Make Like a Kangaroo and Hop Forward

While clearing out my inbox on my computer today, I came across so many emails that were sent to me prior to my leaving Los Angeles back in March. So many kind words of encouragement were sent my way. It was nice to be reminded of the love and support that so many people showed me. I remember the inner fear that I was experiencing before taking off that I tried so hard to mask. Now, as I sit and write from Paekakariki, a small village located on the South West tip of New Zealand's North Island, I am amazed at all that I have seen and experienced in such a short time. My days have been so busy that time seems to escape me. My stories are endless and could fill a large book but I will share some highlights.

My last three weeks in Australia were nothing short of astounding and absolutely life altering. Each day was better than the last. The adventures continued throughout the Northern Territory with hikes through Kings Canyon and into the sacred Uluru area. Ayer's Rock is one of the most magnificent natural wonders that I have ever experienced. Sleeping under the stars and then guiding people through yoga at it's base will stay embedded in my soul forever. The rock glows and it's body seems to move like waves. If you ever get the chance to come to Australia please fore go the warnings that Uluru is simply a tourist attraction. It is an absolute phenomenon and not to be missed. I feel incredibly blessed to have experienced it.

Years ago I learned about the Law of Attraction and the power that each of us has to manifest anything that we truly want into our lives. What I really wanted was to finish my final week in the Outback with a smaller group and that is exactly what I got. The last seven days was spent with three other girls and a tour guide, all of whom I now consider to be friends for life. When I learned about our final "numbers", I laughed out load while the others looked on in astonishment because I knew that this was how we were all meant to experience the last leg of our tour and I am so happy to say that my intuition was absolutely dead on. Due to the size of our group, we were able to explore places and areas that would not have been possible with more people.

One of the highlights of our trip together was a stop in a surreal town called Coober Pedy, an opal mining town located in the Central Territory. The entire community lives underground to escape the heat which can reach up to around 115 degrees or more. Our tour guide Sean rescued a baby kangaroo after it's mom was hit by a car months ago and brought it to a couple who take care of orphaned roos in an art gallery there. Holding and loving on the baby roo was absolute magic. Kangaroos are such fascinating creatures and besides their cute factor, I love that they can only hop forward. It is impossible for them to hop backwards. Whenever I begin to dwell on stories from my past, I now think about them and focus on hopping forward. Brings a smile to my face and lightness to my heart.

Our trip carried us into the majestic terrain of Flinders Ranges National Park which is rich in wildlife including Kangaroos, Emus and Yellow Tailed Wallabees. We spent an afternoon rock climbing up steep terrain in search of the latter and we were fortunate to find dozens who were as curious about us as we were about them. Aborigines have lived in the area for tens of thousands of years and their energy is felt throughout with rock art sites and fossil remains.

On our final day together, we woke up at 4 am and hiked up to the top of one of the mountains in time for sunrise. I took our group through a beautiful sun meditation and then guided them into some sun salutations. As an eagle soared above our heads, we all sat in silent gratitude for the magic that unfolded over the week.

I was so sad to leave my new traveling family but have grown accustomed to moving on over the past months and settled into a new hostel in Adelaide. Pulling into this small city reconfirmed thoughts that I have been having about life back home. I am no longer a city girl. This feeling has been brewing for quite some time but being in the Outback solidified any doubt I had. My spirit is more at ease in nature, away from the noise and chaos of the urban world.

While I was in Bali, several of my new friends suggested that I visit the Byron Bay area located on the East Coast in New South Wales. I booked a flight and made a reservation at a hostel there called The Arts Factory. When I arrived, I immediately felt at home thanks to the multiple yoga studios and New Age bookstores. Artists, hippies and backpackers grace the streets barefoot and smiling. Although the main draw to the hostel was their advertising daily yoga and meditation classes, I was disappointed to find out that their teacher had flown overseas and the classes were canceled. After spending a few days in the area, I knew it was time to make a move which is when I met my new travel companion.

Francesca and I met while waiting for a bus into town and immediately felt a kinship. She had been traveling for almost a month in Australia from London. We had separately been told that we would love a town called Mullimbimby and decided on the spot to pack our bags and figure out a way to get there the following day.

