wow what a trip this has been, arriving here a month ago seems like a distant memory.
I enjoy some wonderful island life on the beach snorkeling. the treasures I saw and time spent a with a new sea turtle friend will always be wonderful memories. yesterday I tool the boat back to Bali, sitting on the roof letting the sun best down on me and the waves gentle spashly me cooling me along with the sea breeze. Ubud is a different place no settled in the low season and preparing for the rainy season.
no more crowds and high shopping prices, it's almost an erie silience that I do enjoy.
I woke up this morning ready for an adventure. now being confident on a motorbike, I hoped on and handle the streets and crazy 3 way intersections like a local. I head to the Elephant Cave, and sacred place where a cave slightly resembles the face of elephant. afterwards enjoyed a sweaty hike through the jungle to do a secluded river and had a nice grounding meditation even through the smell of bat poo filled the air. lush jungle and trinkling clear water is so rejuvenating for me. so thankful for that being my last exploration of this island.
so much to reflect upon and hold close to my heart from this trip.
now I'm packing up, doing some last minute shopping in the market and one last balinese massage. they have become a little addiction of mine here.
I have a 9 hr stop over in Korea where two friends from Japan have decided to take a short vacation there and spent lunch with me before I head back to the homeland. I'm ready to embrace the fall weather. i'm sure it will be an adjustment as I have been enjoying 30-40 degree weather here in Indonesia.
with this I sign off from Bali!
much love
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
island hoping and homemade chai
the past few days I've been enjoying islanding hoping. based on Gili Air, I ventured for the day on to Gili Trawagan (the bigger and more popular of the 3 Gili islands). Arriving there the energy was different more people, more shops, more fast paced. I explored the island and hiked its most noticable features. . . a 72m hill, which is quite the elevation as the Gilis are very flat islands about 2-3m above sea level. meeting two girls from Europe on the boat ride over, we hung out for the day on the busy beach shaing our stories and thoughts about our home countries. grabbing a good coffee with them I hoped on the last boat back to Gili Air, arriving home just in time to see the sunset over Gili Trawagan's hill.
the next day I woke up early to join my friend Natascha to go to Lombok to do some shopping for the yoga centre here. we met our driver on the shore, and spent a beautiful 1hr drive to Mataram, the capital city of the island. the drive was breath taking, along side the mountains, and through lush forests. it was was nice to be among the colour green, as the Gilis are quite dry receiving no rain for quite some time. we spent the day going from shop to shop, on busy main roads and small little maze like roads to collect what was needed. I enjoyed seeing the non tourist side of this city and seeing the character and local life. our last stop was to this fresh outdoor food market. it definitely makes you appreciate Sobeys and Loblaws. fresh ripe fruits and veggies shine through clouds of flies. I was enjoying it so much and seeing all the quirky faces that sit behind each stall until I came across the the fresh dead chicken bodies, freshly plucked with their feet/claws still yellow, resting next to raw animal bits I did not even want to ask what they were. my western nose was in shock of the smells, but I found an appreciation as I observed how everyday this was to the faces doing their daily shopping here.
Lomok is for sure different then Bali. it is a more developing island, more chaos and a lot more dirtier, far more similar to India. Bali has its traffic and its mess but their is an energy on the island that gives a sparkle that truly shines above it. however Lombom is finding it's charm having a new airport open at the beginning of the month. beautiful but simple mosques pop up all over the place. the Arabian designs blends among the coconut trees and Indonesian smiles. truly giving you a sense a of the mixture of culture and faith here.
after a busy and tiring day Natascha and I returned and decided to have a night in at the centre. finding the ingredients in the pantry to make some chai to relax with. to our surprise we whipped up a batch the rivaled the chai we both had tasted in India.
today I'm back on Gili Air just enjoy the quiet and slow pace. hard to believe this time next week I will be back home in Toronto. but in the mean while I'm going for a snokel and see what treasures the ocean will reveal to me today.
