I'm sipping Mayan gold as I write this. Bitter, but ridiculously smooth and creamy. A hot chocolate, the Oaxacan way I've now been in Oaxaca City a week and have had some really memorable experiences. I'm loving lists these days, so here is your Oaxacan list of awesomness, in Kayla's opinion:
1. Oaxacan food delicacies. a) Quesillo - long strands of squeaky white cheese, rolled up in a ball and sold in the market, and added a top of all the food here. b) Mole sauce of many varieties which is lovingly poured a top of many creative corny creations - I can't describe this immensely unique and thick sauce with justice, perhaps the mystery will be revealed when I take my week of cooking classes this week! c) Chocolate - mostly grainy and bitter, more true to form of the original cacao beans, and ground in front of you in big metal grinders at one of the many chocolate-only shops in this town. They make a delicate mix of cocoa beans, almonds, cinnamon bark, vanilla and sugar, in quantities that you wish. It's bagged up, or formed into pucks, for later processing in the home into a luscious drink, like the one I sip at this very moment. d) Chapulines - fried crickets! e) Tlayudas - think, Mexico's version of pizza! A big thin, crispy tortilla is smeared with saucy bean mix or mole, and topped with tomatoes, avocado, quesillo, and any manner of meat, if you so wish. Okay, the food list goes on...but I'll get carried away...
2. Heivere del Agua. So glad I had the opportunity to go early in the morning to this marvel of a geological land form. I was warmly welcomed by my friends from Mexico City that a Canadian friend connected me with. The twisty, turney, mountainous drive on typical Mexican roads (i.e. huge potholes and speed bumps galore) was worth the reward. A second breakfast of memolitas at one of the many wood hut food stalls, was followed by a short walk to two green watered, still pools of water where bubbles quietly rose from different areas - making the water appearing to be boiling. Really, the water was really cool and refreshing. The landscape has been shaped by mineral rich waters bubbling out under pressure from the earth below, and calcifying smoothly, creating unique patters,and seemingly frozen waterfalls on the cliff side. A beautiful scene, green, but dry rolling mountains, patches of cultivated Agave fields and cacti erupting from an impossibly dry seeming landscape. We went on a bike to the base of the 'frozen' falls and loved the slow sprinkle of the water from above, as it landed on our sweaty bodies below.
3. Mezcal. Holy mole (pun intended) this stuff is prevalent! I have certainly now done my share of tasting this prized alcoholic beverage, but still, can say, that it is not tasty to my palette. Made from the Maguey plant (a form of the more well known Agave plant) it comes in an overwhelming variety of ages, distillation processes, even flavours, with a worm, without a worm, that is consumed straight up - sipped out of shot glasses only rarely accompanied by a lime or orange slice. On our outing to Hievere del Agua, we also visited a rural Mezcal distillation farm like place, where we learned about the rudimentary way that this popular beverage is fermented and distilled.
4. Counting down to 2015 with a fun group of new friends in Spanish. Diez! Nueve! Ocho! Siete! Seis! Cinco! Cuatro! Tres! Dos! Uno! Feliz Año Nuevo! And then dancing in a funky club until 4:30 am. I lie not. Wicked, dance, party.
5. The climate here is amazing. Dry and sunny every day. Cool in the evenings and mornings, and not to hot in the indoors. Never too cool that you need a long sleeve in the day. And! Handwashed clotes dry in a couple hours! Mucho bonito!
6. Then there is the Oaxacan art. Super colourful, borderline tacky, but to me, attractive. Bent tin shaped into crosses and hearts, black hand thrown pottery, uber colourful intricately painted whimsical wooden characters, natural hand dyed and woven rugs,blankets, scarves, tablecloths, embroidered clothes,sold by ever other woman on each street corner, and worn traditionally by some native groups here in Oaxaca state.
7. Spanish Classes! This is just the beginning. In my efforts to achieve a goal of being fully conversational in French and Spanish in two years time, I'm taking daily classes to get started, and trying at every moment to eavesdrop, and getting braver at practicing!
8. Daily runs up the mountain gives good exercise, a look at some funky street art (generally in abundance in Oaxaca City!) and a great view of the city.
9. Mercados galore. For those of you who know me, you know how much I love a good market. Whether noisy and boisterous, smelly and busy, or small and community based, I love learning about the way people sell, buy, eat and celebrate food. Since being in Mexico, I've already had the opportunity to visit a number of market places, and in Oaxaca, I've found no shortage of these foodie spaces. My favourite so far is the weekly market El Ponchote Xochimilco. Specializing in organic produce and prepared food, its a slower, quieter market, set up in a quaint church courtyard, where fresh 'verde jugo' comes in real glasses, and the tostatdas are vegetarian, flavourful and healthy. There are also some handicraft vendors that sell their jewls, hand made body products and clothing all while a mariba band's sounds waft around in the fresh air... Then there is Sanchez Pascuas and 20 de Noviembre, nestled right beside one another, they are noisy and busy places, with vendors selling delicious salty/spicy/garlicky peanuts, mole sauces of 7 varieties, Oaxacan style cheese (Quesillo), mezcals, fresh fruit and veg, dried pantry goods, so many dried hot pepper varieties, chocolate, bread, sweets, clothes, meat and fish too. Then there are the prepared food stalls - where you can pull up a stool and eat tons of food for under 5 Canadian dollars. It's a full on sensory experience and a labyrinth to boot!
