The Spring 2013 issue of The TOLEDO HOWLER is online HERE

The new issue of the Toledo Howler has news and information about the Chocolate Festival of Belize in May as well as regular features by Lee Jones on birding in Toledo and Arzu Mountain Spirit who turns her attention to the health benefits of cacao.

Use our BTIA member lists to find accommodation or make meal reservations for the Chcoclate Festival weekend 24-26 May. Happy reading.

This Issue's Stories:

  • Chocolate Festival of Belize:
    Cacao is native to the Americas and the seeds, or "beans", are used to make cocoa products and, of course, chocolate. Cacao is a major export crop in Toledo ‐ prized for its quality and distinctive flavour ‐ and Belize produces some notable chocolate products of its own. Every Commonwealth Day holiday weekend the Toledo District of southern Belize holds a festival to celebrate this marvellous food, and many devoted followers return each year to find out what's new in the world of chocolate making. This will be the seventh Festival, and the first in its new guise as the Chocolate Festival of Belize. The name change from Toledo CacaoFest is a reflection of growing awareness of the exceptional quality of Belizean chocolate and designed to capture a bigger international audience. Once again the festival will be organized jointly by the Toledo Cacao Growers' Association and the Toledo Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) with support and sponsorship from the Belize Tourism Board and NICH.
  • Nim Li Punit Archaeological Site:
    Nim li Punit was the second major site to be settled in Toledo District. Like Uxbenka, it was first occupied during the Early Classic period. At present we have dated the early occupation of Nim li Punit only from the stylistic analysis of pottery. This demonstrates that the first inhabitants settled at the site sometime in the early fifth century A.D., about 400 years after Uxbenka was settled and about 150 years before Pusilha-the largest city in southern Belize by far-was founded about A.D. 570. Like Uxbenka, Nim li Punit is a small place. It is better to think of it not as a city, but as a rural manor site founded by one or more elite families. From its founding ca. AD 400‐450, however, Nim li Punit did serve as a regional administrative center. Structure 8, a long platform located along the western edge of the "Plaza of the Tombs," was built around this time and served as a popol nah or council house. Over the course of 400 years, the building was enlarged and rebuilt four times, but it always kept the same form and function. Maya council houses are not common in Belize or Guatemala, but are much more typical of sites in Yucatan. They suggest decentralized rule, where different lineages, families, or factions made joint decisions under a king with relatively weak authority.
  • Asha's Culture Kitchen:
    The Howler recently visited Asha's Culture Kitchen in Punta Gorda. This seaside restaurant is located on Front Street south of the market and specializes in fresh Creole seafood, vegetarian and BBQ. They are also one of Toledo BTIA's newest members. Owner Ashton Martin opened Asha's Culture Kitchen in July 2011. The restaurant was originally located on Middle Main Street before moving to its present seaside location. Asha's Culture Kitchen is actually built out over the water so there is a delightful sense of being surrounded by the sea. This place arguably has the best views in PG, looking out across the Gulf of Honduras towards Guatemala and points south. The owner says the stars at night are equally impressive from the verandah. Ashton's wife, Stacy, is in charge of marketing and decorating. Ashton, originally from Punta Negra in northern Toledo, is in charge of the mouth watering menu. He has a passion for cooking and says his main ingredient is love ‐ although he also uses coconut, cilantro, fresh vegetables and herbs. The seafood is fresh daily so the menu changes according to availability and season but usually includes a variety of fish, wild shrimp and lobster dishes. One of the most surprising items on Asha's menu is lionfish. Most of us know that lionfish have become a problem in the Caribbean in recent years. They were probably introduced by aquarium owners who released them into the wild and didn't realize that the invasive lionfish reproduce at a much higher rate than the local species.
  • Dreamlight Internet Caf�:
    Dreamlight internet caf� is something of an Aladdin's cave! Located on Main Street the modern white cement building beckons tourists and locals alike to make use of their internet facilities, but, walking through the doorway reveals a much wider array of goods and service than you might at first expect! Dreamlight was opened by Timothy Dami in May 2007, when he saw a need for additional internet facilities in town, primarily through his work as a teacher and running computer classes at the local leducation centre. One of his students was Kenrick Coleman (of Coeman's Caf� fame in Big Falls village) and, having successfully completed the course and seeing his affinity with computers, he was offered a job by Mr Tim. Kenrick is one of seven local employees at Dreamlight, and between them they have over 35 years' professional experience. We spoke to Kenrick about Dreamlight's many and varied services.
