Military Escort to Caracoal

I continued my evolution as today we were heading to Caracoal, either a two hour drive with the heater on or a four hour drive with air conditioning. The ride was hot. Caracoal is right on the border of Guatemala and in the past Guatemalan rebels have emerged from the jungle to stop and rob tourist vehicles in route. So we had to get up early in order to be part of a military escort into the site. We arrived at an old abandoned city.





While waiting for the other vehicles to join our convoy we checked out a local cave.









We all gathered and once the scouts confirmed our route was clear we proceeded to Caracoal. Caracol was one of the largest Mayan cities measuring in around 200 square kilometers with a population just shy of 200,000 people. We arrived safely and synchronized our watches to ensure a timely departure.



I was very grateful for the additional one on one time with both Malcolm and Scott, both of which I now consider my close friends and mentors. Two different energies, two different stories, but they both gave me knowledge beyond what any text book could have ever hoped to offer. As I continued to grow they both help me to begin working with the tobacco plant. Jungle tobacco is actually a very powerful and pure plant. It's only when it gets mixed with nicotine, tar, and the roughly 11 other carcinogens that it becomes extremely unhealthy, only helping the profits of the various the cigarette companies. So I began to snort tobacco to both ground and open myself. I want to explore, I want to try new things, I want to find what works for me. So I apologize if you find this offensive, but this is my path, my journey. All I can do is share it with you so that you too can explore, so that you too can pick and choose what works for you and what does not.

The tobacco became one with me and the story of this tomb was downloaded before our guide Leo explained it.



Brother Ceiba trees contained volumes of information on the site. Even though they were not here during the time of the Mayans, they had absorbed energy of what we perceived as past times.

I then sat on the ground in front of the main temple, feeling the blades of grass brush my legs, the softness of the soil underneath me. Breathing in the warm fresh air and listening the sounds of the jungle around me. This was my moment to experience in my way, and the tobacco was opening new doorways, new dimensions for me to experience and explore.



Then the amazing happened again. All these butterflies started to surround me, wanting to show me something, wanting to carry me to something. It was time to enter the temple.



So I followed them up. On top I found a whole other plaza with structures of it's own, the very definition of recursion. It also contained three very scary open tombs.











Actual carvings that were not covered by fiberglass recreations.







I then headed down the third tomb with nothing more then the light from my flash to guide my way. Looks like there is an interesting hole at the back of the tomb.

Perhaps I should investigate further.

As I crouched down getting ready to put my camera in the hole and take a picture to see what I might find, a strange wind began to blow out of the hole. The feeling instantly bought every scary movie with an almost identical situation to the forefront of my mind. I began to fear the unknown. I quickly let out a high pitch scream that was heard by the people below, followed by a holly shit. 10 to 20 bats flew out of the hole towards my face. I found this girly scream to be roughly the same scream I let out when swimming in the ocean and a piece of seaweed brushes my leg. But then I realized what a great lesson it was, why do I fear the unknown, I should explore it. I checked out the rest of the city while continuing to check my body for any possible rabid bat bites.









A few other tombs that apparently are not bat friendly.

The Mayans buried their deceased family members close to them so that they could remain in contact, feeling their energy and not having to morn their loss.



Holes to allow for a nice breeze.

A corner of a temple that once housed a stelae, hidden from the common folk but that a few priests knew to come to connect with.

The last remnants of the original color. These temples were not just stone, but stone painted in Red and White, Red being the color of the Gods.

We were on a tight schedule and had to leave when the convoy left. Once cleared of the military escort we continued back to the resort. Passing what they call the "Sleeping Policeman". Basically speed bumps that ensured you proceeded within the speed limit.

We stopped along the way for ice cream. However I spotted a market as we pulled into town and could not resist. So I bailed on the ice cream and went to check out the market. While not all that great overall it was still fun to explore.





With every day I was acquiring new knowledge, but that only brought new questions, and I hoped Malcolm and Scott had more time tonight to help me sort it out. And that the resort had a few more beers for sale.



VIDEO: Mayan Cosmology - Day 9