You Better Belize-it!

I am a proud member of a group of people, who at one point or another, lived a very peculiar, unnaturally irresponsible and debauched lifestyle in a world that (it seems) we were never meant to know. A place that we wanted to escape, yet could never resist. Because of this experience, members share an unparalleled connection. We are: Korean Expats.

Some of the most amazing people I know, I met in Korea. Each year (there abouts) 4 of us meet up in a different part of the world to travel, reminisce and revive the feeling of K-style freedom. This year, we (minus one member) met and toured Belize by way of South Beach, Miami. During the trip, I was able to visit 6 different cities for the first time.

After a one night layover in South Beach, which was beautiful, but tacky and offensively expensive (Margaritas were $18.99!), we landed in Belize City where I experienced another first: sweating while standing - I mean it - not moving at all and dripping! BC is no where to spend time, so we water-taxied 1.5 hours east to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye (island) for 4 nights of lazy, sandy days to drink, eat and laugh about the fact that we still cheap out on accommodations to the point of bunking with a colony of cockroaches. We did all the usual snorkeling, diving, squatting on luxury hotel beach chairs pretending we were guests. We spent a day on Caye Caulker jumping off an abandoned boat and driving a golf cart up and down the strip - you know, typical stuff.

Wrapping up the island part of the trip with a crazy night at the Tackle Box and Big Daddy's dancing with locals until 3am, we made the LONG boat to bus journey inland to San Ignacio near the Guatemalan border to see some ruins. Perhaps only as a K-Expat would, we were able to see the humour in discovering that the ruins were closed when we finally arrived the next day. Yes, closed. So, back on the unairconditioned, 3 to a seat, stop-at-every-corner bus we went. In two days, we spent nearly 10 hours on buses and boats!

The finale of the trip was just as amazing as the beginning and middle. Near Orange Walk, we went on a jungle river tour, saw some incredible ruins (finally), listened to monkeys howl in the trees and spent every last BZ$ on drinks and unnecessary (but cherished) souvenirs. As always, it was a fantastic time! One that we never quite feel sad leaving because in 12 months, we'll be in some other new country doing it all again.

I read a cheesy, but fitting FB news feed recently that said: "I can't wait to have the memory of this moment". I feel that a lot when I travel with the gals from the KO!