All language subtitles for Beyond.The.Ruins.2024.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.GG - YTS.BZ]

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[birds chirping, jungle sounds]

[birds chirping, jungle sounds]

[birds chirping, jungle sounds continue]

[Maya Man] We can say that for us,
as Maya people,

if we have been defined
by the act of sacrifice,

then we can say that life itself
is a sacrifice.

[mysterious music starts]

[Maya Man] It is not necessarily
about human sacrifice,

but about sacrificing our own time,

knowing that our ancestors
held the truth.

[mysterious flute music rises]

[Maya Man] They preserved something real:

a community that lives by the words
"In lak'ech, alaken."

[birds chirping]
[mysterious music continues]

[mysterious music fades]

[soft adventure music starts]

[Narrator] I used to think of the Maya
as an ancient civilization

buried in the past.

[soft adventure music rises]

Until one day,

I traveled to a land
where the Maya still exist,

[adventure music intensifies]

and uncovered a culture
that has defied the test of time.

[adventure music intensifies]

Through my journey, I discovered
not just theories

or archaeological findings;

I found a vibrant and
living culture.

[soft guitar music starts]
[ducks quacking]

Contrary to popular belief,

the Maya are alive and well.

[soft adventure music]
[soft guitar]

[dog barking in the distance]

Their traditions and customs
are still woven into the fabric

of their daily lives,

[ax chopping wood]

from how they farm the land

to how they celebrate their spirituality.

[man praying in Mayan]

By sharing life
with two indigenous Maya families,

I have learned firsthand

what it means to honor the natural world

[soft music continues]

and live in harmony with one another.

This is my story of traveling
beyond the ruins,

and into the heart and soul
of the Yucatecan Maya.

[dramatic music]

[lively guitar music]

[lively guitar music continues]

I can still remember
the excitement I found

journeying to my first Mayan ruin.

I was headed through Belize
to northen Guatemala

to visit Tikal, the largest Maya city
in the ancient world.

[gentle trumpet music]

As I traveled from site to site
and temple to temple,

I marveled
at the breathtaking architecture,

intricate carvings,
and stunning landscapes

surrounding me in the heart
of the Guatemalan rainforest.

[gentle trumpet music]

It was larger than life.

[gentle trumpet music continues]

[pulsing guitar music]

But as I looked back on that trip,

I realized I was missing
something crucial.

[tense music]

Despite my fascination
with the ancient Maya,

I had somehow completely
overlooked the fact

that the indigenous Maya people
still exist,

living and thriving
in the very places I was visiting.

[tense music continues]

Taking pictures and visiting
landmarks wasn't enough.

[tense music continues]

I needed to engage the people
who made up that culture.

[tense music continues]

So on my next trip,
I decided to change my approach

and make a conscious effort to learn
about the culture

through the local people.

Little did I know,
not only did this decision

completely change the way I think
about the Maya,

[tense music fades]

but what it means to live
a meaningful life.

[animal sounds]
[birds chirping]

[animal sounds]
[birds chirping]

The Yucatan,

home to a dense jungle

full

of life.

[owl hooting]

[animal sounds]
[birds chirping]

Its roots tightly grip
what were once ancient cities.

[lively birds chirping]

Cities like Coba,

the second largest in the
ancient Maya world.

[string instument playing]

Now thousands travel from all over

in awe of what might have happened here.

[mysterious music]

Some people hire a guide

to tour the ruins.

[bikes crunching over forest ground]

Others just take pictures.

[soft violin]

But I happened to find someone who,
instead of offering a tour,

invited me to have
an authentic Mayan experience.

[mysterious music]

This is where my story begins,

because it is where I met René.

An indigenous Maya offering
invaluable information

passed down through generations.

[string instrument playing]

[René] I was born in this area.

My father was too,

and my grandfather.

They were the first people
arriving in this area.

[music rises]

My knowledge comes partly from school,

but mostly from my family.

[Narrator] So when people
go on a tour with you,

they're actually getting
much different information

than they might get on a tour
with someone else.

[René] Exactly. Yes, it's
completely different.

[Narrator] I couldn't believe
I was standing before an indigenous Maya,

a truth obscured

by the false narrative I was taught
in so many history books.

René is a living testament
to a marginalized culture,

and my curiosity is running wild.

[Narrator] You are Maya, right?

[René] Correct.

[Narrator] And a lot of people think
that the Maya just disappeared one day.

Why is that?

[René] Because people now...

Their lives are completely different.

[birds chirping]

When technology arrives in these places,

that's changing the life of the people.

[Narrator] So, did the Maya
abandon these cities,

or did they simply move?

[René] They didn't want to continue

for the deforestation

in the same place.

That was the reason they moved elsewhere.

[Narrator] It was part of their migration,

so it was all really one balance

and part of living at one with the earth.

[René] Exactly, yeah.

Most people moved to Chichen Itza,
but not all of them.

The rest,

they moved 10, 15, or 20 kilometers
to other areas nearby,

and they still have
their original surnames,

Huchim,

Canul.

I am from one of the other

small Mayan cities.

The population,

in ancient times,

of this city was 55,000 people.

