A Gangsters Paradise
Trip Start
Aug 26, 2005
1
104
126
Trip End
May 26, 2008
Utila - Bay Islands - A crime filled Caribbean Island,
Honduras
Saturday, May 5, 2007
3 Amazing islands sit 30kms off the North Coast of Honduras. Utila, Roatan and Guanaja.
Utila is flat, a backpacker paradise, and ringed by spectacular coral reefs. Scuba divers flock to the island, as it is one of the cheapest places on Earth to be PADI certified. The waters are inhabited by Whale Sharks and Turtles and a whole variety of Caribbean marine life. Unfortunately, on land, the island is overrun by crack head criminals. Nobody is safe. There are violent gangs that roam the streets, they break into house, hotels and threaten the tourists that keep this place alive. Most are on crack and those who aren't, are alcoholic criminals. Roatán is the largest island, has a mountainous backbone and expensive beaches and resorts that attract the middle class vacationers. Guanaja is the least visited of the 3 islands. It was hit hard by Hurricane Mitch in 1998
Felix 9
. Its covered with pine trees and remains relatively undeveloped.Being a backpacker, there was no decision to make as to which island to visit. Utila is the only one catering for a backpackers budget. Plus, it has the best diving.
I took a 2 hour bus from Tela, then jumped on a boat and 1.5 hours later. There were 50 odd people on the boat to Utila, about 40 of them were Westerners. White backpackers and didn't they look strange. Its been a while since i was surrounded by white people, and backpackers are a strange bunch. Utila was never going to be a traditional Honduran experience. The island is completely overrun and corrupted by travelers.
I stepped onto the island and was greeted by a gauntlet of frenzied gringos trying to enroll the FOB's *fresh off the boat* into their dive schools and hotels.
For 3 dollars a night, I crashed in a room of one of the dive schools called Underwater Vision. Not committed to a course with them, we were free to investigate the other dive schools in the area. It was a Saturday night and among many many Rum's and beers I chatted with a good number of people and found the best place to to a course.
Happy Felix
The next day, I enrolled in a Refresher course. I completed my Open Water dive course in 1996 and haven't dived much over the last 6 years, so my diving knowledge was a little rusty.After the refresher course, i started the Advanced open water course and I'm a little worried that ill be stuck here for many months, completing my Dive Master Course and possibly continuing on to be an Instructor. DIVING IS UNREAL!
The island is great. A energetic bunch of travelers keep the place alive. Parties every night, Caribbean sea at your doorstep, the second largest coral reef in the world right there. Can it get any better¿
Its been 6 days on this island now and I have completed my Scuba review and Advanced Course. I loved it so much that I signed up for a first aid course as well. I completed it yesterday and today, I've enrolled in the rescue diver course. From there, ill be doing my Dive Master and most likely, my Instructor course.
Ill be moving into an apartment and start working as a dive master very soon and its all good
Felix Long Dog
.A little later
I'm almost done with my rescue diver course. on Monday I start the Dive master training, which should take around 3 weeks. Ill be moving into an apartment in the next few days and by crikey its a good life here.
More adventures as they happen... stay tuned.
May 16th - Island life is unreal!
I have completed my Rescue Dive training and passed the exam. The practical was taxing. It began at 7am with an hour in a classroom where were were briefed on what scenarios we were going to encounter for the day. Then at 8am, the doors were opened and the 3 of us were greeted with a disaster scene. Completely staged to test our training, there was a drunk, suffering from alcohol poisoning and throwing up. We had to do everything by the book, an American book, so that means starting with the phrase, 'Hi my name is Murray and I'm an emergency responder, may I help you?' With the formalities out of the way, we donned our gloves, and checked for 10 seconds for signs of consciousness. Then began CPR and rescue breathing. The drunk turned into a choker, chocking on her own vomit I had to resuscitate her while 4 other broken people around me were screaming out for help. With the choking drunk saved, i moved onto an in water rescue, a diver had fallen off the deck and hit his head on the bottom. Ketchup had been used to simulate blood. I pulled the almost drowned guy to safety and went through the same scenario, giving oxygen and rescue breaths while supporting the neck and calling for emergency help
Felix 4
.The scenarios on land took an hour and we were judged by 2 instructors and timed on our responses. We passed! Although Trish, the English girl I'm going training with forgot to put her gloves on, but it was only ketchup after all. We licked our fingers clean and then began the day on the boat.
It was an entire day - 6hours of staged disasters. Hilarious, but serious too, we had time limits and all kinds of liability statements to make such as ' this is oxygen, it will help you, may i give it to you?' And all this stuff.
The boat was crazy, halve way out to the dive site, the 3 actors which were dive masters, fell off the boat. We Ordered the boat to turn around and then used all our skills to save the drowner's.
Then the diving began. First, a missing diver scenario. We had to used a number of search patterns, calling rescuers with the radio and use compasses to search a huge area of reef looking for a lost diver.
It was such a perfect day, the visibility under the water was limitless so it was super easy to find them. Then, an unconscious diver on the bottom scenario. Using a few holds and funky stuff, we brought the diver to the surfaced and gave rescue breaths while towing back to the boat and removing gear, calling orders to the boat people to get oxygen ready
felix 2
. We then had to use a lifeguard pull to get the diver onto the boat within 30 seconds and provide CPR and oxygen and call the hyperbaric chamber. It was extreme and just when we thought it was over, 2 panic divers appeared and we donned our gear and tried to calm them down, once again towing them to safety.4 days of study and theory for all this and we all passed! yay so now I'm a qualified rescue diver.
Today, i began my Dive Master training. It will take about 4 weeks, an exam every day, lectures on physics, equipment, marine life, currents, conservation and instruction training. tomorrow I have 4 dives and will be supervising open water training. Ive knocked up 11 dives already and within the month i should have around 60, although I'm aiming for 80 with a few night dives in there.
Today was my first real calm fun dive, where i saw a Porcupine fish, a barracuda and a sea horsie! The underwater world here in superb.
Oh, and I now have an apartment. Its 20 meters from the dive shop and its more of an oversize caravan than a house, but its cozy and fun and I'm staying with an American girl who is doing her instructor course, so its full of good advise for me
Felix 3
.So thats the latest. Its all fun. I'm eating bananas and pineapple and washing it all down with the local ale. All is well. and i haven't been narked yet. (suffered from decompression sickness, although I'm swaying a little as i write this, but thats cos I've been on a boat all day)
May 26th - Dive Master Training.
