Back to frugality

My sisters left today.  I stayed in Placencia, taking the 6:45am boat taxi, tomorrow, out to start my travels on the bus again.  Back to life of dorm rooms, rice and beans, supermarket fruits and frugality.

I'm guessing they're a little relieved to get back home.  Life here in Belize is different than the hustle and bustle of Texas.  The hammock time, beach walks and kayak trips get crazy but their vacation must end and my travels continue.

                                                                                    (coconut man)

They spoiled me here in Placencia.  Who doesn't love being the youngest child.   Trust me sista's I appreciate everything you brought or bought for me.  We walked around this little quaint town of 900 residents.  It's famous for its 'sidewalk' and one road.  Everything else is sand paths.  The dolphins came the last two days, jumping in the water as we feasted on lobster and cilantro chicken.

Thank you Kelly.  Thank you Angie.  We made it and we've got stories!

Off to Guatemala tomorrow.  One week until my bestie Anna comes to visit.

snorkel trip!

Deep breath.  I hurt because I'm laughing so hard.  Angie doesn't know what sunscreen is, ever. It's like a tradition in her life, forget half the body and pay the next day. 

As Kelly jumps to talking to our neighbors, acting like she's been traveling for years, she's naming towns and routes like its her second job.

Today we snorkeled. I about fell over as we agreed to pay $50/person.  Holy I could dive twice in Honduras for that price.  I sucked it up and went with it.  Funny to have a guided snorkel tour, does that really need to happen?  I asked permission to get into the water.   Not sure its my style.

 

(the bites on our arms..bonding like sisters)

After a hot shower and using a real towel, I'm a happy little cat!  We're off to dinner.  I'll keep you updated on more as it comes.  And trust me, its comes by the second with these two.

 

Can anyone pick out the legs that have been in Texas the last 6 months?

The other side....

While Hailee is in the shower....For the first time since who knows when... We thought we would share our side.  SHE IS CRAZY!!!  We get here and she loads us on a bus.  The only Americans on the bus...terrified in the dark with our bags sitting in the back.  Will we make our destination?  Sure enough we make it only to our surprise..  We find ourselves walking in the dark carrying all of our possessions looking for a place to stay.  No 5 star resorts in her plans..  We settle for a ceiling fan (first she has seen in 6 months).  She thinks we are crazy or over the top, we think the same of her at times.  Today has brought lots of laughs and good times!  Whatever happened to the three of us?  We are so different.  Did it really take traveling here to realize this??  Well, this is Angie now, and I would like to quickly add that Hailee has been traveling the way she has because she has to!~   Not because she wants to be cheap, she has had a mudslide, shrimp, conch, and snorkeled with the best.  Hailee opts her way out of the bills but surely is enjoying every minute of this lifestyle:) She had a cinnamon roll this morning and then went and got breakfast with us, only one example of many.  My sweet tooth sister.

--Ang + Kel

No more rain please

It rained all yesterday.  Kelly and I played Kings on the Corner.  Gma Mavis would have been proud.  Todays forecast looks a bit better, cross your fingers for my sake.

Ang woke up from a night on a spring bed.  I slept like a baby, she's requesting we move to a 5 star.  She wants AC.  And now saying the words resort, sailboats and pools.

More to come.

Belize with my sisters

Kelly and Angie arrived.  I met them outside the customs line with a sign 'Party of Fun.'  Oh the invitations that I got from the taxi drivers before they actually came outside!

We immediately went to the bus station.  Angie brought a bag with wheels.  Inside, curling iron and blow dryer.  WHAAAAT?!!

Kelly, prepared as always, had a backpack.  Kelly had to use the restroom at the bus station.  Of course she didn't know you were actually supposed to pay the woman asking for money for restroom usage.  Instead she just walked away!

On the bus you should have seen their eyes. A little worried, scared and confused.  Lots of questions and stories. I'm pretty sure, by the stories Angie was telling, that she didn't remember the people in Belize speak English.  Although it's a different dialect, it is English.

