TravelStream™ news feed for member kiwigal999 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/kiwigal999 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:51:23 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1203039960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1203039960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1203039960/tpod.html Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:51:23 -0500 Two kiwigals on the loose in Central America

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Santa Monica, California, United States

We planned three days in LA to do some shopping, mainly sports shoes etc. Jus found us a nice motel close to the beach in Santa Monica and walkable to the centre.

Given there were lots of runners, walkers and cyclists along the beach I expected that there would be sports shops galore but there were hardly any and we headed out to a mall but still no luck. After 6 hours of trying, I was a failed shopper!

The next day I brought a bus pass and headed off in all directions and ended up with very successful shopping including 2 pairs of running shoes (no excuses for not running now), lots of computer equipment, clothing and loads of books.

My 12kg backpack just checked in at 20kg and it is chocca.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1202780460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1202780460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1202780460/tpod.html Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:46:42 -0500 Two kiwigals on the loose in Central America

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Flores, Guatemala

After yet another late night out with Tiffany-Jane I had the morning to do some shopping before heading to the airport to catch a flight to Guatemala, meet up with Justine and fly to LA,

I got to Flores airport early as experience has told me that flights change without notice. Good job i did as my flight had been cancelled! There was another flight and they hoped to get me on it but it wouldnt connect with my flight to LA so i was a little concerned given that Justine was already in Guatemala City and we were on the same electronic ticket. They were very relaxed and just said both Justine and I were changing and there is nothing to do but see what happens.

It all worked out well and I met up with Justine in Guatemala City and we ended up on a direct flight to LAX rather than the stopping flight we expected.

Life is good but LA is cold!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1202606760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1202606760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1202606760/tpod.html Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:40:15 -0500 Two kiwigals on the loose in Central America

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Caye Caulker Belize, Belize

Only 10 days to go so it is time for some chilling out and what better place than Caye Caulker. CC is a fab little island without cars, two main streets, many bar, fab eateries, amazing diving and coconut rum!

After climbing temples at Tikal, I headed off on the mini bus to Belize City, very strange being on a mini bus rather than a chicken bus. Such easy travelling as the bus went directly to the water taxi terminal and it was an easy hop to Caye Caulker.

I was in CC 8 years ago and it has grown a lot with more hotels/hostels and bars but still retains its charm. I met a mad englishman on the boat and we proceeded to have a fine old time. After too many early mornings and nights in Guatemala it was a welcome relief to be out dancing and singing until the wee small hours. Sadly cos we did so much diving we were also up in the morning as well but it felt more normal to me (phew i am no longer a morning person!)

We managed to get 4 days diving in and hired a catamaran for a day which resulted in a very sun burnt butt for me from snorkeling, i was sure that i kept putting block on but the electric pink and pain proves otherwise! The snorkeling was great fun and we managed to flip the catamaran twice including once where it righted itself and starting sailing off without us. Good job that a kiteboarder was close by and grabbed it for us as we were quite a way off shore.

We managed to rule the table football game for a couple of hours one night, all the locals were trying to get us off and i must admit after a while i was happy to lose to them. Also had a fab game of high/low poker with some mad Americans and canucks (thanks to Stuart from jungle adventure, I knew the game). I managed to get all the bottle tops (each bottle top was worth about 1 cent American) but then the boys just ordered more beer and hey presto we have inflation.

I was going to learn to kite surf but it was too windy the first two days and then we spent so much time diving and snorkeling that I didn't manage to but it does look like great fun.

After 8 sunny and fun filled days and nights, it was back on the bus to Flores to catch my flight back to Los Angeles.

A note to the wise, coconut rum can be harmful to your mornings if used to excess!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201373220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201373220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201373220/tpod.html Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:56:17 -0500 Two kiwigals on the loose in Central America

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Antigua, Guatemala

We left San Pedro Sula at 6am heading to Guatemala City where we would catch a local bus to Antigua.

We had the best breakfast when the bus stopped at the border, just tortillas from a roadside stall but possibly the best we have had yet. We didnt realise we were at the border as we were expected to head down towards Copan and cross the border much later but it transpired that we crossed the border at the top of Honduras. So we ignored the money changers thinking we would change money at the border.... doh! once we realised we were at the border it was too late and we were left with $70USD in Honduran Limpiras which the rest of the world value as useless! we also did have any guatemalan quetzals so we missed out on lunch at the lunch stop.