the next day I woke up early to join my friend Natascha to go to Lombok to do some shopping for the yoga centre here. we met our driver on the shore, and spent a beautiful 1hr drive to Mataram, the capital city of the island. the drive was breath taking, along side the mountains, and through lush forests. it was was nice to be among the colour green, as the Gilis are quite dry receiving no rain for quite some time. we spent the day going from shop to shop, on busy main roads and small little maze like roads to collect what was needed. I enjoyed seeing the non tourist side of this city and seeing the character and local life. our last stop was to this fresh outdoor food market. it definitely makes you appreciate Sobeys and Loblaws. fresh ripe fruits and veggies shine through clouds of flies. I was enjoying it so much and seeing all the quirky faces that sit behind each stall until I came across the the fresh dead chicken bodies, freshly plucked with their feet/claws still yellow, resting next to raw animal bits I did not even want to ask what they were. my western nose was in shock of the smells, but I found an appreciation as I observed how everyday this was to the faces doing their daily shopping here.
Lomok is for sure different then Bali. it is a more developing island, more chaos and a lot more dirtier, far more similar to India. Bali has its traffic and its mess but their is an energy on the island that gives a sparkle that truly shines above it. however Lombom is finding it's charm having a new airport open at the beginning of the month. beautiful but simple mosques pop up all over the place. the Arabian designs blends among the coconut trees and Indonesian smiles. truly giving you a sense a of the mixture of culture and faith here.
after a busy and tiring day Natascha and I returned and decided to have a night in at the centre. finding the ingredients in the pantry to make some chai to relax with. to our surprise we whipped up a batch the rivaled the chai we both had tasted in India.
today I'm back on Gili Air just enjoy the quiet and slow pace. hard to believe this time next week I will be back home in Toronto. but in the mean while I'm going for a snokel and see what treasures the ocean will reveal to me today.
Friday, October 14, 2011
island life is so simple and sweet
yesterday I landed on the beautiful island of Gili Air, about a 100km across the Bali strait off the island of Lombok. the bumpy but beautiful 2 hour boat ride was beautiful as the mountains and shores of Bali kissed the ocean line to then embark into the open sea. the sky was clear and the ocean a rich aquamaurine. Gili Air is a simple island, with some good but few restaurants. I found my home here on the north shore were I can enjoy the sunset over Gili Meno (the medium island of the 3 Gili Islands) every night. resting on the white sandy beach I enjoy the view of the water and the very mountainous island of Lombok.
there are no motor vehicles on the islands so you either walk, ride a bike or with your luggage hire a horse and buggy. it takes just over a hour to walk around the whole island, something I plan to do sometime soon. as well possibly doing my scuba diving certificate, seems to be the place to do it! but for now I'm just enjoying the beach, sun and cleansing my body in the elegant salt water.
there are no motor vehicles on the islands so you either walk, ride a bike or with your luggage hire a horse and buggy. it takes just over a hour to walk around the whole island, something I plan to do sometime soon. as well possibly doing my scuba diving certificate, seems to be the place to do it! but for now I'm just enjoying the beach, sun and cleansing my body in the elegant salt water.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
the adventure gets deeper
still hanging out in Ubud, the last few days have been amazing!
met up with my friend Natascha from my training. what a great connection we have, someone who I can easily laugh with.
it was the Ubud writers and readers festival the past week and we ventured to the closing party. An outdoor concert set among rich foliage and beautiful temple like museum with a talent band playing filled with the mandila, sitar and the dijery doo.
the next day I got the courage to rent a motorbike for the day and head to a new friends house, to take part in a beautiful sharing circle. a wonderful experience to just let out some of our thoughts and feelings while getting some non-judgemenal insight from the group. we then spent the evening hoping restaurants for a good dinner, intellectual conversation overn a glass of wine and our last stop was to indulge in some dessert. orange almond cake, chocolate almond cake and some lemon grass sorbet, so delicious. food always taste so good when you're in the presence of good company. something this trip has allowed for me to learn is the importance of a share group mind and how powerful the experience can be with like minded spirits.
