The wheels of inspiration have been turning for 10 glorious years

To the organization - no, to the community - that I hold near and dear to my heart, I wish you a happy 10th anniversary.

I just can't wait to see what the future holds for this wonderful community that Otesha has created.

Wedding time

Scenery on the Great Ocean Road just outside Melbourne

Aussie sheep crossing the highway in South Australia

An Echidna

Swimming at Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island

Like a shadow

As fast as they came, they went! I can hardly believe that it's been a month since Canadian family had arrived, a month since I last wrote a blog post. So much has been experienced in this time...

During the days before the wedding, all sights were set on it - getting prepared, helping transport goodies to Canberra, gathering our flower selections, picking up dresses and suits, stamping place cards, making sure that everything was just so. Suddenly, the day was upon us. We woke early, had a nice breakfast got our hair done by Krista's friend, and got gussied up in our outfits. Next, all the other guests were on the charter bus being whisked away to Gundaroo, while Krista, Kelly, Mom, Dad and I were left in one apartment style hotel room, taking photos, being excited, hopeful, anxious, before we piled into the rental minivan (the same colour as Krista's beautiful dress - it was our limo!) and Dad drove us country bound. We beat the bus to the venue, so we hunkered down in the nearby playing field, sneakily hoping the grey sky wouldn't open up. And it didn't.

Everything was beautiful. From the special words and celebratory ceremonies that Krista and Tua chose to have a part of their commitment ceremony, to the weather being just perfect, to the wonderful music, food, dancing and friendships. The ceremony had two readings, personally written vows, bride money paid to Uncle Jim through tradition from Tua's father (a ritual from his Papa New Guinean culture), a hand binding ceremony, and a passing of the rings so each guest could well wish and pray upon the rings. It all happened outside, with a vegetable garden in the background, and gum trees on either side. It was followed by canapes in the garden, photos, violin music, a delicious three course meal, entertaining and genuine speeches, and so much fun dancing with a live band that got everyone up on their feet bopping around to fantastic covers. The end of the night had all the guests encircling Krista and Tua on the dance floor, sending them well wishes to the last song, and a sleepy bus ride back to the hotel in Canberra. All in all, a super amazing day - a day like no other I've been involved with in the past.

More fun followed, as myself, Krista, Tua, Jet, Aunt Ruth, Uncle Jim, Aunt Dianne, Uncle Rick, Mom, Dad and Kelly headed down to Bermegui, where Tua's Mom and Stepdad live. We stayed for just under a week, enjoying the beach, fairy parties (hosted by the lovely Jetamia), neighbouring towns, barbecues, leftover wedding cheese'cake', sailing and cycling. We had a ball of a time, and were sad to say goodbye when we loaded up (to the freakin' roof) the rental van with Mom, Dad, Aunt Di, Uncle Rick, Uncle Jim and Aunt Ruth, for our epic trek from Bermegui all the way to Adelaide (some 1600 kilometers - can you say rooooooad trip!) And an epic journey it was. From the country towns of Gippsland County, to the toasty and warm welcome that we received from Tua's Aunt Maureen in Melbourne, the first day was a long road travellin' day, and we were excited to be eating a nice meal with Maureen and exploring Melbourne (even if briefly) the next day with her. Then onward we pushed, taking in the sunshine as we drove leisurely toward the Queenscliff ferry shortening our drive towards the much anticipated Great Ocean Road. That night we stayed in Anglesea, just barely finding a place to lay our brains on the last public holiday of the Aussie summer before kiddo's head back to school.

Another somewhat more leisurely travel day commenced the next sunny and hot day, as we worked our way along the Great Ocean Road, a geological and scenery natural wonder of Australia. Quicker then we knew it, silly jokes were forming in our unique group of people in the car. We played games, laughed with each other, and sometimes at each other, nibbled on copious amounts Nobby's peanuts, disagreed on issues and directions, and agreed on issues and directions. Oh, it was a blast really. One beautiful day was topped off by my Mom, lovingly referred to as the "furball finder" located a wild koala, as she notoriously was looking up whenever we stopped for a brake, or whenever looking up out the window didn't make her car sick. In following days, we cruised into South Australia, meeting and chatting with a live Jackaroo on his motorbike herding thousands of sheep across the highway in the middle of the wild Aussie outback. We were bemused by the mirage of a lake in the middle of very dry flat country scenery, only to find out that it was part of massive dried up salt lakes. As we drew closer to Adelaide, we realized that the famed Murray River Salt that you can buy in stores, was some of the pink potent sea salt that Dad had harvested from one salt flat. Trula some neat sights.

Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jim shared one last meal with us all, as we met up with Krista and Tua, whom were on the first part of their honeymoon in the Borassa Valley. After we bid a 'see ya soon' to Uncle Jim and Aunt Ruth, the remaining Canadians stayed for two nights in a beautiful country cottage down a dirt road, surrounded by sheep, kangaroos, and wine vines. We visited some wineries, went on some walks, cooked and ate some delicious meals, and visited a few super quaint country towns. After saying see ya to a couple other Canadians, next came Kangaroo Island - another quintessential Aussie location to visit - these few nights were characterized by hiking, oodles of wildlife, beautiful emu bay, and epic little Sahara. Topped off by a day on my own in Adelaide (where I got out on a bike ride) and a fantastic train journey on the Indian Pacific back to Sydney, and a few more days in Sydney with the troupe of visiting Canadians, it was time for them to head back to Southern Ontario. It just felt all too short, but oh so full at the same time.

It's so nice having family around. I mean, sure everyone has their differences, disagreements, and intense conversations, but when it comes down to it, family is familiar, comfortable, and often hilarious. I really appreciate the opportunity I had to travel with them all. It was super special, and I'm glad they came all the way here to spend some time in Krista's world that is Australia, and, I'll see them all again soon when I'm in Canada for my other sisters marriage ceremony in the summer. I'm excited that I'll be able to enjoy more laughs, oddities, quirks and hilarity's with all of my family and friends then.

Next up: Tasmania! I'll be heading there via Melbourne with my bicycle hopefully in a week or two, to cycle right the way around this Aussie island state. Yipeeee!

The Canadians are here, and the wedding is comin'

Just one week until my eldest sister celebrates her commitment to her partner - a celebration of their love, a legal act that will bind them together for a long long while. Those family members for whom it was possible or reasonable have arrived here in Australia to celebrate with Krista and Tua, this means my parents and other sister, whom I haven't seen in 5 months arrived at the airport a few days ago, weary and warm from 24 hours of plane travel. We are in nearly the furthest place away from southern Ontario that we could possibly be. Whew. And so I've had friends to wander the streets of Sydney with for the past three days, as we took the harbour ferry over to one of the northern beaches, where I swam, we walked, and soaked in the blue views before skirting around the Sydney Opera House back into Circular Quay, where we disembarked, and wandered into the downtown core of Australia's most populated city. We had one big barbecue party at Krista's cute home, where we sat cozy and close to one another, said thanks for the food, for safe travels and for the ability of our family to be joining us for this special time in Krista and Tua's lives, and enjoyed fresh summery grub with one another.

And soon, we will head to Canberra for the wedding celebration, to take place in the country town of Gundaroo, in a garden, with the reception to follow in a historic building, and long standing restaurant in the town. I will continue to have plenty of thoughts on the topic of commitment, what it means to me, what long term monogamous relations mean to me, and if I desire such a relationship in my future. No doubt, more challenges will be had with last minute preparations, and stressful times will be had by the anxious bride and groom to be, as they prepare to throw a massive dinner party for all their favourite people; but love will be shown, between the two to be married, and from the family and friends that will gather in support of their love.

a new year

Goodbye 2011, and welcome a fresh new year.

My holiday celebrations were good - spent quite differently then in different years, but great nonetheless. I was at Bouddi National Park for my birthday, with it's unique geological coastline, stunning beaches and quaint campsites beside the ocean, it's exactly the way I hoped to spend my 25th birthday. Next came Christmas, where we joined Tua's (my sister's partner) family in their parents home down the south coast of New South Wales in Bermagui. Tua's stepfather is a keen cyclist, so I rode with him and my sister almost every day, along the waterfront trail, that overlooks a rugged lonely seeming beach en route to the quaint fishing village with a stunning beach with cliffy coastline surrounding. We spent a small amount of every day swimming, including Christmas Eve and Christmas day, we paddled kayaks and ate delicious food from the barbecue. We visited a quaint mountain town, and spent lots of time sipping wine on the covered raised deck overlooking Wallaga estuary Lake. As all good things do, this adventure came to an end, and so we piled back into Tua's car and drove the trek back to Sydney, where we schemed away at preparing a killer picnic (think - pure sunny day, crisp cold ciders from the cooler, oily Greek inspired rice pasta salad, fresh potato salad, raw veg and humus, local cherries, card games, and fireworks at the end of it all) for our New Years Eve festivities the next day. In fact, my New Years Eve felt strangely like Canada Day.

