Flower shops and other musings

Chiang Mai- where else can you get fresh jasmine necklaces and lotus
flowers folded and prepared for you, for the temple or for the Buddha,
on a sleepy Sunday afternoon? When I am an old woman with a cane, I
will own a flower shop...it's one of the many businesses I hope to own
in my lifetime. I made a list the other day, which included:

Flower Shop (this one is reserved to old age somehow)
Wholesome Café with a stone or wood oven to bake fresh bread in, with
a yoga deck, herbal steam, jacuzzi and possibly a jungle pool in
Siargao
Wholesome Café with many veggie options in Miami and/or Madrid a la
Chiang Mai's Blue DIamond
Bonz' map of Madrid, Barcelona, Manila, ... and perhaps London
Sustainable Travel website for world destinations
Online Volunteering Directory
Thai insipred place in Madrid and /or Miami with Thai massage, Thai
cooking courses, Thai food and Thai goods
Gastronomic & historic tours of Madrid
Boutique Guesthouse in Thailand

... so many dreams.... better get working on one of them soon! Life is
short. This is why I love to travel. So many ideas start flowing and
my mind gets busy dreaming, planning, visualising and getting into
action on what will soon be my own business. In the meantime, if I
don't end up living in Chiang Mai, I sure hpe it's a permaent stopover
for the rest of my life.

Yoga retreat

The gift is today... it really is. As I write this I am conscious of being and moving in better balance, physically, intellectually and emotionally. It is a feeling and a motivaiton I trust will indeed accompany me forever. The last time I came to this retreat was three and a half years ago, knowing nothing of yoga, what it's based on, the 8-fold enlightenment path, the lifestyle. And I left exhilirated and motivated. For weeks I continued my practice virtually daily, and then it slowly weaned.... getting to a point of no practice for months. However, so many of the principles have accompanied me for the past three and half years that whilst I may have climbed 10 steps from where I was and walked back 8, I ended up 2 steps ahead of where I was when I started. And isn't that what life is about? Advancing slowly but surely?

So this time I came back knowing not only what I was getting myself into but with a deeper motivation to understand it even better, revisit it like we used to do when studying in school... because sometimes once is just not enough. And so I find myself today, having finished the 7 day intensive retreat (8 hours daily of asanas, pranayamas and theoretical lectures) not 10 but probably 100 steps ahead of where I was a week ago, a year a ago, a lifetime ago. During my sunset asana today my eyes welled up and the tears tumbled slowly down my cheeks, one after the other, uninterrupted. And then, in my wonder of where they were coming from I realised it was from a place of happiness, of seeing - and perhaps more strongly - feeling content. Like re-opening a dear box of treasures and cherishing them even more with the wisdom and experience of time gone by.

My word today was "beauty". It came to me by surprise. At the end of our practice on the 7th day we dip our hand into the ceramic pot with the cards. Before picking our word we ask and think about what it is our persona needs to focus on over the next few days, weeks or months...however you may wish it to be. And whilst many may think it is mere chance, if there is anything I believe in, it is that we pick everything... we attract everything that comes to us for our own learning, evolution and happiness. And so, my word was beauty. How lucky. How beautiful indeed to know that my focus is to actively seek
beauty out, display beauty, incorporate beauty, appreciate beauty, flaunt beauty and wish for beauty in everything and everyone in and around me. In me first - around me next.

Beauty.

Day 2 of the yoga retreat

I had a hard time waking up this moring, even though I had 9 hours of
sleep. Aside from the cramps all over my body, I stuggle with early
mornings, no matter what. Also, meditation at 6AM was nver my idea of
fun. That would mean I should go to sleep at 8PM to be somewhat
ready. SO I showed up at 7AM for the start fo the retreat. My head
was all over the place this morning, ans sure enough, at 10 AM after
we were done and I had breakfast I fell asleep almost until 13hr. But
theis afternoon was a whole other story.... the practice was fabulous.
Yes, still sore but after doing the pranayamas and feeling sundown
makes all the difference for me.