one of the highlights so far was yesterday when I embarked on a early morning or late night (3am) hike up the Volcano Bratar. a challenging hike in the dark with my guide and my head lamp on, climbing up volcanic rock in time to reach the top for the sun rise. the full moon with all its beauty helped to light the way. after a sweaty 2 hours, a plateau awaited, sitting cuddled up with all my layers as the high winds and clouds graced me, I looked to the distantance and saw the sun peaking of Mt. Rijany a 3000m peak on the island of Lombok across the Bali strait. a sight very lucky to see as my guide told me the weather has often blocked this view. the sun gracefully shined inch by inch over the peak giving me warmth. the view from 1700m of the ocean, lake Bratar (at the base of the volcano), the distant island of Lombok took my breath away and stilled my mind completely. I was filled with appreciation and gratitude for my life and all the many opportunities I have and yet to know. I feel so comfortable when I up on a mountain top, it truly allows for you to know life is full of endless possibilities and that our worries are so small.
I ended the day off with a wonderful sunset dinner at a beautiful organic restaurant deep in the middle of rice fields. the walk back was magical as fire flies lit the way amongst the growing rice.
feeling such space and softness.
today is my last day in Ubud as tomorrow I head to the gilli islands, a set of small desert island off of Lombok. I'm so thrill to head there as my friend Natascha heads a yoga studio and is giving me the opportunity to teach there for a week, so thankful for the opportunity!
met up with my friend Natascha from my training. what a great connection we have, someone who I can easily laugh with.
it was the Ubud writers and readers festival the past week and we ventured to the closing party. An outdoor concert set among rich foliage and beautiful temple like museum with a talent band playing filled with the mandila, sitar and the dijery doo.
the next day I got the courage to rent a motorbike for the day and head to a new friends house, to take part in a beautiful sharing circle. a wonderful experience to just let out some of our thoughts and feelings while getting some non-judgemenal insight from the group. we then spent the evening hoping restaurants for a good dinner, intellectual conversation overn a glass of wine and our last stop was to indulge in some dessert. orange almond cake, chocolate almond cake and some lemon grass sorbet, so delicious. food always taste so good when you're in the presence of good company. something this trip has allowed for me to learn is the importance of a share group mind and how powerful the experience can be with like minded spirits.
one of the highlights so far was yesterday when I embarked on a early morning or late night (3am) hike up the Volcano Bratar. a challenging hike in the dark with my guide and my head lamp on, climbing up volcanic rock in time to reach the top for the sun rise. the full moon with all its beauty helped to light the way. after a sweaty 2 hours, a plateau awaited, sitting cuddled up with all my layers as the high winds and clouds graced me, I looked to the distantance and saw the sun peaking of Mt. Rijany a 3000m peak on the island of Lombok across the Bali strait. a sight very lucky to see as my guide told me the weather has often blocked this view. the sun gracefully shined inch by inch over the peak giving me warmth. the view from 1700m of the ocean, lake Bratar (at the base of the volcano), the distant island of Lombok took my breath away and stilled my mind completely. I was filled with appreciation and gratitude for my life and all the many opportunities I have and yet to know. I feel so comfortable when I up on a mountain top, it truly allows for you to know life is full of endless possibilities and that our worries are so small.
I ended the day off with a wonderful sunset dinner at a beautiful organic restaurant deep in the middle of rice fields. the walk back was magical as fire flies lit the way amongst the growing rice.
feeling such space and softness.
today is my last day in Ubud as tomorrow I head to the gilli islands, a set of small desert island off of Lombok. I'm so thrill to head there as my friend Natascha heads a yoga studio and is giving me the opportunity to teach there for a week, so thankful for the opportunity!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
An Island of ritual and offerings
here in Ubud there is a wonderful Monkey temple sanctuary. the monkeys have a special place in the Balinese culture. Hanuman is one of the main Hindu gods of worship and the monkeys here are believed to be decents of the mythological people Hanuman came from.
I came across this doctrine while strolling the lush forest the temple exist in. dozens of monkeys wondering about, asking for bananas, swinging from branches or just being cute and silly.
Tri-Hita Karana Doctrine:
Balinese Hindu philosophy states that peace and liberty are obtainable in our lives only when we respect and observe the 3 harmonious relationships.
