Living in the Jungle of Belize

Life in the mountainous jungle can be very pleasant, but just like anything else, it's not perfect. We succeeded in setting up a comfortable good size house with full solar electricity, satellite internet, hot water, A/C... yeah, comfort!

The climate certainly has great sides. Most people think that the down side comparing to the North American living is that you don't have the four seasons. Although not as drastic as in North America, there are very distinct seasons throughout the year, which can be seen from changes in the surrounding wildlife, fruit trees which produce at different times, the considerable variation in vegetation, and of course the temperature. Also there is a "wet" and a "dry" season, the dry season lasting approximately from late November through May, and the "wet" pretty much parallels hurricane season, which is June through November.

While quite hot, low to mid 90ºs F (32º C) during summer afternoons, as soon as the sun sets behind the mountains it cools off beautifully. This sub-tropical climate is a dream for sleeping. Winter season, nights can get down to the mid 50ºs F (10º C) to mid 60ºs F (16º C). It can get cold enough that you will even close your windows! One thing I miss during that time is my big fleece bath robe which I never thought I would need!

Get awakened daily by birds and other creatures welcoming the sun! The temperature remaining cold (I personally use cats as heaters!) until the sun rises over the mountain tops, it is very easy to lounge in your comfy warm bed with a view of the jungle, the mountains and the creek. From the constant changes of the jungle sounds, you can also easily identify the changes in season.

The humidity can also be a factor. When transiting from 55º F (13º C) to 85º F (29º C) within a 4 hours range, things have a tendency to get damp! And the things prone to catch mold will! Some of those are leather, or wood not from the habitat. A picture frame made of soft Canadian pine doesn't do well in this climate! But by afternoon everything is dry again.

The place I am talking about is Barton Creek in the Cayo District of Belize, Central America. Belize is tucked in between Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and the Caribbean Sea. With a total of 8,867 square miles (22,965 sq. km.), it is one of the smallest countries in Central America. With a population of approximately 300,000 there are a lot of open spaces. The population being spread out, there are not many highly populated areas. The main one being Belize City which is comprised of just over 1/4 of the population for this entire little country!

Catch me next week as I explain how easy it is to produce (using solar) and store your own electricity, and plenty of it!

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress and MySpace.

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The first time you sat at a computer, it was somewhat confusing and a bit intimidating. Then you started and were amazed at how easy it really was. It shows you have a logical mind, which is all you need!
Solar energy stored in large deep cycling marine batteries is the way we chose to do it. Your system starts with solar panels, which will collect the energy from the sun. Through electrical wires, this energy is carried to the batteries and stored. By connecting an inverter to the batteries, the stored energy is converted from DC to AC power and then sent to a standard breaker box at the house.

Here are the 7 things you need to a be able to answer (and my answers);

1- 12v, 24v or 48v System.. all will depend on your situation. (my system is 24v)
2- Load calculation, decide what electrical items you want or need. You will need to consider no only usage but surge and phantom loads as well. (we bought a "Kill-O-Watt" meter and tested everything.)
3- Then, how much total Watt/Amps do I need to generate (in perfect conditions, we produce 2,400 watts per hour with twenty-four 100 Watt panels)
4- How many batteries and which type, to store the energy I produce. (have twenty-four 12v/200ah deep cycle marine batteries)
5- Inverter type & size (the Outback VFX3524)
6- Charge controller or not? (Started without, tried one for a short period, and now don't, I personally monitor our system every 2 to 3 hours)
7- Breaker box for house or garage, or both! (standard readily available boxes)

Depending on your location, many Alternative energy stores can do your installation for you.

Either way, there's a 8th thing you need... a Consultant! Make sure that wherever you purchase your components, they also offer tech support (unless you have someone personally). This support can be via email, but better yet through an online forum or group.

The Outback inverter works awesome. If you get this brand of inverter, 'make sure' you also get the 'Mate'. Without it you cannot adjust any of the settings of the inverter. The Mate also gives you cool and 'must have' info like battery reading, load currently in use, and other very useful info.

Once you have an answer to those 7 questions, then its homework time. Some resources to do your research are;

-Good old fashion magazine to read when lounging in bed!
-The internet, which goes without saying!
-Store catalogs, but those who also include informative sections. There are two excellent catalogs that have been a tremendous help (Backwoods Solar Electric Systems in Idaho and EA Energy Alternatives Ltd in Victoria, Canada)
-Online forums and groups. Read and follow several of them for a while before joining one. This way you get the feel of which one is more for you and your needs.
-Best of all, find someone who already has a system in place. Seeing a system set up and in operation will give you the clearest picture.

While gathering information online, don't miss visiting an Alternative Energy Store. Nothing will ever replace in person consultation, and some stores may be willing to match internet prices.
I am no expert, but from 1 ½ years ago what I have learned is huge and incredibly rewarding. If you do your homework and ask the right questions, you can do it too!

Next time, read about some important things to consider and know when "Building Off-grid in the Jungle".

See you then

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress and MySpace.

First things first... you have to be there. Attempting to build while out of the country is a BAD idea, unless you have a really good trustworthy manager on site.
Some decisions you will have to make before starting your homework are very important: will I build concrete or wood? What size and type of building do I want? The other million things I will need (hardware, furnishings, etc). Being off-grid, what type of commodities do I want (pressured water or gravity, hot water, electricity...)
Building contractors don't always provide proper outsourcing for specifics like plumbing, electrical, painters/coaters, inside finishing such as kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Many do, but you have to be on top of everything, as anyone can call themselves plumber or electrician because no license is required in those fields. But did you know that to be a tour guide you must be licensed!!! There are good chances that you will end up having to find those labors yourself in the end.
Anyways, we went for wood buildings on cement posts. I recommend cement over wood posts (more sturdy and longer lasting). The hardwoods of Belize are amazing. I never ever though I would need to predrill a hole to pound a nail... plus I have never gone through so many drill bits in my life!.
The entire 1,500 sq. ft. floor is tongue & groove Cabbage Bark. The walls and ceiling are a mix of Santa Maria, Red Wood, Mahogany, Ceba, and many others.

The homework for this one is a bit tougher as communication can be an issue. Many contractors have 'mini' websites with some information. Email works well with many of them, but you have to be
ready to get on the phone or better yet, go down for a visit!
You also have to build in the right season. During rainy season, construction often comes to a halt due to some serious downpours that can last a month. So obviously the dry season is the time to do it. That season is from November to May.

There a 2 ways to do the hot water; solar or butane. We have an on-demand butane water heater (very standard in Europe) and it works great. Those
little heaters ignite when you turn on the tap by the pressure jolting the flint. All you need is a D battery for the igniter.

