Realization of My True Nature

True nature is your essence, your real self, your spirit, your soul.

It has always existed. It was never born, it will never die, it will always exist. 

It is the divine spark you were born with. 

It is pure. It never changes, and it is always with you.

It is hidden beneath ego, experiences, thoughts and emotions. Like clouds that cover the sky above, when the clouds clear, the blue sky is revealed, it was alway there, it was just obscured by clouds. True nature is obscured but it is always there.

When I was taught meditation, I was introduced to the nature of mind. 

My mind used to race like a chariot pulled by wild horses. I was the charioteer with no control over where my thoughts raced. With meditation practice I learnt to control my thoughts, I tamed the wild horses and steered them in whatever direction I chose for them to go. I became in charge of my mind. 

With more practice I learnt to still my thoughts completely. The true nature of mind is emptiness, without the fluctuations of thoughts and emotions. 

I cleared away ego and I realized the radiance of my true nature. I connected with the purity of the creation of the universe. I connected with the purity of my own essence, my true nature.

In the years since, I have seen my true nature many times. I know it is always with me. I think it's the reason people love to meet me around me around the world, it makes me glow and my heart fill with energy. 

It doesn't judge, it just observes. It is unaffected by what happens in my life, it is unaffected by emotions. 

I had a moment in class on Friday when my thoughts became still, my mind became empty and I focused on my true nature. I saw it as I had seen it many times before. 

Then I had an enlightening moment of realization...Everytime I see my true nature, it always appears the same, it has never changed. 

It was a deeply profound experience to actualize what I was taught and what I teach. It was different to be experiencing it than just to know it. It became wisdom, not knowledge.

I saw that thoughts  and emotions could circle around it, unaffecting it, it just observed them. It has been observing my life since I came into consciousness but nothing has ever affected it, it remains as the pure energy I was born with. 

For the rest of my extrordinarily busy day, I moved easily in and out of true nature, going with the gentle flow of the universe. When I was with people I could carry on as I usually do, when I had me to myself I rested in my true nature, watching the world happening around me, in the moment.

I had a very happy day. I'm glad I had the extra energy of the universe to draw on because I had to do a lot of stuff.

The story of the lost luggage

This is a story that comes in three parts. I give some suggestions as to the moral of the tale.

Part 1

It begins in Rome. I arrived in winter clothing from Australia and could not bear the heat a moment longer. As I waited for Wiwa, I quickly changed on the stairwell.

I did not need all my stuff for a week in Greece. A traveller had left behind a slightly broken bag & I packed some of stuff into it and left it with Wiwa at the hostel, la Controra.

I also had a back pack to take on the plane. But ummmm I forgot it. Just as well, I thought, I would be hot walking up to the bus stop. The only thing I would really miss in it was the phone charger. I easily bought another in Santorini and all was right with the world again. My nerves subsided, my beloved phone would still be able to function, I could still be a part of the world.

No probs. I bought a tourist beach bag with a cat on it  and the typical white Greek buildings with blue roofs.
(I'm using it now as my handbag. And I have the golden shoe box with the golden shoes I bought for the wedding - I have the important stuff with me.)

After a week touring The islands of Greece and Athens I flew back to spend a week in Rome. I repacked and took what I thought I needed for a week in Tunisia, including the beautiful dress I bought on Paros that had been altered for me to wear to the wedding. I had a spare dress also in the luggage and shoes I had bought in Rome - high orange shoes that would go perfectly with either.

So I'm running a bit late by the time I leave the hostel. I'm quickly adding someone to facebook and answering a message from Wiwa to say I'm about to leave - she is already in Tunis and will be waiting for me at the airport.

I'm running a bit later as I have to wait for the bus. And I'm running a bit latter still because an accident on the express way is holding up the traffic.

But I get there before they close the check in gates and arrive at the boarding gates with 5 minutes to spare. Time to buy a packet of chips at the vending machine - though guys - I wish someone had mentioned to buy the VODKA!

Part 2
I land at Carthage airport. But my luggage does not. Poor Wiwa is outside the gates waiting for me but it takes me about 2 hours from the time my plane touched down till the time I can go out to see her.

