Discover with Zig

31/03/2020

20/01/2019

Naturally when the cold wind blows we . We tighten our muscles, tuck in our chin, cuss a little and hustle our step to find as quickly as possible. Instead, I embrace. I release my urge to tighten and rather relax my muscles. Allowing my goosebumps to rise and warm my body. I lift my chin up to the and close my eyes for a moment. Silence. How long has it been since I've been in complete silence? No cars, no airplanes, no people, only me surrounded by . I hear the evergreens swishing in the breeze and a dead branch creaking and groaning at its attempt to break free. I open my eyes to the marvels of an amazing as I watch old man winter and mother nature dance together. The chilly wind has gently shaken light off the branches to create a wonderland of glitter dancing around me as it sparkles in the sun. I giggle like a delighted little girl. I'm in a living snow globe. Perhaps a tear runs down my cheek from the cold air or from the immense gratitude that is echoing throughout my body.

21/12/2018

18/12/2018

High atop a hill about a mile south of San Ignacio, Cahal Pech is the oldest-known Maya site in the Belize River Valley. The heavy rains from the night before had washed out the road but fortunately we had 4x4. Many would consider this smaller site less impressive than neighboring Xunantunich and Caracol, and would skip it all together. It wasn't in our itinerary, until powers greater than me decreed our fate that day.

The early morning sun was still trying to burn off the fog while plenty of trees created a pleasantly shady site perfect for exploring. Few tourist contributed to the vagueness of a phantasm the archaeological site held. I questioned every turn or hidden chambers. Using the light on my cell phone to wander deep into darkness. To find the hairs on my arms standing on end while fear squirmed up my body forcing me to shake it off and scurry out of the room. I can only image what happened in there. Mayan rulers would appease the Gods by performing blood sacrifices. This could be achieved by dragging a string with thorns through the tongue, cutting the fo****in of the p***s with a stingray spine, and cutting off the tip of a finger. Hebejebes explained.

Seven excavated and interconnected plazas turned into hours of hide and seek as we climbed, ducked, sidestepped, or ran our way through them. I was fascinated how the architecture could only come to life from removing what the jungle had overpowered thousands of years ago. Speculating on how many "mountains" in the area held more secrets.

15/12/2018

“You were the ones I heard giggling like school girls.” We looked at each other and smiled. I had ran a cup of coffee up to my client. (who would like to remain anonymous) We had been enjoying the rich chocolaty flavor of the Guatemala beans as we discussed up and coming adventures. We would find out later that it is hard to find Belizean coffee because almost all of it is exported. Little did we know that it had electrified our conversation so much that they could hear us from down below our cabin. He joined us on our walk to the restaurant, stopping to show us various plants along the way. Vines that contain water, ripping open allspice leaves to release the familiar smell. I shared with him the lovely fruits that Michigan is abundant with. Apples and peaches. Berries. Oh, the berries. Knowing that berries are a such a treat in tropical areas. He reminded me how blessed I am to be able to go and pick blueberries, a super fruit, right in my own backyard. It was amusing to watch our energy grow as we shared a passion for the amazing treasures that Mother Earth provides. We taught each other firsthand, about our unique regions of the world. It’s moments like this, that will keep me traveling and exploring.
We found out that our plans for the day had been washed out. Literally. The rain from the night before was so heavy that the ferry could not take us to the ruins. Also, the cave tubing was cancelled due to water levels being too high. We chatted with the staff and found that there was another ruin right in town. We decided to skip breakfast and go into town instead. One last quick stroll around the property to take in the beauty of the grounds and then it was time to say good bye to Maya Mountain Lodge.

13/12/2018

I lifted the hood of my raincoat onto my head and dash out the door. I start down the steps and came to an abrupt stop. Surprising myself, as I slipped on the wet pavement. What beautiful..... ? The noises weren't loud, I didn't hear them in the cabin, but overwhelming in their density. The chorus was underway with an explosion of energetic . A conglomeration of soloists, busily singing as loud and as often as they could, with no regard for the overall effect. The was coming alive. And so would I, as soon as I got some coffee.
I slowed my steps and took in everything around me. The heavy, moist air. Towering trees stopping the light rain from hitting my covered head. "green" becoming a useless word in my vocabulary as I walk pass the diverse vegetation along the path. Admiring how much variation this color can have with the different tints and shades. Flowers having no problems attracting attention as they project their colors against the background.
I found fresh . An oil shined on top and I knew that I was in for a . I held the cup with both hands and took in the warm. Slowly inhaling the aroma, that forced my eyes to close. I held the cup near my heart and savored how a scent could make me come to life, just like the jungle that surrounded me.

06/12/2018

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
One of the most mysterious and least explored places on Planet Earth, the vast rainforest in Belize is home to an astounding variety of beautiful flowers, colorful birds, exotic wildlife and mysterious ancient ruins.

More than half of mainland Belize is covered in rainforest. A rainforest is like a regular forest except that it gets lots and lots of rain (as you’d expect), meaning that plants and animals really love it. Along with mosquitoes. Don't forget your repellent. 😉

30/11/2018

I love that this guy is winking at me. It's as if he knows what I'm going to use these for. I've learned to never leave home without them. Toilet paper in a public bathroom is somewhat of a luxury unless you are paying for it. Best to be prepared.

