An Extraordinary Guide to Caribbean Coast of Guatemala: Livingston (Part I)

Waterfront pier over at Casa Rosada. Livingston, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega
Chilling in a tiny pool of the most refreshing water while hiking up to the waterfalls of Siete Altares, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega

Chilling in a tiny pool of the most refreshing water while hiking up to the waterfalls of Siete Altares, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

Guatemala’s coastal borders with the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea could not be more different.  La Costa, refers to the fertile lands between chains of volcanoes and the Pacific Ocean. It is coarse, black volcanic sand continuously pounded by the raging Pacific. By contrast, Guatemala’s narrow coastline on the Caribbean side is a tropical jungle opening where the Rio Dulce, or ‘sweet river’ follows its path to the sea. (Part II click here)

Hurricanes are a common occurrence around Livingston bringing rains and destruction. Caribbean coast, Guatemala — Karina Noriega
Pelicans chill in large groups near fishing vessel. Livingston, Guatemala — Karina Noriega
Egrets chill on the soft surf waiting for a meal to swim by. Caribbean Coast, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

Where the river meets the salty ocean stands the Garifuna town of Livingston. This is a corner of Guatemala so unlike the rest of the country, it is hard believe you are not some island far, far away. The remote location and lack of connecting roads have helped to preserve this completely separate culture. Descendants from the Black Caribs of St. Vincent (Nigerian slaves mixed with Carib locals and consider themselves a separate race) the Garifuna people brought their own language, music, delicious seafood based gastronomy and some still practice an Afro-Carib religion know as dugu.

Now entering Livingston, home of the Garifuna culture of Guatemala — Karina Noriega
Chatting with a Garifuna man who in his 80’s, still dives and harpoons fish for a living. He salts and dries his fish for sale. Livingston, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

Livingston is still a small community, though a few roads have been paved and virtually any car you see will operate as a taxi (20Q to anywhere). The main strip from the public dock is packed with Western style restaurants and a few hostels. Shops there are clearly targeting tourism with all kinds seaside souvenirs such as giant conch shells, carved coconuts and sea stars as well as traditional Garifuna ailment cures and natural oils. The waterfront on the river side is lined with small hotels, perfectly positioned to invite in the fresh breeze on balmy, humid days. (See accommodations below)

Waterfront Livingston, Guatemala — Karina Noriega
Souvenirs are often collected from the bottom of the sea. Livingston, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

The beaches around town are generally not nice. Most people will take the popular full day tour to Playa Blanca or White Beach. Living up to its name, this white sand, sparkly blue sea water is a bit of an anomaly for Guatemala. There is a 20Q charge to use the beach, money goes to cleaning up large amounts of sea trash that washes unto the entire coastline. Better yet, make your way to Siete Altares (Seven Altars). A cool, freshwater river waterfalls into pools beneath the soaring jungle. Hike up the pools through a series of makeshift paths to bathe, relax and jump off the rocks. 20Q entrance fee.

April swimming in the waterfall pools at Siete Altares, Guatemala — Karina Noriega
Jumping off the waterfalls at Siete Altares, Guatemala — Karina Noriega
Follow the river through the jungle up to the waterfalls of Siete Altares, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

The Tour

A lancha departs at 9am taking the group to Siete Altares first for a brief swim before dropping everyone off at Playa Blanca for the day. A sandwich is provided for lunch and the lancha returns at 3:30pm. Entrance fees not included.

At one of the lower pools. Follow the river through the jungle up to the waterfalls of Siete Altares, Guatemala — Karina Noriega
Follow the river through the jungle up to the waterfalls of Siete Altares, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

Travel Tip:

Unless you’ve never seen a white sand beach before, skip the tour (and the crowds) and make your way to Siete Altares by land. It’s a long but straight forward walk from Livingston that affords you looks into how people really live and work. Distinct architecture, alternating concrete palaces and thatched huts, abandoned homes reclaimed by the jungle, makeshift shops, a colouful cemetery and plenty of characters along the way. Follow the paved road past the Mayan village where it’s hard not to marvel at how different and separate these two groups of people are.

When the road ends, cross the hanging bridge and keep walking along the black sand coastline another half an hour until you see the pier.

Depart early so you can avoid the midday heat and drink lots of water 🙂

Return trip: Walk back to the bridge where there is often someone willing to drive you back into town for a fee. We paid 20Q for 3 people.

Local cemetery on the outskirt of the Garifuna town of Livingston, Guatemala — Karina Noriega
When the road ends, walk over the bridge and walk the coastline until you reach Siete Altares. Pacific Coast, Guatemala — Karina Noriega
Not much of a beach around Livingston. Tropical beauty nonetheless. Guatemala — Karina Noriega

Safety

Everyone we spoke with assured us that this is a very small and tranquil community. We never felt unsafe walking about.