She is allowed back through to help me fill out my luggage claim, to help with the language. The lost luggage claim guy was really cute, I asked Wiwa if I could invite him to dinner. Wiwa translated to me that he was not used to people being nice to him in his job as they are usually angry. It wasn't his fault my luggage was misplaced, there was no reason to be angry, it would not make my luggage appear. Anger only makes everyone feel bad.

There was a big family and friends dinner that night. Luckily I had put on a pretty dress that morning, white with butterflies. I wore it for two whole days and to the party. That party was extraordinary.

So there's me with one dress and everything that was essential packed in my hand bag. It was like a magicician's sack, when ever someone needed something, I magically pulled it out of the bag. Bandaids, the right shade of lipstick, hair band, head ache tablet, what ever, the bag had it.

The next afternoon provided me with with my own very special treat. I waited patiently. Youseff had told me that something was being organized and I would be able to go somewhere to buy some things.

There didn't seem to be anywhere I could buy nickers or even a toothbrush. We were staying in a sandy beach apartment. Right on the white sands of Korba beach. I had washed my nickers and dried them in the hot sun on the terrace before anyone else got up. Haha!

After lunch, Wiwa, beckoned me as she and Youseff bundled into the back of the car. I ran upstairs for my shoes and bag and set off with Youseff's mum and dad in the front.

We went to an extraordinary bazaar, just like in the movies. Sisha, carpets, dresses & clothes, trinkets & jewellery.

I had about an hour and half on my own to do some serious shopping.

First on the list was golden shoes. Then a swim suit. I couldn't find shorts but I got a perfect traditional dress that I wore for the next 3 days. It was so airy, it stayed fresh. I also bought a fridge magnet for my around the world collection. And a pink sheet that doubled as a towel, dress and bed sheet. (Everything dries really fast in the hot white sun).

Then we all set off on a special task. It is the tradition of their culture for the grooms family to buy the bride a necklace.  We hunted in every jewellery shop. I think they knew where they wanted to get it from in the end but needed to see others too. What they bought in the end was exquisite.  Gold encrusted with dismonds and earings and bracelet to match. So suitable for my Tunisian Princess.

And it was a special time for me to spend with her and Youseff's family.

We passed a lingerie shop & I got 3 pairs of underpants. I felt much better knowing I now owned underware.

While they were in the shop buying the jewels I went for a skulk around. I found another lingerie shop with a girl who helped me buy a strapless bra. She was amazed that I had a Tunisian friend and had come for the wedding.

I needed a strapless bra because the whole miracle of this lost luggage story is that in the luggage in Rome I had left behind a beautiful dress. I didn't think I would need it.

We had called Anna and asked her if she could go by the hostel and get it out of the bag. Which she did, and it was lucky she did as she hadn't remembered her passport and she picked it up at the same time.

The beautiful  $1.50 silk dress from the op shop looked stunning amongst my other stunning girls at the wedding.

Eventually we went to a supermarket and I was able to buy some shampoo and razors and toothbrush. The girls all lent me little things like sunblock and soap and body lotion.

We went back to the market with the others another day. I bought a pink sun hat and a beach bag to put all my stuff in.

It was so liberating not having my luggage. I didn't have the responsibility of dragging around a great big bag of stuff. (Mostly shopping I had done in Rome and Greece hehe).

When, after a few days they phoned Wiwa to say the luggage had eventually arrived at the airport we decided to leave it there. I was doing better than fine without it and it was too far to go and get it.

After we vacated the beach house, there were 4 of us left. I booked a tiny place in Tunis for the night. I thanked my lucky stars I didn't have to drag my heavy bag through the narrow winding cobbled alleyways. I only had a purse and a beach bag.

Eventually I was reunited with my baggage at the aiport. It was stored safely in a big room filled with luggage.

I took it to Sicily and then flew to Rome early in the morning. Then I got the train to La Controra to get the rest of the stuff that was being minded there and said good bye to Minu. Back to the airport in good time to book my luggage to fly back to Sydney.

Part 3
You might think this is the end of the saga. But you would be wrong.