Hi everyone, thanks for reading. I'm still on the island. I have passed another week, and another few Dive Master exams. The most recent was assisting on a Rescue Class. 3 days of mayhem. its over now and I've been credited for the assistance as part of my DM course Tomorrow I assist a bunch of newbies on an Open Water class which is bound to be much more challenging than the Rescue as the these are new, unexperienced divers and generally have a hard time adapting to the underwater world.
Ive been put on an Internship by the Dive shop. Not as exciting as it may sound, but a great experience. What it means, above my other position is that I must assist in the office and in the equipment room basically a little paperwork and assembling diving equipment, ensuring our 5 boats are equipped before every dive with medical kits, oxygen and all that gear. For all my hard work, i get in loads of diving, so it works out well for everyone.
June 4th - Crack Heads
Island life - Its a shame this place is full of locals
crack heads
. It was only a matter of time before the island scum of this place got to me, and its happened. I HAVE BEEN ROBBED BY A CRACK HEAD ISLANDER! I returned to my seemingly safe and secure house on Saturday night to find my clothes scattered all over the floor. It instantly hit that id been violated by the moronic island filth and took a stock take of my possessions, only to find that i didn't have any left. They took off with my passport, credit cards, IPOD, about 200 US$ in cash, drivers license, bag of souvenirs, pocket knife and basically anything else of value that i had. So now i have been left with a few old clothes, no cash, no cards and a pure burning hatred for the locals, who I had already grown tired of in my short time here. This isn't the first instance of locals robbing the tourists. It happens once a week here. The police force is non existent and a growing number of tourists are becoming impatient with the locals and their crack problems. we get spat on and beeped at while walking along the roads. The boat captains go through our bags while we are under the water, a small few have returned to shore with money missing. So be warned!------------------------
June 10th
I'm still here on the island, living the life, and diving and working myself silly
utila scum
.I had a very very unfortunate incident the other week. A day before mum and dad left, my house was broken into and my passport was stolen, along with all my cash, my ipod, credit cards and all my souvenirs and things id collected over the last 22 months!!! DAMN! Its pretty common on this island. The locals are the scum of the earth, all drug addicts, crack heads and pirate descendants. They are filth and cause trouble all over the island. No money, no education, no jobs, no morals, no respect.. complete scum. through my investigations, i found that pretty much everyone on the island had been robbed at some point. So I've put together a little vigilante group of the victims and together, we are visiting the mayors house to present this problem to him. There are no police on the island which means the scumbag inhabitants can get away with anything they want!
That happened about a week ago and since then..My passport showed up!!!!
My LAND Lady came over the other day with it in hand. Slightly suspicious, she said someone found it near a bin near the crossroads and gave it to this guy called Shelby McNabb, who in turn gave it to her. I don't know how anyone knew how she knew who it could be but anyways, i have it back so thats a relief
gangsters
. I have my house bordered up and store what little stuff i have left in the safe at the dive shop.I sill have my ipod, money and cards on the loose, but at least i have a passport and can stay here.
In other news my dive master is going well. I should be finished within a week. I have a few exams and one more assist to go. and still need to get my medical.
Otherwise, its all good.
I had 4 dives yesterday, and saw the 2 most rarest fish in the Caribbean! A Sun Fish and a Stargazer. And a spotted eagle ray! More on that in a second.
The first 2 dives were great, beautiful clear warm water and so current. I spotted a lobster, a huge one, and was tempted to pick him up and take him home for dinner. A little further on, i spotted a tiny cuttlefish/squid thing. about 10mm long, with tiny tentacles and a colorful body. I led the dive, and the instructors were happy with me, that means another tick on the board towards my dive master.
The 2 afternoon dives were my 51st and 52nd for the island. Not a bad effort for a month of diving. First up, while swimming along at around 25 meters deep, a spotted eagle ray swam past, an almost unnoticeable flap of his huge wings and he was gone, i swam so fast to try and keep up but he was gone into the blue within seconds. AWESOME!
On the second dive, while at around 10 meters, I looked up and about 2 meters below the surface was a sun fish
scum
. One of the instructors has been here 6 years and never seen one. A huge oval fish, with no tail, simply a huge flap on the top, like a dorsal fin and one on the bottom. really strange creature.I swam along she seabed, with an English girl as my buddy. While looking for the 2 pregnant seahorses we came across a few hundred garden eels. Tiny eels, that live in the sand, some were around 30 cm long and reminded me of meer cats, with their heads out of their holes, checking things out. When one ducked back into his hole, the others would follow, then emerge slowly once the threat was gone.
While looking at the eels, i swam low to the sand and a strange blog of a creature emerged from the sand right below me and swam off. I chased it and watched as the 30cm long fat white and Grey blob with fins everywhere, looking more like some alien than a fish buried itself in the sand, with its 2 big eyes and huge mouth poking up, waiting for prey. We had no idea what it was, and looked at each other and laughed. We chased it down, and disturbed it from its hideout to get another look. It once again swam few meters, with its whole body wobbling as it went and buried itself in the sand again. A huge bulldog style mouth protruding from the sand.
Back on dry land, we told a few people and the didn't believe what we were describing. We grabbed the fish id book, and it wasn't there, then grabbed the CREATURES book, and there he was under the category of ODDLY SHAPED BOTTOM DWELLERS. We had found a Stargazer, who apparently gives an intense electric shock to stun fish around him as he sucks them into his huge mouth. Kool stuff hey!
Other than diving, I've been working myself stupid, getting paid a little less than 2 dollars an hour, working in a restaurant called BUNDU cafe. Serving drinks and food to the masses of dive bums. The tips suck and the pay is terrible, but i figure, if i wasn't working, id be sitting there eating and drinking, and its a good place to meet everyone on the island.
Thats about all the goss for now, maybe next time i write, ill be a qualified Dive Master! Woohooo
Bye for now
Love Murray
-------------------------
Sunday 16th June
Ive been robbed again. This island is a disgrace.
I have some good news and some bad news.. the good news is that I
finished my dive master on Thursday! woohooo The last exam was
Physics, which I passed with 95%. The course was fairly intensive.
Between that and diving and working in the Cafe, i didn't have much
spare time. 5 exams - Physics, Physiology, Diving and the Environment,
dive decompression theory and finally equipment. I learned a hell of
alot and now, I'm a qualified DIVE MASTER.
What that means, is i can work in the dive industry and lead people on dives and stuff like this.
Five minutes after i passed my physics exam, i had a beer in
my hand and was dancing around the Utila Dive Center BBQ.
