Virtual Belize: The Swampy Plains and Mangrove Forests

The other 25% of the mainland of Belize is basically swampland and mangrove forests.

Think hot, wet, tropical funk smell.

Fecund comes to mind.

Amazing (some places) red water seen through the mangroves.

The color of the water attributed to a certain type of bacteria that grows in the brackish water because of the high salt content. Much the same as the pink lakes we have seen in Australia.

Edge of Mangrove Forest

It is easy to see how the swampy plains are completely flooded out during the rain season.

Into the Mangroves

https://youtu.be/uF0DxMrN4Dc

Through the Mangroves and Under the Water

https://youtu.be/4mSDrAQp4dQ

The Mangrove Forests and Swampy Plains are filled with a rich diversity of animal life. Ibis, Egrets, Brown Pelicans and Frigatebirds...as well as herons and Mangrove Cuckoos.  Manatees, monkeys, turtles, anoles, eagles, sea turtles, alligators and crocodiles also call it home.

Little fish use the roots to hide in until they are larger.

These Ibis can also be pinkish depending on their diet.

Egret

Brown Pelican

Since the waters are shallow in the mangroves (and filled with tiny fish and crabs) it is the perfect fishing spot for the birds.

Frigatebird

Which looks a little bit like a seagull on steroids.

 Mangrove Cuckoo

And the Manatee

Huge harmless vegetarians that you can actually swim with in Belize!

Snorkeling with the Manatees

https://youtu.be/gdq2VoQM2r4

I have to admit, I fell in love with these gentle giants in Tampa, Florida and have been smitten ever since!

They have a great Adopt A Manatee Sponsorship Program 

https://www.savethemanatee.org/how-to-help/adopt-a-manatee/

that I intend to join later this year.

One of my Life List Items.

And the Belizean Mangrove Forest is also habitat for

Sea Turtles 

As well as Crocodiles

 No, they don't mind the salty water a bit.

Keep your eyes open.

 Next time we will begin to explore the beaches and cayes (pronounced Keyz) of Belize.

Until then...



Hike through the Mangrove on the Boardwalk at Wee Wee Caye

https://youtu.be/n0Q3LslellI

Virtual Belize: Exploring the Rainforest

And we've made it!

75% of Mainland Belize is covered in jungle/rainforest.

Much of it is devoted to a National Park. Sanctuary for the amazing diversity of plants and wildlife found here.

The first thing you'll notice is the aroma.

There are over 4000 types of flowering plants scenting the air...including 312 different varieties of orchids.

Like putting on all your floral cologne...at one time!

Beginning with the Belize National Flower

The Black Orchid

And so many more..

Here are a few...

Of course, all the wonderful smells attract butterflies and birds!

 

And through the thick canopy you can hear the voices of the Howler Monkeys overhead.

Take a listen for yourself.

https://youtu.be/kccBZElvTNw

Loud...numerous...and maybe even a little creepy.

These rainforests are also home to Jaguars...both black and orange/black coloured.

 The latter know as a Royal Gibnut...because when Queen Elizabeth visited the  country in 1985 she was served this bush-meat (which is a delicacy in Belize) with the London headlines the next day screaming

"Queen Served RAT During her Visit to Belize"

 Before this, the large rodent was just called a Gibnut.

Belize Rainforests

https://youtu.be/vdQQ1MLunqQ 

Needless to say amidst such natural beauty Eco-tourism thrives and there are many great places to stay and enjoy it!

Hike the Rainforest

https://youtu.be/UKM-eWwOSOI


I hope you have enjoyed this virtual trek through the rainforest!
 

 See you soon!

 

...Politics...Wuhan Virus...Kobe...and a Golden Toilet

Yeah...we'll get back to Belize...but first-

The Senate Trial has started...shall we save Larry or kill Larry?

(...obscure Larry the Lobster Reference...)

The House Managers pretty direct laying out the facts of the Impeachment.

(...while the GOP in the Senate doodled, played with Fidget Spinners (I swear I am not making that up) and blocked things like

Documents

Witnesses

Evidence

What the actual FUCK???

Who has a trial without...well...all of those.

(...better still...what does an innocent person need to block any of the above...)

Today, there was so much talk about Hunter Biden from the defense team you might actually think he was the one on trial here.

(...newsflash...even if Hunter Biden stood in the Ukraine and shot Zelensky in the face with a gun...it really is not part of these proceedings and is therefore irrelevant...this is about Trump's impeachment and whether or not he will be removed from the Oval Office...)

Try to stay focused.

and Ken "Let's Try Bill Clinton for Lying about a Blowjob" Starr

had the audacity to say he thought there were "...getting to be far too many impeachments..."

Uh....there has been 3...in 243 years...

I know.

Excessive.

To be fair...the video of him saying this was made much more palatable when someone in the Twitterverse reposted it with a canned laugh-track at the end.

Know what is not a laughing matter?

The Wuhan Virus.