We met a friendly local who showed us to a hotel.  Hard to call it a hotel but it had 3 beds and we payed more than I pay in a week, so we'll call it a hotel.  High class rolling for me, Angie asked where the 5-star was.  She's star crazy.

After a night in dirty Dangriga, we got on the bus and made our way to Placencia.  First having to take a short boat ride, Hokey Pokey water taxi.  As we were getting in line I told them they want to sit in the middle on the seat and in the back.....they sat front row.  Front row + rain = First class baby. I took video of them holding plastic over their heads, sneaking peeks of Belize as we coasted on through the river to the beach.

And here we are.  Placencia.  Kelly's already looked into plane tickets back to Belize city and Angie is requesting a back massage.  As always.

I'll keep you posted.  The stories are rolling in by the second.  Wish me luck with this. Angie brought 5 swimming suits and 4 pairs of flip flops.  Kellys got more medical stuff than a pharmacy.

Love this.

Diving Belize

Great grrrrreat day.  Sigh of relief after my friend Cam and I found a different hotel this morning.  Slept outside in sleeping bags last night to avoid destruction from bed bugs, but they were there too.

Over that now.  Went diving today.  Two dive sites:  Taffy and Esmeralda on the Belize reef, second largest to Great Barrier Reef in Australia.  Nurse sharks surrounding us as a HUGE Moray Eel swam up 2 feet from my face, just making sure I knew who was boss.  A big salute to that guy.  Biggest water creatures I've seen this far........8 ft nurse sharkies!   Not a bad first Belize dive day.

Getting ready for my sisters.  They come tomorrow.  The string of 'what to bring' emails have started.  Ladies, swimming suits and a smile is all ya need.

Something to check out from a cool friend.  My friend Lee is crazy.  Awesome adventure spirit is running through his veins.  Riding bike from Cali to Baja Mexico.  Could you do it?
The Cycling Winemaker.

Bed bugs........

This morning thoughts. 'Please, please be mosquito bites.' Deep breath. Then question time. "what do these bites look like? Why are they on the backs of my arms and do you have a bed bugs problem?" They answer with a smile and a cheeky 'no problems here.'

After sifting through my stuff that touched the bed. I can confirm bed bugs at Tina's backpacker hostel on Caye Caulker, Belize.

A trip to the laundry mat. A switch of rooms and a flashlight, now double confirms them. I just took the light to the beds in my dorm and saw 5-10 little critters crawling around. Waiting for my blood. They look like ticks. They come from crevices around the beds' frame, during the night to feed. And they spread like wildfire.

So, here I am. In paradise. With my backpack outside on the balcony of my hostel, in a hammock. Ready to camp after paying $11 for my infested room. Not happy about the destruction that happened on my arms or how a hostel can smile at you and give you a bed they know is crawling with bed bugs. 

One day. 2 different islands in 2 different counries!

Utila, Honduras.  Caye Caulker, Belize.

A private charter plane in between and call it a day!

After many priceless days spent in Utila, I have to leave.  Literally.  Visa expires at the end of the month.  Before I came here someone gave me fair warning about this island and its mystic powers to keep travelers much MUCH longer than they expected.  Thank my sisters and my visa for making me leave.  I still may return.   My favorites on Utila were of the following:

-Underwater Vision.  Dove here.  Lived here.  Loved every second of this place.

-Scuba diving.  Hip hip huurrraaayyy I'm certified now and can do this around the world.  How tempting is it to become a divemaster/instructor and turn this sport into a profession?  hmmmm

-Afternoon sand volleyball.  You know that feeling once you've played so much your forearms start burning? Yep, got it.

-Thompson's bakery and their cinamon rolls.  If you come here, you must try them.   Best thing since tres leches cake!

-Seven seas balieades...........almost a daily ritual.  Another food Americans need to make more of.

 (new friends....Daniel and Cam)

 As for the private charter........when you search 'pristine carribean islands' on the internet, you MIGHT see what we saw out the window.  The beauty was overwhelming.  I'm dealing with that now!

what a day!

Today = early morning scuba diving.  Lunch on one of the caye islands...fish burger hello!
Afternoon sand volleyball followed by a little Carribean wakeboarding then more volleyball during sunset. 

