After Altun Ha, we decided to go to Lamanai, and part of the attraction was going down the New River in a speed boat. It indeed was a wonderful trip, the boat zooming ahead between thick growth of a variety of plants and trees. The boatman stopped in between giving us information on some plants which I had never heard of or seen before.
Our day started with an early breakfast and then an hour drive towards Mexico through the outskirts of Belize city.
Cashew trees lined the side of road. Ian, our guide stopped the van and plucked a cashew pear. The upper part of the fruit called cashew apple is edible but not when it is unripe. The lower part is the actual cashew nut. It is covered by a black membrane which is highly toxic if consumed. Even the smoke, while roasting it, can cause a lot of damage to lungs and eyes.
Only after cashew nut has been roasted properly it is fit for eating. However, Belize only produces cashew for locla consumption.
After sometime, Ian stopped again to show us a line of iguanas on wall basking in the sun. He said people eat them and commonly call them "bamboo chicken" !
The van turned into an offbeat road which led to the banks of New River or Rio Neuvo in northern Belize. This is from where we start our onward journey on water to Lamanai.
The boatman steered the boat towards a corner where on the tree trunk were resting plenty of bats, camouflaged and it took us sometime to see them.
Going down the river, you see plenty of water lilies in full bloom which close as the sun sets.
All of a sudden the boat stopped and we were shown a tree trunk on which a cactus entwined itself like a snake. It is indeed known as the snake cactus or devils cactus !
There are plenty of epiphytic plants in Belize which take the support of a tree but take their nutrition from air or surrounding areas. They are not a parasite on the host plant.
Orchids too are epiphytic plants, above is the black orchid, the national flower of Belize.
Shipyard is a Mennonite colony in Orange Walk district of Belize.
Mennonites settled here in the 1950s. They are primarily an agricultural community. 70% of the Belize's produce of beans, milk, cheese, corn, chicken, eggs, pork comes from them. People throng to this community to get stuff at a better price. They do not interact with the outside community and lead a very conservative lifestyle. They drive tractors and carts with steel wheels for farming.
They are good at making furniture.
Women in this community generally speak German while men also speak Belizian Spanish, Creole and English.
It was Good Friday so we did not see any person outside in the village.
Mennonites use the traditional methods using kayaks for fishing.
Our day started with an early breakfast and then an hour drive towards Mexico through the outskirts of Belize city.
raw cashew nut and pear
Only after cashew nut has been roasted properly it is fit for eating. However, Belize only produces cashew for locla consumption.
After sometime, Ian stopped again to show us a line of iguanas on wall basking in the sun. He said people eat them and commonly call them "bamboo chicken" !
The van turned into an offbeat road which led to the banks of New River or Rio Neuvo in northern Belize. This is from where we start our onward journey on water to Lamanai.
check out the boat!
all ready to depart
a baby crocodile sunbathes on a log
another one
Old Master Rum distillery
Instead of going towards Lamanai, we go in the other direction where our boat captain showed us the Old Master Rum distillery. Nearby, on water, were jacanas, known as Jesus Christ bird so called because they can walk on water.
rehabilitation center
Surprisingly, just next to the distillery was a rehabilitation center (what an ideal location for rehabilitating people with a drinking problem!) which has been closed for sometime.
The boat captain started whistling after this to beckon the spider monkey living on the small island.
It had had its full meal given by the tourist boats coming before us so he just ignored us. His partner was bitten by a snake so he is leading a solitary life.
Soon the direction of the boat was reversed and we headed 26 miles upstream towards New River lagoon to our destination.
The red house in background is McAfee's (security software guy) house
a termite nest
Most of the journey on river was spent on looking at thick growth of forests and water lilies on river side.
The boatman steered the boat towards a corner where on the tree trunk were resting plenty of bats, camouflaged and it took us sometime to see them.
Going down the river, you see plenty of water lilies in full bloom which close as the sun sets.
All of a sudden the boat stopped and we were shown a tree trunk on which a cactus entwined itself like a snake. It is indeed known as the snake cactus or devils cactus !
snake cactus
There are plenty of epiphytic plants in Belize which take the support of a tree but take their nutrition from air or surrounding areas. They are not a parasite on the host plant.
A Mennonite village in Shipyard by the New River
Shipyard is a Mennonite colony in Orange Walk district of Belize.
Mennonites settled here in the 1950s. They are primarily an agricultural community. 70% of the Belize's produce of beans, milk, cheese, corn, chicken, eggs, pork comes from them. People throng to this community to get stuff at a better price. They do not interact with the outside community and lead a very conservative lifestyle. They drive tractors and carts with steel wheels for farming.
They are good at making furniture.
Women in this community generally speak German while men also speak Belizian Spanish, Creole and English.
It was Good Friday so we did not see any person outside in the village.
fishing on New River
exciting boat ride
nearing the dock at Lamanai on New River lagoon
the dock
We get down, stretch and continue further into the ruins of Lamanai......
what a beautiful place . will try next vacation!
ReplyDeleteFascinating
ReplyDeleteWow. You write so well it seems I am there
ReplyDelete