__________________________
Okay, and by way of backtracking, I hope you all had a good festive season if you celebrate. I was in the lovely little hippy art town of San Pancho, on the Pacific Coast, in Nayarit State, about an hour's bus ride north of the well known Puerto Vallarta. Here is a list of fun things that I did, and that you could do, if you ever visit this tiny town:
1. Play in the waves at the nearby hippie turned yuppie town of Sayulita, or secret Los Muertos Beach.
2. Get pummeled in the waves at the San Pancho beach. Or play it safe, sip a margarita and watch the sufers live it up instead.
3. Join the fisher folks and wake early. Run along the quiet sandy stretch of beach.
4. Visit Entre Amigos in their radical eco-space that functions as a library, community centre, second hand store, artist work space, recycling centre, classroom, gift shop etc! Support their super awesome cultural, environmental and often student run programming.
5. Hang with the artistic folks behind the Colectivo San Pancho - at their free festival that ran for 9 days over the Christmas season and featured awesome local talent
6. Buy tortillas, fresh and hot from the local tortilleria, which spits out 1000's of these hot babies each day.
7. Join the dance party on the second floor of Refugio del Sol on Christmas eve.
8. Go for a drink on the rooftop bar at Darjeelings, and you'll be sure to hear some good live Mexican music.
9. Eat tacos, tacos, and more tacos, at one of the taqerias in town.
10. Buy up deliciousness and beauty at the San Pancho market each Tuesday.
11. People watch the hippies, Mexican tourists, local indigenous artists, and Canadian/American snowbirds.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Fotographia from Queretaro state, Nayarit State, and Oaxaca States!
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| Peña de Bernal - just outside Queretaro - a friend and I hiked to the top! |
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| Wow, these were spectacularly flavoured little stuffed corn pockets of wonder. Gorditas! |
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| underwater snorkling fun in the Marietas Islands |
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| My Chirstmas date - Tricia - and I exploring the caves of Isles de Maritas |
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| Amazing new buddies from Mexico City - Mariana and Marian, at Hierve del Agua, Oaxaca state |
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| Mezcal anyone? My friends Hermano, Mariana, Kim, Me, and above are Marian and Juan |
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| Swimming in the pools at Hieve del Agua, feeling like I'm at the edge of the world |
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| San Pancho beach - where I spent Christmas |
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| San Pancho art! |
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| Veggie Quesadilla magic at the market in San Pancho |
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| Seeing double at Monte Alban - ancient Zapotec ruins |
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| headstands with ancient civilizations |
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| El Tule, just outside Oaxaca City. This tree is claimed to be the widest tree in the world! Its second only in size to California's general sherman. It is 11m in diameter, 42m high, and about 1500 years old! |
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Feliz Cumpleaños to me! And reflections from Mexico
Hola!
I've had some major reflections and observations since I arrived in mexico on December 9th. I stayed the first 6 days of my time in the massive Mexico City (regularly referred to the Distrito Historico, or the DF) and, like other big cities, it's got distinct neighbourhoods, and I chose only to explore a few of them, so as not to feel entirely overwhelmed! Next I journeyed to Valle de Bravo - a really beautiful white washed colonial town on a huge artificial lake, I stayed in the country with a woman I met on couchsurfing - she had a beautiful country home and worked at the Waldorf School just across the street! After my time with the orange trees and roosters I ventured to a bigger city - 1 Million - Queretaro, where I am finishing this blog off, and will journey next to the playa, to spend Navidad in the sand :)
_____________________
Reflexión número uno: You cannot get an intimate understanding of a culture with out speaking the language that they speak. Until I can converse in Spanish, I don't think I can really understand the people and culture of Mexico. I do want to bring attention to the fact that there are many other forms of communication that can be deep, music, touch, art, body language, smells, etc, but none are quite like a language. Gosh - Languages. They are power in many ways. And I have a serious complex about speaking other languages. I've noticed this when trying to speak French in Quebec, and now, here in Mexico when trying to speak Spanish. I, a woman who is independent, confident, and brave, feels embarrassment, shyness, and loneliness when I even think about preparing my words in Spanish. It's amazing - I realize if I want to learn more of this language, I have to drop this shyness, this fear of not communicating, and just stumble through. Because I know, the more I practice, the more likely it is that I will actually get somewhere with this language. But jeeeez, it feels really challenging. And, challenges, as I have experienced them before, often open me wider to the beauty that is this world, the beauty that is within. If I can sit with the emotions and feelings that come up as I feel super challenged, uncomfortable because of language barriers, perhaps I can deal with even bigger challenges in the future with calmness, clarity and awareness.