The great thing about this retreat is revisiting it, being in a very
small group and being OK with just dedicating my time to doing yoga,
meditating, sleeping, eating and reading. That pretty much makes up my
day. I am not here to travel or visit this time. There's no pressure
(outer or self imposed) in that respect. It's simply wondeful to be
able to look out onto the Mekong and watch the water run by, hear the
dry tamarinds drop off the trees all around conking onto the roof,
look forward to rainfall. I never thought I'd say that... I look
forward to rainfall.

Mostly, I look forward to just dealing with my inner struggles,
working through the tightness and the closed up chakras, and not
having to worry about anyone else, not worry about what I can and
cannot wear today, who Iw ill see and how my hair or makeup looks. I
feel liberated and happy.

Life's Lessons

People are often unreasonable and self centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never seem enough. Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God... it was
never between you and them anyway.
(Mother Theresa)

yoga in Nong Khai, Thailand

Have arrived in Nong Khai, overlooking the banks of the Mekong river,
brown with the rainy season waters and filled with fresh Tilapia for
my favourite dish, Laab. My temporary lack of a camera means I've
taken these pics with the Photo Booth option but hey, at least it
gives you an idea of the views from the garden of my guest house, Mut
Mee. The rooms are decent, nothing fancy really, but I happen to have
one with views and a private deck of sorts (slab of concrete more
like). The location is great and the outdoor garden overlooking the
river makes for a book and siesta lover's dream. I've indulged in
reading my copy of Spanish Vanity Fair, my latest magazine addiction
(fabulous articles) and some pages off the latest acquisition, "more
Sex is Safer Sex - The unnconventional Wisdom of Economics" by Steven
Landsburg (following on from my enjoyable read of Levitt's
"Freakonomics").

I decided to go back to my traveller roots and ditch the 5 Star Grand
Luxe lifestyle of late just for an evening. Hence, my opting for the
12-hour direct VIP night-bus ride from Chiang Mai to Nong Khai. In all
honesty, and bar the rather tacky upholstery and duvet cover, this bus
put some airline's business economy class to shame!! Not only were the
seats 160degree reclinable with an extended foot rest tucking out of
the seat itself as a permanent fixture, but there was a rather clean
toilet on board and a busy hostess passing around pretty much anything
you might need as courtesy of the 600 Baht fare (that's about 12 USD),
from oshibori towels, to a full family size pack of oreo cookies per
person, coffee, tea, water and even a nose and mouth mask (for the
potential germ-factor). These are all the craze out here. The upper
deck was equipped with a massive flatscreen LCD TV many households
would only dream of and the seat even had the neck support on the
sides to ensure you didn't fall onto your neighbour. Best of all, we
had a fresh clean duvet each to cover up with. I must admit I was VERY
impressed and thought it beat in price, convenience and comfort the
two flights I would have had to take to get here (including the 5
hours layover that would've been involved in Bangkok) so cheers to that!

So now, after a week in Chiang Mai detoxing and getting colonics and
ayurvedic treatments, I am ready to delve a bit deeper into my renewed
self improvement. I'm glad to be back here, almost 4 years later,
listening to the sweet Laotian music coming through over the river
waters, hearing the odd fruits drop on the nipa roof of the garden
area and feeling life slow down as it should. Thoreau once wrote that
travelling is one of life's saddest pleasures. It may be true of some
days, but not today.

La Cartuja de Escaladei

The Cartujos, a religious branch of the Catholic church, set up camp below the stunning limestones "sacred Mountains" named as such "Montsant" here in El Priorato. Aside from their despotic stronghold on the local lands and it's peoples (proof being how their monastery was sacked and burned down within 3 days of their demise by local townsfolk), they seem to be the ones who began wine production out here - so we have that to thank them for, plus some very interesting, albeit derelict, ruins of their monastery. We wondered why if they were confined in their (rather spacious) quarters why they lived to be 90 and mostly died of gout? We had many a drunken ¨tertulia¨ about this after meals and concluded these guys stuffed themselves with salted fish, wine and turtle soup, and would then flagellate themselves for their drunken stupors, boredom-induced masturbation and the unconfirmed (but surely it had to be) secret entrance into their quarters of a string of voluptuous local damsels... no it's not a syndrome of modern times.  Of course the tour made no mention of that. It was rather interesting though. Here's a pic of the reconstructed entrance and another of Grandfather and Grandson in

Cartujano-style contemplation. 