I've been watching this one for the past week or so...

Novel Corona Virus- Wuhan

Common Cold or Rhinovirus


Found initially in Wuhan China, it is spreading at an alarming rate. Given that we are 24 hours or less (via plane) from any Pandemic now...we need to pay attention to this one.

Now it has spread to 16 different countries...and here in the US we have confirmed cases in California, Washington, Arizona and Illinois.

3 cases in Virginia tested negative.

1 case in New Jersey (still waiting for test results)

1 case in Michigan tested negative

2 cases in  New Hampshire (still waiting for test results)

There have now been 82 deaths and 2,700 cases now confirmed in Mainland China.

The most alarming part to me is that on Saturday there were only 59 deaths, less than 2000 confirmed cases and only spread to 12 countries.

The reason this one is a bit different is the ease of which it seem to be spreading. 

Right now they conservatively say maybe 2.5 or 3.1

That means every infected person will likely infect 2 or 3 people easily.

No...your flu shot won't stop this one.

This virus is entirely different...and mutating. 

And spreading a lot like the common cold.

Way too early to say...but conceivably this could be our next Pandemic.

Update:  According to the CDC as of 10 PM today there are now 4,515 confirmed cases in Mainland China and 106 people are dead.

 ~sigh~

And yesterday...when we thought it couldn't possibly get any worse...we got our hearts broken

 When Kobe Byrant (Lakers Legend)...along with his 13 year old daughter and several other people were killed instantly in a helicopter crash en route to her basketball game.

He was 41.

It is inconceivable to me the hell and pain his wife is enduring today...not only losing her beloved husband and father of their other 3 children...but also the loss of her child.

In one horrible moment.

RIP Kobe and Gianna.

and THIS?

  








 A golden lidded toilet from the estate of Frank Sinatra for sale.

(...someone should alert The Donald...)

proving that even in bathroom matters

"...he did it his way..."




 Back to Belize Tomorrow...I Promise.

SNOW...January's "Hot Buttered" Getaway...and Return of the GSC

Woke to SNOW this morning!

Finally.

Let it snow...let it snow...let it snow!

So beautiful out...collected in the sweeping boughs of the fir trees in the back, and outlining the twisted branched of the black locust directly outside my patio doors.

I've been waiting for it.

Just a slow relaxing weekend here.
Lisa and Tina and I have rescheduled our Sister's Day.

A nice bit of down time after a week of non-stop socialization.

Early this week, Chris and Don & Tina and I enjoyed Chinese Brunch and Chat during our Winter Visit together...and parted with

"...see you in Spring!"

And John and I disappearing mid-week for our January Adventure.
A couple of days in the Avon/Plainfield area.  Dinner at Cracker Barrel with BBQ chicken topped with apple-cranberry chutney (which I NOW must learn to make...so good...) and green beans, sweet corn and warm buttery mashed potatoes.

You know WHAT ELSE is good with warm butter ???

POPCORN and the (final???) Star Wars:The Rise of Skywalker on the wide screen!

Where the old spring type uncomfortable seats of 1977 have been replaced with power recliners!


And the way they divide their seating up makes it easy to sit on end section and transfer from my wheelchair to absolute padded, reclining bliss for the duration of the movie!

"I like it here...I'm staying!"

Opening with Kylo Ren, who obviously still has anger management issues, and the lush Star Wars theme of John Williams and the prologue scrolling up the screen...

And both of us realizing that (incredibly) Star Wars has spanned almost a half century.

References/visuals throughout bringing us back to the 8 previous movies.

It was PERFECT.

The Death of Leia...

The Redemption of Ben (formerly Kylo)

The Introduction of ANOTHER oh-so-cute droid  (D-O)

More CGI beasties.

The Destruction of Emperor Palpatine and the end of the Sith.

The Closure for Rey.

The Triumph of the Resistance,

And the very best part for me...the entire thing coming full circle and ending exactly back where it began all those years ago...in the sandy ruins/remains of the home we saw in 1977...Luke Skywalker's Aunt and Uncle's place in the middle of nowhere.

This was a cinematic touch of brilliance.

And...there was warm buttered popcorn, whose presence cannot be underestimated...lol!

John found this while we were out

which summarized the two days, wonderfully.

Friday, Diane and I had coffee and chat before her month-long trip to Florida...and last night James dropped by for a bit.

Yes...it has been a very "peopley" week.

So...here is to two completely unscheduled people-less days of relaxing, recharging, reading, painting, and hot bubble baths!

Just ordered this year's Girl Scout Cookies!

(yep...they're back)

The accumulating snowfall, warmth and Willow Woodwick crackling candle just adds to the ambience.

"Time to worship my fireplace."
                                      ~Sofi

"Time for a nap."
                           ~Gadget



Have a very Zen Weekend!

 







And the Cookies are here!!!

And Emma Gene...my tiny leprechaun connection...

Thanks, Hon...

(....slipping into a tiny GSC coma...)