March 15, 2009
We spent last week at the lodge. No internet or phone yet but the loaner modum for the fixed cell does work so this week we buy an antenna and I guess we're in business. The satellite dish should be installed on Wednesday but since the tech has yet to uninstall it from its present location, I have my doubts. And complaining does nothing, so why bother to complain? The cable should have been installed today - I wonder. We have yet for one thing to be done at the appointed time. But, progress was made. We found the Mayan guy who cuts trees for fence posts and think we have him lined up to deliver this week. The cable guy was lined up as well. The electrician showed up and did most of his finish work. At least there's light now. And, Rusty installed the doors and I painted them so we can now lock up the bottom level of our house. So, this week we plan to pick up our order from the States and get going on the rooms in addition to fencing our yard for the dogs, cleaning more floor tile(we're recycling) and painting. Maybe by the end of the week, I can post from the lodge...
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Brain overload!
March 7, 2009
Too much in my head these days. In the next three weeks, we have to move ourselves, my dad(yes, he is moving to the lodge with us), our two dogs and all our earthly possessions off an island and 150 miles miles south into the jungle. And, what do you think is the thing that worries me most? You guessed it - the dogs. They will have to fly at least the first part of the trip over to Belize City. One at a time since the small planes can carry only one large dog carrier with passengers. Then, we have to pick them up for the trip south - 4 hours by road. Mind you, these are dogs that have never ridden in a car before, much less an airplane. The younger dog is a one year old half American bull/half Pitbull mix who is gentle and well behaved normally. When nervous he tends to chew things though, so we may have nothing left behind the front two seats by the time we reach the lodge.
Too much in my head these days. In the next three weeks, we have to move ourselves, my dad(yes, he is moving to the lodge with us), our two dogs and all our earthly possessions off an island and 150 miles miles south into the jungle. And, what do you think is the thing that worries me most? You guessed it - the dogs. They will have to fly at least the first part of the trip over to Belize City. One at a time since the small planes can carry only one large dog carrier with passengers. Then, we have to pick them up for the trip south - 4 hours by road. Mind you, these are dogs that have never ridden in a car before, much less an airplane. The younger dog is a one year old half American bull/half Pitbull mix who is gentle and well behaved normally. When nervous he tends to chew things though, so we may have nothing left behind the front two seats by the time we reach the lodge.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Long day
March 6, 2009
Two steps forward and one step back. It's the Belizean way. The internet may happen with the hand me down dish - at least I have positive info from the dish guy after waiting all of yesterday for him to finally show this morning. The phone is a whole other story. Bamboo pole or no - looks like it's a crap shoot on whether we can get a signal. So, next week we carry a trial model down to see what if anything we can get. Keep your fingers crossed!
On a very positive note, I took our first booking for the lodge under our ownership. Talk about panic! I know how to take care of guests - that's not the issue. The issue is the thousand things I would like to have done before they put one foot on the property. I've got to get into that "manana" frame of mind.
Two steps forward and one step back. It's the Belizean way. The internet may happen with the hand me down dish - at least I have positive info from the dish guy after waiting all of yesterday for him to finally show this morning. The phone is a whole other story. Bamboo pole or no - looks like it's a crap shoot on whether we can get a signal. So, next week we carry a trial model down to see what if anything we can get. Keep your fingers crossed!
On a very positive note, I took our first booking for the lodge under our ownership. Talk about panic! I know how to take care of guests - that's not the issue. The issue is the thousand things I would like to have done before they put one foot on the property. I've got to get into that "manana" frame of mind.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
It's an uphill battle...
March 4, 2009
So, you would think that simple things like phone and internet service are a given, right? Well, not if you live in the jungle of Belize. I seem to be moving to the Bermuda Triangle of Belize where no signal survives and no one "can hear me now". Tomorrow, I will find out if internet satellite service is a possibility. If so, I can get my hands on a used dish and we'll be set to go. I know, I know - a used dish - but in this economy, even my satellite dish is a hand-me-down. That will take care of internet but there's still the phone problem. So, for that we have to buy a fixed cell and an antenna which will go on a bamboo pole to get high enough to catch the elusive signal. I still don't know if that bamboo pole is tall enough to beat out the ceiba tree, but we'll see...
So, you would think that simple things like phone and internet service are a given, right? Well, not if you live in the jungle of Belize. I seem to be moving to the Bermuda Triangle of Belize where no signal survives and no one "can hear me now". Tomorrow, I will find out if internet satellite service is a possibility. If so, I can get my hands on a used dish and we'll be set to go. I know, I know - a used dish - but in this economy, even my satellite dish is a hand-me-down. That will take care of internet but there's still the phone problem. So, for that we have to buy a fixed cell and an antenna which will go on a bamboo pole to get high enough to catch the elusive signal. I still don't know if that bamboo pole is tall enough to beat out the ceiba tree, but we'll see...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
It begins.
March 3, 2009
It all started 13 years ago with our first job in tourism in Belize at a jungle lodge. From there we moved on to the Mayan Princess on Ambergris Caye for 12 years and now we are ready to head back to the jungle to live at our own little place called Tranquility Lodge. One day excited, the next terrified - that's the emotional roller coaster we have created for ourselves.
I will write about the ups and downs, the battles and the beauty, the frustration at getting nothing when I want it, the getting it and it not being what I wanted anyway, and the most-of-the-time joys of living in Belize. Welcome to the jungle!
It all started 13 years ago with our first job in tourism in Belize at a jungle lodge. From there we moved on to the Mayan Princess on Ambergris Caye for 12 years and now we are ready to head back to the jungle to live at our own little place called Tranquility Lodge. One day excited, the next terrified - that's the emotional roller coaster we have created for ourselves.
I will write about the ups and downs, the battles and the beauty, the frustration at getting nothing when I want it, the getting it and it not being what I wanted anyway, and the most-of-the-time joys of living in Belize. Welcome to the jungle!
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