Reflexión número dos: Mariposa Monarcha (i.e. Monarch Butterflies) are spectacular as individuals, and marvelous by the thousands. On my birthday, December 16th, I journeyed from the country home that I was couchsurfing at to Pierda Herrada Butterfly Sanctuary, where I climbed thousands of feet, into the brisk cold air, to witness the habitat of the Monarch butterflies during the winter months. The pine, holm oak and oyamel fir trees were covered, with clusters of butterflies, the air full with these flitting creatures, so frail in appearance, but so strong they are. Some fly 7775 kilometers, largely originating from the Great Lakes Area of Canada to the forests of Michocan and Mexico States here to overwinter. They gather so closely together to stay warm with one another - like a cozy family - they need one another to survive the chill of the Mexican mountains. There is so many interesting facts about this journey that many monarchs do... To me, then symbolize much; about transformation, journey, seeking, resilience, community. My own patterns and life symbolized by a butterfly....
Reflexión número tres: There are three very common Mexican celebrations around this time of year: Posadas, Pinatas and Pastorellas, and Mexican's go all out! Posadas is sort of a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, happens in a church, and involves songs and a small pilgrimage. It also often ends with the smacking of 7 pointed Pinatas - where candy, or more traditionally peanuts in the shell, burst out for children to scramble about and gather. The Pinata is a symbol of the devil! The 7 points representing the 7 deadly sins, and the stick used to break open the Pinata is a symbol of Christianity, that God can shatter the wrath of the evil devil. I've seen 3 or 4 Posadas in action already. And as for a Pastorella, I have yet to see one, but I understand it to be a comic venture into the story of Jesus's birth.
Reflexión número quatro: Pulque is my new favourite fermented beverage! For those of you who know me well, you know I love fermented things - whether its zippy kefir, sour kombucha, spicy kimchee, homeade hard apple cider, fermented pickles - I love the taste, and the probiotics in my belly! Pulque is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey (a type of agave cactus) plant. It has been produced for Millennia in the central Mexico area - Aztecs were known to revere this beverage! It has the colour of milk, and a sour yeast-like taste. I loved the flavour, and the warm feeling that alcohol often brings to my limbs.
And, on the food theme - Gorditas - I've never had a reeeeal one before this week in the small town of Pena de Bernal and they impressed me! Of course, not all gorditas are as delicious as the beauties that I consumed. The ones that I tasted were well recommended by a Mexican friend that I met in Queretaro while I hopelessly attempted to understand some street clowns who were clownin' around. He helped translate a bit of the quick and comedic Spanish clown talk and let me know when one of the clowns pointed at me and called me Marg from the Simpsons (because of my big hair bun - you know the one!) ha! This new friend and I wandered the bustling streets of Queretaro for a couple hours, taking in the lively plazas, the huge Christmas trees, the intricately adorned churches. The streets of this town are clean, and feel far safer then what I generally felt in Mexico City. They are filled with intricate stone work and architecture, with narrow sidewalks or pedestrian only streets, plazas and gardens and churches galore...with bougainvillea populating many of the building walls. We wandered into the night on the cobblestone pedestrian walkways, passing by delicious smelly wafts of Ponche Navidad (a spiced and fruity warm punch - filled with hunks of guava, pear and apple, with a sugar cane stir stick) and savory smells of street vendors selling corn in all forms (corn on the cob, smoothered with lime, salt and chili; corn soup with smears of mayonnaise, cheese, chili and lime; piping hot steamed tamales stuffed with squeaky cheese, tacos, quesidillas, etc etc etc - street food and corn unite!) I arrived back at my (wonderful, awesome, generous) Canadian friends place happy with my wanderings in this new place!
Shoot - I've digressed from my original thread on Gorditas! So, the day after I met this friend, we took the bus to neighbouring Pena de Bernal, a very small town, super beautiful buildings, another Pasoda parade, and an amazing hike up the Pena - a beautiful monolithic earth structure that dominates the landscape in this small town. And this is where we had gordita con raja, gordita con huevos, gordita con nopales, gordita con champinion...these contents are simmered in delicious spicey sauces and stuffed in yellow or blue corn pockets. Then grilled on a flat grill to toasty perfection. yes yes yes! Yesterday, when I was back in Queretaro, I tried another gordita - it was no where near as tasty - so like I say, not all are created equal...hmmm. Ha, and fun fact, gordita means "little fat one" in english!
Reflexión número cinco: I've said it before on this blog, but I'll say it again, I love when life spills from the inside walled world to the outside world. Life in Mexico is lived neither indoors nor out, it is like neither exists, they are the same! As in many other places, I love how buildings are consistently open - they have a central room that is open to the sky, their doors aren't really that, just gates, they have outdoor kitchens, restaurants entirely outside all year. It is so different from Canada where for many months of the year, you absolutely need to have the walls and doors air tight, to keep from freezing your bum off. I love how homespaces of people change depending on the climate.
____________
There's some little tidbits for you.