After catching a ride and arriving into the small town, we both fell in love with the area and knew we had made the right decision. We checked into a motel and inquired about renting a car which led us to a local car repair shop. Although I have never driven on the right side, I knew that this would be the most ideal way to see the country and I was ready for the challenge.

We ended up renting a small red, very old, very beat up car which we named "Sally". She had a lot of trouble making it up hills, which was more of an inconvenience for people driving behind us and her lights were painfully low even on high beam but she took us to places that I am so happy I go the chance to experience.

We began our road trip just outside of Mullimbimby to the enchanting Crystal Castle which is nestled in the mountains. There we walked the beautiful grounds which are graced by the largest crystals that I have ever seen. After walking through the rainforest and getting photographs taken of our auras, we hopped in our little car and set off to the Minyan Falls. While making our way up the road to the waterfall, it began to dawn on us just how much of a lemon our little car was. As she slowly made it up the mountain, with a major lump in my throat, and the sun setting, we both looked it at each other and knew it would be wise to head on to the next location, a little (soon to discover, teeny tiny is more accurate) town named Uki.

While driving into town, we realized very quickly that Uki consists of about 3 main locations: a pub, a gas station and a grocery store. The latter were both closed. The drive there was nothing short of adventurous: imagine winding unpaved roads, no road signs, no street lights and a car with painfully dim headlights. Needless to say, we were both exhausted. We hadn't booked a bed for the night and made a pact that if we were not able to find something, that little Sally would become our home for the night. We had both spent enough time sleeping outside over the past weeks, that sleeping in car didn't seem like a bad option.

As I parked next to a large amount of motorcycles outside the pub, we both looked at each other with a grin full knowing that we were in for an experience. The minute we opened the door to the pub, it seemed as though every eye was on us and the music came to a hault. Apparently very few strangers visit Uki. We rushed up to the bartender to inquire about accommodation and she tossed a book of brochures our way. We quickly decided on a Bed and Breakfast called Shambala which is run by a local hippie couple and nestled high in the hills.

The rest of our week unfolded like a nomadic fairy tale with visits to a Hare Krishna Ashram, in Murwimballah, a few days in Nimbin which is a town straight out of the drug hazed 60s, a day trip to the lovely Bangalow area where we took part in a glorious drum circle, sunbathing on the beach in Brunswick Heads and finally a strenuous hike up Mt Warning which reminded me that I am capable of doing absolutely anything if I put my mind to it.

We rounded out our week by returning our little car back in Mullimbimby and catching a bus back to Byron Bay. I was sad to hug Francesca goodbye, but, again, goodbyes have become commonplace even though they are never easy.

I checked into a new hostel in Byron Bay, submersed myself in hours of daily yoga classes and planned for my final chapter in Oz: a journey to the Blue Mountains and a couple of days in Sydney.

Arriving in the majestic Blue Mountains, which is located just 2 1/2 hours outside of Sydney was amazing. The views are swept up by miles and miles of gorgeous blue hued Eucalyptus trees and raw rocks. I made friends quickly at the Flying Fox Hostel which felt more like a private mountain home with a cozy fireplace and warm hosts. Over the next few days, my new friends and I took road trips to visit an area called the "Lost City", a Glow Worm cave nestled deep in the mountains, a trek up to the Three Sisters, Echo Point and numerous other treks up to water falls in the area.

While in the mountains, I received an email from Ben Lee, whose wedding in India last December is the reason I am traveling now. He was doing a tour in Australia with the very talented Aimee Mann and invited me to come to a show in Sydney. So I hopped on yet another train to Sydney, settled into one of my Outback friend Denise's home in Bondi Beach and met Ben for dinner. It was so nice to spend time with a friend from back home, it felt like being home and reminded me that I am loved and supported and have wonderful people to return back to when I am ready.

My last night in Oz was spent at Ben's show at the Enmore Theatre. A perfect ending to a perfect experience in a beautiful country. The memories will stay with me forever and I will be endlessly grateful for the strength of spirit that I have found there. The layers have stripped and I vow to continue to hop forward from now on just like a kangaroo with deep gratitude in my heart.

Om Namo Narayani
xox