Ending My Journey In Belize

An interesting photo book about the Maya Indians of central America

Written By: Gary Wonning

This was to be our last night in the tropical paradise called Belize, after spending two weeks studying the ancient Maya and their culture, it was time to think of returning to the good old USA. Tomorrow it would be back to Belize City, where we would board a flight for Houston and consequently our final destination, Indianapolis.

Nice sleeping quarters

The sleeping accommodations couldn’t have been any better, the huts were modern, with screened in open air quarters and a convenient outside shower. An early morning breakfast, a short good-bye on the pier and we were on our way back to the good old USA.

It had been quite a trip.

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 Throw Pillow

by lifejourneysimages

The Crystal Skull

 

The Anna Mitchell-Hedges crystal skull

Written By: Gary Wonning

The crystal skull was discovered at Lubaantun in 1924 by Anna Mitchell-Hedges at the ripe young age of 16. Her father was exploring British Honduras (now Belize) looking for evidence of the legendary Atlantis, when he heard rumors of a pyramid containing relics from an ancient civilization . Her account of the discovery states that she was the only one small enough to climb into the small entrance of the pyramid where the skull was found.

Thirteen of the crystal skulls have allegedly been found in parts of Central America, Mexico, and South America. The skulls are believed to be between 5,000 and 36,000 years old and many people claim they hold healing and magical properties, however, no one really knows where they came from or how they were made.

YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE MAYAN STORE

The other skulls have been found near ancient Mayan and Aztec ruins, with some evidence linking them to ancient civilizations of Peru. The Mitchell-Hedges skull is the most famous as it resembles a human skull and remarkably, has a removable jaw bone.

Learn more of the ancient Mayan culture

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 Keychain

by lifejourneysimages

Punta Gorda Belize

 

A little girl carrying water back to the village

Written By: Gary Wonning

Entering our room required unlocking two locks, and I noticed that there were four locks on our inside door, that makes one feel real secure. As we entered the room I noticed bars over the windows and barking dogs in the alley below greeted us, this is going to be quite a night.

The small boat we took on the high seas in

All of this traveling and opulence had made everyone hungry, as we made our way to the restaurant we passed through the bar.  We found several British soldiers passing the time by getting soused, can’t say I blame them. We had passed by their barracks on the way into town, the barracks were built below the road level and because of the extremely wet conditions, the solders were walking around in at least six inches of mud all day. I wondered what they had done to deserve being stationed here, it must have been pretty bad. The troops acted as if they had been lost at sea for months and we had come to rescue them.

YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE MAYAN STORE

The restaurant turned out to be a buffet, after observing the condition of the food I quickly realized that it would not be a good idea to eat any vegetables, my dinner consisted of whatever meat I could scrounge up and beer. (The bread was extremely stale, could have been used as a hockey puck.)We had traveled all this way to visit Lubaantun, the pyramid where Anna Mitchell-Hedges had discovered the crystal skull many years before. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Your chance to learn more about the Mayan Culture

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

Improve your health through essential oils and Isagenix.

Ix Chel Medicine Farm

 

A little girl carrying water back to the village

Written By: Gary Wonning

Ix Chel was founded in 1983, the first major step was to clear away the high bush in the area. It was founded with the desire to be of service to those interested in learning of the useful plants in Belize and their role in healing and tradition. The whole farm is a nature study center that is self-sufficient in food, medicine, and the conversion of solar energy.

The Maya Indians were very knowledgeable in the healing capabilities of plants and herbs. One of the last remaining medicine men, or H’men  was Don Eligio Panti of San Antonio , Cayo  District.H’man is an ancient Mayan term used to designate one who is both a doctor and priest. The medicine men were very influential in the lives of the Mayan Indians.

YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE MAYAN STORE

The Mayan herbalist is adept at combining medicine and religion according to ancient healing traditions. The procedures all contained nine different medicine leaves. Nine being a most vital number in the Mayan Civilization, as there are nine Mayan Spirits who watch over all the Mayan empire, there are nine Lords of the underworld, nine levels of the underworld, and most ancient Mayan Temples had nine tiers of nine steps each, also the rituals are repeated nine times.

