Where to begin?  

There is so much about my experience in India that just can't easily be put into words.  Flying from Thailand, my mind and life were awhirl with both uncertainty as well as possibility.  This past year on sabbatical from my job, I've enjoyed great flexibility and spent much time reconnecting with family and friends.  Although I truly enjoy what I've been doing in my work, it had become lonely on the road and and even though my "nomadic gene" keeps me looking towards the next opportunity and adventure, I was definitely feeling more lost than found.  

Completing a yoga teacher's training course has been on my bucket list for a few years.  Teaching yoga as a "job" was not the focus of going through such a training.  My goal was to deepen my own practice and gather more understanding and depth.  The opportunity to take a course in India arose and I made the commitment a couple of months in advance which in itself was difficult, as so much of my life was already out of balance.   It felt like a splurge on myself, but also a chance to dig deep and accomplish something that I wasn't even sure I could do.  One of my American friends in Thailand had done some research and identified a couple of schools that stood out to her and had been highly recommended.  We were supposed to attend together but at the last minute she couldn't get her visa straightened out so I went alone.  It turned out to be what I needed at that time, and of course I met some amazing people.  

India has intrigued me from my first visit.  The mashup of noise, grime, and poverty is barely balanced by the splashes of colour worn by the women and the shy smiles of the children.  The depth of history, culture, and spirituality that is woven through everyday life is evident if you take the time to look.  

Living in an Ashram for a month in Rishikesh, considered one of the holiest cities in India was perfect for me.  Rishikesh lies in Northern India, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a 6 hour, wild road trip from New Delhi.  If you haven't read my previous blogs about India, just know that riding in any vehicle is downright frightening in the cities.  I discovered it was worse in the countryside.  Luckily I lived to tell the tale of this adventure.  Passing on blind corners, careening along at max speed alternating with abrupt brake slamming to avoid the frequent cow or ox cart is normal.  Luckily, having lived and dealt with traffic in many SE Asian countries it isn't quite as alarming to me as it probably should be.  

Rishikesh itself is known as the "Yoga Capitol of the World" and is meat and alcohol free.  It is considered a pilgrimage city as devout Hindus seeking enlightenment have travelled to the area since ancient times.  The Ashram building was set up on a high hill above the hustle and bustle of Rishikesh itself so we were treated to birdsongs and stunning sunrises.  The walk to town and the heat kept us on task and studious during the week.   The highly revered and sacred Ganges River flows directly through Rishikesh.  Of course, cows roam freely in the streets and monkeys are common both in town and in the surrounding countryside.  The Ganges remains relatively clean around Rishikesh but we did see a funeral pyre and celebration along side the river during one of our outings.  To drink the water is considered a common part of the blessing at local temples.  If you dare! 

One weekend during my course was particularly auspicious.  As per the HIndu calendar it was THE weekend to hold a wedding so we also had front row seats to parties all around our neighbourhood.   One night, I heard pumping, Bollywood style music growing louder as I was studying in my room.  Curious as to what may be coming up the road, I walked out and was able to view the groom, gliding by on a white horse.  He was decked out in full regalia and was headed up the hill past us towards his bride with many revellers in his parade.  I'm sorry I didn't bring my camera out but it was just as you may have seen in the movies, but better.  

The Association for Yoga and Meditation provided a wonderful course.  We started at 0700 with a meditation and pranayama (breathing) class, then a short tea break, followed by 1.5 hours of Ashtanga yoga.  We then inhaled our breakfast and spent a few hours in lectures.  The daily topics included Anatomy and Physiology, Teaching Methodologies, Mantras, Teaching Practice, and one of my all time favourite topics- Philosophy.  During my time at Gonzaga, the Jesuits had us consume equal amounts of philosophy and religion, a perfect compliment from my perspective.  We ended the day with 1.5 hours of Hatha yoga, basically a 7a-7p schedule.  The weather was getting hotter by the day, the air was full of smoke from all the local burning, and we were tired but fulfilled.  I have to give a shout out to all of our teachers, led by the course director, Yogi Chetan Mahesh.  Such a dedicated, knowledgable, and kind group.  The course was all I expected and more.  

