May 2022 a trip to CR

 

Sometime a calling comes, and you try to find a reason or an excuse to justify it.  So i tried too! “To meet some friends, especially one who has been recovering from her bout with cancer”!  

May 4th I fly out to San Jose, luckily the flight was midweek, late in the evening.  After some wait at the baggage retrieval, I was out and in a few minutes the red taxi unido that was registered with Adventure Inn became my ten minute ride to the said hotel.  Arrival there is alway like returning home.  Familiar faces and effusive greetings, sharing hugs (without the lurking fear that the past pandemic has instilled). 

After settling into my room, I walk out into the post rain freshness of the night. The fragrance of  reina de la noche as they bloom into the night combined some other natural fragrances, especially the smell of fresh rain, all fill my senses. 

I run into Christopher, who is on his way back from Nicaragua to Mexico.  We exchange some niceties and the next day at breakfast a very engaging conversation on his life path. He has learned the ice bathing healing technique, which he accompanies with pranayama, with the Ice Man himself. Christopher shared his stories, his personal healing through this technique.  

The next day in the Interbus towards the Arenal, I chatted with Tina, who is considering retiring in Costa Rica. We shared our thoughts and it led to creating a group on WhatsApp.  Since then I met a few other expats that have relocated to this country as well as those on a research stage, and now we share our discoveries.  

Room at Ivannias'

 

I travelled on towards Arenal to spend a few days with Ivannia and Carlos.  The time spent there, a room overlooking the volcano, the sharing of meals and seeing these two friends brought a smile to my heart.   

Next stop was  a couple of days at Rancho Margot. I have some investment there and the trip was to further the discussion with the owner Juan, confirming the return of the loan by the year end.   

Rancho Margot Meditation

The fresh air of the ranch, food from the huerta, yoga led by Liz and then a tour by her, all contributed to a nourished stay.   I met Magalie, a Cordon Bleu Chef, who I met after many years. We remembered the food and the fiesta during a previous extended stay where I taught yoga as the resident yoga mama and she was the chef. Besides her other yummy food, the avocado chocolate mousse is so clearly remembered.  An evening with past acquaintances from the ranch, who live in the town of El Castillo was full of laughter.  Angelika now has two kids, the younger one was just born when I last met her, he is now 10.  We ate home cooked tacos and black beans and salad.  Her son Naoun, became our translator.  The rest of the evening was akin to comedy central, as I spoke my broken Spanish and they their English.  

Angelika, irum, Magalie & Naoun

Irum and Liz

I hitched a ride back with Magalie to Adventure Inn, where the friendships and laughter continued. 

Travis returned from Peru and we had another fun evening over dinner. He brought me a hand made scarf by the grandmother of the Shaman who helped him in his Ayahuasca ceremonies.  An astral connection with him during his last ceremony was a focus of conversation.  When friends meet laughter happens!

With Travis and Magalie

I was invited to the restaurant Tin Ho, to celebrate with Ivannia and her family, her sister’s 50th birthday.   The pad thai was excellent as was the ambiance.  It was a fun afternoon.  Her brother insists that he looks like a Pakistani, his wife Marce is a runner and wants to run the Toronto marathon. We exchanged contact, maybe one day we can swap our time and homes.

  

Story of Tin Ho Restaurant

Pad Thai

Delia and Luis came to take me dinner in the mountains near volcán barva. Through a scenic narrow drive we reached the restaurant at the top of the mountain. The air was fresh with a slight nip.  Delia lives in Santo Domingo and I spent a day with them. Meandering the small town, in and out of shops, with Luis stopping to show me the old street paving as well as the construction using earth. The walls of those building were surely a reminder of antique times. 

We returned to their beautiful home.  The dogs came out barking in excitement as Delia showed me her flower collection and the mosaic wall she has been creating. A sumptuous lunch of heart of palm risotto, vegetable soup and some red wine to wash it all down. It was good to see their two sons, David and Oskar Felipe. Oskar is celebrating his birthday soon.  Another south paw like me we feel connected. We talked about their trip to Canada and they shared their past trips to Peru. Maybe we will take the next one together. 

With Luis & Delia

As I finish writing the above, the planes starts its descent into Mexico City.   I will stay here for the night en route to Toronto. 

