Central America: Caye Caulker, Belize

How incredible it is to find such a small subtropical oasis like that of Caye Caulker, it's even more incredible to think that this place is only 4hrs away from the hustle and bustle of Cancun! 

The motto of the locals here is 'Go Slow' and while we were still recovering from spring break we definitely practised this way of life for the short time we were there. 

After dumping our heavy backpacks at our hostel named appropriately as 'Dirty McNasties' we quickly made our way to The Spilt to sink some Belekins and bathe under the Belizean sun. For our first full day on the island we experienced some crazy subtropical storms and enjoyed some takeout dinners from Auntie Anne's while watching the lightening hit the horizon.

For our 3rd day we were up bright and early to begin a boat tour with a local guy named Paps and his accomplice, Denton 'Rastaman'. For an all day boat tour you can't beat "Island Roots". Firstly, our 'tour guides' made a strong point of telling us that they provide rum, weed, and music all day, and they weren't kidding. Secondly it's a cheap and easy way to see all the best snorkeling spots Belize has to offer. From fishing for barracudas, and feeding sharks to swimming with huge stingrays and turtles, this tour gives you the full experience.

To end the day we journeyed through some wild weather to a private island with a small deserted shack, cooked up our catches of the day and drank way too much coconut rum before heading home around midnight to rest our weathered heads.

Central America: SPRING BREAK!!

Arriving in playa del Carmen was like teleporting to Miami beach for the week. When we pulled up at the ADO depot we were greeted with searing heat and American college students getting ready for spring break. 

Much of the first and second day was spent lazing around the beach, getting hair wraps and taking in the westernised vibe of sunny playa. After spending the last month on a diet of tacos and rice we made the most of the walmart across the road from our hostel and created homemade chicken and mango salads for almost every meal of the week. 

It's funny how you can be on the other side of the world and still manage to run into Aussies doing the same thing you are. For our remaining nights we hit up playas nightlife with some boys from back home, and made the most of the local House and trap music playing in the streets. 

Cancun was a short bus ride away and we were greeted by our best mates from back home; after not seeing each other for over 5 months we spent the week lazing by the pool at the Grand Oasis while sipping piña coladas and snacking on buffets in between getting up to no good and running a muck on the island of Isla Mejeres. 

Fortunately we managed to drag ourselves out of bed in time to frolicking in some Cenotes and visit the archeological site of Chichen Itza.   

 Spring break is everything you want it to be; wild, intoxicating and adventurous! 

Here's what we got up to; 

Central America: Tulum

Arriving in Tulum after an 18hr  bus ride was made blissful when we pulled up at our hostel located in the jungle of Tulum and only a bike ride away from the beach.

We spent the first day lazing around at the beach, sun baking and taking in the town. At night we cooked up our own food, made mates with a local artist and some German dudes and talked way too much nonsense while sipping some local wine. 

Day 2 was spent the day bike riding around town, jumping in cenotes and accidentally frolicking with crocodiles. After 50km of riding in the heat we made a well deserved cheese platter and sank some beers with our hostel mates before heading out to a beach party.

Central America: San Cristobal

San Cristobal is a small town on a large mountain, it's full of the strongest little old ladies who carry kgs of fruit on their heads and spend their days making bracelets to sell for a lot less than what they are worth. 

Located 12hrs north of the coast, this quaint little maze of cobble stone streets is irresistibly beautiful. 

After being cooped up on a bus for far too long we checked into our hostel - The Iguana! Run by backpacking volunteers and kids from all walks of life, we felt like we had found a home away from home. From there we poked around the markets, found the most incredible cheese, wine and tapas bar and relaxed in the crispy air.

Day 2 we went on a boat ride through the canyons and spotted some cheeky monkeys and crocodiles. 

For our last day we cruised the town,  visited the cathedral de la casas, and journeyed wide eyed through the ghetto to find a sea of colourful fruits, veggies, spices and people!  

Central America: Puerto escondido, Oacaxa.