Winding paths with fig trees

1st half of August 2009 - Cycling a sweet lonesome road between the
town of Torroja and Escaladei, in Spain's Priorato region, drunk with
the aromas of fig and almond trees lining the melting asphalt, whilst
every other bend hid a blackberry bush waiting to be pruned of it's
deliciously black fruit. Ahhhh and not to mention the vines and grove
after grove, row after row of olive trees following the oftentimes
challenging climbs. El Priorato sure is a well kept secret. If you
haven't been, what are you waiting for? It's not just the wine, but
the vermouth, the deliciously fruity olive oil, the nuts you can quite
literally pick off the trees, the pungent smell of pines.

The sight and smell of the pines is such a strong reminder of my
childhood summers, making me realise I prefer being in the countryside
in the summer. There's no mad dash for a spot on a sweltering beach,
the waters you bathe in are cold and refreshing rivers and mini
waterfalls. Whilst I do enjoy water sports at sea, I think I am more
of a mountain girl. And here we had the beach a wee hour away fi we
wanted it. truth is, in the two weeks we spent there, we didn;t set
foot once. It was more fun exploring the old towns, excavated
dinosaurs in the town of Tastavins or the hundreds of white collar
vultures patiently waiting for their feed at a local farm. So many of
these things we might not have done had we not had the little guys in
the party... gotta love having the children aorund to challenge your
daily routine and get you out of your set ways.
.

YUMMY

After 11 hours of rest in the balmy Chiang Mai night with the soft
purrr of the fan in the background I awoke to the warmest welcome from
Aun, the owner of Walai House and a good friend. Didn't really make
breakfast after our catch-up sesh so had Som Tam (green papaya salad)
for lunch, then snacked on kao new ma muang (Mango with sticky rice)
for merienda, finishing off with Kao Lao Soup (my all-time favourite
veg and herb broth) wth BBQ stuffed squid. Not bad for day 1 :-)

3 planes back to Chiang Mai

The blog is back on, new look and all!! I kinda promised myself to dedicate some time to creating new posts on the various flights over. Instead I spent most of the time sleeping, watching movies or finishing my book on male PUAs (pick-up artists). Whaddaya know! It's good to know the tactics of the opposite sex.

The past 24 hours have consisted of me dousing myself numerous times with Prada perfume at the two terminals I stopped over at (masking the I've been flying for 15hrs stench), pretended to be interested in
buying cosmetics just to sneak a cotton pad soaked in cleanser and tonic to attempt a clean skin look, bought 3 books and eyed a new camera. How very vain of me.

I've been daydreaming about being back in Chiang Mai for longer than anyone might imagine, and in closing my eyes I could see the metal design of the street signs, the neighbourhood with the fruit vendors, the soup place I love to dine at on the street… But nothing I re-create in my head quite matches the quiet sense of contentement I feel being back here in person. I think it's the familiar smells that take
me back to my last visit. The woman on the street with the satay BBQ, the sticky juice of a freshly cut pineapple washing down the sides of the street vendor's knife, or the smell of fresh laundry that accompanies you on any walk throughout this neighbourhood.

I purposely didn't pack liquids and gels… I always love going shopping for miniature soaps, shampoos, creams and even toothpaste. So I went out for my dose of powdery smelling westernised toilettries and
stopped by a new spot to order my favourite vegetable broth, made with cabbage, green beans, sweet basil, pork balls and sour sauce. I hadn't forgotten how friendly Thai people are, it jut does not cease to amaze me how they go out of their way to smile and with anyone, even those of us who are struggling to remember the few Thai phrases we learned in the past. It's been almost 3 years alter all! Better get some sleep or else the jet lag will get the best of me! More soon.