  • The Road to the Border:
    Everyone living in the Toledo District knows the government is in the process of paving the highway to the Guatemalan border. There have been mixed feelings about this development but we at the Toledo Howler believe it will be a good thing all around. Once the road is paved, getting into PG will be faster and easier for those living in remote villages. A smooth, all‐weather surface will reduce wear and tear on village buses and vehicles generally as well as reducing fuel consumption. For tourism, the new road will mean easier access to some of the most beautiful destinations in the district, such as Blue Creek and Rio Blanco National Park and falls. Travelling times to these beauty spots have already been greatly reduced. The project also includes improved signage along the road which will help visitors with their own vehicles to find their way around more easily. We are told the present phase of the project is due to be completed in April 2014-weather permitting of course! Completion of this phase will mean 20 miles of paved highway from the junction known as Dump to Treetops, the BDF's outpost near the border. There will eventually be a formal border crossing point although we understand the exact location has not yet been confirmed.
  • Map of Front Street, Punta Gorda, Chocolate Festival Weekend 24th-26th May:
  • Bug Corner:
    The strange habits of the Sapho (heliconius sapho) So, as well as the "wettest district" (read "most lush") the bug question often occurs when talking about Toledo. The reality is that we do have some mosquitoes (although fewer than some other areas in Belize), but also a whole host of weird and wonderful creatures. The Sapho butterfly is often seen flitting around the Toledo District. Nim Li Punit, with its plethora of favoured butterfly plants, is a great place to see butterflies on the wing. The Sapho is one of the heliconius species, and is very similar in appearance to the Cydno. Sometimes called the "Holstein" butterfly for its black and white markings it will actually appear a beautiful dark metallic blue under the right lighting conditions. The heliconius butterflies have two unique, derived ecological traits - feeding and mating behaviour!
  • Wine, Chocolate and Belikin: Where can I get my tickets?:
    Tickets available from the Toledo Tourism Information Centre on Front Street in PG, BTIA office on North Park Street in Belize City and the BTB office on Regent Street, Kakaw Chocolate in San Pedro, Goss Chocolate in Seine Bight and .the BTIA Office in Placencia. Wine, Chocolate, and Belikin - Friday 24th May (tickets BZ$50 in advance, BZ$60 at the door) Lubaantun finale ‐ Sunday 26th May (adults BZ$10, high school students BZ$5, primary school students BZ$2) Tickets at the entrance; no advanced ticket sales
  • Southern Voices: Kamela Palma:
    Kamela Palma is a resident of Punta Gorda in Toledo. She has had a varied career, at one time having been Principal of St Peter Claver College in Punta Gorda Town and Lecturer at the Belize Teachers' Training College, CEO in the Ministry of Human Development, then Deputy Ambassador at the Belize Mission in Guatemala City and most recently she has returned from a posting as Belize's High Commissioner in London. Have you always lived in Toledo, Kamela? My grandfather, Guillermo Palma, came to Belize with his family from Santa Rosa de Copan in Honduras where the famous Mayan site of Copan is located just a mile across the border from Guatemala. He came to work as a manual labourer on a farm known as El Dorado close to Forest Home and the present day dolomite quarry. Though uneducated he was obviously someone with a vision, for after a few years he was able to acquire property in the area of what is now Big Falls village. He called his place, a mile square, Missouri and it is located east of the bridge downstream from the present day village. He was the first 'local' to plant sugar cane and to produce brown sugar for commercial purposes. Eventually all his brothers arrived to work with him. He married Angelina Pattico and their only daughter was Isabel Palma, my mother. This is the same Isabel Palma whom the new clinic in San Antonio is named after. She worked throughout the country as a Rural Health Nurse and she was posted for many years in San Antonio village to serve all the villages of Toledo West. My Father was Carlton Fairweather, a distinguished gentleman who had served the Motherland by travelling to the United Kingdom to join the World War 2 effort and who returned to serve in the Government Service of his beloved Belize.
