Caribbean coconut shrimp

Shrimp are available year round and here’s a tasty recipe for making Caribbean style coconut shrimp, with a wonderful citrus mango dipping sauce. Coconut shrimp is one of those appetizers that’s usually a hit when family and friends get together. See below for the recipe for the mango dipping sauce.

Ingredients

1 local egg
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup belikin beer (Belizean beer)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups flaked coconut
24 shrimp
3 cups coconut oil for frying

Instructions

In medium bowl, combine egg, 1/2 cup flour, lager beer and baking powder. Place 1/4 cup flour and coconut in two separate bowls.
Hold shrimp by tail, and dredge in flour, shaking off excess flour. Dip in egg/ belikin beer batter; allow excess to drip off. Roll shrimp in coconut, and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat coconut oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit in a deep-fryer.
Fry shrimp in batches: cook, turning once, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Using tongs, remove shrimp to paper towels to drain. Serve warm with your favorite home made dipping sauce.

For easy recipe, check out this Caribbean Coconut Shrimp Video

Caribbean Mango Dipping Sauce

And to prepare an ah so scrumptious dipping sauce:

Take a look at how simple it is to make a Caribbean style mango dipping sauce with a bit of kick to it. This savory citrus mango dipping sauce goes well with coconut shrimp.

Discovery Television has ranked the Great Blue Hole as #1 in its list of 10 Most Amazing Places In The World.

The list of geological wonders has Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave in the #2 spot, Wyoming’s Devil’s Tower as #3, the Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia in Turkey at #4, and the Forest Of Knives in Madagascar at #5.

1. The Great Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole.

From the air, the Great Blue Hole of Belize resembles an otherworldly maw, intent on drinking down the surrounding Lighthouse Reef Atoll. In reality, the 1,000-foot (305-meter) wide hole is simply a sinkhole in the ocean. Geologists believe that an underlying cave system collapsed under increased pressure some 10,000 years ago due to rising sea levels.

The dark hole descends 412 feet (126 meters), terminating in light-less depths where a lack of oxygen prevents most forms of life from thriving. Divers rarely plunge these depths, however, as most are content to explore the stalactite-rich caverns accessible from depths of some 130 feet (40 meters) below the surface.

From hidden depths to towering vistas, these are just 10 of Earth’s countless geologic wonders — each more than a rival for anything dreamed up for fiction and fantasy. We live on a spectacular planet; you just have to open your eyes to it.

Explore the story about Earth’s amazing geology.

Whale Shark off Placencia Peninsula. Image credit: Laz Ruda

Scuba Diving Magazine has honored Belize in its Caribbean and Atlantic Readers Choice Top 100 Awards ranking it Second Place Best Overall Destination. Mexico came in just ahead of Belize as Best Overall Destination in the magazine’s 2013 Reader’s Choice Awards.
The magazine describes Belize as:

“If size matters to you, consider the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef — the world’s third longest. Want more superlatives? Swim with the largest living fish — the whale shark — April to July, and take a dip in the most well-known blue hole, home to Caribbean reef sharks and massive stalactites.

“In Belize, expect anything but ordinary: Reefs here are pristine, with regular sightings of eagle rays, green turtles and barracuda. Most dives are along walls pockmarked with caves and swim-throughs hiding a host of marine life. Belize isn’t largely known for macro life, but that could be because epic visibility encourages a wider focus. Come night, it’s easier to scout for the small stuff, from juvenile squid to cleaner shrimp. It’s surely a crowd pleaser — that is, if there were crowds. — Brooke Morton”

The rankings:

CARIBBEAN & ATLANTIC – The birthplace of recreational scuba diving remains as relevant as ever, with impressive variety from plunging walls to blue-water animal action and haunting cenotes.

Best Overall Destination

1. Mexico
2. Belize
3. USVI
4. Cayman Islands
5. Bahamas

Belize also made the Top Five in the Best Marine Environment Category and Best Big Animals

Best Marine Environment

1. Turks & Caicos
2. Bonaire
3. Cayman Islands
4. Belize
5. Dominica

Best Big Animals

1. Bahamas
2. Turks & Caicos
3. Belize
4. Bay Islands
5. Trinidad & Tobago

The crown jewel of the Cayo region is Caracol, a sprawling ruin that once was one of the most powerful cities in the Maya world.