A long long time ago

I guess I've been neglecting the blog for way too long, what with me trying to get my butt in gear and back into the rat race. After a year and a half of bliss, the moolah ran out, so it was time to get a job again.... one with a constant stream of earning.

It found me in the most bizarre fashion, but most interesting things often do, and truth be told, I had been throwing out the need and desire to get the cash flow back on track to the universe so it took care of things for me. (Yes, I've been reading The Secret but I am enjoying Creative Visualizatio way more!). Anyhow, I am back in Manila...and you may ask yourself how and why.

I decided our yearly family holiday had to be here this year and surprisingly, managed to convince the entire family to trek half way around the world to get to the paradise that is Siargao. Yes, all those nights on the island are about to be shared with my loved ones. It's moving that they've all made the effort to come meet and get to know the place spent so much time in during my travels.

So after a very long, movie and documentary and of course chocolate binge-filled 13hour flight from Amsterdam, I landed in Manila today and the first thing I did was drink a fresh buko juice (of course) off a street vendor, a eat some green mango also freshly peeled by another street vendor. The grubbiness of the city continues to stand 2nd place when the kindness of the local folk remains. It does not cease to amaze me and I am pleased to find many things as they were when I left.

That'll be it for this piece but do expect more updates over the next two weeks, and of course pictures too!

Mabuhay!

Why I love Chiang Mai - part 1

I've spent the last 12 days floating as if on a cloud, down the streets of Chiang Mai, past my favourite hole-in-the-wall neighbourhood eateries, delighted to be back. Why do I love this city so much? Is it perhaps because it doesn't feel at all like a city and yet offers everything I could possibly need around me to be happy? well, except for my beloved family and close friends, who I wish I could tele-transport here. What are you all waiting for???!!!

Coming back to WaLai Guesthouse has been a real treat. Little has changed; the rooms are still large and airy, I still have a view of the mountains, reception remains the buzzing meeting point for all us massage students who stay here, and the new tropical garden with canopy Aun has built out back makes for an ever peaceful stay. I live down a very peaceful neighbourhood street, or soi as they are called here, covered in trees and best of all, quiet ... except for the howling dog next door, but that just adds to the charm!

The laundry lady on the opposite sidewalk still washes my clothes for less than 1 euro, and the last time I cheked - 3 days ago - the blind massage place down the street still charges 2 euros for an hour's worth of foot massage. Bliss! I've opted to carry myself on foot or sitting atop the gear-less WaLai bicycle. That's OK, Chiang Mai is pretty flat, and what I like best about the bike is the handy little basket attached to the front, where I leave everything I'm carrying and it never gets stolen.

A new pool has opened a block away so I fit in a 40 minute swim every morning just so that I can indulge in sticky rice with my meals or the occasional excess; the other day as I walked back, wet bathing suit in hand, the neighbour had a stall out on the street selling fried bananas. I did a double take! I was not sure whether to be happy for her reading my mind, or weary of what this might do to my thighs. And so I decided to indulge - it's been almost 2 years since I was last here so surely I can forgive myself for caving in to this scrumptious treat. She gave me a bag-ful for 5 baht (10 cents) and I ravished 2 on my way up the stairs and another 3 with wet fingers while I showered - enough to feel guilty and donate the rest to the girl at reception!

I've returned to my favourite Thai stall, only 2 streets away, where a charming middle aged lady who speaks no English and laughs at every attempt I make at Thai, sells the most delicious noodle soup for only 20 Baht (40 cents). It's a chicken broth with Chinese 5 spice mix, a handful of rice noodles, some roasted strips of pork tenderloin, and another handful of bean sprouts, green beans, cabbage, spring onion and coriander. I think I've had it for dinner every day this week ... and I have no intention of stopping my newly developed trend! There's this other lady down that same street who looks like she's occupying the chimney shoot down the alley between two buildings. She whips up a storm on a wok right there, before my eyes, so not only do I know it's nice and fresh, but I get to practice my Thai cooking - visually! I don't care too much for her Pad Thai, but her stir-fried morning glory is still the best in town!