Mexico City

The three hours wait in the immigration line was making me realize that I might not be able to see the city at all.  I had booked myself at the Marriott which meant a walk from the terminal 1 right into the airport.  A decision I was feeling good about, as I stood in line, chatting other passengers who were nervous that they will miss their onward connections.  The two ladies, who were with me in the plane and now in the line, decided after an hour to buy their way to the head of the line.  With 200 dollars they did exactly that, some passenger was happy to let them cut in front of them for a price.  

I walked into the hotel, checked in and was glad that the concierge offered to get me a driver and car to take me to Zocalo.  Nothing like a hot shower and fresh clothes, with the idea of touring that historical part of the city centre.  Eduardo the driver knew some English, and as my sparse Espanol had got a refresher in Costa Rica, we hit it off great.  A wonderful two hours of sightseeing, the historical ruins of the historic Templo Mayor which they believed was at the centre of the universe.  The 50,000 years old meteorites and of course the delicious tacos.  

The journey back to Toronto brought me feeling nourished.  

Arenal at Sunrise

Arenal at Sunset

Mexico City Palacio de bella artes

Meteorite over 50,000 years old

Palacio de Mineria

Aztec Templo Mayor

Cathedral

Presidents Palace

Madero Calle

Best Tacos at Tacos de Canasta
Los Especiales
(Madero Calle)

Source and clarity...

I see a speck moving on the glass table.  It's in the shape of a plane.  My next response, look up and far in the distance, against the sky, is the airplane. 

I think of someone, I wonder is the thought energy similar to seeing the reflection of the airplane?  Where did the "thought" or the energy of thinking of this person originate?  

Then again where lies the source of our thoughts.  Where are the deep seated impressions guiding the present actions? 

Just having a moment of awareness sometimes makes the difference between drowning in the emotions versus handling the feelings, the thoughts, the issue, or situation at hand.   Somehow that awareness gives the ability to navigate through life.  

With all it's ups and downs, trials and tribulations, challenges and successes, tears and laughter, the agony and ecstasy, the finding and loosing, we want to live.  We want the hug, smile and see the other smile, a warm bed to sleep, and a full belly.  

We want to see ourselves in the story of life.  The story we continue to tell ourselves and live or choose to live, and/or in writing our own.  For reasons unknown I seem to gravitate towards living my story.  Perceptions I have, I question.   Less challenging to deal with are my perceptions, and I have learned the futility of attempting to change the perceptions of others.   Only by being honest and clear of my intentions can I hope that my actions will align.   The alignment is the light that helps in relating, a challenge that each of  faces and attempts to overcome.  

When do we decide to walk away and when do we know it is time to stay grounded and work through the issue or conflict.   The answer comes if we can agree to give space and time to talk, to communicate to hear the other, accept or admit and be willing to say "I am wrong",  and believe that a resolution is possible.  Respecting the right to agree or to disagree.  The resolution does not necessarily equate with a 'status quo' desired by one, another outcome has to emerge.    

Changing the perspective is like seeing the plane in the sky as the source, the reflection is only a pointer, a trigger. 

When intention and action align, clarity reigns. 

Blue skies, warm days by the water, and just some thoughts...

The world and its habitation are similar.  

We travel, we see and ask of ourselves - where is it that I want to be, and around who?

A planned trip to Colorado, to feel the spectacular Rocky Mountains.   The yoga workshop was an excuse; the people and connections a reason and a reminder to life and its beauty.  I could have been disappointed that one weekend of sessions got cancelled, instead I took it as an opportunity to fulfill a life long dream of visiting San Francisco.

A day can become a lifetime, I feel I will return.

I spent less than 24 hours in Ojai.   To visit an old family friend who I have known since I was born.  His lifestyle, quietness and being in the grounds where Krishnamurti lived, made the trip more than just memorable.

The drive to Ojai from LA was only a couple of hours.  We were driving on the Pacific Coast Highway aka PCH, along the way a stopover to feel the sand, stretch into yoga, and inhale the ocean.

Many years ago driving south on the PCH I had witnessed a breathtaking view, as the red Mazda Miata hugged a curve and we faced the water.   I remember catching my  breath, Wow!   For a moment it felt that we were going to drive right over the ocean.

Summer in Toronto.  The place full of family and of friends.  Former work colleagues, where new encounters and many lifetimes of connections are rekindled.  

