Back in Mexico...

Okay, I'm finally back in Mexico. Specifically, I'm in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico. I have to admit that I miss sleeping on the beach. They've cleaned up the area I've been using in Sian Ka'an. You can pull up (with a 4x4) on to a dune where you get a great view of the sunrise and the breeze. I've been invited to stay at a couple of places (real homes) but this is still the best. 

As far as I've seen there is no air conditioning for any hotels in the beach in Tulum. It's a regulation for the area to make it more "eco-friendly". The small generators each hotel has can't handle the draw. So my little truck camper probably ranks right up there since I have electricity, movies, and a computer. Except for water....

Water is something that I cart around with me so I can't use a lot at once. The Sian Ka'an ranger station ran out of water and thus so did I. Getting a shower has been the only real hassle that I've had while traveling. 

Now that my hair is on the longer side, I use more than before. It's also been a bit chilly for my normal cold water showers that I really do enjoy. It's not too bad though. RJ said I can  camp on the property of one of his properties. I doubt I camp there but I will stop in for a shower. My place is still better.

Regards,

Ben Kim

www.esotericvision.com

Finally out of Belize....

Well I'm finally out of Belize. I'm starting to make a lot of friends here now. I like Belize. It can be a bit frustrating at times since most everyone runs at a very slow pace but it's still a great place. The only place that does get on my nerves is Belize City. Being easily identified as a tourist makes  you a target for the very many poor here. While I feel sorry for them, I can't give everyone a dollar. You'll literally get followed all the way down a street if you show any sign of weakness.

Santa Elena Town, Cayo District, Belize: Falcon View Hostel

Last night I stayed at the Falcon View Hostel in Santa Elena Town, Cayo District, Belize.  Overall it was a comforable, happy stay with a good conversation with Ray and Silva (owners). The Falcon View Hostel is located a bit off the beaten path in a small community about 3/4 mile down a gravel road. It was quite and safe. I paid $11.000 USD plus tax. The total was just under $12.00 USD altogether.

This is a tiny little eight bed hostel has a community kitchen, dining, and living area, and community bath and showers. The kitchen is fully furnished with small separate dinner tables to accomodate separate parties, two burner stove, and refrigerator. The kitchen was kept very clean. I don't think they serve any meals here on a regular basis so you are on your own. A cab ride into town can cure that problem.

The wash room has two sinks, four toilets, and four showers. The showers are small and there is no hot water. However, cold water is not cold here in Belize at least in my opinion. There is not much privacy in this room but once again very clean. I was given a clean bath towel, blanket, and wash cloth when checking in. Bring your own shampoo and soap.

The domitory is small and simple but once again clean. There are four bunkbeds each one having a mosquito net over it, very handy. The beds are small but firm covered with linens, sheets, and a pillow. I'm 5'8" tall and I had enough room but if you're over 6' tall you might be a bit cramped. On a side note, I do remember seeing small keyed lockers for your valuables.

The living area had a couple of hammocks with a couple of chairs and a small table. It's sparsely furnished but does have a TV with cable and DVD player. There are board games and plenty of interesting books available. Ray and Silva (owners) have authored several of the books. One book of particular interest to me was titled "An Early History of Belize" published in 1996 by the owners.  Overall, this is a great place to stay with a very very comfortable atmosphere. Tours are available for the area on a daily basis.

Regards,

Benedict Kim

www.esotericvision.com

Succotz Village, Cayo District, Belize: Xunantunich Ruins Review

I wandered around Xunantunich today. It's a Mayan archaeological site near San Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Belize. The local tour companies usually don't market it since it's too close. Tour companies farther away will market it though. Some local hotels and resorts will sell it as a half day trip. You can do it on your own though.

It's a ten minute taxi ride to the ferry boat near Soccotz Village near the Guatemalan border. You'll find a small tourist style roadside market and Benny's Restaurant across the street. The ferry boat ride is free but feel free to tip the guy that uses a good old fashioned hand crank to get you and your car across the river. I tip $1.00 BZD (50 cents USD). Why not?

I've never hired a guide here but I know they are available. Guides here in Belize are well educated on the sites. It's impressive. Anyway, you'll walk about 1.25 miles to the entrance. There's only one road so good luck getting lost. It seemed secure too since I must have seen six machine gun packing soldiers patrolling the area. The entrance area has a gift shop, snack bar, and a covered picnic area.

The most predominant feature is the pyramid standing 132 feet tall (or so they say). There is one higher by a few feet somewhere else in Belize. You can see into Guatemala and much of the surrounding area from the top which is beautiful. The far side of the pyramid has some carvings left on it. There are 3-4 other areas with pyramids, courts, and other cool things to see. I'll leave it to you to discover. See this before you wander to Tikal or Caracol which are quite a bit more extensive. Bring water and snacks.

Click for panoramas here



Regards,

Ben Kim

www.esotericvision.com

Food for thought...

Yesterday I met a gal from Austrailia. Her name is Claire Vanderplank. That's a mouthful isn't it? Anyway, she's biking from Cancun, Mexico to the tip of Argentina and her website is Cycling for Cohesion.  Check out her blog.  She spent a couple of days here at Midas Resort before moving on.  Nice gal.

