Philip J Mikal

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Hong Kong Maritime Museum - Stanley, Hong Kong Island Way too long of a drive from Belize City to the Mountain Pine district, but we finally arrived at Hidden Valley Inn. The Inn is an upscale 12 cottage, full service resort located on 7200 acres of private reserve in the Maya Mountains of Western Belize. Exclusive access to 90 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails as well as many secluded pools and waterfalls set in tropical rainforest. IMG_3664.JPG 299040 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3665.JPG 366992 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3666.JPG 167419 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3667.JPG 190426 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3677.JPG 194691 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3687.JPG 191656 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3696.JPG 187785 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3702.JPG 674127 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3704.JPG 433448 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3709.JPG 443300 bytes 1200 x 1600 The next day we hiked deep into the jungle of the Cayo district to Actun Tunichil Muknal, "The Cave of the Crystal Sepulcher." After a 30 minute hike, you have to swim the first fifteen meters into the cave, then a couple of hundred meters up through the bouldered area called breakdown, followed by a walk up a shallow river. A few miles in, you find one of many areas that the Maya used for ritual activities - skeletons and pots galore. IMG_3710.JPG 421139 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3720.JPG 564130 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3723.JPG 379709 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3725.JPG 387709 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3730.JPG 144709 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3733.JPG 166173 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3741.JPG 286240 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3746.JPG 557972 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3756.JPG 250162 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3758.JPG 347894 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3778.JPG 203602 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3792.JPG 289140 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3795.JPG 169815 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3796.JPG 235367 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3799.JPG 272972 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3806.JPG 186314 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3813.JPG 370854 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3817.JPG 248979 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3819.JPG 430941 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3823.JPG 144378 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3830.JPG 452758 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3835.JPG 768180 bytes 1600 x 1200 We spent another full day at the Inn, mostly sleeping and reading. I zoomed through the Da Vinci Code in about eight hours and Meryl finished up The Alchemist. Strong tropical storms were warmed by our room's fireplace. We woke early the following day to venture on to Guatemala. IMG_3838.JPG 838228 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3839.JPG 409001 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3840.JPG 479657 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3841.JPG 618948 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3844.JPG 307741 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3848.JPG 406260 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3850.JPG 219572 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3852.JPG 210390 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3856.JPG 505941 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3861.JPG 375417 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3863.JPG 454055 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3864.JPG 382381 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3869.JPG 190725 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3877.JPG 340986 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3879.JPG 360763 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3881.JPG 350069 bytes 1600 x 1200 The day was spent in Tikal, once a wealthy metropolis of 100,000 inhabitants and the seat of power for the great Mayan Jaguar clan lords. The ruins of Tikal include more than 3,000 structures extending over six square miles and including palaces, temples, ceremonial platforms, ball courts, terraces, plazas, avenues and steam baths. The ancient Maya began building Tikal around 600 B.C., and for the next 1500 years the area was an important religious, scientific, and political center. IMG_3883.JPG 529860 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3885.JPG 404369 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3887.JPG 437248 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3888.JPG 234420 bytes 1200 x 1600 IMG_3889.JPG 186994 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3895.JPG 244002 bytes 1600 x 1200 On our final day we stopped at the Belize Zoo. ( Notice my website address on the ceiling of the zoo entrance - damn graffiti artists.) At the airport, I couldn't get by security. I didn't notice that Meryl put my sailing knife in my carry-on.... whoops! Lucky for me they gave it back and even ran out to the plane to put it in my already checked-in baggage. IMG_3896.JPG 177310 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3910.JPG 601952 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3917.JPG 459037 bytes 1600 x 1200 IMG_3921.JPG 329975 bytes 1600 x 1200

Copyright 1999-2008 Philip J. Mikal - Early Stage Startup Founder & Consulting Executive