[Narrator] 55,000 people were here?

[René] Yes.

They lived together

like one big family.

[Narrator] And there are still
how many Maya living

throughout the Yucatán, would you say?

[René] More than one million people.

[Narrator] More than one million
indigenous Maya are still—

[René] Exactly.

[Narrator] in the Yucatán.

[René] Yeah.

We never say the Maya disappeared.

Ushben K'ustal continues.

[Narrator] What is Ushben K'ustal?

[René] The ancient Maya way of life.

How the people live,

and how they are together.

How they help those around them.

[inspiring soft music]

[Narrator] So, Ushben K'ustal is actually
centered around helping other people.

[René] Exactly, yeah.

[Narrator] What would you say
is one of the biggest misconceptions

people have about the Maya?

[René] Many people believe the Maya
civilization practiced human sacrifice.

[somber violin music]

But no,

the Maya never practiced human sacrifice.

[somber violin music rises]

It was the Toltecs

during the Post-Classic period.

Yeah, in the Maya civilization,

they used the jaguar to represent

sacrifice

in the ceremony about the ballgame.

Just twice a year.

During equinoxes and solstices,

which represent the time to plant
and the harvest.

That's the reason it was really
important for them.

[Narrator] They sacrificed animals
like jaguars...

[René] Yes.

[Narrator] But never performed
human sacrifices.

The human sacrifice came in
with the Toltecs.

[René] But not here in Coba.

That happened in Chichen Itza.

[somber violin music]

[Narrator] Because the Toltecs
never actually came into Coba.

[René] Exactly, yeah.

[Narrator] So oftentimes in the books
that we read

and maybe some of the things that we see

with the violence, it's actually
showing it when the Toltecs took over.

[René] Yes, each civilization
was completely different.

Each one was important, too.

[inspiring music]

[Narrator] All this time,

I thought the Maya
were just an ancient civilization

that practiced human sacrifice,

had a special calendar,
and mysteriously disappeared.

But in just a matter of hours,

René had completely turned my view
of the Maya upside down.

[atmospheric violin playing]

I had to know more.

But before we go any further,
we have to look back

to get a better grasp on some
of the things René mentioned

about why Coba is so special.

Mexico has felt the influence
of several ancient civilizations

over the last few thousand years.

The Teotihuacans.

The Toltecs.

The Aztecs.

And the Spanish.

[ambient music]

However, one civilization dominant

in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
is the Maya.

[ambient music continues]

Well known for their masterful use
of astronomy, mathematics,

writing, and architecture,
the Maya civilization

emerged around 2,000 years
before the Common Era.

Their numerical system introduced
the concept of zero

and calculated astronomical events.

[ambient music continues]

Their advanced engineering yielded
sophisticated architecture

to create structures
that have endured through the ages,

and their farming techniques
allowed them to sustain

large populations
in a relatively small area.

But despite these achievements,

the Maya were not invincible.

They faced physical invasions
by outsiders like the Toltecs

and a brutal conquest by the Spanish,

impacting their way of life, including
spiritual beliefs and practices.

[ambient music continues]

However, one ceremonial center

managed to remain relatively untouched
by outside forces.

Unlike other centers of trade
and ceremonies that were

physically invaded in the Yucatan,

Coba was able to preserve
a more traditional Maya culture.

Because the Toltecs and the Spanish
never physically set foot there.

And that's what makes
this region so special.

The city of Coba
and the natives surrounding it

still stand as a testament

to the enduring legacy of the Maya.

[ambient music ends]

[birds chirping]

[water dripping]

After visiting the ruins,
René took me to a local cenote.

[water dripping]

A natural geological formation found
throughout the Yucatan.

They are gateways to a vast network
of underground rivers and caverns

consisting of crystal clear water.

And it just so happens we ran into one
of the men who discovered this cenote.

-[Narrator] Good day.
-[Alfredo] Good day.

[Alfredo] Good day.

[Narrator] My name is Brady.

[Alfredo] Brady. Alfredo.

[Narrator] Nice to meet you.

[Narrator] He said 30 years ago
he was farming here

and a big hurricane passed through,

knocking down a lot of large trees.

And one of them revealed
the cenote when it fell.

Today, this place is open for
tourists to come to swim.

[speaking Maya]

[Narrator] He said yes, he's okay
with people swimming here

because the income goes directly

to local Maya families in need.

[René] The income is used to help
the other families in the area.

[Narrator] But not all cenotes
are like that.

[René] No.

[Narrator] Like many beaches
in the Maya Riviera,

some cenotes have become
so commercialized

that they're owned and operated
by foreigners.

Now, would the ancient Maya swim
in the cenotes?

[René] The ancient Maya? No.

-[Narrator] No?
-[René] No.

-[Narrator] Because why?

[René] Because they consider
the water just a drink.

It was sacred to them.

[Narrator] So all of the cenotes
in all of the Yucatán

were sacred to the ancient Maya.

[René] Yes.

[footsteps through forest]
[soft music]

[Narrator] Then René took me
a little further into the jungle

where we reached a massive grotto.