When I arrived in Sydney, guess what?
My luggage didn't arrive with me. Haha. Free as a bird. I travel for a month all around the Mediterranean and arrive back with a small back pack and a beach bag.

And the moral of the story?
#Practice non attachment to material objects.
#The universe will provide you with everything you need just when you need it.
#Don't carry your baggage around, metaphorically speaking.
#Or my favorite, let someone else mind your baggage for you.

FREEDOM!!!!!

P.s. in my bag i have with me is a statuete I bought in Greece of Nike, winged Goddess of Victory.

Day 15 to Tunisia

I woke up 10minutes late and kept getting later and later. I made it to the plane 5 minutes before boarding time. 

Plenty of time.

I've met some really interesting people this trip. Yesterday at breakfast up stairs was quiet and I got to know a really interesting boy who is studying art. He's a dancer. 

In Tunisia I discovered they speak French when I arrived and Tunisian Arabic. I've been studying Italian. But my friends all speak in Italian. If i concentrate very hard i can pick up what they are saying.

I also discovered that my luggage didn't arrive with me. It is fortunate that I was wearing a pretty dress with butterflies on because we went out to dinner and dancing at a night club. 

It was amazzzzzing! First there was a band. They played so well. Then me and Anna and her friend, Diago came with me to wade in the pool. We were at a resort. It helped my feet to recover. They aren't used to so much walking, miles & miles & miles every day.

I feel so loved. We dance and hold hands and dance all together. These are my girls. It is strange to have to come so far for a girls night out, I don't know why it is but it just is. It is so wonderful to see them again and meet new girls with us too. I love them all. 

And the boys are Youssef's friends from Lebanon. And some family friends. We danced and drank and sat on the wall and talked and laughed and we're all together so happy.

I sat with with Wiwa's brother Karim, in the back seat of the car coming home but they took him away from me before we arrived. Sad face. I love Karim.

Day 14 Last day in Rome

The group was splitting up and moving onto different cities. A couple of them had a few hours to fill in but it was super hot outside, too hot to wander around. I suggested we could go up to the Borghese gardens where the leafy trees make it lovely and cool. They liked the idea but needed a few more minutes to get ready.

I went back down to my room to do a few things like hanging my washing to dry in a different spot and put on deodorant. When I went back up to meet them, they had gone without me. I was a bit hurt. I had taken such good care of them. I gave Natasha pawpaw cream for her mosquitoe bites and insect repellent and I'd given them both Indian head massages and I went out and bought them all pizza before getting in the fountains. But we had such a fun time in the fountains.

Anyway, my true gang was there, Danny arrived and Minu made us yummy scrambled eggs. I thought of going to the forum or shopping but it was too hot. I packed my suitcases and slept most of the day. It was good. And I did a session of yoga for Minu.

We had a plan for the evening so I needed to save my legs and my energy.

Me, Minu and Danny set off to find our way to the highest spot in Rome. We would have preferred to go on the bus but we ended up walking or we would have missed the sunset. It was a pretty long climb and we made it just in time to see the entire city laid out below turned orange.

Coming down was definitely easier than going up. We had dinner at Trastevere again, it's the nicest part of the city, more for Roman's than tourists. 

My tiramasu tried to kill me! All day long Minu had been trying to convince me that it is easy to die and I disagreed. And then I inhaled the cocoa on top of my desert and couldn't breath! But I lived to tell the tale. Though now I must agree, it is easy to die!

We stopped to listen to some beautiful music. I bought their CD'S for us for yoga and talked to the girl for a few minutes. It was another one of those instants that a spirtual connection is formed in a moment.

We walked down to the edge of the Tiber where they have music and stalls. It was really great. We stopped to smoke shisha. 

We were lucky to get the bus back and there was an adorable baby who blew kisses to every single person on the bus. She was so cute.

Ben had asked us to meet him at the hostel to drink wine but we didn't get back in time.

Minu had to stay up to wait for a check-in that didn't arrive. We went to bed early for once at 1 o'clock.

Day 13

In the morning after frolicking in the Roman fountains we all gradually surfaced and we made a plan to go to the caro comes.  But as it took Natasha so long to get ready and we didn't want to leave her behind, time gradually slipped away and we wouldn't have had enough time to see them before they close for lunch.