We arrived at Guatemala city and were harrased by taxi driver wanting to charge us exhorbitant rates to Antigua or even to the local bus station. we waited for them to lose interest and slipped out the side door and found a much cheaper taxi driver. No sooner that we had arrived at the local bus station than we were on a chicken bus heading to Antigua. My backpack fits into the overhead rack but we ended up balancing Jus´s on our laps, not that easy given the speed at which the buses fly around hairpins.

As usual we hadnt bothered to arrange accomodation and given we arrived at 3pm we soon found that all our picks and even the touts picks were full. We started to wander from street to street before arriving at a place where a young 10 year old took us to a hostel where we had a basic room with shared bathroom and toilets. It was very clean, the ladie lovely and life was good again.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201532400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201532400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201532400/tpod.html Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:46:38 -0500 Two kiwigals on the loose in Central America

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Guatemala City, Guatemala

After my sister Karen´s glowing recommendation about Guatemala City, we ignored the guide book warnings and headed there for a day. It was so worth going. We stayed at a very basic and very noisy hotel near the Fuente de Norte bus station as we had a bus the next day to Flores. It was in zone one and quite safe to walk around. We headed off on the walking tour and included a 2 km walk down to Mapa el Relief which is a large scale 3D model of guatemala showing the mountains and all the road around Guatemala. It was currently under repair so we got in for free. It gave a very interesting view of Guatemala and showed the diversity in the landscape.

The square in Guatemala city was beautiful and a great place for people watching. We didnt get time for the museums so another visit is required.

Next morning we headed off on our 8 hour bus ride to Flores.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201593600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201593600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201593600/tpod.html Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:40:01 -0500 Two kiwigals on the loose in Central America

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Flores, Guatemala

Now we all know I am not a morning person, however this trip is certainly turning me into one. Too many early nights and early mornings to catch 5am buses or as is the case today, getting up at 3am to go to Tikal to see the sun rise. Not exactly my idea of a good day after a long day of travel the day before.

But i have to say it was worth it. We were bundled into a mini van at 3am and headed off for the 50 minutes ride to Tikal. Once there we had a Sergeant major guide who marched us off into the jungle in the pitch black. He set a very fast pace and gradually the group stretched out. Some people didn't have torches and were stumbling around, I had two young chaps walk with me as i had a torch and they were over wise falling over roots and uneven ground. After a 25 minutes we arrived at a set of stairs and climbed up to the top of Temple four. We sat there for 20 minutes before the other temples slowly started to appear in the jungle as the sun started to rise. It was fantastic as the morning mist made everything more surreal. Anyone going to Tikal should definitely do the sunrise tour.

We didn't get to stay at the top of the temple for long and headed off on our guided tour. I am not a great tour group person and found being one of 25 quite restricting. the guide also didn't provide much information on the actual uses of the buildings we visited but did have some good Mayan cultural insights. I think it helped that I had been at Tikal 8 years earlier and had some a lot of reading about them.

After the tour finished we had 2 hours to wander around before our van headed back to Flores, Jus and I took in some more of the sights and wandered around the jungle paths. with my usual talent i got us lost and we only just made it back for the van.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201789680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201789680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201789680/tpod.html Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:38:33 -0500 Two kiwigals on the loose in Central America

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Flores, Guatemala

At a more reasonable hour of 8am we headed back to Tikal for some wandering around. We chose to visit Temple 6 first which is isolated on its own and when we were in Tikal in 2000 was problematic with robberies. We were walking down to the temple when we were stopped by two armed guards who told us the template was a long walk but safe. It turned out to be only a kilometer away and we had some very peaceful time by ourselves without any other tourists.

We were joined by another armed guard who practised his english with me and imformed me that i could stay overnight in the temple with him and that there might even be a ceremony at the gran plaza that night. young and cute thoush he was i declined.

We spent quite a bit of time walking around the jungle paths, watching the monkey and enjoying the shade of the jungle as the day was quite warm. We climbed some more of the temples and really enjoyed our time just wandering around. At another more isolated temple, i had another Tikal worker offer me the chance to stay overnight with him, given he wasnt young and cute, i still declined. Must have been hit on Di day!

