under cover of the night

Under cover of the night.

Hung out at the Barton Creek eco lodge near San ignacio Belize.

Its really is a nice set up with the lodge being right on the river, the corner hammock being spitting distance

from the gently rolling river. The blond headed kids are sweet to have around, with their playful attitudes.

There is a new addition to the family with a recently flown in incredibly tame parrot, just dropped in one day and has stayed.

The nearby cave is privately owned and charge 50$ to enter, but that didnt stop us from using the BartonCreeks canoe and going in "under cover of the night".

Paddling the river and then into the cave down its 300 meter thoat before it gets too cramped and pinched.

The Mennonites in the area add a strange element to the scene. Never really spent time in one of their villages before.

Had dinner with the neighbors, no charge, religious conversations ensued.

I had contacted Barton Creek through Couchsurfing, although happy to reccomend the place (not the high price for food), I cant in anyway see how it works with couchsurfing. Funny though, an Australian girl had got the free camping deal (which would have knocked off only 10$ off my bill, I guess being young with a pretty face helps with these things.

Still would have been nice if they honored that. But thats not all, a strange kind of cheap, cash grab was aked, after we rode the Britt's truck into town, which would have had me pay again. (Could have been a misunderstanding).

This also wrankled me in that, all the guests were being kicked out, due to the new university group arriving. I was offered a ride into town, and then asked to pay for it, when they were going into town anyways.

So now I dont know what to say as a couchsurf reference.

I realize that working in tourism isnt for everyone, but its sad to see when it makes people bitter and apathetic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sthRYIB91P8

Surprise!

Surprise!!!

These days bringing laptops through customs is yet another thing to be scanned, processed and poked at.

Stacking them up with hard drives wont help you get through security any faster. But what surprised me was upon leaving Mexican customs

they asked to see them again. Turns out there are some strange "age of the machine" and importation regulations now.

Surprisingly they wanted to see the operating system and specs. Well, when you boot up my Acer with the Lubuntu OS you get

the annual Wreck beach photo of the summer.

I would recommend it as a screen saver, certain to get a laugh, and get you out of any bureaucratic snafu

where you are required to open and show your computer.

Popping it open brought amusement to many of the passengers and guards.

I have been running into hard of hearing people lately, and as much as I sympathize, I find it frustrating dealing with the deaf.

I had a somewhat deaf taxi driver recently, and rather than recount the "comedy of errors", I would say it was amusing (but certainly not at the time of the ride).