On our coastal stroll outside of ‪Livingston‬, Guatemala‬ we came upon a massive and beautiful ‪SeaTurtle‬ only to discover that someone, or something had completely severed it's head right off. Even though it's likely it was not a human, it's still completely heartbreaking frown emoticon I was told by a ‪Garifuna‬ man that people here still eat them as well as putting great value on the shells for instruments and decorations. April posed with the turtle just for the purpose of gaining scale. The turtle was gone on our return trip through. -- Karina Noriega

On our coastal stroll outside of ‪Livingston‬, Guatemala‬ we came upon a massive and beautiful ‪SeaTurtle‬ only to discover that someone, or something had completely severed it’s head right off. Even though it’s likely it was not a human, it’s still completely heartbreaking frown emoticon I was told by a ‪Garifuna‬ man that people here still eat them as well as putting great value on the shells for instruments and decorations. April posed with the turtle just for the purpose of gaining scale. The turtle was gone on our return trip through. — Karina Noriega

Accommodations 

  • There is only one luxury option in Livingston.

    Poolside at Villa Caribe. Livingston, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega

    Poolside at Villa Caribe. Livingston, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

Villa Caribe is tucked perfectly into the edge of the peninsula. It can easily pass as an all-inclusive with its waterfront location, on-site restaurant, elevated suites for the best views and the golden ticket, a huge palm tree rimmed swimming pool.

Prices start at US$115per night based on double occupancy and includes 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners. villacaribe@villasdeguatemala.com +(502)2223-5005  ext.116

  • Backpacker Budget

Most backpackers head straight to Casa de la Iguana. Unfortunately it is not by the water so it can get scorching hot but they have a large range of options. Share a private room for 3 at 120Q, a dorm bed for 50Q or spend the night under the stars for 20Q They pride themselves on being a party hostel, in fact, some of the on duty staff were simply “too f*cked up to help”. Happy hour is 6-8pm… or all the time. +(502)7947-0976

  • My choice

Casa Rosada. Simple and rustic bungalows with a fan, mosquito nets and separate bathroom and shower areas. Clean and well maintained with an excellent little restaurant that serves 3 course meals and attracts guests from all over Livingston. Very quiet and relaxed. Selling point: long pier over the water complete with a rancho and hammocks to laze the day away.

160Q per bungalow (we paid 180Q for 3 of us to share) +(502)7947-0303 www.hotelcasarosada.com

Enjoying our stay at Casa Rosada. Bungalow, pier, rancho and hammocks delight. Casa Rosada. Livingston, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega

Enjoying our stay at Casa Rosada. Bungalow, pier, rancho and hammocks delight. Casa Rosada. Livingston, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

Travel Tip:

High Season in Livingston is June, July and August. Prepare for fully booked accommodations and rising prices.

We went in April and it was absolutely perfect. Hot sunny days with a cool ocean breeze, few tourists and NO mosquitos!

Personal Recommendations for Food

April and I made multiple visits to Vilma's empanada emporium :) Livingston, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega

April and I made multiple visits to Vilma’s empanada emporium 🙂 Livingston, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

– Across from Hotel Delfin, on calle (street) Marcos Sanchez Diaz is a little tienda (store) without a name. The matriarch of a friendly local family cooks up delicious and filling chicken or fish empanadas for just 2Q each (less than 25centUS). It can literally fill up two grown ups for less than $1. 

Just ask for empanadas de Vilma and send our regards 🙂

– Restaurante Margoth

The most authentic TAPADO in town as vouched for by locals. Tapado is a Garifuna dish made with coconut milk, plantain and includes fish, crab, shrimp, octopus and lobster; all still whole and in their shells/skins/tails 90Q One of the most delicious meals I’ve ever tried. Totally worth the splurge.

Tapado is the most authentic Garifuna dish and an important part of the culture. And it's absolutely delicious!! Livingston, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega

Tapado is the most authentic Garifuna dish and an important part of the culture. And it’s absolutely delicious!! Livingston, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

– Breakfast at Casa Rosada

30-35Q Pick from traditional eggs and beans or fresh fruit and big pancakes. Real coffee for 10Q (not the unfortunate instant crap they serve at most places throughout Guatemala).

Getting here:

There are only two options.

  1. Puerto Barrios

Whether you are coming from within Guatemala by road, or boating into the country from Honduras or Belize, all trails meet in Puerto Barrios. Head straight to the dock (where 12th street meets the water). Lanchas leave every half hour to an hour. 35Q for the 45 minute ride into Livingston. (Larger and much slower ferries also depart here twice a day).

2.   Rio Dulce

Entering the Rio Dulce jungle canyon. Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Entering the Rio Dulce jungle canyon. Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Lanchas from Rio Dulce leave twice daily, 9:30am and 2pm. 125Q one way for a 2 and half hour journey through the extraordinary jungle canyon (A lot more on this trip in Part II, coming next week.)

Travel Tip:

Take the morning boat. Waters get a lot choppier in the afternoon making the beautiful journey a little hard to enjoy.

From Guatemala City:

Litegua offers Central Americas most modern and efficient transit system. The buses are large, clean and safe. First class busses include free water, AC, and your own personal TV/gaming system. Fares range from 80-125Q depending on class and route to/from Guatemala City (6-7 hours)

The Puerto Barrios station is just a short walk/taxi ride from the dock.

www.litegua.com +(502)2326-9595

Our Trip

April and I invited April’s dad along on his very first backpacking trip!

