Ahoy there,

So we have left Mexico behind and hot footed it across the border into Belize in a rickety bus having bribed the guards with $10. I have to confess with being somewhat letdown by Mexico; not one Supermarket stocked Old El Paso Fajita making kits and no homage to that legend of the small screen Speedy Gonzalez.

Stepping across the border the change is instantaneous. Belize has the feel of a Carribbean Island - no longer does my 80% Cocoa tan look impressive against the locals with there near 100% offerings. English is the language of choice, although you pick up the occasional conversation in Spanish and Creole.

Arriving in Belize City, we immediately took a water taxi out to the island Caye Caulker (by all accounts Belize City is not the nicest of places and our brief time there did little to suggest otherwise). Caye Caulker is a tiny island where the mantra is 'Go Slow Mon'. If the residents were any more laid back they would be lying down...and in fact most are during the hot sunny days. It's interesting talking to them and getting their perspective on things. They have no worries, their life is slow and undemanding, they don't necessaily have much, but they are happy. As Steve the Captain of our boat said 'why stress when we all end up point zero anyway!' He makes a strong case for his way of life.

That day we ended up taking a snorkeling trip out to the second largest reef in the world (behind the Barrier Reef) and swimming with Rays, Turtles, Moray Eels, Sharks and Manatees. Quite an experience.

Food is amazing and one can dine on a entire Lobster for a mere fiver...we are in food heaven. Fish and Fruit have all been caught and picked that day and taste gorgeous. It was with a heavy heart we left the island and headed inland towards the west of Belize and San Ignacio. We are currently staying at an Eco Lodge in the middle of the jungle. Approximately 10 metres to my right is a tarantula and our room is a wooden hut in the jungle. The background noise of animals is constant, and we use saw dust to flush the loo and rainwater to shower. For a boy from Teddington who is marginally arachnaphobic and has difficulty just looking at a picture of a spider this is proving to be somewhat challenging. Kirsty on the other hand is in her element surrouding herself with mother nature and even calmly dealt with the bug that fell into her food last night by biting in to it....but she always was a little strange.

Tomorrow we collect another stamp as we head into Guatemala. It seems such a long time we have been gone, but it is still less than 2 weeks. Just the 50 Weeks to go!

Adios