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It was one of my cruising days in Honduras. Our ship reached port silently as the sea was surprisingly calm, not windy, unlike it used to be in the hurricane season. The as we reached the pier and started docking, the virtual silence was broken by the noisy welcome caribbean music and the native hip-shake dance by the local people, for the tips from the tourists.
Being obsessed with the pirates of the Caribbean, I walked out of the ship, like Jack Sparrow, in search of the treasures secretly hidden in the Caribbean islands.
The ship docked at just before 8 in the morning. I had booked a zip line tour and it was about to start at 1030. I exited the ship through the gangway at 10 am and along with many guests i was lined up, to embark on a mini bus.
As we embarked on the bus, our guide had mentioned that we would drive straight across the hill in front of us.
The sun was bright, and bus rode us through the plains and then valleys and towering ridges. All the guests are mostly american and few Europeans. I was the only Asian. The guide had mentioned several things about the islands background and about our destination. the driver was politely concentrating on driving. guests asked many question, for which he had gladly replied, finally everyone had stopped talking altogether, and had focused instead on the scenery. everyone became busy gazing out at the wide, valley ahead, green with plant life. On one side of the road were small houses, growing different types of plants, most seemed to be food bearing types, everything from banana to spinach. On the other side of the valley was the vast blue sea.
At the top of the hill was the lodge, a large Spanish-style building constructed of hewn timbers and grey stone. Groups of people listened carefully to the guides on the porch and among the trees. As we got out of the vehicle, we were guided to a separate place and then our guide helped us to put the safety harness and the protective gears on.
I gazed out at the view. Beyond the building, the land sloped gradually downward then flattened out into forests and merged with sea.
The beauty of Coxen Hole, Roatan, touched me. We were on top a colorful landscape. small plants grew thickly under the giant trees that rose up thickly throughout the hill valleys. White faced monkeys jumped from the trees to trees, black birds sang the songs, grey cranes flew above the valley, iguanas merged their colour with the ambience and silently waited for their prey, green skinny snakes sneaked on the branches, colorful butterflies fluttered between us… that was mesmerising! Guests took pictures, in different poses – couples hugging and kissing each other, hands wide open, or just smiling to the camera.
The Roatan people eat iguana too, and they say it is tastier than the chicken. There was an iguana of a size 2 feet from head to tail, sighted on a tree, and the guide said that its enough for two people. And he said it would be a finger licking dish. Wode-a-tianna! (oh my god-Chinese – learning bits of every language, and its becomes a part of our life- is a result of working in cruise lines where more than 90 country people work).
There were 11 zip lines between the trees to trees. We zipped above the trees and at the cascading tropical plants. adrenaline rushed through my veins. Underneath me, on the forest floor grew long leafed tropical grasses which stood four or five feet high. I could smell the musty odor of the leaves and the fragrance of the blossoms. At one time, i even zipped through upside down.
When the last zip line finished, we entered a clearing where a vehicle, an open jungle safari van was waiting for us. The afternoon sun shone from above us, bathing the plot in bright light, yet the woods beyond remained dark inside. We embarked on the van, and it proceeded up a narrow gravel, bumpy drive. The guides, young men, were teasing each other and singing songs.
It was a refreshing break from ship, the metal container. I liked hanging out in this forest, which are so different from what I had seen in my life in India and Europe.
I learned from the guide and the books that in the mid 17th century, upwards of 5000 pirates and privateers prowled the bay islands in search of treasures from New World as they were shipped back to the Old World. Familiar names – Henry Morgan, Blackbeard and John Coxen. Captain Coxen was an English privateer who used the island of Roatan as a home base (end of 17th century). Today Hoxen Hole , also called Roatan town, is the largest town on this lush, tropical island. An outdoor paradise, it’s now famous for eco tours, diving , snorkeling, caves, botanical gardens, beaches, a cloud forest, and incredible photo opportunities. Roatan is a place for unique experiences , regardless of your age or activity level.
For example , there is an iguana sanctuary, home to dozens of friendly iguanas and monkeys. For gardening enthusiasts, there is botanical gardens. You can expect to see cacao, coffee, and orchids growing as well as many native plants and hummingbirds. Pristine white sand beaches with full facilities are close by the pier.
