A Family Needs Your Help

Hello Friends,

I’m writing about a very serious matter here, so please take the time to read what I need to say; there’s a lot.

A friend of mine, Mario Varacalli of Hungry Monkey Sub Shop in Belize, Central America, recently passed away. The reason for his death is Pulmonary Chronical Disease which was contributed to his asthma and sleep apnea. There was no sign of foul play, toxins, pills, or even poison in his body or the area where he was found deceased. I was personally at the morgue with the family when the autopsy and postmortem was conducted and the news was released to them. So if you must know the details (which Vicky, his wife, asked me to share), here they are:

With the permission and plea of Vicky (wife of Mario, not Rosalie as many “credible” news sources have stated), we would like to inform you of the FACTS:

1. The “bills” that were found next to Mario’s body were actually product orders. As the owner of a restaurant, not only do bills have to be paid, but orders need to be placed. That’s what the papers next to Mario were.
2. There was no bottle of Crystal Water found next to him. It was a bottle of Coke Lite. No alcohol was found anywhere.
3. No evidence of foul play was found. No toxins, alcohol or poison were found in his blood. Yes, there has been speculation about whether it was a suicide or not, but the EVIDENCE (included in the death certificate and official post mortem report) indicates otherwise.
4. There was no letter or note found. The only indication of a suicide note was via another individual. Documentation nor an actual letter was provided to the family.
5. The Hungry Monkey sub shop does not have 9 employees. There were two at the time of his death, one of which was part-time to help during the lunch rush hours.
6. Rosalie was Mario’s business partner, not wife. Mario’s wife is Vicky Briere, who he shares a 1 year old son with (Jordan).
7. Mario has never left his family in a situation like this, and had no intention of it. There was trouble with finances, just like a lot of other business people experience with new businesses, and it did drive him to the point of depression.
8. Mario was spending the night in the sub shop in Belize City because he missed the boat back to San Pedro. This was not the first time, and he has spent many nights at his business. He was placing orders, just as he normally does, when his chronic disease got the best of him. A truly suicidal individual would not conduct business as usual if their intention was to abandon their lives.

With that said, here is what you can do to help:

1. First and foremost, spread the FACTS, not the speculationWe love to contribute to rumors. I do it all the time, knowingly and unknowingly. “No, I don’t”, you say? Any time you talk about another individual or situation that you don’t know the facts about, and don’t talk to the individual of interest, it’s a RUMOR. Think about it. Please respect the family and share the facts as outlined above.
2. Restaurant Kitchen Equipment MUST SELL: THIS IS THE BEST WAY YOU CAN HELPThe Hungry Monkey and Mario Varacalli have just ordered a TON of brand new commercial equipment from the United States less than a year ago. The equipment that was under Mario’s personal name (and not the business) is now for sale. Most of the equipment has only been used several months, some of it used a couple of months, and a bit are still brand new. ALL duties, customs, import fees and shipping have already been paid, and is currently being stored in Belize City. The equipment is commercial grade, and most of it is NSF certified. If you can PLEASE help out, then please do so. Whether you need it or know someone that does, this is a VERY urgent and time-sensitive request that Vicky would like fulfilled. The list to the equipment can be found at: http://joeinbelize.com/firesale
3. Vicky needs a babysitter/nanny for a couple of weeks.If you or anyone you know can donate or loan or discount babysitting services for the next few weeks, it would be greatly appreciated. This is so that Vicky and her daughter Jenny can focus on finding solutions for starting a new business without having to worry about the well-being of their 1-year old son/brother. This is very instrumental for them to pick up the pieces and to move forward with their lives.
4. Donations/Loans are needed.A bank account number will be provided in the next few days if you would like to make a donation. It’s VERY easy to stop by the bank and donate money to the account specified. Whatever amount you can afford would benefit the family. This is a bit of a sensitive matter for Vicky, but she is desparate to survive herself and her family, and all of her options have been expired. The money will be specifically used for Rent (family is currently looking for inexpensive accommodations), raising their 1-year old son (babies require a LOT of money), putting her other son through primary school (tuitions are expensive too) and starting a new business. If you would like to and are capable of providing a loan, a payment plan can be worked out accordingly. In the interim, until a bank account number is provided, please get in contact with myself or Vicky directly. Joe: joeinbelize@gmail.com | Vicky: leebriere_7@hotmail.com. EVERY DOLLAR WILL HELP. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE PRIOR TO THE ACCOUNT SETUP, PLEASE CONTACT ME OR VICKY.
5. Commercial Property is NEEDEDVicky and her daughter Jenny are starting another restaurant. Jenny came to San Pedro for vacation, and unfortunately lost her step-father during this time. She has since decided to reside on the island to help out her mother. In doing so, they are relying on the sale of the extra equipment that they don’t need (http://joeinbelize.com/firesale) or donations/loans. Another huge hurdle they need to overcome is finding a suitable commercial location for their new business. The idea is to start a restaurant that will cater to fast-food lunches, including sub sandwiches, burgers and fries, etc. The preferred location would be somewhere with good traffic. If a probation agreement can be made to discount a lease price for several months while the business gives Vicky and Jenny a chance to get on their feet, the family would be grateful. If you or anyone you know has a commercial property (in San Pedro) available, please contact me or Vicky. Joe: joeinbelize@gmail.com | Vicky: leebriere_7@hotmail.com