[birds chirping]

[René] The ancient Maya used these places
to conduct ceremonies.

[Narrator] As we made our way
down the steps,

I noticed there was another man.

Oh, is the shaman here?

It was a shaman.

[speaking Maya]

who was willing to perform part
of a rain ceremony.

[René] In the small towns,
ancient ceremonies are very important.

Yes, we still perform them.

Even in Coba, we still perform the ancient

[shaman chanting in Maya]

[René] The most important one we make
for the raining god.

His Maya name is Yum Chaak.

When they pray, it's really important
for the agriculture.

There are many kind of vegetables
that we plant in the ground.

And when we don't have rain,

we don't have harvest.

[shaman chanting in Maya]

When the ceremony finish,
the rain is coming.

[ambient music continues]

Yeah, like now.

[rain falling]
[ambient music rises]

[rain falling]
[ambient music continues]

[ambient music softens]

[speaking Maya]

[René] Not all of the shamans
are original ones.

Some ones just make show for the money.

But when this ceremony finish,
we don't have rain.

That's the difference.

[Narrator] Is he concerned about finding
the next shaman to teach?

[speaking Maya]

[speaking Maya]

[René] The young guys, they don't take
like importance the ancient

ceremonies like this.

He don't know who will be the next.

Yeah, yeah.

Perhaps when he dies

people not choose.

[Narrator] It became clear, many Maya
spiritual beliefs and practices

center on the natural world,

seeking harmony and balance
through rituals and ceremonies.

The rare opportunity to witness
this ceremony

gave me a firsthand look

of foundation of Maya spirituality,

showing their appreciation
of a supreme being

manifested in various aspects
of Mother Nature.

This is why they rarely engage in verbal
discussions about their beliefs.

Rather than adhering
to rigid creeds or dogma,

they choose to embody
their spirituality

through their actions
and attitudes of gratitude.

[speaking Maya]

[piano music fades]

[distant chanting in Maya]
[birds chirping]

[Narrator] Heading north
from the ancient ruins of Coba,

I arrived at a nearby village

where I had the opportunity to connect
with more descendants of the Maya.

[birds chirping]

[Jesús] I grew up here,
and this is basically my whole life.

I like being into the jungle
all the time,

looking for birds, looking for animals,
or just,

you know, looking for a spot
where I can sit

and enjoy the different sounds
of the jungle.

[birds chirping]

We have to respect Mother Nature,

because we believe
it's where we get all we need.

[ambient music starts]

[Narrator] Your family has been here
for how long?

[Jesús] Since 1950,
my great-grandfather came all the way

through the jungles of Chemash.

They were the first villagers to arrive
here in Punta Laguna

and make people more conscious

about protecting protecting the area.

Everything I have comes
from my great-grandparents,

my grandparents, and my parents,

mainly my father,
who has really been into nature.

[ambient music continues]
[birds chirping]

[Eulogio] I taught a lot to Jesús,
above all, how to protect the jungle.

[ambient music]

He learnt a lot from me, and I learnt
a lot from my father, he taught me a lot

to take care of and protect
everything in the jungle.

[ambient music]

[imitating bird calls]

[ambient music continues]

[Jesús] We have a really big family
of monkeys.

So important and one of the few reserves
in Mexico

where we can study the monkeys.

So my father became
an assistant biologist

to study the spider monkey
social behavior.

Now he's better known by some
universities, even from other countries,

teaching students who come here to finish
their master degrees.

[imitating monkey sounds]

[Eulogio] I’ve known about the monkeys
since I was a child.

My father would tell me,
"Son, there are a hundred monkeys."

I believed him, though I hadn't actually
seen them for myself yet.

In 1994, I began sketching the unique

facial characteristics of the monkeys.

Some have black markings,

some have yellow chests,
and others have a white mustache.

[ambient music]

And through this process,
we named all of them.

Later, we found out that they are
territorial, they live in communities

We learnt what their lives are like,
how they live.

[Narrator] 27 years.
[Eulogio] Yeah.

[Narrator] You've watched
their families grow.

[Eulogio] Yeah.

[Narrator] You've seen them have babies
and grow up.

[Eulogio] Yeah.

Because in this territory
are 15 families.

[birds chirping]
[monkey sounds]

[Narrator] The bond Eulogio
has with these wild monkeys

is not just a simple friendship.

It's a testament to the incredible
potential for humans and animals

to connect on a profound level.

These monkeys know him.

Sometimes they even come down
from the trees and run up to him.

[Eulogio] They climb up the tree
and I'm standing watching them,

they're telling me
to climb up with them.

They are very important for me
because I spend time with them.

I dream about monkeys.

[Narrator] So, your father really became
passionate about the monkeys.

What would you say that your passion
is that you've taken on

as far as this jungle goes?

[Jesús] To show the world
the real Maya are still here.

The Maya haven't disappeared,
but we have changed over the years.

We have to adapt to the new world.

So you can see, like, modern Maya

in this place, for example,
but also preserving

all of our ancient traditions
and ways of life.

And one of these activities
is organizing excursions.

So I'm here at home, but at the same time

I'm helping other families in order
not to force the future generations

to move to the cities
to look for an income.