Do your homework on butane. For your own safety, you might want to do your butane line yourself. Once you know how to flange an end correctly,it is relatively simple. Butane is important (if your power source is solar) as it will also you fuel for your stove, fridge, and a clothes dryer if you choose to have one. What we have found out is that those butane appliances are easy to install and they are reliable... the fridge can be a little finicky until you figure out how it reacts to the weather and temperature changes.

That would be your crash course in Building off-grid in the Belize Jungle.

Next time, read about "Satellite Internet Access" in the Jungle".

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress and MySpace.

Want to live in Belize, but not have to start from scratch? This may well be your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

This blog can be written in only 6 words; Go see Harry in Spanish Lookout!

Ok, maybe I can elaborate a bit more on this internet access!

There are not too many installers in Belize, or any other undeveloped 3rd world countries. So your first step is to locate them and find out what brand, system, equipment and provider they carry. They might only carry one, so your choice will probably have been made for you! Our choices were between different sizes of Hughes satellite dish and modems. As technology improves so rapidly we went for the latest model which was the HN7000S modem with a .94m dish.

The installation of the dish is most important. It is attach to the roof so it has to be done professionally. Once installed, it must be precisely aligned and secured to the proper satellite. We had Harry and his brother do it all. Both of them on the roof, one at the dish and the other one sitting down with his laptop. In no time they had homed in to the satellite and secured the dish. That was in November 2006 and we've never had any major problems since. When the rain is really intense you may lose connections, but it is for a short amount of time and very rare.

The speed is totally acceptable. There are 2 type of speeds; Download (to receive data) and Upload (to send data). Here are some speed comparisons:

Dial Up: Download - 40 Kbps to 48 Kbps / Upload - 36 Kbps
Cable: Download - 4 Mbps to 15 Mbps / Upload - 384 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps
DSL: Download - 768 Kbps to 6 Mbps / Upload - 128 Kbps to 768 Kbps
Satellite: Download - 512 Kbps to 1 Mbps / Upload - 128 Kbps to 256 Kbps

Through our provider, Hughes.net in the USA, we subscribe to the middle package which gives us a speed of : Download - 800 Kbps to 1 Mbps / Upload - 200 Kbps to 256 Kbps.

This speed is sufficient for our usage requirements. At most and at the same time, we had 4 computers working on the internet with one connected to Skype making phone calls to the USA and getting a clear connection. The connection through Skype is not always clear, but Skype to Skype calls are usually far better. Skype to land line or cell phone sometimes has delays and tends to break up or off. But overall, it is acceptable enough when chatting with friends and family. To conduct business it is not the best. But for the fact of being in the middle of the jungle and being able to phone home is quite amazing and fun!

And prices for both connection and call rates through a VOIP provider is much cheaper than the local phone company, and more often than not, more reliable.

Next week, read about Water Supply Considerations and what your options are.

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress and MySpace.

Want to live in Belize, but not have to start from scratch? This may well be your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

The jungle provides different sources of water. Those sources are; rain, natural springs, wells, rivers and creeks. In the jungle, where water is usually plentiful, you most likely have access to more than one source. Your water supply will also vary with the seasons.

Rain water is one of the best. It is a much softer water than well or spring, which can have a high content of minerals (depending on location). For us, being situated in the Mayan mountains, minerals are in abundance in our water. Rain water washes and rinses very nicely in the shower or washing clothes. The rain water is collected by simply having gutters run to a holding tank. By adding a very small amount of bleach (1/2 teaspoon bleach per five gallons of water), it is drinkable water. During rainy season, you are in heaven. But come dry season, you want (and need) a second source...


Most mountainous jungles have several natural springs, or it is usually not too deep to find a water source and dig a well. A good spring can provide water year round. Our spring fortunately does not dry out! The best thing to do is isolate your spring to prevent wild life from contaminating it and add some fish which will eat mosquitoes and their larva or bacteria in the water. If you are lucky enough to have a spring above your holding tank, than all you have to do is install a pvc line and gravity will take care of filling up your tank. If not, as in our case, you need to run a line from the spring to your tank and use a water pump. You can get an electric or gas water pump, depending on your situation (is there a power supply near your spring?). Keep in mind that a gas water pump is much more versatile.


Well water is basically the same type as the spring. This water is usually good to drink. But due to the high content of minerals, we prefer consuming it in a limited quantity. For cooking (soup, pasta...) and for coffee it is perfect. When working outside and drinking 1 to 2 gallons a day, we prefer bottled water. One other disadvantage with high mineral content is a build up in your shower, sinks and toilet. If you don't stay on top of it, it can become a real chore to remove. The only problem with a well if you don't already have one is, to figure out where to dig! We were lucky as there was already an 18' hand dug one on our land. If you don't have one, hopefully there's an old water witch or wizard with a magic stick in your neighborhood!


Creeks and rivers are an abundant source of water although some, especially creeks, can dry out during a very dry season. Being well aware of what is upstream on the creeks and rivers is very important. As they are widely used by people and animals, so there will be lots of foreign matters introduced to this body (in our case, vehicles driving through regularly). When it rains, the run off from the hills and mountains make this water murky, caused by mud and along with that will be logs and/or fallen trees and anything else that is loose in the underbrush. It is basically, one of mother natures cleaning mechanisms. In our situation, with a creek that hasn't dried out as far as anyone can remember, it is very good water (with basic filtration) for most everything, except for consumption.

A good idea is to install one of those basic 'under the sink' water filters...



Having all 4 sources as we do, and being set up to pump from all of them, makes life much more pleasant. In conclusion; your best water is from the rain, then it's a spring or well. And if all else fails... the creek or river!

Stay tuned next time, The Domestic Cats' Life in the Jungle.

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress and MySpace.

Want to live in Belize, but not have to start from scratch? This may well be your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

Thinking of relocating your city house cat to the jungle? Cats are adventurous creatures and adore walking the trails with their servant (yes, that would be me!). They are great survivors in the jungle. One of the best hunter mammals, catching a bird is not that hard! What they catch mostly are geckos (lizards), frogs and all kinds of flying bugs.


So, if you're thinking of relocating your city house cat to the jungle, it might be more challenging for him/her. In order to better survive in the outdoors, climbing trees has to be second nature, which makes the city cat much more vulnerable. The domestic cat does have predators and dangers lurking around such as snakes, scorpions, poisonous spiders, Tayra, which I have witness one stalking one of our cats once, and a few others. The other problem is that those adorable domestic rodents love to chase and catch some of those possibly harmful critters!

Our cats were born and raised in this environment, so they are quite familiar with all of it. I once read a story in the Belize Forum about a city house cat who moved to the east coast of Belize with its servants. One fatal day, the cat saw a large boa and was intrigued. With his instincts off, he approached to investigate what that was. And... the worse did happen!