“A mecca for hard-core scuba divers and laid-back beach types, this tiny Central American country on the Caribbean has even more to offer – vast ancient ruins, stunning native crafts and a wealth of exotic flora and fauna – for those who venture off the beaten path.”

Belize is featured in the February issue of the United Airlines inflight magazine, Hemispheres. Belize was chosen for the “Three Perfect Days” article, and is also featured on the cover of the magazine.

To capture the full authentic Belizean experience, the twelve page spread features a myriad of adventures and gives readers a peek at just what sets Belize apart; the people, culture, food, and landscapes are just a snapshot of what makes Belize the ideal tourist destination. Joe Keohane and Al Argueta take readers on a snapshot journey into the heart of Central America, Belize.

“Day One,” the adventure begins in the Cayo District, and later takes readers into Rio Frio Cave and then on to discover the mysteries of Caracol. “Day Two” journeys along the scenic Western and Hummingbird Highways to the Placencia Peninsula and is complemented with a stop at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. The perfect drive is capped off with dinner at a popular local eatery, Wendy. And, what better way to get some R and R than to retire for the night in Placencia?

“Day Three” goes underwater for a snorkeling excursion in warm, pristine Belizean waters where marine life dances in an unspoiled habitat. The final night winds down with dinner at popular eateries on the peninsula.

Hemispheres is an award winning, monthly magazine which highlights numerous topics, including travel, technology, business, fashion, luxury goods, food and drink, sports, luxury cars, and global culture. The magazine reaches almost twelve million passengers monthly, as it is available in all United flights.

The feature on Belize is sponsored by some of the more expensive resorts in the areas covered. Let’s face it, this is an airline magazine where you are not likely to find bargains. But the exposure given to Belize is worth it nevertheless. There are dozens of fine resorts in Cayo and the Placencia Peninsula – some of which you can find on Belize.com and elsewhere.

Download your FREE copy of  Three Perfect Day In Belize in PDF format (new tab/window will open).

As battered and weather-beaten as the dilapidated clapboard houses that crowd the swampy, gang-infested commercial capital Belize city – that’s how the new logo looks to most commentators on social media. Defenders say the logo is a radical shift back to the 60s, somewhat of a retro innovation in art that is inspired by the many circles found in nature. The Belize Tourist Board’s U.S. P.R. agency of the season, Minneapolis-based advertising shop Olson, defends the new Belize Tourist Board logo:

Copy of the new logo posted on social media.

“Olson turned to Belize itself for inspiration – the circular forms found across the nation inspired the new typeface, while a local artist contributed his own take to the national bird, the toucan. In all, the identity brings a contemporary, yet classic vibe to represent tourism in Belize and harkens back to classic travel posters of the ’60s (which, as design pieces tend to stand the test of time better than the stuff of recent years). The graphic forms are balanced out with textural brushstrokes, a nod to the handcraftsmanship of the country’s artisans.”

The Belize Tourism Board spends millions of tax payers monies to sell Belize to visitors. Hiring expensive stateside designers and advertising agencies without public tenders or bids is nothing new to Belize. But the new logo has stirred up debate in Belize ranging from high-fives amongst BTB board members and employees, to yawns, and to condemnation amongst Belizeans.

Alyssa Carnegie BTB Marketing: “The new look is something that we’re really proud of and we really did a lot of work and research into the formulation of it. The font is not a font that you’ll find anywhere else; it’s unique to Belize, the colors of course are representative of Belize. Even the shapes of the fonts and the toucan is more circular because we were looking at what are some of the shapes that really ring through and resonate with Belize as a culture, as a people, as a country that we have to offer.

“The colors are all really representative of different products that we have to offer in Belize; looking at all the wildlife, the green, looking at the blues and the greens from the sea and the reef and the beach and all of that. Yellows and reds that speak towards the sun, that speak towards even some of the cultural components like the Mayan wear that they use for the deer dance, some of the Mestizo components, even looking at some of the yellows from the Garifuna wear. So we really made sure that this really served as an umbrella brand and it does represent Belize way through to its DNA.”

