Day 2: The Ruins of the British (and Mayan) Empire

We started our second day early with a 6:30 bird walk with Mauricio, one of the lodge's guides and a few other guests. He led us to an abandoned sugar mill left over from the British colonial rule. The forest has taken over and is slowly devouring the old buildings and sugar presses. I was happy to see forest taking over.

We saw our first howler monkey looking down at us from a tree. We found many birds and I saw my first tarantula hole!

This was a lead in to a morning and early afternoon spent exploring the ruins of Laminai with Ruben, another of the lodge's guides. Of course my camera battery died the moment I got there so the experience will have to remain in my memory.

The Mayans were truly incredible. As we saw more and more ruins throughout the trip I gradually got a feel for how they lived and how sophisticated their culture and technology was. At one point my cousin asked why hadn't they used metal? And we gradually realized that they didn't have to because they could do anything they needed to do with their stone tools.

It made me realize how I automatically judge everything from the perspective of my own culture. Metal tools are more "advanced", Medditeranean civilization is the model, etc. At Laminai I saw perfectly formed and functional drainage systems made out of stone. Now if plumbing isn't the height of civilisation, was is?

It's humbling, but good, to get my perspective shaken up a bit.

Amazing Race Moment: Our guide made us climb the Jaguar Temple. Very steep, very high and only a rope to hold on to. We got up OK and got down on our backsides. The view and sense of accomplishment was worth it.

Mostly Found Luggage: The luggage arrived but my little backpack with my bird book was missing. I had a very grumpy moment but Laminai Lodge to the rescue. They had a good bird book for sale. It now very well used, marked up, bent and battered.

Belize Trip Back Blips
Day 1: Lost Luggage and Laminai
Day 2: The Ruins of the British (and Mayan) Empires
Day 3: Journey to Chan Chich
Day 4: Jungle Oasis
Day 5: It's a jungle out here
Day 6: We win the Survivor reward challenge
Day 7: Floating down the river to infinity
Day 8: A Military Escort
Day 9: People Watching
Day 10: Toilet Humour
Day 11: Tikal Immersion
Day 12: Roxie and the Machete
Day 13: Communing with Tikal
Day 14: Slash and Burn
Day 15: Swimming with Sharks
Day 16: Passage of the Mangroves
Day 17: Exploring San Pedro
Day 18: Lost and Found