House Hunters International features dream home in Belize

Amber is a very busy business woman from San Diego who is looking for a second home in Belize, Central America. She had traveled to Ambergris Caye in the past, and knew she wanted her first vacation home to be on the island and turn-key.  Click on link to see Part 1 of 2





The three condos that Amber has chosen to view are at Sueno del Mar, Brahma Blue Island Oasis, and Coco Beach, all located within Ambergris Caye, Belize. House Hunters, Belize Part 2 of 2

3rd quarter stats for 2009 show modest improvement in economy

3rd quarter stats for 2009 show modest improvement in economy

Last week the Prime Minister expressed a degree of optimism saying that the economic outlook will improve in the first quarter of this year. And according to the latest figures for the third quarter of 2009, the Statistical Institute says there was a “modest improvement” over the first two quarters of last year. In terms of specifics, however, the wholesale and retail trade sectors contracted by seven point four percent. This was followed by a contraction of five point four percent in the services sectors in respect of overnight tourist arrivals and expenditures. The transportations sector, according to the SIB stats, also went down by one point four percent due to reduced movement in trade and tourism. The silver lining was in the manufacturing sector which grew by one point seven percent due to an increase in oil production. Construction, financial and other business services showed the best growth of twelve point three percent, primarily because of improvements in the production of bananas.

Of particular note is that total imports fell to three hundred and twenty-five million compared to 2008, when it totaled one point four billion, that’s a decrease of twenty-two percent. Import purchases at the Corozal Free Zone, went down considerably by fifty point eight percent, totaling only one hundred and thirty point nine million dollars. On the domestic front, the employment figure stood at twelve point five percent with Toledo experiencing the highest rate. While the rate of inflation is reported to have declined to the lowest rate in a decade, the effects might have been negated by the one point eight percent increase in food prices.

Channel 5 News

Problematic 12 ft Croc relocated from San Pedro Town

Called to Ambergris by San Pedro Police, ACES captured a 12 foot problematic crocodile that has been spotted under DFC homes because of trenching activities in the area. The croc called 'Satan' by locals has been regularly fed illegally for years as a tourist attraction. Now that acres of red mangrove, wetland, critical, crocodile habitat has been destroyed due to trenching activities, American Crocodiles (a protected species) are on the move searching for new territories.

Now closer than ever to families homes, residents in DFC have been living in fear of one of these crocs taking a pet, or worse yet and very possible, a child. It was unbelievable how bold and fearless this particular croc was behaving. It has been fed so often that it actually associated the golf cart with a means of obtaining a meal. The croc will now be re-located to southern Belize and held in captivity at the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES). A croc population study should have been performed prior to trenching to determine what areas needed to remain intact for croc habitat and nesting, and to buffer homes from dangerous croc intrusions. Right now large females are extremely dangerous because they are gravid with eggs and are beginning to search for potential nesting areas. If the development continues and dredging follows through April, it is undetermined how many nest site may end up being destroyed. American Crocodiles are in danger of becoming extinct with only an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 left Worldwide. The reason they seem so plentiful here on the island is because Belize is one of the last strongholds for this modern day dinosaur. ACES has rescued over 30 crocodiles country-wide and has rehabilitated and re-released 10 crocs last year.

This croc will have to remain in captivity or otherwise be killed. ACES is in need of finishing a new secured habitat for Croc George, a large rouge male that has killed other rescued crocs at the facility. Chances are, being it is mating season, George may try to kill Satan. Trouble is, it is Satan's only chance at this point so we have to try. The sooner ACES can obtain funding to finish the much needed new croc habitat, the better the chance for Satans survival. Croc Satan has been re-named 'Clint Crocwood,' and although captivity is his fate, it is imperative to save as many of these American Crocs as possible. Researchers come to ACES to study the crocs as well as local school groups and tour guides. ACES teaches them all about these amazing reptiles and how to safely co-exist with them. Crocodile blood has been found to kill HIV and Herpes simplex in laboratory studies. At ACES we have the means of obtaining blood samples whenever needed. Please help with a tax deductible donation today. Go to www.americancrocodilesanctuary.org and Help Take a Bite Out of Extinction! Documented by the San Pedro Sun Newspaper, Belize.

Study shows Pre-historic coral reef creating new species

A study of prehistoric coral reefs shows that these shallow-water congregations of corals, fish and shell fish aren’t just diversity magnets, they actually create new species.


And that is worrisome news in the face of climate change, which rising ocean temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels, threatens to wipe out the world’s coral reefs by 2050.

The paper, published Thursday in the journal Science, looks at a large database of sea floor fossils, the Paleobiology Database, beginning in the Cambrian period, about 540 million years ago. The researchers, at the Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity at Humboldt University in Berlin and the University of Chicago, compared the number of new species and genera that first appeared in coral reefs with those that first appeared in shallow water.

There’s long been debate among scholars over whether coral reefs simply attract lots of diversity animals and plants, or whether these complex ecosystems also contribute to the evolution of new species. The researchers found that since the Cambrian explosion of new forms of life on Earth, coral reefs have been key ‘evolutionary cradles’ for new species, in the words of the paper. Not only that, but coral reefs are prolific exporters of biological diversity to other ocean environments, the research found.

