Friendly Belize

Belize City is known as one of the most dangerous towns in Central America, according to some guide books. Most people use it as a quick stop before heading off to the beaches, or cruise passengers simply spend their time shopping in the terminal or heading off on an organized tour.

It is worth it however to spend a day or two exploring this bustling town. So before you judge Belize City, ignore what the guide books have to say and check it out for yourself. The largest city in the country, it is filled with friendly people great food and a fun atmoshpere.

Belize is steadily growing as a popular stop for Cruise liners. The terminal is one of the nicest buildings in the city filled with shops and eateries. Passengers rarely leave here unless they are running off on a tour to see the sites. It is too bad for Cruisers, they never really see the real Caribbean cities that they visit. Each Terminal looks and feels like the last and yet to walk around the downtown area, you will find a unique energy and vibe.

Explore the architecture from stilt houses to Colonial buildings left over from the English settlement of the 1500's. Make sure to stop for some food while out and about. Belize city offers local fare, seafood and international cuisine. Culture, food and even language is varied in this small Caribbean nation. People speak the official language of English, but are also fluent in Creole, Spanish and even Mayan and German.

Now that you have actually explored Belize City and realized that it isn't the big bad city that you thought it was, you can catch a water taxi with peace of mind. You aren't running away from anything, you are simply moving on to see the rest of beautiful Belize. From downtown, you can catch a water taxi for $10 to take you out to the Cayes on the Caribbean Sea.

The relaxed Caye Caulker is a popular place for the backpacker crowd. Far less touristy and quieter than Ambergris Caye, it feels as if you are relaxing in Jamaica. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island keeping noise and pollution to a minimum. You will see the odd golf cart or you can rent a bike to check things out. Rooms are cheaper and you won't find any enormous resorts desecrating the land.

While there, you have to take in the sites and the number one excursion is to hire a guide and boat to take you out to Shark Ray Alley. Located 1 mile from shore is the Belize Barrier Reef. A protected marine preserve for since 1996, it has a healthy stock of marine life and coral. The highlight of the trip however is having the chance to swim with a group of nurse sharks and manta rays that inhabit the reef.

The blue hole is one of the most famous dive sites in the world and it is located in the waters of Belize. A perfectly formed giant blue hole in the middle of the sea attracts established divers. At 400 feet deep, it is not for new divers. If you have your deep diving certificate, you will be able to bounce down to 150 feet here where you will witness giant stalactites in still deep blue water. Most operations chum the water to attract sharks that circle above as you complete your dive.

You don't just have to go out to the Cayes to dive and snorkel. Sail boat trips are popular as well. There are several places to go to and why not explore some of the other surrounding islands. Walk down the main dirt road of Caye Caulker and you will find companies offering up excursions and ideas.

Dining is high on everyone's list when traveling and Caye Caulker has its fair share of restaurants. There is jerk chicken, fresh seafood and western flare. After dinner stop in at a beach bar and enjoy a cocktail as you look out over the Caribbean Sea. You won't find crazy nightclubs, but you will find a great bar to listen to music while you relax in the islands.

There is so much more to do in beautiful Belize that you need at least two weeks to see it all. Jungles and caves, wildlife and sanctuary's Belize has something for everyone. Even Mayan ruins can be found in the country and beaches aren't only out on the islands, Placencia actually has the most beautiful beach in the country and it is located on the mainland.

It won't take long until development catches hold in Belize and it turns into another Cancun. Unfortunately, that is the way of the world. So don't wait, visit Belize today and get to know the people of this laid back country filled with beautiful scenery and breathtaking views.

September 27 2009 | Travel | No Comments »

Discover How You Can Learn To Speak French The Easy Way

No doubt learning French can be more difficult as an adult, when compared to a child or a high school student. This is largely because as you grow up your means of learning undergo a distinct change. If a grown up is learning a language he or she will learn it by comparing it to the language they already know. A child on the other hand, just takes in whatever he is taught and as and when he is taught.

Our language abilities tend to slow down a little as we grow older. It's always easier, therefore, to pick up a language in school rather than later in life. One of the main reasons for this is that adults we tend to question why the language works in a particular way, why the structure of the words are not similar to the structure of our native tongue. It's easy to get annoyed by conventional language programs, since you'll need to put in a lot of hard work and progress will be slow.

But this does not mean that as an adult you can't learn the French language. The French language is fluid and exciting and you can pick it up easily, no matter how old you are. You just need to find a course which suits your specific needs and can be worked into your daily schedule. In recent years great and significant developments have been made in the area of language education.

A few tips will help you pick it up more easily. Here are some basics to help you learn French as efficiently as possible, and to make it an enjoyable experience.

Practice Makes Perfect

We've all heard it before, but it's a lot harder to actually get around to practicing our French as often as we should. Using the French we've learned is the best way to keep it fresh in our minds. Consider putting up notices to find people interested in speaking the language with you, or join the Alliance Francaise. Find neighbors and others in your community who speak French. Of course, if you get a chance to go to France, that's the perfect place to practice!

Passive listening:

You can absorb French by listening to it, even if you don't understand everything that's said. During your commute, listen to French music or even books on tape. You can also do this while you're doing chores or getting your exercise. Soon, you'll start to understand and recognize words.

Vary Your Practice

Work out a schedule for the whole week. Do different things everyday. With monotony, you might get bored quickly and loose interest in Learning French.

Do it everyday

Daily practice of any language makes it stick in your memory more effectively. That's as true for French as it is for any other language. Use some of the many practice techniques out there. It's more important to practice daily than it is to have the best method.

Try Online Programs

There is a possibility that you might not be able to find regular classes that can be fitted into your work schedule or something similar. But if you are still determined about learning the language you can use help of the Internet. There are a lot of good courses online that you can make use of. Look around, find something that suits your purpose and practice daily. You will see that you start speaking French, fluently, soon.

June 09 2009 | Travel | No Comments »