SEAHORSE

I SAW A SEAHORSE TODAY!!!
I WENT SNORKELING RIGHT OUT BY THE DIVE SHOP THIS MORNING, AND THERE IS THIS PIER THAT HAS LOADS OF GOOD STUFF UNDER IT. A FEW OCTOPUS AND BIG FAT FIRE WORMS... ANYWAYS, I FEW PEOPLE HAD SEEN THIS SEAHORSE SO I HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO FIND IT. I WENT OVER TODAY AND THERE HE WAS JUST HANGING ONTO A PIECE OF CORAL. HE IS BROWN AND ABOUT 4 INCHES TALL. I SAT AND WATCHED HIM FOR A WHILE. IT WAS AMAZING.
I ALSO HAD MY STRESS TEST TODAY WITH THE OTHER DM, AND WE DID REALLY WELL. YOU HAVE TO TRADE ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT, FINS, MASK, AND BCD(THE VEST WITH THE TANK ON IT) WHILE BUDDY BREATHING. SO WE WERE BOTH BREATHING FROM THE SAME REGULATOR AND HAD TO TAKE TWO BREATHS EACH AND BACK AND FORTH UNTIL WE WERE DONE AND THEN WE HAD TO SWIM TO SHORE THAT WAY.

CAMERON, WHO WAS MY BEST FRIEND HERE OTHER THAN JESSI LEFT ON TUES AND I HAVE BEEN REALLY SAD. I MOVED INTO HIS OLD ROOM WITH ALEX AND I REALLY LIKE LIVING THERE. IT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM SUNDOWNERS!!!
NOW JESSI IS DONE WITH HER PROJECT AND IS LEAVING ANY DAY NOW AS WELL. I WILL MISS HER LIKE CRAZY BUT I KNOW WE WILL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN SOON.
I REALLY ONLY HAVE LIKE A LITTLE OVER 3 WEEKS LEFT HERE AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LEAVING ANYWAYS. THE ISLAND HAS REALLY SLOWED DOWN AND THE RAIN HAS ALREADY STARTED. AT LEAST IT COOLS THINGS DOWN A LITTLE. HOPE TO FINISH MY DM UP LEAVING A FEW DAYS TO CHILL OUT BEFORE I HAVE TO LEAVE MY ISLAND PARADISE BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. MISS EVERYONE TONS!!!

PICTURES

CAMERON AND I TUBING, KAT AND I AT PURPLE TURTLE, ALEX, KAT, CAMERON AND ANNA AT THE DIVE SHOP, THE VIEW FROM THE VIEW RESTURANT AND KAT AND I RELAXING ON OUR DAY OFF AROUND THE ISLAND.

LAUREN'S ROATAN

HERE ARE A FEW PICS FROM WHEN LAUREN WAS HERE, SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG BUT THE INTERNET IS CRAP AND TAKES ABOUT 30 MIN. JUST TO GET THEM ON HERE.

I KNOW I'VE BEEN SLACKING

SORRY I HAVEN'T WRITTEN IN A WHILE.
THE FRIDAY AFTER LAUREN LEFT WAS INDEPENDANCE DAY HERE AND THERE WAS ALSO A BIG FISHING COMPETITION. THEY WERE FISHING FOR MARLIN AND I THINK THE WINNER WAS LIKE 220 lbs. THEY HUNG THEM UP ON THE STREET FOR EVERYONE TO SEE AND IT WAS SAD BUT THE FISH WERE HUGE! PEOPLE SET UP FOOD STANDS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WE HAD THE BEST FOOD. THERE WAS ALSO A "PARADE" WHICH CONSISTED OF 3 DECORATED TRUCKS, MAYBE 4 GROUPS OF KIDS DRESSED UP AND A FLOAT WITH MISS WEST END ON IT. WE ALL SAT OUTSIDE THE DIVESHOP AND WATCHED AND I THINK IT LASTED FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES.
I HAVE LED 2 DIVES, IT WAS JUST WITH ALEX BUT IT WAS GOOD PRACTICE FOR MY NAVIGATION, AND I MADE IT BACK TO THE BOAT BOTH TIMES!!! THE OTHER DMT, STEPHANIE AND I DOVE TOGTHER AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON MY OWN WITHOUT AN INSTRUCTOR. I AM WORKING ON MAPPING A DIVE SITE BUT HAVE ONLY BEEN OUT ONCE TO START THE PROCESS AND THINK I WILL NEED AT LEAST 3 OR 4 MORE TIMES BECAUSE IT HAS ALL THESE CAVES AND SWIM THROUGHS WHICH MAKES IT FUN TO EXPLORE BUT HARD TO MAP.
JESSI GOT A SCOOTER SO WE WENT TO WEST BAY FOR DINNER THE OTHER NIGHT AND THAT WAS NICE TO GO SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT. IT'S ALSO JUST AN EXPERIENCE RIDING ON IT WITH HER, WE LAUGH THE WHOLE TIME. IT'S FUN.
I AM MOVING AGAIN!!!
MY FRIEND CAMERON WHO LIVES WITH ALEX IS LEAVING IN A WEEK AND I AM MOVING INTO CAM'S OLD ROOM. I LIKE MY PLACE BUT I AM NEVER HOME AND I CAN SAVE $160. SO ONE MORE MOVE IN ROATAN AND THEN I WILL BE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PLACE.
I HAVE AN EAR INFECTION RIGHT NOW WHICH REALLY SUCK BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO I FEEL CRAPPY BUT I CAN'T DIVE. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR YESTURDAY AND HE GAVE ME ANTIBIOTICS AND EAR DROPS AND WANTS ME TO COME BACK ON MONDAY. MY VISIT INCLUDING THE MEDICINE COST $19!!!!
THE MEDICAL CLINIC IS AT ANTHONY'S KEY RESORT (WHERE WE DID THE DOLPHIN THING) AND IT HAS A HYPERBARIC CHAMBER THERE AND IT IT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WAITING ROOM!!! WHEN I WAS THERE THEY BROUGHT IN 4 LOBSTER FISHERMAN 2 THAT COULD BARELY WALK AND 2 THAT COULDN'T WALK AT ALL. THEY ALL 4 WERE PUT IN THE CHAMBER. I ASKED THE DOCTOR WHAT HAPPENED AND HE SAID THEY DIVE WAY TOO DEEP AND DO UP TO 12 DIVES A DAY.
IT'S CRAZY AND THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THEY ARE IN THERE ALL THE TIME. I GUESS THAT'S HOW THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY AND THEY DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER.
NOT MUCH ELSE IS GOING ON HERE. I THINK I WILL BE HERE FOR ANOTHER MONTH AND THEN TO SEATTLE TO VISIT MY AUNT AND MY MOM WILL MEET ME OUT THERE AND THEN OFF TO THE NEXT PLACE. I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT WILL BE.