Overall, I'm feeling good - but it's been quite a ride thus far, travelling solo in a Spanish speaking world...I'm so excited for a week of company from my dear friend Tricia on the beach of San Pancho - just north of Sayulita and Peurto Vallarta on the Pacific coast.
I'm thinking so much of you, my loved ones, family and friends...people who have been so generous to me before, and continue to with offering your love from far and wide. Please know that your in my heart at this celebratory time of year.
Totally off topic, but I wanted to let you know you are still reading: I've gotten a job working with Operation Groundswell! I'll be guiding 2 big Conservation Volunteering trips for youth in Thailand and Cambodia this May-August! The journey's keep on rolling...
Love,
Kayla
I've had some major reflections and observations since I arrived in mexico on December 9th. I stayed the first 6 days of my time in the massive Mexico City (regularly referred to the Distrito Historico, or the DF) and, like other big cities, it's got distinct neighbourhoods, and I chose only to explore a few of them, so as not to feel entirely overwhelmed! Next I journeyed to Valle de Bravo - a really beautiful white washed colonial town on a huge artificial lake, I stayed in the country with a woman I met on couchsurfing - she had a beautiful country home and worked at the Waldorf School just across the street! After my time with the orange trees and roosters I ventured to a bigger city - 1 Million - Queretaro, where I am finishing this blog off, and will journey next to the playa, to spend Navidad in the sand :)
_____________________
Reflexión número uno: You cannot get an intimate understanding of a culture with out speaking the language that they speak. Until I can converse in Spanish, I don't think I can really understand the people and culture of Mexico. I do want to bring attention to the fact that there are many other forms of communication that can be deep, music, touch, art, body language, smells, etc, but none are quite like a language. Gosh - Languages. They are power in many ways. And I have a serious complex about speaking other languages. I've noticed this when trying to speak French in Quebec, and now, here in Mexico when trying to speak Spanish. I, a woman who is independent, confident, and brave, feels embarrassment, shyness, and loneliness when I even think about preparing my words in Spanish. It's amazing - I realize if I want to learn more of this language, I have to drop this shyness, this fear of not communicating, and just stumble through. Because I know, the more I practice, the more likely it is that I will actually get somewhere with this language. But jeeeez, it feels really challenging. And, challenges, as I have experienced them before, often open me wider to the beauty that is this world, the beauty that is within. If I can sit with the emotions and feelings that come up as I feel super challenged, uncomfortable because of language barriers, perhaps I can deal with even bigger challenges in the future with calmness, clarity and awareness.
Reflexión número dos: Mariposa Monarcha (i.e. Monarch Butterflies) are spectacular as individuals, and marvelous by the thousands. On my birthday, December 16th, I journeyed from the country home that I was couchsurfing at to Pierda Herrada Butterfly Sanctuary, where I climbed thousands of feet, into the brisk cold air, to witness the habitat of the Monarch butterflies during the winter months. The pine, holm oak and oyamel fir trees were covered, with clusters of butterflies, the air full with these flitting creatures, so frail in appearance, but so strong they are. Some fly 7775 kilometers, largely originating from the Great Lakes Area of Canada to the forests of Michocan and Mexico States here to overwinter. They gather so closely together to stay warm with one another - like a cozy family - they need one another to survive the chill of the Mexican mountains. There is so many interesting facts about this journey that many monarchs do... To me, then symbolize much; about transformation, journey, seeking, resilience, community. My own patterns and life symbolized by a butterfly....
Reflexión número tres: There are three very common Mexican celebrations around this time of year: Posadas, Pinatas and Pastorellas, and Mexican's go all out! Posadas is sort of a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, happens in a church, and involves songs and a small pilgrimage. It also often ends with the smacking of 7 pointed Pinatas - where candy, or more traditionally peanuts in the shell, burst out for children to scramble about and gather. The Pinata is a symbol of the devil! The 7 points representing the 7 deadly sins, and the stick used to break open the Pinata is a symbol of Christianity, that God can shatter the wrath of the evil devil. I've seen 3 or 4 Posadas in action already. And as for a Pastorella, I have yet to see one, but I understand it to be a comic venture into the story of Jesus's birth.
Reflexión número quatro: Pulque is my new favourite fermented beverage! For those of you who know me well, you know I love fermented things - whether its zippy kefir, sour kombucha, spicy kimchee, homeade hard apple cider, fermented pickles - I love the taste, and the probiotics in my belly! Pulque is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey (a type of agave cactus) plant. It has been produced for Millennia in the central Mexico area - Aztecs were known to revere this beverage! It has the colour of milk, and a sour yeast-like taste. I loved the flavour, and the warm feeling that alcohol often brings to my limbs.