[Narrator] So you started
your own ecotourism company

empowering the other people in the
village to be able to support themselves?

[Jesús] Yeah, that's right.

I, I've never seen the tours
we offer as money.

It's everything about helping
my community

and also giving at the same time
to the visitors

an experience in which they can
really feel the life of the Maya.

[Guide] When the babies has,
you know, this mark,

they should have,
you know, the Maya roots.

Try to imagine the whole area,
it was red.

[Narrator] Wow, I've never seen a picture
like this.

[Guide] Yeah, that's my idea,
the people keeping, you know,

all of this information
about the culture.

[Jesús] We're just part of the area,
part of the community.

You know, like being another Maya.

Because as I was telling you,
we don't see things individually.

Everybody is like a whole family,
a whole community.

A lot of people don't achieve
a professional career

in a traditional village,
and I want to increase that number.

If I'm Like getting an extra income
from that, great,

because all that money I get

is to the people,
to the Mayan communities.

And some people say,
"You will never get rich in this way."

I'm not looking for money.
I don't want to be rich.

To me, being rich is beinghere.

Having everything I have.
I don't need anything else.

[Narrator] You're living a very rich life.

[Jesús] This is the life.

Yeah, we are richer than some people
who have a lot of money.

[calm piano music]

[Narrator] Jesús is yet another Maya
embracing a generational legacy

built on the foundation of living
as one with the natural world.

[Jesús] Not all of the birds can do it.

[Narrator] And what it means to be
a community grounded in helping others.

Our shared passion for wildlife
brought us closer together.

And after spending
some quality time with him,

something really special happened.

[birds chirping]

Jesús and his father extended the rare
invitation for me to visit their home,

revealing more of their values
and traditions

that had been passed down
for centuries.

[woman speaking Maya]

[woman speaking Maya]

[Narrator] Like sleeping in hammocks
all together in one room.

[Woman] I'm gonna do it one time,
then you'll do it.

[Narrator] Okay.
[Woman] Okay?

[Narrator] Yes.

[Woman] It's going down here.

[Narrator] Okay.
[Woman] Like this.

[Narrator] Alright.

Okay, I like this.

[Eulogio] When it's hot.

[Jesús] The Maya are so united.

Yeah, you use it for swinging,
okay, yeah.

[Jesús] The families
are all living together.

When a family is growing,

it grows usually around our parents.

We don't move to different cities

to be far from our family

because we have to continue a legacy,

and the way to do it is being there.

[Narrator] This is one reason
why they grow so close.

At night, they can easily talk to one
another about everything going on,

what's on their minds,

creating an intimate
and supportive environment

where individuals feel heard
and understood.

[Jesús] This is where we can apply
our saying in Maya,

'In Lak’ech Ala K’in',

because we cannot conceive

leaving a part of our family,
of our community.

[Eulogio] I feel so good
sleeping like this.

[Jesús] It's about being

a relational person, you know,

not, not individual.

[Narrator] While Jesús carries on
the legacy of his father,

his sister also follows
the footsteps of their mother,

carrying on the Maya culture
through cooking, sewing,

and gardening.

[soft inspirational music]
[chattering]

[bird squawking]

[Marisol] Learning to cook and wash
is very important

because these are essential requirements
for running a household.

[inspirational music]

[slapping dough]

[metal clanking]

[soft inspirational music continues]

[laughter and chatter]

[Rosa] One has to know how to cook,
how to work

how to wash and iron,

so when the day comes
that you find a husband,

you'll already know how to work,
cook, and do everything.

You won't have to depend on anyone.

[Rosa] We want that tradition
and culture to live on.

Through her, for her children
and grandchildren.

The tradition will live on like this.

[upbeat music]
[chatter]

[Narrator] Cooking is an integral part
of the Maya culture.

It's not just about nourishment
and flavor,

but a celebration of life.

-[Narrator] It's beautiful.
-[Rosa] Yes, it's beautiful.

[Narrator] The fire is the centerpiece
of the cooking process

in a traditional palapa kitchen.

A thatched roof structure providing
shade and shelter

from the intense Yucatán sun.

[upbeat music]

[food boiling]

The fire is started early in the morning

using a mix of hardwood
and natural charcoal.

The heat is then carefully controlled
throughout the process

to achieve the perfect temperature
for every dish.

The aroma of the wood
not only fills the air,

but its smoke strengthens the thatch.

It deposits tar and other substances

making it more resistant
to water and fire.

[Rosa] These are the ants...

[Narrator] The secret to Maya cooking
starts with fresh ingredients.

[Rosa] Do you want to try?

[Narrator] Grown in the rich soil found

in pockets throughout
the Yucatan's rocky landscape.

Rosa has all kinds of fruits
and vegetables

growing right in her backyard,

while other villagers still maintain
a traditional farm.

[Man] This is all natural.

My father, he doesn't use chemicals.

[Narrator] Additionally, the Maya people
have a long tradition

of using natural compost

such as vegetable scraps and manure

which enriches the soil
and helps to maintain

the fertility of their crops.

-[Narrator] Is it good?
-[Rosa] Yes.