IS THIS REALITY? 

Goal for tomorrow is to get ahold of the incredibleness of the homemade cinnamon roles.  I have yet to successfully get a warm one.  Utila offers a few famous things.  Diving.  Party.  Giffiti.  Balieadas.  And these cinnamon rolls.  Time to conquer!

Today was my 13th dive here.  Thinking this might a place I return to.....thinking Divemaster status would be great.  We'll see.

My internal clock tells me its Friday......hmmmm what to do on a Friday night? 

Scuba diving Utila

PADI Scuba certifications:  Open water and Advanced.  CHECK!

(P.S. scuba gear really brings out my best looks!)

Curious to know why I didn't keep going.  Well check the chart.....all of these courses cost dinero, which I don't have specifically for diving just yet!


So glad I chose to get certified on Utila!  Rumor has it that the island certifies more divers per year than any other place in the world.  It seems true, as the island is filled with dive shops.  I went with Underwater Vision and believe it to be the best decision.


Throughout both courses, we dove in a variety of locations, mostly during the morning, once at night.  Must admit the night dive brings an entire different feel to scuba diving.  When you turn off all lights underwater and flail your arms, you stir up plankton and the luminescence lights make it seem like you are in a field of fire flies.  Absolutely, a one-of-a-kind experience.


 Porcupine puffer fish.

Trumpet fish.
Other than diving, I've done a whole lot of nothing.  It's been my life since I've gotten on the island.  Today is the first free day and the hammock over looking the Caribbean is calling my name!

Craving the green mangos, that are severed in bags with chile, salt and a little lime juice.  DO try this at home!

(All photo's taken from my friend Marcello)

Something to check out.  New friend introduced me to an inspiring series of videos called:  Ted:  Ideas Worth Spreading  You'll understand once you watch one!

why didn't someone warn me?

Utila is just that good.

And I'm now addicted to scuba diving.  Chalk that one up on the addiction list....YIKES!  After tomorrow I'll be open water certified and then onto the advanced course.

Today I saw so much below sea level, a snapshot:
-a barracuda
-angel fish of every color
-puffer fish
-trumpet fish
-a giant crab, GIANT
-and the 12m mark....tomorrow 18m below the surface.

Not to mention the food here, baleadas (tortillas stuffed with re-fried beans, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots) is great and cheap.  A whopping 75 cents for lunch.

Most people come and leave a LOT later than planned.  Maybe that's because during my walk tonight I spotted a ray gliding on the waters surface, moments later a small squid attemping to catch food.

Thank Kelly and Angie for drawing me off this island before a year of my life passed by.

Red Bull Flugtag, Twin Cities MN July 24h, 2010

'The Twin Cities will host its first ever Red Bull Flugtag this summer on the banks of the Mississippi River at Harriet Island Regional Park.  If you've got the creativity, the brains and the GUTS to jump off the flight deck, then don't miss your chance to soar.  Get your application in before April 16th for your chance to fly!'

Of course this comes when I leave, but if you're in a city or state near, you should APPLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://redbullflugtagusa.com/TwinCities2010 for more info people. This is serious stuff people, there best be some of you applying for this goodness.  

Mom:  I'll come home if you, Sue, Kelly and Angie create a flying object to send off the deck.


Happy Flying!

Tips to finanial success...aka traveling!

After a conversation with a few friends yesterday, thought I'd share a few of my secrets on money savings with you.  This is how to save your money so you can leave the country and travel too!

First thing that started my saving was signing up for the free ING Orange Savings account online.

I was a bit skeptical at first, being recommended to the site from a friend.  I spent a little time digging and asking questions.  The best pluses I found were:

1)  It's free and easy to sign up.  Need a minimum of $250 to start but after that your balance doesn't matter.
2)  When I signed up it was 5% APY interest rate and a $25 sign up bonus.
3)  You can transfer money to and from you bank accounts for free.
4)  It's only online and available 24hrs
5) There are NO FEES.

After I set up that account I set up 2 direct monthly payments from my checking account.  Paying my savings, 401k and loan accounts all at the same time.  Tip:  when you have extra money sitting in your checking account transfer it over to this account so you can't spend it on pointless stuff.