And, on the food theme - Gorditas - I've never had a reeeeal one before this week in the small town of Pena de Bernal and they impressed me! Of course, not all gorditas are as delicious as the beauties that I consumed. The ones that I tasted were well recommended by a Mexican friend that I met in Queretaro while I hopelessly attempted to understand some street clowns who were clownin' around. He helped translate a bit of the quick and comedic Spanish clown talk and let me know when one of the clowns pointed at me and called me Marg from the Simpsons (because of my big hair bun - you know the one!) ha! This new friend and I wandered the bustling streets of Queretaro for a couple hours, taking in the lively plazas, the huge Christmas trees, the intricately adorned churches. The streets of this town are clean, and feel far safer then what I generally felt in Mexico City. They are filled with intricate stone work and architecture, with narrow sidewalks or pedestrian only streets, plazas and gardens and churches galore...with bougainvillea populating many of the building walls. We wandered into the night on the cobblestone pedestrian walkways, passing by delicious smelly wafts of Ponche Navidad (a spiced and fruity warm punch - filled with hunks of guava, pear and apple, with a sugar cane stir stick) and savory smells of street vendors selling corn in all forms (corn on the cob, smoothered with lime, salt and chili; corn soup with smears of mayonnaise, cheese, chili and lime; piping hot steamed tamales stuffed with squeaky cheese, tacos, quesidillas, etc etc etc - street food and corn unite!) I arrived back at my (wonderful, awesome, generous) Canadian friends place happy with my wanderings in this new place!
Shoot - I've digressed from my original thread on Gorditas! So, the day after I met this friend, we took the bus to neighbouring Pena de Bernal, a very small town, super beautiful buildings, another Pasoda parade, and an amazing hike up the Pena - a beautiful monolithic earth structure that dominates the landscape in this small town. And this is where we had gordita con raja, gordita con huevos, gordita con nopales, gordita con champinion...these contents are simmered in delicious spicey sauces and stuffed in yellow or blue corn pockets. Then grilled on a flat grill to toasty perfection. yes yes yes! Yesterday, when I was back in Queretaro, I tried another gordita - it was no where near as tasty - so like I say, not all are created equal...hmmm. Ha, and fun fact, gordita means "little fat one" in english!
Reflexión número cinco: I've said it before on this blog, but I'll say it again, I love when life spills from the inside walled world to the outside world. Life in Mexico is lived neither indoors nor out, it is like neither exists, they are the same! As in many other places, I love how buildings are consistently open - they have a central room that is open to the sky, their doors aren't really that, just gates, they have outdoor kitchens, restaurants entirely outside all year. It is so different from Canada where for many months of the year, you absolutely need to have the walls and doors air tight, to keep from freezing your bum off. I love how homespaces of people change depending on the climate.
____________
There's some little tidbits for you.
Overall, I'm feeling good - but it's been quite a ride thus far, travelling solo in a Spanish speaking world...I'm so excited for a week of company from my dear friend Tricia on the beach of San Pancho - just north of Sayulita and Peurto Vallarta on the Pacific coast.
I'm thinking so much of you, my loved ones, family and friends...people who have been so generous to me before, and continue to with offering your love from far and wide. Please know that your in my heart at this celebratory time of year.
Totally off topic, but I wanted to let you know you are still reading: I've gotten a job working with Operation Groundswell! I'll be guiding 2 big Conservation Volunteering trips for youth in Thailand and Cambodia this May-August! The journey's keep on rolling...
Love,
Kayla
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Full Life Livin'
These past week s have, as upon past visits to the BC mountains, had me falling in love with the majesty of the mountains.
About 6 weeks ago, I saw these mystical earthy monuments - rising out of the earth - seemingly teeming with life and harshness all at once. I came across the country by way of rideshare - with a woman I met online, she dropped me off in Fernie, and then carried onwards to the coast. Fernie - close to the Alberta border, nestled in a wide valley in the East Kootenays. There, I immersed myself in learning all that I could about First Aid in the wilderness setting. After various simulations by the river complete with painted on wounds, photos galore of backcountry injuries, the filling in of countless SOAP notes, pretending to be in myochardial arrest, dealing with infarction, injecting epinephrine into oranges, working out the differences between heat stroke, heat exhaustion and hyponatremia (etc.) I can now say I'm a certified Wilderness First Responder! Valuable life skills I tell ya. I quickly discovered that Fernie (a town I visited on my first Otesha bicycle tour) is an interesting mix of total ski bums, older folks who relish in the extensive outdoor adventuring to be had, and advocates of big (without muffler) trucks carrying around huge ATVs and Snowmobiles in the back. A small BC mountain town indeed.
After the course was completed, I hopped in a ride share over to good ol' Nelson, BC in the west Kootenays. Pushing pause on my Nelson visit, I first journeyed to Yasodhara Ashram, a place I stayed back in 2012 (read about that experience here) to offer some karma yoga, and to reflect some about where I'm at. Overall, the experience was great - I have changed and grown in some ways since I was last at Yasodhara, and have remained much the same in others. many of my ideals have been a lived experience over the past two years, I'm grateful to have recognized. I enjoyed entering back into the creative and artistic community of the ashram, and had a great time doing karma yoga in the kitchen, garden and lots of raking and invasive plant removal on that sacred land. It was easy to slide back into the flow of the routine of the ashram, enjoying Satsang so so much each evening, morning meditations, jogs or asana practice, tons of journaling, reflecting, dreaming, and learning about my spirit, my self.
