Yatra Geetham – Cancun – Tulum – Coba – Cenote – Maya Village – 1

Yatra Geetham

Cancun – Tulum – Coba – Cenote – Maya Village – 1

Telugu Original : Dr K.Geeta 

English Translation: V.Vijaya Kumar

On our third day in Cancun, we split into two groups so that everyone could do what they preferred.

Since Satya and Varu are adventurous souls, they went on a tour that included Zip-lining, a Jungle Drive, and Cave Swimming. For the uninitiated, zip-lining involves sliding through the air from one point to another using chains strapped around the waist, supported by a cable. The Jungle Drive involves speeding through rugged forest paths in a small vehicle, and Cave Swimming requires swimming through dark caves in waist-deep water.

Varu handles all of these with great ease. Satya, too, has a lot of enthusiasm for trying such things. On the other hand, Siri and I lack the stamina and courage for any of these activities. Therefore, Siri and I decided to wake up leisurely, have a hearty breakfast at the resort, and spend the day relaxing within the resort premises.

Now, staying at this resort earns you certain points. These can be used to get discounts at the nail salon, spa, gift shop, and other facilities on-site. I decided to give the Spa a try. I had booked a spa session for 11:00 AM the previous night.

As planned, Satya and Varu left for their adventure tour at 8:00 AM. I took Siri and went to the second floor, where the spa is located, at 11:00 AM.

Upon reaching, the spa desk staff told me that I wasn’t allowed to bring the child inside with me. When I pointed out that I had asked about this during the booking the previous night and was told it was fine, they replied, “Someone gave you the wrong information; it is simply not possible.”

I then suggested, “Fine, I will make her sit on the sofa outside and give her my mobile phone. She is a well-behaved child and will stay put. Could you just keep an eye on her if she tries to wander?” They refused that as well.

Getting quite annoyed, I went down to the first floor to the counter where I had made the reservation the night before. They suggested that I enroll her in the Kids’ Play Session at the resort’s daycare. When I reached the daycare, no one was there; everyone was out at a swimming session. The instructor told me I’d have to wait until their session ended to enroll Siri.

By then, my appointment time would have lapsed. I realized I was stuck, but I didn’t give up. I insisted on speaking to the Resort Manager.

The Human Relations Manager came rushing over. She listened to my problem patiently and immediately arranged for daycare for my daughter. She made several urgent phone calls, solved my problem in a jiffy, and told me to head to the spa without any worries. However, despite the “discounts” they mentioned, the bill turned out to be higher than what it costs back in our town! That’s how it goes.

When I went to the daycare after my spa session to pick up Siri, she looked very happy, playing and arranging all her toys. In fact, she even threw a bit of a tantrum because she wanted to stay longer! After lunch, Siri and I spent a lovely time lounging and playing in the sand on the beach adjacent to the resort.

By 3:00 or 4:00 PM, Satya and Varu returned. We all went for a swim, came back to shower, and then went for a Candlelight Dinner. It is a custom here to wear formal attire for such dinners. Men wear suits and shoes, while women wear gowns. We dressed up accordingly, enjoyed our dinner, and returned to spend time chatting with the kids on the balcony, soaking in the moonlight and the view of the sea.

***

The next morning, we booked a tour to see Tulum, Coba, a Cenote, and a Maya Village. Since a dip in the water is mandatory at the Cenote during this full-day tour, we packed our swimwear and bags. Lunch was to be at the Maya Village as part of the tour, so we didn’t have to worry about food. As for drinking water, we could ask for bottles in the van whenever we needed.

This wasn’t a large bus tour like the previous one. It was a small van that could seat ten people, where our driver also acted as our guide. Four others from different resorts joined us on this tour, a pair of young women and an elderly couple, all Americans. Along with the four of us (including the two kids), there were nine of us in total traveling together for the day.

Since we sat in the front seats, I took the opportunity to ask our driver-cum-guide about the lifestyle and economic conditions there. When I questioned him about drug trafficking and insecurity in Cancun, he remarked, “In America, no matter how much insecurity there is, they don’t let it surface. Here, even small incidents are shown through a magnifying glass.” It felt like there might be some truth to that.

He explained that since Cancun is a tourist hub, the primary livelihood for the youth here is completing courses like Hotel Management, gaining some proficiency in English, and joining resort jobs. He mentioned that he had spent a few years in that profession before becoming a driver for this van tour agency. Though young, he is a father of two and belongs to the Maya lineage, born and raised in the surrounding area.

I must say, this journey was the best of all. If one wants to see the real people of Maya descent, their villages, and their culture, this is a tour one must definitely take.

*****

(to be continued)