I LIKE ANIMALS

LAUREN LEFT ON SATURDAY. ON THURSDAY WE RENTED A JEEP AND DROVE AROUND THE ISLAND. WE WENT TO THE VIEW RESTAURANT, TO A COUPLE BEACHES BUT THE BEST PART WAS GOING TO SEE THE MONKEYS. THERE IS THIS GUY WHO HAS A BUNCH OF ANIMALS AND ALLOWS PEOPLE TO COME AND PLAY WITH THEM. THERE WERE 2 SPIDER MONKEYS THERE THAT WEREN'T IN CAGES. THEY WERE SO CUTE AND SWEET, THEY WOULDN'T LEAVE US ALONE AND JUST JUMPED ON US AND SWUNG AROUND THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE THERE. I HAVE AWESOME PICS AND I WILL POST SOON. WE ALSO DID THIS THING CALLED A DOLPHIN ENCOUNTER AT ANTHONY'S KEY RESORT. IT WAS AMAZING AS WELL. THEY HAVE DOLHPINS ENCLOSED IN A LARGE AREA IN THE SEA AND THE FIRST 25 MINUTES YOU WERE SPLIT INTO GROUPS WITH A TRAINER AND DOLPHIN AND YOU GOT TO PET THEM AND LEARN ABOUT THEM AND THEY WOULD GIVE YOU KISSES. THEN FOR THE LAST 35 MINUTES, WE WERE ABLE TO SNORKEL WITH ABOUT 8 OF THEM IN ABOUT 25 FT OF WATER. THAT WAS SO GREAT, I WOULD FREE DIVE DOWN AND PICK TURTLE GRASS AND THEY WANTED TO PLAY WITH IT. I WOULD PUT IT IN THEIR MOUTH AND THEN PULL IT OUT AND THEY WOULD TRY TO GET IT AGAIN. SOMETIMES ONE WOULD FLY BY AND GRAB IT OUT OF MY HAND WHEN I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION. IT WAS GREAT. WE ALSO WENT TUBING ONE DAY WHICH WAS SO SCARY AND FUN AT THE SAME TIME. THEY HAD 2 TUBES GOING AT THE SAME TIME, ONE THAT FITS 2 PEOPLE AND THE OTHER FOR ONE PERSON. 5 OF US WENT AND WE HAD A BLAST. MY ARM PITS WERE SO SORE THE NEXT DAY. THEN SATURDAY WAS IGNACIO'S, JESSI'S ROOMMATE, BIRTHDAY AND HIS WIFE PAID FOR SOME OF US TO GO AGAIN. I WAS STILL SORE FROM THE FIRST TIME BUT WE ALL HAD A BLAST ALTHOUGH I THINK I BRUISED MY RIBS FLYING OFF. I HAVE BEEN SUPER SORE AND HOPE IT GETS BETTER SOON BECAUSE I NEED TO GET ON WITH ALL MY REQUIREMENTS FOR MY DM.
SO BACK TO WORK. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL IT. ANOTHER DM STARTED AT THE SHOP. SHE IS SUPER SERIOUS AND WANTS TO FINISH IN 4 WEEKS BECAUSE SHE IS PLANNING ON GOING STRAIGHT TO THE INSTRUCTOR COURSE IN UTILA RIGHT AFTER THIS. SO BASICALLY SHE'S GIVING ME A KICK IN THE ASS. IM NOT A SLACKER AND I AM AT THE SHOP EVERYDAY WORKING BUT AS FAR AS THE BOOK WORK AND TESTS, I THINK SHE ALREADY CAUGHT UP WITH ME. TIME TO GET SERIOUS.
DIVING IS STILL GREAT, THE MORNING LAUREN GOT HERE I WENT OUT WITH ALEX AND CAMERON TO A SITE CALLED BEARS DEN. IT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL AND WE WENT INTO AN UNDERWATER CAVE. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE SCARED BUT IT WAS SO AMAZING. IT DIDN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE IT WAS UNDERWATER. THERE WERE A FEW HOLES IN THE TOP WHERE LIGHT FILTERED IN AND I FELT LIKE I WAS IN AN INDIAN JONES MOVIE. I'M A NERD.
I WENT SNORKELING TODAY AND FOUND AN OCTOPUS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT UNDER ONE OF THE DIVE SHOPS DOCKS. IT WAS IN ONE OF THEHOLES OF A CIDER BLOCKAND HAD DRAGGED ALL THIS STUFF OVER TO KIND OF BLOCK THE HOLE. HE WAS CUTE. ALSO HOPEFULLY I WILL BE GOING ON A NIGHT DIVE ANY DAY NOW. THE CORAL SHOULD BE SPAWNING SOON AND IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR I THINK AND IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE AMAZING. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FULL MOON AND A COUPLE OF OUR FRIENDS ARE GOING OUT EVERY NIGHT SNORKELING AND WHEN THEY SEE IT WE WILL GO OUT THE NEXT NIGHT LATE. I CAN'T WAIT I THINK IT WILL BE AMAZING.
PROMISE TO POST PICS SOON.

OLD FRIEND IN ROATAN

MY FRIEND LAUREN ARRIVED ON SUNDAY. I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE HER HERE EVEN THOUGH HER TRIP DIDN'T START ON THE BEST FOOT. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD SOME SORT OF MISCOMMUNICATION. I THOUGHT SHE WAS ARRIVING ON THE 2nd INSTEAD OF THE 3rd SO I WENT TO THE AIRPORT ON SAT AND WAITED FOR HER FOR AN HOUR AND HALF, FINALLY WENT UP TO THE CONTINENTAL COUNTER AND FOUND OUT SHE WAS ON THE SAME FLIGHT FOR THE NEXT DAY. SO I GO ON SUNDAY TO PICK HER UP AND SHE WAS THERE! GREAT, BUT HER LUGGAGE WASN'T. THE GUY TOLD US TO COME BACK AT 5pm THE NEXT DAY AND IT WOULD BE THERE. SO WE GO BACK TO THE AIRPORT AND NO ONE WANTS TO HELP US. HER BAG ISN'T THERE BUT THEY SAY TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT FLIGHT COMING IN AND MAYBE IT WOULD BE ON THERE. WE ARE TOLD BY 3 PEOPLE 3 DIFFERENT TIMES OF WHEN THE PLANE SHOULD ARRIVE AND LAUREN IS GETTING MORE AND MORE FRUSTRATED. THANK GOD IT WAS ON THE NEXT FLIGHT AND WE WERE BOTH SO EXCITED TO GET HER LUGGAGE ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE HAD BROUGHT STUFF FOR ME FROM HOME.
THANKS FOR THE COOKIES MOM, EVERYONE LOVES THEM.
SO OUR FIRST DAY WE GO DOWN TO THE DIVE SHOP TO SORT OUT LAUREN COURSE. SHE HAD DONE HER OPEN WATER COURSE 7 YEARS AGO AND DIDN'T KEEP UP THE CERTIFICATION SO SHE DECIDED TO TAKE THE DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING COURSE WHICH IS ONLY ONE DAY, AND COST LESS AND YOU CAN DO FUN DIVES YOU JUST HAVE TO BE WITH AN INSTRUCTOR. SO ANYWAYS, WE WENT TO DINNER WITH JESSI AND THEN WENT TO SUNDOWNERS FOR A DRINK BUT WE WERE ALL SO TIRED THAT WE DIDN'T STAY LONG. YESTERDAY LAUREN DID HER COURSE AND WE WENT ON A FUN DIVE AND I THINK SHE REALLY ENJOYED IT AND IT WAS FUN TO HAVE HER IN MY LITTLE SECRET WORLD.
MY FRIEND ALEX IS GETTING INTO UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY AND LAUREN BROUGHT A VIDEO CAMERA AND HOUSING DOWN HERE FOR HIM SO HE WANTED TO TAKE HER TO DINNER AS A THANK YOU SO LAST NIGHT, JESSI, CAMERON, ALEX, LAUREN AND I WENT TO THE VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT AND IT WAS REALLY GOOD.
WE WENT OUT FOR A FEW DRINKS AFTERWARDS AND LAUREN GOT TO MEET A BUNCH OF MY FRIENDS.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A WATER TAXI TO WEST BAY BEACH AND SNORKEL AND LOUNGE. THERE IS A REALLY GOOD PIZZA PLACE THERE SO WE WILL PROBABLY EAT THERE FOR LUNCH. I THINK TOMORROW WE WILL GO TO ANTHONY'S KEY RESORT TO SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS AND THEN PROBABLY RENT A CAR ON THURSDAY. I THINK SHE IS HAVING A GOOD TIME BUT IT DEFINATELY IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO SINCE EVERYONE HERE HAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE.
HOPE EVERYONE AT HOME IS WELL. I MISS ALL OF YOU.

