Category Archives: Belize

An Evening Out.

May 7, 2016 Munchkin

Liqueur.Tasting.Together Yes, Shock! Horror! We left our comfortable nest in the bush to go out for the evening. We went to Belcampo for Green Drinks with some friends. The scenery up there is spectacular; sipping on an ice cold drink whilst watching the sunset is certainly a pleasant experience!

Duckie and Tim were in top form:

The display at the bar is nice with all the greens from their garden. This is Tim making a drink for me!

It was a great excuse to go out and it gave us the chance to dress up…Gnome’s mother had sent us some lovely new clothes (nice stuff…not our usual farm attire).

Belize, Farming, Plants

Vanilla Pods!

May 6, 2016 Munchkin

Munchkin.Back.View

A few weeks ago, Gnome started pollinating the vanilla. It was pretty hard work because he had to climb a ladder to get to the flowering vines.

We were actually asked if the scent of the flowers were like vanilla. When I went to check the first time, I didn’t think that they smelt of anything. With subsequent sniffs, I think they have a faint sweetish scent similar to honeysuckle.

Anyway, the pollinating has worked and we have pods forming! Oooooh…look at that…we are so pleased!

We will have to wait for the pods to mature…takes about 6 months; indications are when they turn pale start to split at the end. They get to about 15cm in length. Harvesting still requires a lot of attention because each pod ripens in its own time so this is another job to add onto the daily list! Phew…farming is actually a lot of work!

Belize, Farming, Food, Plants

Not So Dry!

May 5, 2016 Munchkin

Munchkin.Back.View

Yippee!! We had a good rain last night which filled up half of the tank. And now it’s raining again so we should have the tank completely filled. Good thing Gnome sorted this out:

We were so worried because the dry days seemed never-ending (it always feels like that every year). At least now our poor shriveled tobacco plants will start growing again:

And the pond might start filling up…look…it has been reduced to a single puddle!

Hopefully with this extra bit of rain, our mangoes will get fat and juicy.

All the fruit trees on the farm will benefit from this splendid rain…what a relief!

Amusing, Belize, Construction, Farming

Munchkin And Gnome Update.

May 4, 2016 Munchkin

We are still here! Lately the daily RealFeel of 50C (115F) has been absolutely awful. We have been up at 3am doing our stuff in the cool of the morning (still RealFeel 30C/86F). The heat has frazzled my brain and the inspiration to write just wasn’t there!

Gnome has been charging on full speed and managed to set up the water tank for the imminent (well, we hope) rains. This is the new look tank in Belize called Best Tank:

I think that these tanks are made within the country so they have stopped importing the Rotoplast type.

I mentioned to Gnome:

“Hmmmm…I don’t really like the colour of these new tanks. Quite bland.”

Munchkin.Sitting.Down

Gnome replied with:

“My dear, are you going back to your Ikea days when you wanted everything in spring green stripes or pastel blue? I’m afraid that we don’t live like that anymore.”

Gnome.Embarassed

Amusing, Belize

The Nato Phonetic Alphabet: Belize Modified.

April 29, 2016 Munchkin

Munchkin.Unbelievable.Look There are lots of different names for the Nato Phonetic Alphabet; it is basically the 26 words assigned to the 26 letters of the English Alphabet. It starts like this: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo,etc. I am sure you know most of it especially if you have watched a lot of British Police TV programs (like “The Bill”) or army stuff on American television.

Anyway, I find that I do have to use this Phonetic Alphabet over the phone in Belize especially when I have to spell out my surname. Some of words just don’t work here! For instance, Foxtrot and Tango usually get a deadly silence…after all, why should you expect anyone to know about ballroom dancing? Lima is no good either…more confusion! Quebec what? Sierra…is that a “Z” and don’t ever say “Yankee” to an American! Oh and forget about Zulu…

Here is my unofficial Belize Modified Nato Phonetic Alphabet. It is largely unchanged except for a few alterations that can make communication a lot easier over the phone.

Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo,

Fox, Golf, Hotel, India, Jaguar,

Kriol, Lime, Miguel, November, Oscar,

Papa, Quick, Romeo, Snake, Toucan,

Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, Xray, Yellow, Zebra.

Amusing, Belize, Farming

Officially Crepuscular!

April 27, 2016 Munchkin

Together.Pointing Hello There!! We are officially Crepuscular!! I have been temporarily away from the keyboard, because it has been sooooo unbelievably hot. I can’t even sit next to the computer because anything that generates heat exacerbates the sweat fest. You are probably wondering what Crepuscular means….

Crepuscular (animals) are those that are active during the periods of dawn and dusk.

