I am not going to lie. It is challenging to begin to write this blog post, as I don’t quite know how to put into words the diversity of experiences that were had these past two months on this island paradise of Koh Phangan. I fear I shall write a novella in the process, when all I really want to do is to offer a perspective - a glimpse at the experiences through these eyes - not only so that others reading this might open to other ways of engaging with the world, but also, primarily, so that Stan and I will, upon reflection, realize just how valuable these experiences have been, and how much we have benefited from having had them. We arrived back in Asia after a three year absence, consciously repeating our mantras ... read more

FORTY TWO HOURS IN TRANSIT. Let’s just let that sink in for a moment. Forty two hours. In transit. That says everything about our commitment to being here. And now that we have arrived at our busy, but laid back, incredibly beautiful spiritual, musical, back-to-the-sixties love and bliss inspired island destination, where we shall remain for the next six weeks, it is without hesitation that I say every minute of those forty two hours has been a worthwhile investment. Of course this is a rose-colored lens view of reality, as some complain that the island is far too busy, and everything is crowded and booked to capacity, with many Russians and Israelites here escaping political nightmares, and others, like us, escaping the cold, but its an easy, long overdue, and well deserved break from the bombardment ... read more

Bali’s New Year’s Eve day, as determined by the Balinese Saka calendar, is a Hindu holiday mainly celebrated in Bali, Indonesia. This year the celebration takes place on March 25th. It is also known as Nyepe Day, or the Day of Silence. On this day, the entire island of Bali turns off all power, stops all traffic, abandons all global activities, including the internet, and remains in silence. Streets are literally empty of all traffic, as only emergency vehicles are allowed, and people are expected to remain in their homes or their yards, but cannot venture on any public streets. All businesses are closed, including the international airport in Denpasar. The intention is multifaceted: to spend quiet time connecting alone or with family; to rest and meditate upon the year, resolving to practice forgiveness for any ... read more

My Thai Language teacher has a delightful sense of humour and a razor sharp whit, and is not too shy about whipping her private class student - me - with it. An example of this came about in a recent lesson. She would recite a sentence for me in English, and my task was to verbally give it back to her in Thai. This exercise worked fairly well, as I could spit out the translations with a fair amount of speed for the shorter phrases: “How are you?”, ”What is your name?”, “Where do you live?”, “Do you speak Thai?”, “What day of the week is it?”, etc. But as the exercise continued, the phrases became longer and more complex, and my thinking and speaking wheels slowed considerably. Finally, my astute teacher - feigning falling asleep ... read more

It is late December. We are about to start our 2020 travel adventures, and as we all know, traveling can be very stressful at times. Just days before we are set to depart, Mother Universe decides that we need a refresher course on controlling our emotions and anxieties, to prepare us for our journeys. And so it is that the roller coaster ride of emotions begins. Six days before our December 31st departure we wake up to a cold house. The furnace had stopped working during the night. For those of you reading this from elsewhere in the world, we live in central Canada, in one of the coldest regions of the country, and this is our winter season. Worry and anxiety begin to take hold. A non functioning furnace is the worst nightmare to experience ... read more