Then came my snorkel test. Oh dear! They poured 2 beers in, which went
down OK, then the rum came down, followed by hot sauce, at which point,
i promptly pulled the snorkel away and ran to the hose to wash the hot
sauce out of my eyes. It was horrible.
After the snorkel test, we all went to a little bar called Coco Loco's and I fell asleep on
the table, well, more like passed out. I woke myself up and tried to
get home but about half way back to my place, 4 black crack head
islanders surrounded me, pinned me to a wall and went through my
pockets. Taking my camera and a few hundred limperas! GOD DAMMMMIT!
So now I've got nothing left. They have my ipod, cash, camera, and everything else of value that i owned! I feel so violated.
The camera had all my photos of Honduras and El Salvador and the photos
of mum and dad when they were here. So no I'm camera less, credit
card less and cashless.
I kinda just want to go home now. Ive got nothing left, but ill stay
and do my Instructor Course in a few weeks and go from there. Id hate
to end this trip on such a low. So seeing i have nothing left for them
to steal i figure i might as well stay here, all the can get now are my
clothes. They even stole my new flip flops that mum and dad bought me!!!!! Damn this island sucks!
The same night i got mugged, Neil, the owner of the dive shop was
threatened by a local gang and another guy was pick pocketed in the
Coco Loco's. So stay away from this place! Its crime central.
Well, thats enough of the bad stuff. On the positive side, the diving
is still amazing, I'm up to 60 dives now. And I've got 2 weeks before the
instructor exams start, so i must get loads of dives in and a hell of
alot of study.
OKey dokey, well, i hope everyone is OK and give me and email when you get a chance.
----------------------------
JUNE 17TH
Would you believe it if i told you my house was broken into again! A different house, in a different part of town with a different flatmate!
3 times now!
this island is a god damn disgrace.
The crime is out of control and something needs to be done about it. considering I have lost everything I own, apart from a few old clothes, I see no point leaving this shocking island. That would be admitting defeat. Instead, I'm going to fight these bastards and restore order in this troubled community. Nobody else seems to have the initiative to do anything about it so, here we go! Stay tuned, this will surely get interesting.
--------------------
A few days later.
Fed up with being the victim of crime and hearing everyone Else's stories, I worked out a plan.
First, I visited a guy called Shelby McNab. He is seen somewhat as an icon here in Utila. He was born right here in Utila, and moved to the USA to complete a degree. He worked there for some years before returning to Utila to live. He runs a local community tv station here in Utila and is seen as a higher, more respectable force than the local police.
I consulted him about what my next steps should be.
An afternoon of planning and I was scheduled to see the mayor and chief of police. I arrived 5 minutes early to me meeting and was kept in the waiting room for 40 minutes before being led in.
There I sat for the next 2.5 hours, informing the mayor of the distress and fear in the traveling community, listing items stolen, the response of the police, and the general attitude towards utila, and that people didn't feel safe here anymore. Some have left because of this, others stay in fear and the new arrivals that get off the ferry ask if they should go back to the mainland because of rumors of the crime here. Both Mayor Alton and chief of police Giddian seemed completely dumbfounded by these accusations, asking why none of this had been reported to the police. The simple fact of the matter is that the police force all 3 of them are the most corrupt in the country. They are paid 3000 limperas a month - thats around 150 $ US. They catch one of these crack heads in the act and are offered a months pay, and let them go. Its a disgrace.
I told the mayor that this isn't an isolated incident and there are potentially hundreds out there, just like me and to prove it, i told him ill be back tomorrow with as many of them as i can find. We will storm this office and we wont be leaving until you do something about this place!
With that said, I had some work to do. I typed up a flyer, **which I was asked not to place on the Internet*****
Basically stating the crimes committed over the last few weeks, and saying that if we dont do something now, we will all have to leave this place. So before That happens, we need to get together and take this issue to the mayor in force. He may be able to reject one complaint, but when we all get together, he will be forced to do something.
There are a number of dive shops, restaurants and bars on this island. I visited
Altons - Owned by the mayor.
Utila Dive Center
Underwater Vision
Cross Creek
Utila Water Sports
Captain Morgans,
Parrots
BICD
Eco Marine
and a few others
And spread the word about the gathering the next day. each dive shop I entered, i was surrounded by at least a handful of tourists and locals alike who had all been the victims of some form of crime. This seemed to be getting out of control. I had no idea there were this many people
The plan was to meet at the crossroads in front of town hall at 11:30 then, when we have our numbers together, march into the mayors office and demand some action.
At 1135 we had around 30 people. While they waited outside, I headed into Town Hall to let them know whats about to happen. The receptionist told me to go away. I told her to look outside and make some upgent phone calls. She had a look at the growing masses outside and said oh no, we have a problem here and ran back inside. With that, the now 50 odd people, and growing, marched up the stairs into town hall and demanded to see the mayor, chief of police and all his staff. We weren't going to let this one beat us!
2 hours later, we emerged from a heated discussion with the staff and administration and things were rolling.
That night, 6 crack head criminals were caught and thrown in the local jail. Their faces were paraded on TV for all to see and later, some were shipped off to the mainland, never to return, others were taken to Roatan, the neighboring island to be locked up.
Many items were recovered - Ipods, Mp3 players, cameras, laptops, dive computers, but unfortunately, none of it was mine.
We have really made some progress and now I'm seen somewhat as a local celebrity. 8 Guys have been locked up and it feels good.
-----------------------------------------------
July 3rd
Life is progressing perfectly on this little island. Since the discussions with the mayor and chief of police, almost 2 weeks ago now, we have seen a dramatic drop in break-ins and very few reports of any kind of crime at all. The island is once again safe, however the three ringleaders of these gangs are yet to be caught. We know where they live, infact, i walk past their rundown crakhouse a number of times each day. They know who i am now and make comments likie "hey buddy, were watchin you, we know what you up to". They will be behind bars soon enough. They consist of Raymond, Gregory and Stan. Raymond is Stans Nephew and Gregory is a big black crak head that hangs around them. They are extremely elusive, getting others to do their dirty work so its hard to pin anything on them, but I've been doing some investigations of my own and its hopefully just a matter of time before they slip up.
In other news, I have 10 days until the 2 weeks intensive Instructor Development Course starts. Following that, there are 2 days of Instructor Exams, and all going well, ill be a qualified SCUBA Instructor!
Following that ill be copmleting my MASTER SCUBA DIVER Program and thats about all there is to that.
Farewell for now.
