Thai Surprise

I didn’t intend on making my way up to South East Asia on this trip. I had been invited to join friends on a trek through Cambodia months ago but didn’t feel ready then and was more curious about Australia and New Zealand at the time. But while in New Zealand, a couple of new friends from Ireland were talking about their plans on heading to Thailand and its neighboring countries. My curiosity was peaked. So after a little research, I booked a flight to Bangkok with a stopover in Singapore to meet up with Mary and Clare.

I arrived in Singapore and checked into a hostel in Little India for a couple of nights which, despite the deplorable condition of our 28 bed dorm, made me feel quite at home because I was surrounded by the Indian culture that I just adore. Singapore was an even bigger turnoff the second time around. The girls and I literally could not wait to get to the airport (which is just about the only reason to stop there).

As soon as we arrived at the Bangkok Airways gate, I cosmically sat down next to a Buddhist monk dressed in a golden robe and a new level of excitement and anticipation leapt into my chest. His kind spirit and compassionate nature confirmed that I had made the right choice yet again and I knew that I was exactly where I belonged. He and I sat and discussed meditation, the importance of living in the moment and the value of being mindful of every infinitesimal act. During that hour, I was reminded of so much that I have learned over the past 8 months and so much that I tend to forget in the twinkling of an eye.

Arriving into Bangkok was nowhere near as hectic as I expected, India has prepared me for the absolute worst of transportation nightmares, so being hassled by cab drivers barely sparks an iota of anxiety anymore (until you feel as though you are being conned or ripped off which can get my nostrils flaring). We arrived at our guest house, The Wild Orchid Villa, at around 1 am, checked out the $3 a night rooms that we had reserved, decided we were not up for the window-less and stifling rooms and upgraded to the $10 a night option instead which felt like an upscale accommodation dream.

The next morning we woke up and began to explore the surrounding area. Bangkok is chaotic, but not unbearable. I actually love the madness of the “tuk tuk” versus motorbike traffic and the swarms of diverse tourists who roam the streets. There is a beautiful medley of eccentric hippies with dreadlocks and tattoos and more “upscale” looking travelers who blend in with the Thai shopkeepers, drug pushers and “lady boys”. Having only a few days there before heading up North, we indulged in some very affordable shopping, delicious food and of course the ever so blissful Thai massage outrageously (but gratefully) priced at $4 for an hour of perfect relaxation. That evening we met up with a British couple, Jamie and Anne, that the girls met while traveling in Australia and whom were planning on passing through the same areas that we were. Suddenly, our little family went from 3 to 5.

The following day, we all made our way back to the airport and boarded a flight up to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. After settling into our $3 a night “guest house” with it’s oh so suitable wood like mattresses we made our way over to the infamous night market and were dazzled by the eclectic goods and unique local artwork.

After a fairly uncomfortable night’s sleep, we woke up and began to visit some of the temples that the area is so well known for. I had read about something called “monk chats” at a temple called Wat Suan Dok which was supposed to be particularly beautiful at sunset. When we arrived, we were amazed by the beauty of the temple with its golden façade, gigantic Buddha statues and dozens of monks dressed in their orange robes; some mowing the lawn while others played games with the several stray dogs that have comfortably made the monastery their home.

I inquired about the “monk chats” and we were escorted into a modest room which is set up like a classroom. Clare, Mary and I were sat down at a table on one side. Two monks sat across from us and informed us that we were welcome to ask them absolutely anything about their traditions, Buddhism, the temples, etc. We were assured that no question was too outrageous and that they are open to all inquiries. My mind began to flurry with queries and the questions began to pour out.

I have read quite a bit about Buddhism and although I don’t consider myself religious per sea, I really respect the Buddhist belief system and think there is so much to learn from it. I love the idea that Enlightenment is an inner journey, not something you can search for outwardly. I also strongly agree with the importance of taking responsibility for ones actions. I could have sat and talked with them for hours. Just being in their presence gave me hope and made me appreciate this experience that much more. We left the temple feeling humble and grateful.

The next morning we jumped in a tuk tuk and set out on a two day trek into the jungle, an activity that Chiang Mai is renowned for. Our adventure began with an elephant ride through the forest and into a river; this was followed by a 4 hour uphill hike to a remote village in the mountains, after a quick swim in a gorgeous waterfall. Our guides were a comical duo named Mr. K and Tony who impressively walked in simple flip flops and sang ironic versions of western songs the whole way.

