Navigating the Roads of Belize

 

A little girl carrying water back to the village

Written by; Gary Wonning

For the ultimate test of your driving skills , there is no place on earth like Belize. Although picturesque and filled with antiquities and monuments of the Mayan culture, the roads test one’s driving abilities and patience to the max.

The roads are narrow at best, with many still unpaved, full of potholes, and very rough and treacherous. Belize has a tremendous amount of rainfall every year, up to 180 inches in the southern part of the country. Combine that with the fact that many of the roads, even the major thoroughfares are clay dirt roads that are crowned in the middle so the water runs off easily, makes for interesting traveling.

While meeting another vehicle on such roads, it normally becomes a game of chicken as to which driver gets over farthest to their side of the road. Especially after a heavy rain, the road gets extremely slick and as a result getting over too far means sliding off into a ditch as deep as three feet.

This means a very long delay, despite the fact this happens quite often, no one in the country has a chain to be pulled out with. It boils down to waiting until enough people come along to make it possible for the vehicle to be pushed out onto the road so the journey can be resumed.

Read more about the Maya Indians

An interesting photo book about the Maya Indians of central America

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

YOUR ONLINE BELIZE STORE

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments are welcome

The Temple at Tikal

 

A little girl carrying water back to the village

Written By; Gary Wonning

The temple complex has been restored and is actually in very good condition. At the height of its glory, only royalty and the wealthy lived in the temple area, everyone else lived in villages surrounding the temple.

It was fascinating to be standing in the courtyard where games resembling basketball and racquetball were played. There were even holes in the wall where the ball had to be thrown or kicked through! The holes were not very large and looked to be higher than our present day basketball rims, which are ten feet from the floor. It probably wasn’t hard to make the pros in those days, as the losers, and sometimes even the winners were beheaded and sacrificed.

ALL THINGS BELIZE

I had lived my entire life in basketball-crazy  Indiana, I suddenly realized maybe the reason basketball is so popular in Indiana is that there must be a large number of reincarnated Mayas living there! At least we don’t behead the losers anymore, we come close, but isn’t actually practiced, well maybe in our minds!

An interesting photo book about the Maya Indians of central America

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments are welcome

Welcome to Guatemala

Written by :Gary Wonning

As we neared the border to Guatemala I couldn’t help but notice that it resembled something out of a James Bond movie, khaki uniformed solders with semi-automatic weapons standing guard over a lonely deserted guard shack out in the middle of nowhere.

A little girl carrying water back to the village

After the border guards checked our passports, we were detained for quite a while, no reason, they did not check anything, it just seemed that when they became tired of looking at us, they let us into the country.

Entered  Guatemala from Belize it was as if we were coming in the back door. We drove past an army base, complete with barbed wire fence and angry looking guards, It didn’t take long to realize this wasn’t the time or place for horse play or to make any move that might arouse suspicion.

I began wondering if I had done something REALLY stupid.

YOUR FAVORITE ON-LINE CENTRAL AMERICAN STORE

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments are welcome

An interesting photo book about the Maya Indians of central America

Welcome to Belize

 

A little girl carrying water back to the village

Written by; Gary Wonning

A native Belizian, almost 7 feet tall, greeted us as we pulled up in front of our humble abode, a two-story house with a picket fence in front. Immediately he asked where we were from after I had responded I was from Indiana I was surprised when he asked me if I knew Bobby Knight. I had seen a flurry of basketball goals on the way from the airport, it seems as if the modern day Mayas are still obsessed with basketball, as their ancestors practiced a rudimentary form of the sport centuries ago.

His second question set us back a little, “Do you want to buy any drugs?” Not being one that engages in that sort of activity, “No thanks.” was the reply. One can only imagine the quality of the jails in this tiny country. We had been warned that the same people who would try to sell us drugs, would also turn the buyer into the local authorities, thus earning a reward, getting the drugs back and re-selling them again to the next victim.

YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE MAYAN STORE

The accommodations at our bed and breakfast, The Fort Street Hotel, were adequate, complete with a community bathroom. One soon learned to knock and holler before entering. Hemingway is reputed to have stayed here, but just as George Washington is said to have stayed at every house in New England, so Hemingway is said to have stayed in many places. In both cases , much of it is true. Settling in for the evening , dinner was the first thing on the agenda, Red Snapper wrapped in a banana leaf, with all the trimmings and a quart sized Margarita seemed to be a decent way to start our little adventure. Might as well enjoy the evening, tomorrow we venture out into the hinterland, hard to envision what adventure might await us in the land of the Maya.