We had Sundays off which meant that any exploring had to be done that day.  One day, a few of us walked almost 30,000 steps and climbed over 76 floors according to my Apple Health app (see proof in my slide show below).  Every Sunday we eagerly roamed all over town; rafting the Ganga, hiking up to waterfalls, poking around the Beatles Ashram, eating in local restaurants for a change of pace, and of course- shopping.  

Did you know the Beatles stayed at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Ashram in Rishikesh in 1968?  They composed most of the White Album and many other songs while studying Transcendental Meditation.  The Maharishi Ashram is now in ruins but houses some amazing urban wall art.  There are quite a few pics below of the artwork.  Make sure you view this blog in your browser by clicking on the title so you can see the many slides imbedded below.  

One of the side trips we took was to a temple, the Vashishtha Guha, along the Ganges about 25 km north of Rishikesh as well as a visit to the Neer Waterfall.  This was the day we put so many miles on our pedometers.  Along the hike to the waterfall were worker camps full of families.  Some pics of their living accomodations and the kids are included in the slides above. As always the kids were full of smiles although their living conditions were very challenging.  This is something that I find consistent around the world, children will smile if you smile at them.  I try to go out of my way to do just that.  They will realise the cruelty and harshness of the world soon enough.  

 Our AYM Philosophy teacher told us, "Yoga is not exercise, it is not a religion, it is not just the asanas (poses), Yoga IS excellence in all actions."   This was something that I loved to hear and plan to continue to work towards, excellence.  A quote I recently came across is a very basic definition of yoga:  "The word yoga comes from Sanskrit, the language of ancient India.  It means union, integration, or wholeness.  It is an approach to health that promotes the harmonious collaboration of the human being's three components: body, mind, and spirit."  ~ Stella Weller

As per the title, I did find my balance again on this journey.  My body became strong and my mind clearer and full of hope and excitement for what life may have in store.  The people I met at the Ashram were simply wonderful and made up a big part of my experience, infusing joy, hugs, and smiles into every day.  I'm back in Oregon now, at our lovely beach house, writing this as I listen to the sound of the ocean.  Once in awhile I glance up and peer out at the Pacific, then close my eyes and give thanks for my life, my health, family and friends.  
Here's to you, faithful reader.  May these words and photos make you smile.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti- To my heart this sings, "Dear God, grant peace to me, to those in my life, and bring peace to the world."  In light of yet another terrible mass shooting today, I hope you join me in a prayers for peace.
Namaste

Please open this in your browser if you have received this as an email.  There are loads of pics waiting for you, so click on the title and enjoy!

​Although I have spent the last few years living and working in Asia, I had never made it to Laos.  It is not on the radar for work projects as it is still far behind the more developed parts of Asia.  That said, Laos has certainly been a place I've wanted to visit for ages, and finally made it earlier this year.  

Corey and I spent the first few months of 2016 in Langkawi, Malaysia.  There are previous blogs related to our stay.  Please take a look.  Langkawi is a lovely island and wonderful holiday destination, particularly if you are already in SE Asia.  I was sorry that Corey's job opportunity came to an end but the down time gave us the chance to explore Laos while we reset our compasses.  

From Langkawi we traveled to Phuket to repack and then flew to Nong Khai, Thailand.  We were blessed to stay with a great friend, Fon, and her father, and stage ourselves for the journey into Laos.  Nong Khai is across the Mekong River from Laos on the Northern border of Thailand.  We also came back through Nong Khai to spend more time with Fon and our friend from Portland, Gene.  If you want to see the 'Real Thailand,' skip Phuket completely and head straight to Northern Thailand.  It is truly engaging, full of interesting things to see and do.  
​Thank you Fon, Pa, and Gene for everything!!  