With coral reefs so important to continued diversity, the current destruction of today’s reefs is troubling. Coral reefs support fully a quarter of all marine life. However, the effects of global warming are likely to be devastating to reefs, with worse to come.

Warming first increases water temperature, causing a condition called bleaching in which corals lose the symbiotic algae that allow them to survive. In addition, more carbon dioxide dissolving into the oceans makes the water more acidic, which causes corals’ exoskeletons to dissolve.

By Elizabeth Weise

Photo: Detail of a fossil reef from Vanuatu. (By W. Kiessling)
http://blogs.usatoday.com/sciencefair/2010/01/study-prehistoric-coral-reefs-creating-new-species.html

Tia Chocolate - life stories and anecdotes..... great read!!

"The Snake"

A few nights ago, I dreamt there was a rattlesnake in my bedroom. The intense fear and loathing I felt actually woke me up. For a surreal minute, I actually envisioned the damn slithery thing under my bed, ready to strike. Sleep was elusive for the better part of an hour after my rude wake up call, so I stayed up trying to analyze the true meaning of my dream.

In my second year of high school, I read a book by Jamaica Kincaid – “Annie John”, and in that dream, if I remember correctly, Annie dreamt of a black snake in a basket on her head. I made my literature teacher dance with joy when I guessed that it meant an upcoming betrayal, like a black premonition. I simply equated the snake to that of the one in the bible, and assumed (thankfully) correctly that it meant a betrayal such as that of the snake to Adam and Eve.

The things I think about at night!

After a few more restless hours of sleep, I faced the day head-on, but curious about what my dream would represent. I looked for meaning everywhere, and bored everyone by asking what they thought. A favorite cab driver who believed in the meaning of dreams said that it meant sickness. My heart stopped as I can’t afford to get sick. That’s how we are – humans, Belizeans, we believe in the power and meaning of dreams. I hoped it really was betrayal, and not illness, and I hoped that power of the mind would overcome whatever supernatural and dark forces were at play.

Back story: Dreams represent real life, and it’s symbols show what your mind is meant to pick up on. One can use dreams to either avoid disaster or prepare for life changing events. Dreaming of losing a tooth means death, a wedding means illness, a dream of death means new life (birth) and so on and so forth – if the dreamer can remember what happened during the night. Apparently dreaming of a snake was a new one for me…

Well, within a couple of days I found out what it meant. Someone who had been pretending to be a friend showed her true colors. Finding out that she’d been saying nasty things behind my back was at first surprising. But then it was not. Maybe it was the dream that primed me for the truth, or maybe it was the fact that I had been expecting her to show herself for who she truly was, an immature and petty child. Either way, it was not totally unexpected. And it is brilliant to know where I stand, with her, and the circle of friends who surround like sycophants, believing they’re better than others. I also won’t lie that being called a “fat cow” wasn’t a stinger. But it did make me laugh to know the source, and to know that in some cases, the phrase “takes one to know one” really does hold true.

What the situation mostly did for me was the instant gratification of the support system I had built up. Who knew I could find supporters in every corner?! People who’d heard about the comment, who knew about the issue, all of a sudden were being supportive. But more importantly, the real friends I’ve had the good fortune to make in my lifetime were there to at once plot her disfigurement, slow torture, beat down, until finally – the real emotion set it for me, and it was one of indifference. And I repeat the issue mostly to show how one dream can live on for more than a week, full of meaning, and involve so many people, especially when it does come true. I would not be surprised had that nightmare meant illness, the very same people who gave so much support to me would have rallied round as well.

But now, I want to wake up with an itchy right hand – which of course will mean that I will be coming into money real soon. I’d even take a dream of a funeral – which would mean breaking out the dancing shoes to go to a fabulous wedding. Anything but another rattlesnake. We have enough real-life snakes in our lives to have them crawling on their bellies into our dream!

Goodbye 2009, HELLO New Year, 2010!

Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.

Island Christmas Show a cheery success!!

The Bikini Bar Island Christmas Show was a joyous success! Everyone that attended were treated to a delicisou dinner, snacks and a chance to win great gifts. Children who sung christmas carols or presented a dance got a free gift and goodies. There was even fire juggling taking place on the beach. Donned in santa hats and christmas color outfits, the barmaids were a cheery sight and suoper freindly with the patrons. With plenty of booze flowing and the good times rolling, there is no doubt that those who attended had a great time. It was the first Christmas ISland Show the Bikini Bar has hosted and we look forward in continue to serving our patrons in the New Year!

Christmas Island Show at the Bikini Bar beachfront!

On December 24th, the beachfront at Big Daddy's will come alive in christmas spirit and holiday cheer! The Bikini Bar is having its first Christmas Island Show where X-mas Carols, Belizean music and dance are the order of the day! Plenty of prizes and giveaways will be given out the brave children who get on the mic and sing a christmas tune and carols. Music will be provided by Fiya Links and the Punta Boyz! There will be plenty to eat and drink, so bring the family along! We will have beach games such as table checkers, beer pong, corn hole and much more.... FREE on the beach!! Happy Holidays and a Prosperous 2010 from the Bikini Bar Staff!!