Tikal National Park...Day 8

 Today we spent the morning walking around Tikal National Park. Before heading out, we ate breakfast. I ordered French Toast and due to extremely slow service most of us didn't eat until 8 am. We met our guide, Rony, at the main building which has a replica of the national park. Rony gave some background information on the park, the Mayans, and what we would be doing for the morning.

During the day we stopped at several temples for the students to climb. It was nice to see some changes done to the park since my last visit. Instead of insane stairs to climb at temple IV, they had added a better stair system to get to the top. We still had some insane stairs to climb but the views from the top were worth it. The day was bearable. With some cloud coverage, it wasn't as hot until we reached the central complex then the students got to feel what it was truly like in the tropics.

After the tour, some students bought trinkets from the vendors and we all ate lunch before heading back to Rio Mopan.

 Along the road back to the border, we once again entered the Waiting Place. This time, road paving. Needless to say this was at least an hours wait while one side of the road was being paved and traffic traveled on the other side of the road. We headed back to Melchor and stopped at the Boutique Antiqua and got to meet the entire Hernedez family. After loading up our purchases, we headed to Rio Mopan and to a very nice steak and potatoes dinner.  Last night in Guatemala. The kids headed back to their rooms to pack up their belongs and to put aside anything that they wanted to donate to the clinic.

Good Shepherd Clinic, Road to Tikal...Day 7

After on last stroll around Jaguar Creek, we packed up the vans and headed to the Good Shepherd Clinic to see Margret Wann. While we drove the miles to the clinic the topic of conversation in the van lead to faith and God. When we arrived at the clinic the other van was having the same type of conversation. Margret showed the kids around the clinic. Her clinic focuses on woman's health but also treats others from the surrounding area. They have doctors that come and to do surgery. Margret spoke to the kids about being a servant. She stated, "No matter what you do, give 2005 of yourself. You will be tired but you'll be able to say you lived a full life!" After this moving talk, we were treated to lunch before heading to the border.

 It took awhile at the border. Leaving Belize wasn't so much of an issue but entering Guatemala was. First there was no one present to stamp the passports, then the man filing the information on the vans only did one van and had to do another one when we thought we were ready to go, then we had to pay an illegal fee to cross the river. Needless to say this was the point of the trip where the kids stated they could have done with out. We started using the term "Waiting Place." This was just one of the "Waiting Places" we would experience while in Guatemala.

We took a brief stop at Rio Mopan to leave a lot of the bags since we were only staying in Tikal for a night. Marcus was out in the bush leading a team so his wife took care of every thing. After rio Mopan, we stopped at Boutique Antiqua, owned by the Hernedez family. This would give students a chance to see what textile items they could purchase so that they wouldn't spend a lot while in the park.

The road in Guatemala heading to Tikal is always an adventure. Some improvements were being made, like paving the road, but we still had to bob and weave to avoid massive pot holes, sleeping policemen, etc.  Eventually we made it to Tikal National Park. Along the park road, we stopped to look a different type of wildlife or to take interesting road crossing signs that you wouldn't see in America.

Once in the park, we headed to the Jaguar Inn where we would be staying for the night. Here we would have our meals, being able to pick from a menu was a nice change, and in the morning pick up our guide to the park. Doc and I worked on a little project before calling it a night.

South Water Caye...day 3

The morning started beautiful as usually. The sun rising up over over the reef just made it a perfect day and the day hadn't even started to say.

We took the kids around the island, which doesn't take long since it is an extremely small island, on a vegetation walk. The  kids were able to see the Australian pine, Coconut trees, Royal Palms, Traveler's Palms, and other varieties of trees. They were also shown different types of legumes.

 On the east side of the island, the students got an upclose and personal lecture on mangroves and their importance to the tropics.

 After the walk, we had lunch and divided the kids up into two groups to take them out over the
shallow lagoon on the east side of the island.

Here the kids were able to experience coralline algae, turtle grass, segmented worms, brittle sea stars, a sea cucumber, along with other organisms that use this shallow environment.

 

 

From here we headed out for a late afternoon snorkel at Horseshoe Caye. Since the forereef was really rough we opted to let the kids snorkel in an protective area since must of them hadn't really snorkeled until yesterday.

 

 

 

The kids were able to see a large variety of healthy coral, sea fans, sponges, and fish. They were also able to see the flamingo tongue snail after I pointed it out to them.  Also planned for that night, after our night lecture, was the night snorkel at the south end of the beach. Several students opted not to do the night snorkel but after they felt the excitement from the others that were going, they headed out with us. I told them that I would lead them out and lead them back. They were required to pair up with a buddy and to attach a light stick to their snorkel so those on the beach could keep track of us. We had a boat in the channel so that we wouldn't swim into it and get caught in the current. For night snorkels, there wasn't much out but the kids did have a good time and those that decided to go, were proud of themselves for doing it.