Next I journeyed back to Nelson, where I have been staying with my dear friends Heather, Ari, Willow and Gideon, for the past week and a half. They have two young children, so I have been having plenty of awesome kid time, playing, helping, cooking, and adventuring with a family I feel so so inspired by, so so welcomed by, and so so so at home with. They truly are such interesting, interested, special friends. Here too, I have slid into a flow...
And tomorrow, I transition again on to Vancouver by ride share, and then over to Victoria to visit these two coastal cities I quite enjoy and realized, I could not come to British Columbia and not say hello to the two V's.
In just one week (1 week!) I will be in Mexico! Huzaaaa! I'll explore Mexico City first, and then off to Quatero, where a friend of a friend lives. Next I'm excited to say that I'll be meeting up with an awesome friend from Ottawa for the Christmas week in a coastal town on the Pacific side - San Pacho. The rest is still unwritten, but Oaxaca is luring me as I've got a friend living there and it may be a great place to spend some time taking Spanish lessons.
Here here to Full Life Livin'. The world has infinite opportunities for wonder and enjoyment. Every tree a playground, every relationship, a well of juciness, every street, a potential dance floor.
About 6 weeks ago, I saw these mystical earthy monuments - rising out of the earth - seemingly teeming with life and harshness all at once. I came across the country by way of rideshare - with a woman I met online, she dropped me off in Fernie, and then carried onwards to the coast. Fernie - close to the Alberta border, nestled in a wide valley in the East Kootenays. There, I immersed myself in learning all that I could about First Aid in the wilderness setting. After various simulations by the river complete with painted on wounds, photos galore of backcountry injuries, the filling in of countless SOAP notes, pretending to be in myochardial arrest, dealing with infarction, injecting epinephrine into oranges, working out the differences between heat stroke, heat exhaustion and hyponatremia (etc.) I can now say I'm a certified Wilderness First Responder! Valuable life skills I tell ya. I quickly discovered that Fernie (a town I visited on my first Otesha bicycle tour) is an interesting mix of total ski bums, older folks who relish in the extensive outdoor adventuring to be had, and advocates of big (without muffler) trucks carrying around huge ATVs and Snowmobiles in the back. A small BC mountain town indeed.
After the course was completed, I hopped in a ride share over to good ol' Nelson, BC in the west Kootenays. Pushing pause on my Nelson visit, I first journeyed to Yasodhara Ashram, a place I stayed back in 2012 (read about that experience here) to offer some karma yoga, and to reflect some about where I'm at. Overall, the experience was great - I have changed and grown in some ways since I was last at Yasodhara, and have remained much the same in others. many of my ideals have been a lived experience over the past two years, I'm grateful to have recognized. I enjoyed entering back into the creative and artistic community of the ashram, and had a great time doing karma yoga in the kitchen, garden and lots of raking and invasive plant removal on that sacred land. It was easy to slide back into the flow of the routine of the ashram, enjoying Satsang so so much each evening, morning meditations, jogs or asana practice, tons of journaling, reflecting, dreaming, and learning about my spirit, my self.
Next I journeyed back to Nelson, where I have been staying with my dear friends Heather, Ari, Willow and Gideon, for the past week and a half. They have two young children, so I have been having plenty of awesome kid time, playing, helping, cooking, and adventuring with a family I feel so so inspired by, so so welcomed by, and so so so at home with. They truly are such interesting, interested, special friends. Here too, I have slid into a flow...
And tomorrow, I transition again on to Vancouver by ride share, and then over to Victoria to visit these two coastal cities I quite enjoy and realized, I could not come to British Columbia and not say hello to the two V's.
In just one week (1 week!) I will be in Mexico! Huzaaaa! I'll explore Mexico City first, and then off to Quatero, where a friend of a friend lives. Next I'm excited to say that I'll be meeting up with an awesome friend from Ottawa for the Christmas week in a coastal town on the Pacific side - San Pacho. The rest is still unwritten, but Oaxaca is luring me as I've got a friend living there and it may be a great place to spend some time taking Spanish lessons.
Here here to Full Life Livin'. The world has infinite opportunities for wonder and enjoyment. Every tree a playground, every relationship, a well of juciness, every street, a potential dance floor.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Diversity...
of shapes and shadows the mountains may cast
of people you meet taking a Kootenay Rideshare
of places you can hike, ski, camp, and play in the Rocky Mountains
of generosity I accept while travelling
of medical emergencies that can be experienced in the backcountry
of delicious food - lovingly prepared by others, lovingly prepared by me
of karma yoga tasks at Yasodhara Ashram (from cooking cashew loaf to cleaning out 'mouse houses')
of ways to reflect on who you are, where you are, how you are, what you are becoming...
of creative arts: singing, dancing, colouring, that resonate deep within my soul
of experiences within and without that mold the very nature of who I am growing into
of ways you can listen deep and learn from yourself, about awareness, harmony, sacrifice, unity, non-resistance, non-judgement, non-attachment, ideals...the list goes on...