-----------------------
Muchos Tacos,
I'm in the last stages of preparation for the IDC - Instructor Development Course. 2 Weeks of hell. There are 8 of us, from 3 different dive shops, going through the course then the exams. The course runs over 2 weeks, drilling us with skills circuits and classroom presentations, lots of essays and stress and in 2 weeks time, the big guys fly out from PADI California for the official Instructor Exams that these 2 weeks will hopefully prepare us for.
I'm brushing up on my dive Physics, physiology and equipment thismorning and later, its time for the dreaded recreational dive planner, which is a table you use to calculate bottom time and nitrogen absorption and stuff like this. Its every divers worse enemy.
In other news, I've recently completed my 100th dive! woohoo, I've seen another 3 turtles - one of them was in a curious position in the wheelhouse of a sunken ship at 30 meters. Another was munching ong some sponge and wasn't bothered at all by us being there watching him for 20 minutes.
Its still superb on this little island, the sun is always shining, days are humid and close to 30 degrees. There aren't all that many people here at the moment, and we suspect that word is out on the mainland about the crime and problems here and people are staying away because of it.
So, thats all the news for now, wish me luck. I wont be on the email too much for 2.5 weeks, and hopefully, the next time you hear from me, ill be an instructor! woohoooo
bye for now
Love Murray
------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------
Monday, July 30th,
I'm a PADI Instructor!
Well, guess what... I PASSED MY INSTRUCTOR EXAMS AND NOW IM AN OFFICIAL PADI SCUBA INSTRUCTOR! Wooohoooo
I came to this island with the intention of doing a fun dive or 2 and continuing my adventures north, to Guatemala, Belize, Mexico and finally the USA where i thought id get ona boat and head back to australia.
Thats the beauty of traveling without a plan i guess, so now I'm stuck on a small caribbean island. I have logged 120 dives, and become a PADI Instructor. I have a house, a bike, a girl, I work in a restaurant and get paid 6 dollars for a 6 hour shift. Its a proper life out here and I'm getting quiet attached to it.
My life would have been so different, had i stayed on the mainland, and headed into Guatemala and beyond and now a whole world of opotrunity has opened up for me.
Many months ago, when i was in colombia, i was posting on all kinds of sailing websites, looking for a boat to take me home. Without much sailing experience, and not all that much to offer these boats, i didnt get a single reply. Now, things have changed. I posted a few entries on various websites, noting my Instructor ability and I've been flooded with offers to work on various boats, travelling all around the world.
So far, i haven't found one to take me back to aus but i think what ill do at this stage is head to the USA for a bit and meet up with Stu, then fly home. I miss the motherland and need to return to australia for a while before embarking on the next voyage, which no doubt will be diving related.
So, the instructor exams were intense. They fly an examiner out from PADI HQ in california. The 11 of us sitting the exams were absolutel nervous wrecks, knowing that if we failed. we would have to wait another month before taking the exams again. Not to mention, fork out 450 us dollars!! So failure was not an option.
The 2 week development course was unreal and we breezed through the open water, confined water, presentations and theory exams, rescue and first aid assessment and everyone in the class passed.
We had one hell of a party after the last exam, which was 4 days ago, and we have all been on a massive bender since, sobering up enough today to start the MSDT training.
MSDT is a Master Scuba Diver Trainer. 2 weeks of study and even more exams and ill be able to teach not just the standard diving courses, but all the specialties to boot, such as night, wreck, nitrox, gas blender, equipment and the list goes on...
I have been so PADIFIED its not funny, all we do is dive dive dive and sell padi padi padi. So when i get home, ill get you all certified.
The island has been good to me and we have an awesome social group and have some great parties. sitting out onthe dock, overlooking the bay and the caribbean sea watchign the sunset. its not a bad life.
So, thats all I've got for now. I hope everyone is well and hopefully, ill be back in aus sometime in the not too distant future.
---------------------
Buenos Dias from Hurricane central - Utila Honduras.
Its 3:30 pm on Monday, 20th August 2007. Hurricane Dean is expected to arrive on our little island paradise in 2 hours. Preparations have been made and an evacuation plan worked out. Apparently cars come down the road, blasting their horns. Thats a sign to head outside and to a school or the local community center.
I was woken at 5am this morning by intense rains. Seemingly the start of Dean. But at 7 when I woke, the sky's were clear. But that didn't last long. Huge black / blue thunder clouds loomed off the South East coast... the frontal system for dean. A category 5 hurricane, just off the shores of our little island.
The huge rumbling of thunder can be heard in the distance.
We have been told to get 2 days worth of food and water and brace ourselves for disaster.
As i sit here, looking onto the flooded street, people ride around with water jugs and bags of groceries. Maybe i should do the same.
All we can do now is wait and see what gets thrown at us.
A bunch of us are taking shelter in Instructor Doms place, way up on a hill. We have been told to bring food, water and pillows. Currently there are 10 people up there and the rains are starting to come down pretty heavy. So im going to pack my bags and head for the hills.
Wish us luck and ill see you all on the flip side.
Instructor Max
---------------------------
Its the 19th of August 2007 - 2 years of Traveling
In 7 days time, i will celebrate my 2 years of traveling. 24 months, living the dream. Meeting a million awesome people and seeing stuff that i never dreamed existed, all while living a life that 2 years ago, seemed like an idea from a far fetched Fictional novel. Somehow Ive pulled it off and I'm still loving it more than ever and im still here!
My travels have taken me to a small island called Utila, off the coast of Honduras. Part of the Bay islands, Utila really isn't that spectacular but
somehow Ive been here for 4 months. What is it about this little island that seems to suck everyone in?
That question has been posed over and over again to all of us travelers that have found ourselves stuck here and we cant quite workout why we are all here. There must be a million other islands, just like this, or better scattered through all 4 corners of the globe, but its this one that has captivated us and found is spending more cash on diving courses than we ever imagined.
Sure the diving is great and the fish are plentiful, we have whale sharks and spotted eagle rays and hey, just last week a pod of 7 orcas was spotted on the east side of the island. There is the odd Hawks bill turtle or 2, and many big threatening barracudas. If its not the parrot fish munching on the coral, maybe its the seahorse and his friend, Mr bat fish, possibly the frog fish, who always seems to be upset at something with his upside down smile and grumpy demeanor.
When we aren't in the water, we will be chilling at the Bundu cafe, my former employer, where for 5 bucks a meal, its a comfy place to hangout and start our night before heading to the infamous treetanic, a tree house bar in an artists garden. Decorated with all kinds of ceramics, glass and driftwood to create a mini garden of eden. There are tunnels and lights and the drinks are plentiful and for a dollar each, we take full advantage of it while the snorkel tests go on and Instructor Bruce gets up and boogies on the bar.