THIS ISLAND IS AMAZING

THE DIVE SHOP IS STARTING TO SLOW DOWN. THE RAINY SEASON IS ABOUT TO BEGIN AND WE EVEN CLOSED THE SHOP ON FRIDAY. THE OWNERS WENT ON A MINI-VACATION WHITE WATER RAFTING IN CEIBA AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DIVE SCHEDULED. ALEX, CAMERON, JESSI AND I RENTED A JEEP. WE DROVE ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND AND IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. WE WENT TO A MAN-MADE LAGOON AND SWAM, HAD A SNACK AT THE VIEW RESTURAUNT AND ATE LUNCH IN PUNTA GORDA AT A PLACE CALLED MOM'S. WEST END IS REALLY SMALL AND IT'S NICE TO GET OUT ONCE IN A WHILE. WE ALSO MADE PLANS SINCE WE HAD THE CAR TO GO TO THIS RESTURANT THAT JUST OPENED ON THE WAY TO WEST BAY. I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT IT BUT WE WERE ALL TIRED FROM BEING IN THE SUN ALL DAY AND WENT HOME TO TAKE A NAP. I FELL ASLEEP AT 5:30pm AND WOKE UP THIS MORNING AT 6:40am. I WAS SO CONFUSED, I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT HAD HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THEN I REMEMBERED THAT I NEVER WOKE UP FOR DINNER! AND MY FRIENDS JUST LET ME SLEEP. IT WAS THE WIERDEST FEELING. SO AFTER GETTING 13 HOURS OF SLEEP CAM, ALEX AND I DOVE THIS MORNING TO A PLACE CALLED BEARS DEN. IT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL AND WE ALSO WENT INTO A CAVE AND I THOUGHT I WOULD BE SCARED BUT IT WAS AMAZING AND IT DIDN'T EVEN FEEL LIKE IT WAS UNDERWATER. REALLY GREAT.
LAUREN IS COMING TOMORROW SO I WILL BE OFF FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND HOPEFULLY CONVINCE HER TO DO SOME DIVING WITH ME. WELL, OFF TO SUNDOWNERS.

P.S. I GOT SUED IN ROATAN!!!

FORGOT TO TELL YOU I GOT SUED.
TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT WHEN T AND LAURENT AND I FOUND THAT HOUSE, I MOVED IN ON JULY 7TH AND PAID FOR MY 5 DAYS SEPARATELY AND THEY MOVED IN THE 12TH. SO WE HAD THE HOUSE FROM THE 12TH OF JULY TO THE 12TH OF SEPT. I LEFT MY CREDIT CARD # INSTEAD OF A CASH SECURITY DEPOSIT. AT SOME POINT THEY TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED TO BE OUT BY SEPT 7TH. WHICH WAS FINE BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE DAYS WE WEREN'T THERE. I WENT INTO THE OFFICE ON AUG 12TH AND ASKED THE SECRETARY HOW MUCH WE OWED SINCE IT WASN'T A FULL MONTH. SHE SAID SHE WOULD GET BACK TO ME SO THE NEXT DAY LAURENT WENT IN AND SHE SAID WE COULDN'T GET A "DISCOUNT" SO WE WERE LIKE WHATEVER, WE WILL GIVE THEM WHAT WE THINK IS FAIR FOR THE MONTH ND THEY HAVE TO DEAL. LAURENT GOES IN 4 DAYS PAST THE DUE DATE AND THEY HAD CHARGED MY CREDIT CARD WITH 19% TAX AND SERVICE CHARGES. I TRIED TO CANCEL THE TRANSACTION BUT I CAN'T CALL 1-800 NUMBERS FROM HERE. SO WE WERE LIKE OKAY WHATEVER. I DON'T EVEN LIVE THERE ANYMORE, IM JUST GLAD I DONT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM. SO T AND LAURENT ONLY HAVE 2 WEEKS LEFT AND THE LANDLORD GOES BY AND TELLS THEM HE WANTS A $750 DEPOSIT SINCE HE CHARGED MY CARD HE HAS NO DEPOSIT. WELL, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE IT TO HIM BECAUSE HE ALREADY SCREWED US OVER WITH NO WARNING AND THEY WEREN'T ABOUT TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY. MEANWHILE WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT HIM AND HIS FAMILY WHICH IS WHO OWNS THE LAND OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, ARE REALLY AWFUL PEOPLE. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, BECAUSE MY NAME WAS ON THE PAPERWORK IN THE OFFICE, WE GOT SERVED WITH PAPERS SAYING WE WERE BEING SUED FOR THE $750 SECURITY DEPOSIT. THE COURT PAPERS WERE SUCH CRAP, THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE OUR LAST NAMES ON THEM. ANYWAYS, THE 3 OF US WENT TO THE COURT HOUSE FRIDAY, WE HAD TO SIT IN A ROOM WITH A MEDIATOR, THE JERK GUY, THE SECRETARY, AND THEIR LAWYER. MOST OF IT WAS IN SPANISH, THANK GOD LAURENT SPEAKS SPANISH. SO WE SIT AND ARGUE FOR ABOUT AND HOUR AND DECIDE TO LET HIM GIVE US $300 DOLLARS AND THEY WOULD MOVE OUT THAT DAY. I THINK HE HAD SOMEONE ELSE HE WANTED TO MOVE IN AND HE IS AN EVIL UNHAPPY PERSON. SO WE GO OUT TO THE DESK AND THE LEGAL SECRETARY IS WRITING DOWN OUR AGREEMENT AND HE THROWS IN THAT WE CAN'T STEP FOOT IN SUNSET VILLAS. THIS IS WHERE JESSI LIVES. WE FREAK OUT AND ARE LIKE NO, WE WONT SIGN THESE THEN, OUR BEST FRIENDS LIVE THERE AND HE WAS LIKE WELL, WE WILL BE BACK HERE IN 2 WEEKS THEN. SO I START GETTING UPSET BECAUSE HE DOESN'T EVEN OWN JESSI'S PLACE BUT HE OWNS THE LAND I GUESS. I LOOK AT HIM AND SAY, WHAT DID I DO THAT WAS SO BAD THAT YOU WONT LET ME ON YOUR PROPERTY? AND HE SAYS YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT I DONT EVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. I START GETTING PISSED AND THE SECRETARY WHO HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS BUT SOMEHOW KNOWS ALL THE DETAILS, WHICH IS HOW I KNOW HE PAID HER OFF, THAT'S HOW YOU GET ANYTHING YOU WANT AROUND HERE, STARTS YELLING AT ME TELLING ME, YOU'RE IN HONDURAS! YOU NEED TO RESPECT THAT {THIS LAND OWNER ISN'T EVEN A LOCAL} AND SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD CALL IMMIGRATION ON ME AND HAVE ME SENT HOME, WHICH SHE COULDN'T DO BUT WHATEVER.
IT WAS A MESS AND I START CRYING BECAUSE I WAS SO MAD AND THE DEVIL MAN STARTS SMILING. AGHHH. I WANTED TO KILL HIM. HE WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE ME UPSET AND I ACTUALLY FEEL SORRY FOR HIM THAT HE IS SO UNHAPPY IN HIS LIFE THAT HE WANTS TO MAKE EVERYONE ELSE MISERABLE. HE EVEN ESCORTED T AND LAURENT OFF AND SHOWED THE GUARDS THAT THEY WEREN'T ALOUD BACK. WELL, ITS OVER AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW ABOUT WHAT A SNAKE THIS GUY IS. DONT WORRY MOM, I AM FINE AND EVEN THOUGH IT SUCKED FOR A DAY OR TWO HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THEY GOT SUED IN ROATAN????
I CAN STILL HAVE A BAD DAY HERE BUT SOMEHOW NOTHING REALLY SEEMS THAT BAD WHEN IM SITTING IN AN INTERNET CAFE IN PARADISE WATCHING THE SUNSET OVER THE CARRIBEAN.