We spent a few days in VV and then opted for the slightly more efficient minibus to Luang Prabang.  The minibus was quicker and more nimble, which I appreciated as we careened over a mountain pass with no railings.  The road was washed out at different points and many rocks and many small landslides littered the road.  I have to admit I was keeping one eye on the hill alongside of us in case it decided to fall so I could brace myself.  It was a spooky ride!  To add to this story's intrigue, after we returned from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, I read in an expat travel advisory that the exact road we were on had recently been the site of attacks on busses and minivans traveled between the towns.  The local hill tribe, the Hmong, were not happy about the "new road" and used AK47's to express their feelings, killing some tourists by shooting a passing busses and minivans.  This happened only a couple of weeks before we were there!  Ignorance is bliss I guess.  ​

Luang Prabang ranks highly on my list of favorite SE Asian cities.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and lies 300 km (190 miles) North of Vientiane in North Central Laos.  It used to be the capital of the Kingdom of Laos until the communist take over in 1975.  The community was named Luang Prabang in 698 CE/AD when it was conquered by a Tai (not Thai) Prince.  It is famous as a Buddhist spiritual center with many temples and monasteries.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luang_Prabang
Personally, I loved the spiritual, artsy vibe it exudes from every ancient building, temple, and walkway.  The oldest part of town is nestled on a peninsula between the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers.  

We spent a few nights in LP and rented a motor bike so we could explore nearby areas up and down the main road.  Specifically, we rode the bike up to access a Pak Ou Cave Temple across the Mekong.  It is built in a cave and is heavily visited by locals and tourists alike.  We also motored to the nearby Kuang Si waterfall.  There are also tuk-tuks willing to take tourists to all local attractions if motorbikes aren't your bag. 

A TripAdvisor WIN was a search for restaurants "nearby" our guest house.  Cafe Toui popped up as highly rated, authentic local food.  We walked over one evening and it was closed.  The next evening we tried again and are very happy to report that the food was spectacular!  The cafe is an intimate place, located on the main floor of an old shophouse.  Chef Toui visits your table and actually took our order as he wasn't busy when we arrived.  Highly recommend this cafe in Luang Prabang for Laos specialties!  

I truly enjoyed Laos.  It is hard to get to but worth the bumps along the road.  It is economical to travel around Laos and the people are very friendly.  It is a communist country and any political discussions are strongly discouraged but in general the country is slowly developing and we found it very welcoming.   If Lao has not been on your itinerary, it should be!  

Thailand is kicking off its New Year's celebration, Songkran. I'm currently in Northern Thailand, Nong Khai to be exact, and have been lucky enough to experience the build up to Songkran with my local friend Fon, our mutual friend Gene, and Corey.
The last few days, Fon has been attending practice for a dance that is done to praise and honor Buddha. The dance is done by men and women, all dressed in traditional Thai garb. I've watched them practice, and every day more people have joined the dance. Tonight was the dress rehearsal for tomorrow's big celebration. What a spectacle! There must have been well over 1000 people filling the entire temple grounds and joining together in a wonderful dance.
During all the action I happened to notice these two boys holding hands. They were likely told to 'keep track' of each other in the crowd. It made me think a bit about life. It is wonderful to have someone hold your hand, to navigate life together, to feel like a team. If you lose that hand, you immediately feel adrift. You may feel lost, without a rudder. Even the strongest person may not know where to turn and may have a bit of fear. I believe that it is at these times that we can grow as we find our way. It's much easier to hold on tightly to someone's hand but if the grip is lost, you must remember all is not lost. Being lost can be an adventure, it's all how you perceive the experience.
Stay tuned as I travel to Rishakesh, India to attend yoga teacher's training. Hopefully I will have enough internet to write about a recent trip into Laos while I travel. The blogs may not match the timeline but the adventure continues.
Happy Songkran Thailand!
​

Skydive Langkawi shares the hangar with the SAS Helicopter team. This is a beautiful flying machine! Captain Sean is available to whisk you along on a magnificent scenic flight.
Skydiving and heli flights! Two wonderful ways to experience the Magical Island of Langkawi!