I BELIEVE I SEE SOMETHING OVER THERE...


YEP, I KNEW IT!!!




But even the local cats are not immune to being prey or getting injured. Audrey, also called Lit'l Bear, got home one evening in terrible pain. She was jumping, twitching, scratching and biting herself, she was very agitated. Her breathing was fast and really hard with her mouth open plus her hearth was beating a million miles an hour... I looked her over and could not find any wound or blood. This lasted about an hour or so and then she slowly came back to normal. She is now just fine... I believe it might have been a scorpion sting! I got so scared of losing my sweet stunningly gorgeous little girl...

Next time, read about The Barton Creek Mennonites' Lifestyle.

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live with your cat/s in Belize, but not have to start from scratch? This may well be your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

Belize has a variety of Mennonite settlements spread throughout the country. Each of the communities vary in the degrees of strictness and live a slightly, to very different lifestyle, from the way of the 1900s to modern as in today's technology and lifestyle. All have retained their unique dialect of an amalgamation of Dutch and/or German. Most Mennonite communities support their own rigorous school system and elect their own leaders.

One of the largest communities is the well known
Spanish Lookout located on the north side of the Belize river in the Cayo District, approximately 10 miles from San Ignacio. Excellent business people, they are very prosperous providing much of the country (sometimes all) with an array of products and services. When building in Belize you will get acquainted with them very quickly. You can purchase almost everything you need from appliances, furniture, farm equipment, tools, hardware and accessories, electrical and plumbing supplies to groceries. One store, the Farmers Trading Centre (known as FTC), is of the same principle as superstore where you can get it all.

AERIAL VIEW OF SPANISH LOOKOUT (Photo copyright John Banman)

This community also has many producing industries from dairy (cheeses, ice cream, milk...), to livestock, poultry, agricultural, beautiful wood furniture, all types of windows and doors which can be custom ordered.

The Spanish Lookout community is sweetly nicknamed the 'Mechanites" as their lifestyle is very similar to ours in the fact that they use electricity, drive vehicles and use all mechanical equipments.

There are several Mennonite communities in Belize, two being at Barton Creek. Even those two differ enough in their way of life to be described separately. There is Lower Barton Creek, located nearer the Western Highway and Upper Barton Creek, located in the remote area of Barton Creek. This settlement can also be referred to as "Amish" as their lifestyle and beliefs are very similar; strict and conservative.


The population of the Upper Barton Creek Mennonite settlement is approximately 350, which includes Greenfield who together form one community. By the age of 40, most married couples generally have an average of 10 children per family.



They are quiet and peaceful people who live off the land. The Barton Creek community produces a large amount of the vegetables you find at the outdoor market in San Ignacio. Each family works very hard for the community and for themselves. They make their own clothes (the men in dark bib-trousers, long sleeved shirts, suspenders, and straw hats and the women in conservative pioneer style long dresses and bonnets), collect their food from the land, harvest honey, raise cattle, goats, pigs, and chickens for meat and eggs. Also produce butter and cream, make their own laundry soap and so much more. Canning is also very important as they do not have refrigeration. Monday is my day to visit, along with my dog Cluso, we do our weekly shopping for eggs and veggies. I also get the purest (totally organic) and most delicious butter, honey and peanut butter!



Their mode of transportation is still the horse & wagon.

There is nothing more soothing then laying in bed waking up slowly and hearing the horses & wagons go by... now this is the only kind of traffic that I find very pleasant! Sunday is their day of worship and the entire community gathers at the village church. On their way to church early in the morning, many of the families sing as they ride by and that is also a beautiful sound to wake up to!

Next time, read about "How to live as an Expat in a foreign country".

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live in Belize, and have Mennonites for your neighbors? This may well be your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

After my wife having lived as an expat for the last 22 years in 5 different countries, I am starting to get the idea!

There are rules expats should always live by, no matter where they're from and where they now live. Those rules are simple and basic but so very important. First, picture the expats that live in your own town or city and ask yourself what you expect of them.

- Learn the language
- Respect the culture(s)
- Do not criticize (as you would think of an expat in your city that dislikes and criticizes everything... if you don't like it, then leave!)
- Adapt (you don't have to lose your own culture, but there are times when you must adapt or back off. As an example for me, I live in a Mennonite community, therefore when I walk on the road or go to my neighbors' house, I cover my tattoos (shirt with sleeves) and were long pants and my wife covers herself below the knees, below the elbows and no cleavage.
- Be open minded whether it is cuisine, traditions etc.
- Be aware of the laws and respect them
- Be aware of the way you portray yourself

Then, simply apply those rules to yourself!

As an expat you will stand out. You can be disliked quickly (remember, there is no second chance to make a "first impression") and it can be hard to recover. So approach your new life slowly, be reserved, listen and observe more than speak at first. This will help you understand the people and their culture, and will prevent you to judge too quickly.

Depending on where you are moving to, the language is often the most difficult thing to conquer. If you only speak English and are not inclined to learn, then it would be wise to choose an English speaking country. But if you wish to learn a language, immersion beats any school, books, CDs etc. Immersion is, as far as I'm concerned, the best way to learn. You need to be patient at first as it will be slow going. But once you are starting to be able to communicate you will learn faster and faster. Again, don't get discourage as it will slow at first, which is totally normal.

Your main tool is your dictionary. Start by making a thorough list of keywords (I suggest about 50 to start with) and learn them. So if you are going to build a house for example, your list should include such words as; hammer, saw, pliers, wrench, pick ax, screwdriver, nails, screws, feet, inches, wood, cement... To learn these words, set a reasonable goal for yourself. You can start with 5 words per day and adjust as you go.

You also need a list of the main verbs; have, doing, to be, need, looking for, how much, going, to go...

You then integrate a verb with a word. Let's take "need" and "hammer". With only those 2 words you can safely go to a hardware store and ask for a hammer!

As time goes, you learn more words from the people around you and eventually, by listening, you can start making sentences. Shyness is the biggest deterrent and you should not be. You will make mistakes for sure (it is impossible not to), but the local people will appreciate your efforts and will eventually become your best teachers! And what better way to make friends than those people who are enthralled to help and coach you.

And remember that every day is a new learning experience, especially in a foreign country!

My next post will bring you back to the jungle as I write about "The Invasion of the Flood Flies!"

See you then!

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live in Belize, and be able to use your Spanish (if you choose to)? This may well be your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

At the first rain, following a drought, the flood flies invade! Those 'flood flies', which look a lot like ants, are 'winged termites'. They are about ½" to 1" long and have 2 sets of wings.


This is a phenomenon that occurs a few times a year. This year it happened on May 29th, when tropical storm Arthur brought a deluge on Belize. The last time it rained here at Barton Creek was on March 5th. Everything, including the jungle, was very dry, dry enough that a lot of wildlife were lower in the mountains, nearer the creek.