MY FIRST WEEK

SAD NEWS. KAT AND ANNA LEFT ON FRIDAY. OTHER THAN JESSI THEY WERE MY BEST GIRLFRIENDS HERE AND I AM GOING TO MISS THEM LIKE CRAZY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME TOGETHER AND WILL KEEP IN TOUCH. I DID THEIR LAST DIVE WITH THEM ON THURSDAY AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN WE WERE JUST BEING REALLY SILLY DANCING AND LAUGHING AND ENDED UP USING UP ALL OUR AIR IN ONLY ABOUT 50 MINUTES FROM LAUGHING SO HARD. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DROWN OURSELVES. IT WAS GREAT. THE BAR THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE DIVE SHOP IS CALLED THE PURPLE TURTLE AND THE OWNER GOT A DJ AND WE HAD A PARTY FOR THEM. IT WAS GREAT FUN, WE DANCED ALL NIGHT LONG.
JUST FINISHED MY FIRST WEEK AS A DIVEMASTER IN TRAINING. IT WAS REALLY GREAT. I JUST SHOW UP THERE EVERY MORNING AROUND 8am. EAT SOME BREAKFAST AND THEN START GETTING ALL THE GEAR TOGETHER FOR THE FUN DIVERS AND STUDENTS. I ALSO HELP PUT THE TANKS ON THE BOAT WHICH IS WHY MY ARMS ARE SORE BUT ITS GOOD FOR ME. I LEARNED HOW TO FILL TANKS YESTURDAY. I BASICALLY HELP DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE. IF CAMERON OR ALEX DON'T NEED MY HELP WITH A COURSE, I CAN GO ON A FUN DIVE. THE DM WORKING HERE IS NAMED TALL ALEX {ITS SO FUNNY BECAUSE IF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME NAME SOMEHOW THEY GET SOMETHING ATTACHED TO IT TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO LIKE, MARINE PARK NICK, SHIRTLESS NICK, IRISH PATRICK, TEXAS JON AND SO ON} AND WE WENT OUT TO THIS DIVE SITE YESTURDAY LOOKING FOR THIS ORANGE SEAHORSE THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN SEEING. IT'S A REALLY RARE THING TO SEE BECAUSE THAY ARE SO SMALL AND USUALLY ARE REALLY WELL CAMOFLAUGED. ANYWAYS WE SPENT ABOUT 25 MIN LOOKING FOR IT AND DIDN'T FIND IT BUT IT WAS STILL FUN. WE SAW A SCHOOL OF SQUID, LIKE A 3 1/2 FT LONG BARRACUDA AND BUNCHES OF OTHER STUFF.
I FINISHED WITH CAMERON'S RESCUE COURSE ON FRIDAY. IT WAS FUN BECAUSE I WAS THE VICTIM AND BASICALLY EITHER HAD TO PLAY DEAD OR PRETEND TO BE A PANICKED DIVER WHICH WAS HARDER THAN IT SOUNDS. I ENDED UP WITH A LOT OF WATER UP MY NOSE AND IN MY MOUTH. CAMERON AND I WENT OUT IN THE SHALLOW WATER TODAY AND I HAD TO DEMONSTRATE A BUNCH OF SKILLS THE WAY YOU WOULD SHOW SOMEONE WHO HAD NEVER SEEN THEM. MASK REMOVAL, REGULATOR TO SNORKEL EXCHANGE AND ABOUT 5 OTHER SKILLS. IT WAS MY FIRST TRY AND I THINK I DID OKAY. YOU GET GRADED ON A SCALE BETWEEN 1 AND 5 AND YOU HAVE TO GET A 3 ON EACH TO PASS BUT I WILL KEEP TRYING UNTIL I GET AT LEAST A 4 OR MORE ON EACH. I GOT A 4 ON TWO OF THE SKILLS TODAY. MOST OF THESE I HAVE ONLY DONE ONCE IN MY OPEN WATER COURSE AND I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THEM WELL TO STUDENTS. YOU HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING SUPER SLOW AND POINT OUT ALL THE LITTLE THINGS. ITS A LOT TO REMEMBER.
ALEX HAS AN OPEN WATER COURSE STARTING TOMORROW SO I WILL ASSIST HIM WITH THAT FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS. FUN, FUN, FUN!!!
FINALLY GOT TO THE GROCERY STORE YESTURDAY AND FIGURED OUT HOW TO HOOK MY STOVE UP SO THAT'S GOOD. SPENT LAST NIGHT AT HOME JUST TRYING TO GET SETTLED. HUNG UP SOME TAPESTRIES BECAUSE IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE A HOSPITAL ROOM BUT ITS BETTER NOW. I AM MEETING JESSI AT SUNDOWNERS AT 8 TONIGHT FOR OUR SUNDAY RITUAL.
JUST FOUND OUT THAT ON SEPTEMBER 6TH WHILE LAUREN IS HERE THERE IS GOING TO BE A FULL MOON PARTY WHICH IS BASICALLY A PARTY ON THE NIGHT OF A FULL MOON THAT LASTS UNTIL THE SUN COMES UP. YEAH!!!