An interesting photo book about the Maya Indians of central America

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments are welcome

Pelican Beach Belize Poster by lifejourneysimages
Browse additional posters and prints from zazzle.com.

Belize: Land of The Maya

 

Written By Gary Wonning

Not being extremely fond of jungles and with visions of Voodoo dancing in my mind, my apprehension had been at a rather high level as I prepared to visit Belize. The journey  actually began the previous summer after I had spent  a month in the outback of Australia.

A little girl carrying water back to the village

Lynn Gardner and Anna Mitchell-Hedges were displaying the crystal skull in Indianapolis the following week. Mitchell- Hedges , had reportedly discovered the skull while visiting Belize with her father in the 1920s when she was sixteen years old.

She was on tour in the United States and relayed an interesting story on how she came to find the skull.

She told how they had searched in the jungle for the pyramid Lubaantun where the skull was reputed to be located. Upon discovering the pyramid, she being the smallest was elected to go down in the cavern in search of the treasure. Braving the hazards of entering an opening in the pyramid that possibly hadn’t been explored in centuries, she found the renowned skull and brought it to daylight for the first time in centuries.

For the rest of the story!

An interesting photo book about the Maya Indians of central America

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments are welcome

Cozumel Mexico

Cozumel Mexico, locate off the coast of Belize in Central America is a beautiful and historic island, rich in Mayan history. Once, it was the island where Mayan women went to practice fertility rites. Mayan temples still adorn this tiny paradise island.

Cozumel Mexico

Tiny native stores at one time adorned the streets of the village, those have now been replaced with modern shopping centers, not unlike the United States. Some of the uniqueness of the island has been lost.

The beach at Cozumel

Playa Mia Resort, located just north of the town offers a day of relaxing from the rigors of cruise life. Jet skiing, sailboating, parasailing, and snorkeling are just a few of the amenities available. If none of that appeals to you, relaxing and eating are also available.

Playa Mia Resort in Cozumel

A tour bus leaves Playa Mia, escorting its passengers back to their cruise ship

Treasures in hand , it’s back to the ship

An interesting photo book about the Maya Indians of central America

 

Mayan Stela and Rock Art

The Mayan Stela played an important role in the history of the Mayan culture. Their primary function was to record the life of a particular individual, by celebrating key events in a person’s life, such as birth, marriage, military victories and death. Displayed prominently in Mayan Culture, they depict the story and history of the Ancient Mayan Culture.

Stelae were considered sacred and,  thought to contain a divine soul-like essence that almost made them living beings. Some were apparently given individual names in hieroglyphic texts and were considered to be participants in rituals conducted at their location.

A stela was not just considered a neutral portrait, it was considered sacred and to be ‘owned’ by the subject, whether that subject was a person or a god.

Royal artisans were sometimes responsible for sculpting stelae and in some cases these sculptors were the sons of kings. Many times it is likely that captive artisans from defeated cities were put to work raising stelae for the victors, as evidenced by the sculptural style of one city appearing upon monuments of its conqueror soon after its defeat

 

The most typical colours found in the cave art are black and red. The pigment-based and sculpted cave art exhibit differences that go beyond the use of different media and techniques. They vary so much they seem to have different motives, possibly because they were sculpted by different people.

Throughout ancient Mesoamerica, caves were perceived as important features of the sacred landscape. As in many ancient cultures, caves were adorned with rock art  detailing acts of creation and the emergence of human beings from the underworld

 

 

 Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature, landscapes and studying native cultures. Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt, the Canary Islands, much of the Caribbean. He has studied the Mayan Cultures in Central America and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!

He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.

For more information and a link to his hardcover and Ebooks, and contact information: please check his website, http://www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments appreciated

It doesn’t take long to discover that Belize is a land of contrasts. From the poverty and disarray of the cities to the quiet countryside, many differences are soon found. With poverty and crime running rampant in cities such as Belize City and Belmopan, the traveler has to be constantly aware of his surroundings and protect whatever is being carried. Remember, that camera hanging around your neck is worth more than the average Belizean earns in a year. All that aside, the Mayan people are wonderfully warm people many of whom go out of their way to please visitors. Traveling into the countryside one discovers thatch roof homes with no doors or windows. Because of the warm climate, they can live comfortably all year with a gentle breeze flowing through the open windows and doors. I was struck with the concept that although no utility lines were visible, a lot of homes had a satellite dish in the front yard.

