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As is always the case with me in a zoo, the monkeys attract the most attention. This being a sanctuary, every creature there is a rescue animal - rejected, traumatized or abused by owners or hunters. Of all the spider monkeys in their area, this guy captured my interest the most because of two reasons - 1) because he was close and easier to take pictures of, and 2) he was clearly ostracized by the members of the troop, who were off playing in a tree some distance off. His lethargy and painful visage really told a story.
Speaking of the troop, they were too far away for pictures (I tried, unsuccessfully) but close enough to observe behavior. They were taking turns swinging from a certain tree branch by the tail only, letting go to leap and grab a nearby branch. This they would do over and over, clearly enjoying the fun they were having together.
Meanwhile, our friend here would glance in their direction once in a while, then resume his sulking on this perch:
Almost always warm-to-hot in Belize, these types of succulent flowers thrive year-round.
Going on cruises is really almost the perfect vacation for those seeking exotic locations and experiences, yet don't want to expend much effort to make them happen. You laze around and eat, either going to the shows and other entertainment or not, perhaps choosing to stay in a room and read while being rocked gently to a solid afternoon nap. I love cruises.
And just like jet travel, going on a cruise is now very much an every-man's activity, available to the social classes from high to lower-middle. The world is a much smaller place than it used to be...
This morning I started the day with a little inspiration (aside from daily Bible study). On YouTube I leafed through some auditions from the show "X Factor", one I'd never seen. Simon Cowell was there along with two or three other judges.
The first I ended up watching was of a guy that weighed almost a thousand pounds, and almost died of the morbidity of his obesity. Being a changed man, he took on exercise and other routines to lose more than 400 of those pounds, coming down to "just" 500+. Meanwhile - unable to leave the house or go anywhere - he sang. The singing wasn't that fantastic in my opinion, but his back story and spirit were an inspiration that far surpassed any talent or any song.
The next was of a guy who lost his best friend when he was just eighteen years old. The song that he chose and the spirit with which he sang had the judges in tears, including Simon Cowell.
It is such a good thing to cry. A person is mentally healthy if he or she can laugh hard, and cry from the heart.
Beautiful indeed, these flowers. Discovered through the years that virtually every time a flower pic is snapped, included are insects and other creatures not noticed until post-capture. Sometimes they are removed, most times not. The pic below features an ant shimmying down about halfway along the stalk:
As indicated in yesterday's post, the Belize Zoo serves as a sanctuary for indigenous species in need of rehabilitation (funded mostly with American dollars via celebrities who've taken an interest). As such, it is small, but very well designed and advantageous to the comfort and care of its inhabitants.
Though the animals are, to us, exotic and interesting, the majority of photos captured on the grounds were those of the plant life - an astonishing variety thrives in the damp, tropical climate. Besides those, four or five animal shots will be featured in the next dozen or so posts.
On that highway we were on our way to the Belize Zoo - more an animal rehabilitation sanctuary than a zoo per se. Every creature there is indigenous to the area, but unique and exotic to the average American observer.
Of course my brother-in-law and myself were on one of those ferries, as the excursions are for me what make a cruise - the boat is just a (relatively cheap) means to get there. In fact, since it was off-season, which we can do now that the kids are either on their own or going to college, we spent more on the excursions than on the cruise itself.
This was one of the houses that we passed off the highway on our way to the Belize Zoo. I've always been drawn to places like this, and wouldn't mind going in to see how these people live day-to-day. I'd be careful about which door I used as an exit, however...
One of the neatest things about reaching a port or destination is seeing other cruise ships either docked next to you or sitting in the water close by. They are fascinating things, these leviathans of the sea that serve as hotels, fine dining establishments and entertainment venues all in one package. If you've ever looked into how they are built and the logistics of keeping them going week after week, you'll agree that it's like no other business.
Today we were having a conversation about whether its cheaper to simply cruise full time or own a nice house. It's pretty close, depending on your standard of living, but I'd get pretty tired of all the hype and pep week after week.
Both of these guys were anchored just off the coast of Belize as passengers tendered ashore on locally-operated ferries.
Artistry is an amazing thing - that which God gives us to make something out of nothing, to create. Go to the streets of any major city, and those that create seem to always draw a crowd with what they can do, whether it be an act of drama, comedy or magic, or making a blank slate come alive with a vibrant picture.
And the media can be the simplest of items, such as these spoons or the shell that's at the bottom right. The artist in this case can make the transformation in just a couple of minutes:
Had to get one of these in while we were there...