We spent 4 days in Rio Dulce and Livingston plus another 4 exploring the ruins of Iximche and the colonial city of Antigua. Watch our adventure coming up on our next post.

Hiking up the river to the waterfalls of Siete Altares, Guatemala — Karina Noriega
April and her Dad visit Siete Altares, Guatemala with their honorary local guide: Me 🙂 — Karina Noriega

Part II of the extraordinary guide to the Caribbean: Rio Dulce and Lago de Izabal

~ An Extraordinary Story by Karina Noriega ~

Check out the Cost Breakdown for Travel Through Guatemala

Show your support by sharing, liking, commenting and subscribing 🙂

Facebook: Karina’s Extraordinary Life presents Wisdom Trails
Tweet me @Wisdom_Trails
Instagram  @karinas_extraordinary_life/
YouTube KNExtraordinaryLife/videos

A Child’s Perspective on Semana Santa: Collaborative Project in Antigua, Guatemala

Some of the kids were visibly nervous at the beginning. Antigua, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega
Karina, April and Alex document the childrens' stories during a collaborative project in Antigua, Guatemala. Photo by Kerstin Sabene

Karina, April and Alex document the childrens’ stories during a collaborative project in Antigua, Guatemala. Photo by Kerstin Sabene

The idea behind embarking on this journey around the world had always been that the world is full opportunity. To find it though, we must be completely open to it. I don’t mean searching through a job site. I mean doing what you are passionate about. For April and I, it is travelling, writing, filming, learning and experiencing local culture. Since our arrival in Antigua, Guatemala we have found so much support for our work featuring local places, people and events. We’ve already had our articles shared on huge social media platforms, been on television and networked with amazing people who respect and admire our choice to put our faith in the universe. Most recently, April and I were invited to partake in a collaborative project creating a traditional alfombra with local school children from Escuela Luis Mena. The project, a yearly tradition sponsored by George’s Travel Club, is intended to educate and encourage participation of children. It also gave us an opportunity to learn a new perspective on the activity, normally a labour of devotion, gratitude and penitence. (More on the cultural understanding of alfombras here.) We teamed up with talented videographer Alex Jones for a new channel called Antigua Cultural. The mini-documentary will feature a complete birth to death time-lapse video of this temporary work of art by the children, through the moment where the single anda Santa Ines procession carries Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary over the alfombra offering. We also had the opportunity to interview the children and their teacher, Alejandro, about the meaning of their project and get first-hand insight into how their young minds attribute significance to this beautiful tradition.

Sponsor George Sansoucy with Teacher Alejandro and his students. Antigua, Guatemala -- April Beresford

Sponsor George Sansoucy with Teacher Alejandro and his students. Antigua, Guatemala — April Beresford

Continue reading →

Santigron – Maroon Villages of Suriname

Drums of Santigron, Suriname -- Karina Noriega
Drums of Santigron, Suriname -- Karina Noriega

Drums of Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega

I never intended on writing about this place.

The big story, the token article for Suriname was supposed to be the much anticipated Carifesta XI taking place for 10 days in Paramaribo during August 2013. I would have never known of the existence of the Maroon people and their villages if not for picking up travel tips and advice from every traveler we meet – which has been a rare occasion since arriving in Guyana. In fact, I came to the Maroon village of Santigron, hardly a drive from the capital city of Paramaribo, without much knowledge of what or whom I was coming to see.* Mr. Gilles and the most helpful Ms. Bianca at Access Suriname Travel made every neccesary arrangement to bring us to the village despite our unscheduled, last-minute request. This would only be the beginning of many delightful surprises and exceeded expectations.

Learning to find water in the Amazon - Santigron, Suriname -- Karina Noriega

Learning to find water in the Amazon – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega

*(Surprise guests are not welcome in the villages without a local guide.) Before we even arrived in the village we began to understand what this ‘tour’ was all about. A man, who fell in love with this community, and has spent years of his own sweat, tears, money and provided a voice for people here. He opened up a channel so that tourism could come here – profits going to the people and proliferate the traditions of a dying culture. The children are once again learning the dances of their elders so they may perform them for visitors with an invigorating energy. Mr. Gilles has founded the ‘eco park’ within the village but every single person associated with it is a local Maroon. The park itself is a tiny and exemplary resort where tourists can come spend a single day (or a multi-day tour where you sleep in the eco park) learning and interacting within the village and jungle — and it all benefits the community!  Several beautiful cabins adorn well groomed grounds around a kitchen/dining room area. A ‘relax lounge’ holds eight hammocks at the creek side, directly under the looming jungle that surrounds this village. Inside the cabins continues to impress, as so far it has been the nicest accommodation I’ve had in Suriname. Simple but spacious, comfortable and clean.