Comments received on the Belize.com Discussion List and from Social Media are more varied:

•    Yes it is horrid. Will not cause the proper attention that it needs and deserves.
•    Looks like something that a 6 year old drew up.
•    Was there a “gay theme” to this presentation? Take a good look at the colors. See the gay flag colors?
•    Forget the gay colors, they have job ahead of them to convince people to visit!
•    The logo looks almost the same like Mexico’s one. Check it for yourselves.
•    Looks absolutely nothing like Mexico’s logo.
•    What a non-imaginative logo…my 8 year old daughter could have done a better job!!
•    Even tourism is controlled by the red law firm? Damned land white sharks
•    Why is the BTB logo spelling our country’s name with  lower case “b”. This is an insult to our country. Where next will the enemy strike?
•    This at a time when our sovereignty is being challenged by Politicians fueling this NONSENSE of the ICJ. If we allow BTB to get away with screwing up our Country’s Name then might as well we stop calling ourselves Belizeans.

Alma Belicena marimba band at San Jose Succotz, a Maya village next to Xunantunich.

The Maya nation is almost 10 million strong, alive and not too well throughout Central America where they form a significant part of the population.

Guatemala, where nearly half of its 14.3 million people are indigenous, is the country with the largest descendant population of the Maya civilization, followed by Mexico, while Honduras, Belize and El Salvador have significant communities of that ancient culture.

According to the last official population census conducted in 2002, in Guatemala the indigenous population constitutes 42 percent of the population, although the Maya organizations there claim that this figure actually exceeds 60 percent.

The greater part of Maya descendants is concentrated in the highlands in the west of the country and is divided into 22 linguistic communities.

But the stark reality is that our indigenous peoples live mired in marginalization and poverty, which affects up to 80 percent of its members in some countries.

The United Nations UNDP programme) statess that the 58.6 per cent of Guatemalan indigenous children suffer from chronic malnutrition (30.6 per cent in non-indigenous children), and infant mortality stands at an alarming rate of 40 per thousand live births.

In Mexico, the National Indigenous Institute statistics show that in that country the 1.4 million Maya live five Southern States: Yucatán, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Campeche and part of Tabasco.

In Honduras, 90 per cent of the population (8.4 million inhabitants) is mestizo and the remaining 10 percent seven ethnic groups consists of: Maya Chorti (unique descendants of the Mayans), Lencas, Tawahkas, Tolupanes or Pech, Miskito and Garifuna.

The State General Directorate of statistics and censuses (Digestyc) of El Salvador believes that of 6.1 million Salvadorans, 8 per cent is indigenous or indigenous origin, close to half a million people.

In Belize, the 2010 census shows that with a population of a few thousand 312,698 people, 51 per cent of the inhabitants are mestizos (descendants of Spaniards and Maya) and 10 per cent are indigenous Maya.

The greatest concentration of traditional Maya is in the southern Toledo district, with smaller communities in the west and north of the country. As a group, the Maya in Belize are marginalized with foreign timber and oil companies with support of the government, encroaching and exploiting their ancestral lands.

Like in other countries, the remains of the Maya civilization, magnificent pyramids and royal tombs are exploited for tourism with little going to  the Maya nation.

The report also points out that 21 per cent are descendants of Africans and 4.6 per cent Garífunas (Africans and Arawak Carib Indians) and a 7.8 per cent of the population are white people of British and Spanish descent.

In sum, more than 9 million people in Mexico and Central America compose the Maya world, and can be considered an indigenous nation from an ethnic, cultural and historical point of view.

On Friday, at the December Solstice, the Maya ended an era of 5 thousand 200 years and welcome a new Baktun cycle, and with hope look to a new dawn for this Mesoamerican culture.

New Belize-Mexico bridge across the Rio Hondo.