Whatever you can do, please do. Including the sharing/linking of this article. Post it to your blog, your facebook, MySpace, Twitter. Wherever. The more people that see it, the better the chances are for helping a family in need.

Thanks for reading, and hope to hear from you very soon.

Sincerely,

Joe Chung

4.20 Jim’s Last Jam Night

Jam Night on Monday was a fun-packed evening. New heads turned out and the festivities truly began, as this was the sober wagon’s first night back together as a drinking party. It was also Drummer Jim’s last Jam Night at Sweet Basil. Unfortunate for us, Jim will be leaving Belize for good as he endeavors back to the States to continue his amazing journey through life. Jim’s greatly loved and will be missed. Best of luck to you, sir!

Guitar riffs and keyboards filled the night as the drum’s lullaby forced people to dance and tap their feet. The light hum of conversation was buzzing throughout the tunes, and the night eventually ended up as a Barracuda night.

Before you check out that album, check the (semi)normal album:

And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for – BARRACUDA:

The 30 Day Challenge II: Fitness

I started a new 30-day challenge. With the huge success of my sobriety, it’s helped me to make a decision towards becoming a healthier individual in the overall aspect of my life. Mentally and physically. Ultimately, I want to quit smoking, but before I do, I want to develop a habit of exercising and partaking in activities on a daily basis. I figure that there will be less temptation to smoke if I’m drinking less (The 30 Day Challenge I: Sobriety) and becoming more fit.

To make it fun and competitive, I did two things: I made a bet with a buddy that I could become more fit than her in 30 days. She accepted the challenge, and we decided that the loser will have to buy the winner a bicycle. The next day, I entered the Lime Bar Challenge; in this challenge, I’d be competing against others on a weekly basis, and my stats will be recorded each week.

I’ve been changing my diet. The first two things that I’ve (made a conscious effort to) cut out are fried foods and sodas. I’m sticking to a lot of water and juices. It’s a good thing the fruits here are very reasonably priced. A bag of mangos, bunch of bananas, apples, or oranges cost $2BZ each ($1US), so I find myself eating a lot more fruits and vegetables.

I’m taking this opportunity in my life to make a complete difference; not just to myself, but also to those around me. I believe in self-control, and overcoming these small challenges will eventually lead to a more successful future.

My official weigh-in for the first week? 206.5lbs @ 34% body fat. This is actually surprisingly good, as the last time I weighed myself (in the States, October), I was clocking in at just under 220lbs.

However, my goal is not just to lose weight, but to become fit. I’ll keep you all updated on a weekly basis as I report my progress here.

Review [Eats]: Red Ginger

This review is coming very soon. I promise. So sit tight, put on your seat belts, and hang on for the ride until then!

The 30 Day Challenge I: Sobriety

I did it. I’m sitting here writing this post at 4AM. Why? Partially due to the fact that I cannot sleep. Partially due to the fact that I’ve been working non-stop day and night to officially launch a brand new marketing campaign for Brahma Blue. A new website is in order, and we’re going to hit this horrible buyer’s market. And we’re going to hit it hard.

But I digress.

The real fuel for this post is simply this: I’m excited about overcoming my 30-day commitment to staying sober. There have definitely been many challenges along the way, ESPECIALLY living in San Pedro, Belize, but all in all, I’m extremely proud for sticking to my word and promise to myself.