Available in both hard copy and Ebook format.

 

Pelican Beach Belize SIGG Traveler 0.6L Water Bottle by lifejourneysimages
Look at another Water Bottle

\

Belize: Land of the Maya

Visit Belize, a personal account of one’s journey back in time to a land
of mystery, a land where the famous crystal skull was discovered and a
journey of self discovery and intrigue.

Read about one person’s amazing adventure in the Land of the Maya!

Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing
in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most
of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary
Islands,much of the Caribbean, and studied Mayan Cultures in Central
America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given
him the opportunity to observe life in many different cultures!

He has published several books about the various cultures he has
studied and applied what he has learned to solving the many issues
facing not only the United States, but the world as well.

Common Sense solutions to complex problems.

You can also follow me on your Kindle.

Visit Guatemala, The Beginning of a New Mayan Cycle

A good friend of mine is leading a group into the Mayan empire on a journey of transformation in March. I  have traveled with this lady into Belize in search of the pyramid where the Helen Mitchell Hedges crystal skull was found. It was an enlightening  and educational experience. Join her on her expedition into Guatemala for this opportunity to participate in the beginning of a new Mayan cycle.

Mayan Culture.

I publish regularly on Kindle, and have published a book featuring the Maya and their culture.

Guatemala

Rural Guatemala

Your favorite MAYAN store

Typical scene along the road from Belize to Tikal, the ancient Mayan Temple deep in the jungles of Guatemala.

The journey from Belize to Tikal is an adventure like no other, after waiting an hour at the Guatemalan border for permission to enter the country, the first attraction was an army base, complete with armed guards watching our every move.As the uniformed soldiers were combat ready and not a smile was to be found,  It didn’t take long to realize that this was not the time or place for horse play or to make any move that would  arouse their suspicions.

As of now, the Guatemalan government hasn’t adopted our highway system, traveling along an extremely bumpy, dirt road one has plenty of time to observe the jungle and the many different types of wildlife living there. Entering through the “back door” of Guatemala, we found the atmosphere a lot more cheerful once arriving at Tikal.

Several tiny villages dot the landscape,  the people who  live in thatched hut roofs are extremely poor, owning only the bare essentials and probably a horse with which to do meager substance level farming. Many scenes like this small boy on his horse are seen. Women are washing their clothes in the river, just up stream from where some one else is drawing the daily supply of drinking water from the same body of water. With all of our supposedly necessary clean water standards one wonders how they don’t get sick. We Americans get sick and they probably do too, however the human body is  much more capable of warding off disease then most people want to admit.

I have nothing against a clean environment and the cleaner the better, however, in my humble opinion, a lot of our clean air standards are more about selling water and air filters than they are about clean air and water.

After several hours of traveling dirt roads, taking photos , and stopping to shop a roadside markets we arrive at Tikal, where we would observe the full moon rising over the ancient Mayan temple. After the moon rise , it would be a forty-five minute journey through bandito infested areas to our hotel. The last group to try this wound up tied up along the roadside and robbed of all their worldly possessions.Hope we make it!

Follow my travel adventures on Kindle.

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments welcome

This book is dedicated to the Maya Indians for the contributions they have made and continue to make to the world as we know it.

It doesn’t take long to discover that Belize is a land of contrasts. From the poverty and disarray of the cities to the quiet countryside, many differences are soon found.

With poverty and crime running rampant in cities such as Belize City and Belmopan, the traveler has to be constantly aware of his surroundings and protect whatever is being carried. Remember, that camera hanging around your neck is worth more than the average Belizean earns in a year. All that aside, the Mayan people are wonderfully warm people, many of whom go out of their way to please visitors.Traveling into the countryside one discovers thatch roof homes with no doors or windows. Because of the warm climate, they can live comfortably all year with a gentle breeze flowing through the open windows and doors. I was struck with the concept that although no utility lines were visible, a lot of homes had a satellite dish in the front yard. Asking my guide about this he stated that the TV’s and VCR’s were powered by a car battery. No wonder the video stores were the largest stores in town.

He stated that when the battery ran down, it would be taken into town and recharged at the local gas station. Jokingly, I asked why he just didn’t switch batteries with the tour van we were traveling in to re-charge it? His reply, “I couldn’t do that, it would be stealing from my employer.”
Too bad more people don’t have that attitude!