1.the gods blessed life and created nature.
2. nature offers subsistence, nourishment, activities, and other needs of human beings.
3. human beings have an obligation to establish traditional village structure, to build temples in which to worship, to hold various ceremonies, to make daily offerings, to preserve nature, and to discuss and solve problems together.
I think this is a beautiful outlook on life and the relationship we must maintain with our environment. I wanted to share it with you. I'm a firm believer that we as humans are equal to the many species on this planet. although we have developed with a more sophisticated mind, I know that it was because we could take action to help maintain the balance. it has obviously been lost through the civil development across the world, since nature is so resilient it is really never to late. although this doctrine is specific to a culture I think it can be adjusted to all cultures in some way. it is truly a dream of mind to see this wonderful planet we live to be a well balanced place.
I came across this doctrine while strolling the lush forest the temple exist in. dozens of monkeys wondering about, asking for bananas, swinging from branches or just being cute and silly.
Tri-Hita Karana Doctrine:
Balinese Hindu philosophy states that peace and liberty are obtainable in our lives only when we respect and observe the 3 harmonious relationships.
1.the gods blessed life and created nature.
2. nature offers subsistence, nourishment, activities, and other needs of human beings.
3. human beings have an obligation to establish traditional village structure, to build temples in which to worship, to hold various ceremonies, to make daily offerings, to preserve nature, and to discuss and solve problems together.
I think this is a beautiful outlook on life and the relationship we must maintain with our environment. I wanted to share it with you. I'm a firm believer that we as humans are equal to the many species on this planet. although we have developed with a more sophisticated mind, I know that it was because we could take action to help maintain the balance. it has obviously been lost through the civil development across the world, since nature is so resilient it is really never to late. although this doctrine is specific to a culture I think it can be adjusted to all cultures in some way. it is truly a dream of mind to see this wonderful planet we live to be a well balanced place.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
reunions are so sweets, advenures are so fun
I swear I'm one of the luckiest souls in this universe. I spent the beginning of my trip here building a wonderful international kula (sanskrit for like minded community) with my training. once it ended I got the pleasure to head back to Ubud and meet up with Jen and Lara, to close friend's from a kula I formed in Guatemala 2 1/2 years ago with my very first teacher training. from one kula to another.
After a good meal, some shopping with many laughs to catch up, we decided to indulged with an afternoon at the spa. a traditional Balinese massage with fragrant oils, deep tissue kneading and some light stretching. the treatment followed with a full body exfoliant body scrub, with a milk based lather to bring a silky smooth finish to the skin. to top it off a bath layered with floating flowers to soak and relax. we were then treated with some hot ginger tea and some fruit to share our experiences of bliss.
we thought we could only continue this reunion with an adventure deeper into Bali. the next morning we embarked early with our driver Gut Dung (who told us to call him Good Day because it was easier to pronounce). we went up and over the central mountains to Lake Bratan to see a temple called Ulun Danu, which is used to get holy water for many ceremonies. the lake was breath taking, mountains all around and the clouds were almost reachable. our next stop was a mystical hot spring deep in the tropical jungle. blue sky and sun peaked through the palm trees and broad leaf tree canopy. sculpted dragons poured hot sulphuric water from their mouth into a series of 3 pools. it was truly a place to relax and be thankful for life. we came out of the jungle to the north shore of Bali, enjoying fruit juices. I got a delicious banana juice that left my mouth watering for more. we sat next to calm blue oceans with mountains, and rice fields along the shores. hesitant to head back into the car, we joined the jungle again to hike deep to find a series of beautiful waterfalls, where your mind couldn't resist being clear and calm. we swam in the cold but refreshing spring water. venturing back over the mountains had us driving through the clouds as we hit the ridge. on our decent we were blessed to see a rainbow from end to end. it was as if we were driving through a dream world.
we came back to Ubud to rest our heads from a busy day.
this island keeps surprising me with its beauty. I can't even imagine what in store for me next!