Learning

Less than two months away will mark a very important anniversary: 2 years of on-and-off travel, discovering the real meaning of work-life balance, and cementing lifetime friendships.

Early December will mark the time I met Gai, Sue and Deb in Chiang Mai and began a series of adventures I hope to be able to tell my grandchildren some day. No need to say it has been the best decision of my life. But more importantly, as time passes I realize how much this experience has enriched and fostered my imagination. I have so many business ideas and things I would love to do that each day that goes by makes me feel my life is too short to fulfill it all! But hey, one step at a time, and one foot in front of the other.

And so after a week of decadent life in Siargao and a fair share of hedonistic fun, I was invited to come to Camiguin Island and spend some time with my friend Deb and her husband Kai, the musician with the rockabilly band who will be touring Asia next year and with whom I may be singing too. Whatever happens though, coming to discover a new island in the Philippines is an experience to remember. I boarded my flight out of London thinking I would be re-visiting old spots I knew. But being flexible and open to new experiences just makes life unravel before you in fascinating ways.

Deb had warned me that Camiguin reminded her of Hawaii, in its volcanic, lush ways with colourful flowers blooming everywhere and fresh water springing from every hill. The volcanic element may make the beach black, but it gives the island a fertility that is hard to ignore. There is plenty to see and do, such as dipping in natural springs of cold or hot water that take the shape of waterfalls in lush, cave-like surroundings. One white sand bar and another marine sanctuary little off island called Mantigue make for fascinating snorkeling to rival some of the best tank dives I have experienced so far. And Calan’s true Italian restaurant serves, hands down, the best Italian sausage pizza I have ever tasted, more so out here when every once in a while one feels like a taste of home.

So today I swam alongside the coral reef wall in Mantigue island and watched as the small community’s 25 children in a shack called a school. Children learned to read in a beach-side school that could resemble a run-down garden shack in any western home. This is when I realize that westerners who claim they never learned because their teacher or the school’s facilities sucked cannot be quite true. How then would the hill tribe children of Sapa, in Northern Vietnam, who school only until the age of 12, or these island children in the Philippines learning in a one-room wooden building barely rising from the sand, without electricity or a toilet, (let alone an art or science department or a gym) be able to learn and speak more than one language fluently, or reach your heart with such beautiful smiles.

To friends, who reach out and know when to guide you back to your heart.
-

To freedom

Rum and coke in hand, with a little calamansi lemon frozen into an ice cube, finds me writing about my travels once again. To think I nearly cancelled this trip… time and thought tells me it was the fear of getting carried away again by the life of travel, of easy riding down the coast of a white island, surrounded by only sandy roads, fishermen in their wooden bangkas and the smell of Pandan fruit falling from the trees.

A week in Siargao island has enchanted me once again. Perhaps this time more because I realize that with a little bit of saving, I can buy some land and build a house eventually… or maybe even a spa and restaurant – which is missing on the island and has been a business idea on my mind for a while. The more time I spend here, the more local I feel. Yes, I wish to be part of the others who have chosen this as their seasonal home. I fear that if I do not act soon, others will take over, mass tourism will turn it into a makeshift Boracay, and the charm and magnetism will be lost. It really is a pearl in the orient one wishes to keep precious.

Billabong sponsored the surfing competition there this year, which has helped the island get massive coverage and millions worth of publicity. They have a 3-year contract so I envisage myself there this same time next year, cheering for the young 20-something year old surfers who ride the waves in style and make it look so simple, and then sharing beers and a night walk on the beach during a blackout with the older surfers, who may be overshadowed in the water by the younger guys, but have nothing to envy them when night falls. And so life goes for the traveling single female who prefers to sit in front of her computer at her leisure and share snippets of how her alternative life unravels.

