My three weeks in Belize were very different from those in Mexico. In Mexico, on most days, I’d be up and ready to go by 7AM to get an early start to the day. Then I’d proceed to see and do as much as possible until the very second I’d fall asleep. From tours to treks, from roaming around cities to roaming around ruins, I felt like I left no stone unturned wherever I went.

But Belize? Belize was a whole other story. My time on the islands felt like the complete opposite. I went from fast and furious to slow and lazy, adopting their “go slow” attitude. I still did a hell of a lot of stuff, mind you, but I wasn’t rushing from one thing to another like I always do. I have to admit – it was very nice while it lasted. I never thought someone like me – always on the go and restless – could actually slow down and relax. Guess that’s the power of the Caribbean… 

• • • Friendship: In Belize, I met Roy and made great friends with Becca and Oliver – the Bloodclaat Gang. This meant I had barely any time to myself. It was a welcome change, especially in the beginning, after having been away from my friends for over a month. That said, being constantly surrounded by people made me feel like I was losing track of my trip’s purpose. I was meant to be alone. You see, back home, I’m surrounded by people all the time, and I often find myself craving solitude. This was supposed to be my perfect chance – a year-long break from people. And there I was, squandering it! True though that might have been, I was also conscious that this time would be limited. We’d be together for a couple of weeks, and after that, we’d all go our separate ways. Only God knew when the next time I’d be going out with friends and dancing in the rain would be!

• • • Experience: During my time in Belize, I barely had any time to read, write, or draw. All the things I’d been implementing as part of my routine just fell off the list. It felt like the discipline I had managed to muster over the previous month had vanished into thin air. But there was one thing that made me feel better about drifting from my routine: I didn’t have enough time to write, sure, but that only meant I had more stuff to write about later. I was too busy living to sit down with my journal and start scribbling.

• • • Flexibility: It was also the first time I chose to be flexible. In Mexico, I had followed my itinerary to the dot, always doing what I had planned and adding extra stuff along the way. It worked – I got to see way more than I otherwise would have. But in Belize, I readjusted my schedule without so much as a panic attack. And I also learned to let go. I knew that over the course of eight months, I’d be missing out on a lot of stuff. Some would be by choice, others completely out of my control – like Hurricane Ian ruining my chances of going to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Reserve. I learned to adjust my expectations and manage my FOMO.

• • • Skills: Whilst my time in Mexico revolved mostly around sightseeing, in Belize I had the opportunity to focus on a couple of skills too. I unlocked a whole new world after getting my scuba certification, and I gained some much-needed confidence after attempting some water sports. Basically, I was finally doing justice to my title as an island boy. And the good part is, I’d be using these same skills during the rest of this journey – and, undoubtedly, for the rest of my life.
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• Distance:
  • • Total walked: 125km
    • Total travelled: 668km

• Books: 
  • • Literally none…