Trip Planning: Caves Branch and Glover's Reef Atoll

Everything is done...as done as they can be.

After a mirad of emails going back and forth with the resort/lodge/hotel operators, we booked:

1) Ian Anderson's Cave Branch (June 4,5,6,7,8, 2006)

Today, we mailed $40.00 in traveler cheques to the Cave Branch as deposit. The whole 5 day accommodation will total $54.50 after a 9% hotel tax. So, we will pay the difference when we arrive. Normally a 50% deposit is required, but we did not have smaller denominations. The payment for the adventure tours can be paid on arrival.

I can't wait to experience the 'jungle shower'.

2) Tipple Tree Beya in Hopkins Village (June 9,10)

Several sources on the net said that this is the best budget place to stay in Hokpins Village. The rate for a room with private bath, hot shower, ceiling fan, fridge, coffee pot, dishes is $40.00 per night. We are staying for two nights, and will be renting two bicycles to go to Sittee River and possibly two kayaks for some exploration of the area. A deposit is required for accommodation, 50%, and they take credit cards. Tricia has been very nice via email correspondences and can set up tours led by local guides.

3) Glover's Reef Atoll (June 11,12,13,14,15,16,17)

We wired a payment of $379.32 U.S for a full week stay and the rental of a sit-on-top double kayak. The Scotiabank charged a hefty fee $35.00 to wire the money (unbelievable!), but the girl who helped us was nice enough to fax the receipt to Glover's Reef Atoll Resort. As for food, we will be bringing most of our own food to cook, and can buy fresh fish or lobsters there. If we run out of food, we plan to purchase the meals offered there.

So far, we have spent:

Airfare - $1256 CDN,

Miscellaneous Camping/Travel Gears - $150.00 CDN

Accommodation Deposits/Full Payments - $461.68

So, before we leave, we have already accrued virtually $2,000 in expenses....yikes!! At least the major expenses are taken care of.

All we need now is to get some Pepto, insect repellent, purchase prepaid airport parking ticket, and get our butts to Belize.

By the way, is there anyone who will be in Belize between June 4-June 20 and want to meet up? Do you have similar itenaries? Please leave a comment here and I will be in touch!

Kaavya Viswanathan Lost Her Book Deal - How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life

First the James Frey shocker, and now it's a 19 year old Harvard sophomore. Kaavya Viswanathan signed a $500,000 book deal at 17 years old, and wrote How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life. The publisher has permanently withdrew her books from the shelves because of alligations of plagiarism. Reports from various online sources site multiple sources of plagiarism. Apparently, she plagiarised from author Megan McCafferty,Sophie Kinsella among others.

She may also be asked to returned the $500,000 advanced received to write the two books.

With the recent news, people who own the first book How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life are rushing to Ebay, where it is listed for as high as $57.18! I wish I bought several copies before the scandal.

What made an obviously bright young Ivy League student to do this? Sometimes, I have a lot of mixed thoughts in my head from various books I've read, shows I've seen, so when I do have an idea, is it actually original? Apparently, Kaavya Viswanathan's plagiarisms are pretty obvious, sometimes only a few words are changed. This makes me think how many other books are amalgamations of other books, shows, and other people's ideas. What I have written here combines what I read from other sites, so am I to site every sentence? When does an original idea truly original?

Pre-Planning Mother's Day

I am determined to save money this Mother's Day. The best way to do is to buy the flowers early. I plan to buy some flowers and surprise her on May 10th instead of May 14th. Then, on May 14th, I will give her the present.

Flowers cost so much more on Mother's Day, so if you can, it's best to buy them early. It can be a pre-mother's day surprise! Of course, in order to not look really cheap, get her something else to be received on Mother's Day. This works on my mother, because she understands, but may not work on other mothers who may consider this very insulting :)