To freedom
(pictures to follow)

Revisiting

Coming back. The hope and anticipation mix with expectations and the dread; that you may return and find the charm has gone, that nothing is the same, that it would have been better to keep the great memories intact. All this went through my head before getting here. And the truth is that this is not the second or third time… it is the fourth! I knew what I was coming back for. And so I put the expectations aside and honoured my true feelings and desires or wishing to come to just enjoy myself and have a good time.

Siargao is not an easy place to get to and so making it all the way over was overly challenging this time, but the reward has been ever greater and I have found I am indeed enjoying it once again. It is different, of course, because the novelty of the resort has been replaced by a very comfortable familiarity with the staff, the food and my surroundings. However, the marvel of the view, the sunsets and the way the light reflects off the water remains mesmerizing. I walk down the powdered sand beach alone… alone, without stumbling across rubbish or people. Simply. The fresh young coconut, or buko, still tastes delectably soft with that hint of natural sweetness that continues to make it such a special treat.

I am sharing a room with Gai and our other friend Deb, who recently moved to another island. It is so cool to be back together, sharing so much more than a room; reliving our travel adventures through our photos, riding together up against each other on a habal-habal extended motorbike in true Pinoy style, shaking mojitos and dancing barefoot in the sand as we roll away on a warm Siargao afternoon.

Anonymous comments

Hello everyone!

More to come!! When you comment, please leave me your name and a contact email as otherwise, how will I know who you are and how to reach you?

Anonymous commented on Minneapolis post:
"No me lo puedo creer... Tebita... Han pasado unos pocos años... Estás guapísima Mlle.
Soy aquel madrileño de la bandera de España..........."

Teba replied:
¡¡Ay qué curiosidad!! No sé quien eres...dame más pistas y dime cómo ponerme en contacto.

Minneapolis

I was very fortunate to reconnect with an old high school friend and attend her wedding in Minneapolis last month. Only a week before the terrible disaster that overcame the city with the bridge collapse, I walked the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul, crossed the Mississippi waters and delighted in the past-times these two cities afford the newcomers on a warm summer's day. I cannot speak for the cold winters, when the many sky-walks, or bridges that connect one building or block to another, afford pedestrians some manner of protection from the -40 degree Celsius temperatures. However, on a sunny July day Minneapolis is a real treat, and a non-publicised little treasure.

Being the outdoorsy girl I am, I quickly signed up for the kayaking in one of the numerous lakes dotting Minneapolis. I loved the way they were connected by canals, giving my hesitant Mother and I - she feared I would tip the kayak - a chance to enjoy different atmospheres and touches of light over the water. We even left our kayaks on the sandy banks of one lake for a well-deserved and very refreshing dip. Who would have known, all the way up near Canada, eh!?

The Scandinavian influence in the city is notorious and evident in the many tributes to art and architecture. The bride and groom had organised a tour of the 'twin cities' and we thoroughly enjoyed guessing the price or imagining ourselves living in one of the many extraordinary mansions lining the shores of the lakes. No matter how grand the house, it is not hidden behind dark gates or thick hedges but lies open to view. In Minneapolis in particular, the shores of the lakes have been kept public purposely so that everyone can enjoy their own piece of nature. Many a cyclist or skater passed us as we approached the Mississippi river banks to see the ruins of the very famous mills, like Pillsbury or General Mills, that brought money to this city at the turn of the century. These are now being turned into trendy apartments or else recovered and turned into exhibition halls or museums of the city's heritage. Despite not being a big fan of Picasso, I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition at the Walker Museum. It showed some works of Picasso that inspired similar art by his group of followers, and of course displayed the works of these 'other' artists who so fervently admired and based their style on this icon. Aside from the exhibition though, I must mention the awesome array of cool gift ideas available in the museum store (worth a visit on its own)! Of course, the terrace restaurant run by renowned chef Wolfgang Puk is also worth a visit alone for a mouthwatering, Asian-inspired lunch at very affordable prices, sun-drenched views of the city and the sheer pleasure of being served by very friendly staff who know what they're doing and know the menu inside-out. A couple of other buildings stand out in my memory for their appearance, style and the way in which they blend strikingly well with their surroundings. For those of you who have been to Bilbao, the Weisman Art Center building will remind you of Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum, as it was drawn up by the same architect, Frank Gehry. The other one, the Minneapolis Guthrie Theatre, is an astounding tribute to the arts, with more than 3 stages, a staggering history of award winning performances and a fascinating addition to the neighbouring old factory skyline. Here are some pictures.