Our campsite in the village consisted of a wood hut with a very long communal dining table, makeshift rooms made of old molded mattresses and mosquito netting and the dingiest bathroom that I have come across to date but the exquisite view of green and yellow tiered pastures made up for our modest surroundings. Mr. K and Tony prepared a delicious meal over a fire pit, whiskey and beer began to flow and the next thing we knew, our group of 15 became a giddy impromptu family. A group of children from the village came down and serenaded us with beautiful local songs and we did our best to sing back to them very ineffectively. My face hurt from smiling so hard. That was the moment that I fell in love with Thailand.

The next day we made the trek down the mountain, passing through more local villages, awed by their humble lifestyle and finished the day by climbing onto rafts made of bamboo poles and floating down a river. When we arrived back in to Chiang Mai, I treated myself to another Thai massage and mentally prepared for the 2 day slow boat ride to Laos that we had scheduled for the following day.

Although Thailand was never a country that I ever really dreamed about traveling to, I am so glad I did. The locals are kind and friendly and exploring their beautiful country is easy and virtually hassle free. The Thai people have taught me to laugh louder, live bigger and to love more. I look forward to returning to the South after Vietnam and cannot wait to go back and really saturate myself in the Thai culture and lifestyle.

Love and Light from South East Asia.
xoxo

Letting The Adventure Spirit Soar in New Zealand

Flying over and into New Zealand is like flying into a nature lover’s dream: snow capped mountains and miles and miles of green foliage embrace the landscape like a magic carpet. My heart leapt in anticipation over what was to come as I landed in Wellington and was welcomed by Marianne, a friend I met at the Yoga Retreat in Bali back in June. As we drove to her beautiful home in Paekakariki, a small village which is located on the West Coast South tip of the North Island, I couldn’t get over the views of turquoise water and lush green hills.

Marianne is a Yoga teacher and human rights activist who recently left her job at Oxfam to focus on writing a book about her experiences in Afghanistan. She very kindly opened her home to me without hesitation despite the fact that we don’t know each other that well and that she is under pressure to finish her book. I had mentioned that I was interested in volunteering with a local conservation group while I was visiting and she put me in touch with Nga Uruora. Nga Uruora - Kapiti Project Charitable Trust is a community based conservation project with a big work program and an even bigger vision. Set up in 1997 to reverse the drastic decline of coastal forest, they are aiming to create a continuous ribbon of bird-safe native forest running from Porirua through to Waikanae.

I was all set to begin planting trees the minute I arrived in Paekakariki and contacted Joe, the head of the organization the following day. I was instructed to meet him and a group of volunteers on the beach the next morning. When I arrived Joe informed me that our goal for the day was to plant 680 trees along the coastline as well as along the highway. Eight other volunteers and I began the task of digging and planting and five hours later we had miraculously achieved our goal and blessed 680 trees with new Earth homes. It always amazes me what a small group of focused and dedicated people can achieve in such a short amount of time.

The following day I began plotting my journey to the South Island, which I was told was an essential trip to make. After doing a little research, I decided to take a Stray bus which is a tour service that gives you the freedom to hop on and off the bus wherever you like, so if I fell in love with an area I would be able to stay there for awhile and then book another bus in my own time.

I spent a few more beautiful days practicing yoga with Marianne and getting myself prepared for the excursion that laid head. I hopped on a train to Wellington and boarded a ferry to Picton in the South Island. I got on the Stray bus upon my arrival and the next thing I knew I was sipping wine at the Hunter Vineyards in the Marlborough Region with new friends.

The Coastal drive to the Abel Tasman National Park is spectacular and reminds me of the Pacific Coast Highway back home. The road is steep and windy in places. The turquoise ocean dances on one side and glorious luscious hills ripe with palm trees, exotic ferns and hundreds and hundreds of sheep and adorable lambs grace the other. As we pulled into The Barn hostel driveway, I smiled with amazement at the beauty I had just witnessed and thought about how fortunate I was to be in New Zealand, a country I never in my wildest dreams imagined ever getting to.

I was put in a room with four girls from Ireland: Niamh (pronounced Nieve), Elaine, Clare and Mary. All of the girls work with children in some capacity so we developed an immediate kinship. The next morning, we set out to explore exquisite Abel Tasman with a beautiful 3 hour hike. Once we reached the ocean shore line, we embarked on a sail boat and drifted in the waters to get an alternate view of the National Park. The boat ride was stunning despite the rain and chilly weather.

The next morning, I taught our group a lovely yoga class on a deck at the base of Abel Tasman at sunrise and mentally prepared myself for the hang gliding that I had signed up for. A few years ago, I had experienced sky diving and loved the sensation of drifting through the sky like a bird. When I arrived at Sky Adventures, I was helped into a suit and placed into the Hang Glide which was attached to the back of a small plane. I thought about how insane what I was about to do was and decided to let fear fall to the wayside. As we drifted up into the air and detached from the plane, my heart sunk into my stomach and then I felt a tremendous amount of exhilaration. How beautiful it was to float above New Zealand, looking down on all the sheep, cows and patches of green landscape.