Dining area of the eco-hotel - Santigron, Suriname -- Karina Noriega

Dining area of the eco-hotel – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega

I can’t speak highly enough of the staff here, the ladies running the kitchen (always with a smile), Stanley, the park host, and especially our guide Kenneth whose unparalleled knowledge of the life, culture, languages, history, environment and even the local gossip made our visit spectacularly interesting and welcoming. There are 6 different groups of Maroons here in Santigron village each with its own chief, its own language and other cultural differences. There is also the influence from multiple religions, but mainly a belief in spirits and afterlife which is taken very seriously. Oracles and medicine men in the village help interpret the needs of these spirits (human or animal) and what they demand in order to achieve peace with the living. Every family here, polygamous units traced matrilinealy, has one or more pray houses which they dedicate to appeasing the spirits. Other traditional aspects of life for these grandsons of escaped slaves are still evident and set very much in superstitions believed here. Amongst the traditional thatch roof homes also stand more modern concrete homes, some even with a television, built by individuals returning to the village life after years or even decades of working in their former colonialists nation of Holland.

Beautiful handmade anklet instruments added vigour and joy to their dance - Santigron, Suriname -- Karina Noriega

Beautiful handmade anklet instruments added vigour and joy to their dance – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega

The national language in Suriname is still Dutch. Children as young as six are already well versed in 4 different languages as they begin with the language of their tribe. They are then taught the common language that ties together the village community. By primary school they are conducting classes in Dutch.  Many more are also learning English independently or begin lesson in secondary school when they are sent away from the village for education.

Before they got comfortable with me the little boy in green would scream in terror if the foreigners got to close - Santigron, Suriname -- Karina Noriega

Before they got comfortable with me the little boy in green would scream in terror if the foreigners got to close – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega

Once they decided I was ok - Santigron, Suriname -- Karina Noriega

Once they decided I was ok – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega

After another excellent home-cooked traditional meal in the park you make your way to the Santigron disco to drink and party along side the locals. The party goes late but remember you still have to wake up in the morning for the jungle trek.  Truthfully, the trek is more about getting to know how the Maroons connect with their environment and other tribes around them such as the Amerindians; the natives of this land before the Europeans came to America. The Amerindians are actually know to have helped African slaves escape plantations and taught them to survive in secret in the jungle – the way of the first Maroon people.

Headed into the wild amazon and a plethora of wild encounters to come - Santigron, Suriname -- Karina Noriega

Headed into the wild amazon and a plethora of wild encounters to come – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega

Our initial walk through the village began within Kenneth pointing how every tree and flower around us has use in the village life or has medicinal qualities. It is truly impressive. These are people who until recent years all lived off the land independently. A man’s worth was and still is measured by his ability to provide for his family by fishing and hunting for their meals. Others pick fruit or make medicinal remedies to take to the markets outside the village. The females are still sent to the “women’s house” where they are separated and prohibited from entering the village during menstruation because the blood is considered unclean. The men are forbidden to cry even during the long designated mourning periods lest they risk being called homosexuals – clearly something that is still unacceptable within the community. There are simply too many interesting, rare and wonderful facts that I learned in a single day here.

Clay pots cook over a fire. Made by the Amerindians of the Amazon, Suriname -- Karina Noriega

Clay pots cook over a fire. Made by the Amerindians of the Amazon, Suriname — Karina Noriega

This is to be experienced with the people – once they warm up to you that is. There are strict rules that you must respect as a guest here. Photography is only allowed with expressed consent outside of the designated park. Children may still scream and cry if you approach them and many children and adults may be only half dressed or bathing from a bucket beside their homes. The people are joyful and calm though and the children are impossibly cute and very talented dancers. Perhaps the highlight of the entire journey was the traditional music and dance presented by Santigrons youngest inhabitants. More than 40 people gathered to celebrate and move in a presentation just for the two of us, their special guests. Following that, we were taken into the jungle by boat to explore more wildlife (we saw a very large Anaconda!) and another small Maroon village known for its handmade canoes. Every piece of the day is filled with enlightening new information and entertainment that can also be yours if you find yourself in Suriname. Plus if you choose to spend a second day in village, the adventure continues in the evening.

A small caiman studies us from the muddy embankment – – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega
Anaconda gets entangled in a fisherman’s net – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega

The tour wrapped up with a goodbye lunch that truly felt like I was saying goodbye to people that touched my heart. It is the people here, the love and feeling of welcome that was first initiated with sensitivity and community empowerment by Mr. Gilles, is what sticks out to me. I feel special myself to get the opportunity to learn and listen and play with the people of Santigron.

Villagers came together to sing, drum and dance at our goodbye ceremony – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega
Their energy and spirit, and their insistence lured us into dancing along with the Santigron people – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega
The girls of the village performed several traditional dance, each telling an important story in their heritage – Santigron, Suriname — Karina Noriega

Continue reading →

Summary of Our Journey Across The USA – (World Nomads Scholarship Entry)

Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah, USA - Karina Noriega

The contest deadline has come and gone. Our submission is now being reviewed by the travel journalism experts at World Nomads. We are going up against hundreds (if not thousands) aspiring filmmakers from around the whole globe.