And, well, you know me. No place misses a 'Teba' culinary review. In this case, we were lucky enough to feast on the quirky Hell's Kitchen's breakfast a couple of mornings. Highlights? Their toasted sausage bread - made with bison meat, spices, dried fruits and coffee - was one of those things I had to try, only to be able to comprehend what the ingredient list would taste like in my mouth. It was, indeed, a winner especially when accompanied by spoonfuls of the house chutneys and jams, which put any farmhouse preserve to shame. Their bison burger was scrumptious and although I craved a bowl of their famous Mahnomin porridge, made with native harvested wild rice, I ran out of time so there's another great reason to return!

Here are some websites for those of you who want more info on what's mentioned above:

http://www.hellskitcheninc.com/HellsKitchenMenuBreakfast.html
http://www.weisman.umn.edu
http://www.walkerart.org/index.wac
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=337753

I dedicate this entry to all those living in Minneapolis who have suffered a loss in the terrible bridge collapse last month.

Time flies...

Time really does fly. I know I haven't written for yonks, and my Mac's HD died on me recently so I was a bit lost in terms of usernames and passwords. So much so I thought I'd never be able to get back into my Blog!!! Scary!

So what's up with me? I'm in Miami. Been here for 2 months now, mostly doing massage and earning some dough that way. Not seen the beach much as it has been raining, or I've been indoors stretching others' quadriceps!! I'm also trying to get some freelance translation and voice-over work so if any of you have some leads, I'd love to hear from you! I've kept writing and am proud to say I'm getting published again next month. For those who didn't see my April published article, log on to:

http://www.internationalliving.com/spain/free/03-20-07-eat.html

June's article will show up towards the end of next week on:

www.travelpostmonthly.com.

Have fun reading! I hope I'll get a couple more into Intl. Living for June as well. Well, enough of the self promotion. On to promote others! I have a friend, Alba Vales, who just published a book called:

The Ninth Glyph

It's available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Although it is a fictional story, it delves into the ever important and debate-fostering subject of destiny. Check it out! She's encouraging me to write my own book so I want to help her with her own sales too.

Have I been traveling lately? The answer is YES!! I went to Calgary recently. Have some cool pics of Lake Louise, frozen through, and my latest style design, but since my computer died on me, I am waiting to get the originals sent to me again. Hopefully, I'll be able to post some cool pics and travel tales in my next entry. For now I am just pleased I managed to remember my password and get back in here!!

Fresh Buko

Growing up, I never liked coconut; mind you, I grew up in the mountains of Spain so I could hardly taste the real thing. It was either dessicated flakes placed on cakes or desserts attempting to imitate the flavour, in a sickeningly sweet way.

My first encounter with fresh coconut was at the kidney cleanse I did in Chiang Mai. I was becoming delirious after days of no eating and drinking mostly parsely juice, when the staff brought out a dripping cold glass. It had near freezing fresh coconut water with slabs of fresh coconut floating inside. I remember feeling bliss as I put it to my mouth but then again, I was starving and delirious so anything seemingly sweet and fleshy would've felt like heaven anyway, right?