On that day, the rain started in the early afternoon, and it came down hard! But it felt so good as you could feel the dust being washed off everything such as the trees, the rocks, the truck, the house... it smelled so clean. But, in the early evening, at dusk, the little pests arrived!

Here's a very good video by Calvary Chapel Murrieta. After clicking on the link, then click on 'flood flies'.

Since we had already experienced this invasion, we were aware and got ready for it. We made sure all screens were tightly in place and used masking tape around the windows' handles where there are small gaps. We also closed the door early. But even with all that, those annoying bugs still found their way in. Within minutes we had a few hundreds in the house, but it was very minimal compare to what you can have if not prepared. They fly around lights and people, bump into you, crawl on your skin and are extremely irritating. Fortunately, they do not bite or sting! After just a few hours, they drop their wings, and start crawling all over the place...

CRAWLING ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER AFTER IT'S LOST ITS WINGS


...on the floors, furniture, ceiling fans, just about everywhere. The next day, all are dead, and it is then cleaning time! That is also quite exasperating as those wings are very small and light and therefore a nightmare to sweep.

HUNDREDS (THOUSANDS?) OF LITTLE WINGS EVERYWHERE!


But the best is that our water tanks are now full with the best water source when living off-grid. And the worst on this occasion is that some parts of Belize got hurt really bad and are still in the process of cleaning and rebuilding.

Next post will be about living in "Paradise".

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live in Belize? This may well be your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

A whole lot of people refer to beautiful white sandy beaches, warm and tropical climate places as 'Paradise'. Note that only people who have never lived in any of these kinds of places use the 'P' word!

Ambergris Cay, Belize

I have searched some online dictionaries to find out what their definitions of paradise is. I have found that there are a few descriptions of the word and that each religion and belief have their own. But in the more generic meaning, there is a consensus of the main definition.

According to The Free Dictionary.com it is 'a place of ideal beauty or loveliness' and 'a state of delight'. The Merriam Webster returns this; 'a place or state of bliss, felicity, or delight'. And according to me, paradise is a word for which there are as many definitions as there are people on earth! We each, as unique individuals, have our own vision and idea of what paradise is.

Sunset behind my house


My vision of paradise is easy; it's a place that is perfect (now that's another word with lots of definitions...)! So, the weather is always clement. In my paradise, I would have the power to control it! There would not be any floods, earthquakes or any natural disasters ever. Next, no diseases or health issues, and no one would ever go hungry. Of course, there is no crime. In the local language of this serene planet there are no words for rape, abuse, murder, child pornography, and theft... because it just doesn't exist! And the doors have no locks. Actually, locks don't even exist either! On planet paradise, these things have never been thought of or heard of! It is also a place where everyone is kind and loving. There are no criminals, scammers, thieves, or abusers! Everyone is gentle, and smart too!


Pure harmony, no matter what we look like! Copyright - Pictures furnished to The Cat's Meow by Phyllis Montoya in Santa Fe, NM

So for me, paradise cannot exist on planet earth. Or can it? Besides controlling the weather and eradicating diseases, what if every really bad person on the planet were to disappear all at the same time, like flicking a switch. And from that moment on no woman, child or anyone would ever get raped or abused, no one would get robbed, and you can forget about carrying those stupid key chains! But if this was to happen, could there be a shortage of people to keep the planet going?

My point on this post is not to dampen the spirit of people who refer to those exotic places as paradise, because in many a days, when I lay in my hammock while reading my book and listening to the birds and the creek, it sure does feel like it!

What is your vision of paradise? Tell us in the comments and let's see what is in your dream!

Next post will be about Solar Panel Placement & Sun Chart Creator.

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live in Belize... Paradise? This is your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

When designing your solar system, there's a very important factor that should not be omitted, as it can very well make or break the amount of electricity you are capable of producing. It is to figure out the best placement of your solar panels/arrays for maximum performance. Finding out which direction and angle your panels must face will allow you to determine where to locate them, and then you will be ready to decide the type of mount you will need; roof, fixed mount, tracking mount etc.

Making your own sun chart is quite easy and fun. The website I use is by Jürgen Giesen and has great user-friendly tools.



All you have to do is enter your location data, mainly your coordinates (you can obtain your coordinates from a GPS, an Atlas or I believe even from Google Earth), and it creates an easy to read sun map with key information such as the number of hours of sunshine, its intensity etc.

Sun Map for June 24, 2008
Click here to enlarge


Sun Map for December 24, 2008
Click here to enlarge


Above are two charts for my situation, located in the Cayo District of Belize (17º N - 88º W, just North of the equator). I created a chart for June and one for December. With these results I was able to conclude that I needed for my panels to be able to do a full tilt and or swivel since the sun is slightly north in the summer and quite south in the winter.

For the end result, our solar panels are on fixed (bolted in concrete) 'Belize custom made' steel tri-pod style base mount with a rack that holds 6 panels and has a manual crank mechanism that allows us to tilt to a 90 degree angle and rotate 365 degrees. In North America, your solar array will be facing toward the southern half of the hemisphere at all times of the year.





Another important factor that will affect the efficacy of your charging power is obstructions. When orienting solar panels, it is a bit like orienting your dish for TV or Internet Satellite; you don't want anything in their way like branches, buildings, trees, mountains... So that is why our solar system is set up in our 3 acre orchard. It is also important that your solar panels are accessible for cleaning. If your panels are tilted at about 45 degrees or more and it rains once in a while, it's not too much of an issue. But if your panels are flat mounted, dirt will accumulate and build up far easier.

These are just some of the basic things that need to be considered when setting up a solar system. With some research and talking to your local alternative energy supplier or someone with an existing system, you will be able to obtain more insight on the do's and dont's of solar.

Next time I will be writing about "Health Issues when Living Abroad"

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live Off-Grid in Belize? And be totally self-sufficient! This is your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

The number one question we get from prospect buyers is "why are you selling?". This is a reasonable question that all of us always ask ourselves when looking at purchasing a property. It comes from wondering if there's something wrong with the place, and also it is just plain curiosity! Our first reason for selling is regarding health.

Picture copyright of Blue Buddies


Before making the "big move", don't forget to spend some time researching and exploring all that is health related.
1- How am I doing personally?
2- Do I have insurance that will cover me abroad?
3- What health care is available in the country I am moving to?

If you currently have insurance, you need to ensure that they provide 'worldwide' or 'overseas' coverage. Many insurance companies do not offer it, or have different range of restrictions and exclusions. They might tell you you're covered, but for how long? Many policies will cover you abroad but they have a maximum length of time that you are allowed out of the country until the coverage stops.