After a good meal, some shopping with many laughs to catch up, we decided to indulged with an afternoon at the spa. a traditional Balinese massage with fragrant oils, deep tissue kneading and some light stretching. the treatment followed with a full body exfoliant body scrub, with a milk based lather to bring a silky smooth finish to the skin. to top it off a bath layered with floating flowers to soak and relax. we were then treated with some hot ginger tea and some fruit to share our experiences of bliss.
we thought we could only continue this reunion with an adventure deeper into Bali. the next morning we embarked early with our driver Gut Dung (who told us to call him Good Day because it was easier to pronounce). we went up and over the central mountains to Lake Bratan to see a temple called Ulun Danu, which is used to get holy water for many ceremonies. the lake was breath taking, mountains all around and the clouds were almost reachable. our next stop was a mystical hot spring deep in the tropical jungle. blue sky and sun peaked through the palm trees and broad leaf tree canopy. sculpted dragons poured hot sulphuric water from their mouth into a series of 3 pools. it was truly a place to relax and be thankful for life. we came out of the jungle to the north shore of Bali, enjoying fruit juices. I got a delicious banana juice that left my mouth watering for more. we sat next to calm blue oceans with mountains, and rice fields along the shores. hesitant to head back into the car, we joined the jungle again to hike deep to find a series of beautiful waterfalls, where your mind couldn't resist being clear and calm. we swam in the cold but refreshing spring water. venturing back over the mountains had us driving through the clouds as we hit the ridge. on our decent we were blessed to see a rainbow from end to end. it was as if we were driving through a dream world.
we came back to Ubud to rest our heads from a busy day.
this island keeps surprising me with its beauty. I can't even imagine what in store for me next!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
loosin my bracelet, surrendering to possibilities
the last day of this beautiful Anusara teacher training. the sky is blue, the breeze is cool and the sun is shining in its glory. I've learned so much not only how to further teacher yoga, but to further study myself. it's a wondrous journey, one that only leads you to see yourself in all its fullness, sometimes emptying yourself out first.
during lunch break today friend Din, Michael and I decided to go to the beach for a swim and enjoy the ocean. I had bought a beautiful I'm Namah Shivaya Sanskrit bracelet in India last year. I grew quiet attached to it, bringing it to Bali with me. for some reason I choose to take it off in fear that the strong waves of the ocean would take it off, but instead the universe saw my fear of me loosing it and took it away from me, returning back I noticed an empty wrist. . . first thought; go back to beach and try to find a brass bracelet among the sandy shore. realization; the universe took it away at the effort of not loosing something for the fear of loosing something. I sit here now with the practice of surrendering, to open to the possibility of the space that is now created. release control, let go of loosing something I once had. did this bracelet bring me closer to god, did it make more of a yogi. I attached myself to it. isn't our existence more then the things we wear? of course, but funny how our mind makes us think opposite.
we flood ourself with so much thought with so much attachment that then we have no space left, then we loose something and go right to filling that new space with more thoughts. now I'm choosing to surrender and be in space!
tomorrow I begin my exciting exploration of Bali and Indonesia! :D
during lunch break today friend Din, Michael and I decided to go to the beach for a swim and enjoy the ocean. I had bought a beautiful I'm Namah Shivaya Sanskrit bracelet in India last year. I grew quiet attached to it, bringing it to Bali with me. for some reason I choose to take it off in fear that the strong waves of the ocean would take it off, but instead the universe saw my fear of me loosing it and took it away from me, returning back I noticed an empty wrist. . . first thought; go back to beach and try to find a brass bracelet among the sandy shore. realization; the universe took it away at the effort of not loosing something for the fear of loosing something. I sit here now with the practice of surrendering, to open to the possibility of the space that is now created. release control, let go of loosing something I once had. did this bracelet bring me closer to god, did it make more of a yogi. I attached myself to it. isn't our existence more then the things we wear? of course, but funny how our mind makes us think opposite.
we flood ourself with so much thought with so much attachment that then we have no space left, then we loose something and go right to filling that new space with more thoughts. now I'm choosing to surrender and be in space!
tomorrow I begin my exciting exploration of Bali and Indonesia! :D
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