MarcusAurelius
Jedi
Have any others here been to the subject lodge? Have any experiences or knowledge of the area to share?
Hi Marcus Aurelius, my sister has lived about 3 hours away from Orange Walk, Belize in Mahaual for the past 12 years. According to her the resorts and nature preserves are safe places although Belize City is a place to avoid due to street crime (I'd say the same for Chetumal too - which is right on the border).
I've visited her a number of times over the years and driven to many Mayan ruins. Although she mentioned that crossing the border between Mexico and Belize is relatively easy, I've never done it.
In the Yucatan, Mexico, I've visitied to Dzibache, Hormiguero, Xpujil, Chicanna, Becan, Chichen Itza and Calakmul. All were worth the long drives and experiences, but Calakmul and Chicanna were especially interesting for different reasons. Calakmul for its massive scale and Chicanna for its weird mystic feeling and unusual architecture.
Other than Dzibanche, or Kohunlich (which I've driven by, but never stopped at for some reason), it would be a long drive from Belize to Campeche to see the other sites I mentioned.
In my opinion, if you're going to stay in Belize, you want to see Caracol above all - there's so much there. Lamanai and Xunantunich look pretty incredible too. If you're staying at a nicer resort, they may be able to organize tours to various sites for you. That would be my advice if it's your first time there. If you have the road routes to the ruins already memorized, then you can rent a car and venture out on your own.
Some tips I can offer from a number of trips out into the jungle driving on your own or with oblivious relatives:
Always know the name of the site your going to and the name of your resort - with proper Spanish pronunciation. When the state police or army stops you, they expect you are clear in knowing exactly where you're going and where you came from. Always have your passport or they will detain you.
My Spanish is much better than the first time I went there, but on the first trip - the AK-47 in your face at the checkpoint when you don't know what's going on can be daunting. If you don't understand what their saying always open the trunk slowly and step back. If there's a twelve of beer in there - all the better. Offer it to the state or local police (leave it on the side of the road for the military guys - they don't like obviousness).
I also made the mistake of saying I was going "Los Ruinas" - that does not translate to Mayan sites. Zonas Arquelogicas is the right way to explain the trips.
Also, the majority of the people who work at the smaller sites are Maya. Always sign in and state where your from at the site. The funding for their jobs comes from how many people visit and how far they've come from. A great ice breaker is also the standard informal greeting in Maya - Bix A bel (Bish ah Bell) - how is your road? Very few Mayans have anyone address them in their own language. I tried to learn the "vernacular" response of "smooth and fast" - but that turned into a bunch of laughs (lots of double entendres in Mayan)
Responding with "Very Well" works better. Taj ma'alo'ob - (I pronounce it as Tash Maul-ob -but that's not right) hard to pronounce, but there's some YT vids that will help. Hope you make the trip to see what's out there in Mayan world. i personally love that world and would be there very winter if I could.
Thanks. I wonder if there's a pattern geographically.In my experience, each of the Mayan pyramid sites is "geared" towards a certain energy. For example:
Chichen Itza - masculinity
Tulum - femininity
Coba - death and rebirth
Ek Balam - divinity
The purporse of these pyramids seems to have been initiation or energetic help on the spiritual growth path.
I think you're right. There is a longitudinal pattern. Chicanna, Tikal and Calakmul are on the same meridian with other structures in the U.S. Our largest mound complex in Canada is on the same meridian as Cuernavaca - which the C's mentioned in a 90's session was the largest trans-density/dimensional window in the world. Somebody in those days knew something about electromagnetic grids.Thanks. I wonder if there's a pattern geographically.
This felt like spirits were clawing at me as I recall. I was shocked, taken by surprise and didn't have the ability at the time to sit with it and examine it like I would today.
Someone has suggested those sacrificed in their ball games may have something to do with the energy I felt.
"The Acropolis on the north side, is the largest structure and contains the Ukit Kan Le'k Tok' tomb. It measures 146 meters long, 55 meters wide and 29 meters high. The plaster frieze, splendidly preserved, covers the door with the open jaws and fangs of a serpent or monster, above these the king on his throne and on the sides the figures of winged warriors. Apart from Ek Balam, this type of decoration only appears in the distant style of Chenes, in Campeche.” For others, the fangs represent the jaws of a Jaguar, in fact the name means "dark jaguar".
In Ek-Balam in Quintana Roo there is one of the most amazing pyramids in the Mayan world and at the top a beautiful and mysterious temple.
A MUST SEE without doubt.Ek-Balam is indeed amazing, I highly recommend it.
Thanks. Deeply appreciating your sharing about your experience, these photographs & graphics. I'm moved be these places, the energy around them. Seems to be a matter of interest to understand or translate that energy or movement ...Hi, im from Mexico. When I visited the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan peninsula, I feel at peace, very calm and somewhat nostalgic.
When one visits the ruins of the Mayan world, one is left with the impression that something out of the ordinary happened in those places.
In the ruins of Comacalco in Tabasco, for example, the red brick city presents a different image than what we know of the Mayans. The most notable feature of Comalcalco is the use of bricks in its construction systems, this due to the null presence of stone materials in the region, in addition to being the furthest Mayan site to the east according to archaeologists. To others it reminds them of “Roman” cities. Stone heads welcome the visitor to the archaeological site and among those with notable Mayan characteristics we find some with beards that remind us of the Greek ones. Anything bearded for Mexican archeology means Quetzalcoatl today.
View attachment 53884
View attachment 53885
In Ek-Balam in Quintana Roo there is one of the most amazing pyramids in the Mayan world and at the top a beautiful and mysterious temple. Archeology says:
When I visited Ek-Balam I was amazed by the main structure at the top of the pyramid. There were swastikas on the facade and large jaws. But the most surprising are some hieroglyphics on the door that recall Egyptian motifs.
View attachment 53886
View attachment 53887
View attachment 53888
Seeing the façade is a feast for the eyes, serpentine fretworks, winged warriors, crosses, masks...
What state of consciousness or perception or reality must be necessary to understand the symbols i wonder.
Your experience doesn't sound like anything I'd willing walk into. The same, or any effect might not be felt by most, except the more sensitive.This felt like spirits were clawing at me as I recall. I was shocked, taken by surprise and didn't have the ability at the time to sit with it and examine it like I would today.
Someone has suggested those sacrificed in their ball games may have something to do with the energy I felt.
Wonderful question Zzartemis. The short answer is yes, I have a full experience memory in my body, mind, emotions to draw from when I face life today where I am. It's one of many strong encounters that recently surfaced in my work. I've never found myself very wise in terms of labeling places as either good or bad, but I have felt an inner taste or message to stay away or be open to other places.Your experience doesn't sound like anything I'd willing walk into. The same, or any effect might not be felt by most, except the more sensitive.
I read, somewhere, that our sacred sites have been copped by the dark. And certainly if any sacrifices, particularly blood sacrafice, took place, then anti-life forces would be attracted to the spot.
Did you have any lingering effect from your experience, Marcus?
I agree, Puma. The peace and quiet in the ruins (I think it's funny we call them ruins - as they aren't ruined at all - just overgrown) is addictive - but not in an obsessive way. I think that the builders had mad engineering knowledge of sound and limestone. The corbeled arches have this weird effect of pushing silence around you. Everything is sonically tuned.Hi, I'm from Mexico. When I visited the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan peninsula, I feel at peace, very calm and somewhat nostalgic.
When one visits the ruins of the Mayan world, one is left with the impression that something out of the ordinary happened in those places.