DIVEMASTER

I MOVED A FEW DAYS AGO INTO AN APARTMENT ABOUT A 3 MINUTE WALK FROM THE DIVE SHOP. ITS A SMALL ONE BEDROOM AND NOTHING SPECIAL BUT A PLACE TO LAY MY HEAD. I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 4 DAYS AND OTHER THAN SLEEPING I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS TOTAL.
I'VE BEEN HAVING A BLAST HANGING OUT WITH KAT AND ANNA EVERY NIGHT BUT AM SAD BECAUSE THEY ARE LEAVING IN 3 DAYS. SATURDAY NIGHT WE WENT OUT AND FELT LIKE DANCING SO WE WENT TO THE TWISTED TOUCAN A BAR THAT IS USUALLY FILLED WITH GREASY LOCALS BUT IS ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES TO DANCE. WE DRAGGED ALL THE GUYS WE WERE HANGING OUT WITH ALSO EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO AND WE ALL ENDED UP DANCING FOR LIKE 3 HOURS. I WAS CALLING IT A SWEAT FEST. THEN ANNA AND I WENT SWIMMING IN THE POOL IN MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD. SUNDAY NIGHTS ARE USUALLY PRETTY CALM AND WE ALL WENT TO SUNDOWNERS FOR A FEW DRINKS AND IT CLOSES AT 10PM AND NOTHING ELSE IS OPEN. SUNDOWNERS HAS THIS PIER THAT HAS A SECOND STORY ON IT WE HAVE JUMPED OFF OF IT FEW TIMES BEFORE BUT KAT IS REALLY AFRAID OF HEIGHTS SO WE DECIDED SHE HAD TO JUMP OFF OF IT BEFORE SHE WENT HOME. KAT, ANNA, CAMERON AND I WENT AND STARTED JUMPING OFF THE TOP RAILING. IT IS SO MUCH FUN AND I SCREAM EVERYTIME. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE HAD A SORE GROIN, I DON'T KNOW IF I INJURED IT OR IF IT'S FROM ALL THE SWIMMING BUT WHEN I HIT THE WATER IT SPREAD MY LEGS AND RE-INJURED IT. OF COURSE I KEPT JUMPING BUT FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS I'VE BEEN SLIGHTLY LIMPING AND FEEL LIKE AN OLD WOMAN. GREAT TIMING TOO BECAUSE FOR MY DIVEMASTER I HAVE TO DO AN 800M/2400FT SWIM POSSIBLY TOMMORROW. AGHHH!!! I'LL BE FINE.
PFELTZ AND I FINALLY GOT TO DIVE TOGETHER THE OTHER DAY. IT WAS A REALLY GOOD DIVE AS WELL SO THAT WAS FUN. SHE'S OFF TO MAP THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND FOR 2 WEEKS SO I WON'T BE SEEING HER AS MUCH.
I STARTED MY DIVEMASTER YESTURDAY AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE FUN. THE OWNERS OF THE SHOP TOOK THE STAFF OUT FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT FOR KAT AND ANNA, THEY JUST FINISHED THEIR DM. IT WAS REALLY NICE.
I AM STARTING ASSISTING CAMERON TODAY ON HIS RESCUE COURSE. WHICH SHOULD BE FUN SINCE I ONLY HAVE TO PLAY THE VICTIM. I FEEL BAD FOR THE POOR GIRL THOUGH BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO CARRY ME UP THE BEACH. IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I JUST FINISHED MY RESCUE COURSE AND NOW I'M ASSISTING ON ONE. I GUESS I WILL BE DOING THAT FOR ABOUT 3-4 DAYS AND ALEX WILL ALSO BE TAKING ME OUT SO I CAN PRACTICE SOMETHINGS I DON'T FEEL AS COMFORTABLE WITH LIKE NAVIGATION. IT'S CRAZY TO THINK THAT IN 7 WEEKS I WILL BE LEADING DIVERS AROUND AND NOW I WONDER HOW THE DM CAN FIND THE BOAT WHEN EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME TO ME. IT WILL BE INTERESTING.
THINKING OF MY TRAVEL PLANS AND REALLY CONSIDERING THAILAND. IT IS SO MUCH CHEAPER AND I COULD EASILY GET A JOB AS A DM AS OPPOSED TO AUSTRALIA WHICH IS MORE EXPENSIVE AND FROM WHAT I HEAR HARDER TO GET A JOB BECAUSE YOU NEED A WORK VISA.
I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO AMSTERDAM FOR NEW YEARS BY KAT AND ANNA WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A BLAST AS WELL.
LAUREN IS COMING IN 2 WEEKS AND I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE HER HERE. I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GO TO ANTHONY'S KEY RESORT, 10 MIN AWAY, AND DO THE DOLPHIN SWIM. FIRST YOU ARE IN SHALLOW WATER AND THE DOLPHINS DO TRICKS AND THEY TKE PICS OF THEM KISSING YOU AND THEN YOU GET TO SNORKEL WITH THEM IN 25 FT OF WATER. I ALSO WANT TO TRY TO RENT A CAR ONE DAY AND ALSO
DO A LOT OF SNORKELING. POOR GIRL HAS TO BRING AN EXTRA DUFFEL FOR ALL OF US VAGABONDS THAT CAN'T GET WHAT WE NEED ON THIS ISLAND.
NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK. HERE IS A PIC OF NIKO (JESSI'S ROOMMATES SON) AT SUNDOWNERS WITH THE PIER WE JUMPED OFF OF IN THE BACKGROUND.
I WILL BE PRETTY BUSY BUT WILL TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE BLOG.

LAKE ATITLAN

HERE ARE A FEW PICS FROM THE LAKE AND THE CROSS-DRESSING PARTY AT THE HOSTEL. I THINK I LOOKED LIKE FRED FLINSTONE!

ANTIGUA PICTURES

PICS FROM THE EARTH LODGE

HERE ARE A FEW PICS FROM THE EARTH LODGE (WITH THE GREAT VIEWS OF ANTIGUA) AWESOME VIEWS, SUNSETS, THE SHACK IN THE ONE PIC IS THE DORMS I SLEPT IN AND THERE IS A PIC OF MY FRIEND CHRIS ON THE ROPE SWING I TOLD YOU ABOUT.

CHECKING OUT THE VIEW

THERE ARE 2 GIRLS FINISHING UP THEIR DIVEMASTER AT REEF GLIDERS AND I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW THEM PRETTY WELL. ANNA AND KAT, THEY ARE FROM ENGLAND. THEY HAD PLANNED ON RENTING A CAR AND DRIVING AROUND THE ISLAND SO THEY INVITED ME ALONG ON TUESDAY. WE MET AT 8am AND HEADED TO WEST BAY TO A DIVE RESORT SO I COULD BUY SOME FINS, BOOTIES AND A MASK. YEAH!!! I LOVE THEM, MY FINS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND WEARING THE BOOTIES WITH THEM MAKE IT SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITH MY FEET PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN WEARING A BROWN SOCK OF ALEX'S THAT HAD A WORN THROUGH HEEL AND I HAD BEEN CALLING IT GRANDPAS'S SOCK. THE SHOP IS RUN BY A BUNCH OF ITALIANS AND THEY WANT US TO MEET THEM FOR DRINKS TONIGHT AT A BAR HERE INTHE WEST END.
NEXTWE WENT TO COXEN HOLE WHICH IS A BIGGER TOWN WITH REAL STORES SO WE WENT TO THE PHARMACY AND THEN TO A PLACE CALLED CARRION. IT'S A SMALL DEPT STORE. THE MAIN REASON WE WENT WAS TO GET HAVIANA FLIP FLOPS. THEY ONLY COST $5.50!!! WE BOUGHT 13 PAIR BETWEEN US. SHOES ARE HARD TO COME BY HERE AND AS I SAID TO JESS TODAY, MY FRIENDS NEVER COME TO MY HOUSE BECAUSE NONE OF THEM HAVE SHOES!!! SHE LAUGHED AND SAID, NO ONE WOULD EVER SAY THAT IN THE STATES! IT'S TRUE THOUGH, THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY.
ANYWAYS, THEN WE WENT TO THIS RESTURANT CALLED THE VIEW WHICH SEEMED AS IF IT WAS ON TOP OF THE ISLAND. IT HAD THE MOST GORGEOUS VIEW OF THE CARRIBEAN. I TOOK PICTURES BUT THEY DON'T EVEN DO IT JUSTICE. YOU COULD SEE THE DARKER BLUE WATER FADE INTO THE CLEAR LIGHT GREENISH BLUE AND FROM THAT FAR AWAY YOU COULD SEE THE REEF. IT WAS BRILLIANT.
NEXT WE WANTED TO FIND A BEACH AND MAYBE DO SOME SNORKELING. WE WENT TO A RESORT CALLED TURQUOISE BAY, I THINK, AND WE HAD THE WHOLE BEACH TO OURSELVES. WELL WE HAD TO SHARE IT WITH THE SAND FLIES BUT OTHER THAN THAT IT WAS GREAT. WE JUST LAID OUT AND LOUNGED IN THE WATER AND TALKED. THEY WATER THERE WASN'T VERY CLEAR SO WE WENT BACK TO WEST BAY AND SWAM OUT TO A DIVE SITE THAT WE DIVE AT CALLED MANDY'S EEL GARDEN AND SNORKELED FOR A WHILE. IT WAS GREAT. FINALLY WE WENT TO EAT AT A PIZZA PLACE. THE SIGN SAID "BEST PIZZA OF ROATAN". IT REALLY WAS GOOD BUT IT IS SO FUNNY TO READ SIGNS HERE BECAUSE THERE ARE ALWAYS GRAMMAR AND SPELLING MISTAKES BECAUSE I GUESS FOR MOST ENGLISH ISN'T THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE.
WE HEADED HOME AND WE WERE EXHAUSTED! AFTER THE GIRLS DROPPED ME OFF THEY GOT THE CAR STUCK ON MY HILL. IT'S REALLY STEEP AND HAS LOSE GRAVEL SO LUCKILY THIS GUY HAZEL, WHO LIVES ON MY STREET, DROVE BY AND SAVED US.
I'VE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME DIVING BEFORE I HAVE TO START WORKING, AND BECAUSE I'M DOING MY DIVEMASTER THERE I GET TO DO THEM FOR FREE. FUN DIVES COST $20 SO THAT'S AWESOME. DOVE 3 TIMES YESTURDAY AND SAW A TURTLE ON EACH DIVE, LOTS OF GROUPERS WITH REALLY COOL DESIGNS THAT KIND OF LOOK LIKE ZEBRAS AND CHEETAHS, AND SAW THE MORAY EEL THAT LIVES AT THE WRECK I HAD TOLD YOU ABOUT BEFORE. ONLY 3 MORE DAYS OF FREEDOM AND I PLAN ON MOVING ON SATURDAY AND TRYING TO SETTLE IN BEFORE I START MY DM.