After a short bus ride from the city to the coast of Oacaxa we found ourselves along the Mexican pipeline.

It was a nice change to be able to see the beach from our balcony and we made no fuss about getting down to the ocean to bake in the sun and enjoy the waves. If you like to feel the size of an ant and be thrown around like a ragdoll the Pipeline may be your thing, the beach is full of rips, large waves and strong currents - so there's little wonder as to why this place becomes a mecca for so many surfers around the world.

While our first day was spent relaxing the second day we decided to go on a boat tour with a Mexican dude and his mate. It wasn't long after complaining that we never catch big fish when we reeled in a 25kg Dolphin fish, yeww!! After celebrating and getting ridiculously sea sick we had a swim with some turtles and headed home to sus out the pipelines night life!  

Pereto was condido provided the goods - good food, tunes, company, drinks and a sunsets!

Central America: Oaxaca City

The drive from Mexico City to Oaxaca city took a pleasant 7hrs but we finally arrived in the late afternoon ready to enjoy the night life! We wandered the streets for a few hours, tasted all the Mexican street food and people watched as the locals tried to sell us anything they could! The town was littered with army trucks and federal police so we called it a night and had an early one!

Day 1 in Oaxaca was probably the most interesting day to date, after getting on the wrong tour bus, exploring pyramids for 3 hours in Monte Alban, getting lost on a mountain, convincing 2 Mexicans who couldn't speak a word of English to drive us back to our hostel while they sang us songs in Spanish and somehow avoiding getting kidnapped we finally decided that maybe we should probably try and learn a few useful sentences in Spanish.

Day 2 was even more proof of this, after getting lost on the high way over and over again while trying to find a taxi we finally found someone to drive us to Mitla so we could catch a bus to Hierve El Agua. If there is one thing that's evident about Mexico it's the lack of road rules, or rules in general. We somehow crammed 7 people in a 5 seater civic and were on our way, at about 150kms an hour. Once again the language barrier left us in a sticky situation - when the taxi driver decided to boot us because we couldn't go any further up the mountain, we found ourselves lost..again. After a decent hike in the hot Mexican sun we finally arrived at Heirve El Agua, and I would like to believe it was more than worth it! 

Central America: Mexico City

Mexico City is pretty much exactly how you would imagine it to be. After being in transit all day we arrived to the customs line, which was about a km long and full of every character you could think of.

Attempting to get a taxi when no one could speak or understand a single word of English bid difficult but we were eventually on our way to our hostel - Mexico City Hostel, in the heart of downtown Mexico. 

For our first day we explored the archeological site of ----, visited a farm and got educated on how to make Mescal, Tequila and woven blankets and enjoyed a full Mexican buffet with entertainment!  

The second day we were lucky enough to score a private tour of the town, visit the Frida Kahlo Museum and bask in the Mexican sun while enjoying Xochimilco - where the boats on the canal are just as colourful as the people! At night we made our way to a traditional Lucha Libre show, learnt some offensive Spanish words to chant with locals, and after 1 too many tequilas it was definitely a night to remember! 

Mexico City, you are everything an Aussie abroad could hope for when beginning their journey of Central America, arriiba! 

Canada: Ciao cya bye whistler

My best mate has arrived in town and as our stay in Whistler comes to an end we are about to begin the second leg of our grand adventure; Central America.

Living and working in a different country in a small village is an experience I really find hard to describe. It's almost a bizzare feeing; Staff housing becomes your house, mates you met such a short time ago become your family, you know your way in and around town with your eyes closed, you know everyone and everything there is to know - you become a local. And then just as quickly as you became a part of the village, the season comes to an end and all you have to leave behind is exactly what it gave to you - a place to call home. 

Canada: shredding the gnar

My brothers from other mothers are pretty good lil shredders, and although the snow ain't producing the goods we could hope for it's still more fun than ever to run a muck on the mountain! 

Canada: common room antics and times with my rad mates

If there's one thing whistler has blessed me with it's incredible mates, and there's no matter place to spend time with those mates than in the village and staff housing.