Travel, cooking and web 2.0+

Cancun to Tikal

Back in Cancun, we were happy to be back in a land with great food and we found our motorbikes in the same condition we left them, Tim’s fine, mine still broken. Sought out a local shop and got that sorted we headed through the hotel zone of Cancun, I can describe it like a worse version of Vegas, with a beach. Not a fan – but from the number of tourists there my opinion must be in the minority. We continued further south, doing our best to avoid the boring highway filled with tourist buses.

We found some nice Cenotes (pronounced see-note-es) – caves with water in them.

And saw some wildlife as we did it.

Staying in Tulum, we went off to check out some more old stuff. I didn’t think the ruins were that impressive, but their location was.

Heading south, we enjoyed our final Mexican roadside BBQ chicken feast.

We crossed the border into Belize, it was easy, simple and free*!
[SIZE=1]*well, apart from the mandatory fumigation and insurance… which with some sweet talking to the border guards, we didn’t purchase[/SIZE]

The landscape changed, contrary to Mexico, Belize has taken a more conventional approach to its tropical wilderness – which is bulldoze it for farmland.

We got to Belize City, and toured the city, having a laugh with the locals – it was enjoyable to have long conversations with them (Belizeans’ speak English) – we were told many times not to walk and night, and were offered various substances even more frequently. We still quite liked the city though, Caribbean vibe, with a mix of African-American gangster.

The island of Caye Caulker was our destination, and we found it hard not to like a place which has been hit by a hurricane, splitting the island in two – so they build a bar so you can sit in the spot where the island was.

We went on a snorkeling tour, where we swam with all forms of impressive wildlife
Manatee’s (like a Dugong for the Australian’s)

Sting Rays

Eel’s

Fishies

Sharks

Turtle’s

And beautiful Coral

Back in Belize city, we found some “alternative” routes with all the important stuff

Mud

Waterfalls

Amish

On the way out of Belize city we were stopped at a routine police check point, one more junior police officer was happy to send us on our way, his more senior compatriot saw doller signs at the end of it. The game of chess began. He asked for our licenses, we handed over one our few International Driving Permits, he asked for local insurance – which we didn’t have. I began my BS escapade using one of my preferred tricks – lots of stories, handing him lots of paper, trying to chew through as much of his day till he got exhausted. He didn’t, he was experienced at this. We got to the point where he dragged me aside and said he can do me a favor and cut me a break, but what am I going to do to return the favor. Out of bills any smaller than US$20, one left my hand to his and our transaction was complete and we were on our way.

We crossed through the border to Guatemala, things got a little more serious – border officials with pistol grip pump action shotguns. We followed all seasoned travel advice and road through central America at night time, in the rain, off-road. We got near Tikal and called it quits.

We hit Tikal in the search of old stuff.
Old Temples

Old Buildings

Old Inscriptions

And signs that don’t really need a translation.

Heading further south tomorrow. Bandito country.