Belize 2b – Rainforest

Adventure – Maya Site

Joe Naumann – UMSL GeographerContributions by Dr. Norman

ChiouFebruary 16, 2006

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Antonio, our

Mestizo guide,

points out our hiking

route.

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Norman takes a

picture of Antonio

explaining the

“sticky” tree.

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Norman’s picture!

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Unreconstructed Maya structure

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Another unreconstructed structure

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Looking up at the three-tiered canopy of the

rainforest.

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Many botanicals

were identified

and labled.

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Guanacaste Tree (host)

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Thick lianas (vines)

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Path through

the rainfores

t

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Heading for the Mask Temple

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Section of path

through a very thick

canopy (no

sunlight makes it through).

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Spanish moss

abounded at the Mask

Temple site.

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First sighting

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Looking up from the base.

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Fr. Joe Weber & sign

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Mask being restored

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Artifact at the Mask Temple site.

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My walking staff was a great help on this trek.

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View of the upper structure.

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Norman Chiou & Pamphilo at the top of the Mask Temple.

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Looking down from halfway to the top

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With encouragement from Norman, I made it to the top.

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Standing at the top, the New River can be seen behind me.

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Roots serve to buttress

many tropical

trees. This was on the way to the

“high” temple.

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This was too high for me to

try to reach the

top.

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At the base, masks had flanked the central stairway.

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Norman & Panfilio head for the top – and make it.

Pamphilo

Norman

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Norman at the top.

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The less adventurous watch

the adventuro

us ones climb.

Notice the epiphytes

on the palm tree.

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Our group waits for the climbers to come down.

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Small ball court.

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Ball court

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Antonio talking about the ball court

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Stela Temple

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Stela #9 replica

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Replica of Stela #9 for close inspection.

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I had to capture these

patterns on my way

to the Royal

Complex.

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Pamphilo views the Royal Complex

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Another View

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Jaguar Temple viewed from the Royal Complex

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Finding a way

through the Royal Complex

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Antonio describing the Jaguar Temple

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Approaching the Jaguar Temple

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Norman under the jaguar’s nostrils

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Weathered calendar stone

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Last stop – gift shops

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I love this slate carving I bought here for my office.

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Preparing to leave Lamanai

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A day when dreams came true.

• When I was about 10-years-old, I dreamed of being an archaeologist in Central America discovering lost Mayan cities.

• Today at age 64, I came close enough to that dream to say “Thank you, Lord, for making it come true.”– I traveled through the rainforest on a

tropical river and hiked through the rainforest.

– I saw Mayan ruins and even climbed to the top of a moderate-sized pyramid.

– I truly walked with holy people on holy ground today.

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A beautiful day ends beautifully