Vase Teacup Travels

Here they come,

my two intrepid explorers...

..Charlotte and Lokesh.

I'm their Great-aunt Lizzie, you see,

and I wonder which one is coming to see me today?

Off you go.

Ah, so it's Lokesh. Hello, Lokesh.

Hello, Great-aunt Lizzie.

Once upon a time, I travelled the world,

discovering treasures from long ago and far away,

and no end of stories to remind me.

But my most precious possession of all

is my extraordinary collection of teacups.

Here we are. No time to count the clouds.

Let's have a nice cup of tea and a story.

But first we need the teacup.

But which one?

That one.

Ah.

The Mayan vase.

So you put flowers in it?

No. This one, you drink from.

-Like a cup?

-Exactly like a cup.

This vase has a very special drawing on it.

-What's it of?

-Shall we wait and see?

-Are you ready?

-Ready.

Then let me tell you the story

of Lokesh And The Adventure Of The Mayan Vase.

The story begins in a place we now call Mexico,

long, long ago,

high on a plateau in the middle of a pine-covered mountain range.

It was just before dawn,

the sounds of the night

were beginning to become the sounds of the day,

but a chill had settled on that commanding mountain top.

As he climbed, Lokesh made out two distant figures, a man and a woman.

They seemed to be staring at the sky.

As he got closer,

he could see that the man was dressed from head to toe

in the most elaborate clothes.

The woman stared deep into the lightening sky.

Was she searching for some kind of clue?

What a gift our God Hacha'kyum gave

when he sprinkled sand in the sky to create the stars.

It is a wonderful display, ruler.

It is indeed.

But they fade with the light.

So I can't be sure it is time for you

-to take your place on the throne.

-It's been a long wait.

Years of learning have led you to this moment.

What can you see, astronomer?

The stars tell me the time is very near.

Perhaps when the sun sets tonight.

-Tonight?

-Yes.

At sunset. If my calculations are right, the stars will align.

Lokesh was intrigued by the things the woman was reading

in the patterns of the stars.

He stepped forward to find out more.

Hello. Can you tell me what you look for in the stars?

I can indeed. The stars tell every Mayan

when to do things here on earth.

When that constellation of stars there aligns with the Red Planet,

our new ruler should ascend to the throne.

Lokesh tried hard to see what was happening in the stars,

but while they gazed, the cool chill prickled their skin.

I think I'll have some of my special chocolate to warm my bones.

With your coronation so near,

-you should probably drink from the ceremonial vase.

-You're right.

This is such a special occasion.

Drinking from this vase will help me prepare for

the most important day of my life.

Lokesh looked closely.

It was covered in hieroglyphics and pictures of people,

one of whom looked very familiar.

He's dressed exactly the same as you.

Because it is me.

This vase has been made to celebrate me becoming a ruler,

but I can't wait to drink some chocolate from it.

But when Kabil looked in his bag,

the chocolate was nowhere to be seen.

My bag of chocolate...

It must have fallen out while we were climbing the mountain.

I need to go.

I am sorry, ruler, but we can't leave now.

We need to stay on the mountain and follow the sun and stars

-until it's time.

-I could go and get you some more.

-Could you? Excellent.

-That would be so kind.

Take the vase. This is such a special occasion,

you must use it to carry the ruler's chocolate.

You'll get some at the market in the village.

Lokesh went as quickly as he could to the village market,

but there was only one man with anything to sell at all.

Excuse me. I need to buy things to make a chocolate drink.

Sorry, you're too late.

Too late? But it's early.

Everyone did their shopping yesterday

in time for the celebration. They all know that

when the astronomer comes down from the mountain,

there's going to be a new ruler.

All I've got left are these chillies.

-No.

-I'm not going to sell these.

So why don't you take some up to the woman who grows the cocoa

over the hill and see if she'll swap them.

That's great, thank you.

Lokesh decided the best way to keep the chillies safe

was to carry them in the vase.

What a beautiful vase.

