I.II.VI.I – Belmopan: Day One
BELMOPAN
I.II.VI.I – DAY ONE
26/09/22
After another day spent in the cabaña, seeking refuge from rain and all outside activity alike, it was time for me to get back on the road. This time round, it’d be a quick stop to the capital; Belmopan, where I’d be meeting Roy again.
I remember waking up feeling all giddy and excited at getting to see him again. Somehow, it felt as if it had been years since we had been together, the days I spent in Caye Caulker feeling like they belonged to a different lifetime. And now we’d be together again – if only for a few days. The second I hopped of the bus stop, there he was, all tall and handsome waiting for me. We ran towards each other and met in the middle with a big kiss you’d only expect in a wartime movie. I just couldn’t believe we were together again.
We spent the morning roaming around the city and its market. Whilst Belmopan is the country’s administrative capital city, I have to admit it’s pretty unimpressive except for its National Assembly Building which was built to resemble a Mayan temple. That said, being with Roy again made it feel as if I were in heaven. A weird heaven – kinda like a mix of hanging out with an ex you had just broken up with and hanging out with a long-distance partner you haven’t seen in ages. It wasn’t awkward at all, but I did feel like as if we were making things harder than they should have been. We’d spend a few more days together and then we’d have to say goodbye all over, as if the first time wasn’t heart-wrenching enough. But that would be something I’d worry about later. For the time being, we were together – and that’s all that mattered.
Surprise, surprise!
After going around the city, it was time for something Roy had planned exclusively for me; knowing I had missed out on the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary. We got on a taxi, and, without knowing where it’d take me, I just laid there calm and tranquil, knowing full well that whatever he had in mind would be worth my time. He did plan most of my itinerary in Caye Caulker after all!
Turns out, we were on the way to Jaguar Creek; a fancy eco-lodge nestled in the middle of the jungle. There, we’d have at least a day to go around the jungle, visit a couple of places he had in mind, and, to top it all off, spend the night in a gorgeous wooden lodge. The second we got there, I was immediately in love with the place. The road leading there is surrounded by trees on both sides, forming a canopy in the shape of an archway that continues straight on to the lodges. Plants of all kinds and flowers of all colours filled what I could loosely describe as a terrace, with a wooden bridge connecting the cabañas to each other. In the background, the soft sound of the coursing creek could be heard, amongst the rustling of the leaves and the light pitter of the rain.
Jaguar Creek
After settling in, we were met with Kay and Darcy, a couple from Arizona to whom we took an immediate liking and decided to spend our time there with. Nearby, was what is known as yet another Blue Hole; a natural pool of azure water found in the middle of the jungle, connecting to a system of labyrinthine caves.
There was only one problem with that. Turns out, the only way to get to the Blue Hole would be to bike it, given that it was already too late to arrange transport and too far away to walk. It was at this time that I had to reveal to them (and now to you) I didn’t know how to ride a bike. Perhaps in an attempt to show me his manly, macho side, Roy had me sit on the handlebars whilst he’d exert himself a thousand times over in order to get the thing to move. I felt like a proper princess. Or, rather, a damsel in distress, given that the bike seemed about to lose balance at every twist and turn.
But somehow, we made it. By the time we got there, the rain was as heavy as it could get. Being so accustomed to swimming in the rain – something I got used to during my travels, I had everyone else join me for a dip in the pool, much to their initial disagreement and eventual bliss. We ventured as deep in the caves as we could, accompanied by tens of tiny little fruit bats, but, as the water level rose, we quickly had to make our way out and back to the lodges.
Then, we visited the Jaguar Creek; a small river right on the premises. Whilst usually this is the perfect place to do some river tubing, the rain was too heavy and the river too high, preventing us from doing more than admiring the landscape’s beauty. Whilst I’d usually be bummed about missing out on such stuff, I have to admit that I was completely okay with it this time round – mostly cause Roy and I could spend some time in that lovely lodge and finally have some much-anticipated alone time.