Secondly:
Mint.com

A free and VeriSigned secure money management site.

All you have to do is input all of your online accounts to this and watch the magic happen. Enter checking, savings, and 401k accounts along with your loans, mortgages and car payments.

With all the information included, it will:
-calculate your net worth.
-send you weekly reports of your financial situation
-allow you to set up a budget which they help monitor
-you can self-analyze your spending (it makes the graphs for you!)

Mint.com is pretty much amazing.  Being able to see your accounts, have and idea of where and what you're spending your money on helps shed light on how you can save, save, save!

Two tips.  Two sites that I highly recommend if you're trying to keep a dollar or two in your pocket for that rainy day decision to sell all and move to Central America for a year with only a backpack or two!

Stuck in La Ceiba

When it rains, nothing runs. News today: ferry canceled for 3rd day straight. Stuck...haha, ok sorry still in the beautiful Honduras, let me re-phrase, can't get to the island of Utila due to heavy amounts of rain. Sprinkle sprinkle.

Many, that being said,over 100 people, sent birthday wishes my way yesterday. Some asking what I was doing on the big 2-6. Well, yesterday consisted of 7 hours on a luxury bus (what y'all would call Coach.) And news of the canceled ferries.

Did find my way to a supermarket, which was a highlight since it'd been so long since I'd been in one that big. We're talking US size Hy-Vee, Albertsons, etc. People would turn and watch me because I couldn't stop laughing. "look at that girl, she's alone, wandering, and laughing hysterically." Needless to say, I was in fascination heaven. SO MANY THINGS, THE LIGHT IS SO BRIGHT, EVERY PRODUCT IS CONVINCING ME TO PICK IT UP, AHHHHHHH, GET ME OUT-OF-HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Birthday cake consisted of my fav....tres leches. Tried to wait til after dinner but started eating it before I left the supermarket. It's heaven in the form of cake.

Being away, Without cell phone. Changed the way my family usually sends their wishes. Here's a video from Zach my nephew sending love. Needing a smile, watch!

me, again!

After my great experience being attacked on a bus, which is where I spend most of my time, I set off yesterday to El Salvador's highest point.

El Pital, is stunning. Rolling chains of mountains in the distance Honduras and Guatemala. Google search El Pital and you can see photos of what I saw.

And today, I crossed into Honduras. Currently in Copan Ruins. Tomorrow I will be exploring the Mayan civilization, culture and evolution of these people by what they left behind. I'll take photos with my eyes and explain to you sometime in the future!

Quick note to say thanks: have had an army load of support come in to my Facebook and email after my life experience #91 on the chicken buses. So you know, I'm ok. Laughing at everything again. A little more cautious but not letting the incident bring me down, they don't deserve that and a great camera!

Buenos tardes!

The risk of traveling

Was in San Salvador. On a chicken bus heading north to La Palma, almost Honduras. Sitting on the drivers side, mid-way through the bus. My big backpack was on my left, next to the window as I sat near the isle. My small bag, under my legs, as my legs were propped up on the seat in front of me. We were stopped, vendors were passing through like the normal parade, singing what they were selling. I put my camera on my big backback, holding it, capturing the chaos. Then I saw a hand cross over me, grab my hand which was on the camera. I look up and see two guys over me. Then the fighting begins. I pull my hand down with his, furiously fighting to keep my camera. I kick my small backpack over on the ground, out of sight. I curl up into my legs since they're propped up on the seat still. I yell. I scrrrream. Loud

Ayuda me. AYUDA ME. AYUDA ME. HELP ME. HELP ME. AYUDA ME. HELP ME. HELP ME. AYYYUUDDDAAA ME. Por Favor. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME. I look up. No one's helping me. Nobody has moved. 30 people. Frozen. I continue to yell. Continue to fight. I hear my camera video turn off as we were crushing it with our grips. They're whispering, I don't know what they're saying. I'm still yelling.

