26th July

After leaving our hotel, where we shared our room with a motorway of ants, we caught a bus at the crack of dawn to Tulum. We found a pretty hotel with a little stream running through it, coolest towels ever - they were folded into a swan and love heart. We had lunch, then went to see more Mayan ruins. I didn't spend much time looking at the ruins, instead I was feeling hot and wishing I was swimming in the refreshing, deep blue sea.However when we finally got a chance to get in the sea it was as warm as a bath. We still had a delightful time in the beautiful clear water and the sand was like sugar. I tried some. Now I have a tummy ache.

27th July

Off to the beach again today. As we were walking up the beach in the waves we noticed some Frigate birds circling overhead.... and dead fish on the floor..... there were people throwing the fish in the air! They were aiming the fish at the birds intending that they catch it. Occasionally one of the birds would catch the fish, snap it, and half the fish would fall to your feet - its guts spilling everywhere! Then along came an enormous pelican. Suddenly everyone stopped feeding the Friget birds and focused on the Pelican. He never caught the fish in mid air but instead, when they landed in the sea, with a flap and a splash he scooped them up whith his great big beak.

28th July

Another early start today, so early infact, we had to eat our croissants on the bus. Our destination was Bacalar. Bacalar is home to the second biggest lake in Mexico: Laguna Bacalar. It is also known as the Lake of Seven Colours - because of its many shades of blue. So of course we had to go for a swim in it- despite the fact that there were alligators in it- we had been assured that it wasnt dangerous because they mostly stayed in the mangroves..... Later on we padd led out on a raft to a sand bank in the middle of the lake. My mum was swimming out to join us but she turned back when she was nearly run over by a baby driving a jet ski!!! We had a crazy tea of boiled eggs and chips and went to sleep under our mosquito net tent. Despite all that I think my favourite part of the day has to be when I got to bottle feed a 1 week old puppy that hadn't even opened his eyes! Heading to Belize tomorrow.

29th July

Heading to Belize today (as you should know). To get to Belize we had to catch a water taxi. Before boarding my Dad rushed of at the last minute in a car with a strange lady to get some forms in order to avoid paying the Mexican departure tax. My Mum, brother and I were very worried because or bags were on the boat and we couldn't get on as Dad had our passports. He came back just as passengers were starting to board. Phew. My Mum was very cross with my Dad for vanishing.

The boat was the smallest big boat i've ever seen. When we got inside it was as hot as an oven (but not like Death Valley!) and really sweaty. Luckily when we started it cooled down, however it was the bounciest boat ever! Every time it hit a wave I jumped out of my seat. I'm glad that I'm so short: otherwise I might have hit my head on the ceiling!

We arrived on a pier in a island called Caye Caulker, it is a Belizean island in the Caribbean sea. The island is covered in coconut palms. All the buildings are made our of wood and are painted pretty colours. There are no proper roads or cars. Instead there are big sandy paths with golf carts, bikes, and people all in the middle road!

30th July

We had a nice relaxing day today, this is what we did.

Wake up. Breakfast. Read. Swim. Lunch. Read. Swim. Watch small boy narrowly avoid drowning. Sister rescue small boy. Shower. Read (again). Tea. Bed time. Sleep.

31st July

I woke up early this morning, very exited. Had breakfast, got on a speed boat, and head for the worlds second largest barrier reef. At the first stop we put on our masks, snorkels and flippers before getting in the sea. Guess what was in there.......................

Nurse Sharks and Sting Rays! Not forgetting the occasional fish! I got a bit scared every time a group of Sting rays went under me so I stayed away from the sharks, but they swam really close anyway. A lady on the boat had been stung by a Ray only 2 days ago and had to have 3 injections in her bum to get better so I wasn't really being a scardy cat. Back on the boat we were given packets of water. The boat then went to the second stop. Here we got of and the boat captain jumped in the sea and took us on a snorkle tour aound a beautiful reef. There was a Moray Eel. The boat driver said if it came near us we should push it with our flipper, if we used our hand it would bite us. Luckily, it stayed away. When we got back on the boat we gobbled up some yummy water melon. As the boat zoomed along the driver noticed an Eagle Spotted Sting Ray that was 4 feet across (it was very big). At the last stop we just looked around and saw some amazing fish including a shoal of large Baracuda. All in all this wonderfull adventure was a bit like the cast of Finding Nemo. We ended the day by trying a coconut that had fallen from the palm tree right outside our cabana ( small wooden house). More swimming, reading and eating filled the rest of the day. Leaving Caye Caulker tomorrow :-(

grandma How fantastic. read swim lunch read again sounds good! I could manage that! Not so sure about bits of dead fish and jet skiing babies though but I would love to see a pelican. Iliked seeing nurse sharks and rays are fantastic not sure about eels...... Tell Mummy i get very cross when grandpa vanishes like that! Lots of love.

Aug 1, 2013

Rebecca I agree with grandma. Read swim lunch etc sounds like a good holiday, bits of dead fish and eels yuk!!

Aug 1, 2013

Grace Wow i'd love to feed a one week old puppy it looks soooooo cute and you got to swim with sharks and sting rays and eels?? me and mum are super super jealous mum loves ray fish . The 30 th of july entry is my kind of thing but why was the boy almost drowning and needing to be saved ? you must have a very strong stomach to look at fish guts and dead fish falling from the sky .

Aug 1, 2013

harry Dont worry jack, me and rose have just done a life guarding course so if you drown in England next time then I will save you!

Aug 2, 2013

Wendy I agree with Grandma too - on everything except the bit about Grandpa ... think I'd be the one disappearing off, though I did have to be dragged onto a bus by some Kenyan locals when it took off with everyone except me on board! Just returned from camp now off to a night-shift. Very jealous of your travels - sounds fab!

Aug 3, 2013