I'M MOVING

SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN BACK FROM GUATEMALA I HAVE BEEN SUPER BUSY WITH MY RESCUE COURSE. I HAVE TO BE THERE AT 830 AM AND STAY UNTIL ABOUT 4PM SO THANK GOD I HAD NO PLANS FOR TODAY. WENT TO BREAKFAST WITH SOME FRIENDS, RAN A FEW ERRANDS AND DID MY LAUNDRY, YEAH!!! I ALSO WENT SEARCHING FOR A NEW PLACE TO LIVE. MY ROOMMATES ARE LEAVING ROATAN ON SEPT. 7TH AND WE HAVE TO BE OUT OF OUR HOUSE ANYWAYS. SO I FOUND A LITTLE ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT AND THINK I WILL MOVE IN THIS WEEKEND. IT'S CLOSER TO EVERYTHING AND I WON'T HAVE THAT STUPID HILL EITHER.
IT IS MISERABLY HOT TODAY AND AM BASICALLY SOAKED IN SWEAT AS SOON AS I WALK OUTSIDE.
JESSI'S MOM ARRIVED FOR A VISIT LAST SUNDAY AND I HAVE BEEN GOING OUT TO EAT AND HANGING OUT WITH HER AS WELL. SHE LEFT YESTERDAY, SHE TOLD JESSI SHE WAS GOING TO EMAIL MY MOM AND TELL HER I AM GLOWING AND THAT THIS PLACE REALLY AGREES WITH THE BOTH JESS AND I. SHE'S CUTE.
I HAVE ALSO BEEN GETTING BACK INTO MY SUNDOWNERS ROUTINE. WENT LAST NIGHT AND HAD A GREAT TIME.
ON TUESDAY 2 GIRLS THAT I HAVE MET HERE ARE RENTING A CAR AND EXPLORING THE ISLAND AND HAVE INVITED ME TO GO ALONG AS WELL. SO THAT WILL BE FUN.
I PLAN IN TRYING TO FUN DIVE EVERYDAY THIS WEEK TO GET SOME MORE DIVES IN AND THEN ON MONDAY I WILL BE STARTING MY DIVEMASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'M OBSESSED. IT IS ABOUT A 6/7 WEEK LONG VENTURE. I WILL HAVE TO BE AT THE SHOP 7 DAYS A WEEK! ALTHOUGH I WILL TAKE OFF THE FIRST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER BECAUSE I HAVE A FRIEND COMING TO VISIT. I WILL KIND OF BE THE SHOP BITCH BUT THAT'S FINE WITH ME. I OBVIOUSLY NEED TO LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT DIVING, TAKE SOME TESTS, ASSIST ON COURSES WITH THE INSTRUCTORS AND PROBABLY A LOT OF THINGS I DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT YET BUT I AM SO EXCITED.
IT'S A BIG COMMITMENT BUT I REALLY LOVE DIVING AND THINK IT'LL BE GREAT. I WILL BE A PROFESSIONAL DIVER AND ONLY ONE COURSE AWAY FROM BECOMING AN INSTRUCTOR. NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS DID I THINK THIS WOULD BE MY LIFE, IT'S CRAZY!!!
SO NOW I THINK I WILL BE HERE UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER AND THEN MAYBE OFF TO AUSTRALIA. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
I WILL POST PICS FROM GUATEMALA SOON.
MISS EVERYONE!!!

I'M A RESCUE DIVER!!!

YEAH!!!!!!!I FINISHED MY RESCUE COURSE.
IT WAS 3 DAYS LONG AND I AM SO GLAD IT IS OVER. IT WAS BY FAR THE HARDEST PHYSICAL WORK I HAVE DONE HERE. THERE WAS ANOTHER GIRL IN MY CLASS AND I HAD THE SAME INSTRUCTOR, ALEX, AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN. FIRST, WE LEARNED ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF HELPING DIVERS IN ALL SITUATIONS IN SHALLOW WATER. SO EVERY TIME WE WENT OUT INTO THE DEEPER WATER WE HAD DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WE HAD TO DEAL WITH. ON OUR FIRST OPEN WATER SESSION WE GET OUT TO THE DIVE SITE AND CAMERON, THE OTHER INSTRUCTOR, GOES UP TO THE FRONT OF THE BOAT TO TIE UP TO THE BUOY AND "FALLS" OFF. THEN 2 MORE PEOPLE FALL OFF AND WE HAD TO GET THEM BACK TO THE BOAT AND HELP THEM ON.
ON THE NEXT DIVE I HAD ALEX AS MY BUDDY AND BASICALLY THE SECOND HE STEPPED FOOT ON THE BOAT I WAS TO WATCH OVER HIM. SUPPOSEDLY HE HADN'T BEEN DIVING IN 17 YEARS AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING. HIS EQUIPMENT WAS NOT ON CORRECTLY BUT DECIDED TO SIT AT THE FAR END OF THE BOAT SO BEFORE HE WENT IN THE WATER I HAD TO GO OVER TO HIM AND FIX EVERYTHING. MEANWHILE I HAVE ALL MY EQUIPMENT ON AND CAMERON IS BEHIND ME TURNING MY AIR OFF. AS I AM SITTING ON THE EDGE OF THE BOAT, CAMERON SAYS, HEY SARAH DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TURN YOUR AIR ON IN THE WATER? I WAS CONFUSED BUT REALIZED WHAT HE HAD DONE ONCE I DROPPED IN AND HAD TO GET MY BUDDY TO TURN IT ON FOR ME. WE PROCEEDED TO WATCH AND CORRECT EVERYTHING OUR BUDDIES WERE DOING WRONG UNDERWATER, WHICH WAS REALLY FUNNY BECAUSE THEY WERE ACTING RIDICULOUS.
WE ALSO LEARNED THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO CARRY AN UNCONSCIOUS VICTIM UP ON THE BEACH AND ALSO UP THE LADDER ON THE BOAT. OUR LAST DIVE WE HAD TO TOW AN UNCONSCIOUS VICTIM TO THE BOAT FROM MAYBE 150 FT INTO THE CURRENT ON, LUCKY FOR US, A REALLY ROUGH DAY WHILE GIVING RESCUE BREATHS EVERY 5 SECONDS. THEN GET ALL HER EQUIPMENT OFF AND GET HER UP ON THE BOAT. AFTER THIS LAST EXERCISE WE STILL HAD TIME BEFORE THE OTHER DIVERS ON THE BOAT WOULD BE UP, SO ALEX DECIDES TO MAKE US DO IT AGAIN. GOOD TIMES! NEEDLESS TO SAY EVERY MUSCLE IN MY BODY IS SORE AND I EXPECT WILL BE FOR A FEW DAYS.
SO NOW EVERYTIME I DIVE IT WILL BE MY RESPONSIBILITY ALONG WITH ANY DIVEMASTERS OR INSTRUCTORS, TO SAVE SOMEONE IF THEY ARE IN TROUBLE.
AGHHHHHH!!!!!!