Sending you a diversity of types and forms of love from the Kootenays of British Columbia.
of people you meet taking a Kootenay Rideshare
of places you can hike, ski, camp, and play in the Rocky Mountains
of generosity I accept while travelling
of medical emergencies that can be experienced in the backcountry
of delicious food - lovingly prepared by others, lovingly prepared by me
of karma yoga tasks at Yasodhara Ashram (from cooking cashew loaf to cleaning out 'mouse houses')
of ways to reflect on who you are, where you are, how you are, what you are becoming...
of creative arts: singing, dancing, colouring, that resonate deep within my soul
of experiences within and without that mold the very nature of who I am growing into
of ways you can listen deep and learn from yourself, about awareness, harmony, sacrifice, unity, non-resistance, non-judgement, non-attachment, ideals...the list goes on...
Sending you a diversity of types and forms of love from the Kootenays of British Columbia.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Summer wrap up
I'm nearly on my way out of Ontario for a while! Really, I've been in and out of Ontario for a chunk of time now. I've had a seriously good summer, filled with adventures and reflection.
Here are some highlights from late July-now (see previous post for my adventures on the east coast in May and June!): Pelee island stone B&B's and wineries with my Mom and Aunt - sunsets and starlight strong. Blue Skies Music Festival with the ukulele orchestra, good music, good fun, good food, good friends. Wild Woman's Canoe Weekend at Lac Vert in Quebec - a beautiful, hilarious, silly, naked, weekend - sheeez I love those Ottawa women. Lake Champlain Region on bicycle with my dear old Otesha friend Lucy. What a joy, what an adventure, loved Burlington, Vermont, twas a beauty! People's Social Forum in Ottawa saw environmentalists and activists gathering from all around this country of ours to build community and share ideas...I learned about power and privilege, heard First Nation stories, experienced my own sense of place, and heard about mining in Central America. I went on my first whitewater Canoe trip on the Mattawa River. A great way to celebrate a dear friend's birthday. These events were all surrounded by in between moments of spending time with the Ottawa community I love - ecstatic dancing, playing in the park with magic, cooking up summer's bounty, harvest pop up picnics, and my share of roller coaster reflection, emotion, relationship cycles as I processed the challenges of being without a homespace and the sense of ungrounded-ness I felt without house, job, committed relationship. Was all part of a complete summer cycle!
Then came perhaps the biggest highlight of summer - the month I spent at my friends farm in Wakefield. Ferme et Forêt is the socially and environmentally conscious home and business enterprise of Genevieve Legal-Leblanc and Sean Butler. Check out their website for more details (and to learn about their Maple Syrup share program!) about how awesome sauce they are. I had a blast learning about and harvesting wild edibles (day lilies, elderberries, plums, apples, milkweed, woodsorrel etc!), harvesting in the vegetable patch, getting shitake mushroom logs ready and inoculated, walking maple syrup lines...my tent was my cozy home, my bike my transportation into Ottawa on the weekends to be with friends there. Food! Jeez, I love everything about it.
And in rolled October. I had a time in Toronto, visiting old places and people from a time that feels like a looooooong time ago...I lived there from late 2009-2011, and it's amazing how much I've moved on from that place in a lot of ways, it felt very certain that I was a visitor - a visitor that doesn't desire to live there again...It was fantastic to reconnect with so many bosom buddies there, and I came out of my week there loving the dose of vibrancy that Toronto always grants me (yummy restaurants, green spaces well used, Nuit Blanche, funky home spaces, nifty neighbourhoods, bike-ability albeit with risk, interesting in so many ways...) but really ready to leave. Leave the city, not the people.
Onwards I flow! I'm excited about how things are panning out. I found a woman online that I will drive across the Northern US with to Fernie, BC. I'll take a Wilderness First Responder Course, and then head back to the west Kootenays, where I'll connect with old friends, and visit the ashram I spent some time at in 2012 for a few weeks. Then, my journey south to warmth will begin! Hi hooooo sunshine instead of snow here I come!
Please please please, keep in touch; energetically, through written words, through voice, through prayers...however feels right for you, please keep in touch. I feel excited for new journeys, but I really love so many people in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Kitchener, Nelson, Vancouver, Victoria, Sydney... While my community is spread, across Canada and beyond, I will hold you all close in my heart.
I was listening to a song yesterday, and it really resonated with me. It was by Whitely and the lyric that stuck out to me was:
"my heart is not a machine. It beats in time with all the others that I love"
I'm beating in time with you!
