The Maya belief system centred on concepts of cycles and balance, and this was especially true for health, which was maintained by a balanced diet, mind and relationship with the natural and spiritual worlds. As with some Eastern approaches to health, the Maya believe in a universal life-force known to them as ch’ulel. Ch’ulel is essentially a spiritual force permeating and driving everything that exists, and a principal goal of a healer is to balance ch’ulel in the body and align it with the natural and spiritual world.

Our friends thought it was such a good idea that we’re having a “Black and Orange but totally Green Halloween” party that has really taken off. At home we’ve had two family costume making nights that brought out everyone’s creativity and enthusiasm and showed how many things you can make with stuff lying around home. Our daughter’s Real Raggedy Ann costume is surprisingly cool looking and everything came from the house. My son’s mummy suit? We didn’t need that old sheet anyway, and had fun cutting it into strips. We’ll smear on some mud and let it dry before the trick or treating and the party. He’s already enjoying it more than anything we could have bought.

Take Advantage of this Special Offer!
A 20% discount on rooms is available on the following dates:
October 29 -December 15, 2010

Cut the onions, pepper, garlic and ginger roughly before putting in the food processor
Then add the dry herbs and spices, the lime-juice and the rum. Blend the mixture on full speed and add as much olive oil as needed to give it a smooth texture.
Rub the chicken pieces with the jerk seasoning and allow marinating several hours (overnight is best)

BELIZE CITY, Belize, Oct. 27 /CNW/ — As of 10:00 a.m. MST, Wednesday, October 27, 2010, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is confirming the safe capture of a jaguar that was at large in Belmopan – central Belize – and is declaring it is now safe for travelers and residents to resume planned trips and tours in and around the area. The BTB is issuing this latest announcement as a follow-up to the U.S. Embassy Warden Message on October 26 alerting Americans of the escaped jaguar.

Belize’s geography, economy and society fostered a sense of interdependence and the need to work together as opposed to the more rigidly divided racial and class structures common to other colonies in the region. People of different backgrounds have always associated freely in Belize and often intermarry, resulting in a naturally diverse and harmonious culture. Belize is the only Central American country having English as the official language, but many people speak Spanish as well, and almost everyone speaks at least a bit of Creole (known as Belize Kriol).

Hurricane Richard, which passed through our area early Monday morning, gratefully had minimal effect on The Lodge at Chaa Creek. Unfortunately, the national electrical grid and some telecommunication services of the Belize Telecommunication Limited (BTL) are temporarily out of service.
Although The Lodge at Chaa Creek is generating its own electricity, the reservations office, which relies on BTL for internet and the national electrical grid for electricity, can only be contracted via telephone at 011-501-824-2037 from North America. The Lodge can …

Belize City, Belize – October 24, 2010 – In light of Hurricane Richard, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) has announced evacuation and relocation plans for all in-country travelers, and travelers visiting Belize in the coming days. According to the Belize National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), the center of Hurricane Richard is expected to cross Belize this evening as a category 1 hurricane; as of 12:00 p.m. MST, the center of the storm was located 55 miles southeast of Belize City, moving toward the northwest at 13 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds remain near 85 miles per hour with higher gusts.

For the uninitiated, Belize is a Central American country about the size of Massachusetts but with a population of only 320,000, and is becoming more and more well-known because it’s a popular port for cruises. It borders the Caribbean Sea on the east, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to the north, Guatemala to the west and south.

This soup can be served with a bowl of rice as a complete meal, however most of the time we serve a small portion with added vegetables as a starter in a multiple course menu.

The essence of this article ideals with the question, “Why go to Belize in the first place?” Belize a place of non-stop adventure and environmental excellence. For those travelers who are attracted to the beach there is the Belize Barrier Reef which is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. It’s rugged, mountain-like range of spectacular walls, coral canyons make this a haven for scuba divers and snorkelers. Stretching for 180 miles, it’s second in the work only to Australia’s.

My days are filled with learning about the fall and disappearance of the Maya, a great civilization that had magnificent knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and calendries. Fascinating, that we are allowed to scroll through the ruins.
Nothing brings me more happiness and peace than blue,clear water–not too populated, warm tropical weather and breath taking beaches. I am in my element when I am snorkeling. In Belize their are atolls and beautiful coral reefs.

Jeff claims that I like to worry about stupid stuff because it distracts me from worrying about serious stuff. Maybe, he’s right. As evidence, take my life-long angst about Virginia Dare, the first European child born in the New World who vanished, along with 116 colonists without a trace. Ever since my parents took me to see, “The Lost Colony”, now playing in its 69th season on Roanoke Island in North Carolina, I have been worried about those folks.

The cottages are very clean and comfortable, mine had an outside shower. The cottages are similar in style to the luxury private game reserves surrounding Kruger National Park, in South Africa. Everything is open air concept, no air conditioning ….but really it is not necessary with the high altitude. There were two ceiling fans and a floor fan in my cottage but I did not turn them on. The restaurant is lovely and the service and food was great.

Fares to Belize can be found for as low as $227!
PURCHASE: By Friday, October 15th (11:59pm Central Time)
DEPART: Saturday, October 16th
RETURN: Monday or Tuesday, October 18th or 19th

Fares each way, based on round-trip purchase and do not include taxes and fees.

We’re looking forward to reading interesting and creative stories along the line of, ‘Why I want to visit Belize and Chaa Creek’ as well as past Belizean adventures, romantic sojourns, special experiences or any interesting Belizean travel story.

The costumes were amazing. Men with jaguar skins and masks, their sweat glistening in the firelight as they twirled and danced, to the rhythmic drumming. Necklets of amber and jade, beautiful feather headdresses, animal masks all swirling, gyrating and generating a heady mixture of sensuality, fear and historic significance.

Belize is unlike much of the rest of Latin America in that English is spoken here by the majority of people rather than Spanish. It is more politically stable than the rest of Latin America and in general it feels more like a Caribbean island than a Latin one. Infrastructure here is improving rapidly but presently there still remain just three main roads. Chaa Creek still has a wonderful range of accommodation with gorgeous thatched cabanas and villas. It has a spa with full use of the canoe privileges. So check out Belize as a holiday destination and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

I’d snorkel, savor local foods, relax at an Eco Spa, visit ancient Mayan ruins, and hopefully find some wonderful crafts to share with loved ones back home. I am sure I’d take more pictures than anyone would care to see, and talk for years about my wonderful experience! I’d Facebook, Twitter, and blog about my Belize Adventure. I’d shout from the rooftops that Chaa Creek Rocks!

The Lodge at Chaa Creek, Belize’s award-winning eco resort in the jungles of Central America is delighted to announce the winners of its Rainforest & Reef Vacation Sweepstakes.