[Narrator] Today, Rosa and Marisol

are teaching me
how to make pollo con mole,

a traditional dish typically involving
marinating chicken

in a mixture of spices
and then cooking it in a rich sauce

made with chocolate and chili peppers.

[Rosa] We'll heat up this one.

[Narrator] It varies slightly depending
on the family recipe

but often includes spices
like cumin, cloves, cinnamon,

and then blending them with tomatoes,
garlic, onions, and chili peppers,

[Rosa] This is butter.

[Narrator] And then adding chocolate
and chicken broth

to create a thick, flavorful sauce.

The marinated chicken
is then added to the sauce

and simmered until tender
and fully cooked.

[speaking Mayan]

[oil sizzling]

When ready, it's served
with rice and tortillas.

[chatter]
[gentle ambient music]

Rosa is also letting me help her make
the tortillas from scratch.

This technique promotes family
involvement, and it's a sacred tradition,

offering a deeper connection
to the ingredients and the land,

as the corn from the farm,
called the Milpa,

has its own spirit and energy

that must be honored and cared for.

[soft music]

[Man] Yeah.

[Narrator] The milpa provides
sustenance,

economic stability, and a connection
to their cosmology.

It is a traditional form of
farming still used today,

allowing the multiple crops
to be grown in a single field,

and promoting biodiversity.

Maya cooking is not just
about the food itself,

[laughs]

but the social connections it creates,
with family and friends coming together

to prepare and enjoy the meal.

[laughs]

The palapa kitchen is a place where
stories are shared, laughter is heard,

[laughing]

and memories are made.

And here I was, becoming
a part of those memories,

enjoying the same methods
and ingredients

that have been here
with the Maya for thousands of years.

[upbeat music]

The timeless taste of this dish
is a tribute to the colorful heritage

of the Yucatan

and a way of life I am quickly
getting used to.

-[Narrator] For fish.
-[Rosa] For fish, yes.

[upbeat music continues]

[Narrator] Like Jesús said, the jungle
can provide everything you need.

-[Narrator] More chilies.
-[Rosa] More chilies.

[Narrator] You take care of it
and it'll take care of you.

[Narrator] For an American.

[laughing]

[music stops]
[birds chirping]

[Rosa] I learned to sew
because my mother knew how.

That’s why she taught me.
She used to say,

"Daughter, I want you
to learn everything I know,

so that one day
when you have daughters

of your own, you can teach them."

[Narrator] Traditionally,
Maya women would weave cloth

on backstrap looms to create clothing

and other textiles through sewing.

[Rosa] I can make bags, napkins,

blouses, or T-shirts.

I can make all sorts of things.

[inspirational guitar music]

[Narrator] Sewing is not
only a practical skill

but an important artistic expression.

[Rosa] And like this, I teach her

how to sew a bird, a flower,
or anything she likes to create.

[Narrator] Some of the textiles are used
to portray social and political status,

as well as to communicate important
cultural and religious ideas.

[Rosa] This is a tradition
that we all continue.

I would say it's a tradition
passed down from the Maya

because most of the women
know how to sew.

Yes.

[Narrator] One form of Maya embroidery
that is particularly notable is bordado,

often used to create traditional blouses
worn by Maya women.

These blouses are highly decorated
with intricate patterns,

and they have even become
important symbols

of Maya resistance
and resilience in the face

of colonization and cultural oppression.

Despite centuries of attempts to
suppress Maya culture and traditions,

many Maya people
have continued to create

and wear traditional textiles
as a way of asserting

their cultural identity in the face
of outside pressures.

[Rosa] The blouse sometimes takes
more than two weeks.

Yes, because I have a lot to do.

I work in the house.

[Narrator] Rosa has worked hard
for extra income,

and her artwork is one of the ways
she has helped support her family

and get her kids an education.

[Rosa] We earn a little money
with sewing.

Not much, but better than nothing.

It's important because if, in the future,
she wants to continue

she can teach her daughters,
the craft is already

a second nature to her,
she already knows how to sew.

That's how the tradition continues,

from generation to generation.

[Rosa] While Marisol continues
the traditional role of the Maya woman,

she has expanded that role by pursuing
a college degree in dentistry.

She plans to start her own practice

while continuing to embrace the legacy
of her father and brother

through her passion for helping animals.

[Marisol] Yes, I'm studying
to be a dental surgeon.

I love this profession.

Because I don't think only
about the money I will make,

it's because I have
a specific purpose and goal.

Well, there are two:

to give back to my parents
for everything they've given me,

from paying for my degree
to my materials and books.

But my main goal is to use
my future earnings

to open a shelter for animals,
specifically those on the streets,

because when it's cold,

it breaks my heart to see the stray dogs

looking so thin and sick.

And while some people do help,
they can't do it all alone.

So I want to achieve that goal
through my career.

[birds chirping]

[Narrator] At this point in my journey,

the depth and richness
of the Maya culture

had left a profound impact on me

as I began to appreciate
the stark differences

between their world

and mine.

[motorcycle passing by]

[city traffic]

Within 24 hours, I was back home.