Dangriga and South Water Caye

Because of the time change and the fact I forgot to change my watch, I got people up earlier than expected. This gave them a chance to walk around the grounds before breakfast and experience the calls of many birds.  After breakfast and a tour of the kitchens, we headed to Dangriga via the Southern Highway. Before we even headed out, we stopped at the cashew orchard to show the kids why cashews are so expensive. The seeds are outside the fruit and only 1 seed is produced. The oils from the cashews are acidic and can burn/scare if they touch the skin.

Hummingbird Highway is still a dusty road. So stopped at Soldier's Creek for a refreshing swim. The students and chaperons enjoyed jumping of the rock in the middle of the creek and were given a brief lecture on bamboo, which grows along the creek.

 

We made it to Pelican Island Resort and loaded up the boat for our journey across the lagoon to South Water Caye. Some of the girls started breaking out in song on our 30 minute journey which brought much laughter to the group. We reached the dock and greeted Jennifer, who runs the IZE. Since we were the only group renting out the IZE, we pretty much so had the run of the place. The girls were given a bunk room along the western boundary of IZE. It so happen to be the rooms, I stayed in before several years prior. The guys were given a bunk room closer to the classroom and mesh hall. The chaperons were given these individual cabanas with their own private bathrooms overlooking the back reef. Here the wind coming off the water created a chilly breeze but it was peaceful to look out through the mangroves at the reef and to see the sunrise in the morning.  Once everyone settled in, we had lunch and were given the 'rules' of IZE. Since it is mainly a green facility, the kids were informed of what they could or couldn't do.

 

 

Some of the kids headed out to the beach to go snorkeling, some played a volleyball game while others shredded some coconut and hung out on the dock.

After dinner, we had the first night lecture, on coral reef formations, in the classroom. From there we headed out to the dock to view the stars and a quick astronomy lesson and to see whatelse was out and about. Spotted a sea hare and an electric skate around the dock along with urchins and sea stars. Some of the kids headed down to the beach to chill in the hammocks while others headed to their bunks for some shut eye.

Belize Zoo Tropical Education Centre...day 1

We were up early and at the airport by 5 am to catch the Continental flight heading to Houston. Some of the students hadn't been to be yet because they were busy packing or were too excited about the trip ahead of them. Of course most of them crashed as soon as the plane took off. A few of the girls walked off leaving their boarding passes and passports on the ground. Since this was a serious matter, I picked them up and waited until we were boarding and the girls were stressing out about their 'lost' items before walking over to the girls and giving them their tickets and passports. I mentioned to them that they needed to keep these with them at all times no matter what. Once we got to Belize, I would take over holding all passports but they needed to be smarter with their passports and tickets in the future. 

Both Sue and Jon, the chaperons, were beaming with excitement. Jon had always wanted to go but was never picked by previous trip leaders. I never knew this and when I mentioned, over lunch one day, that I still needed a guy chaperon, this set him off into a tyrant about how he always wanted to go but was never picked to go. I said to him, "Want to go with me in Apirl?" "You're kidding right?" was his response. "Nope. I need a guy chaperon to go." That started the ball for him and seeing him at the airport like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning was priceless. Sue was the first to respond to my 'need chaperons' email. She was definitely looking forward to this trip.

After we arrived in Houston, we were able to spend the time before our next flight in one of the guest rooms that Continental has. Here everyone was able to pull up a chair and sleep, eat lunch, play cards, etc. Eventually we headed to our gate but had another 2 hour delay before leaving for Belize due to an issue with the plane.

When we got to Belize, everyone seemed to catch their second wind. Might have been the warmth and the sun or the fact that most slept on the way. Whatever it was everyone was ready to go. Doc and I had to go get the vans. Following behind Doc, while he is driving, is always an adventure. Traveling behind him while the sun is setting, on roads without lights, and while extremely tired, even more interesting.

We arrived at the Tropical Education Centre at the Belize Zoo. After dinner and a night tour of the zoo, I gave out the sleeping arrangements and everyone started to settle in for the night. Once the weariness of a day of travel wore off, students were starting to realize that they were in Belize surrounded by wild animals right out side their cabins. A few of the students were nervous to sleep so I had to reassure them that I was available at any time and to come and get me if they had an issue. I started the call chain to let parents know we arrived safely. Since we were behind, due to the delay, parents were a little worried but after I explained it, they seemed to calm down some.

While making the rounds, making  sure everyone was all set, a few of the girls called for me from the bathroom. Since they know I absoultely love frogs, they wanted to let me know of a frog in the bathroom. I was excited because in all the times I've been to Belize, I have't been able to spot too many frogs. As I headed to the bathrooms, the guys in one cabin yelled out to me that there was a scorpion under their bed. Since this was a more serious matter, I had to go take care of the scorpion before heading to the frog. Another first for me, a scorpion. I know they are present in Belize but never had the pleasure of seeing one up close and personal.  After some cool shots of the frog, headed back for another night check before heading in for the night.