impressive marine life
– Belize has it all.

Glover's Atoll Belize

Divers and snorkelers will find an abundance of marine life at Glover’s Atoll, a protected reef system
and the southernmost and smallest of Belize’s 3 atolls. Divers frequently encounter dolphins, turtles,
sharks and manta rays there.
Catch a glimpse of the largest fish in the world – the whale shark – from Placencia, Belize.
The gentle (believe it or not) creatures are typically found within only 20 feet of the water’s surface,
and congregate in Belize each year to feed on fish eggs.

Belize has the highest concentration of Mayan sites of all the countries in Central America, and
archeologists suggest that Carocol, believed to have been one of the most important political centers
of the Mayan civilization, was home to more than double the number of people who currently live in
Belize City, the country’s largest metropolitan area.

Laughing Bird Caye is one of the beautiful islands that make up the Belize Barrier Reef World Heritage Site.

A stingray is one of the impressive creatures you may come across on a snorkeling trip in Belize.
Be careful not to walk along the ocean floor — you wouldn’t want to step on one!

Actun Tunichil Muknal — one of Belize’s many Mayan archaeological sites — houses the skeleton of a
teenage girl, dubbed “The Crystal Maiden” because of the sparkling, crystalized appearance of her bones.
To reach the cave, visitors must embark on a 45-minute hike, followed by a swim to the inside of the cave.
Visitors can also get a look at the remains of the 13 other humans that now share the cave with the Crystal Maiden.

Boats are anchored in the harbor of Belize City, the largest city in the small Central American country.

Belize is home to one of the world’s most endangered marine species, the sea turtle. Green, hawksbill
and loggerhead turtles can all be found between the coast and the barrier reef.

The aptly named “Blue Hole” is a large collapsed sinkhole near the center of Lighthouse Reef.
Explorer Jacques Cousteau named the hole one of the top scuba diving sites in the world.

Visit Half Moon Caye to get a look at one of the island’s 4,000 red-footed boobies.

One of the Silk Cayes – tiny, serene, white-sand islands on the Belize Barrier Reef.

Photography by Thinkstock
The exquisite red lionfish. Watch out for them — it’s their large venomous spines that make them resemble lions.

Photography by Getty Images
The sun rises over Half Moon Caye in Belize.

Photography by Thinkstock
Antillean manatees can be found in the rivers, lagoons and coastal areas of Belize.
Because of their slow metabolisms, they prefer shallow, warm water, and can be spotted in water only a few yards deep.
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Ms Johnnie Wright
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Saturday, April 6, 2013

Let's Go Cruising - Coastal Travel - Coastal Freedom at it's BEST



Cruises are like vacations where the scenery keeps changing, but you stay in one place. Cruises are like having your own private food court--only way classier. Cruises are like small villages where you and the other passengers and the crew and staff become acquainted and share all the public spaces--restaurants, bars and lounges, showrooms, the pool deck, the casino, the library, the boutique. Cruising is like going on an adventure but having friendly "guides" to help you along the way. Cruising is like looking out at a never-ending horizon or a glimpse of everyday life going on along the shore or riverbank. Cruises are a chance to make your vacation what you want. You're never really alone, so you feel safe, but you can have as much privacy as you'd like. No one knows you so you can take on a new persona and be the life of the party, shedding inhibitions in a way that you'd never dare in your "real life." Since there are so many different kinds of cruises and ships, you can find one that fits your desires and expectations and make yourself right at home.
Like Traveling on a Floating Resort
One of the best things about cruising is that you only have to unpack once, and, even better, you might have a butler who'll do the unpacking for you. No more living out of a suitcase and racing from town to town and hotel to hotel. All you have to do is stand on the deck and watch as the captain docks your floating hotel in another port. Then you walk down the gangway into a new adventure. In ports where you don't want to miss a single thing, you can take a guided excursion in which transportation and plans have been arranged in advance for your pleasure. If a tour is not your thing, you can wander the streets, stopping at cafes and shops--you really learn about a place when you talk to the locals. Or take an active excursion, such as a snorkeling trip or nature hike or a hot-air balloon ride before heading back to your hot shower, gourmet dinner and ballroom dancing on the ship.

imagesRelaxing Days at Sea
When your ship is at sea (usually at night to reach the next port), you have a lot more to do than just work on your tan. Most cruise lines (but not all) offer diverse and active children's programs as well as special events for teens, such as a private disco night or moonlight swim. Between meals--and if you try, you can eat as many as seven times in a day--you can shop in the boutique, gamble in the casino, go to an afternoon tea dance or dance class, get a spa treatment, check out the library, practice your putting or play ping-pong, watch a movie in your stateroom or in the ship's theater or even, in some cases, with your kids on a giant poolside screen. Increasingly, cruisers want to learn as they travel, so you can attend a lecture or port talk about the upcoming destinations so that your experiences onshore are especially rich and meaningful. In the evening, you and your family can attend a show or dance to the music of a guitarist in a small lounge.

Cruise.7Oh, the People You'll Meet
Cruising offers one of the best ways to meet some of the most fascinating people in the world. Not only can you meet them in port but also on the ship. The guest list for my recent cocktail party on the Silver Shadow included a Princess from Spain, a former CIA operative who was around for the Bay of Pigs, a German immigrant and teacher for the deaf-turned-dance host on the ship, the star of "Phantom of the Opera" on London's West Side, and the guy who invented the wind sail. And don't forget what amazing stories your butler from Sri Lanka or your cabin stewardess from the Philippines can share. Your opportunities for interesting gab-fests are boundless.

Expert Insight
After sailing on more than 100 cruises, I can honestly say--to paraphrase Will Rogers--I never met a cruise I didn't like. I travel the world's oceans and waterways on big, mainstream ships and small, ultra-luxury ships and flat riverboats that move so slow you can ride alongside on a bike. Sometimes the food is to die for; sometimes it's so-so. Some ships offer large, Broadway-style shows with singers, dancers, musicians and great costumes, while others offer a guitarist or dance group from a local port. In the end, what really affects the quality of your cruise experience is the people--passengers and staff alike. And when you're lucky, you make lifelong friends you'll see again on and off the ship.