[horseshoes clacking]
[horns blaring]

I felt like a foreigner in my own land.

The stark contrast
between this concrete jungle

and the sense of community
I had just experienced

had me yearning for the feeling
of oneness

with the natural world
and with others.

Here we're taught to chase
individual achievements,

and material gains,

programmed and plugged
into an artificial system.

I was struggling to fit in with the herd.

The call of what it means to prioritize

genuine relationships and live a more

pure way of life had me eager
to return to Coba.

I wasn't planning a vacation away
from the familiar,

but an expedition towards
something greater.

[speaking Maya]

[soft inspirational music]
[chanting in Maya]

I was finally able to reconnect
with Jesús,

[Narrator] I love it.

[Narrator] René,

and some of the other Yucatecan Maya.

[soft piano music]

They took me to the mouth
of an uncharted cave

and even to a Maya ruin

inaccessible to tourists and unexplored

since archaeologist J. Eric Thompson,
100 years ago.

And as if all of that wasn't already
another unforgettable adventure,

they extended an invitation for me
to visit a very special place.

[soft piano music]
[birds chirping]

Deep in the jungle,

completely hidden away
from unwitting travelers.

There lies a village.

[soft guitar]

A family that has chosen an even more
traditional way of life.

[speaking in Maya]

[speaking in Maya]

[soft guitar]

[hammer striking wood]

[fire crackling]

[soft guitar]

[rhythmic tapping on dough]

[children shouting outside]

[chickens clucking]

[mysterious flute]

[soft guitar]

[children speaking]

[speaking Maya]

[speaking Maya]

[Narrator] The story of the Cahums

stands as a powerful testament
to the resilience

and enduring presence of the Maya.

[birds chirping]
[soft guitar]

[speaking Maya]

[José] In Spanish, it's translated
as "una vida antigua".

[ax striking wood]

Our ancestral way of life

is a fundamental
part of our identity

of our working lives.

[soft music]
[ax striking wood]

It is beautiful when we, as Maya,

learn to value certain buildings, such as

honoring our Mayan language

and our traditional buildings.

[soft piano music]

And sometimes, it’s hard
for many people to understand.

For us or for them,
this way of working is necessary.

Because if life and work aren't hard,

you learn nothing.

[soft piano music]

So, for the Maya, it’s important

that life and work are demanding,

[birds chirping]

so that even when you grow old,
you won't forget the work

you once did as a child.

[speaking Maya]

You'll be grateful
that work and life are hard.

[soft piano music]

My father used to live
in a different community.

It was very difficult for him to walk
16 kilometres every day.

So, more than 40 years ago,

he came to live in this community.

And about 500 meters
from this community, there's a lagoon.

So, he named this community
Laguna Chabela.

This gave him a reason to work
with livestock.

He worked on chicken and pig farms.

So things were a bit easier
for my father.

[ducks quacking]

[soft ambient music]

Until 2004,

when a hurricane hit—

[wind and rain]

it was Hurricane Wilma,

[wind and rain]

and Hurricane Wilma
was a Category 5 storm.

It was powerful enough to
destroy everything.

[violent waves pounding shore]

It seemed to come every 16 years
to destroy everything we'd built.

[strong wind howling]

So my father,

since he knew this entire area so well,

knew about a cave—a dry cave.

He believed it was the only
shelter we could find.

[mysterious music]

We stayed inside the cave for four days.

[mysterious music rises]

Once the hurricane passed
and the rain finally stopped,

we came out of the cave.

I was eight years old then,

and Victor was little, only six years old.

Returning home, we found
that many of the palapas,

its roofs were destroyed.

Y...

he lost many of his animals.

It was a total loss.

Then he began to think

about how to build a shelter

that he wouldn't have to flee from.

[inspiring music]

So among us,

Elías, Efraín, my father,
myself, and Victor,

the idea was born to build a
a house

that could last sixteen years.

That’s how the idea to build
this house began.

[soft ambient music]

It’s large and sturdy,

and it took us about two years

to complete the construction.

[inspirational music]

We're planning for one more year
to finish it properly,

so during hurricane season,

we can invite others or share

this large home with the family.

My house is your house.

You are my brother,
and I am your brother.

[inspirational music]

In Lak'ech Ala K'in.

[whooshing sound]

[Elías] Now we can help each other,
we can...

share many things,

intelligence and wisdom.

And we have to share it,
we can't keep it to ourselves

so that we can experience

special moments with them.

[soft ambient music]

[Narrator] While some
of the Yucatecan Maya

have adopted more
of the modern technologies,

the Cahums have chosen
a more traditional approach.

But just like the Kanuuls,

not only are they living one
with the natural world,

they are grounded
in the same spiritual Mayan philosophy

that we as humans are all one.

We are all interconnected,
and by sharing life together

and helping one another
without expecting anything in return,

we can all live a fulfilling life.

This is the true meaning of
In Lak'ech, Ala K'in.

-[José] Ashush.
-[Narrator] Is it "ashush" in Mayan?

-[José] In Myan.
-[Narrator] Ashush.

[José] Yes.

Our wish, the wish
of our Cahum family,

is to share and learn.