I had a brainwave that we could go to castelo St Angelo. We were at the right bus stop and then a lovely shaded walk along the Tiber.  

We had plenty of time to explore the fort and met Patrick on the terrace under the angel at midday. 

Then we went to Trastevere all together for lunch. A big happy bunch of travellers. All different personality types and from different countries. It was fun.

We spent the late afternoon back at the hostel resting - well that's what I  did. 

In the night Minu cooked us dinner and they drank wine and vodka, playing drinking games. I had beer. I got a bit sick of drinking by now. 

I sent Wiwa a message saying I would see her tomorrow and she replied she thought it was the day after. She was right. I had entered the wrong day in my diary. I wasn't leaving, I had another whole day in Rome. Lucky that she made me check or I would have gone to catch the plane!

Day 12 Ostia

I was so proud of myself, I found my way to Ostia all by self. I got the metro from Barberini, changed lines at Termini, changed to a train then got on a bus (because everybody else was) and ended up the beach at Ostia.

They have a funny attitude at the beach, they just lie around on deck chairs under umbrellas. No one swims and if the do they just stand in the water, which is not very deep. I did not like this attitude so I had a swim far out and back then caught the bus back to the train.

I travelled 4 stops to Ostia Antica and walked to the ruined city. It is like Pompeii but much better preserved. There are many buildings to see, street pavements, mosaics and some headless statues. Lots of stairs to climb and alleys to explore. I spent quite a few hours walking around in the sun under my blue parasol quietly exploring.

When I came back to Rome we spent the evening in the hostel together drinking wine. We kept wanting to go out but not going. Eventually about midnight I got starving and took off to buy pizza. I brought them back to share. I was overwhelmed by their love! Because I brought back pizza! Haha. I had a beer too because I was a bit sick of wine.

About 3am we did go out for some fresh air and ended up bathing in the fountains. We tried to get in the Trevi Fountain but we only got as far as our feet before the polizia stopped us with their whistle, though we tried to pretend not to hear. We went and found some more friendly fountains. We had so much fun 😂😂😂

Day 11 Rome

Today is short. I went to my most favorite place in the world. The Villa Borgese Gallery and gardensee.  This gallery is the best I ever been in. It never disappoints me, I am always surprised and refreshed when I come.

I was never allowed to take photos before and had to sneak them before the guard came up saying "no photos".
this time I was allowed to take as many as I liked so I have hundreds.

And as I stayed till last I even had me time alone with my favorite sculptures and slipped in a little bit of yoga. That took guts! I put the camera on timer an a chair. Just once I asked a Chinese couple to take one for me with my favorite painting. I didnt think they would mind because Chinese people love to tare photos.

I had lunch in the gardens then slept the rest of the afternoon.
In the night I went with my friend Anna to her work at a hotel, she was waiting for a family to check in. We ordered pizza on the way and they brought it up for us.

On the way home we went through Piazza Navona, home of the fountain of the four rivers. It is unbelievable that in all my visits here I have not been there before. I feel better now that I have. It is the picture on my favorite place mat at the studio.

We called in for a gelato at a shop with 100 flavors and walked all the way back to the hostel and bed.

Day 10 Athens then Rome

In the morning after I packed, I went to the cafe at the end of the street for a good breakfast again.

I decided to walk up to join the my tour guide again for the first half of the tour. I would have liked to have gone to the museum but I would be talking with someone and learning more this way. I will have to come back again, I didn't have enough time, I love the ancient history of this place.

The universe set it up so it was only the two of us for the tour in the morning. It was about the foundation of democracy, the philosophers and the some other interesting stuff about religion.

There was a byzantine church that he suggested included parts of the other ancient temples as a symbol that they they weren't trying to destroy the old religion but include it. All religions come from the same source.

There was is much cross over of the religions. The Assention of Mary, is a huge festival over here when Mary went died and went to join her son Jesus in Heaven.  It coincides with the same time as the festival of the Virgin goddess Athena who the Parthenon was built for and I was on Delos praying to the pagan God's the Virgin Artemis and her brother Apollo.

