| MY FIRST BELIZE ADVENTURE | | | | or...belikin (the land facing the sea). |
| Just the name of the adventure, "Goddess Journeys | | | | The rugged Maya mountains dominate the southern |
| in Belize", had enticed me to contact Jude, owner of | | | | half of the country. Victoria Peak is the highest point |
| The Vision Exchange, to find out more. Her | | | | with an elevation of 3,681 feet. The coast is lined by |
| description of mysterious ruins and jungles had me | | | | the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier |
| hooked from the beginning. | | | | reef in the world. |
| Before landing in Belize City, I re-read the notes from | | | | LANDING AT BELIZE CITY |
| our conversation. | | | | Now, here I was - arriving in Belize City! Stepping off |
| Jude told me, "This is not just a yoga retreat. You | | | | the plane, I knew that I was in for an extraordinary |
| will tap into your divine wisdom through many modes | | | | trip in Belize. A beautiful petite woman was waiting |
| - yoga, meditation and tantric exercises. Of course | | | | for me. It didn't take me long to fall in love with her |
| there are other surprises also awaiting you! I am also | | | | sparkling energy and efficient I'll take care of |
| a massage therapist who specializes in the Rolfing | | | | everything manner. |
| technique." | | | | She didn't inundate me with useless words. Jude |
| "When you leave this retreat, you will not only feel | | | | simply wanted me to inhale the sights and sounds as |
| tranquil and centered and ready to face the world | | | | we meandered through the lush countryside, leaving |
| again, but you will definitely have a deeper sense of | | | | behind all my worries and tensions. |
| yourself, being clear about your true purpose in life." | | | | JOURNEYING TO THE YOGA SITE |
| Wow! I couldn't wait to land. In the meantime, I | | | | I could sense, and feel, the extraordinary power that |
| pulled out my information sheet about Belize and the | | | | this delectable environment was creating in me. I |
| surrounding areas. | | | | couldn't wait to arrive at our bungalows on the |
| BELIZE HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY | | | | beach. |
| Formerly known as British Honduras until 1973, Belize | | | | Jude had told me something about the mysterious |
| was the last British colony on the American mainland. | | | | Mayan jungle ruins we would be visiting, but I couldn't |
| It is a small Central American nation and borders | | | | think of anything at the moment. I was too lost in |
| Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula) to the north and | | | | the juicy spectacle of the tropics! |
| Guatemala to the south. Belize is the only | | | | I knew that this retreat in Belize was going to be the |
| English-speaking country in Central America. | | | | most exciting and self-empowering retreat I had ever |
| Belize's territory includes many coral reefs, cays and | | | | attended! |
| islands which are ideal for snorkeling, wind surfing and | | | | It's a good thing that my journal was the perfect |
| kayaking. | | | | size for sticking in my backpack, because I knew |
| The name Belize may have derived from two places: | | | | there would be a lot to write about. I already |
| from the Spanish pronunciation of Peter Wallace, a | | | | recognized that I would convince my friends to |
| Scottish buccaneer who made a settlement on the | | | | return on another Belize adventurous retreat as soon |
| Belize River around 1638; or that "Belize" evolved | | | | as possible! |
| from the Mayan word belix (meaning muddy water) | | | | |