My three weeks in Belize were very different than those in Mexico. In Mexico, on most days, I’d be up and ready to go by 7AM in order 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 stones unturned wherever I went.

But Belize? Belize was very different. 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 that it was very nice whilst it lasted. I never thought someone like me, always on the go and restless, could actually go slow 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 would be my perfect chance for that – it’d be 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 had been implementing as part of my routine had been dropped off the list and I was doing none of it. It felt like the discipline I had managed to muster over the previous month had just vanished into thin air. Having said that, there was  one thing that made me feel better about delving away from my routine. I didn’t have enough time to write, sure, but that only meant I’d have more stuff to write about later. I was too busy living and experiencing life to have enough time 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 on the way. It worked – I got to see way more than I otherwise would have, that’s for sure. But in Belize I got to readjust 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 – as was the case with Hurricane Ian ruining my chances to go to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Reserve. I learned to adjust my expectations and to manage my FOMO.

• Skills: Hmmm… What else? Oh yeah! Whilst my time in Mexico revolved mostly around sight-seeing, in Belize I had the opportunity to focus on a couple of skills too. I unlocked a different 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, my life!

• Distance:
  • • Total walked: 125km
    • Total travelled: 668km

• Books: 
  • • Literally none…