If you don't have insurance, it is easily available to purchase online. Take time to do some research and there are good resources over the internet. A site I like is Insurance To Go as they give you a comparison table of their different plans, coverage, premiums, limits and deductibles. Many other websites out there will also give you that information.


Now be ready for the questionnaire people. This is 2008 and it shows! On one questionnaire, they asked; "Have you ever had a headache. If yes, explain below". Now, can anyone answer 'no' to that? So here it is... if you answered 'no', you lied and that can be used for refusing to cover/pay out a claim. Now if you answered 'yes', that can be used for refusing to cover/pay out a claim on the grounds of 'pre-existing condition'! Here's another one; "Do you have any tattoos? If yes, provide size and location". Hmmm, pretty hard to lie there! So if you do, I imagine any type of blood related illnesses or diseases could be 'rejected'! And on that questionnaire, they also asked about piercings! But that questionnaire seemed to be unusual. Health insurance applications are generally pretty standard.

When studying coverage, do not waste time with little things like a broken arm. Something like that can be fixed pretty much anywhere and paying for it won't ruin you! Instead concentrate on more important issues such as 'Emergency Air Evacuation' to the nearest facility in your country and/or their network. In case of such as a car wreck, a heart attack that leaves you immobilized, you might be in need of urgent and special (expensive) care that is not available in the country where you live. Coverage to look more into are those that can ruin you financially such as cancer, liver disease, anything that would require long term and specialized treatments. So don't fret about a broken leg or a tooth cavity!

And very important, don't forget to "always" carry your insurance card with you in case you are alone and unconscious. That can save your life as with this card the medical attendants can immediately call the right place.

As for us this being a reason for selling, we have found out we are not insurable! Well, they will let us pay the premium, but due to some pre-existing conditions it seemed to us that there would be very few things that they would cover. Being in our mid-forties, we have decided that it is something to consider seriously and relocating back to Canada is our safest bet. There is another important reason why we have made this decision, but I am running out of room here, so that will be my next post!

Next time I will be writing about "Telecommunication Challenges in a 3rd World Country"

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live in Belize? This is your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

Here follows from my previous post, Health Issues when Living Abroad, reason #1 for selling. So reason #2; the inability of having proper telephone/fax services, and toll free numbers.

A professional business requires good, dependable, and affordable telecommunication services. And all better if they can provide toll free numbers from USA & Canada.

Phone/internet service in Belize is provided by Belize Telemedia Ltd. (BTL), and in many areas there are not even any services, including cell phone signal. BTL is the exclusive telecommunication provider of Belize, and when a business has a monopoly it is usually not economically wise for the people of the country. Competition brings controlled regulations, openness, quality of services and competitive prices. So in the case of BTL, they can do, and charge, whatever they want. BTL long distance rates are currently some of the highest in the world. Depending on the time of day and the plan you are on, calling to the USA cost between .43¢ to $1.26 per minute. Calling to Canada between .25¢ to $1.08 and to the UK between .35¢ to $1.59. That is one issue that greatly affect doing business in Belize, or in any similar countries, making it difficult and sometimes not viable.

But when you are off-grid and have a reliable internet access, there are several good options such as Skype or Gizmo, and new technology like Magic Jack. Most of them work quite well, but obviously, not like a good old land line! We have experienced a few and are using Skype full time. Here are some things that you are able to do:

- Skype to Skype chat (type and voice). As long as both parties have downloaded Skype, this service is free, in real time, and very reliable. This would be the best quality.

- Video/webcam chat

- Incoming phone call/number. You can currently choose a phone number from 21 countries. When someone calls you, they are actually calling the country of your number and it rings on your computer wherever you are in the world. In our case, in the middle of the Belize jungle!

- Conference calling. Once with a relative in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and 2 in Calgary we had a conference Skype voice chat with web cams where we could all see each other. Trish in the UAE carried her laptop around and gave us a tour of her house! It was awesome, and free!

- Land Line Calling. This feature allows you to call any landline (or mobile phone) in the world, from your computer, at very affordable rates. The rate is based on where you are calling, not where you are calling from. The plan we are on cost US $3.00 per month and provides unlimited calls to USA and Canada. Calling the UK cost a mere .02¢ per minute! Unfortunately this service can sometimes be spotty and really depends on your internet connection speed and quality. I believe there can be factors on the land line end that also affect the quality.

2 samples of a Skype window -->>

Those are just a few things you can do. There are many more features available. One downside is that toll free numbers are not available.

Unfortunately, those that get their internet connection through BTL are unable to use most of those VoIP services as they have been blocked. So in addition to charging horrendous amounts of money, they also stop you from other amazing, more affordable, options. There are many other countries, such as the UAE and China that block those VoIP services. If that isn't a form of dictatorship, I don't know what is!

So Skype through satellite internet is awesome to talk with friends and family! For business, unless those you are communicating with are colleagues that already know you and your business, it can work okay. But unfortunately it is not suitable for conducting business dealings with unfamiliar people and building new contacts as there is a slight delay in the transmission. Similar to a VHF radio, only one person can talk at a time, otherwise it disrupts the connection and neither person will be able to fully hear what the other one is saying. So when you're talking to that person with whom it is already tough to get a word in, this makes it even more difficult!

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live in Belize? This is your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

Will your pet, no matter what, catch fleas and ticks in the jungle? It's a definite yes. But, with scheduled upkeep, it is possible to keep it to a minimum. You can do a combination of little things that brings positive results.

Tick pic copyright of RangerDJ.com ~ Flea pic copyright of ehow.com

Ticks and fleas are bloodsucking parasites who attach themselves to the skin. There are a large variety of species of both ticks and fleas, and many are known to carry diseases. One of the more common one is Lyme disease. Here's an excellent article by The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station if you want to learn more about ticks. And ehow.com has good info about fleas.

We have four cats and two dogs in a tropical lush jungle environment, so dealing with those parasites have become part of our life. After some trial and error, we have come up with a combination that has worked out best for us.