Well, my full fledged love affair and veneration of fresh coconut has happened in Siargao. The coconut trees grow all around and so, when we want a fresh one, Romeo, who works here, climbs up and picks them off from underneath the tall palms! Now I understand why the trees have these step-looking cut slabs in the trunk. They are young, smooth and green on the outside. (I learn the hairy brown ones just mean they're old). They are filled with water and the meat is smooth and delicate - sometimes like a thin film. And so we grab a knife and slice the top off. Water spurts out and we collect the overflow in a bowl to chill for later. And with a special knife we cut the insides in circles to make fresh spaghetti-looking shapes. As I look out onto the clear waters before me, and the mangroves surrounding the house, I eat fresh coconut, or buko, as it is known here. Breakfast, dessert, snack ... it is a pure and healthy indulgence I feel I cannot live without now. How lucky to be able to drink nature's juice as it was intended.

Discover Siargao

Why is it that the harder and more arduous the journey, the more rewarding it feels? Why is it we all want to feel like we've discovered a place? At some point, you want to discover a place that is isolated, hard to get to, un-beknown to mass tourism and authentic. There's a place in the Philippines called Siargao that I like to think is this way. It used to take 2 days to get there from Manila... now it takes half a day. That's still a stretch for some. However, once you've weathered the plane and boat rides, you sail slowly up the turquoise waters to the white sandy beaches, dotted with leaning palm trees and nothing but mangroves in sight. When you walk down the sandy roads, you get a glimpse of life within the small cottages made of wood planks, and tended with little flowers and coconut shells as makeshift fences. Children will run out to see who's coming and offer you a cheery "hello" and "goodbye" as you pass. As you sit out, you may see the fishermen diving for mud-crab, the tastiest island specialty, or a great surf wave beckoning you into the water. Whether you think you like fresh coconut or not, when you see the man climbing the tree to pick it for you, cutting it open and offering you a taste of nature's own, you won't think to say no, and believe me, it will taste like heaven. Then at night, you'll catch yourself hearing your breath, the silence only interrupted by the slow drift of the wind among the palm leaves above, or the faint lap-lap of the shallow waters at low tide. You'll look up and thank all your lucky stars for being alive and experiencing this beauty and peace. You'll want the clock to stop. You'll want to stay forever.

"Straya"

Sometimes when I travel, I find that I get giddy at the thought of getting to my destination. From the moment I step out of the plane I feel a rush of excitement and nervousness and the entire trip seems like an intensely short holiday speeding before my eyes. Australia, or "Straya" as it is known to the locals, was nothing like what I just described.

Since I was little I remember saying that for my honeymoon I would go to Australia. Don't ask me why, it's one of those things with a meaning I have yet to uncover. Anyway, I got here, unmarried, and certainly not anticipating bathtubs filled with rose petals, feasts to my senses or scenes in amber, being devoured in bed by my beloved! That's probably why I was not giddy on my arrival and wondered if I had flown half way around the world to encounter more of the same life left back home.

The thing is, Australia has grown on me. It's gotten under my skin slowly, with care, like sand that creeps into every last nook and cranny. And so gazing through the hot air at the stretches of eroded, dry, red stone and sand of the desert, I've asked myself: what is it about this place that has me thinking I will discover something here I cannot quite see with my naked eyes?

And so, I have experienced Australia slowly, visiting friends in places I would probably not have chosen as top destinations otherwise, and feeling all the luckier for it. I came here without a plan, without looking at the weather forecast, and without understanding the vastness and history of this massive land. For that, I ended up drowning my taste buds with the wine of the south, witnessing sea lions basking in the sun of a white beach, chancing my way into the outback in the intense red heat of the desert's summer and lulling myself to sleep under the pristine desert sky with Orion, twisted, guiding me from above. I have experienced a new found self-love and confidence, and felt more than just the hot wind caressing my body.

I would have never picked up a book on aboriginal people, their history, their demise or their art form had I not come here. I suspect I would have never understood the power and will to survive of these people, under the toughest of situations, had I not ventured into the desert and even spoken to one or two during my walks through Alice Springs. The thing is, it's not a given in Australia. Things are not thrown at you, in your face ..... you have to seek things out and learn in your own time and willingness. And if you give it long enough, you will eventually find that the people and the place really has a lot "down under" it's rugged, dry surface.