Dimitris & I really like each other. It was awful to have to leave him but I had a plane to catch to Rome. We are going to write. Especially as I knew Wiwa wasn't going to be in Rome, she has gone to Tunisia to prepare for the wedding. I wish I could have stayed but I couldn't afford to waste my plane ticket. And my accomodation in Rome is free. Haha, it must be because of all that praying to chaste goddesses!

Anyway I arrived in Rome and was swept up by the moment. Everyone at the hostel was having a great time together, like we travelers do. Drinking wine and sharing stories and thoughts.

I went to an amazing event that a tall young man from USA had heard about. A piano concert at the Theatre of Marcellus, a grand piano set at the foot of an ancient stadium. The music included Mozart, Beethoven and Gershwin.  Fabulous and exclusive as it was, it only cost €15.

And then the full moon came up. We walked to see it above the Colloseum & caught the metro back.

Day 9 Athens: The Parthenon

There are cat's everywhere in Greece. Not scardy alley cat's, but walk around, laze around cat's of every colour. Back and white ones, orange ones, black ones, gray ones, mousy ones. I was walking along one of the beautiful shopping alleys in Paros a little cat jumped out of nowhere, batted me playfully around the legs and ran off again. It was so cute and soft and gray. I think the cats own Greece actually.

I had the most amazing day in Athens yesterday. I went on the hop on hop off bus to see over the city then joined the walking tour. The guide was so great and the girls in the group were so interested and interesting. He was so clever and handsome and passionate about Greek history and culture and philosophy. All the things I love to know about. We learnt so much! And I was in Athens, the home of the Olympic games while the Olympics were on hearing about the battle of Marathon.

We didn't want the tour to end, we walked for 5 hours and two of us took the guide, Dimitris for a beer afterwards. We had earned it, the weather continues to be perfectly blue hot summer weather every day.. When the other girl had to go to the Parthenon and a diner tour, Dimitris and I talked a little longer then walked back to catch the bus to the foot of the Parthenon where he had to leave. We planned to meet later but he got back too late from visiting his mother in hospital. 

I scaled the tall steps all the way up to the Parthenon and stayed there till the last. At sunset we were the bad tourists who had to be herded out of the monument.  I met a Chinese girl, her nick name is Meow and we took photos for each other as we came down. 

Having learnt all about the reason for the structure, the building materials and the history along with the light on the stones at sunset made it an incredible experience. 

And when we came down the full moon came up. Meow had no plans and I was starving so we continued the evening together. We walked and walked till we found a beautiful spot to eat. Meow wasn't hungry but we had such a fun time together and after I finished, I wasn't hungry any more.

It was too far to walk back so I hopped in a taxi and Meow went the other direction to locate her friends. I got back to the hotel and crashed.

Day 8 Paros to Athens

On my last day on the Greek islands I had to wake myself up from a nightmare of wrong directions, lost bags, biscuits, buses & a coke sniffing dwarf driving me in a clown-car taxi.

When I woke up I packed and checked out of my lovely room and big comfy bed at Pensione Anna and walked up to the yoga shala. I went the wrong way passed by a brown hill and a rooster and hen. But I got there. 

I did what I like to do most - a morning of yoga. In a beautiful place on top of a hill on a Greek island. Not bad. By meditation time it was easy to connect with the sparkling energy of nothingness. I think it had something to do with sensing the incredible energy from Delos yesterday. It made my body tingle and surge from the ground up and out into space.

Afterwards I collected the stunning dress that was waiting for me to collect. The hem was being taken up. I've bought it to wear to the wedding, it is clingy and I am a bit worried that as my belly grows from eating sweets all day on the day of the wedding I may pop. In case of emergency I can change into the flowing dress I bought with me. 

After I collected my luggage & said good bye to Anna I waited at the bus station drinking an ice cold drink - frappe. I caught the bus to Pirikea where I had lunch at the port, and caught the ferry to Athens.