I'll call these platter lilies, though they're probably not lilies.
Love this contrast in color.
This and the next half-dozen or so postings will be of flowers in and around the pyramid village. The lush tropical environment supports an astonishing variety of fauna...
One of the more interesting plants in the area...
Ah, the life!
And here we go again, with the rest of the story:
Ah...the life! Don't we all dream of a little thatch-roofed bungalow in the jungle, Gilligan's Island style? An idyllic existence, to be sure. Imagine coming home to rest your soul in one of these places, with none of the distractions of modern life...
This is the base of the pyramid, where our guide was explaining the particulars of what went on back in the day...you can see my wife in the hat with the maroon shirt, with her sister standing alongside.
Naturally, I had to wonder off and take some photos of the environs, including the baptist church directly across the highway:
We disembarked at the Mahahual cruise terminal, hopped onto a bus and ended up in this little town that sprang up around an ancient pyramid. Supposedly the pyramid was 800+ years old, and pretty much untouched since the day it was abandoned.
There is a fascination in knowing that this was once a busy, thriving place for the indigenous peoples of the area, leaving much to the imagination. For example, who was allowed to climb the narrow steps depicted in the photo below? What was the purpose of the platform to which it led? Did all who ascend do so willingly?
The last of the night shots on board - the remaining few dozen postings will be from the various stops and excursions we took during the cruise.
On the horizon here you can see the lights of the Cedar Crossing Industrial Park. Though the ship was still full of people the movie/swimming deck was eerily silent and devoid of activity. A scene with nuns was captured in the movie that was playing at the time...
There are stairways everywhere on a ship. Making it a goal to daily climb every indoor stairway and steps such as these would be a great way to get a workout during leisurely days at sea.
This and the next three postings will complete the pics captured on board the ship for this trip. Oddly, some of the best ones were taken after we had returned and were docked at the very berth from which we'd departed a week before. Due to weather and traffic factors we came in early, so spent the last night moored just yards from where our cars awaited us in the parking lot below.
Because the ship was so still I took the opportunity to get some night shots. Most vacationers were in their rooms getting ready to leave, which left places of interest in the ship vacant and people-free.
What you see here is the outdoor seating in front of the big movie screen. Mary Poppins was singing into the still night air from "The Sound of Music".
Love this color against the dark background.
It amazes me how ubiquitous alcohol is in every one of the world's cultures. To those who argue that moderation is the key (citing the word much in I Timothy 3:8) I would ask, "If everyone in the world suddenly stopped taking in alcohol, not consuming a drop from now on, would the world be a better place or a worse place?" The answer I think is obvious.
Yet the desire and impulse to drink is there - for some worse than others - and is tied to one's chemistry more than most imagine. Back in '84, when I was living up in North Texas, an urge crept up on me to drink red wine. First it entered my mind, then grew into a real desire, then finally in an obsession. I was making plans to jump in my car and rush to the liquor store. By the time it got that bad I was asking myself, "Where's this coming from?!? I've never experienced anything like this before...what's different now?" Then I remembered that a couple of weeks earlier I changed my multi-vitamin in the mornings with breakfast, from Centrum to One-A-Day's. Just to see what would happen I went back to the Centrum and the desire for red wine, much to my relief, disappeared.
Years later - somewhere around '07 or '08 - I was talking to a work colleague in Columbus, Texas, who was a severe, hopeless alcoholic until he discovered pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). After diligently following a regiment of B5, and also diligently exercising his faith, all desire for alcohol likewise disappeared. He went on to become a respected member of his community and did more than most to help direct the youth of Colorado County away from the darker paths of life.
We found the entertainment on Princess Cruises to be a little lacking - as compared to Carnival - but the Fun Director kept things going with shows every night and activities in the Piazza, such as this one with the champagne tree. Though not a drinker, I was mesmerized with the process of building the thing and traditional filling-of-the-glasses from the top.
Below is a closer-in shot with grapes and glasses only:
One of my photographic objectives this trip was to go out early enough to get a decent sunrise photo. This one was culled from at least a hundred captured in about a 20-minute time period on the second morning after departure. The rays striking the water plus the lamp post combined to make this frame a keeper.
Below is said sun on a foggy afternoon:
One of the most entertaining aspects of going on a cruise is simply exploring the ship. These things are incredible with their gargantuan size and variety, and in my opinion is worth the price of a ticket just to get on and ride the thing; the food, entertainment and excursions are just gravy.
Even though we'd been on this one before it didn't get old...in fact it was even better because we already knew our way around a bit.