Oh, it's not mine. It belongs to Kabil, the new ruler.

-Kabil?

-That's who I'm getting the chocolate drink for.

Our great ruler? Why didn't you say? In that case,

you'd better take some more chillies.

Some to give to the cocoa grower and some to honour the new ruler.

I've got to give you the best chillies

in order to make the perfect chocolate drink.

Chocolate and chilli in a drink?

Lokesh wasn't at all sure about that.

That doesn't sound like any chocolate drink I've ever had.

Oh, it's the new ruler's favourite.

Lokesh had no idea whether he should be adventurous

or stick to what he knew,

which was that chocolate and chilli definitely don't mix.

Chilli and chocolate sounds disgusting.

Maybe to us.

The man on the market stall must have made a mistake.

No, he was right.

-Really?

-The ancient Mayans really did

like chillies in their hot chocolate.

-Urgh.

-Some people might find strawberries

dipped in chocolate disgusting.

But they're delicious.

You might like chilli chocolate if you felt adventurous.

I like to be adventurous,

but sometimes the food I like makes me feel good.

I suppose that's why Kabil wanted the chilli chocolate,

so he'd feel good about his coronation.

What happened next?

Lokesh couldn't go back without the chilli and chocolate, could he?

So off went Lokesh in his hat, bag and boots...

..past lagoons and waterfalls...

..up the canyon side.

Until, when he was almost out of breath...

..the path ran out.

There was only one way to get to the other side.

Lokesh took a deep breath.

Finally, he came to a tangled jungle

that spread as far as the eye could see over the hills.

But there was no time to wonder at the amazing views

of this secret and impenetrable place.

Lokesh had to find that cocoa.

Finally, he reached what looked like a cocoa farm

and saw a woman making something on a large stone.

-Excuse me.

-Oh, hello.

I'm Lokesh and I'm looking to trade some cocoa...

-..for some chillies.

-They look lovely and I would love to trade,

but I haven't finished grinding these cocoa beans up yet.

-I could help you.

-That would be great. Thank you.

You do it like this.

Making chocolate is an awful lot of work.

First, you have to ferment the cocoa.

Then you have to roast it.

And then, when you've done all that,

you have to grind it into a fine paste.

-Is this right?

-That's perfect.

All we need is something to put it in to bring it back.

I have this vase.

It has to go in there with the chillies.

It's for the new ruler, Kabil, before he takes his throne tomorrow.

How exciting. Our new ruler. You'd better hurry back.

Thank you.

I hope he enjoys his favourite chocolate and chilli drink.

-Send my blessings to the new ruler.

-I will.

Back came Lokesh...

..along the gorge...

..past lagoons and waterfalls.

The sun was all but set

when Lokesh arrived, carefully carrying the cocoa,

the chillies and the precious vase.

-I've got the chocolate.

-I can't wait.

-And I've got the chilli.

-How do you know they're my favourite?

Lots of people told me.

Everyone knew the new ruler's favourite drink

-was chocolate and chilli.

-Well done, Lokesh.

Now I can enjoy my favourite chocolate drink

and prepare for the most important day of my life.

The stars are aligning, Kabil.

And as the sun trailed and fell behind the mountain top...

..Lokesh was very adventurous

and tried the chilli and chocolate drink.

Maybe I could get used to it.

-Would you like some more?

-No, thanks.

May I?

And that was that,

the whole kit and caboodle of Lokesh and the Mayan vase.

I think I'd prefer chocolate strawberries

to chilli and chocolate.

It's always good to try new foods, Lokesh.

You never know what you might love.

It seems so different from our hot chocolate.

We like it a bit sweeter than they did, but they were the first.

In fact, the word chocolate comes from the Mayan for bitter water.

-Xocolatl.

-And we still enjoy it now.

We do.

My, is that really the time?

Come on, we must get you ready to go home.

Now, how did that get there?

Home time now, Lokesh.

Thanks, Great-aunt Lizzie.

Cheerie-bye, Lokesh.

Bye!