Manatee Watch, 18 Nov 2007
Hi again lovely friends,
Another hot day in Belize, I'm lucky... it was raining half of last week. I'm told that the rainy season should be over by now, but someone forgot to tell the weather... Still, it hasn't really stopped me do anything I really wanted to do (I've now done all the best snorkelling spots in Northern Belize) and I had beautiful sunshine this morning for my snorkelling to Mexican Rocks and Tres Cocos. More tube sponges, more brain corals... more sea grass.. more of the same really. There aren't even that many fish either... you really have to look for them. I can't even find the usual suspects easily - the angel fish, the Nemo fish, the parrot fish... the one you see *everywhere*, I guess the waters are different? This totally surprised me. I so wish I could have swum with a manatee (not a 'wanabee' as I wrote in my diary when I had my 39C fever, ah ah), but they don't like being followed by humans so they had to stop the practice, otherwise the moment they'd hear the boat engines, they'd run a mile. They weight 2 tons and babies can start off at 30lb, so: healthy creatures. They eat 1/4 of their weight every day and only sea grass so you can only find manatees in Belize and Florida. Population here is about 700 no more. The Mayas used to hunt them for their meat. They look like big cuddly creatures with a sweet enough face. There were a few wooden signs around their areas that said 'Please respect our home', I thought that was cute ! :) I wrote down a few facts at the time, but didn't take my notepad with me today, I left everything at the hotel. We even saw a few dolphins on the way to see them which was extra neat. The kids squealed in delight.
Oh, I forgot to say too that I did get a wet suit as of yesterday, it made SUCH a difference. You soon live & learn. When I went to the Blue Hole yesterday (divers drop 40m in 8 mins, geee) I was the only snorkeler who had brought one and the other 4 girls just couldn't go back in the water. We had 3 dips planned and they were just too cold to face the waters again... considering how very expensive the trip was USD 185, which includes a steep USD40 tax ! it's a bit of shame to miss half the fun...
What else? Well, not much really, more of the same, it's time for me to move on... I feel I've done all I could on my own here. You see, I could be by the pool, lounging around, reading a novel, but since I never do do that at home, I cannot get into reading for the sake of it here. I'd rather walk over to the internet cafe in the a/c room to say another quick 'hi' whilst I can and was happy to find a few emails from 'home'... wherever your home may be. It's always nice to hear from good people ! :)
On this note, I'd better stroll back and get ready for my pick up. I hope I can take some decent shots from the small aircraft, but the reef wasn't as spectacular as it was in Oz so my pictures will disappoint somewhat. I cannot say that I have taken any award winning shots YET that's for sure. Some are neat, but I've done a lot better...
Still I do appreciate the serenity, the heat and even the peace.... and I'm trying to leave all my worries back home (my main one being that mould is invading my flat and slowly destroying everything I've got, from clothes, to shoes, to bedding, to suitcases, folders... and soon I dread laptop, and anything else that can rust on the inside... not to mention my huge DS collection as paper will go yellow even quicker). I'm at a loss... I'm fighting an invisible enemy, as lethal as fire but much slower, and my landlord doesn't seem to care much- nor fast. It's driving me nuts, and yet such a small thing compared to what so many of you are going through health-wise. I try not to forget that. Most things can be bought again.. but not all memories can.
So, I'll have this huge nuisance to face on my return... hence I'm enjoying NOW... sleeping in a bed that doesn't smell like it's rotting... :(
Hugs, Sylvie xxx (smelling good... )
Hi again lovely friends,
Another hot day in Belize, I'm lucky... it was raining half of last week. I'm told that the rainy season should be over by now, but someone forgot to tell the weather... Still, it hasn't really stopped me do anything I really wanted to do (I've now done all the best snorkelling spots in Northern Belize) and I had beautiful sunshine this morning for my snorkelling to Mexican Rocks and Tres Cocos. More tube sponges, more brain corals... more sea grass.. more of the same really. There aren't even that many fish either... you really have to look for them. I can't even find the usual suspects easily - the angel fish, the Nemo fish, the parrot fish... the one you see *everywhere*, I guess the waters are different? This totally surprised me. I so wish I could have swum with a manatee (not a 'wanabee' as I wrote in my diary when I had my 39C fever, ah ah), but they don't like being followed by humans so they had to stop the practice, otherwise the moment they'd hear the boat engines, they'd run a mile. They weight 2 tons and babies can start off at 30lb, so: healthy creatures. They eat 1/4 of their weight every day and only sea grass so you can only find manatees in Belize and Florida. Population here is about 700 no more. The Mayas used to hunt them for their meat. They look like big cuddly creatures with a sweet enough face. There were a few wooden signs around their areas that said 'Please respect our home', I thought that was cute ! :) I wrote down a few facts at the time, but didn't take my notepad with me today, I left everything at the hotel. We even saw a few dolphins on the way to see them which was extra neat. The kids squealed in delight.
Oh, I forgot to say too that I did get a wet suit as of yesterday, it made SUCH a difference. You soon live & learn. When I went to the Blue Hole yesterday (divers drop 40m in 8 mins, geee) I was the only snorkeler who had brought one and the other 4 girls just couldn't go back in the water. We had 3 dips planned and they were just too cold to face the waters again... considering how very expensive the trip was USD 185, which includes a steep USD40 tax ! it's a bit of shame to miss half the fun...
What else? Well, not much really, more of the same, it's time for me to move on... I feel I've done all I could on my own here. You see, I could be by the pool, lounging around, reading a novel, but since I never do do that at home, I cannot get into reading for the sake of it here. I'd rather walk over to the internet cafe in the a/c room to say another quick 'hi' whilst I can and was happy to find a few emails from 'home'... wherever your home may be. It's always nice to hear from good people ! :)
On this note, I'd better stroll back and get ready for my pick up. I hope I can take some decent shots from the small aircraft, but the reef wasn't as spectacular as it was in Oz so my pictures will disappoint somewhat. I cannot say that I have taken any award winning shots YET that's for sure. Some are neat, but I've done a lot better...
Still I do appreciate the serenity, the heat and even the peace.... and I'm trying to leave all my worries back home (my main one being that mould is invading my flat and slowly destroying everything I've got, from clothes, to shoes, to bedding, to suitcases, folders... and soon I dread laptop, and anything else that can rust on the inside... not to mention my huge DS collection as paper will go yellow even quicker). I'm at a loss... I'm fighting an invisible enemy, as lethal as fire but much slower, and my landlord doesn't seem to care much- nor fast. It's driving me nuts, and yet such a small thing compared to what so many of you are going through health-wise. I try not to forget that. Most things can be bought again.. but not all memories can.
So, I'll have this huge nuisance to face on my return... hence I'm enjoying NOW... sleeping in a bed that doesn't smell like it's rotting... :(
Hugs, Sylvie xxx (smelling good... )
posted by Sylvie at 6:12 PM
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