After 6 hours in Tikal we headed back to flores for an early dinner.

Tikal is an stunning as I remembered and spread over such a large site that it is possible to have many of the temples without any other tourists in sight. They do not seem to have excavated much more than last time but they have closed off some of the temples so that you cannot climb them and have put wooden staircases on others so they are safe to climb. The price has risen dramatically to 20USD per day but it is still worth the money.

Life is good.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1199931300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1199931300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1199931300/tpod.html Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:15:49 -0500 Two kiwigals on the loose in Central America

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Rio Platino, Honduras

Our one organised trip was a 13 day expedition in the jungle and rafting down the Rio Platino. We went with a company called Omega Tours who are based in La Ceiba. Our guide was Jeff, a wiry cornish man with 20 odd years of river and rafting experience and quite a sense of humour. He was supported by Stuart, an American who lived part time in La Ceiba and part time in Oregon. Stuart is a keen kayaker and he was to be our safety vessel as Justine and I were the only passengers. Stuart´s nephew Bodie also joined us and thank goodness he did as he could cook and also had more strength than Jus and I.

Having two beggies on the trip seemed to be causing some problems and we seemed to have an enormous amount of food in two large barrels but then given the remoteness we would need to be self sufficent.

Day one was a long dirve from La Ceiba to Las Catamas over very dodgy roads. It was a long day given the bouncing around in the 4wd. Bodie meet us there as he had been at Copan.

The second day was also a long day of driving and we were warned that the 4wd vehicles may not be able to make it all the way to our lodgings but we did make it all the way, thanks goodness as we had a lot of stuff.

We stayed overnight with a family in Bonaza who grew coffee. They dont often get visitors as the Rio Platino is only rafted a couple of times a year. So we caused great excitement and villagers from all around came to stare at us. They watched us eat, then watched as we played poker. Bodie played footie with the lads, who seemed surprised that he could play.

They put on some ínterestíng music and i think they wanted us to dance but by now 40 people were crammed in the room and then the testosterone started to flow. Suddenly everyone was arm wrestling each other and Jeff turned out to the champion and must have arm wrestled everyone in the room, i have no idea how he could even move his arm.

Getting to sleep was difficult as we were basically sleeping on the floor and between the two main areas of the house. The first difficulty was trying to get everyone to leave the room and then i woke up to find some of the kids just watching us!

The thrid day was always going to be hell as we loaded our equipment onto 8 mules-horses and proceeded to walk over a muddy mountain to the river. The walking was hard work as the mud was often mid calve and all thoughts of clean boots were banished after the first hour. We slipped and slid our way along the path. Bodie and Stuart went ahead following the mules and we followed their tracks, getting lost once or twice. The mule drivers needed to cut some path for the mules as this is not used often and also some trees had blocked the passage in other places.

finally we reached the top of the mountain and now we had to slide back down. Very elegantly we often sat down and slid down the hill. I learnt a new lesson, do not look up as you are guaranteed to slip and slip i did in one of the streams! It was actually quite pleasant as it was hot and it washed some of the mud off.

7 hours later we arrived at camp where Bodie and Stuart had set up the tarp and pumped up the raft. No more people for 9 days.

Jus and I put up our tent, Bodie cooked some dinner and then i went to sleep.....
Next morning we worked out how to load the raft as the middle compartment was totally full of barrels and other equipment. A safety briefing and away we went.-

The Platino is quite small where we started and with our heavy raft we were constanly caught on rocks for the first two days and this required, climbing out (sometimes the princesses, as i christened us, didnt get out and the boys hauled us over the rocks). A couple of times Jus and I had to get out of the raft and climb down the sid eof the river, this was treacherous as the rocks were slippery and the rapids, not nice to fall into.

At the end of our first day of rafting we couldnt find a beach to set up camp so the boys just cut one out of the jungle. It was fab to set up our tents within the jungle and i couldnt believe the noise all the critters made.