If you visit the tropics, this is something to look out for. Seriously!
While walking the shelter dogs today, I finally noticed this sign. I'm quite sure it has been there and I was too busy hanging on to dogs that are soooo eager for their loop around the property I didn't see it.
Making friends during my stay on Langkawi has not been too difficult. My yoga teacher also works with the local shelter and thus my "in" to walk dogs and cuddle kitties.
It's a fun way to spend a productive morning.
If you are an expat reading this blog, have you done any local volunteering? What's been your favorite community opportunity so far?
​Tourists and expats, look out for coconuts!

Loving Langkawi!

Corey and I have been living on Langkawi, Malaysia for about 2 months. Langkawi was not even on our radar of potential places to see in Southeast Asia. A conversation with an Aussie friend launched Corey into the “job of the moment” and me into a life of leisure.

First off, Langkawi is actually an archipelago of 104 islands of which 99 remain above water at high tide. There are only a few that are inhabited. Langkawi Island, is the largest in size and population. It is fast becoming a high-end holiday destination due to shrewd marketing and an ideal location. Tourists arrive from all over the world but it is a backdoor destination for Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The short, direct flights allow for a nice weekend escape. New direct flights from Guangzhou, China are promoting access to a very fertile Chinese market. As part of Malaysia, Langkawi has of course, an Islamic focused culture. This feature is also attracting moneyed clients from the Middle East.

Living between Thailand and Singapore the past couple of years highlighted the difference between those two countries. Now living on Langkawi, we observe new contrasts between Langkawi and Phuket. Phuket, Thailand is a huge island with a truly excessive number of tourists. It has a few redeeming qualities but there are certainly many other much more enjoyable island destinations in Thailand. Singapore is a wonderful place. Very clean, orderly, and expensive. I found pockets of deeply rooted culture in Singapore but it is certainly not an “in your face” Asian experience. I would suggest visiting Singapore if you want to ‘ease into’ Asia.

Back to Langkawi! The primary island and waters, including nearby islands, have been named the first GeoPark in SE Asia. What is a GeoPark you might ask? It is defined as “a UNESCO-designated area containing one or more sites of particular geological importance, intended to conserve the geological heritage and promote public awareness.” This is very exciting as the island is striving to promote more ecologically friendly tourism.

Corey and I took a boat tour of the mangroves and GeoPark area. You can rent an entire boat, which we did, for two to five hours, depending on what you want to do and see. We chose the 2 hour tour (I’m hearing Gilligan’s Island theme in my head as I write). We were most interested in the mangroves, the Bat Caves, and the area famous for the local eagles. Langkawi is actually named for the local reddish-brown eagle. They are spectacular! There is also a local bald eagle. We were able to observe both in an open section of the mangroves. There are boats that offer the eagles chicken skin and chicken parts. This is very likely NOT ecologically sound but hey, we are in SE Asia. This is something that likely should be addressed locally. I was just glad to see the mangroves being kept relatively clean as well as the focus on the natural flora and fauna. FYI- we did NOT feed the eagles and I would certainly encourage anyone who visits to discourage their tour operator from doing so.

As we slowly coasted through the mangroves, the water shimmered and reflected the drooping tangled branches of the trees. The watery shallows revealed the mangrove roots or “knees.” We were lucky to have adventured out at low tide. Our boat travelled through a cave and also stopped on the gray mud flats to watch the bustle of activity. Mudskippers walking on their front fins and crabs carrying the “doors” to their homes, popping them in behind as they crawled down their holes.

Snakes are common in the mangroves and our guide’s eagle eyes spotted a lazy cobra in the branches. We got as close as we dared for a photo opportunity.