The pressure has now shifted to the judges and mentors who can select only a single submission for one of the best prizes out there: A chance to attend, film and share Mexico’s cultural mega-festival, Dia de los Muertos. More than a chance to travel, this is the learning opportunity of a lifetime. April and I are beyond eager to receive mentoring and feedback by seasoned travel journalists. Plus, I have not so secretly always wanted to experience this event.

So let’s make the decision a little easier for the World Nomads panel. Please show us your support by clicking like, leaving your comments and sharing the video (preferably through the blog -> https://karinasextraordinarylife.com/2014/09/22/world-nomads-film-scholarship-entry <- Use This Link)

Don’t forget to read up on why we believe we should win and what it means to us. (On the YouTube comments sections)

~ An Extraordinary Story by Karina Noriega ~

Continue reading →

Georgia on my Mind – A Film

Another extraordinary film by April Beresford.

This time, we find ourselves in the Southern state of Georgia exploring two very different kinds of destinations: Driftwood Beach on the coastal park of Jekyll Island and the deep south swamp of Okefenokee. We highly recommend that you check out the detailed article about experience in the swamp, to view spectacular photos and gather important insight regarding this amazing environment which is not included in the film.
Article Link: https://karinasextraordinarylife.com/2014/06/24/okefenokee-national-wildlife-refuge/

Music by: Ray Charles

~ An Extraordinary Story by Karina Noriega ~

Show your support by sharing, liking, commenting and subscribing 🙂

My Extraordinary Guide To Guyana

Kaeiteur Falls, Guyana -- Karina Noriega

My Extraordinary Guide To Guyana

       When research began on the Guyana portion of my South America journey I immediately found information hard to come by. Often there is a complete lack of info, contacts, and the links only led to dead ends. With this in mind, I decided to create my own mini guidebook for travellers’ looking to come to this little tropical haven. 

(Click on any picture to enlarge and scroll through.)

River carves its way through the jungle from Kaeiteur Falls, Guyana — Karina Noriega
Most recommended eatery by locals: Jerries, Georgetown, Guyana — Karina Noriega
Turtle egg, Georgetown, Guyana — Karina Noriega
Starbroek Market Square, Georgetown, Guyana — Karina Noriega
Guarding a gold shop in Georgetown, Guyana — Karina Noriega
Co-pilot duties, Guyana — Karina Noriega
Boat trip down the Essequibo River in Southern, Guyana — Karina Noriega
The most magnificent bird I have ever seen in my life. Unfortunately trapped in a tiny, dumpy cage at a substandard zoo in Georgetown, Guyana — Karina Noriega
Another beautiful jungle creature trapped in a tiny, dumpy cage at a substandard zoo in Georgetown, Guyana — Karina Noriega

All information presented was gathered during my August 2013 visit to the country. 

Continue reading →

How to Start a Roadtrip in Australia

Australia is one the biggest countries in the world with nearly 3 million square miles of landmass alone. This enormous country makes the improbable combination of tropical rainforests, grassland, and vast dry deserts on a single island a possibility.

Most Australian cities line areas near the stunning coastlines and may be linked by limited and expensive transportation (after all, the distances covered are vast.) While it’s possible to fly between Sydney and Perth, or Brisbane and Darwin, you would get only a brief hint of the truly diverse landscapes encompassing a coast to coast journey.

Milky Way Australia

For these reasons and more, the only way to truly experience Australia is via road trip, already one of my absolute favourite ways to explore the world (thanks to my first road trips driving across Canada and the USA). Road trips are the ultimate freedom in travel. Choose your own hours, stops, destinations and explore the hard to reach places, all on your own time.  Continue reading →

Extraordinary Places to Visit and Things to do in Colorado

There is no shortage of places to visit and things to do in Colorado. Dramatic wilderness and diverse terrain backed by the iconic Rocky Mountains are a staple of the Colorado image. Colorado’s namesake continues its blazing display of color beyond the towering snow capped peaks and mirrored lakes to lesser known destinations. Whether it’s adrenaline packed adventure or relaxing picturesque retreats that tickles your fancy, a Southern Colorado vacation rental will reveal unexpected wonders.

Iconic Colorado - Extraordinary Places to Visit and Things to do in Colorado

Iconic Colorado – Extraordinary Places to Visit and Things to do in Colorado

A Trail of Highlights and Things to do in Southern Colorado

Continue reading →

Culture Shock And The Taiwanese Palate

Welcome to Culture Shock; The new series that named itself. Join us as we learn, grow and share all about new found social/cultural behaviours and expectations through our world exploration. These are our thoughts, observations and lessons on respecting and behaving in a foreign culture that may just leave you laughing and crying at the same time.