And now, I'm thinking about setting intentions for 2012. No one can ever know for certain what the next day of our lives will bring, but we can plan and anticipate some things with some degree of certainty - can't we? This year, I'll ride my bicycle to new places on a new continent. I'll see both my sisters join in long term partnerships through marriage celebrations. I have intentions to explore food systems in other countries, practice my gardening skills. I have intentions to learn and explore my chakras - the focal areas that are centers for energy transmission, that regulate core identity and creative expression. I want to eat and drink more slowly, thoughtfully, taking time to describe, to myself, to others, the taste, texture, flavours, feelings of the food in my body. And, I intend to figure out what's next for me. Not in a stressful, meaningless way that takes me away from the enjoyment of the present. But in a subtle, introspective, attentive way, keeping my eyes, ears and heart open to the potentials that this wonderous life has and will continue to present to me. No matter what this big life has in store for me, I promise to not try too hard to control it or to figure every little thing out; instead I will try to "embrace it all and be grateful for all things that make life a little sweeter"...

In the land down under.

How you going?

I'm starting to pick up on this Aussie lingo.

I've now been here for two full weeks! I've been spending my days exploring Sydney: going to Bondi Beach, cycling the busy streets of Newtown, discovering community gardens, finding and volunteering at the Alfalfa Food Co-operative, joining a great yoga studio, doing work trades at the vegan cafe that is in the yoga studio, cycling around the botanical gardens, gathering and leafing through many books from the public library, and following the bicycle paths on my "push bike" (as they call bicycles here).

Though speaking of my bike, it took a little while for me to be comfortable taking Poppy out in this city. I've never been quite so intimidated with riding my bicycle in a city. Maybe it was the warnings people gave me about Sydneysiders driving recklessly, or about how Sydney isn't as bicycle oriented as alot of other cities. I think it was just the apprehension around riding my bicycle on the left side of the road!

But alas, of course I jumped on, after getting a glimpse into the fears of those people who say "It's too scary to ride a bike in a city". And my fears are gone - though I do find Sydney drivers less aware of cyclists, and there does seem to be less cyclists on the road here, compared with North American cities I have recently visited. There is a fairly good network of separated cycle paths and bicycle signage on roads, but you still must stay quite aware of vehicle traffic around you. I'm missing the days of cycling in the same gear for an hour and never unclipping my shoes or putting on my breaks; soon enough I'll embark on another cycle tour...

So Sydney - a metropolitan, gorgeous, clean, wealthy city. That's my view of it so far. I'm probably making generalizations, yes, but that's the way it feels. I'm adjusting to city life, and to the expense of it all, especially in Oz, where prices are much higher then in North America for food at the grocery and food at restaurants. I'm getting used to being sedentary, I mean, having a place to come to each night, knowing where I will lay my head. My how that is easier on the brain (albeit a wee bit less exciting). And I am getting used to Krista and Tua, loving how I spend my evenings cooking and eating with them in their home, baking treats for them while they are at work, discussing plans for their upcoming wedding celebration, and meeting all of their wonderful friends here.

I feel a lot like I'm in a land where nothing is familiar, even though Australia is a commonwealth country that has been subjected to globalization like any other... The plants look different, people are slightly hard to understand, independent cafes and restaurants spill onto every street, where I ride my bike on the left, and where it feels nothing like a traditional Christmas. The weather is warm, the Christmas decorations and carols quite sparse, and the farmers markets have spring and early summer produce in bounty! My internal seasonal clock is confused...as I welcome an afternoon sitting in the sunshine outside, rather then cozy by a fireplace indoors or baking up a Christmas cookie storm! I'm even going camping this December weekend to celebrate the fact that I'm a hitting a quarter century in age. I'm going to have to crank the carols and bake some gingerbread cookies if I want to simulate some kind of Christmas 'round here...

I've been practicing yoga almost every day here, and have been setting intentions at the beginning of each session. Things to meditate on, positive affirmations, or manifestations. As I struggle with my flying across the entire Pacific ocean after living a rather simple carbon friendly life for the past number of months, I keep returning to what my good friend Sean told me as we parted in San Fransisco. He told me I could offset my carbon emissions with love! So, I've been energetically infusing love into all you folks who have helped me get to where I am today. I invite you to do the same. Take a quiet moment or two to concentrate on one person, and send them love through your heart. Show love outwardly by greeting a stranger in the street with a smile, telling someone they're beautiful, letting your partner that you appreciate them. Show love to your garden or your pets or show love to mama earth by committing to change one enviro action today. Most of all, don't forget to love and take care of your own spirit, so that you are ever more able and prepared to share with others around you.

finally some photos!

Finally I've uploaded a few of my photos, my impatience with doing these things means I randomly selected some photos from Otesha - and into my month in the U.S. Otesha with our bodies, My otesha team, superhero cycling day, Tricia and Kayla playing, The Redwoods, The portland farmers market abundance, Kayla and Melissa on Vancouver Island, Sean Kayla Emily, Me and my bike on the golden gate!