[Narrator] Over the next few weeks,
I was welcomed into their homes

and their hearts.

We both had the same desire

to simply share life together
and learn from one another.

Through their patient guidance,
I learned about their day-to-day life.

-[Narrator] Che.
-[José] It's a construction.

-[Narrator] Winquiche.
-[José] Winquiche.

[Narrator] And made an effort
to learn their language.

[speaking Mayan]

Which really helped build
the relationship.

Because their language
is not just a means of communication,

but an integral part of preserving
their traditions for the future.

-[Narrator] This is chaya.
-[José] Yes, the spinach.

[José] In Mayan, we call it a ka'anche.

-[Narrator] Ka'anche.
-[José] Ka'anche.

[Narrator] And an essential link
between their ancestors

and present-day community.

They believe that words have the power
to shape the world around them

and that speaking their language
is a way of connecting with the divine.

[speaking Maya]

[speaking Maya]

[chopping wood]

[mysterious indigenous flute]

The Cahums showed me the art
of hand-weaving their beautiful hammocks,

another cherished tradition that holds
deep cultural significance.

[child speaking Maya]

[Narrator] I taught them
how to tune their guitar,

[chopping coconut]

and they taught me how to cut
my own coconut.

[chopping coconut]
[mysterious indigenous flute]

-[Narrator] Is it okay?
-[José] Yes.

-[Narrator] Okay. More?
-[José] Yes.

[striking ccoconut]
[coconut water gushing]

[Narrator] Yes.

I taught them
an ancient Western technique

to start a fire using wood and friction.

[José] Ready?

[Narrator] And they taught me
the sustainable way to wash clothes

using wood ashes for their detergent.

[Narrator] That's good.

-[José] Really?
-[Narrator] Yeah, that's good.

[Narrator] The ash acts
as a natural cleaning agent

and helps to break down the oils
and dirt in clothes.

After applying the ash mixture
to the clothes and scrubbing,

they are then rinsed with water
to remove any remaining dirt and ash.

[Woman] Shake it to clean it better.

[Narrator] Then they're hung up
to dry in the sun and wind.

[tribal drums]

One day I showed up with some footballs

I was able to find in the town of Coba.

-[Narrator] For you.
-[]Man 2] Thank you.

[Narrator]They were really excited
about that.

The moment I arrived,

they immediately started kicking
the balls around the village.

[children shouting]

And even started building goals
for us to have a match.

[upbeat trumpet music]

Despite the language barrier
and our vastly different upbringings,

we were all connected
by our love for the game.

[upbeat music]

[upbeat music continues]

It was amazing to see how something

as simple as a ball
could bring people together

from different cultures and backgrounds
and help us connect more.

It was a beautiful moment of community
and shared experience.

It doesn't matter where you're from
or what language you speak,

we all have something in common
that brings us together.

[upbeat music dies]

You wouldn't know it
from his football skills,

however, Elias, the oldest brother,

started to have some eye problems.

But the Maya possess a rich history
of using natural medicine

with extensive knowledge on plants,
honey, and tree bark.

[José] We try to find natural
medicinal plants

to cure some illnesses.

As far as it's not an illness

that we don't know of,

that is the only way
we go to a doctor

so they can help us
identify the problem.

Once they confirm the diagnosis
with a medical report,

we can then treat

the ailment with medicinal plants.

For example, I have eye problems.

The doctor told me
I have a growth, and it's true.

Yes, that's right.

I tell him
that I have some Melipona honey

that he can apply it every day.

Just put in a few drops every day.

[flies buzzing]

[Narrator] But they conserve
their medicine to share it

with the rest of the community.

[José] They are beneficial,
but we, as a family, try to

not to use it very often.

I know some medicines

for this, to control the community.

[Narrator] As the Cahums and I
got to know each other

on a more personal level each day,

the culmination of our time together
had yet to take place.

[mysterious music swells]

[footsteps on soil]

It was time for a very
special celebration.

[mysterious music continues]

Today I am honored to help create
a ceremonial Maya meal

called pollo pibil

and I'm certain with all of the organic
ingredients here,

it will be one of the best.

Pollo pibil is a marinated chicken dish,
slow cooked in banana leaves

and seasoned with a blend of spices
that give it a rich and tangy flavor.

And in this case, we'll be cooking it
in the traditional way—

underground.

[lively music plays]

[ax striking wood]

So José and I set out to forage
for some dogwood.

[lively music plays]

While the women prepared the chicken
and all of the other ingredients

for the marinade,

a pit oven is dug in the ground.

[[lively music continues]

Then the wood is strategically
stacked and lit.

To maintain a continuous supply of coals
to be spread in other places,

they keep wood burning
in the village consistently.

[fire crackling]
[tribal drum music]

Once the fire starts to grow, rocks
are stacked on top of the wood

that will soon become hot coals.

Efraín gathered some banana leaves

while José and I collected palm leaves.

[inspirational upbeat music]

It was a beautiful effort involving
the whole family,

including the children.

[inspirational upbeat music]

Once the chicken is cleaned
and the marinade is ready,

it is all wrapped in banana leaves

and the ends are folded
over to seal it.