 

Random animal guts. Fried. My first exposure to this type of cuisine. As you can see by the huge smile on my face, I loved every minute of my food adventure. Taipei, Taiwan – Karina Noriega
Late arrival in Taichung, then eating Taiwanese food for the first time. – Karina Noriega

Foods Of The World

In preparation for my journey abroad Karina wowed me with tales of dining on barbeque cockroaches in Cambodia, snacking on grasshoppers in Indonesia (which she reports, are pretty tasty), and even drinking snake blood in Vietnam. The most exotic meat I had ever tried in Canada was a single experience I had eating caribou and I never really adjusted to the gamy taste. My first experience with Taiwanese food didn’t happen until I actually set foot in Taiwan and while I had intended to jump in head first and immediately push beyond my comfort zone, some of the foods created too much shock value for me to just dive right in. Continue reading →

Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks; Backpacking Guatemala

Skydiving Certificate for Rick Beresford. Simcoe, Ontario — April Beresford
April and her Dad enjoying fresh a fresh CocoLoco (coco water with rum) in Livingston, Guatemala –Karina Noriega

The first and only time I went sky diving, my Dad was my partner in crime. He planted the seed of interest when I was a little girl telling me stories of how he had always wanted to try the sport. My imagination would whirl wondering how amazing it would be to tumble through the sky feeling completely weightless. I envisioned this type of adventure to be the perfect daddy-daughter activity, for a couple of dare-devils like us. Continue reading →

Culture Shock! And The Sorry Complex – Hong Kong

Welcome to the new series that basically named itself! We’ve just landed in a new continent that is about to challenge us in completely new ways. Some will undoubtedly be intriguing and funny little things we’ll have to adjust to. Others will surely be frustrating or beyond comprehension. Finally, there will be cringe-worthy moments certain to have us questioning why we ever left the comforts of home in the first place.

Each article in the series is intended to be an opportunity to learn, grow and share. It is our collection of observations and information from the different cultures we visit from our subjective anthropological perspective. We never intend to shame or shed negativity on anyone else’s way of life. Wherever we can, we will do our best to understand and explain how to respect and behave in a given place. Though sometimes, we may only be able to share on what NOT to do, as we figure out life as a local through our embarrassing mistakes and faux paus moments.

Pandamonium! Arriving in Hong Kong -- Karina's Extraordinary Life

Pandamonium! Arriving in Hong Kong — Karina’s Extraordinary Life

Culture Shock! And The Sorry Complex

To kick off the series I definitely want to poke fun at one of the most famous stereotypes we deal with as Canadians. Most have heard the jokes, especially if you watch ‘How I Met Your Mother’, about how apologetic Canadian culture is. That’s saying it nicely I guess. Most jokes state that you could punch a Canadian in the face and spill their beer and said Canadian would apologize for running into your hand and offer to buy you a drink! I’d be willing to bet that has never happened, but to a certain degree, absolutely, we apologize for everything. It’s more of a reflex than a heartfelt “I’m sorry”, and most of us may not even think about it, but that absence of acknowledging that you may have possibly, in some minor way bothered, obstructed, touched or dismissed another person has become a very loud silence since we arrived in Hong Kong. Not once have I been apologized to for anything here! Not even when the airline lost my bags!

Continue reading →

Travel Rollercoaster – A Journey From Guatemala To Hong Kong

The good news is we made it to Hong Kong in one piece. It was not nearly a perfect journey and the effects of the 3 days of travel plus a 12 time zone difference are still weighing heavy.

#OneWayTicket Starting with #HongKong #Taiwan #Macau #China overland to #Mongolia and so many more. Have you been there? Live in any of these country? We'd love to hear your tips :) don't forget to follow along with our journey www.KarinasExtraordinaryLife.com. #Travel #Asia #GirlsvsGlobe #Wanderlust #Travelgram #traveltuesday

#OneWayTicket Starting with #HongKong #Taiwan #Macau #China overland to #Mongolia and so many more. Have you been there? Live in any of these countries? We’d love to hear your tips 🙂 don’t forget to follow along with our journey http://www.KarinasExtraordinaryLife.com. #Travel #Asia #GirlsvsGlobe #Wanderlust #Travelgram #traveltuesday

 Guatemala

We woke at 5am on the 26th after only 3 hours sleep. Continue reading →

Adios Guatemala, Hello Asia

The magnificent Lago De Atitlan --Atitlan, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega

The magnificent Lago De Atitlan –Atitlan, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

Thanks Guatemala, We Will Miss You But It’s Time For Us To Move On!

The most difficult part about leaving this beautiful country behind is that we are knowingly walking away from so many other extraordinary places we still have yet to discover. Guatemala has been our home for the past 6 months and while we did explore magnificent locations like that of Lake Atitlan, Antigua, Semuc Champey, Livingston and Rio Dulce, there just never seems to be enough time to see everything. I wanted so much to learn more about Guatemalan culture and through our experiences during Semana Santa, I definitely feel a deeper connection to and a greater understanding of the Guatemalan people. I can say with pride that after attending language classes I was able to further develop my Spanish speaking skills. I know without a doubt that I will end up back in Guatemala once again so I can discover even more of the country’s attractions while continuing to practice effectively rolling my R’s. Plus, there are so many different types of Guatemalan street food I still have yet to try! Continue reading →

An Extraordinary Guide to Caribbean Coast of Guatemala: Rio Dulce and Lago de Izabal (Part II)

View from the bridge over the Rio Dulce, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega

Guatemala’s coastal borders with the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea could not be more different.  La Costa, refers to the fertile lands between chains of volcanoes and the Pacific Ocean. It is coarse, black volcanic sand continuously pounded by the raging Pacific. By contrast, Guatemala’s narrow coastline on the Caribbean side is a tropical jungle opening where the Rio Dulce, or ‘sweet river’ follows its path to the sea.

