Biggest hole in the world-Belize
January 2013
I think human beings naturally like going into holes or tunnels just because feels exciting and also comfortable. When I found out the biggest hole in the world was called "blue hole" which is 313 meters in diameter, I felt I must go there for scuba diving. I was imagining myself swimming like a sea turtle in a warm hole with a lot of fish gathering around coral reefs.
When I arrived at the island called Caye Caulker which was a main access island to the hole, I felt like this was just another Miami. Mainly English was used on menus, on TV, and spoken among the local people. US dollars were accepted everywhere. Things weren't cheap; for example, a hotel room cost around 50 to 90 US. It was totally strange that there was a huge gap between the cost of accommodation and restaurants. Amazingly, all the accommodation on the island was nearly booked up although they all seemed too expensive because those rooms lacked good facilities, a luxury interior design, comfortable linens and good service. Because of the high price of the visa to go to Belize, I didn't see any hippy travelers, everyone looked like middle class working people. Luckily, I booked a hotel for the first night, but from the next day I had to walk around the island to find a cheap but nice room.
The weather couldn't be anticipated; every day the weather was hot and cool, and it was raining for a while but the sun came out afterwards. However, the sunset was always good. I always forget to look at stars and the moon in Tokyo and New York because of hectic everyday life, and I usually don't see the beautiful sunsets in New York because I just miss the chance to see them, and I never see beautiful sunsets in Tokyo because there are no beautiful sunsets there.
When I went on the blue hole scuba diving tour, I was lucky because the ocean was calm after the heavy rain The way there was a one hour boar ride on bumpy water. I nearly puked many times. Even though there is no entrance on the ocean there was an entrance fee to the so-called Natural Park. The funny thing was there was no hole. I realized how stupid I was because a hole needed to be a certain size for people to perceive it as a hole. It was too big.
We went in the blue hole, but there weren't much marine life there. I saw many sharks in cold water, but that was it. When we got back to the surface of the ocean, it started to rain buckets, and I got many goose bumps on my arms. I don't believe in global warming, but it's true that the coral reef and marine life are dying.
The typical food there was lobster, fish, or chicken stew with beans & rice and salad. The food was always good and fresh, so I never had a problem with my stomach.
Scuba diving to the biggest hole, which was one of my dreams, kind of disappointed me. I decided to stay to relax and enjoy the slow beach life till my departure. I booked a hotel far from the main area, which had a king size bed, private beach, deck chairs, and hammocks. The rate was a bit more than the average for the island, but it was a good feeling to be away from the noisiness during the daytime and just be myself.
I invited people that I met on the island to my place or I went to the edge of the island, called the "split" to get a suntan while drinking beer. All the people had genuine happy faces, and men in suits were not seen on the island. Tourists bring money from all over the world to this peaceful island so that the island can remain peaceful.
I met a Japanese girl who worked for JAICA and taught computer skills to kids. I asked her why kids here needed to learn about computers. The strangely white skinned girl didn't have an answer. Typing html language in a dark square room must be harsh and boring for kids there.
I thought about people working at the Tokyo Station underground mall selling lunch boxes or rice balls, and compared them to the people here. Twenty-four hours are equally given to everyone, but the way people use them and what that brings to people's minds and lives are totally up to them.
Life is too short.