The ferries are so comfortable. I didn't get sick. They are very big and fast. I was so lucky to get a seat, it was chockers because all of Europe goes to the Greek Islands for their summer vacation. I hadn't been able to get a seat at all when I booked back in Oz. But there were two left when I went to collect my ticket on Santorini.

Getting off the ferry in Athens is crazy! Every one waits with their baggage and the motor cycles and the cars. All waiting for the back of the ferry to lower so they can surge off all at once. It was like waiting for the starting gun at the beginning of a race, everyone jostling for their position and holding their spot in anticipation.

I caught a taxi to my hotel in Athens and went out for dinner to a restaurant recommended by the lady at the hotel. By now it was almost dark. I'm glad I'm a black belt because the streets are dark and strange.

Dinner was awful. I was surrounded by tourists again, opposite a tourist shop selling the same merchandise as the other hundreds of tourist shops. I had just sat down when they wanted my order before I had even had time to look at the menu. The waiter suggested Beef stew. If I'd had a moment to think about it I would have said no. I don't even like beef stew! But it was the Greek word for beef stew.

Then they asked me to move to a different table. Then they forgot to bring my beer and my food. Then the waiter told me to hurry up and eat it while it was hot. Then the man at the table next to me lit a cigarette. I bolted.

When I woke up early in the morning I was so hungry I went out to scavenge for food and found the perfect breakfast cafe 20m from the hotel. He served me coffee, scrambled eggs, ham, tomatoe, cheese and Greek sausage. The perfect start to one of my perfect days 

Day 7 Delos & Mykonos

Wow what a day.

Have you ever had a day when you fulfil a vow you made to a Goddess? I did today when I visited the sacred island of Delos, the birth place of Artemis, goddess of the moon and her twin brother Apollo.

The energy in the ground of that place was intense. The stone streets glittered with silver and gold. Ancient ruins were crumbling. The first place you walk into is the slave market, thenot the gossip square where everyone gathered to see who was there and what they were wearing.

A guide showed us around for a while pointing out where the main things were and feeding her favorite cat. She was the epitome of the crazy Greek cat lady.

After walking down passed the line of guardian lions I did a little yoga in the quiet Grove that was where Leto gave birth to her twins. No one else went in there, I suppose because there weren't any ruins, just shrubs and some dragonflies. The energy is still giving me goose bumps.

From there I walked up to the museum that has some of the statues, mosaics and trinkets that were found there. Amazing.

I found a spot near the ruins of the temple to do yoga. There weren't many people around. The power and energy from the sun was more intense than I have experienced before. When I finished, I looked down into my phone and the sun created a halo behind my head, turning my wild hair gold

Oh no! I've turned into a crazy Greek cat lady - I'm feeding a cat fish for dinner under my table!

Everything is still rocking from my ferry ride to the islands today. I vomited 5 times on the way over. The sea was rough. It's so windy here. Thankfully the wind had calmed down by the time i  came back and the rocking boat sent me to sleep, not to chuck up.

After amazing Delos I went to Mykonos. The view was extraordinarily beautiful with the blue water and boats in the harbour with the white houses on the hill and windmills in the distance.

But for a party island! There were no people! It was totally dead! I'd call it relaxing. It was extremely windy . Maybe the party goers were inside. I don't know. But is was still a fantastic island.

When I got back I rushed up the hill to do a yoga class. Karmic pay back, I was the only one in the class. I'm going to go back to spend the morning doing 4 different classes.

Good night. I'm exhausted. And sunburnt.

Day 7 Delos & Mykonos

Wow what a day.

Have you ever had a day when you fulfil a vow you made to a Goddess? I did today when I visited the sacred island of Delos, the birth place of Artemis, goddess of the moon and her twin brother Apollo.

The energy in the ground of that place was intense. The stone streets glittered with silver and gold. Ancient ruins were crumbling. The first place you walk into is the slave market, thenot the gossip square where everyone gathered to see who was there and what they were wearing.

A guide showed us around for a while pointing out where the main things were and feeding her favorite cat. She was the epitome of the crazy Greek cat lady.

After walking down passed the line of guardian lions I did a little yoga in the quiet Grove that was where Leto gave birth to her twins. No one else went in there, I suppose because there weren't any ruins, just shrubs and some dragonflies. The energy is still giving me goose bumps.