Check out Part I for the seaside, Garifuna town of Livingston and the nearby attractions. 

View from the bridge over the Rio Dulce, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega

View from the bridge over the Rio Dulce, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

Travel Tip:

Take a daytime walk over the bridge for the best views from high above the ‘sweet river’.

Rio Dulce is a sweet water haven surrounded by massive jungles that connects the enormous fresh water Lake Izabal with the open sea on the Caribbean coast. In contrast to the crowded, gateway town of Fronteras, the waters edge is spotted by small and isolated Mayan towns, a few eco-lodges and the weekend homes of Guatemala’s wealthy elite. Beautiful mansions complete with thatch roof ranchos covering enormous luxury boats shine a spotlight on the massively uneven distributions of wealth in this country. Continue reading →

Fishing With Popcorn, Virginia, USA

Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook, Virginia, USA - Karina Noriega
Our wonderful couchsurfing host and good friend, Julio. -- Karina Noriega

Our wonderful couchsurfing host and good friend, Julio. — Karina Noriega

Our couch-surfing host, Julio, led us to the water’s edge outside his home-town in Virginia, introducing us to the rather bizarre local attraction at Smith Mountain Lake. A number of years prior, thousands of carp began migrating to the Smith Mountain Dock and Lodge when locals and tourists began feeding the fish rather unusual treats. Where my experience fishing in Ontario, (Canada) as a little girl always involved the use of specialized equipment like fishing lines and tackle, never in my life had I thought to use salted popcorn as bate. Why did my grandfather spend all that money on expensive lures when all he needed was Orville Redenbachers?

Fish fry, anyone? --SmithMountain Lake, Virgina -- Karina Noriega

Fish fry, anyone? –SmithMountain Lake, Virgina — Karina Noriega

Continue reading →

It’s Never Too Late To Become An Explorer

Dad and I in the parque central. Antigua, Guatemala -- Karina Noriega

Dad and I in the parque central. Antigua, Guatemala — Karina Noriega

Adventures with my Dad were always kept pretty close to home when I was little. He would often help me collect gardener snakes to wrap around my neck as I played about in the woods nearby our house. He sat me on his lap when I was 9 years old and taught me how to drive our family van. When he was doing small repairs on the roof of our house, if my mother wasn’t looking, he would allow me to join him. To this day I will never forget the rush brought on by the impending sense of danger, as I hung my legs over the eaves trough and stared down at my friends on the ground below.

From the beginning he always understood the adrenaline junky in me.

Now the tables have turned and I am the one introducing adventure into HIS life. For just over a week my Dad joined Karina and I on a wild excursion in the tropical jungle of Livingston and the Rio Dulce, followed by our exploration of Guatemalan traditions in Antigua. We had the time of our lives together and in order to showcase our little expedition I created a 3 minute video summary of my Dad’s very FIRST backpacking trip.

He is living proof that it’s never too late to become an explorer.

~ An Extraordinary Story by April Beresford ~

Show your support by sharing, liking, commenting and subscribing 🙂

Facebook: Karina’s Extraordinary Life presents Wisdom Trails
Tweet me @Wisdom_Trails
Instagram  @karinas_extraordinary_life/
YouTube KNExtraordinaryLife/videos

Making the Most of Your Foreign Language School Experience (Part III: Homestay vs. Hostel)

My bedroom in Xela was a concrete addition added on to the rooftop of the family home. When I stepped outside of my bedroom, this was the view overlooking the city. Xela, Guatemala -- April Beresford

Choosing the best language school accomodations for you: Homestay vs Hostel

Out for a night on the town, eating typical Guatemala food at a local restaurant, La Cuevita De Los Urquizu. Antigua, Guatemala -- April Beresford

Out for a night on the town, eating typical Guatemala food at a local restaurant, La Cuevita De Los Urquizu. Antigua, Guatemala — April Beresford

The big question you will ask yourself, once you have selected the best language school for you , is “Where am I going to live while I am studying?” If you don’t have friends or family who are able to host you, you are likely to go with one of two options:

  1. Stay with a local family (which can be arranged through your school).

OR

  1. Live in a hostel.

I spent three weeks living with a family and three weeks living in a hostel. Both options are relatively low cost but each option has its own benefits. Here are 6 helpful tips I learned from first-hand experience that can help you decide which environment is right for YOU!

Three Advantages To Living With Locals While Attending Language School

Rooftop Laundry- The family I stayed with dried their laundry on a line located directly outside of my bedroom door. The fresh smell of detergent wafted into my bedroom every morning. Xela, Guatemala — April Beresford
Spending time with my host family. Xela, Guatemala — April Beresford
Homestay Room- Photograph of the accommodations provided by my homestay family. Xela, Guatemala — April Beresford

1. Peace of Mind

The homestay experience allows language students to pay a reasonable fee to live and eat with a local family.  When I signed up for language classes in Xela, Guatemala I opted for the homestay experience as it was my first time living in a foreign country. I appreciated the peace of mind I received paying one fee to have all of my food and shelter arrangements taken care of. This relieved significant weight from my shoulders so I could concentrate my energy on my studies.