At midnight, last call sees a few free shots and the tightly knit crowd of dive masters and instructors and students heading down the dark and pot hole filled road to Coco loco's.
A little bar on a wharf, which stays open until the last person leaves. Cocos is frequented by a crowd of 99 percent travelers. The main topic of conversation for the night revolves around diving of course, and wondering what the Doctor is up to...
Doctor John, the islands only English speaking doctor will be high off his kite self medicated and swinging from the rafters while his sausage dog, Suzie, who is a male watches from way down below, wishing his master would be a little more sensible.
A few people fall off the dock into the 30 degree Caribbean sea and with a few outstretched arms, we heave them back onboard and they join doctor john in the rafters, soaking everyone below.
The reggaeton pumps and you look around and everybody has paired up, time for you to do the same. Who said instructor / student relationships were banned. Its always a good night and morning comes too soon.
The day starts and all the craziness begins all over again.
Actually, thats why I love utila.
------------------------------
3 Weeks ago a category 5 Hurricane -DEAN- passed by 150 miles north of our small tropical island - Utila.
We were told to prepare ourselves to be cutoff from the mainland for up to a week, to have enough water, food, lights, candles and supplies and be prepared for the worst.
We did as we were told, buying water, bread, food, placing all our belongings in watertight bags.
We fled to the hills, to a friends house way up on stilts and with a bottle of rum and plenty of beers, we sat and waited for the storm to arrive. Midnight came and there was but a breath of wind and light rain.
I took my chance and returned home, sleeping soundly through the night and waking to a beautiful blue sky day. The seas were a little rough but by the afternoon, the boats were cleared to return to the dive sites and everything returned to normal. Or as normal as this mad island can be.
Today is Sunday the 2nd September and the first warnings have come through about our next threat - HURRICANE FELIX.
Yesterday is was a Category 2 and unlike dean, whose eye was many miles north, Felix is headed straight for us.
Today, it was upgraded to a category 4 Hurricane and the eye is right above us.
As of 3am this morning Felix has been upgraded to a category 4 Hurricane and is now predicted to arrive Tuesday night / Wednesday morning.
Its going to be one hell of a show. Unlike Dean, this one is headed right over our heads. People are already buying up water and food and the UCME - (Utila Center for Marine Ecology) guys are taking it so seriously they are leaving the island and heading to the mainland for a few days. Of everyone on this island, these guys are in the know, so it really must be something.
Once again, we have organized a Hurricane party for Tuesday night and i guess, we run for the hills when it starts getting bad and return in the morning.
Boats have already been grounded from Midday Tuesday in preparation. Cross Creek is one of the few dive shops on the creek side, not the open ocean, so we rent our dock out to anyone wanting shelter and protection for their expensive boats.
More updates as they come.. im off to buy a few 5 gallon jugs of agua.
lots of love
Hurricane Max
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------
10:30pm Sunday September 2nd
Things have changed in the hours since my last post.
I looks like we are going to be hit pretty bad. We are right in the eye of this category 5 hurricane, which has already passed by a few small caribbean islands and even in its weaker strength, caused considerable damage.
In the past 3 hours Felix has picked up strength and winds have increased from 60mph to 165mph. Its not only building in strength but its ground speed is also increasing and as every hour passes, we got a more accurate prediction of its path and every hourly update its getting closer to begin right ontop of us with less margin for error.
Tomorrow morning, the first boat leaves the island at 6:20am. We have a meeting in the shop at 7am and depending on how this thing changes tonight we might evacuate.
So at 7 tomorrow, we make the decision whether we stay or go. Ferries leave for the mainland every hour, so there will be a good chance that i will be on one of them, headed to La Ceiba and then west, possibly toward the pacific coast or el salvador, depending on how strong it is.
All this could change and hopefully tonight and tomorrow it will head north and die down but they say there is some warm water jsut west of us that could cause it to increase in strength even more.
Thats all the news i have for now.
I will try to email asap tomorrow and let you know where i am. Hopefully here in the hills with a little rain and some wind.
Its all very anxious excitement at the moment.
More soon
lots of love
Murray
------------------------------------------------------------ -
8am Monday 3rd September
People are starting to worry about this phenomenon. With every passing hour, the projections of its path are updated and with every update, it looks more likely that we are destined for a direct hit. Right now, its a beautiful clear day, the waters resemble a lake. It couldn't be any more like a Caribbean island.
Dive boats have been canceled and will not resume until this thing is over. Possibly on Thursday.
Officially the island has been put on HURRICANE WATCH. A Hurricane watch is issued to land masses in the projected path of a Hurricane within a 36 hour period of it arriving. Its issued to places that are likely to suffer the effects. Later, when the chance of a Hurricane hitting are certain, the status is upgraded to HURRICANE WARNING. This happens within a 12 hour period of the arrival of a Hurricane. Currently we are within HURRICANE WATCH Status but we are waiting to be upgraded with the arrival of FELIX tomorrow at Midnight.
This is the last update ill be posting as im being kicked off the computer so we can pack up the office and move everything to high ground.
Ill be doing the same with myself, running to Instructor Doms place and riding out the storm in safety on a hill.
Ill see you all on the flip side.
Lots of love
Murray
Max.
---------------------
Surviving Hurricane Felix
2pm Monday 3rd September.
The last boat evacuating people from the Island was due to depart at 2pm leaving the rest of us stranded on Utila.
With no outside help, we were to deal with the wrath of Felix all by ourselves.
A few of us headed to the dock to see how many people were evacuating. We arrived 10 minutes before departure. The first thing we noticed was that the normal ferry was not operating. They had put on the big one. The Utila Princess had been called in to deal with the masses.
A long long line of tourists and locals stretched a few hundred people down the dock, all with rucksacks and their belongings. There were the usual backpackers, who were heading to high ground on the mainland, and among the mix, were loads of families - kids, parents, grandmothers, all holding tight and anxiously waiting to leave this little island that seemed to be right in the path of Felix.
The majority were mothers and children and anxious white backpackers. The gates were opened and they all piled onto the ferry. At this point, the few of us watching on started to doubt our decision to stay. If this many people were leaving, what did they know that we didn't? I had a brief moment, of holy shit... run home, get your stuff and join them. It was a little eerie and surreal to be amongst this kind of thing.
However I stuck to my decision and stayed. There were enough of us here, so I wouldn't be alone. Only thing is that after Hurricane Mitch in 1998, the mainland was devastated and the boats were all wrecked, leaving the people on this small island to cope by themselves.