Learn More of the Mayas

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 Thermos Bottle by lifejourneysimages
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The Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve

 

A little girl carrying water back to the village

Written By; Gary Wonning

The Cockscomb Basin is ringed on three sides by high ridges and mountains , being a protected rain forest its name comes from the cockscomb profile of the nearby Maya Mountains. Home to the elusive Jaguar and other rare species such as the red eye tree frog, this Reserve can only be reached by a very rough six-mile mud road. It is best to visit during the “dry season” which runs from February – May. During the wet season June-January, most of the annual 180 inches of rain occurs thus roads can be impassable.

YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE MAYAN STORE

Inside the Preserve well-maintained trails have been cut to give visitors a taste of the area’s bio-diversity, offering impressive views and an ideal environment for plant spotting, serious birding or seeking out wildlife, jungle flora and fauna in a wilderness state. There are numerous hiking trails for exploring the area, including a 3-day hike to Victoria Peak, the second highest mountain peak in Belize. Inner tubes can be rented to float down the Stann Creek River.

Learn more of the ancient 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

The Isolated Mayan Temple

 

Small Mayan Village

Written By; Gary Wonning

In Belize for over a week, the highlight of the expedition, a trip to a Mayan Temple, was to be the next day. After spending the day relaxing and snorkeling on South Caye, we had arrived back at our motel rather late in the evening. Fierce storms were in the area, and it was doubtful because of high water and flooding as to whether we would still be able to make the trip to the ancient Mayan pyramid.

The temple at guatemala

The trip was to quite adventurous, we would be boating up the Maya River for  forty-five minutes and then hacking our way for five hours through the jungle with machetes, staying over night, sleeping in sleeping bags and returning the next day. I was all for adventure, but the longer I remained in the jungle , the less I thought this might be a good idea,(those snakes are awfully big) I think I had reached the limit of my adventurous soul.

Read 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

Improve your health through essential oils and Isagenix.

Belize: Adventure the High Seas

Written by: Gary Wonning

Belize: Adventure on the High Seas

The small boat we took on the high seas in

Sunday dawned bright and sunny with storm clouds on the horizon. This was to be a day to relax on South Caye, a forty-five minute boat ride away.

As we finished breakfast, I noticed large storm clouds forming in the direction of South Caye, it was about the same time I saw the boat that we would be traveling in, a real luxury liner, about fifteen feet long with a five horsepower Sears motor on the back. Putting two and two together, I was not getting four, plus the driver looked to be all of fifteen. So I asked him if it was safe to travel in that storm, he replied with the normal Belize nonchalant answer, “no worries, Mon.”

Putting our trust where it probably shouldn’t have been , the eight of us, five tourists and two Mayas , our driver and guide, along with the boat pilot, all boarded the small boat. We hadn’t gone fifteen minutes when we were swallowed up by the most God Awful storm I have ever seen! Suddenly amid a torrential downpour, we had encountered ten foot seas, The sea was tossing us like a bunch of cookies in a drunken sailor’s stomach.

More adventures 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 Thermos Bottle by lifejourneysimages
Shop for another Zazzle Water Bottle

The Cocoa Tree

The cocoa nut

 

Written By: Gary Wonning

The cultivation and use of cocoa was begun early in Meso-America.

Studies suggest the tree was domesticated and originated in Amazonia. Cacao or Kakaw,  according to Maya belief was discovered by the gods in a mountain that also held other delectable foods that were used by the native Mayas.

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Mayan mythology states that after humans were created from maize the Plumed Serpent gave cacao to the Mayas. Cocoa was regularly given as a sacrifice to the many Mayan Gods , often times priests would lance their ears and cover the cacao with their blood as a sacrifice. This ritual was only performed by the men, as cacao was thought to be toxic to women and children.

Soon the Maya learned to flavor the cocoa by mixing it with maize, chili, vanilla, peanut butter(the original Reese Cups) and honey. (Cookies and Cream came later.) It is believed the Aztecs learned to grind it and mix with tobacco .

Christopher Columbus was the first European to encounter cocoa after capturing a canoe at Guanaja  and finding a large quantity of odd looking almonds. From this encounter cocoa naturally spread throughout Europe and became a popular drink the world over.

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 Thermos Bottle by lifejourneysimages
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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