The weekly fee of US$155 included 25 hours of private classes at the Celas Maya school plus the homestay package with a local family. Meals were provided by the family 6 days a week. On Sunday, students must make their own arrangements for meals which is a common practice for most homestay contracts in Central America.

2. Meals Are Prepared For You

Spending time with my host family. Xela, Guatemala -- April Beresford

Spending time with my host family. Xela, Guatemala — April Beresford

The meals prepared by my host family were very basic and there wasn’t much variety from one day to the next. I found them to be hearty enough that I did not need to purchase additional food.  Students eat whatever the family eats and while each household is slightly different, a staple in most Latin American homes is beans and rice which was served at least once per day by my host family. Families are open to supporting dietary restrictions but in order to ensure the cost benefit ratio serves their interest, they will not increase your food budget.  If you want to increase your meat intake or eat extra veggies every day, you will need purchase those items yourself and the family will cook them for you.

3. Socializing In Your New Language

The best way to create a more authentic immersion experience is to live with a local family. This increases the opportunity for engaging with locals in your immediate environment.  Every time you sit at the dinner table for example, you will have the opportunity to practice your new language. You can’t help but pick up a language faster when everywhere you turn, you are forced to communicate in that new language.

Also, living in the same space as a local family will allow you to connect more deeply with their culture.

Homestay families will provide the quiet environment necessary for you to study and get your required rest so you can maximize your potential for learning.

Three Advantages to Staying in a Hostel While Attending Language School

Hostel Bedroom 1 or 2- View of my hostel bedroom. Antigua, Guatemala — April Beresford.
Study Space- This is the area in the hostel where I typically did my studying. It was the designated smoking area but it was used for such purposes, infrequently Antigua, Guatemala — April Beresford

1. Paying For What You Want

Hostels provide basic services to customers and in turn, provide very inexpensive accommodations to travelers. Most travelers only stay a few nights while they are passing through town, so hostel managers are willing to negotiate a deal on the price when customers are able to commit to a longer stay. While pricing out hostels can be more time consuming than paying for a homestay, in the end you will have more selections to choose from. Also, hostels often provide customers with free wifi access. Your homestay family is unlikely to provide this so your internet access would then be limited to being on-site at your language school. Many hostels will provide free coffee, tea and water throughout the day whereas in a homestay situation, you will be limited as to when and how much you can use of these items.

2. Preparing Your Own Food

Messy Hostel Kitchen- Unfortunately when you are staying in a hostel, some patrons fail to clean up after themselves. Maid staff will clean up the mess when it bottlenecks but I encourage you to be a respectful traveler and clean up your own mess. Antigua, Guatemala -- April Beresford

Messy Hostel Kitchen- Unfortunately when you are staying in a hostel, some patrons fail to clean up after themselves. Maid staff will clean up the mess when it bottlenecks but I encourage you to be a respectful traveler and clean up your own mess. Antigua, Guatemala — April Beresford

Often guests have access to a shared kitchen space where food can be prepared and stored. You can eat whatever you want, when you want (as long as you respect the kitchen’s hours of operation). When committing to a homestay on the other hand, you must respect the families designated meal times and this creates obvious barriers to your freedom if you prefer to come and go as you please. Living in a hostel, if you purchase food at a local market and prepare it yourself you can stay healthy, and keep costs down or you can choose to attend restaurants as you please. The point is, that by utilizing a hostel for accommodations you operate on your own schedule at all times.

3. Immersion Diversion

Learning a new language will be mentally draining. Staying at a hostel will open you to the opportunity of potentially interacting with people who speak the same language as you do. This will give you a break from the immersion experience if you are finding this type of environment too isolating. Lots of new people from all over the world come and go from hostels every day which will expose you to a diverse range of cultures. The hostel environment does however, run the risk of diverting your attention from your studies as they often cultivate a party culture. This can be very distracting as you might be easily swayed to stay out late, getting to know a stranger, when you need to wake up early for school the next day. If you possess unwavering discipline, you will remain a step ahead of the game.

Browsing through local shops with some new friends. Antigua, Guatemala -- April Beresford

Browsing through local shops with some new friends. Antigua, Guatemala — April Beresford

Still have questions?

The strategies presented in mind will definitely help set you up for success as you take on this new venture. If you have any additional questions about selecting language schools , or creating strategies to optimize your learning, please feel free to comment on one of the 3 articles in our Language School series. We are happy to help support you on your quest to learn a new language.

~ An Extraordinary Story By April Beresford ~

Show your support by sharing, liking, commenting and subscribing 🙂

Facebook: Karina’s Extraordinary Life presents Wisdom Trails
Tweet me @Wisdom_Trails
Instagram  @karinas_extraordinary_life/
YouTube KNExtraordinaryLife/videos