Escape the rat race and move to Belize!
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Another fed up gringo contemplates moving to Belize for peace and fun.
Topic: Where to find sanity !

Taken from the Belize Culture Listserve May 15, 2005
------------------------------


Herndon, Va.: Okay, that's it, I give up. I've gotten so depressed lately from reading the paper and listening to the news that I'm ready to
leave, to move. I'm young (mid-20s), a female and liberal, so I thought of Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland - but they're so cold. You guys travel a lot. Any
suggestions for where I should be looking relocating to? Thanks!

KC Summers: Hmm, how about Belize? There's a great expat community down there (mostly Brits and Americans) of folks who can't take it here for one
reason or another. They certainly seem happy -- and with fabulous warm weather, great water sports and a lively bar scene, what's not to like?
It's changing fast though, as people are discovering it and buying up land and building houses.

How about it clickters -- any other recommendations for poor fed-up Herndon?


2.
Fedup again:: Thanks for the Belize tip. Does no one else have any suggestions? Also, how would I go about planning for something like this?
Would I talk to a travel agent? Or are there people who specialize in this sort of thing? Thanks!;

KC Summers: Wow, you're really serious! Okay, first of all, and this might sound obvious, go for a visit first. You might not even like it!
Second, do some reading. There's a guy named Lan Sluder who knows everything there is to know about Belize and has written a guidebook specifically for
prospective expats -- I forget the title, check Amazon.com. Read and heed, so you know what you're getting into.

No other suggestions for poor Fedup? Cmon folks, she's desperate!

Retiree lives a full life in Corozal, Belize.
Mood:  special
Now Playing: retired Rick from Colorad, plays music and teaches youngsters in his Northern Belize town.
Topic: retirement and music
" Well, the other night I judged a 'battle of the bands' at the Corozal Civic Center, and got a long ovation for my service teaching music at CCC and supporting the young musicians of Corozal. You wouldn't know anything about that, but I have the love and respect of several hundred Corozalenos already."

This is an excerpt on a debate in the Belize Culture Listserve from Rick with another diehard disinformation person for the current ruling PUP controlling government. Rick lives in Corozal in the North of Belize. It is drier up there than where I am in Hillview, Cayo District, with about 60 inches a year in Corozal, the cane farming belt. Rick taught Corozal Community College and is currently teaching music as a sideline and playing in bands as a guitarist. At 69 years old, living off a fixed social security income from Colorado in the USA, I'd say he is living a full life in retirement and having loads of fun. He has a website called Corozal North with lots of information for other would be retirees in Belize.

Wining and Dining competition TASTEFEST at Caye Caulker
Mood:  amorous
Now Playing: The Caye Caulker annual Wining and Dining TASTEFEST competition, In May, 2005
Topic: Tastefest at Caye Caulker
FROM CHANNEL 7 NEWS RELEASE

Caye Caulker's Weekend of Wining and Tasting

In the battle for supremacy between the upscale finesse of San Pedro and the down home charm of Caye Caulker each island has got to carve out its identity niche in its own special way. And that's just what Caye Caulker did this weekend with its first Annual Caye Caulker Cool Art and Tastefest. Our colleague at the San Pedro Sun, Ron Sniffin was there to taste the food and pleasure his eyes on the works.

Ron Sniffin Reporting, [For the San Pedro Sun]
Caye Caulker was the place to be this past weekend where the first annual Caye Caulker Cool Art and Tastefest tantalized your eyes along with your taste buds.

Irene Miller, Marketing Committee
"Everyone here in Caye Caulker is always saying, 'cool, cool, we wanted to do something but we did not want something hot. We wanted to do something that would please people to come. We decided to market Caye Caulker during the slow time. Under the marketing committee of the Caye Caulker Village Council decided that we needed to get some people here. With Mother's Day we thought it would be a good time. We've got 25 entrees and 15 artists. So far it is going really well."

Sally Parr, Tourist, England
"I've only tried the salad so far. It's tough competition basically. It's been hard to decide."

Ron Sniffin,
Have you taken any artwork yet?

Sally Parr,
I've bought a couple of photographs, I will take them home and give as presents. Belizean artwork is very interesting."

