Visiting Mayan villages

where should i start? there are so much to say about those villages! the indigenous people who lived in the villages for generations still follow strict order of their tradition and belief. When we arrived at the first village, San Juan Chamula, a ritual has just been performed at the entrance and huge fireworks were set off to mark the end. The village leaders wear bright color costumes. Soon after we got off the bus, a herd of sheep leisurely walked past us. Later we learned this village is famous for their wool products. no wonder! This village is the most strict, and therefore the culture best preserved. They have their own political leaders, religious leaders, policemen, school and shaman! Small crimes are punished within the village, only serious crimes are passed on to the Mexican federal. Tzotzil is their first language and Spanish a distant second. And when they get sick? call the shaman first. After the diagnostic, a steam bath to cleanse the soul might be suggested, or the patient is accompanied by the shaman to the church for some prayers. The church, although it looks like just another white Spanish church from outside, the inside is one experience not to be forgotten! There are thousands of flickering candles of different size and color on the floor, no chairs, pine needles are sprinkled all over the floor, mysterious incense is flowing in the air, people around me are kneeling on the floor, singing, praying, or chanting... Taking pictures is strictly prohibited inside the church and during any ceremony. Tourists who violate it can be sent to jail! Mayans also believe that their souls could be taken away by the camera. So any close-up portrait is prohibited as well. That explains why there's only a panoramic picture of the village (main picture)... they are so strict in their belief that anyone who doesn´t adhere to it are exiled and never allowed to move back to the village. However, in some ways they have no problem adopting to modern life. they have electricity, driving cars, watching cable TV and drinking coca cola! in fact, they believe that the burping after gulping down coca cola brings out the evil inside them that caused the sickness. the family that got the concession to sell coca cola is now so rich that they bought the whole street and built really nice houses on it! later we visited another village, ZINACANTAN. This village is much less strict and more modern. There were even kids soliciting picture rights for candy money, although i was tempted, i felt it's as if i am buying their soul for my pleasure and didn't do it.ve ever had.