And so to the Carribean..

Having survived the end of the world, we packed up our things and headed to our next destination. The Carribean. More specifically, Utila, an island off the north coast of Honduras which is 'a backpackers paradise and the cheapest place in the world to learn how to dive'. This was where we were to spend our Christmas and New Year. All 16 of the project trust volunteers. Travelling on the 23rd of December is a crazy idea in most places, in Honduras it was a complete nightmare. The bus station was packed, the buses were full and people were running, elbows out, (in the old lady japanese style) to get a space on the bus. Eventually after much pushing, waiting, more pushing and a little running we found ourselves on a chicken bus bound for the port town of La Ceiba. After some crazy driving and close shaves we arrived in Ceiba and unloaded ourselves from the tangle of boxes, bags, children and chickens, ran to get a taxi to the ferry terminal, and after more crazy driving and close shaves arrived just in time to buy the last 16 tickets for the ferry to Utila.

We loaded ourselves and our luggage on the ferry, tried (unsucessfully) to find seats stood around for 10 minutes, to finally be told that we'd have to get off the ferry as they'd over filled it and the ferry was sitting too low in the water. So off we loaded ourselves. But not our luggage. That, they said, would be waiting at the terminal. So we trusted them.

All that was left to do was wait. They were sending another boat to pick us up. One that was nicknamed the vomit comet. A little ominous I thought. It'll be here in 20 minutes they said. An hour and a half later the 'vomit comet' appeared. It was much smaller than the previous ferry, sat lower in the water and seemed to be a lot less stable. Oh well I thought. It'll get us there. Hopefully....

We climbed aboard, and off we set. Immediately everyone found out exactly why it was called the vomit comet. It went ridiculously fast, and bounced around like no other boat I've been on. It rolled, listing one way and then the other. The attendant walked round handing out spew bags. Many of these were needed. Thnakfully I don't get seasick and actually quite enjoyed the journey, but I know a majority of people were extremely happy to get their feet back on dry land.

Grabbing our luggage and setting off to find the dive centre, I took in my surroundings. Utila is a small island with only one road running through the main town, it has a multitude of dive centres, bars and restaurants. Tuk tuks swarmed the streets and everywhere you looked were gringos. Arriving at the dive centre we were warmly welcomed and shown to our dorms. Tomorrow the diving would begin.

Waking the next morning in a coughing fit was not the best way to wake when about to start a dive course. Not being able to do anything that involved moving without coughing was even worse. I spoke to the dive instructor who said do your theory lessons first and then see how you're getting along. So, theory lessons completed and I'm still coughing my guts up. No diving for me. This put a bit of a downer on the week, as everyone else, bar one other volunteer, was diving. And loving it. But better safe than sorry and I made plans to return in my easter vacation to complete the course. I couldn't let this get me down and there was plenty other thinbgs to do, kayaking, snorkling,swimming, sampling the many eateries on the island and just chilling out. And that's what I did.

Christmas was approaching fast and the dive centre were having a Christmas dinner for all the students and guests. The one rule, bring a plate or a bottle. Turkey was to be provided. Everyone chipped in and made a dish, and Christmas dinner was brilliant! We even had yorkshire puddings and roasties. It was strange being away from my family and closest friends at Christmas but that night the other volunteers and friends at Ecomarine nmade it feel like a family occasion.

Suddenly it was Hogmanay (New Years Eve) and I wondered where the year had gone. It seems like only a month or two ago I said goodbye to eveyone and headed off on this adventure. It has infact been 6 months. Time really does fly. Hogmanay was a blast. We started off with a fireworks display from the dive centre owners 9 year old daughter (best fireworks display I've seen), played cardsl, listening to great music, at the bells lit more fireworks and of course sang Auld Lang Syne. It wasn't the best rendition I've ever heardbut it did the job. Then to the beach party. A much talked about beach party, the best place to celebrate New Year apparently. And it wasn't too shabby.

All in all a brilliant Christmas and New Year in the Carribean.

The end of the world...

So our next stop was back in Honduras, at the famous mayan ruins in a charming colonial town called Copan Ruinas. Here all the Honduran volunteers were meeting to celebrate Bak'Tun or 'the end of the world'. It was the first time we'd all met up in the 5 months we've been here so it was great to see everyone and hear about how their lives were going and how the teaching was. A popular complaint was that a lot of us now HATED children. Other than that everyone seemed to be doing pretty well.
On the days leading up to the 21st Copan was packed. So many people; gringos, locals, hippies, apocalypse believers and just curious tourists, all gearing up for Bak'Tun. There were performances in parque central, festivals on in the ruinas, celebrations everywhere. We decided to spend Bak'Tun together as a group and headed out for street food and then to a local discoteque with a plan of seeing out the end of the world there and then ushering in the new one at a ceremony in the Ruinas at 5am. And so that's what we did. Staying up all night. Wathcing the sunset, dancing and having a laugh, and then walking to the ruins, in the rain to watch the ceremony and sunrise. Sadly there was no spectacular sunrise. And the mayan woman doing the ceremony couldn't light the fire because it was raining very heavily. A little disappointing. But still, to be in such a place, for the end of the mayan calander, with an incredible atmosphere and to survive 'the end of the world' will be something I'll never forget and something I'll also be able to tell me grandchildren.
The ruins in themselves are wonderful. And while they might not be as grand as the ones in Guatemala or Mexico. The actual carvings and statues are extremely well preserved. The site dates back to AD 620 and the remains of 3450 structures can be found in the 24km area surrounding the principal structures. Its a great place to visit and certainly interesting!