UNDERWATER PICS!!!

HERE ARE SOME OF MY UNDERWATER PICTURES. I TOLD YOU IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

GOING HOME FEELS GOOD

I LEFT THE LAKE ON MONDAY LATE MORNING WITH A FEW OTHER PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY TO ANTIGUA. WE TOOK A CHICKEN BUS, WHICH ARE OLD SCHOOL BUSES FROM THE STATES THAT THEY PAINT WITH CRAZY COLORS. THEY ALSO CRAM THEM FULL OF PEOPLE (THE AISLE WAS FILLED WITH PEOPLE ALONG WITH EVERY SEAT) AND DRIVE LIKE MANIACS. THANK GOD I COULDN´T SEE DUE TO THE HOARDS OF PEOPLE IN THE WAY. ONCE BACK IN ANTIGUA, I WENT TO LUNCH WITH A GUY THAT HAD BEEN TRAVELING THE SAME PATH AS ME. HE HAD BEEN AT THE EARTH LODGE AND THEN LA IGAUANA. SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY WANDERING AROUND THE CITY.
ONLY BECAUSE THE BUS COMPANIES ARE MEAN I HAD TO WAKE UP AT 3:30am TO CATCH MY FIRST OF MANY SHUTTLES TO GET BACK TO CEIBA. THE FIRST WAS A SO CALLED "MINI-BUS" WHICH IS LIKE A MINI VAN BUT THEY CRAM LIKE 15 PEOPLE IN THERE. IT WAS 6 HOURS OF SHEAR TORTURE. ONCE WE GOT TO COPAN, HONDURAS I GOT TO GET ON A REAL BUS, THE KIND WITH MY OWN SEAT AND THEY SHOWED MOVIES, SO THAT WAS BEARABLE. FINALLY GOT TO CEIBA AT AROUND 7pm.
STAYED AT THE PARIS HOTEL WHERE MY BROTHER AND I HAD STAYED WHEN WE CAME TO UTILA AND HAD A GREAT NIGHT, HAVING A ROOM TO MYSELF AND A HOT SHOWER.
I WOKE UP AT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS 7:30am, ATE BREAKFAST AND WENT TO GET MY TAXI TO THE FERRY AT ABOUT 8:30 WHEN I FIND OUT THEY CHANGED THE TIME 2 DAYS AGO! I ASKED THE LADY, ARE YOU SURE AND THEN HAD TO CHECK ON THE INTERNET TO MAKE SURE. I GUESS THEIR FALL BACK IS EARLIER THEN OURS. WHY DIDN´T ANYONE TELL ME? SO NOW I AM SITTING IN THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL WAITING FOR THE REAL 8:30 TO ROLL AROUND.
I CAN´T WAIT TO GET BACK TO MY ISLAND, I WILL BE STARTING MY RESCUE DIVE COURSE TOMORROW AND IM GUESSING IT WILL BE JUST AS FUN AS MY PREVIOUS COURSES.
WELL, IM OFF TO THE FERRY. HOPEFULLY MY NEXT POST WILL BE MORE EXCITING.

LATE ATITLAN

I SPENT FRIDAY IN ANTIGUA AND HAD ONE OF MY BEST NIGHTS IN GUATEMALA. I WENT OUT TO DINNER WITH A GROUP OF 5 PEOPLE THAT WERE ALL TRAVELING ALONE AND THAT WAS NICE WITH GOOD FOOD. THIS IS THE PLACE TO GOOD IF YOU LIKE AGUACATE/AVACADOS. THEY ARE SERVED WITH EVERY MEAL INCLUDING BREAKFAST AND I LOVE IT! SEE, IM LEARNING SOME SPANISH!
WE WENT BACK TO THE HOSTEL AND STARTED HAVING A FEW DRINKS WHEN I MET ANOTHER GROUP OF GUYS. SOME WERE TOGETHER, SOME TRAVELING ALONE BUT THEY WERE SO FUN. ONCE THE BAR IN THE HOSTEL CLOSED WE DECIDED TO GO TO A DANCE CLUB CALLED LA SALA. IT WAS REALLY FUN ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T REALLY DANCE. I ENDED UP HANGING OUT WITH THESE 2 GUYS THAT HAD JUST FINISHED LAW SCHOOL IN ENGLAND. ONE WAS FROM IRELAND AND THE OTHER FROM NOTTINGHAM. THEY WERE SO MUCH FUN, AND MIGHT COME DOWN TO ROATAN WHICH WOULD BE GREAT. WE DIDNT GO TO BED UNTIL 3AM WHICH WASN'T GOOD FOR ME SINCEE I HAD TO GET ON A BUS DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTIANS TO GET TO THE LAKE.
ITS SO FUNNY BECAUSE YOU END UP SEEING A LOT OF THE SAME PEOPLE BECAUSE MOST BACKPACKERS ARE ON THE SAME KIND OF COURSE. IT'S NICE SEEING FAMILIAR FACES.
WE GOT PICKED UP AT THE HOSTEL AT 1230 YESTURDAY AND SPENT ABOUT 2 AND 1/2 HOURS TO GET HERE. IT WAS THE MOST GORGEOUS SCENERY. WE DROVE UP THROUGH THE MOUNTIANS AND THE SKY WAS SO COMPLETLY CLEAR AND BLUE AND THE CLOUDS WERE JUST HOVERING OVER THE MOUNTIANS. WE HAD TO TAKE THE BUS TO THE MAIN TOWN ON THE LAKE AND THEN TAKE A BOAT TO WHICHEVER TOWN YOU WANT TO GO TO, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW. ONCE WE GOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE THE LAKE IT WAS AMAZING. IT'S HUGE, SURROUNDED BY MOUNTIANS AND VOLCANOS AND THE COLOR IS A DEEP TEAL IN SOME AREAS AND LIGHTER BLUE IN OTHERS. I RODE THE BUS WITH A COUPLE I HAD MET AT THE EARTH LODGE SO WE GOT DROPPED OFF AT THE STATION AND HAD TO WALK DOWN TO WHERE THE BOATS WERE. APPARENTLY THERE ARE 2 SEPERATE AREAS YOU CAN GO TO AND WE UNFORTUNATELY WENT TO THE ONE WHERE WE WERE THE ONLY GRINGOS.
WE WERE TOLD IT SHOULD ONLY COST Q10/$1.25 AND NOT TO PAY UNTIL AFTER THEY TAKE YOU. SO AFTER ABOUT 1/2 HOUR WANDERING AROUND DECIDING WHAT TO DO WE GET A GUY TO TAKE US FOR Q20. BEFORE WE EVEN LEAVE HE WANTS HIS MONEY FIRST AND THAT TURNS INTO ANOTHER 10 MINUTE DISCUSSION IN ENGLES Y ESPANOL. WE JUST WANT TO GET HERE SO WE ARE LIKE WHATEVER WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THE WHOLE WAY HERE I AM EXPECTING HIM TO STOP THE BOAT AND HOLD OUR BAGS OVER THE EDGE DEMANDING MORE MONEY. IT ALL WORKED OUT BUT WHEN THEY SEE YOU HAVE A BACKPACK THEY TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.
SO WE ARRIVED AT LA IGUANA PERDIDA AT ABOUT 5PM. I HAD EVERY INTENTION TO TAKE A NAP WHEN I GOT HERE BUT IT HAPPENED TO BE DRESS UP NIGHT. AS SOON AS I GOT TO THE DORMS ALL MY ROOMATES WERE ALREADY DRESSED UP AND GOING TO HAPPY HOUR. THEY HAVE THIS BIG CLOSET HERE FILLED WITH HIDEOUS CLOTHES THAT EVERYONE SIFTS THROUGH TO COME UP WITH A GOOD OUTFIT. I FOUND A PLAID MINI SKIRT, A BROWN FLOWERED POLYESTER SHIRT A FUR VEST AND A STRIPED TIE. IT WAS SWEET. IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE A CROSS DRESSING PARTY BUT SOME OF THE GIRLS JUST DRESSED CRAZY SINCE THERE ARE LESS GUY CLOTHES BUT ALMOST EVERY GUY HERE WAS WEARING A DRESS, MINI SKIRT WITH MAKE UP AND BALLOONS FOR BOOBS. IT WAS HILARIOUS. THIS IS WHAT I GET 5 MINUTES AFTER I ARRIVE HERE. IT WAS A REALLY FUN NIGHT, WE DANCED FOREVER AND I EVEN HAD A DANCE OFF TO THE SONG "MY HUMPS" WITH ONE OF THE GUYS HERE WHO WAS WEARING A PINK MINI SKIRT AND PINK FISHNETS. IT MADE ME THINK OF YOU ANDREA!!!
THANK GOD THERE IS A LAUNDRY SERVICE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM HERE. MY CLOTHES ARE NOT ONLY SMELLY BUT DIRTY, SO IT'S EVEN IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK CLEAN. I HAD TO BUY THE MOST HIDIOUS PAIR OF JEANS IN ANTIGUA BECAUSE THE ONE'S I HAD GOT SO DISGUSTING. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT I DIDN'T APPRECIATE WHEN I HAD THEM SUCH AS CLEAN CLOTHES, COLD DRINKS, WARM SHOWERS AND THE ABILITY TO GO TO THE STORE AND BUY WHATEVER YOU WANT. ALTHOUGH I DO MISS MANY THINGS I STILL WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING I HAVE DONE AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!
I THINK I WILL STAY HERE AT LEAST ANOTHER NIGHT AND THEN WE'LL SEE. IN ORDER TO GET HOME, I WILL HAVE TO TRAVEL BACK TO ANTIGUA FOR A NIGHT THEN CATCH THE BUS THE NEXT MORNING THEN STAY THE NIGHT IN CEIBA THEN CATCH THE FERRY THE NEXT DAY SO MY TRAVELS HOME WILL PROBABLY TAKE 2 FULL DAYS. THANK GOD FOR I PODS.