Upon landing, I boarded a bus once again and made the way to Franz Josef Glacier. The magnificent Franz Josef Glacier is widely regarded as the gem of New Zealand’s West Coast Glaciers. After putting spikes on my boots, and being handed an ice pick I was on my way to hike up the spectacular and most challenging glacier terrain imaginable. The climb took a total of 5-6 hours on the ice. We found ourselves in all manner of situations, from squeezing through tight blue crevasses and sliding through ice caves to “Franz shuffling” down near vertical walls of ice. The experience confirmed my absolute love of adventure and proof that my body and spirit are capable of just about anything I set my mind to. At the end of the day, I happily submerged my weary body in a natural hot spring and contemplated the ongoing bliss that I was experiencing.

The following morning I received an email from my friend Denise who I had travelled with in the Australian Outback. She works for TNT Magazine, a very well known backpacker publication in Australia. She had entered me in a contest, unbeknownst to me, for a free week of skiing and accommodation in Queenstown and I won! The package included free gear, lift tickets and accommodation for me and a friend. I was absolutely thrilled because I was hoping to ski while there but knew I couldn’t justify the expense. This was confirmation once again of the power of the Law of Attraction and the pure generosity of the Universe.

I invited Niamh and Elaine to share the room with me at the Pinewood Lodge and we figured out a way to share in the lift tickets up to Coronet’s Peak gorgeous mountain. We spent the next several days relishing in the freedom of skiing down the lush trails, while absorbing the glorious breathtaking views.

After Queenstown, we drove down to the Milford Sound region and boarded a ferry onto the water. The area is absolutely breathtaking. Tree covered hills, mountains and rocks overflowing with multiple waterfalls peak through magical mist. Seals dance and play without a care in the world. We spent the night in the “charming” Gunn’s Camp which was cold and damp and quite miserable at the time, but added to the unique experience in retrospect. We all bundled around the coal burning stove which doubled as an oven to cook soup and make tea on.

My four Irish friends and I decided to rent a car upon returning to Queenstown and set out on a cross country drive to Dunedin, a small university town which is located on the East Coast. The drive was spectacular. The scenery never gets old in New Zealand. If I could have put one of the lambs into my backpack, I would have. There I met up with my friend Holly, another Kiwi friend that I had met at the Yoga retreat in Bali and she treated me to a reggae show by the local group Kachafire which was extraordinary.

After a couple of days of exploring Dunedin, we made our way back to Queenstown and then jumped on yet another bus to Christchurch. A few days later, I sadly hugged my Irish friends’ goodbye and continued the journey up the coastline on my own. I drove up to Kaikoura and spent time falling in love with baby seals before making my way to Nelson, an adorable hippie town that I was told I would adore. I checked into the delightful Accents on the Park hostel which felt more like a Bed and Breakfast and inquired about the local yoga schools which the town was well known for. I spent the next week submersing myself in multiple yoga and meditation classes and even took a day to Paraglide off a mountain top.

Marianne suggested I check out a Yoga and Meditation Ashram in Takaka which is located in the Golden Bay. I rented a car and drove up the astonishing seashore and arrived in what I consider to be the closest I have been to paradise. Upon pulling into the gates of the Anahata Ashram, I felt overwhelmed with a deep profound feeling of peace. After settling into my room, I was given my schedule for the week. Every day we were woken up at 4:30 am and were sitting in the Yoga Shala by 5 am for silent meditation and chanting which was followed by breakfast in silence until 8:30 am. From then to 12 pm we were given “Karma Yoga” shores which is work that you do with an open heart and mindful attention. I was asked to work in the garden which gave me a tremendous amount of pleasure. All of the food that they eat at Anahata is grown on the property which is completely sustainable. Yoga Nidra is practiced before lunch, then Karma Yoga is continued until 5:30 pm. Yoga class is given at 6 pm followed by a light dinner and then silence is enforced by 8:30 pm until 8:30 am the following morning.

Although most people would find the schedule at Anahata too rigid, I felt perfectly at home there. If I could, I would have stayed for months but it was time to head back up to Marianne’s home in Paekakariki to begin planning the next leg of my journey: South East Asia.

New Zealand taught me so much about myself. For one, it reminded me that I love adventure and spontaneity. It also confirmed, yet again, how important it is for me to reside in nature. I learned so much about gardening and the importance of living in a sustainable and efficient way. I hope to take all of the lessons that I learned there and apply them to my life back home, wherever that ends up being.

Much Love and Light.
xoxo