30/11/2018

You can research and you can plan and it can still hit the fan. I was going with my gut and decided to grab a taxi and just double check on the bus to Belize. I found one guy who spoke English. Believe it or not, he lived in Pontaic Mi for a little while. Crazy. He told me that they stop taking buses across the border. I would have to take a taxi to the border and then catch a bus to Belize City. Good thing I'm resourceful. I start hoofing it back to town and finally hailed a taxiy to the ferry. I could see the ferry terminal from my hotel room. Maybe I could island hop my way to Belize City. Of course the ferry I needed was leaving that minute and would require an overnight on one of the islands. And they don't run on the days that I need on the way back. I guess the only thing left to do is find a beer. With WIFI of course. I look online and don't really see anything. This all went down only a month ago. Even the bartender is unsure. So instead we practice English and Spanish together. I taught him bear instead of beer and showed him pictures of Michigan in the winter. I ventured around more and found a great taco place. No one spoke any English so I just pointed at things on the menu. Ended up with a shrimp, pork and maybe a mussel or cronc taco. They came with crispy chips and an assortment of mysterious sauces. I tried them all and of course, a few made me cry. Everything was excellent and cost me $2. All that I could do now was get a good night's rest and be ready for my adventure tomorrow. Who knows what it will bring.

27/11/2018

Does this thing really fly with the window open. I wanted , here we go!

27/11/2018

Talk about getting outside and of my comfort zone. I didn't know what to think when the taxi dropped me off at the little airport hidden behind the main one. One small room. A couple of counters a few row of seats. I checked in and she mentioned that my bag was too heavy and big for the cabin. I worried she was going to charge me extra, she said no. There is just barely enough room for the six people that are riding. Ohhhh, I see. Yikes. What have I gotten myself into.
Walking up to it, I thought, how will we all fit? No assigned seats here. The pilot picks where you sit depending on your weight. This Amazon was placed right behind the him. Front and center. So close to him, that I worried about accidentally kicking out some cables by my feet.
He goes to start the first engine. Nothing. He trys to start it again. Still nothing. This is not looking good. You can hear it trying to turn over, "win, win, win, win, win" and then suddenly she bursts alive with a large rumble and finds her rhythm. OK. We've got one engine. I turn around and smile at the other guests. Good God, are we packed in here. Look out the other window. This one starts with no problems. Two propellers turning, this is good. All right let's take off. My anxiety is building.
The little wheels absorb the bumps of the runway as we bounce down it. Pausing to let the engine roar up to speed. It almost felt like the tail was wagging like a dog in atticpation.
We are off. The plane starts to race down the runway. I feel like like I'm riding on the Little Engine That Could, "I think I can, I think I can." And then, just like that, every so gently the wheels are no longer on the ground and we begin our ascend.
I'm in amazement. How intimate. I can see everything. It really is almost like being right next to the pilot. We keep climbing and finally level off. Feeling all of the resistance given to a hunk of metal that propels through the air.
Less than 24 hours ago I wondered what the pilots saw when they flew through cotton ball clouds. Now I know. Nothing. You see, nothing. The turbulence shakes the plane and you can't help but feel uneasy. A few times we would suddenly drop. You found yourself instinctively looking for something to hold on to. Waiting for your heart to find it's right place again because it was thrown into your throat. It was an amusement park ride. Shrieks and then laughter. I smiled and had to have fun with it. Pushing my fear down, as it kept trying to creep back up. Smiling and chuckling at every sudden jolt, shake or drop. The pilot and plane always found their place again. The nose of the plane pierced the cloud and then we were in. Surrounded by a dense fog. Unable to see anything. We would suddenly jet out of the cloud and could see clearly again. I was in awww.
What an amazing birthday present. Experiences

26/11/2018

I think touristy areas are the scariest places to visit. You are a target. No getting around it, sugar coating it, simply, they are out to get you. Boy, did Cancun have it out for me. I want to give a big shout out to this Lady. Together with her husband made it a lot less painful and totally worth it. Thanks a million!!

26/11/2018

They say to keep your enemies close.
Or was it research that I was partaking in? In reality, it was serindipty that brought me to a resort in Cancun. Cancun was everything that I was expecting. A tourist trap, meaning: a crowded place that provides entertainment and things to buy for tourists, often at high prices. Thats the Cambridge Dictionary defination, not mine. At least, that's what I could see from the window of my airport shuttle as I drove down the strip. I honestly couldn't tell you, I never left the resort. Right!?! The irony is unbelievable, isn't it? I was doing the exact thing that I preach about all the time. People travel to go to a resort and then never leave. I see it, I do. You are in beautiful surroundings. Free booze and multiply restaurants to choose from. Just relax. No cares, no worries. But it's not for. I was there for 20 hours, indulged and enjoyed myself. But even after the unlimited buffets I still felt hungry. I felt myself starving for the challenge.
I love how travel pushes people to their limits and gets them outside of their comfort zone. Discovering how resourceful you are when you're exposed to new places, people and experiences. Finding your way around a busy city. Ordering a meal when you don't speak the language. You feel pride when you finish. Overcoming challenges will bring you joy and energy for future tests. Realize how capable you are and build confidence to do more. The resort was fun and a great experience. I really dig you baby, but I've got to keep moving on.

25/11/2018

Who says you can't sleep at the airport? folds down to fit in my carry on and self inflates in minutes. don't scare me. Bring it old man winter. Or be like me and . Why pay for a hotel room when I have to be to the by 3am.

25/11/2018

Had to pull out old faithful for this trip. I don't think there will be paved roads where I'm going. Suitcase with wheels wouldn't stand a chance. I bought this backpack with only the change that rattled around in my pocket. It made it all the way around the world with me. Strangely, the heavy weight pinching into my shoulders....feels comforting. So familiar.

24/11/2018

Who wouldn't want to follow me? Find me on Instagram.