The ferry left 20 minutes late, while we watched on and looks of regret from those remaining filled the dock. What have we done?
It's too late now, so we returned to the dive shop to continue preparations for Felix.
It took us 5 hours to clear everything from the office and move it to the house above. A 2 meter storm swell was predicted to come crashing over our little island. It would leave the shop completely underwater so we had to clear everything from it. We packed up the computers, moved filing cabinets, desks, chairs - furniture - everything to the house above the shop.
Next, we cleaned out the equipment room, the classrooms, the hostel - everything! We moved beds, desks, tanks, wetsuits - everything. It was a 5 hour job and by the end we were absolutely exhausted and for all our efforts, lunch was bought for us.
Once the shop was cleared out, it was a little after midday and the Hurricane was approaching. I still had to look after my stuff, so I ran home and packed everything I had, into plastic bags and garbage bags then into my backpack that I had been living out of for the last 2 years. I moved everything off my floor and onto shelves and was ready with a day bag in case of a sudden evacuation.
Now all we had to do was wait.
Felix had picked up speed and strength over the last few hours and was headed for mainland Nicaragua and Honduras. Straight into the Mosquito Coast. We watched on TV and tracked it over the Internet as it moved toward us. It was still a long way off and wasn't due to arrive for another 24 hours.
We were prepared to head to the hills when the weather turned nasty. But in the meantime, a few clouds were blowing over and it was beginning to look like something was about to happen.
Things change quickly with weather phenomenon like this and nobody can predict what its going to do when it makes landfall. Felix slowed down, and turned to the south, but it was still a huge Category 5 Hurricane. We weren't in the clear just yet.
We slept soundly through the night, waiting for the first winds and rain to arrive sometime around lunchtime the next day.
We didn't really know what to do with ourselves. It was a nervous, anxious wait for Felix to arrive. I woke and there was an eerie sensation about the town. Nobody was left. The streets were deserted. Among the rustling leaves and chirping birds, the knock knock knock of people frantically making the last preparations of plywood boards over windows could be heard.
I went out to the beach at around 10am and looked out to the Southeast. Huge blue clouds had gathered and a spectacular lightning storm was going on. The clouds grew near and within an hour, the rains were on us... torrential rain that pooled in the streets and puddles grew deeper by the second. This was it we thought, but Ross and I had left it too late to evacuate our little glass house by the water. The rain lasted a little less than an hour and we watched closely on the weather channel as Felix made landfall and caused terrible damage to the East coast and mountains of Nicaragua and Honduras.
It looked like we were going to be spared. As it hit the land, it turned South and dissipated and was quickly downgraded from a Category 5 to a 3 and then it was nothing more than a Tropical Storm and loosing strength quickly. Late in the afternoon it was directly south of our little island and we waited impatiently for something to happen. It was a more anxious wait than Dean for us. Dean was 150 miles to the north and stirred up some big waves. Felix turned south quickly and was unable to churn up the seas like Dean.
A little more rain came down with a slight rustling of the trees. I figured I would be safe enough in my glass house and retired for the night, sleeping soundly until at around 4am when an intense wind swept through the island. I was woken by the sound of bottles being knocked over and rolling down the road. I didn't pay too much attention to it and went back to sleep. Morning came and we had truly been spared from any storm damage.
I returned to the shop and we had some work to do. First we moved the office back in then started on the tanks, the equipment and the hotel and 5 hours later, it was all back to normal and life on our little island continued - minus the tourists. Most had fled to La Ceiba, on the mainland, which coincidently was right in the firing line for Felix. The town was flooded. Others headed inland and right into the path of the Hurricane. As it turns out, the safest place to be during the wrath of Felix was right here on our little island - Utila.
------------------------
Killer
It all started innocently enough. A bunch of bored Dive Masters, students and instructors, searching for an entertaining way to pass the time while out of the warm Caribbean waters.
The game was Killer. It works a little like this. Everyone writes their name on a scrap of paper and places it in one container. In another container, everyone writes an accessible location around the dive shop and ground. In the third container - the most exciting is the murder weapon.
Once everyone has paid the 20 limpera entry fee, the game begins by choosing a piece of paper from each container and trying to kill them over the next week.
My first kill took some planning. Helena, a lovely unsuspecting English lass was to be killed with hot coffee on the roof of our boat called the Ulysses.
Very very tricky, but I somehow convinced her to meet me for breakfast. On my part, this involved getting myself up at a very early hour, at least an hour earlier than I needed to be up. We met in the kitchen for coffee and I suggested, with it being such a splendid morning and all that we take advantage of the great day and drink our coffee down on the dock. Brilliant. I climbed onto the roof of the boat, she said, wow, that's a good idea and pulled herself up. After a few minutes of conversation I apologized for what I was about to do and took her out with hot coffee.
Once a victim is killed, you take their victim and they are out of the game. Victim number two was Diana, a German, who by pure chance, she walked into the dive master house for no particular reason. I sprinted down to the compressor room and returned with a scuba tank - my next weapon. The poor German was killed in the corridor of the Dive Master house.
A few days later, while trying hard to get my next victim, I may have been a little too obvious and he was onto it. Not to worry, just recruit a few lovely girls to lure him out and under the roof of Dave's restaurant where I was hiding under a table. He walked in, and I jumped out, killing him with a boiled egg. Interesting to note that 2 days earlier while I was preparing my weapon in a saucer, he was actually sitting in there, I ran out with the hot egg and dropped it on the floor, missing my opportunity.
The next victim was a tough one. A Swiss guy called Fridolin needed to be killed on a hammock with a paddle. How the hell was I going to get him to sit on a hammock!?
A few days passed, a few more people were killed and then there were 5 of us left. Completely by coincidence, we found out that my victim had to also kill me, Marcos victim had to hill him and Ross also had to be killed by the same guy that he was hunting.
Drastic measures after a few too many drinks one night saw me steal the ipod and wallet of poor Fridolin and place it on a hammock. I waited there with a paddle - all night if I had to, but he wasn't coming to get it. So, next trick, pile drive him into the hammock. I ran at him with a few others and we tried to drag him over to the hammock but somehow in the process, his hair caught on fire! Unknown to him we were smacking him in the head, trying to put the flames out and he fought us off, thinking the game was still on and we were trying to drag him to the hammock screaming DUDE YOUR HAIR ON ON FIRE!. Eventually in all the commotion, he realized his head was burning and put the flames out and ran to the basin to cool his head off. It was the funniest thing ever!
We called it quits after that and have divided the winnings up between the 5 of us.