Another adventure found us on a ferry to a nearby Thai island for one night. Koh Lipe is 1.5 hours away from Langkawi and a million miles difference in everything besides distance! Koh Lipe is beautiful. It is a very small island with few roads and can be primarily explored by foot. It has crystal clear water and is ringed by cream colored sandy beaches. It was a nice distraction from our usual life on Langkawi. Langkawi finds the locals in conservative Islamic clothing for the most part and tourists stand out. Koh Lipe is the total opposite. More bikinis per square inch of island than I’ve seen in a while. Corey was very appreciative. We ate as much pork as we could get our hands on in just over 24 hours. We can get good Thai food in Langkawi but Thai style bbq pork is really hard to beat. You can only eat so much chicken…

Here are some pics of both Langkawi and Koh Lipe. Please open this blog in your browser so you can see the slideshows! I look forward to your comments, as always.

After an amazing Fall and holiday season in the PACNW 2016 finds us living on an island in Malaysia called Langkawi. Corey is helping with a start up Australian-owned skydiving operation and I'm enjoying my leave.
I'm testing out doing a blog post on my phone so this will be short and sweet.
The picture above is where we currently live. It is a local style triplex with a wonderful view and a short walk to a small village area. I will post a few pics of what my typical morning is like. Don't forget to open this in your browser so you can see the slideshow.

As you can see, I have a functional kitchen and a choice of places to sit and enjoy my egg sandwich.
Hope everyone has a great day! More soon, stay tuned.

London, the final stop on our mini European vacation.  Stephanie, Mom and I planned to take Steph's car to a train station out near their home, park, and ride the train into London.  In theory, perfect.  In fact, and for your information, do NOT count on a parking space at any and all train stations with extended parking in the English countryside.  We drove to 3 stations, drove around their lots, and finally (and very luckily) spied an open spot.  Whew!  Driving and parking in London are challenging and expensive so the train was the best choice.  Just a head's up that parking cannot be guaranteed, so don't plan a tight schedule upon arrival.  

We had an amazing time.  Our hotel, again booked through Booking.com was not too bad.  It was clean but the room was very small for a triple.  No space to put luggage and the bathroom reminded me of a cross between a airplane bathroom and a Japanese bathroom. So very tiny and efficient.  If you put a shower in an airplane bathroom, that would be a good description.  I was just happy it had hot water.  We stayed in the Paddington area, an easy walk to the tube station.  This is a reasonable location as you can get anywhere on the trains/tube.   We also spent a lot of time walking which is easy to do in London.  

Some of the highlights of London for me were Westminster Abbey, the boat tour on the Thames, and of course, Billy Elliot, the Musical.  Best of all it was just grand to explore with Mom and Stephanie.  

Westminster Abbey was so very interesting.  It was founded in 960 by Benedictine monks who continue to worship there to this day.  It has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place for 17 monarchs and over 3000 people, some of them the most famous in England's history.  The present church was built in 1245 and is filled with paintings stained glass, tapestries, and more.   Pictures were forbidden so you will just have to visit it yourself to appreciate the history contained within its walls.  (some text from website: http://www.westminster-abbey.org)   Westminster Cathedral is also impressive to walk through.  We had hoped to get to the top of the tower for the viewing area but it was closed.  If that is an option and you have a fairly clear day, I'd recommend it.  If you don't feel like hiking up multiple stories, just viewing the cathedral's main floor is worth your time.  

There are a few options for viewing London from the Thames river.  This is worthwhile and we meant to get the hop on, hop off boat but ended up on an hour tour with a hilarious narrator.  His commentary was worth the error and we laughed about some of his jokes for the rest of the trip.  

Camden Markets is a unique and cost effective option to grab lunch or early dinner and do some shopping.  There are many food booths, representing multiple nationalities.  Some of the vendors are located in the Stables Markets which is an old stable area that has been handsomely remodeled to house the vendors amid the doorways and arches.  

We all thought Billy Elliot was Fantastic!!  The Victoria Palace Theatre was rebuilt in 1910 and is a classic building.  The musical Billy Elliot has been playing there since 2005 and is also a movie so if you want to smile and laugh, rent and enjoy. 