For the cruise ship visitors with plenty of shopping including loose diamonds, tanzanite, jewelry, swiss made watches, local souvenirs , all conveniently located right on the pier ashore. Roatan is 35 miles and average of three miles wide and lies 40 miles off north coast of Honduras. US dollar accepted, lempira is the currency.
These places are the real treasures. I always wanted to see these staggering places… the universe always operated in a predictable manner, like an enormous machine, because for a long time in my life that’s all it could be proved to be.
I had an opportunity to explore the amazing series of caverns connected by underground waterways. We started in the morning from the Cozumel , an island in Mexico, on a ferry to the mainland. After the ferry there was a short ride into the jungle to the Rio Secreto nature reserve.
An expert guide , Alondra, took us through the nature reserve. We were outfitted with a wet suit, life vest, water shoes, helmet with headlamp. It is said that this site was under the sea 2.5 million years ago. Before we started , a Mayan prayer was conducted by a Mayan priest by sprinkling some weird things into the fire in a bowl and spelling some mantras in Mayan language. Then as the smoke erupted it was shown and waved to everyone and all of us inhaled it. It smelt like incense. It was strikingly similar to the sacred rituals conducted in indian temples. As we entered into the caves the darkness fell upon us. We switched onto our headlamps and carefully walked and swam through the caves and waterways. We were not allowed touch anything. The water was cold but bearable, the stalactites, the calcium formation hanging down, and the stalagmites, the formation going up formed spectacular sites and we were amazed. At some places they touched each other and formed curious shapes.
Bats flew above our heads. There were bones on the rocky structures , reportedly the bear bones left by the jaguars after eating the bear. There could be some jaguars hiding in the crevices. We passed through the river with lots twists and turns, and emerged through another hole to the sunny bright open space. And there we felt the world is so beautiful and peaceful. Though the Underworld is really stunning but scary.
Even though the cave has connections to the sea, the water was surprisingly fresh and was potable. Once upon a time Mayans used to this place to hide themselves from the enemy tribes and also used for prayer. Only the priests had access to the these caverns as they did human sacrifices and did rituals. Normal people were afraid of the caves, as we do now. However now it was a serene place where one can connect to the universe in the deathly silence, ( until a jaguar comes and eat you, kidding, jaguar are afraid of man).
There is a lot to experience from the underworld. As above so below. The Creation is fantabulous.
The only state bounded by the Caribbean Sea to its east. Mexican peso is the currency but dollars are accepted practically everywhere. The official language is Spanish but many people speak English, Italian, and German. At some point I could find someone also speaking Mayan or only Mayan. Early Mayans were predominant in the area from 200 bc to 900 ad. The ruins at Chacchoben, constructed by the Mayans in the 4th century, include magnificent stone structures and pyramids. I felt a special connection with the ancient world as I went through this ruins.
We traveled approximately 60 minutes on bus to reach this destination from the port. The road cut through the forest and I rarely found people or village. At some point some girls were selling pineapples. It’s a poor country and tourism seems to be a major part of revenue.
St Petersburg, Russia. Strolling through Hermitage is one of the greatest pleasures. I found solitude in a dialogue with world culture and Russian history at the Hermitage, which was once the Tsar’s private museum. I could breathe different cultures, and be fascinated at one place. The museum is filled with the treasures and the personal things of the famous kings, warriors and revolutionaries like Alexander, Napoleon, Cleopatra, Nefertiti, and of many more who have left a living memory of themselves here forever. From the historical state rooms to the masterpieces of ancient sculpture or painting, the museum is full of surprises.
They say that if one spend one minute in front of a picture or artefact, it would take eight years to complete the museum. All world class drawings, artefacts of the ancient generation, thousands of swords of azure, diamonds and of gold gleam across the ages. Original paintings on canvas of dreams by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso and many more tell the tales of lovers and hide the secrets of treasures for the years.
The Hermitage is inexhaustible and generous to those who love it. The most democratic of museums, one where everyone finds something for him or her self. Human generation must be grateful to the Russian queen Catharine, whose will and taste brought the museum into being.
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