A new game starts tomorrow - the stakes are high and the competition is fierce.
------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=6331021034&save d&suggest
Save me....This is Felix Long Dog. You are looking at a dead dog...
He is about to be taken by a Utilian Gangster and killed and there seems to be nothing myself, the dive shop or even the Mayor can do about it.
3 Weeks ago, Felix Long Dog - a lovely 4 month old Basset Hound was brought into Cross Creek Dive Centre where I work. He was a litter of three puppies, abandoned and left to die while the moronic owner ran to the USA to ride out Hurricane Felix.
Im too cute to die at the wrath of the scum of Utila.
A girl called Anook, from another dive shop was passing by an area called Sandy bay - A gangster filled part of town on this crime infested island. She noticed 2 dead puppies and went to investigate.
There she found little sick and dying Felix. Felix was among his 2 dead brothers. He was in his last hours of survival.
Anook took him to the islands Vet, who gave him some vitamin injections and medication. She looked after him for a few weeks (3) weeks before handing him over to me.
I spent the last 3 weeks with Felix, fattening him up and taking care of him.
On Tuesday 2nd October, I took him to the vet, to get a rabies booster. At
the same time, he had another vaccination for Distemper, Hepatitus B and Bovine Virus.
I purchased a 6 month prescription of Heartworm tablets and a 3 month treatment for Ticks and Fleas. each cost 30$ US.
Felix had his first heartworm tablet the same day - 2nd October and the tick and flea treatment also.
Anyways, now for the details. Today - October 5th - this moronic owner returned from the USA and was informed that one of his dogs was still alive and being taken care of by me. This guy left the island 3 months ago. He forgot he even had a dog and now, he heard one puppy survived and came searching the island for it. Everyone knew i had a dog and word was out. He found me easily and came storming into the office demanding his dog back.
Bottom dwelling scum buckets leaving without the dog -threatening to return the next day to get him - by hook or by crook...
I explained that his dog should be dead and would be dead if it wasnt for us. I explained that when he left the dog to die with the rest of them, he gave up all ownership rights. It would have died with the others if it wasnt for us. I explained that he doesn't deserve to own a dog with that little respect for the animal. I asked what he planned on doing with the dog, he said its none of my business. I asked if he would look after it and he snickered. I asked why he left them to die, he said - they are just dogs, i dont care. Its my dog, ill do what i want with it.
Things got heated and he started threatening me and said he would get the dog ¨by hook or by crook.
I told the big black fool and his team of gangsters that Felix was at the vet having his balls taken off. They ran off and I had time to get some backup and hide little Felix, who was sitting out the back of the dive shop.
I ran back and locked Felix up in the house and a few minutes later, the guys came back. Big black gangsters... 4 of them. and they were furious.
Luckily, i had some backup and we calmed them down. They described Felix and sure enough, he is their dog, but after leaving him to die and returning 3 months later, its completely unreasonable that they should get him back. When he left the dogs for dead, he gave up all ownership rights.
Many words were exchanged and they warned us that they would be back tomorrow afternoon to take the dog by any means possible.
Now im trying to workout a solution. Maybe ill go to the mainland and hide the dog. maybe ill hide him on the island, but these guys are dodgy as, so i think sadly, the only solution is to hand over little Felix and watch him being taken away and living a life of neglect on the streets, eventually getting hit by a car like all the other dogs here.
Its so infuriating. Damn these criminals that live on this messed up island.
If anyone has any suggestions or help, im open to ideas cos at this point, i can see no other option but to hand him over to these crooks.
I tried offering them money but they just want the dog.
What to do?
----------------------
Developments:
Its now Sunday October 7.
The Mobsters failed to return last night.
I visited the Mayor at the first chance i had last night.
After visiting and gathering advise from as many prominent figures on the Island as I could, I was told that this was a unique case and the only way to work something out would be to visit the mayor.
So here we go again. Round 2 with the Mayor of Utila.
I had success last time, so i was hoping the same would happen for this dog situation.
I reluctantly headed round to his house, as we know not to bother him when he isnt at work, but threats from big black scumbuckets deserve special exceptions.
I knocked on his door and a voice from across the road came ¨this better be fucking good¨
Im sorry to bother you at home but i honestly left this as a last resort. There was nothing else to do - everyone told me only you could help.
Ok lets hear it.
I described the big black gangsters and he got on the phone to the chief of police - giddian. Who confirmed these guys were trouble and among a few fights recently, the big one had been pulled over twice in the last week for speeding.
I told him the story of the dog and the guys and the threats.
He made a few calls and after about 30 minutes, he didnt have an answer either.
He stated that we were in a 3rd world country and that our humane laws of animals rights and protection dont exist in a lawless uneducated place like this. These people dont see a dog as a companion, simply as a pain in the arse that eats the scraps from their festering back yards. If they die, they just get another one.
He said these guys were trouble and if they come back all i can really do is hand the dog over and watch it get killed.
He said he would talk to his attorneys today but basically, there is no solution to a problem like this.
If anyone out there wants to take this dog back to the mainland and hide it for 16 days, help me out here.
Its now 4pm on Sunday the 7th and every car that goes past my heart jumps, im just waiting for these crooks to come storming in and demang for the dog, and sadly, ill just have to hand him over...
:(----------------------------------------------------------
More Developments in the case of the Long Dog
This
afternoon at 5pm, I did as I do every day and headed to the ferry to
greet the new arrivals and handout flyers. One of the guys there said
´hey dont look back but i think the dog nappers are waiting behind you´
My heart stopped and slowly and discretely i looked out of the corner
of my eye and saw the big black man and his skinny gangster compadre
waiting on their big blue 4x4.
I waited until they left and ran back to the shop. Unsure now of what to do if they actually turnup.
I
spent a few minutes down the back and while i was down there, they came
to the front, asking for me and said they would return in 20 minutes.
20 minutes came and went and when 40 minutes arrived, so did the gangsters.
I politely went up to them, shook their hands and asked how they were.
They didnt reply and said ´we came to get our dog´
I figured thats why you were here.
OK
then, i said with a sigh and led them down the back towards the room i
had prepared for them to wait in while i collected poor felix.
we
got chatting and they came across as relatively calm and collected
guys. far from their raging manic states from a few nights ago.
I
told them how Felix occasionally sleeps in my bed, and how he comes on
the dive boats every day and eats a billion biscuits and barks at the
water and greets us with his big ears when we come out of the water.
I todl them how we caught captain paul playing with him one day. Paul hates dogs...
I told them there are 40 people i can introduce them to tonight and everyone will have a Felix story.