Belizeans, Mexicans and tourists have a new bridge over which to travel into and out of Belize via Mexico. The Mexico’s army has been pressed into service to build 800 meters of highway on the Belize side of the new Belize-Mexico bridge that crosses the Rio Hondo at Subteniento Lopez (Mexico) and Santa Elena (Belize). The bridge was donated and constructed by Mexico and completed in 2008. Since then it has languished with Belize claiming it had no money to build the access road on their side. Shortly before leaving office, President Felipe Calderon requested permission from the Senate to have the Mexican army cross into Belize to build the road.

The Senate this week authorized the federal executive to  the Mexican army to leave national territory to cooperate with the authorities of Belize in the construction of a road section on the bi-national border bridge.

A release from NOTIMEX says that during its regular session on Thursday, approval was given to the application that allows a Colonel, a captain, a lieutenant and eight elements of the General direction of engineers of the Mexican army troops to take part in the road works. The application was adopted with 92 votes in favor.

This is the second border crossing spanning the Rio Hondo and is aimed at easing the severe traffic congestion in the area.

The Rio Hondo river is about 94 miles in length (150 km) and flows in a northeasterly direction to discharge into Chetumal Bay on the Caribbean Sea. Most of the international border between the Mexico and Belize runs along its length.  The Rio Hondo forms from the confluences of upstream tributaries, such as the Río Azul  that becomes Blue Creek in Belize, and Chanchich (Rio Bravo), Both rivers originate in neighboring Guatemala’s Petén Basin region. These tributaries join to form the Rio Hondo near the settlement of the Mennonite settlement of Blue Creek Village, on the Belizean side, and La Unión on the Mexican side.

The Rio Hondo makes an appearance in Belize’s national anthem, Land of the Free, along with the Sartsoon that is the river on the Belize-Guatemala border in the south.

…
Our fathers, the Baymen, valiant and bold
Drove back the invader; this heritage hold
From proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon,
Through coral isle, over blue lagoon;

Making gourmet cheese in the jungle.

A local tourism entrepreneur has launched a cheese making operation that doubles as a tourist attraction – learn how to make exotic cheeses while on vacation. Or extend your stay and learn a new trade that you can take back to your own country and make millions – if you are lucky to have a large market which Belize lacks.

Ian Anderson runs a small jungle lodge outside of the City Of Belmopan. The lodge is known for its cave and jungle tours. It is easily accessible – just a half mile down a dirt road off mile 41.5 on the Hummingbird Highway almost opposite the entrance to the Inland Blue Hole that is on this same highway. The lodge is located right on the Caves Branch River and yes, those are Howler Monkeys up in the trees lining this scenic water way.

Seeking a new spin on his jungle lodge business, Mr. Anderson had obtained some sheep, goats and chicken for his petting zoo some time ago. The small livestock investment made some returns by providing fresh eggs and goat milk for his guests. But his wife Ella got the idea to make cheese from the goat milk.

A report in the local farm newsletter Ag Report shows what happened next – a cheese making business tied in with wine tasting in the tropical rainforest:

After research on the Internet Ian found an article on cheese making by a Vermont family of professional cheese makers, the Faillace family of Three Shepherds Farm, in Warren, Vermont. In September of 2011, Ian flew to New England and took a two week course with Dr. Larry and Linda Faillace on their farm.

On his return, Ian again tackled cheese making, beginning with one gallon batches, working up to the current 30 gallons per day production. Caves Branch now has a 500 sq. ft. working cheese kitchen, with a 250 sq. ft. wine and cheese tasting room attached.
There is a glass half wall enabling tasters to watch what is going on in the kitchen. A 12 x 14 walk-in aging room kept at 55° F completes the set up. A relationship with the Vermont Faillaces has resulted in their visiting Caves Branch on various occasions as Ian continues improvements in the facility and expands his product line.

Currently all cheeses are made with cow’s milk, purchased from a neighbor’s dairy. This winter, Caves Branch will be importing both milk goats and more sheep from the U.S.A.

