Month: December 2018

As Jake has already mentioned, we were invited over by Debra and Rootsman to have a Rastafarian dinner on the island of Caye Caulker. Rastafarians (also known as Rastas) believe in a spirit/god who they call Jah. It was really interesting talking to Rootsman and Debra and learning all about what a Rastas lifestyle is like.

Rastas do not believe in smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol or coffee. Interestingly enough, however, they do believe in smoking marijuana or cannabis, since this is to them a natural and beneficial herb. They smoke it as part of their worship. Also, as part of their pledge to their god, they promised to not cut, comb or clean their hair and that is why the true Rastas have dreadlocks. Also, to stay healthy and spiritually connected to the earth, Rastas eat a natural diet free from chemicals and most meat and salt.

The difference in cooking between a Rasta and an ordinary person like mum, is noticeable. The items and resources that Debra used were limited. One example could be the difference between Debras oven/stovetop and Mum’s. Debra had a little table with a plank of wood on top. On top of the plank of wood there were three bricks evenly spaced out. One in the middle and one on each end. On top of them, she placed wiring. That was it. When she needed something cooked she would ask Rootman to come over and light a fire underneath the wiring.

(the picture above is one of the crazy Rastas singing into his beer bottle. The Rastas always just crack themselves up and it’s funny watching them!!)

By Mia

While our family has been travelling, we have been seeing lots of different volcanos. Active, Dormant and Extinct. There are many stages of volcanos, from the magma under the ground to the lava that erupts that produces igneous rock.

There are four layers of the earth. Inner core, Outer core, Mantle and the Crust. The lava that comes out of volcanos is from the Mantle. The molten rock under the ground is called magma, and the molten rock above the ground is called lava. Molten rock is melted rock. Magma is formed by the melting of rocks in the earths lithosphere (the crust and the top part of the mantle.) The Magma finds a vent in a volcano and makes the lava pool that you see in most photos of Mt Kailua. When the pressure builds up under the surface, the volcano erupts.

After the volcano has erupted and the lava has cooled, it forms igneous rock. Rocks like obsidian and basalt are made by volcanos like the ones in Hawaii, where the lava flows all the time. Other rocks like Scoria, which has lots of big holes in it, comes from explosive volcanos like Krakatau. Volcanologists can tell that New Zealand was once like Hawaii when it was younger, because they found the same type of hexagonal pillars in both countries.

There are three different types of volcanos. Active, Dormant and Extinct. An active volcano is one with a lava pool. It could erupt at any time. An example of an active volcano could be Mt Kailua or Mt Fuego. Mt Fuego is in Guatemala near Antigua. We are there at the moment and we can see it constantly puffing out smoke and ash. A dormant volcano does not have a lava pool. It probably last erupted thousands of years ago. An extinct volcano is one that hasn’t erupted in millions of years and probably won’t erupt again. Mt Maunganui is an extinct volcano. It last erupted 2.35 years ago according to Wikipedia.

So as you can see, volcanos have many stages and are very dangerous. The lava, igneous rock and the history that volcanos leave behind are extremely fascinating. All the stages that the volcano goes through to erupt to then form rock is incredible.

On our trip around Central America we went to Caye Caulker, Belize 🇧🇿. One of the first things we did was go snorkeling. While we were snorkeling Mum met a lady called Debra, after a long talk they invited us for dinner. That’s how we had dinner with Debra and Rootsman. They lived on a sand spot on the other side of the split (the split is a channel of water about 30m long that a hurricane split through the island!)

When Debra showed us how to cook she taught us some things along the way. One thing was if she needed the food to be cooked at a higher temperature. She would ask Rootsman to break some more wood with his machete. For dinner we had a Vegetable stew with the best lentil stew in the world and some rice and fish.

Just after we arrived a teenager came along in his kayak with some fish. He then started to flit the fish. Rossco brought about 6 fish off him in including some snnaper and barracuda. He brought them for $12!! After the fish were cooked Debra put some salt, lime and black peeper. It was so yummy and fresh! Debra was saying that the kids have to work for money so that they can go to school. If they need a new pen or book they have to work for the money and pay for it themselves. Rootsman moved to Caye Caulker on his own when he was 15!!

Debra and Rootman choose to live are really chilaxing lifestyle. For a living Rootman paints, fish’s in his catamaran made from recycled bits of plastic and starafoam and he make jewellery for the tourists. He also own some houses that he rents out. He some times goes to a remote island with his mates and goes fishing for up to two weeks. One time he had to swim back to Caye Caulker because his boat motor fell off his boat in a hurricane.