They win. They take off with my camera. I fall in the isle. Look up and see only the guy that was sitting in front of me run after them to the door of the bus. My sunglasses were kicked to the back of the bus. Shaken, I get up and look for them. No one hands them too me, I pick them up out of a seat with an old lady. I feel deflated. Beaten. Feeling only the word that I don't use. HATE. Boiling inside. My blood is rushing. Crushed. Furious. Everybody's starring. Still sitting. Not helping. I sit back down. All is as if nothing has happened. Everyone continues to stare. My emotions are running. I punch the seat in front of me. Pull my glasses over my eyes, ready to cry, but can't. My fists are clenched. I want them to come back. Cowards. Attacking me while I'm sitting. I breathe and look around the bus. 30 people. The bus driver and money guy don't look at me, they say nothing. Nobody says NOTHING.

The two guys have my camera. They have the video of them attacking me. They have my skin. They have my best wishes when it comes to karma, I hope they get my kiss when it comes.

The bus goes on. It stops again. More vendors come on. I duck, nothing makes me want to look up. I can't smile-even at the children. I'm filled with hate. Filled with wonderment-how could a bus of 30 people sit, hear and watch me being attacked? They froze as I fought. It plays over and over in my head. I feel as if I lost. I look at my hands over and over. They're dirty from the fight. Blood is on a finger. Nothing else remains of the guys.

I fight back emotions. Biting my cheek so hard, I almost want to taste blood. Look out the window to see the view I'll never see again. Sad to think I don't want to see it again at this moment but it's beautiful green tree covered mountains, a blue haze in the distance as we climb to La Palma.

I feel eyes on me from the girl across the isle. The two old me behind her. More eyes from behind me. It's still throwing me off-NO ONE HELPED. No one offered condolences. I YELLED loudly. Not thinking while I was doing it, all instincts to fight and not give up. And I lost.

My fault having the camera in sight, taunting them I suppose. A temptation. But why here on a bus? Why do they get to win? AHHH IM ANGERED. Shaking, I ride wanting off the bus. GET ME OFF THE BUS NOW. I need off this bus. Eyes, thoughts, I can feel them watching their video of the attack. They own my camera now. It's no longer my camera. I have life. I'm ok. It's only a possession. It can be replaced.

Finally La Palma. I ask for a hotel after I take one step off the bus leaving behind the eyes, all those shameful eyes. The hotel is 10 feet from the stop. I ask for a room. I apologize for not smiling and not being happy. She shows me my room. I try to explain what happened 2 hours previously but I can't. She's the first person I've talked to since I was screaming, tears come. I cry. She says 'tranquila,' I say 'enjoda' (mad.) I cry more and ask for a moment. I breathe. I'm alive. I'm ok. Minus pride, my camera, and some skin. I've lived through the first, probably not the last. And I'm better for it. Smarter. But I have an edge now.

I'm trying not to let this taint my El Salvador experience. It can't. This country is too beautiful, most of the people are incredibly kind. Buy why not help me? I yelled. Even yelled in Spanish but they still sat frozen. I vow never to be like that, frozen. I still want to scream. But can't. I'm deflated. Loss of energy. But breathing.

I finally smiled as I bought a piece of cake at the bakery. Who doesn't smile when getting sugar?

I wrote all of this when I asked for the 'moment' in my hotel room. Wanting to remember every emotion, as this was a new experience for me. Don't be scared for me, don't worry for me, this could happen in Minneapolis, this could happen in Northwood, Iowa. It's just rarely re-mentioned. I'm better for having the experience. I'm always careful, but sometimes things happen. I'm going to move on, take it as a learning experience and order a new camera on Ebay, my sisters are meeting me in Belize in 3 weeks. Luck is always on my side.

I need to eat now, worked up an appetite today on the bus.

Much love.

El Imposible

Because my blog is limiting me....aka, I now have to BUY space to post photos, I'll leave you with this video of what I accomplished today.

Enjoy!

El Imposible Waterfall Jumping, El Salvador

Thinking of going back for more tomorrow. All made possible because of the hotel where I'm staying offers this tour. Mama y Papa's in Tacuba, El Salvador. Imposibletours.com..........wow I love this place!

Jumping! How was your day?