What an interesting thought.  I've been bouncing this one around since I met two Germans driving around the world.  Hmmmm.... I can drive to Argentina and back.  I think I'm up for it.  No one seems to die and everyone seems to be having fun.

They come in all forms for this one. Two teams on motorcycles. One team in a beefed up 4x4. One retired couple in "wombat". The wombat is an RV that resembles a military transport (six very large wheels)  more than a civilian vehicle. I want one now.

I think that I might be able to save some money and combined with working my way along as a photographer I might actually make it. It's kind of funny. All the foreigners that actually travel as I do find the people friendly and feel generally safe in Central and South America. All the people that don't travel find them unfriendly and the places unsafe. It's some good food for thought.

Call Me "El Gordo"

I've been a photographer approaching a year now and it's starting to show. Living in hotels, eating vast amounts of free food, and inactivity are starting to take it's toll. I weighed in yesterday at 192 lbs.  I'm not used to going over 180 lbs.  I'm not fat but I'm not in shape.  I need to get back into shape but a my busy little life continually evolves.

Bearing this information in mind, I'd like to share a new methodology to pick guides when out in the field.  Other than the normal parameters such as honesty, integrity, and intelligence, I recommend using Body Mass Index (BMI).  A BMI rating system allows you to effectively choose the level of cardiovascular activity you will encounter on demanding treks and activities. Of course this is all relative to how fat and old you and the proposed guide are so adjust accordingly.

You will find that although good guides will always slow down to your pace, you will always be pushed if the guide is a skinny little bastard. Instead of snapping the him in half just learn to choose better. 

Guide's BMI 

Less than 18.5:  skinny fucker and heavy cardio (slow him down by making him carry gear)

18.5 - 25:  normal and moderate cardio 

25 - 30:  chubby and hiking is easier for you

More than 30:  heart attack victim and you breathe easy

Regards,

Ben

Pine Ridge, Cayo District, Belize: Thousand Foot Falls

Thousand Foot Falls is not bad at all. Most of the view of the Maya Mountains show a very gradual climb in altitude. I thought it would be uninteresting. I was pleasantly surprised.  It's just past Hidden Valley Inn. The roads pretty much suck most of the way. I guess it's about a 25-30 mile drive one way. The closest gas station would be in San Ignacio Town, Belize. The drive will take 1 1/3 hours each way. 

The property is now government owned and maintained. I found one guy working there. It's still not quite the busy season yet and he had one visitor yesterday. There were three buildings. One was the gift shop, another was a decent covered area  with picnic tables and chairs, another was for scientists that never come there..  You've got a few dozen steps leading down to a vista. It's well built but definitely not handicap accessible. The covered area is accessible though.

The view is decent but partial. You can only see the first few hundred feet and then the water simply disappears into the gorge. The terrain is rugged below with steep cliffs. I wish I could have gotten a full view of the falls but that only happens with a helicopter ride.  I hope one day that they'd build a hiking trail to the bottom. Now that would make this area a truly worthy destination instead of a side trip. It's an easy self guided trip. The entrance cost is $2.00 BZ or $1.00 USD.

Regards,

Ben

www.esotericvision.com

Pine Ridge, Cayo District, Belize: Hidden Valley Inn

I’ll take my hat off to the Belizeans this time. They know hospitality. I’ve just spent a couple of nights up in Pine Ridge in Cayo District at Hidden Valley. Yes, they have pines in Belize. Hidden Valley Inn sits on 7,200+ acres of private reserve with about a dozen different cabanas. This place is about as remote as it gets here in Belize. It covers enough terrain that it goes from pines above to jungle below.  It is freaky big.

My cabana was very comfortable  with a nice big bed. It was a free standing well constructed little home with a working fireplace. I should mention that Hidden Valley Inn has all the little luxuries you’d get at a top notch resort in Cancun. It actually gets chilly at night since we’re up here in the Maya Mountains and as I used up tinder and firewood more magically appears at my front door, nice.  Beautiful four post wooden bed and comfy lounge chairs for the fire. VERY secure property, I’ve got tons of gear and equipment but I didn’t even bother taking my key or locking the doors while out.

Now for other stuff. They have miles of trails and roads with breathtaking views, streams, and wildlife. Everything is well marked. You’d be a moron or illiterate to get lost. It’s actually possible to spot pumas and jaguars here since it’s far of the beaten path. Freaking birds of all types everywhere.  I also like the hidden swimming holes and streams in Hidden Vally Inn. They’ve got lots of clean clear water for a cool dip and plenty of waterfalls. Check out “Cascade Trail”. The regular tours go out from here daily to visit anywhere else in Cayo too.  Guides are polite and well informed.

Actually, everyone here is polite and well informed. Food is great. Nice menu and Flavien and Beverly (managers) seem to know and check on the source of all the food. It’s pretty comfy in the lodge too. Big fluffy loungers and couches with fire place and plenty of books to choose from. The bar is well equipped and the pool and jacuzzi are nice.  Well decorated and comfortable.  Oh yeah, they have their own airstrip and helicopter pad if you want to fly in. If you don’t they’ll pick you up at the airport in Belize City.  Hidden Valley is probably one of the best values for the money I’ve seen around here yet.

Pictures: http://www.esotericvision.com/VT/HiddenValley360/index.html

Website: http://www.hiddenvalleyinn.com