p.s.

Malaria tablets taste disgusting!

Oh and please ignore the slideshow for the time being. I wanted to get it in place on the page, but as soon as I have some real trip photos I will be showing them instead of blog page elements!

4 more sleeps!

Amazing how time flies! I can't quite believe that my adventure begins in just a few days. I have found a great way to deal with the panic that washes over me from time to time. I sit transfixed watching some amazing wildlife webcams that I have found that show live streaming footage from Ecuador, Africa and the Belize reef. They are well worth taking a look at, you never know what you might see!

Click here for the one in Ecuador. It is mostly hummingbirds but you can sometimes see toucans and the wonderfully snuffly-nosed coati, a Latin American mammal that is related to the raccoon.

Click here for the Belize reef. They have been making some repairs and adjustments to this cam over the last few days so if it doesn't work, go back again soon. It's wonderful watching the fish and I saw a stingray the other day :)

Last but definitely not least, whilst not remotely related to my current trip, the cam in Africa is amazing. I've seen so much wildlife on it, including giraffes, warthogs, elephant and antelope. Click here to check it out :)

I'm not sure which of the other National Geographic Wildcams are live/working at the moment as some of them are seasonal.

No other trip news to report at the moment, aside from the occasional panic attack, my biggest concern right now is whether or not the walking shoes I bought will actually arrive in time! I'll try and post again on Wednesday, which is packing day, and maybe even get a photo of the chaos zone that is my bedroom!

Adios amigos!

8 days to go!

Woooohoooo! All the shopping is done, the money is ordered and the nerves have disappeared to be replaced with pure excitement! I found a great website the other night all about Utila (http://www.aboututila.com/index.html). Silly woman I should have googled it sooner :p Anyway I found a list of all the apartments that are available for longer term and yay! there are plenty in my price range. Let's just hope they are not all taken.

There was the most beautiful eco-lodge, unfortunately it's just outside my price range (ok ok its about twice as much! :D). Almost wish I hadn't seen it, just look at this gorgeous bedroom! (Click here!). With my budget I'm not likely to find such beauty! And most of the cheaper apartments are away from the ocean front. Again, hardly surprising :) Still, the more I read about the place the more I can't wait to get there.

Tomorrow I have to start my malaria tablets, never had to take them before :( Still, better safe than sorry! Well, can't think of anything else right now, just glancing around my bedroom makes my heart race as there is travel and diving gear scattered over every available surface including the top of the tv! It's been so long since I've been on an adventure, I can't wait!

Bye for now!

11 days to go!

A mixture of panic and excitement is setting in now, and having just looked at my bank account it is more panic than excitement at the moment! I'm mad to do this, but hey, I've always been mad so no surprises there :)

I'm off to Norwich tomorrow for, hopefully, the last holiday shopping trip. I keep buying things and then returning them because they are not right! The return list currently includes two pairs of shoes, one book and one hat! Pity I can't return my brain and ask for a refund. Let's hope tomorrow is slightly more successful. The shopping list for tomorrow is frighteningly long and I can hear my credit card groaning already at the prospect. Let's hope the recession has ended by the time I get back and I have the amazing fortune to walk straight into a job.

Ta ta for now folks :)