We finally have some video for you! This video is from our first day- arriving on Ambergris Caye in San Pedro, arriving to Cocotal Inn and Cabanas. Robbie making us coconut rum drinks. Courtney and I climbed coconut trees and then the beautiful sunset.

Check it out! September 2009

I wanted to mention something cool that we got to experience while in Belize. (I was hoping Courtney would do this post but seems as though he has abandoned his interest in this website and posting so bear with me here with the Scuba diving terms.)

When we went on our night dive in Ambergris Caye, we ran into a scuba diver who was tied down under a boat with a flashlight just sitting there. Curiosity got to us and our leaders (Ted)  called up to the boat about what was going on. We simply got the response “trying to break the world record.” Ok, so putting it together we figured he was trying to break the world record for staying underwater the longest? I remember snorkeling directly above him and thinking to myself: How does he eat? How does he use the bathroom? Man that must be boring down there?

Will Goodman from the UK spent 48 hours and 9 minutes and 17 seconds under water – setting the world record for the Longest Open Saltwater Scuba Dive.

It is really cool that we got to experience someone breaking a world record. I think we got some of this on video. I’ll see if I can motivate Courtney to do some work on this topic and the video.

This morning I composed an e-mail to the manager of the Holy Cross Angelican School about the grand land raffle:

Good Morning Francis!

Back in June 2009, I bought some raffle tickets for a lot of land on Belize. The money was to be donated to the Holy Cross Angelican School. The raffle was to be pulled in December 2009. I’m not sure if you know or can find out, but has the raffle ticket for the lot of land been pulled yet? I’m concerned as to whether this was a legitimate raffle, as I have not seen any updates on your school website and the website that promoted the raffle before has a new interface and does not mention the raffle.

Here are my raffle tickets.

Any information you can give me on the status of this raffle would be great. I’m really hoping I did not fall into a scam here. I hope the money I paid for the raffle tickets made it to your school.

Thanks!

The response was  disappointing to say the least:

Hi Elizabeth,  Much to our dismay the raffle was canceled. We have been trying to get the money back from the organizer for the tickets sold through Holy Cross.  It is a real mess and I’d like to strangle Alex Canalas.  When school reopens on the 11th we’ll be back to the task at hand.  Hopefully we’ll have an answer for you later that week.  Many thanks for your understanding.  Blessings, francis

Support Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro www.holycrossbelize.org

This is very upsetting to hear. We are sorry for any of you readers who purchased raffle tickets. We hope this gets worked out ASAP and that Alex has a better heart than to run off with the money for the school and school children. What selfishness. I am so so sorry.

I just remembered the raffle I entered for the lot of land on San Pedro.  I got four raffle tickets in the mail. I just did some researching and cannot find whether or not they have pulled the winning ticket yet. However, they said the raffle is to be held in December, so I guess that means only a few more days left! Keep your fingers crossed for us!

If you still want to purchase some raffle tickets: click here.

We received an update from Jerry on little Jackie, who is being rehabilitated at the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is a holding facility for rescued, orphaned and abandoned wild animals that often are kept illegally as pets. Jerry let us know some details about the experience when they went to Caracol on November 9, 2009.

“We went up to the staff quarters and found her fast asleep with the monkey in a hammock. She seemed quite relieved to see the monkey go as it wouldn’t leave her alone and she was worried that after she left in three weeks that the monkey would be lonely.

We made a few further inquiries  and found that she was found tied up at an illegal Guatemalan hunting and Xate camp by members of the defense force about a year ago. Judging by the amount of bush meat at the camp it is likely that the mother was indeed shot, and most probably eaten.

We limped back here with my vehicle and just made it before it burnt out completely swapped vehicles and then went on to the temporary rehab center where she was put in his new temporary home and where she could see Bonny and Clyde who will be her new chums. Yesterday another Howler named Henry joined the gang.

Jack(queline) is trying to reach out to the other monkeys and is showing play behavior already and so as soon as she gets a clean bill of health she will join them. At the moment she is a little out of condition and has pinworms in her fecal sample. These are easily dealt with and not a problem just taking a few days to get her clear. She is also eating very well indeed on lots of wild monkey food so her condition will improve rapidly as will her weight.

As you have had contact with her please be aware that pinworms are very contagious and you should be on the lookout for any symptoms yourself. (YUK!)”

Luckily, Courtney and I have not shown any symptoms of pinworms. Most likely Jackie obtained the pinworms after we had been in contact with her. My guess, maybe passed on from the doggie at Caracol. Unfortunate, but curable!

Of course, we are interested in helping to fund raise and ask that anyone interested in donating to the wildlife refuge (Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary) currently rehabilitating Jackie to contact them. You can donate money, time, or even work for them!

While we cannot be there in Belize, we are looking forward to following Jackie’s progress and hope to help with the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in any way we can. I personally admire Jerry, Collette, and Robin for raising concerns to us and the Belizean people and for what they do. We are glad to also help raise awareness of the disposition of juvenile howler monkeys from their families and the upsetting truth about the whole process.