From there I walked up to the museum that has some of the statues, mosaics and trinkets that were found there. Amazing.

I found a spot near the ruins of the temple to do yoga. There weren't many people around. The power and energy from the sun was more intense than I have experienced before. When I finished, I looked down into my phone and the sun created a halo behind my head, turning my wild hair gold

Oh no! I've turned into a crazy Greek cat lady - I'm feeding a cat fish for dinner under my table!

Everything is still rocking from my ferry ride to the islands today. I vomited 5 times on the way over. The sea was rough. It's so windy here. Thankfully the wind had calmed down by the time i  came back and the rocking boat sent me to sleep, not to Chuck up.

After amazing Delos I went to Mykonos. The view was extraordinarill beautiful with the blue water and boats in the harbour with the white houses on the hill and windmills in the distance.

But for a party island! There were no people! It was totally dead! I'd call it relaxing. It was extremely windy . Maybe the party goers were inside. I don't know. But is was still a fantastic island.

When I got back I rushed up the hill to do a yoga class. Karmic pay back, I was the only one in the class. I'm going to go back to spend the morning doing 4 different classes.

Good night. I'm exhausted. And sunburnt.

Day 6 Paros Island

I finally get it!

I enjoyed a yummy dinner last night when I found a table at last amongst the hundreds of restaurants that are all booked out.

Then, today, when I went out to get a quad bike they didn't have any. I finally found one but I didn't want to rent it for €50 as by then I had spent €65 euros on pair of fabulous sandals!

I had stuffed vine leaves and souvlaki with red wine for lunch and bingo! I realized what all these people are doing here!

You will think I am stupid, but I felt like I was missing something.

I came to Greece because I wanted to experience another culture but there is no culture here - there are only tourists on holiday.

They are here to take a summer break from their normal lives. Like we would go up the coast to relax on a beach or maybe to Bali or Thailand - Europeans come to the Greek Islands.

Well now I don't feel guilty for wanting to nap on my big wide bed with the Mediteranean air blowing in through my door.  I'm going to relax doing whatever I want. I don't even have to do yoga if I don't want to.

I brought a young writer from Singleton's book with me - Blair, The Same Daughter by April Klasen. I'm going to spend the afternoon reading.

Caio :-)

I got bit hungry before dinner and went out for ice cream but ended up having a chocolate crepe so now it's 11pm and I'm out for dinner. The place is still packed with people eating and wandering around.

A motorcycle burglar alarm went off and started up the cicadas in the gum trees. They have gone back to sleep now. Eucalyptus, olive trees and grapes are all that grow in this climate. There mustn't have been much shade before they discovered our gum trees.

It's really wierd seeming to be the only single person amongst all these groups of people. I'm almost a little bit jealous.
But I'm not. I'm just not into this tourist scene. I'm a traveller. Not a tourist.

Honestly, Newcastle has better beaches. Maybe not better sandals, but we have the best coast line. I really just don't get this place.

There is something that is hard to explain unless you understand.  People think they are separate from each other unless they are aware that we are really all connected. These masses of people they are all connecting separately with each other.  And then there is me. I feel completely separate. I don't understand a word that is being spoken around me, and its not Greek, its French and Italian and Spanish. It's just a resonating hum of sound and yet I know that everyone, every cat every tree and cicada (they are chirping again) are an integral part of a whole and nothing is separate at all.

They are connected to their friends yet they think they are separate from everything else. I am separate from all of them but I know I am part of one big whole. But I still feel separate - that must be ego feeling.

Anyway. Ommm. My Sangria is here. I'll probably feel much more linked in after a glass or two. Salute!

Day 5 Santorini

This morning when I was asked how my day was yesterday, I replied 'ordinary', but then as I described what I did yesterday we realized that as far as ordinary days go it was pretty extraordinary!

It was a little bit spoiled by a judgmental stranger on facebook insulting me for riding a donkey up the cliff. She's probably fat, then I would feel sorry for the donkey.