For the kitty cats, I do the 30 day squirt between the shoulder blades with a product such as Advantage® and Frontline®. If you buy online (which I do as these products are very expensive in Belize) please make sure it is genuine and not a fake which can be inefficient but most importantly, harmful to your animal. I also brush the kitties almost daily with a fine tooth brush which keeps their coat clean and fluffy. They play outside a lot, but they cuddle in bed with us too, and rarely do I find fleas or ticks.

~~~~~~ Sammy & Watson ~~~~~~

Hey Sammy, lets go chase the other kitty cats!

Now the dogs are a different story! Since they are mostly outside, and like to sleep in the dirt and roll in the grass, it is more difficult to keep under control. In addition to treating the dogs coat, you also need to treat his sleeping and living quarters. The dogs get a monthly shot of Ivomec® and B/12 vitamins. A year ago I had never given a shot to anything, and didn't really like getting any myself. But now I'm a pro! In Belize, you can buy medications, syringes etc. for your animals. At Reimer's Feed in Spanish Lookout, a nice guy directed me to the different treatments and instructed me on how to administer the injection. My first time I was very nervous but it turned out to be real easy. Then a neighbor started bringing me her dog every month, and now she too does it herself!

Watson's sleeping quarters under the power shed


Spraying their sleeping quarters is crucial. Watson likes to sleep on the shed's porch or under the shed. To keep him off the ground, under the shed is lined with wood pallets. These areas get sprayed with a product called Bañol® (which also controls other local parasites that burro into their skin and cause them to scratch until the skin is raw). Mixed with water, using a yard sprayer, we spray the porch and the pallets. Since this product is also to be used to bathe dogs, we spray him at the same time (watching out not to spay the eyes/face or genitals). For the surrounding areas around their sleeping quarters, we keep the lawn mowed short and also spray a mixture of bleach and water. As for the frequency of the spraying, it all depends on the season and the weather. Being on a creek, the dogs swim pretty much daily, so they also get a regular bath with herbal flea and tick repellent soap. During wet season where it is harder to control, we also use Fipecto® Spray which is good for dogs or cats.

You may have to experiment with different procedures and ideas, and also ask the neighbors what their tricks are. But it is important to keep on top of those parasites as they are very uncomfortable to your animal(s) and if left untreated, can cause skin infections and sores.

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live in Belize? This is your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

The Black Poisonwood tree (Metopium Brownie or Metopium Toxiferum of the family Anacardiaceae) is also known as Chechen, Chechem (Mayan name), Coral Sumac, Caribbean Rosewood, and Cedro Prieto. It is found throughout Central America, the Caribbean and the West Indies. This tree produces beautiful decorative wood used for carving, wood turning, furniture etc. But it has a very powerful defense mechanism against people!

This form of defense is a highly irritating sap, and when human skin comes in contact with it, the result can be quite an ordeal. It starts with a redness, (like a bad rash similar to poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak and the rest of them...) but often will develop into itchy and burning blisters, and is extremely painful. Depending on the amount of sap and how quickly you treat it, it can remain a rash and be gone in just a few days, or it can develop into a 1st to 2nd degree burn(s). Plus another interesting thing, in my case, nothing major happen for 3 days, but then on the fourth day I was covered! When you scratch (and you will) and then touch another part of your body (or someone else's), the infection can easily spread. The picture below is of a hand (my wife's) and an infected arm (mine) with blisters.

That was extremelly painful and lasted for a few weeks. To get it that bad is rather rare though. Usually you only touch the bark of the tree and hopefully treat it immediately. It is then a mild rash and in a very limited area. In that particular case, we did cut lots of trees, which means that the sap was also in the air, landing all over our clothes and body. It was also a very warm day and we were sweating a lot... perfect way to spread it all over your body!

Pictured on the left below is the bark of the Black Poisonwood tree. The black stuff (the sap comes out of the tree clear, but upon being introduced to oxygen it then turns black), which actually looks a lot like tar, is the poison. You do not want to touch this tree at all, but especially the black spots. The leaves of the tree can also be toxic. Now even after the tree is chopped down and dried... it still can be just as potent. In the saw mills when cutting the wood, the dust can have the same burning affect. Or even when you are just burning off a pile of old logs, the smoke can also spread the poison. Pictured on the right is the Gumbo Limbo tree (Bursera Simaruba of the family Burseraceae), which is the natural antidote of the Black Poisonwood. The tree sap relieves rashes, stings and burns. A medicinal tree, tea from its leaves is use to treat fever and low blood pressure.

~~~~~~~~Black Poisonwood ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gumbo Limbo ~~~~~~~~~~

Gumbo Limbo trees grow in the same area of the Black Poisonwood trees. If you have touched the Black Poisonwood, the first thing to do is to find a Gumbo Limbo tree. And as soon as possible you must wash the area very well with any oil dissolving substance as just water and regular soap will not remove all of it (I have also read somewhere that WD40 can be quite effective). You cut a piece of the Gumbo Limbo bark and wipe the inside on the affected area. Hang on to this bark and reapply several times early on. What you can also do is boil the bark, add powdered vitamin C to the boiled water to make a paste that you apply on the burn. But in an extreme case as in the picture of the hand and arm, it is way past the Gumbo Limbo power! You are now dealing with 1st or 2nd degree burns and believe me, it is atrocious. Medicated, anti-itch first aid cream helps relieve the burning and itching and also helps keeping the infection down. And in some cases, as in mine, antibiotics and a steroid medication were in order! My wife used a Sunburn Relief Gel with lidocaine, tea tree oil and aloe vera and it was very soothing and cooling!

One more trick... if you are going to cut or handle Black Poisonwood, apply the Gumbo Limbo to your face, hands and arms before you start. This will provide a good protection as it prevents the sap to stick to your skin. Obviously, we learned that 'after' we had to deal with those trees! Not a lesson that we will soon forget!

The Black Poisonwood is hard, dense and very decorative. Here's a Black Poisonwood Handcrafted drum by Greg Gaylord of Drum Solo


Photo credit Frankie Frost

And due to the high risk in harvesting this wood, it is very pricey. Hey, maybe we are sitting on a gold mine here?

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live in Belize? This is your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

When you move to another country, there can be one of two ways of doing so. It is that you are moving with a company (employment relocation) or that you are doing it yourself, on your own, or with your family (such as retirement).

In the case of employment relocation, more often than not, your traveling and moving, expenses are covered by the company and your lodging is acquired by them as well. So it is not a concern for you. But when making the move on your own, to buy or to rent deserves your full attention.


It is a very good idea to visit the country you have chosen at least twice before moving. The first time, go for fun; explore and look at everything, talk to people, discover as much as you can. If you are not sure of the area you would like to settle in, then you rent. But if you know exactly what you want and where, research both rentals and real estate. Thanks to the internet, research is quite easy, although it is time consuming. There are many online resources such as:

~ Forums geared to specific countries, or 'expat' forums where all countries are discussed. There are many out there but not all are good. When entering a forum, look for the stats, which will tell you the number of members, visitors etc. Next find out if the forum is active (lots of posters and daily interactions) by reading through the threads menu and specific threads.

~ Real estate and rental websites (hundreds, if not thousands, to browse through!)

~ Government website to look up ownership, immigration and other laws

~ Lenes or Blogs (like this one) from people living abroad, or who have lived abroad, and share their experiences. If you have questions, don't hesitate to use the 'comment' field. writers love corresponding with their readers!

~ Tourist/vacation related websites have lots of info about the country in general.