Over all I had such an amazing time. I really enjoyed seeing how some locals cook there dinner, my favourite part was the lentils and the Baracuda. So if you ever go to Caye Calker we know where you should have dinner!!

By Jake™️©️®️

I woke up at 4.30am to get on the bus at 5.00am. We got picked up and started to drive to Tikal. We entered the national park and started to walk towards the Gran Plaza. When we got there I raced up Temple II. I had an amazing view of Temple I. I turned my head around a looked out to the untouched jungle and saw three toucans. But they flew away before I got a picture. We then walked to Temple III. It was still mostly covered in trees and stuff. We then ventured further in to the untouched jungle. Temple IV suddenly loomed above us! We climbed to the top of the 64.4m pyramid. The view was truly breathtaking. You could see the tops of the other Temples towering above the jungle canopy. We moved on to Temple V. It was mostly covered with trees and stuff so was Temple VI.

After the others left dad and I. We continued walking to all the other Temples and tombs. I was amazed on hw well the Mayan kept their time, because they build a twin temple every 20 years.

After a massive day at the office I was stuffed so I had a swim in the lake!!

By Jake

Continue reading “Tikal”

Lake Atitlan: The view was amazing when we walked for donkeys up a steep hill. We saw a great view of volcanos Atilán, San Pedro and Tolimán. The old school buses: Whenever we went to take a day trip to somewhere or just go somewhere of a short distance, the old school buses would pick us up. They all had fancy paint jobs and lights. Although they are made for children to sit on the seats, not adults!! Most of the time we had seventy adults or something on a forty seater!! Those were great days!Semuc Champey: Although climbing up five hundred meters of stairs, (which I reckon took us at least forty five minutes) it was worth the climb. The picture above is if the view when we finally got to the top. It was such an amazing sight. Also, going down into the pools and swimming in them was the best part. Especially sliding down the ‘slides’.

Isla de Flores festival: We were lucky enough to be at Flores during the festival times. They do it only on the 7th and 8th of December. I was so happy cause I finally got a big, cheap donut 🍩. I’ve been going on about wanting a donut in America somewhere along the line and now my wish has come true!!

Tikal: Tikal was probably my favourite thing that we did in Guatemala. It was interesting learning about it and just the fact that the ancient Mayans built these structures like 700BC and then some people have found some “big hill” that they want to dig up and 2700 years later they get re-discovered. The view from Temple four was my favourite.

---

By Mia

What is the difference between New Zealand and Central America . When we were travelling around Central America. I noticed a lot of things about the different lifestyles that we have. Here are some examples.

Soccer 🥅 ⚽️

Soccer is extremely popular in Central America. In the FIFA WORLD CUP 2018 three teams qualified; Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica! The soccer fields in New Zealand are usually well maintained and usually have a club that uses the grounds. Normally there are about five to ten fields in one complex. Over in Central America there are usually just one soccer field in a place instead of ten. But the futsal courts are so much better over in Central America than New Zealand’s. Most of the futsal courts over here have nets all around them and a mini grandstand. They usually have massive paintings on the wall of there favourite teams and players. In my opinion soccer fields are better in New Zealand and futsal courts are better in Central America!

Transportation 🚘🚖

In New Zealand most people have a car. In Central America the most common way of transport is buses or tuk tuks. The buses are usually old American school buses with lots of bright paint and lights on them! Public transport is not popular in New Zealand. Because most people have cars. The buses are usually crowded, on one bus ride there were two people sitting on my lap!!

Rubbish

In New Zealand we put our rubbish in bin which then gets taken away and disposed correctly. In Central America people just chuck the rubbish out of bus windows or onto the street! Most days when we are on a bus the roads are usually lined with rubbish in the drains. It’s pretty sad that they just think it’s okay to chuck rubbish out the window and sayoh it’s not our problem. When you walk into a supermarket over here everything is wrapped in plastic. Even some cereal boxes are wrapped in a layer of glad wrap. You can also buy water in plastic bags. Plus everything you buy comes with a plastic bag, even if you are just buying one lollipop the cashier will put it in a plastic bag.

In New Zealand I don’t think we realise how lucky we are to have food, water and a house. Overall the difference between a developing country and a developed country is massive. But it is only really notable when you travel through those areas

By JAKE