About a half hour later, it was time
to add the pot to the pit.

It is placed on the hot coals and
covered with branches and the palms.

[palm fronds striking ground]

The leaves insulate the chicken
and other ingredients as they cook

[lively music]

while promoting moisture to prevent
the chicken from burning.

Then it's covered up with dirt.

Once it's all covered, it is left
to cook in the pit for several hours

while the est of the meal gets prepared.

[lively music plays]

[lively music swells]

[lively music continues]

It was time to uncover the pit
piece by piece,

[lively music softens]

and I had my first glimpse
of the results.

An earth-baked chicken

cooked to perfection.

The moment had arrived to enjoy
the fruits of our labot.

[lively music]

Here I was in the middle
of a remote jungle

enjoying what I believe
to be as good as

any Michelin star
experience out there,

but what made it truly exceptional

was knowing the combined effort
that went in.

[soft piano]

I noticed before we ate,
they said grace.

The Maya are a people of strong faith.

There was nothing left what to do

than express my deepest gratitude,

to which in Mayan,

I would say the expression
"Yum botik."

[Boy] Yum botik.

[José] In Mayan, we say "Yum Botik."

The word "Yum" means "God,"

and "Botik" means "to pay"
or "may God pay you."

[soft violin]

We live as one.

It's a singular experience where,
whatever you do,

it is not your family who will pay you.

It is God who will pay you.

So it is a labor we perform
out of gratitude

to both God and our brothers.

[Narrator] When people see
a village like this,

they may see poverty,

but I can assure you,

it is quite the opposite.

I see nothing but riches.

-[Narrator] Flora?
-[Girl] Mm-hmm.

[Narrator] Beautiful.

[Narrator] A world driven
by authentic human connection

instead of economics and status.

In an increasingly digital world,

it was refreshing to know
a place still exists

where people prioritize face-to-face
interaction and being present.

[chopping wood]

Living traditionally and sacrificing
modern comforts may seem daunting,

but it presents an opportunity for us
to rethink what we truly value in life

and whether our pursuit of material
wealth and convenience

has led us astray
from a more meaningful existence

rooted in compassion, community,

and a deeper connection
with the natural world.

By embracing a more sustainable
way of life,

we may discover a sense
of purpose and fulfillment

that eludes us in the rat race
of modern society.

[soft piano]

[José] Often, out of economic necessity,

children leave for the city.

Most of them

go to live in communities
that are more accessible.

They already have electricity
and running water systems there.

Thus, life begins to become even easier.

However, those experiences are being lost.

Instead of families growing,

and the culture flourishing,

our traditional ways
of working are disappearing.

[broom sweeping ground]

Our desire as a family
and as brothers is to encourage

other families to also return,

to come back to a culture
where we are all brothers.

[chattering]
[birds chirping]

Sharing with others that,

from a young age,
they should encourage their children

to respect the right to life,

as brothers and sisters.

[ax striking wood]

It is a way of life,
it is a way of working,

it's a way of learning.

You need to foster
a community yourself,

and not just think about money.

It's about sharing
with other communities.

It's about sharing
with other families.

[Jesús] Wanna try it?

Learning that being brothers

means sharing our lives.

-[Narrator] Yes, for the kitchen.
-[José] For the kitchen.

[ducks quacking]

That's why we can say,
as the Cahum family,

that Mayan civilization is real and true.

[inspirational violin]

And we will continue to pass this
on to the generations to come.

I live with gratitude,
I have a daughter now

and may have more children,

and I'll pass this same way of life
on to each of my children.

[speaking Maya]

[ducks quacking]

[speaking Maya]

[inspirational violin music]

[Narrator] Through the hearts
of the Yucatecan Maya families

I have come to know,

I have been deeply moved
by the depth of their culture

and efforts to preserve it.

They emphasize family, community,

and preserving the natural world
for future generations.

In contrast to the materialism and
individualism dominating Western culture,

the Maya offer a powerful
alternative vision

of what it means to live
a fulfilling life.

They understand true happiness
is found in human bonds,

rather than artificial machines.

Perhaps the answers we seek to make
the world a better place

and give our kids a better future

are not found in technology
and new ideas,

but in the ancestral knowledge and
cultural legacy passed down to us.

The wisdom of our ancestors
offers guidance

It reminds us of the importance

of living in harmony
with each other

and the earth,

and the need to cultivate community
and interconnection.

[laughs]

So as we navigate the challenges
of the 21st century,

we would do well to venture
beyond the ruins

and to learn from the wisdom the wisdom
of indigenous cultures like the Maya.

By doing so, we can build a more
sustainable and compassionate world

grounded in a deep appreciation
for the richness

and diversity of real life.

[inspirational violin music]

What kind of relationships
do you want to cultivate?

What kind of legacy are you choosing
to follow and carry on?

No matter what you decide,

we are all

one.

[Guide] Remember,
we all share the same life.

In lak'ech ala k'in.

[Solemn music]

[indigenous-style drumming]

[drumming fades]

[soft guitar]
[birds chirping]

[soft guitar music swells with violin]

[music fades out]