Before you buy, here are some things you need to know, or be able to answer:

> Real estate market. What kind of prices am I looking at.
> Laws (different countries mean different laws)
> Expat ownership laws (which in some countries may vary from laws that apply to locals)
> Purchasing procedures, requirements and time frame. What are the extra fees beyond and above the property price itself.
> Do I use a realtor, a real estate broker, an attorney... It is very important to find someone you can trust with your transaction and money. Ask for references.
> Political and economical state of the country. Semi to long term investment value.
> Will I have clear title of my property?
> Am I allowed to remain in the country for as long as I own? What are the immigration laws and different programs for expats?

Once you are familiar with those points, it is then time for your second visit to meet with the contacts you have made during your research and view the properties that have peeked your interest. You can then safely make your purchase and feel confident about it.

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to buy in Belize? This is your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

There are thousands of people who live in remote areas and have to home school their children. There are also thousands who live in cities and suburbs and who actually chose to home school. And throughout my travels, I have discovered another large community which is sailors. It is quite surprising the number of families that live on sail boats (or other types of boats) and travel around the world. Here's a blog from one such wanderer "Floating Classroom"! Here in Belize, my neighbors at the Barton Creek Outpost also home school their children.

I didn't know anything about home schooling until I moved to Barton Creek. It got me curious and I did some investigating. I have found that there are just over 1 million children in the United States alone who are being home schooled. There are many good websites who provide incredible tools and resources, so anyone can entertain the thought of homeschooling. Personally, what I would fear the most (if I had children) is the discipline and will it must take... one of the parents becomes a teacher. Imagine going from "father and daughter" to "teacher and student".

Copyright: Cartoon by Mr. Fish

The first thing you have to do is get yourself organized. Study and reading material, reference books, and worksheets, supplies etc. are some things you gather before you move as during the move, and the adaptation period, things will get busy! Having an organized schedule will make your life much easier and will also help keep the kid(s) in a structured environment. Planning for 1 month or 6 months takes about the same time, so plan for at least 6 months. I found good resources for schedule templates, curriculum, worksheets and many other teaching aids. Below is a printable blank world map for Geography homework I found at Home Crusaders Website.

Map: credit of Home Crusaders

Books and all the material are heavy and bulky. A type of carrying case I recommend is a sturdy shipping case or plastic bin with seal. It is extremely practical as it seals against the elements so you keep the moisture (and crawly critters) out to preserve things vulnerable to humidity. And it also can be used as a table wherever you are at. If you will have internet access at home, it makes things easier as you do not have to carry as much. In most places you can find internet cafes. Depending on the frequency you can visit the café is another important factor in your overall organization and material gathering.

Here are some very good resources to get you started:

http://homesheart.blogspot.com/
http://www.homeschool.com/
http://www.schoolexpress.com/index.php
http://members.aol.com/usteach/forms.html
http://www.abcteach.com/
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/
http://www.calvertschool.org/home-school/
http://www.design-your-homeschool.com/How-to-start-homeschooling.html

And of course there are thousands more. There are also a lot of blogs solely about homeschooling. Blogs can be very good sources as they are written by individuals who are living it. Their writing is true and real as they are not doing it on a business point of view, but for sharing with others. Also, joining an online group or forum is always a good idea for help and support between members.

And last but not least, is to schedule exercise time. Not only is it essential for the kids, but it is also very good for you! Here at Barton Creek, playing in the creek is the best gym. I do not have children, but exercise daily while playing and spending time with the dogs. With areas from ankle deep to a 15' swimming hole it is the best way to end a hot day in the jungle!

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to Home School in Belize? This is your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

Building in Belize, or in many other 3rd world countries, there are not many (if any) building codes to abide by. This lack of regulations gives you freedom, but it also brings disadvantages as labor, such as plumbers and electricians, do not have to be certified, therefore anybody can (and do) claim to be anything they want. Problems may not necessarily arise due to a lack of knowledge, but they will sometimes, due to carelessness and a 'don't give a damn' attitude.

This article covers many areas involved in the building process; Plumbing, Electrical & Wiring, Roof, Gutter & Down Pipes, Concrete Work , Clearing the Land, Burning, Daily Inspection, Tools & Equipment, Paying the Workers & Contractors, Hardwood House Coating. This post was getting quite long, so I divided it into 2 parts. As best I could, I listed each point in order of the building progression.

CLEARING THE LAND ~ There will be clearing to do, how much depends on where you're building. In the jungle, it is a very important factor as the forest is very lush and dense due to the sub-tropical rain forest climate. Most guys here are very very good at clearing (chopping with machete) and fast. The problem is that they can be 'too good' and cut valuable trees unnecessarily. You must clearly mark the area you wish to have cleared and visibly mark the trees you wish to keep. A good way to mark those trees is by tying white cloths around the trunk at eye level. Don't just point them out, really mark them clearly!


BURNING ~ Branches, leaves, and even trees are constantly falling throughout the year. Also, your garbage is in two categories; what you will burn and what you will take to the dump. For those reasons, your 'burning' area(s) is a permanent fixture on your property and should be carefully selected. What to keep an eye on is that workers have a tendency of making piles too big, creating too large a fire. They also love using igniter fluids such as fuel or crude oil because it's easier and faster! And finally, the best time to burn is at the end of the day when things are dry from the all day sun, but moisture will come soon (once the sun has set) and prevent the fire from remaining or spreading.

CLEANLINESS OF WORK SITE ~ From the start, your work site can get pretty trashy. The work crew will just throw things (bent nails, used saw blades, empty containers or pretty much anything they deem as garbage) everywhere and don't bother cleaning until the job is done, which is many months away. Be on that from the get go by providing trash cans and explain how easy and quick it is to clean up at the end of each day. Nearly everyone won't like you at first for that, but as time goes, most will appreciate working in a clean site (especially if there's a cold beer at the end of the day once in a while!). One major issue is non-burning garbage in the burning pile. I have picked up so many used circular saw blades in that pile! Even after several reminders, once in a while you will still find a metal can from a lunch box! Also provide broom and dust pan to clean sawdust in the house, and have a spare dust pan as they get lost, or break, easily!


CONCRETE WORK ~ Almost anyone you ask will say; Oh yes, I do concrete! (And I am sure if you ask, he also does plumbing and electrical...). An important thing to look out for is the proper ratio of sand/cement/water. Depending on what work you are doing, the type of sand and the rock content is also very important. The use of rebar and reinforcement is essential for the sturdiness and longevity of pilings on buildings, retaining walls, stairs...

PLUMBING ~ Plumbing in Belize is quite simple, using standard PVC piping and accessories, which comes in schedule 40 or 60. Schedule 40, being the thickest one, is highly recommended as PVC will dry and become brittle over time. Also, all pipes that can be buried should be. When your worker is cleaning with the machete, those pipes can be vulnerable as they swing those machetes pretty hard! Also, if a tree or a rock falls, your pipes are protected. In this department, there are quite a lot of things to lookout for.