Day 2 was still very patchy with getting stuck on rocks, hauling off and walking down the side of the river. This was partially because our raft was so full but also because the water was quite low.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201311780/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201311780/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201311780/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:14:30 -0500 Two kiwigals on the loose in Central America

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Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

We have headed to Utilia, off the coast of La Ceiba for a bit of recovery time after the jungle and also as part fo the Bay Island, the diving is rumoured to be great.

We met up with Bodie (our man in the jungle) at the ferry terminal as he wanted to get his diving qualifications.

The ferry was quite fun as they handed out sick bags as soon as we were seated and had two staff running around with handi towels. One staff member´s job seemed to be to help the women to the front of the boat, the blokes just had to make their own way. He seemed to enjoy his job.

Once we got outside the harbou walls we found out why they were handing out bags, the ferry is a catamaran and it bounced over the waves with everyone ohhing and arhhhing. Fortunately the waves were too bad although some people were very pale and many went outside.

Utila is a fab little island with one main street and everyone speaking english or creole english. It is a diving mecca and the backpackers version of the larger Bay Island, Roatan. As soon as we got off the boat, we were samped by touts for all the dive shops, they were very pleasant and helpful. Bodie went off with a couple to sort out his dive course which included accomodation and Jus and I headed off to the Bavaria Hotel which we had chosen from the Lonely Planet Guide.

the Bavaria was a very small room but with a nice balconey and we opted to pay a couple of dollars more for hot water (which i couldnt get to work until Jus worked out that we had to have the tap hardly turned on and with no pressure!). Nice place to stay and great hosts.

After a leisurely lunch i headed to Utilia Divers to book diving for the next day but they were full so we ended up at Cave Creek on an afternoon dive session. Cave Creek had lots of young aussies and brits working there, most of whom had arrived within the last month or so and had progressed from non divers to dive masters or instructors in that time.

Most dive courses took 3.5 days although Bodie managed to get his qualification in 2 days, his reasoning is that he is just talented and did all the drills perfectly! My obervation of both the dive master and those on our boat on courses was that anyone could pass easily.


Justine decided to come snorkelling although when we set out to the dive boat there was torrential rain and she didnt fancy the idea of being wet on the boat. I figured we were wet anyway and anyway the rain doesnt last long in Utila.

We went out to a dive site called the Aquarium and most of the best coral and fish were at 20-40 feet. The divermaster cracked along at a furious pace and i lagged behind looking at the corals and hence saw the 5 barracudaa, sharks and eels which the others missed as they were a long way off the coral face and basically swimming.

I got one of the new divemasters to come with me for the next dive and we spend over an hour rummaging around coral and seeing the most fantastic sea life including a puffer fish that looked a little like a flat soccer ball until i got too closed and then it swelled and dared me to come closer.... i didn´t!

The diving is very good but my recommendation is that most of the coral and fish life is in 20¡40 feet.

After so many days in the jungle we were up for a big night but Jus and Di strike again and after dinner we found the town was closed. This is supposed to be a party island but they must have been hiding the parties that night. Howver given everyone is on courses and getting up early for diving, maybe it wasnt such a party town.

So it was rum and orange on the deck!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201210140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201210140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kiwigal999/cen_americ_0708/1201210140/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:42:59 -0500 Two kiwigals on the loose in Central America

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La Ceiba, Honduras

It was a very early start for me as I went out diving at 7 am. I hate early mornings!

Sadly we didnt get to the north side and the first dive was ok at 95 feet but there wasnt that much to see at that depth and the best part of the dive was at 20-40 feet.

The second dive was at a site called the black coral wall and it was a surperb dive with enormus varieties of coral and sea life. I have now seen my first cow fish!

I had arranged to meet Jus and Bodie at our fav breakfast place after the diving and found that it was closed. given that Utilia is so small i found Jus parked on another balconey. Bodies was much later given that his boat headed to the north side of the island.

Jus and I caught the 2pm ferry back to La Ceiba and stayed the night at Stuart´s. He has a fab house in the hills overlooking the mountain ranges that frame La Ceiba and the ocean on the other. Unfortunately there are some wiring problems so it was a cold shower and not much light.

we went to a fab seafood restaurant for dinner where i tried to order a bottle of sauvignon blanc and after being shown a bottle of red and a chardonay, we ended up with the chardonnay. Very nice it was and a pleasant break from rum.
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