St. Patrick’s Day was the tipping point. I remember being at Jen & Kate’s “Dublin the Pleasure” party, and vaguely remember leaving the house and moving to La Playa Lounge. What I do remember, however, is waking up the next morning, contemplating on whether or not I needed a shower, as I was running late for a meeting. As I was brushing my teeth, I nearly spit the brush out of my mouth when I gazed at the mirror.

My face was COVERED in green paint. Not just covered, but little designs were painted. On my face. Do I remember this happening the night before? Vaguely. Thanks to Ms. Lorie Jackson for the aesthetic designs.

I’ve thought about starting the sobriety a few days before that night. This island has a way of creating repetitive actions and events. What do I mean by that? How often have we (younger folk) asked our friends what they’re doing that (weekend) evening, and the answer was, “Meeting up with friends at Fido’s, moving to Jaguar’s and then probably Big Daddy’s for afterhours…”

My productivity was also falling below par. Okay, that’s an understatement. I remember in March, I’d get home at 2-3AM, lay in bed, mess around on the internet, and by the time I closed my eyes to sleep, the sun would be peeking over the horizon. I’d wake up in the afternoon, and lo and behold, my day was wasted.

The personal challenge soon turned public as a small group of friends decided that they, too, wanted to dedicate themselves to sobriety. We laughed and began to place bets on who would be the first to lose the challenge. To keep a long story short, let’s just say that the decline of sober individuals grew exponentially throughout the coming weeks. At this point, as I write this, I am one of two individuals that has made it this far. And I congratulate Rob and pat him on the back for pulling through.

Throughout our 30-day challenge, my friends and I concocted creative ways to spend our weekends, rather than the usual. We’ve played soccer on the beach, Karaoke’d at Wet Willy’s, gone up North a couple of days and spent time in beautiful swimming pools, etc.

I’ll leave you with this; I challenge YOU to start your own challenge. Find something that affects not only your life, but the lives of others around you, and dare yourself to give it up for 30 days. See how much of an impact the vice has/had on your life, if any at all.

Next 30-day challenge: lose 15 pounds (started Monday, April 13)

I Finally Did It. I Launched My Belize Blog!

The launch took absolutely longer than I had anticipated. Although I have no one to blame for this but myself, I will put the majority of the blame on this town of San Pedro on the  island of Ambergris Caye, Belize and the salt water it’s surrounded by. In all honesty, I’m either extremely busy working on something for someone, or I’m extremely lazy and absolutely don’t want to do anything. Okay, extreme truth be told, if I’m not working, I’m probably sitting around somewhere at some bar not drinking. Either way, the beautiful truth is that I am now a member of the blogworld of Belize.

I wanted to create a (non)travel blog about my experiences in Belize. I’ve relocated (from San Diego & Los Angeles, California) to Belize, and as the days turn into months, I’m faced with wonderful (and not so wonderful) experiences in my life in this wonderful Central American country.

So with that said, what is this website going to be about? Glad you ask. Here’s what you can expect from me:

Photography: I’m a photographer (by hobby, not by trade) that loves to preserve moments in time. The world is my canvas, and my lens is my paintbrush. I want to share a piece of my passion with you, and let you into my life, even if just a little bit.

Reviews: I’m constantly meeting tourists who often ask me where a good place to eat is. Or to have drinks. Or where to go on certain nights of the week. I feel like I do a lot of sightseeing on the island of San Pedro (my current residence in Belize), so I want to share that with you all. I want you to see and taste the overall atmosphere of each venue that I review through my creative mind.

Thoughts: I will blog on a semi-regular basis as I see need fit. Anything and everything goes, so hide your kids! Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to include a disclaimer if my post is anything above a PG-13 rating!

Belize Information: I want to share as much information about Belize with you as I can. So if you promise to return to my site on a regular basis, I can promise to fill the site with information about Belize from across the country!

News & Events: Unfortunately, I cannot be everywhere at once, so I’ll only include an event calendar that pertains to my life. You will often find me at my posted events, so feel free to stop by and say hello! Additionally, if I feel that there is information in the news is important enough for me to comment on, I will include a quotation and link from/to the respective article.

Enough said. I hope you enjoy my site!