Monday Evening: Moon Belize Talk and Slide Show at the BOULDER BOOKSTORE!

October 26th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 , 2009, 7:30–8:15 p.m.: I haven’t performed on Pearl Street since Sean G and I used to play music on the sidewalk for beer money (circa 1997). Times have changed—come check out my Belize slide show, songs, and MOON BELIZE book-signing at the venerable BOULDER BOOKSTORE, Pearl Street, downtown Boulder, CO.

MORE–> Joshua Berman EVENTS

Spotlight on MOON BELIZE contributors and very tranquilo travelers: Rosey Goodman and Joni Miller

October 23rd, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

The worst error I made in the new edition of MOON BELIZE (at least, the worst one I’ve found so far) was omitting my two research assistants from the acknowledgments. This was purely an accident and my sincere apologies go to Rosey Goodman and Joni Miller. These two women helped with the enormous amount of legwork and pavement-pounding that went into updating this guidebook and they deserve recognition.

You’ll find Joni Miller at the Caye Caulker Ocean Academy, the tiny island’s first high school, which she helped found last year. Before that, Caye Caulker’s teens had to commute by boat to the mainland. Joni has a Masters in International Education from the University of Alberta and 10 years high-school teaching experience in British Columbia. Read about how you can help the school with donations, school supplies, or by volunteering in the new Moon book, and check the school’s wish list before your trip to Belize to see what you can bring.

From Antigua to Zagreb, Rosey Goodman, a.k.a. DriveGoddess, has been adventuring and exploring since her teens. Writer, photographer, broadcaster, and chef, Rosey is known for her irreverent style and lust for life. She loves nothing better than taking to the open road or being out at sea. From pristine, deserted beaches to the war zones of the Balkans, Rosey has learned that moments are meant to be savored, experiences to be shared. She is currently working on her road trip tales and is plotting the next great adventure, which she will be posting on her Facebook page: R.m. Goodman. Her other sites are:

http://www.ourbelize.net

and

http://www.flickr.com/drivegoddess

MOON BELIZE author interview — or — “Rocking a stache on BudgetTravel.com”

October 20th, 2009 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

My blog tour has begun!

Kicking things off is a recent appearance on THIS JUST IN, the venerable Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel blog:

“Belize travel tips from a pro”

Enjoy the article and let me know in the comments if you have additional questions.

Spotlight on a MOON BELIZE contributor: Tony Rath, Photographer

October 18th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

This is the first in a series of blog posts about the people who contributed to the 8th edition of MOON BELIZE. Writing this book is by no means a one-man show and, over the next few weeks, I’d like to acknowledge a few of the talented people whose work appears in my book.

First up, Dangriga-based photographer Tony Rath, who took the cave-tubing and giant turtle shots in the front color section of MOON BELIZE. His website TonyRath.com just got a remarkable facelift — sit back and enjoy a fascinating assortment of Belizean people, animals, and scenes. Tony also keeps the IMAGES OF BELIZE PHOTO BLOG and a VIDEO archive — worth bookmarking for you Belize-watchers out there. Bueno. That should be enough to keep you busy for a while, enjoy. And thank you, Tony.

Upcoming Tranquilo Events: Moon Belize at the BOULDER BOOKSTORE!

October 17th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 , 2009, 7:30–8:15 p.m.: I haven’t performed on Pearl Street since Sean G and I used to play music on the sidewalk for beer money (circa 1997). Times have changed—come check out my Belize slide show, songs, and MOON BELIZE book-signing at the venerable BOULDER BOOKSTORE, Pearl Street, downtown Boulder, CO.

MORE–> Joshua Berman EVENTS

Planeta’s Ron Mader heads to Belize for the World Responsible Tourism Conference

October 13th, 2009 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

I wish I could have accepted the invitation to be in Belmopan this week for the International Responsible Tourism Conference October 19-23, 2009. (This is a huge deal for lil’ ole Belize and I congratulate my friends there!) Instead, I’ll be following Ron Mader, starting with this video. Why Ron? “Planeta.com’s Ron Mader has been invited and is preparing an overview of how Web 2.0 can be used to improve storytelling that links locals and travelers.” MORE: http://planeta.wikispaces.com/belizertc

Day-glow ’shrooms growing/glowing in Belize

October 5th, 2009 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Belize made the fungal news at WIRED magazine:

“7 Glow-in-the-Dark Mushroom Species Discovered”

Andrew Zimmern on globalization, immersive travel, and the royal rat—my interview with “El Pelón” on World Hum

September 15th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

“Travels in a ‘Bizarre World’ — Joshua Berman asks the Travel Channel host about his new show, his book, and the impact of globalization on culinary diversity”

Last winter, I served as a researcher and guide for Travel Channel superstar Andrew Zimmern and his crew during the filming of episodes in both Nicaragua and Belize. Nicaraguans love giving nicknames—they called Andrew “El Pelón que come gusanos” (the bald one who eats worms) and “Chamboaca,” the latter a highly complex term of endearment which is short for “El que come como un chancho, duerme como un boa, y caga como una vaca” (or “He who eats like a pig, sleeps like a boa, and shits like a cow”).

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Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Belize: Tuesday, Sept. 8, on the Travel Channel

August 18th, 2009 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

“Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World” (the new travel show from the “Bizarre Foods” guy) premieres next Tuesday with an episode in Cuba. The new show is more expansive than the old bugs-n-balls version, and will feature as many wild, nonfood cultural exotica as it will strange organ dishes.

On September 8 at 10 EST, the Belize episode of “Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World” will air. In it, AZ visits some remote corners of the country where he “sinks his teeth into Maya-style pork brains and the country’s most prized rodent.” Along the way, he experiences a shamanic cleansing at Nim Li Punit archeological site, “jumps” the sambaii in Gales Point, and enters the cave of the crystal maiden. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together…

Episode description (includes slide show and menu)->

Obama appoints Coloradan Vinai Thummalapally as Ambassador to Belize

June 12th, 2009 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Perhaps its their predilection for the outdoors and active traveling, but people from Colorado seem to end up in Belize in disproportionate numbers than other travelers and expatriates. I myself bounce between Boulder and Belize and I’ve met many-a reformed mile-higher who has opened a bed-n-breakfast or dive shop in Placencia, Hopkins, and Ambergris Caye.

Well, get ready to add one more Coloradan-in-Belize to the list: As reported in the Times of India, “President Barack Obama has nominated on old Indian college classmate and buddy of his to be the American ambassador to the tiny Central American nation of Belize, in keeping with the American tradition of rewarding political contributors, personal friends, and party groupies with sinecures.” (more…)