LAVA IN GUATEMALA

I AM ACTUALLY SAD TO SAY THAT I AM BACK TO SOMEWHAT OF A CIVILIZATION.
I HAVE SPENT THE PAST 3 DAYS AT A PLACE CALLED THE EARTH LODGE. IT IS ABOUT 15 MINUTES OUTSIDE ANTIGUA AND AT ABOUT 2500 FT. WE RODE IN THE BACK OF A PICK UP TRUCK UP THE MOUNTIAN AND THEN WERE DROPPED OFF AND HAD TO WALK A TRAIL FOR ANOTHER 10 MINUTES. WE ARRIVE AT ¨THE LODGE¨ AND BASICALLY ALL IT IS SOME SORT OF FARM ON A MOUNTIANSIDE. THEY HAVE LOTS OF AVACADO TREES (YUM) AND ONE MAIN HOUSE WITH A KITCHEN, DINING AREA, DAYBED & AND TV. ALSO PLENTY OF HAMMOCKS. THEY HAVE A FEW CABINS BUT I STAYED IN THE DORMS WHICH WAS A LITTLE CABIN WITH 4 SETS OF BUNKBEDS AND ANOTHER LITTLE CABIN NEXT DOOR WITH A SHOWER, SINK AND TOILET. WHEN I SAY TOILET I REALLY MEAN A REALLY DEEP WHOLE IN THE GROUND WITH A TOILET SEAT ON IT.
THE MAIN AREA MUST HAVE ORIGINALLY BEEN DUG OUT OF THE MOUNTIAN AND HAS THE MOST AMAZING VIEWS OF THE CITY. YOU CAN ALSO SEE 3 VOLCANOS. ONE OF THEM IS ACTIVE AND ON ONE NIGHT IT WAS REALLY CLEAR AND WE SAW LAVA COMING OUT OF IT ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IT WAS AMAZING.
A COUPLE FROM CANADA AND THE STATES OWNS IT BUT HAS A FEW GUATEMALAN GIRLS MAKING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. THE DINNERS ARE FAMILY STYLE WHERE EVERYONE SITS DOWN TOGETHER AND THEY MAKE ONE BIG MEAL. IT WAS REALLY NICE. FOR 3 DAYS OF BOARDING, 3 MEALS A DAY, SNACKS, DRINKS AND LOTS OF BEER, IT COST ABOUT $20 A DAY. I SPENT MY DAYS SUNBATHING, READING, WATCHING THE CLOUDS CROSS OVER THE MOUNTIANS, EATING GUACAMOLE, PLAYING CARDS AND WATCHING CLINT EASTWOOD MOVIES. THEY ALSO HAVE THIS ROPE SWING, WHICH IS BASICALLY A SQUARE PIECE OF BOARD WITH A ROPE THROUGH IT AND ITS TIED TO A TREE THAT HANGS OVER THE EDGE OF THE MOUNTIAN. IT WAS SO SCARY AND FANTASTIC AT THE SAME TIME.
I MET SOME REALLY FUN PEOPLE THERE ALSO. ITS GREAT WHEN YOU GO SOMEWHERE BY YOURSELF BUT SEEM TO FIND PEOPLE THAT MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE HOME. I ALSO MET THIS GUY NAMED MATT, WHO OWNS A HOSTEL IN ANTIGUA CALLED THE BLACK CAT WHICH IS WHERE I AM STAYING TONIGHT. I HAVE LEFT MY TRAVEL BUDDY AT THE LODGE BUT I HAVE A FEELING I WILL SEE HIM AGAIN SOON.
I SPENT MY MORNING AIMLESSLY WALKING AROUIND ANTIGUA, WENT TO THE CITY CENTER, THE MARKET, AND ENDED UP SPENDING ABOUT AN HOUR TRYING TO FIND MY WAY BACK. THE CITY IS LIKE A GRID BUT EVERY STREET LOOKS THE SAME AND THERE ARE NO STREET SIGNS.
IM NOT REALLY SURE HOW I AM DOING BUT I HAVE BEEN FORCED, AT LEAST WHEN I GO OUT, TO USE MY SPANISH. ON OUR WAY HERE URI WAS MAKING ME DO THE ORDERING AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHICH IS KIND OF EMBARASSING, SOMETHING I NEED TO GET OVER. IN BETWEEN OUR BUS RIDES HERE, WE WENT OUT TO GET LUNCH. I WANTED AN EGG BAGEL AND HE WANTED A HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH. I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT WE ENDED UP GETTING 2 HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICHES. I JUST ATE IT AND KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT.
TOMORROW I AM HEADING OFF TO LAKE ATITLAN. IT IS ABOUT 2 & 1/2 HOURS WEST OF HERE. IT IS A LAKE THAT WAS CREATED FROM A VOLCANIC ERUPTION TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO AND IS SURROUNDED BY 3 VOLCANOS. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW CITIES SURROUNDING IT BUT I WILL BE STAYING IN SANTA CRUZ. THEY ALSO HAVE FRESH WATER DIVING THERE SO I THINK I WILL CHECK THAT OUT. MY PLAN IS TO STAY THERE FOR 2 NIGHTS AND THEN HEAD BACK TO ROATAN. I AM REALLY NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 14 HOUR TRIP BACK WITHOUT SOMEONE TO TALK TO BUT I AM ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO MY LITTLE ISLAND PARADISE.
I WILL POST PICTURES ONCE I GET BACK TO ROATAN.