Gregory Carresco, Artist, Caye Caulker
"I love art. For me it's been a fun day to see so much art around me. It makes me more inspired to do art. So that's the reason I'm out here today, to get some inspiration."

Tim Stapleton, EAT Desert
"I think it gives you a good chance to get your product out there and tasted by industry. This is a good way to get a business started. Sell quality products and everything that is out there is quality products. Everyone that has participated has made some very nice products."

Amanda Badger, Caye Caulker
"This is the Hibiscus mint tea, which is non alcoholic. This is the pink pussy, the epileptic squid, the passionate iguana and the sunrise seaside."

So in addition to having the opportunity to try a variety of different entrees, salads, deserts and drinks, the customers were the ones who chose which was first in each category.

Alberto Villanueva, Caye Caulker Village Chairman
"What we're doing here is anyone who wants to participate pays a small fee. We have about 25 different entries. So for $5 for each category, you will get a complete meal."

Whitley Aguilar
"I'm eating desert."

Ron Sniffin,
So I hear you are a judge.

Whitley Aguilar,
"Yes."

Ron Sniffin,
Which desert do you like best so far?

Whitley Aguilar,
"Number six."

Ron Sniffin,
Do you like chocolate?

Whitley Aguilar,
"Yes."

Ron Sniffin,
Is that why you like number six?

Whitley Aguilar,
"Yes."

For the San Pedro Sun reporting from Caye Caulker, Ron Sniffin, for 7NEWS.

The Caye Caulker Cool Art and Taste Fest is expected to become a yearly event.

The Snorkeling with WHALE SHARKS season.
Mood:  spacey
Now Playing: Swim with the huge Whale Shark season off Gladden Spit
Topic: Whale shark snorkeling
e-mail from Belize Culture Listserve bz-culture@psg.com


This message sent to the Bz-Culture Mailing List from "Mary Toy"
:

I really apologize for the delay in answering this question (I think
from Greg) about whale shark
interaction on the Placencia area.

The closer you are to the full moon, the greater your chance of
interacting with a whale shark. The
May full moon is on the 23rd, so the best days will be around the 20th
to the 25th.

Usually, the best time will be close to sunset. Not always, though.
In fact, quite a few whale
sharks were being seen in the mornings in the April interaction period.

This year, regulations have changed, and each tour operator receives
one time slot each day, and can
have a maximum of two boats within the primary whale shark zone in that
time slot. Time slots are
allotted based on a lottery, so the time slot for each tour operator
changes from day to day. Each
time slot is 2 hours.

Also, all boats must be out of the whale shark zone by 5 p.m. --
completely out of the water, so
that means divers and snorkelers have to be done with their dives no
later than 4:30 pm.

The primary whale shark area is a small area right at the spit. A
maximum of 4 boats are allowed in
this area, and each boat can only carry 12 divers and/or snorkelers
and/or observers, plus
guides/dive masters. A larger area about of about a mile right behind
the primary area is open to
up to 6 boats.

Most of the resort dive boats are completely booked for May. There are
probably a few dive slots
with some independent operators available, but anyone who wants to dive
needs to get this set up in
advance -- now would be a good time.

Snorkeling is a bit easier, and Nite Winds at the docks probably has
space still available.

Mary

Posted by falconview0 at 11:50 AM EDT

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Caye Caulker and Diane's Beach House
Mood:  cheeky
Now Playing: Right on Caye Caulker Beach is Diane's place.
Topic: Right on Caye Caulker bea
DIANE'S GUEST HOUSE RIGHT ON THE BEACH OF CAYE CAULKER FACING THE GREAT CORAL BARRIER REEF. I've stayed here a lot. Mainly because I'm her Dad ( grin! ) And it's free for me!



Diane's Beach House is a fully furnished, 2-storey, 3-bedroom island home, located on the beach, in Caye Caulker - a tropical Caribbean island in Belize, Central America.

VACATION SPECIAL
10% OFF
Stays of 8 Nights or more


Both levels are fully furnished Independent Suites, with: ceramic tiled floors, A/C, cable TV, hot & cold bath, full kitchen, living room and porch with a spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea and Reef beyond!