Posted: 2007-06-30 08:05 PM
Isabelle,
Surprisingly, Belize is probably the easiest of the Mayan countries I have traveled to. It is the former British Honduras and, although you hear Spanish spoken in the mountains, English is still the national language. Almost no English is spoken in Guatemala or Honduras and little in southern Mexico. In Palenque, which is a big tourist draw, we were surprised that the large hotel we stayed in, which catered to tourist groups, no English was spoken by the front desk staff and guests were having a difficult time exchanging money. English IS widely spoken on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula but travel there is more expensive then the other three.
Guatemala is amazingly beautiful - full of volcanoes and lakes. It is also a real travel bargain. The same is true of Honduras, although it has fewer ruins. Both have amazing wildlife and lush rain forest.
you win no matte what you choose in Central America - it is all good!
Posted: 2007-06-27 09:15 PM
Isabelle,
I love Mayan ruins. This was my second "Mayan Road Trip" so to speak. Two years ago we did a series of Mayan caves in Belize, along with a couple of ruins there and then went to Tikal. This time we started with Tikal, did Yaxha, Topoxte, Yaxchillan, Bonampak and Palenque in one trip. It was marvelous - especially the lesser known ruins, which we had completely to ourselves!
When you go in 2009, we have a wonderful biker/archaeologist guide that you might want to use. He has worked on a number of digs and is able to get into places that we otherwise would not have been able to see.
I just notice you were online. Thanks for the kind offer, but I have to pass. My aim is to go to India in October and whilst I would love to have six weeks of work, I don't think they would let me.
I hope things have quietened down for you. But I suspect that it's only going to get more busy as the summer season kicks off.
Posted: 2007-06-12 04:49 AM
Dear Isabelle,
I am a writer, wrote travelougue on Kashmir (India), Egypt and Turkey (Under press). I feel proud to have u friend. See u............
-Bulbul Sarwar
Posted: 2007-06-11 10:01 PM
It is so nice to hear from you Isabelle. Your were right you seem like you are really busy.
Your pictures of New York are wonderful and brings back so many great memories - that I wish I had captured. I'm so envious, I wish I could have gone.
I'm getting itchy feet, but I have no plans. I want to do a long weekend but lost the motivation to actually book anything. Oh well I'll get my act together soon.
Posted: 2007-05-30 05:47 PM
Hi Isabelle
Thanks for the message. I have bookmarked that site a bit ago and I'm sure your trip to Tibet will besomething to remember for ever.
We have still not entirely abandoned the idea of New Zealand sometime but we have only Scotland booked at the moment. Actually the far north of Scotland is so different that it feels quite as foreign as a lot of European countries.
Cheers
David
Thanks for having a look at my Chittaurgarh pictures and report.I am glad you liked it.Especially the report, as it was my first report at globosapiens.Hope you din't find the history lesson too boring:-) Chittaur is one of those places whose real charm is in the pages of history. I tried to encapsulate it as best as I could in the report :-)
