Yucatan Adventure - Hotels and Haciendas in Yucatan - Maya Culture & History

Yucatan Adventure is a volunteer online magazine dedicated to help travelers learn about Yucatan's Maya Culture,
people and traditions as well as to inform travelers about
the many wonderful eco-cultural activities & experience found nearby Chichen Itza.

WELCOME!
Dear Reader

We invite you to contact us to request articles you would like to read in our upcoming months, just let us know areas of interest to
you and your friends and we will focus our efforts to please you!.

With great joy and proud faces, the Hacienda Chichen staff volunteer their time to help in constructing the New Nutrition Center donated by the Maya Foundation In Laakeech to the Xcalacoop Health Clinic. The building will host many healthy nutrition programs to help Mayan children and families. We invite you to read our August article about this great volunteer effort.

A Farewell luncheon to celebrate the opening of our New Nutrition Center at the Health Clinic in Xcalacoop was held July 28, 2008 at noon time. The New Nutrition Center was built by Hacienda Chichen volunteer staff members as part of the Maya Foundation In Laakeech social programs dedicated to the welfare of the Maya Children.

Seems that Placido Domingo's Chichen Itza Concert has been officially confirmed by the Gob. of Yucatan for the night of Octuber 4th, 2008. Check our Special Offers for a unique experience.

For our travelers, this month's article "Safe Travel Tips" will be of great interest; learn about Credit Card fraud prevention and useful information on "Yucatan's public bus transportation."

Another article we hope you enjoy is the Mayan Cooking with healthy recipes from a variety of Mayan Chefs. This month we have added a few delightful recipes.

We invite you to become a friend or member of our volunteer team. There are many ways you can help, just contact us via email and help us bring a brighter future and hope to the Maya children living nearby Chichen Itza. Their welfare is ours and yours.

WHAT'S NEW:

Chichen Services & Yaxkin Spa support the Maya Foundation In Laakeech's Volunteer Community Programs bringing travelers these two special discount choices:

SUMMER OFFER: Reserve two night at Hacienda Chichen Resort and enjoy our free summer breakfast for two.

FALL OFFER: Book a Mayan Spa Getaway Couples Package during September 2008 and all profits of said package will be used to continue promoting online news and articles of these women's eco-park, their efforts, and their drive to make it happen — a true story of faith, determination, and hope.

CHICHEN ITZA CELEBRATED AT THE SACRED CENOTE
A TRUE MAYAN CEREMONY

On June 7th, 2008 Yucatan's Mayan Wiseman and Elder Healers, from the association KUCH KAAB Y'EETEL J'MEN MAAYA'OB, A.C., celebrated an authentic Mayan Sacred Ceremony at the border of Chichen Itza's Cenote Sagrado, the first Mayan ceremony celebrated in the site since INAH took the guardianship of this archaeological Maya site. J-Men Bartolome Poot and Mayan Elder Wiseman Idelfonso Ake did the offerings to honor Mother Nature's Spiritual Guardians. Also, the J-Men offered a special Mayan blessing U TS'ITSJA'IL YÁALAL JA' to purify the Sacred Cenote's fresh water energy flow. An article about this important Chichen Itza Mayan ritual will soon appear in our website.

SUMMER 2O08 SOCIAL WORKSHOPS

In June 2008, the Xcalacoop New Clinic and the Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. began their summer social volunteer workshops to support the healthy social growth of young adults; activities focus on dating and mating issues: moral values, expressions of love, addictive personalities, violence, sexuality; plus, a workshop dedicated to pregnancy, parenting, and child care.

Psychologist Maria Julia Miam Chan was hired, by the Maya Foundation In Laakeech, to conduct these volunteer summer social programs. If you wish help support these activities, contact us at info@yucatanadventure.com.mx

In June the first summer volunteer ESL workshops began with Ms. Daniela Masaro's help. We thank her for the time she volunteer to teach two English classes. She also enjoyed learning about Mayan medicine plants and traditions from Mayan Elder Healers Beatriz Correa and Ix-Men Venancia (photo bellow)

SPRING 2008 NEWS !

We are happy to share with our readers that the National Geographic Online Travel site lists Hacienda Chichen and Yaxkin Spa in their 10 Top Wellness Destinations in North America! Both small companies have greatly contributed with monthly support and donations to our social work ventures; and it is with great joy that we congratulate them for their strong commitment to excellence and quality.

Thanks to Toh Boutique support and to the Maya Foundation In Laakeech Children's Nutrition program, help has reached the Mayan children of Xcopteil, Chankom. This little village has a high rate of poverty, and all the help to our nutrition program is greatly appreciated.

We hope you enjoy reading our May article in honor to Saint Isidro Labrador, patron saint of Xcalacoop, Yucatan, Mexico, as well as of the Hacienda Chichen; on May 15th each year, a traditional festival is celebrated in its honor. This year, the party gather over 300 guests from nearby Maya communities, who came to celebrate and share with their families the joy of giving, sharing, love and family values.

Another page of interest is last month's Maya People article dedicated to those professional individuals who are role-models in their communities, such as Jose Luis Pech and Chef Josue Cime. we congratulate both for their dedication to help young Maya adults with job-related opportunities and to acquired needed skills under their guidance. Chichen Itza region offer no formal higher education programs and learning opportunities are unavailable to help young adults develop skills needed in the hospitality industry, which keeps on growing and can be a good source of local income.

Last but not least of our Spring News, is the Maya Foundation In Láakeech's great success with the Maya Nature Tours dedicated to teach youngsters, living in communities nearby Chichen Itza, a bit about Maya Healing Plants and Traditions. We will feature an article soon, about this important activity and the wonderful world of Regional Medicinal Plants and the Maya Healers that use them!

OUR SPECIAL SPONSOR:

Our sincere gratitude to Mr. Marcelo Rivero, CEO of Jumex in Mexico, who has pledged a monthly supply of Jumex juices, individual servings to help the Mayan children's nutrition care; his support is most appreciated and will benefit more than 150 children in our program.

In May 2--8, the Xcalacoop Health Clinic has reported with great success that 60 children diagnosed with high levels of Malnutrition in former months, have achieved proper weight gain and nutrition levels in their last testing May 22nd; therefore, these children are now placed in the Preventive Nutrition Program that the Maya Fundation In Laakeech is helping support. We hope to report such great success soon with the Mayan children of Xcopteil, Chankom.

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Congratulations to the Maya Foundation for its new Maya title: "IN LÁAKEECH"

This December 2007, the Maya Foundation was granted its non-profit status in Mexico. To celebrate this important event, the Maya Elder Wiseman, known as J-Men, granted the foundation its new title: In Láakeech, also spell as In Lakech, which in Yucatec Maya signifies, "I recognize you are I, and that I am you," a holistic expression of unity. The name clearly exemplifies the Maya Foundation's mission and vision to bring brotherhood amongst the human race and a helping hand to those less fortunate.

The new Board of Directors for the Maya Foundation In Láakeech A.C. is headed by Mr. Ruben Gutierrez and Don Valerio Canche among others. The foundation's 2008 social work agenda will include the opening of the Xcalacoop Health Center's new multi-function building and kitchen, an indigenous medicinal garden and workshops, plus nutritional cooking classes as part of the Children Malnutrition Program started in 2007.