Garifuna Settlement Weekend Celebrations!

The Parade in Dangriga on Monday Morning



Lots of drumming, singing and grinding goes on throughout the celebrations.
Here the people are reenacting the arrive to Dangriga of their ancestors.
Andy Palacio playing in Dangriga


The Garifuna Settlement Day is officially on November 19th but every year the celebrations start on Friday evening and go right through until Monday night. In Dangriga it is probably the biggest celebration of the year and this town of 10,000 can swell to double that size during the celebrations with visitors returning to their roots from all over the world.

The entire weekend consists of a lot of dancing, drumming, drinking and eating. Everywhere on the streets and in the bars you could see men and women doing traditional Garifuna Dancing plus a lot of grinding going on:)

On Sunday night I along with most people, partied until 5am and then everyone goes down to the waterfront and watches the reenactment of the Garifuna arrival by boat to Dangriga. Later in the morning there is a parade that goes through the town.

If anyone gets the chance to visit Dangriga over this weekend I can highly recommend it as it is an amazing experience, just don't expect to get much sleep:)

Dangriga and Island staff

Here are a few pictures taken in Dangriga and pictures showing the Island Expeditions staff posing for a photo after a recent staff meeting. I work with a great group of people here in Belize, and just like the great people I work with inVictoria the staff here are more than co-workers, they are also my friends.

Glover Reef camp set up.

This stunning sunset was our welcome home as we approached Dangriga. You can see the sun setting over the Mayan Mtns.
This gorgeous sunset happened on our final night at Glovers.
Eagle Ray.

Here are 2 pictures of the camp starting to take shape at Glovers.

Tarpon could be seen right by the dock feeding on small fish.

The three pictures above are of a Pelican I saw fishing just off the dock.
Osprey in Palm tree over looking the beach at Glovers
Here 3 Ospreys can be seen on the reef.







The guys relaxing at Glovers.
Weibuga is the skiff we used to get to and from Glovers from Dangriga.
The thatch at Glovers
The beach at Glovers
The beach at Glovers with the dining room in the background.

On Wednesday Nov 14th I headed out to Glovers Reef on our skiff to help set up our base camp on South West Caye. Glovers is our oldest and most popular of the two large base camps we operate in Belize, the other being our base at Half Moon Caye on Lighthouse Reef (my favourite).

Whilst at Glovers I saw Pelicans, Ospreys, Egrets, Sting and Eagle Rays, Tarpons and Barracuda's. Glovers is renown for its amazing and diverse animal and marine life that can be found on and around the island.

It was a lot of hard work setting up the camp but being out at such a pristine environment was well worth the effort, not to mention the clear blue skies, warm water, stunning sunsets and sunrises and the breathtaking sight of thousands of stars in the night sky! It truly is paradise:)

Back in Dangriga!

View from the office window!
The 2 offices, the one above will be getting a new custom built desk soon.

My new pet, Gary the Geko:)
Dangriga Town.

So I arrived back in Dangriga on November 6th and it is good to be back in the cultural heartland of Belize. I got a great reception and warm welcome from my many friends down here and the Belizeans proved again they are amongst the friendliest people in the world. Knowing so many people meant a big deal returning to Belize this time around and it felt good.



My first 2 weeks have been very busy with a trip out to Glovers Reef to set up our base camp and enjoying the three day party for Garifuna Settlement Day (please see seperate posts).

I've already been out to the Malibu Bar for a few drinks with my friends down here:)

Belize bound again!

Here is a map of Belize that shows Dangriga (where I am based), the Cayes and our two main atoll bases, Halfmoon Caye at Lighthouse Reef and Southwest Caye at Glovers Reef.

This is our base in Dangriga and the office upstairs is where I will be spending most of the next 5 months.

This will be my office view for the next 5 months, not bad hey:)

So another amazing summer has come and go and now I am heading down for another winter season in Belize as Opps Mgr for Island Expeditions. Although I will miss my friends and family, I am looking forward to 5 months in this small Caribbean Paradise and seeing all my friends down there. It only seems like yesterday since I was boarding the plane to fly home last May and here I am all set to fly down again on Nov 6th.

Have a great winter everyone and I'll be thinking of you as I sit at the bar drinking my Rum & Cokes in 80-90 degree temps;)

Highlights of my summer at 5 Star Whale Watching!

Here are a few pictures showing some of the highlights of the incredible 2007 season at Five Star Whale Watching!

It was a spectacular season from beginning to the end full of magical and memorable moments that left you in awe at the wonders of mother nature.