Semi-hard cheeses such as Old Brabander, Spressa, Trappist, Parmesan and soft cheeses, such as Ricotta, whipped Quark Feta, Roquefort and triple crème Camembert are offered for sale. The soft cheeses are often blended with herbs, peppers or garlic. Marketing began at the local market and over facebook to friends. Two resorts are already serving Caves Branch cheeses to their guests and the growing trend to ‘serve local’ is increasing demand.

All the ingredients to produce the cheeses are donated by the Andersons and all of the proceeds from the cheese sales are donated to fund the ‘youth at risk’ programs of the Belize National Youth Chess Foundation, which Mrs. Ella Anderson founded and chairs.

Contact Caves Branch to purchase their artisan cheeses, learn more about wine and cheese tastings or their International Cheese Making Workshops at 610-3451 or e-mail: cheese@cavesbranch.com

Jungle cottage at Chaa Creek

Conde Nast Traveler (CN Traveler) has announced the results of its most recent Readers’ Choice Awards with three Belize resorts ranked in the list of ‘Top 15 Resorts in Central and South America’. In the poll Condé Nast Traveler readers were asked to rate the top resorts in Belize, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, and Brazil. Costa Rica garnered the most attention with 7 properties making the list – the most of any single destination. The top Costa Rican properties are Xandari Resort & Spa, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, Hotel Punta Islita, El Silencio Lodge & Spa,Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, Arenas del Mar, and Westin Golf Resort and Spa at Playa Conchal.

In its article of 9 November, the Belize resorts that made the list are The Lodge At Chaa Creek, The Turtle Inn and Kanantik Resort.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek located in Belize’s Cayo District, a key spot for some of the country’s top Maya Ruins and tourist attractions. The eco-luxury resort has won many awards and had the distinction of hosting Prince Harry during his Belize visit earlier this year.

The Turtle Inn is owned by movie director and tourism investor Francis Ford Coppola and is situated on the popular Placencia peninsula in  southern  Belize. The resort features Balinese themed cottages and a large selection of Coppola’s California wines.

Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort is a 300 acre eco-resort located between Placencia and Dangriga, four miles away from the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. The 25-room property features Maya themed thatched roof cabanas.

The full list is at CN Traveler.

Garifuna Battle Of The Drums

November is the month of the Garifuna with events and celebrations getting underway early in the month to culminate on November 19th Garifuna Day. One of the signature events is the annual Battle Of The Drums usually held a few days before the 19th in Punta Gorda, Toledo. The two day event usually  held on the 16 and 17 of November features a competition among the best Garifuna Bands and a Food Fest featuring Belizean Garifuna Cuisine such as Fish Serre, Hudut and baked Cassava Bread.

The Battle Of The Bands is an effort to help spread and balance out the impact of Garifuna celebrations to the southernmost district Toledo. The undisputed center of Garifuna culture of course is Culture Capital Dangriga in the Stann Creek District.

Band performers includes groups from Belize City, Dangriga Town, Hopkins Village, Seine Bight Village, Punta Gorda Town, Barranco Village (home of Punta Rock Superstar Andy Palacio) and groups from, Livingston Guatemala and Baja Mara Honduras, home of sizable Garifuna communities.

Nothing can approach the level of intensity and activity of Garifuna culture in thie Stann Creek district. But the Battle Of The Drums in Punta Gorda is an alternative those who reside or are willing to travel to Toledo for a different angle on Garifuna culture.

History Of The Battle Of The Drums

The Garinagu (people of Garifuna ethnicity) are originally from the island of St. Vincent and is a mixture of the Black Africans and Arawak Indians and Carib Indians. The local Belizean-Garifuna settled in Belize in the early eighteen hundreds on the 19th November, and since settlement, they remain a close and vibrant community.

As a measure of cultural preservation and in recognition of the great contribution of this group, to the development of Belize, the “Garifuna Settlement Day” was established as a National celebration. With a steady growth in international and local participation, since its launch on 17th November, 2006, the Battle of the Drums continues to be successful each year.

The competition gives Garinagu bands (consisting of no more than 6 participants) the opportunity to showcase traditional drumming and dancing from the different categories of Garifuna music, such as: Punta, Hungu, Paranda, Chumba and Wanaragua.