Basically, right now in Belize it is so hot (Real Feel of 45C or 113F!!) that we have to get up at the crack of dawn to run about do the farm duties. At dusk, it starts to cool down a little and again, we pack in our activities at this time of the day.

Anyway, Gnome came across the word “crepuscular” when he was looking at possible “farm animals” that he would never be allowed to bring into the country that could possibly help him farm more elegantly. Yes sometimes the pragmatic Gnome does let loose his imagination to fantasize (a little).

This was our conversation:

Munchkin: “I am guessing it’s a monkey to climb trees or maybe one of those big bulls for ploughing the fields…”

Munchkin.Bossie

Gnome: “Not quite. I would like a coconut crab actually.”

Gnome.at.Desk

Munchkin: “…a crab??”

Munchkin.Funny.Look.Yet.Another

Gnome: “Yes, these crabs are huge…about a metre (3 feet) wide. They collect coconuts on the ground, cut through the coconuts with their claws and then they climb up the coconut palm to drop the coconuts down to break the shell. I need a coconut sheller and these would be perfect!”

Munchkin: “Mmmmm…are they good to eat?”

Gnome: “Yes…but that’s not the point…”

Munchkin: “Ok, I’m in! Let’s get an import license for coconut crabs!”

Belize, Food, Plants

Let’s Do Some Foraging!

April 24, 2016 Munchkin

Munchkin.Bossie

Do you know that you can forage for greens in Belize? This is purslane…it’s a perfectly good vegetable to eat!

If you are really looking for “organic” one of the answers is foraging. There is plenty of this around…just get your shade hat on and start walking about…

It’s got all the usual good stuff that you would expect from a green vegetable: It is rich in vitamin A and C and has a high percentage of omega 3 which is usually only found in fish oils and flax seed. You can eat it raw in salads or you can cook it anyway which you want. Taste wise, it is mildly acidic with a crunchy texture; the flowers and stems are edible.

C’mon then…get out there and start picking your greens…I’m doing it!

For more information click on Purslane.

I also have some recipes:

Coconut Purslane Salad

Purslane Chicken Chow Mein

Belize, Food, Our Products

More Coconut Cream!

April 24, 2016 Munchkin

Munchkin.More.Eating Hi Guys, we have delivered a fresh batch of coconut cream to Green Supaul’s in Punta Gorda. This information might be useful to you:

Usage and Storage of Coconut Cream:

Our coconut cream is sold in the frozen state. Store in the freezer. When you are ready to use, simply use it in the frozen state. If you only require a small amount, cut off a chunk with a knife and store the remaining cream in the freezer. The shelf life of this product is 6 months if stored properly in the freezer.

Look at our beautiful coconuts:

The coconuts are grated and then squeezed by hand. All our own hard work to help maintain the coconut plantation.

Freshly Grated Coconuts.

Green Supaul’s; the coconut cream is still in the ice-cream freezer!

Amusing, Belize

Definitely Rain!

April 22, 2016 Munchkin

Munchkin.Froggie.Jumping Humans can’t get it right and the Internet definitely lets us down on weather forecasts. The plethora of animals making noises from frogs croaking to rain hawks cawing sometimes get it right. Wait for it…the most consistent sign of imminent rain (for us) has been the grader working on San Felipe Road. Guaranteed 97% with 3% Faith!. The grader came by today to move rocks about and flatten the road a bit. Standby for the torrential rain!!

We are Waiting…

Amusing, Belize, Food

Shopping In The City.

April 20, 2016 Munchkin

Together.from.Front You might think that it would be exciting to go the capital city of Belize, Belmopan, once in a while to go shopping. But alas, our habits and lifestyle have changed so much that we don’t find thrills and excitement in grocery shopping. This is especially when our wants have become refined and we only want very specific things. My short list would be chocolate eclairs, smoked salmon and Yorkshire tea…dream on…can’t get any of that here!

Anyway, I did manage to find some Chinese stuff…

This is glutinous rice flour which is used to make mochi balls and Chinese equivalent.

This is wheat starch for yummy transparent steamed dim-sum. There is no gluten in wheat starch…I wonder if people with gluten intolerance can eat this?

Fermented black beans for black bean sauce. I remember my mum telling me that this stuff was for real Chinese people and that the black bean sauce jars were for “other people.” Anyway, I still consider myself Chinese so I will insist on buying the real deal! Incidentally we are making this stuff…it’s bubbling away in the corner somewhere…not ready yet to unleash the monster!

Dried lotus root…usually boiled in soups:

Oh we did find something for the Italian Gnome…although he mostly likes to be a Straits Chinese Gnome.

A big tin of olives:

Casa Mascia Apothecary