~ Many 'plumbers' don't use the solvent before applying the glue. In one instance, a plumber dropped a fitting in the dirt after applying the glue, did not clean it and attached it to the pipe!
~ There are two types of PVC glue, one being for hot water pipes. They often will use the basic glue on all pipes.
~ They also are not big in the use of unions in strategic areas. They are a life saver when you need to clear a pipe or drain.
~ Vents on drain pipes are essential for proper drainage, and many guys don't use them.
~ Another issue is 'angles'. Many guys have a hard time understanding the principle and your drain pipes might not be angled enough or if at all. This problem of understanding angles is also an issue when doing gutters, shower tiles, roadways and ditches.

ELECTRICAL / WIRING ~ The custom in Belize, the Caribbean and Central America is to run wires outside walls and ceilings. So if you want your wires inside your walls and ceilings, don't take it for granted and keep your eyes open. Unless you are totally 100% confident in your electrician, inspect all splicing as they often mix wire gauge and/or colors. Inspect all connections to outlets and switches as you will probably find some stray wires, unattached ground wires, and loose screws. As for installing electrical hardware, I was amazed when our (so called/self appointed) 'electrician' opened the box for the A/C unit and the first thing he did was trash the instruction/installation manual! Over time, I have found that it is standard practice, not to follow, or trash, any instructions they find!


ROOF ~ Our roof is undulated metal sheets. Installing this type of roofing is quite simple and straight forward, but we did run into one problem. When installing the screws, which have rubber grommets for sealing, one guy was screwing them in so tight that the grommets would get crushed and split. This will sooner than later cause leaks. Once we saw that, we inspected each screw and ended up replacing a number of them.

So this was part 1, and I hope some of those tips can come in handy for you! You can read my 2nd installment, which includes; Hardwood Coating (interior/exterior), Gutters & Drain Pipes, Tools & Equipment, Daily Inspection and, Paying the Workers & Contractors.

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

Want to live in Belize... and avoid building? This is your perfect opportunity! Jungle Paradise at Barton Creek

HARDWOOD HOUSE COATING AND MAINTENANCE ~ Coating the wood will help preserve its colors and beauty. Outside walls in the sun, if not coated with a UV protectant stain, will quickly turn grey. Before coating, clean off dust and debris and make sure that all pencil marks are removed. This may sound stupid, but a friend of ours was not there when they coated his house and now he has permanent measurement on his balcony walls, right at eye level too! Since the inside of our house has 16' ceilings and is quite large, we opted for coating using a spray gun. We were lucky with the guy we hired as he did an excellent job. The first coat was applied in the morning and the second coat a couple of hours later in the afternoon. If we had done this by hand, it would have taken several days. Being in the jungle and having a wood house, fighting bugs is part of the routine. So before coating I also recommend spraying all wood surfaces (inside and out) with an anti bug (termites, worms etc.) chemical such as Dursban, which is easily available and comes in many types for different applications. Once your house is completed, regular spraying is recommended (monthly or less depending on the season) to prevent any bugs from moving in. These chemicals also help keep out other bugs such as scorpions and spiders.



GUTTERS & DRAIN PIPES ~ As stated in part 1 of 2 ~ Plumbing topic, drain angels is a concept many guys do not grasp. So check the angels throughout with a level. Also the joints/connections must be sealed with silicone, which if you don't tell them, there is a good chances it will not be done. Due to the high volume of water when you get a good tropical downpour, ensure that the gutters' drains and down pipes are large enough to handle the volume.

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT ~ Carelessness is big and can get costly. Check the oil in your generator yourself as it is not unusual that they let that go dry. Also, using the wrong fuel (regular or diesel) in engines, or the correct mix of fuel/oil as for the weed trimmer is another thing to keep your eyes on. A bad habit most have is to leave things lying around, and often in the rain. And last but not least, breaking things. Be ready to fix a lot of stuff or ensure you have a good repair man in your area to help with those!



DAILY INSPECTION ~ Inspect daily, or as often as possible so that problems can be rectified in time, without having to undo too much to fix the mistake. You must also 'see for yourself' and not take their word as lying is second nature for many!

PAYING THE WORKERS & CONTRACTORS ~ If you are planning on building, I am sure you have done research and have heard a few stories, some not too good. When it comes down to money transactions with financially struggling people, it is always risky. But when dealing with a reputable company, it is quite safe. When hiring and paying workers by yourself it is another story. As you probably read somewhere, it is advised not to pay your workers until the job is completed and that makes sense. Here's one that happen to me. I had a guy on a contract that would take about 8 days and we agreed on $70 per day. I gave him one day pay in advance and paid for the supplies. At the end of his fourth day he asked to be paid for the days he worked so far. So I replied that we agreed that he would get paid at the end of the job. Then he started whining about how the rich gringos don't care, that he has a wife and kids and needs to buy food and so on. So I gave in and paid him for 3 days. Once the money was in his hand, he then announced to me that for him to complete the job his daily rate would now be $100! So I just told him to get the %*^&# out of here and to never set foot on my property again! You will run into these types of situations and they are not fun to deal with. Unfortunately, many of them do not understand the concept of long term employment, possible references to other people who plan on building, being true to their word, and respecting their employers. Also, when hiring workers directly, not through a contractor or company, make sure Social Security gets paid. It's the law, as it should be, and it is very important for the future of the country. For more information on Social Security in Belize, visit the Social Security Board website. It is a very well built website that includes all information you need, procedures, forms, and more.

In closing, a big struggle with workers is communication. Even though Belize is an English speaking country, many workers (from Guatemala and Honduras for example) do not speak English (or some do when convenient!), and Spanish is almost as widespread. But even without a language barrier, establishing a rapport with your worker is still hard to achieve sometimes. Mix a bunch of masculine gender Gringos and Latinos, egos are high! Those I have seen succeeding in developing a good relationship are the ones who can listen as well as talk. It has to be 2 way communications in order to exchange ideas and knowledge. The Gringo has the technological knowledge, and many ideas. The Latino has knowledge of the country and its custom and probably has many ideas that you ought to listen to! Listen to your workers' suggestions as it might just be the answer you were looking for. Then it's easy for you to build upon his idea, while inquiring for more suggestions. And when you are of different countries and cultures, you learn even more. It's a great combination, but not necessarily an easy one! With mutual respect, you can learn so much from each other.

I am sure there are hundreds of other things to look out for and that anyone who's ever built in Belize (or in any similar country) have a few good stories of their own! Please share them in the 'comments' section.

This lens was co-written (by my wife(TropiCat) and myself) and originally posted by TropiCat on WordPress.

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