Don't forget to click on the title of the blog to open in your browser so you can enjoy the slideshow below.

Happy New Year and may 2016 find you just where you want to be, with a happy heart and a smile on your face.

Stay tuned for more adventures back in Asia as I will be returning there just after New Year's day to join Corey in Langkawi Island, Malaysia.  This is a new location for both of us and should provide some interesting blog fodder.

Cheers! 

 Don't forget to open this blog in your browser so you can see the slide shows.  

Our Euro holiday ended in London but for a few days prior we stayed with my lovely niece Stephanie and her hubby Alex, near Lakenheath.  Mom and I took a train down from Edinburgh to Cambridge to catch up with Stephanie as Cambridge is about an hour's drive from their home.  I had always wanted to see this famous collegiate town so we spent one night in a less than lovely hotel before heading back to Lakenheath.  It bears mentioning here that I used the phone app for booking.com fairly exclusively while booking on the go and have decided that if you do not want to spend the time and effort cross-referencing reviews on Trip Advisor or other website do NOT expect much from a hotel on booking.com with less than an 8.8/10 review.  When reviewing, I’ve noted that you really have to dish hard on a property to get them rated under 8.0/10 so I believe the reviews are skewed towards highly positive.  

Cambridge is beautiful!  We had a sunny, crisp fall day to wander about and enjoyed taking in the historical vibe of the city.  To enter most of the college grounds and historical buildings there is a charge so that was a bit off-putting, especially with the exchange rate not in our favor.  I was looking towards a few days in London and was feeling a bit pinched on the travel budget by the time we arrived in Cambridge.  We did cough up the fee to walk around Queen’s College, founded initially in 1446 and “refounded” in 1475.  Outstanding buildings and grounds!  The back of the property had a wooden bridge across the Cambridge River.  A great place to watch the Punters float by.

You might wonder, what is Punting?  Take a look at the slideshow below to see the slender wooden boats guided by young men with long sticks.  That is punting.  We didn’t go, which is the one thing I actually think we should have done on the entire trip that we skipped.  It was entertaining to watch and listen to the young men providing their narrative as they slipped under the bridge below us.  
​
We also went into the Fitzwilliam Museum and ate lunch in their cafe.  It has wonderful collections of everything from armor and paintings, to porcelain and more.  Really worth the visit and it’s free.  

From Stephanie and Alex’s place we took day trips around the area.  We visited Cromer, a lovely seaside village.  We toured the Surf Lifesaver building on the pier and walked through the shops.  Again, we were lucky to have a cool, sunny day at the shore.

Stephanie also took us to Bury St. Edmund.  I loved this charming village for it’s history and for keeping itself up so nicely for visitors.  The Cathedral, St. Mary’s Church, and the ruins of the nearby Abbey were all excellent spots to explore.  Bury (for short) also boasts Britain’s Smallest Pub--The Nutshell.  I didn’t stop for a drink but then, there weren't 3 seats available!   Some of the burial crypts in the ancient cathedrals have stone figures on top.  A few looked quite a bit like Voldemort.  I wondered if these figures inspired the artists for the Harry Potter movies.

Across the UK and Ireland; history comes to life.  As someone who loves architecture, antiques, art, and all the rest, it was truly an exciting place to explore.  We also visited an English Heritage site called Audley End.  It is a massive house which was actually a palace all but in name.  It started as an Abbey in 1538 and became a residence later in that century where King James l was entertained.  It remains huge although much has been demolished.  The gardens have an active stable built in the 17th century.  The Kitchen Garden is run by an organic gardening charity.  The home is full of paintings, books, and a bed the King slept in.  It is well preserved and can be viewed on the self guided tour.  The stable is well preserved as well and we enjoyed seeing the horses and playing around on the exhibit.  
​

I hope you enjoyed this little section of our adventure.  Stay tuned for the next chapter- LONDON!  
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to our readers.  Please comment and share.  Thank you!!