  • Restaurant Guide: Wat's Cookin?:
    Twisted Creole Lobster Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 7 minutes Serves 4 INGREDIENTS � cup chopped cilantro � cup chopped onion � cup grated carrot 1 medium green pepper finely chopped 1 tbs minced garlic � tsp salt � tsp Complete Seasoning � tsp butter 1 lb lobster diced into 1" cubes
  • Golden Stream Spice Farm:
    The Howler staff had passed by the farm in Golden Stream dozens of times, idly wondering who might live there and what they were up to. About a year ago signs went up along the highway advertising the Golden Stream Spice Farm and Botanical Gardens. Then the Spice Farm became one of BTIA's newest members and the Howler decided it was time to go and take a look. The farm belongs to Dr Thomas and Mrs Tessie Matthew who have been here in southern Belize since 1989‐90 dividing their time between Washington DC, where Dr Matthew practises as an anesthesiologist. They own an area of 500 acres that includes a wellestablished citrus plantation but their true love lies in all the other things that they are growing there. They include both indigenous species like vanilla and exotics like cinnamon and nutmeg. The first species on our tour of the spice farm was cardamom, another exotic, native to the Indian subcontinent. I love using it in making curries in particular but have always bought it on trips outside Belize. Now I can find it nine miles up the road! And I was very surprised to discover it growing at the base of a plant that looked similar to a ginger. The plants grow in semishade in rows. The intention is to develop this as a commercial crop. The cardamom pods are harvested and dried between February and May.
  • 13th Annual Christmas Bird Count:
    The 13th annual Punta Gorda Christmas Bird Count was held on 5 January. We had an excellent turnout with 33 participants organized into 7 teams. We recorded 5221 birds representing 240 species. Despite the large turnout, we fell short of our yearly average of 248 species and 5958 individuals, but the results may have been affected by the weather. The day started out bright and sunny start, but it began to rain around mid‐morning and did not let up until mid‐afternoon. The lower‐thanaverage total was also affected by our inability to get into Aguacaliente Lagoon this year. This cost us at least half a dozen species. The boardwalk is now in such disrepair that it can no longer be used. The water was also higher than it has been in several years, and much of the trail was under water. It is a pity that all the hard work that went into constructing the boardwalk has come to naught for lack of maintenance, leaving one of the country's birdiest wildlife sanctuaries essentially inaccessible to the public. Count highlights were Crested Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, and Rufousbrowed Peppershrike, all of which were new for the count, and Common Gallinule and Olive‐sided Flycatcher, which were seen for only the second time in thirteen years.
  • The Belize Bird Records Committee:
    Segueing to another aspect of birding, Belize now has a bird records committee. Formed in December 2011 and now in its second year, the Belize Bird Records Committee, or BBRC, is comprised of eight members. Chaired by Punta Gorda resident Lee Jones, the committee also has one other member from Toledo, Steven Choco, the bird guide at The Lodge at Big Falls. The BBRC maintains the official list of birds recorded in Belize. It resolves the problem of what to do with reports of birds rarely seen in Belize, including those being reported for the first time. Since birding, unlike scientific collecting, relies heavily on sight records, the seven BBRC voting members (the secretary does not vote) decide which reported species to accept as valid records and which to reject as unsupported. The BBRC still has a number of older records to vote on before it can come up with a sanctioned list of Belize birds, but it is likely to be close to 590 species. With one or two species being added each year, it will not be long before Belize reaches the 600 species milestone. The latest species new to Belize have mostly been ducks: Redhead, Gadwall, and Ruddy Duck, plus a few other odds and ends such as Hermit Thrush and Black Swift.
  • Arzu on Medicinal Plants: Theobroma Cacao:
    Theobroma Cacao - The cacao is a true botanical team player by design, and insistently dependent on the rain forest for its odd environmental requirements. It is one of the easiest rain forest dwellers to identify. Native cacao varieties are mostly found growing in association with taller shade trees like the aptly named "madre cacao" in order to protect young saplings from direct sunlight. The cacao is not among the taller trees of the rainforest, and only grows from 10 to 20m at the most. The tree's bark and branches are covered with grayish brown mossy patches of colored lichen and fungi. Young cacao trees seldom drop their leaves. They are not deciduous and you can see large old glossy green leaves and new limp red leaves growing on the tree at the same time, and on the same stems. But after the trees are well established, they form a forest canopy of their own, and the forest floor beneath them becomes thick with a mat of fallen leaves that return nutrients to the soil. Those leaves, together with the shade from the canopy, inhibit the growth of weeds under the trees, something that we cacao farmers obviously welcome! The pollen of the cacao is another oddity, it is too thick and heavy for the wind to carry. The plant is incapable of pollinating itself, and requires the help and cooperation of other species and microscopic insects of the rain forest to produce and reproduce.
  • Restaurant Guide
  • Calendar of Events
  • Toledo District map
  • BTIA member directory
  • Transportation schedules, including new village bus schedule
  • PG Town map