And
at the end i said if its money you want, there are so many people here
that have already asked if they can donate to a SAVE FELIX LONG DOG
charity.
The guys were reasonable and said
listen, what im gonna
do is leave the dog here tonight and think about it, you really love
that dog dont you, so im gonna go and ill come back tomorrow night and
let you know what im gonna do.
We had a pleasant departing and he left casually on his big blue 4x4.
Now my heart has returned to a normal rhythm and i have yet another day to wait...
crikey...
--------------------------
--------------------------
-------
Felix - The Grand Finale
Thursday
night, a bottle of rum and food with a few guys from the Diver Shop saw
us wandering down to Utila Dive Centre BBQ and partying hard.
At
around 10, we headed towards Coco Locos. After a few minutes of walking
a local pulled up on his bike and asked if anyone wanted a lift. Sure,
why not. After a few metres he said - hey arent you the guy with the
dog?
Yeah, thats me - why?
Im a friend of Craigo - (Felixs original owner) Im going to his house now, do you want to come?
Yeah why not i said
This
guy down the road towards Sandy Bay. We arrived at the house of Craigo
and i heard dogs barking - yelping - crying somewhere under the house.
Nobody was home, so i had a look around but couldnt find the dogs.
We jumped back on the bike and arrived at our original destination - Coco Locos.
I
walked in and saw Craigo sitting at the bar. Unsure of what to do, i
tried to avoid him, but he caught my eye and i reluctantly stumbled
over to him.
We chatted about random stuff and i offered to buy him a beer. Naturally he accepted.
Finally, after 10 minutes of beating around the bush i said so, craigo, whats going to happen to little Felix?
Oh man, you just keep the dog, i aint gonna take your dog from you, just keep it.
Serious?
Yeah man, its your dog, ive seen you with it, i cant take it from you now.
WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOO
FELIX HAS BEEN SAVED!!!!!!
So if i walk down the street with it, is that ok? i asked
of course man, if you have any problems, just come see me.
Wow, thanks man, do you want another beer?
Yeah,
i bought him a beer and said goodnight and partied like an animal for the rest of the night.
Welcome aboard Felix.
Thanks so much everyone for your help and support.
---------------
In other news, have a look at the bizarre stuff going down on Utila.
http://www.aboututila.com/Utila-East-Wind/2006-04/index.htm
---------------------
Shootings and Island crime
On such a small island with only one route of escape, how can it come to pass that there is so much crime on this island? And secondly, with nowhere to go, how are these crooks not captured and punished for their crimes?
Im talking about everything from the minor bike theft that goes on every day to the shooting murder of Boom Boom at a local pool hall last Wednesday night. He was shot 3 times and rushed to the mainland where he died on the operating table.
What has been done about any of this stuff? From what ive discovered - nothing.
with a corrupt mayor, a non existant police force and an island of uneducated criminals, this place is doomed.
I believe it all starts with education and realizing a value of life - every living creature should be given a chance. So what are they teaching these kids in school?
from what i can gather, there doesnt appear to be much of an education system here. Kids of all ages roam the streets day and night and with the decline in fish populations changing the way of life of these locals, and the island become more and more reliant on tourism over any other industry, there must be something for them to do.
Stay tuned... I have an idea...
But before you get defensive, think about this - would you walk around this island alone and at night - or for that matter, during the day? Especially in the Sandy bay area and Camponado. Probably not. Have you had a bike stolen? chances are - yes. Have you witnessed a local beatinga dog - running over it and leaving it to fend for itself? Of course. Have you had your house broken into or know someone who has? - Definately - Especially if you have read this blog. Have you felt scared to walk home alone from Coco Locos at night? of course. Do you know where to get crack, coke, weed or any other type of drug? of course, we get offered a handful of times every day when walking from our homes to the store or ferry or the pubs at night.
About this Blog
-Ushuaia to Alaska- or so I thought.Beginning i...
- Rating
-
- Visitors
- 68,241 all time
110 this month
Comments
felicidades
congrats that you finish some of your courses!!
la vida de caribeño te sienta bien!
cuidese
haber si contestas los mails de vez en cuando
besos ciao
www.fotolog.com/alexandra_mx
ale
Hey Dear!
You a Diving Instructor, that's really cool!
You cant imagine, how a wish to do this course, not for be a instructor like you, just for have fun, maybe you'll can teach me in future:)
And about AUS, when you'll get back?!
lots of love n'
take good care
xxx
elô
Hello from the swedes
Hey Murray! Just read about you becoming a diving instructor. That's awesome dude (we've spent too long time in the states, tell me about it)! We've been back in Sweden for about a month and a half. After watching pics from Montreal and on I miss everyone like crazy! Take care, be safe (we want you in good shape when it's time for the crazy swedes to do australia, hope you're at home by then). Sending loads of hugs and picking you up while hugging;)/ Sofie, I bet Johanna says hi too!
First student
Hey instructor Max,
this is your first student, Angie, greating you from Nicaragua. I'm so happy I made the Open Water 'Licence'. Thanks for this great experience. Will never forget these dives and of course the instructor ;-)
Lots of fishes and fun with your following students,
Angie
P.S. Great blog. Hope to find the time to read more about your travels.
Kinda funny
It does not surprise me that the local boys would end up robbing when a bunch of cheap backpackers invade their island, focus on nothing but diving, and take the diving jobs. Especially when they happen to live right in the middle of the cocaine superhighway to America.
Next time I would suggest locking your junk up and take some time to get to know the locals. Or better yet avoid backpacker cesspools altogether...no, actually, stay in the backpacker cesspools so that I can enjoy the unruined places before you all get there. Have fun diving and pairing up with eachother drunk on cheap rum.
Re: Kinda funny
Lucky Rucksack.
It doesnt sound like you have done too much traveling to make such a statement. If you were truly traveling with a rucksack, you would understand what im talking about. This blog is simply put here in truth to share my experiences and i dont expect people to approve or agree with my opinions. All appologies If you feel offended, but simply put, I say it how i see it.
The view i express for Utila is shared among not just the backpacking community and permanent foreigners but also among the locals themselves who are upset at what this once peaceful and safe island has become. With a corrupt, cash plundering mayor, an insanely corrupt police force. The island is on a downward spiral and held together by the foreigners. Sad but true. I have been here for 6 months and counting and the longer I stay, the more i uncover.
I have posted a note on my facebook site,
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=5402291034
maybe you can have a look at that and hey, if you dont approve, come checkout this place for yourself before jumping to conclusions.
regards,
Murray