Here are some highlights from late July-now (see previous post for my adventures on the east coast in May and June!): Pelee island stone B&B's and wineries with my Mom and Aunt - sunsets and starlight strong. Blue Skies Music Festival with the ukulele orchestra, good music, good fun, good food, good friends. Wild Woman's Canoe Weekend at Lac Vert in Quebec - a beautiful, hilarious, silly, naked, weekend - sheeez I love those Ottawa women. Lake Champlain Region on bicycle with my dear old Otesha friend Lucy. What a joy, what an adventure, loved Burlington, Vermont, twas a beauty! People's Social Forum in Ottawa saw environmentalists and activists gathering from all around this country of ours to build community and share ideas...I learned about power and privilege, heard First Nation stories, experienced my own sense of place, and heard about mining in Central America. I went on my first whitewater Canoe trip on the Mattawa River. A great way to celebrate a dear friend's birthday. These events were all surrounded by in between moments of spending time with the Ottawa community I love - ecstatic dancing, playing in the park with magic, cooking up summer's bounty, harvest pop up picnics, and my share of roller coaster reflection, emotion, relationship cycles as I processed the challenges of being without a homespace and the sense of ungrounded-ness I felt without house, job, committed relationship. Was all part of a complete summer cycle!
Then came perhaps the biggest highlight of summer - the month I spent at my friends farm in Wakefield. Ferme et Forêt is the socially and environmentally conscious home and business enterprise of Genevieve Legal-Leblanc and Sean Butler. Check out their website for more details (and to learn about their Maple Syrup share program!) about how awesome sauce they are. I had a blast learning about and harvesting wild edibles (day lilies, elderberries, plums, apples, milkweed, woodsorrel etc!), harvesting in the vegetable patch, getting shitake mushroom logs ready and inoculated, walking maple syrup lines...my tent was my cozy home, my bike my transportation into Ottawa on the weekends to be with friends there. Food! Jeez, I love everything about it.
And in rolled October. I had a time in Toronto, visiting old places and people from a time that feels like a looooooong time ago...I lived there from late 2009-2011, and it's amazing how much I've moved on from that place in a lot of ways, it felt very certain that I was a visitor - a visitor that doesn't desire to live there again...It was fantastic to reconnect with so many bosom buddies there, and I came out of my week there loving the dose of vibrancy that Toronto always grants me (yummy restaurants, green spaces well used, Nuit Blanche, funky home spaces, nifty neighbourhoods, bike-ability albeit with risk, interesting in so many ways...) but really ready to leave. Leave the city, not the people.
Onwards I flow! I'm excited about how things are panning out. I found a woman online that I will drive across the Northern US with to Fernie, BC. I'll take a Wilderness First Responder Course, and then head back to the west Kootenays, where I'll connect with old friends, and visit the ashram I spent some time at in 2012 for a few weeks. Then, my journey south to warmth will begin! Hi hooooo sunshine instead of snow here I come!
Please please please, keep in touch; energetically, through written words, through voice, through prayers...however feels right for you, please keep in touch. I feel excited for new journeys, but I really love so many people in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Kitchener, Nelson, Vancouver, Victoria, Sydney... While my community is spread, across Canada and beyond, I will hold you all close in my heart.
I was listening to a song yesterday, and it really resonated with me. It was by Whitely and the lyric that stuck out to me was:
"my heart is not a machine. It beats in time with all the others that I love"
I'm beating in time with you!
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Kefir and Kombucha (Fermentation Fun!)
Kefir for Trade!
That was the title of the workshop I offerred at a festival in Guelph, ON, on the last weekend of July.
I gotta say - I love yeast and bacteria...and as one workshop participant mentioned "your passion for yeast and bacteria is infectious!" hmmm good thing it is a beneficial bacteria considering it's infectious...
Kefir and Kombucha are two of my favourite foods. I love how good they make my stomach feel, I love the taste, I love the way such a simple form of life can turn a food so quickly into something completely different!
So below, I've shared the how of fermenting Kefir and Kombucha with you. If you are interested in getting fermenting for the health of your digestive system, for the delicious zingy taste, to create alternative barter economies (the yeast and bacteria re-produce-you can have oodles of fun trading it with other folks who wish to start fermenting!), or just for the fun of it, check out the little zine that I crafted up as a handout at the workshop.
Oh - and let me know if you need some Kefir Grains to get started or a SCOBY for Kombucha - I will happily trade with you.
Happy Fermenting!
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That was the title of the workshop I offerred at a festival in Guelph, ON, on the last weekend of July.
I gotta say - I love yeast and bacteria...and as one workshop participant mentioned "your passion for yeast and bacteria is infectious!" hmmm good thing it is a beneficial bacteria considering it's infectious...
Kefir and Kombucha are two of my favourite foods. I love how good they make my stomach feel, I love the taste, I love the way such a simple form of life can turn a food so quickly into something completely different!
So below, I've shared the how of fermenting Kefir and Kombucha with you. If you are interested in getting fermenting for the health of your digestive system, for the delicious zingy taste, to create alternative barter economies (the yeast and bacteria re-produce-you can have oodles of fun trading it with other folks who wish to start fermenting!), or just for the fun of it, check out the little zine that I crafted up as a handout at the workshop.
Oh - and let me know if you need some Kefir Grains to get started or a SCOBY for Kombucha - I will happily trade with you.
Happy Fermenting!
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