I am asked to facilitate Reiki, each time I become a vessel to facilitate the universal life energy to flow, many layers open,  each spirit finds its healing.   We embody emotions, with their release the spirit and body align,  all become one.  

Summer in the city continues...

anguish

How we internalize what we cannot process.  I wonder if anguish is unprocessed thoughts and feelings arising from life's situations and circumstances.

At what moment does when feel chained and imprisoned...The following news headlines:

"Online activist Aaron Swartz commits suicide, relative says"...

on reading some of the words from his blog, on his "depression" makes me wonder how easy it is to look from the outside and make suggestions to help an imprisoned mind.  How does anyone know and feel what bars of conditioning create this feeling of helplessness and despair in the other?  Is there a fountain where a soul can drink to satiate the soul and the spirit with unconditional love?  The unconditional love, which is received without any attachment and obligation, can it be the fallback for times when life seems to loose all meaning and the a soul decides to "walk away" from living a life form...

If there is only one consciousness and energy field, then does it now hold the anguish of yet another soul...and how can each one of us not feel this energy...

by offering the unconditional love to life which one lives, and extending that same compassion to the lives we touch...maybe the collective energy gets recharged - a spirit renewed

its been a while, but here i am...

This last month has been a month of muchness…the passing away of a friend, Neem you will always have a place in my heart, thank you for being who you were.  You had an impact on me that has helped me in being who I am.   Thank you.

Anwar, my uncle, he spent a wonderful life, and my childhood is strongly connected to many fun summers spent with him and his family.  My love for trains, has at its source the link to his lifelong career in the railways…Thank You.

2011 brought with it a beautiful soul to study yoga, as we practiced, and discussed the philosophy on which yoga is based, she opened and revealed her fears and challenges…as we shared, she questioned, and at times doubted, but kept scraping the surface and the depth, to unleash her trust in herself and the connection called love that binds all souls…

Barbara and Robyn, what a delight to have met you.  Thank you Robyn for opening your heart and surrendering in the yoga session.  Your connecting me to Kuramba, will manifest...and yes Barbara we both recognized that we had met before.  I look forward to seeing the wonderful photo shots you took.  

Jo-Ann, thank you for presenting your wonderful Yoga book to the ranch and dedicating it to us here.  Your practice was beautiful, I appreciate your asking me to review the upcoming book and allowing me  to contribute some thoughts.  Your book will be good reference material for the yoga training manual that we are compiling for the ranch. 

February rolled in, with more sunshine, as I found myself often singing Bob Marley and "The Sun is Shining"...through the busy days, of yoga teacher training and the sharing of the two daily yoga sessions at Rancho Margot, I found my energy riding on the crest of the waves of the flowing river,  and "I say to myself, what a wonderful world"...

Brian came in with a desire to find his clarity, and allowed himself to open up to us.  Brian your emails are an attestation to the transformation you carried form here.  

Horseback rides to the Mirador, with an amazing soul who seemed to have dropped into my life here...Mark, I have no words to describe the week we shared..spending time with you and Anayancy, was all fun and laughter,.  I enjoyed your presence at the yoga sessions, with the shaking and all!!! It has been "a while" since I enjoyed such an interaction and sharing as I did with you.  Thank you, it reinforced my belief in souls who know each other and meet again as they journey through this beautiful life...trust we see each other again...

Daniel, our new yoga teacher, has come to the ranch with much freshness and his sessions are being enjoyed by all...

February 14 and the Valentine day brought to culmination a philosophy I have been sharing, of letting go of all conditionings and belief in the "shoulds" of life and living life as one truly wants to...letting go of the fears and doubts that robs one of the pleasure of enjoying each moment to its fullest.  So it is befitting that the day brought a magical moment in Brianna's life, in more than one way, and we have not stopped laughing since last night...

In the darkness of the soul a light glimmers,

I pause, and I look…

Is that the fire in my soul, or the light in your eyes…

I feel the lightness of the breeze, the softness of your breath,

You speak, I listen and the music plays on...

rumi wows

"when the heart has a friend like you, the universe cannot contain their pleasure."

"with life as short as a half breath, don't plant anything but love."

"close the language door, and open the window of love."

"the flower of what is true opens in the face."

"your soul has become an invisible bee. we don't see it working but there's the full honeycomb."