I loved my donkey ride. It made me laugh and laugh. I teach that making others happy makes you happy so that must be a very happy donkey. And if that is where those donkeys are in their karmic journey I am sure they are working of vast amounts of karmic debt.

Yesterday when I woke up there was a red orb hanging in the sky outside my window. I dashed ouside to feel the morning unfold practicing salute to the sun in the cool dawn air on the yoga deck. This morning I got up before the sun so I was ready to photograph it.

After a simple breakfast of watermelon, muslie with Greek yogurt and toast with strawberry jam (as my vegemite is in Rome) I had a Thai yoga massage.  It released all the tension in my body from the long flight. I loved it so much I had another one this morning. I'm putting it on my list to learn how to do. Santorini Holistic Massage, if you are ever here.

I walked all the way, in the heat up to Thira town to discover it's not very nice so I walked back again and stopped at a restaurant I picked out on the way.

The excellent waiter helped me choose traditional Greek food. I had lamb with festa and capsicum and chick pea salad with purple onion.  It was FABULOUS! I was stuffed. I had 2 beers too - Red Donkey beer 😊. They were so nice, they gave me my desert for free, a perfect little baklava.

When I got back to the hostel I relaxed and swam by the pool then I decided I was tired so I went to bed for my nap. I liked my little room. They only have one private room. The yoga teacher told me always yoga teachers stay in that room! I had to use a stool to climb up into the bed.

After I woke up it was time for yoga class as evening fell and the heat of the day subsided.

I was still full from my enormous lunch and didn't need any dinner. I met a lovely girl from Australia who didn't want to go out either so we spent the rest of the night talking.

The extraordinary stories of the people I meet never cease to amaze me. She had meningitis last December in Germany and nearly died. It left her deaf in one ear. Yet here she is travelling around the world and going back to study soon in Germany. She even said the words of one one of my favorite life mottos "you can't live your life in fear." 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

One of the Best Days in my Life

Santorini isn't like I expected. I am just one of the entire population that seems to be made up of tourists or people who cater to the holiday makers.

It is so dry, not a green blade of grass amongst the brown burnt sun charged stalks. The grape vines lie espaliated along the ground producing abundant wine. Water is sparse but wine is plentiful.

High brown cliffs rise up out of the blue sea. The sky above is pale, a haze hangs heavily, I suspect from volcanic ash.

The atmosphere of the place is resonant of India to me. It seems to be sliding back into 3rd world status with the same indolence accompanied by manic bustle. 

I am on a cruise boat headed towards a volcanic island and hot springs...

Wow what a day! An hours tough climb in 30° heat, scaling the side of a volcano, Nea Kameni the crunching pumice under foot, hot to the touch. I encouraged myself all the way back down with the thought of a beer when I reached the ship.

Then we sailed to a swimming spot where I dived off the side of the ship into cool water. I had made a new friend by now, Manar from Syria but living in the US with her diplomatic and studious husband who had stayed behind to review a book.

As we swam further from the boat the water temperature rose till we were swimming in a warm mud bath. The mud stained me slightly orange the rest of day.

The ship called us back with its siren and we sailed onto another part of the island and docked for lunch. I am always so fortunate in companions, Manar and I enjoyed a sea food lunch, at Thirassia. With

great conversation, sharing the common interest of yoga, followed by an amazing swim. I say amazing because I have never swum in water that looked as azure under the water as I swam in there.  

At the next stop I said good bye to my new friend, her tour was over but I continued up the side of a cliff on a donkey to the town of Oia. I did a small amount of tourist shopping (a t-shirt and fridge magnet for my collection from around the world) as I walked to the place where we would watch the sunset.

Somehow there was one unreserved table up the top of the restaurant apparently waiting just for me. I had a spectacular dinner and view of the sun as it turned into a red orb and was swallowed by the sea, sharing the experience with the patrons at the other two tables. A young lady in a long red dress and flowing blond hair looked like a Greek goddess as she leaned out over the wall.

To finish off the night I got the last seat on the bus sitting right up the front to watch the lights and life at night as we wound our long way back along narrow streets. 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Day 3 Santorini

All is right with the world again. I can reconnect with my phone & I'm drinking a coffee - the first of the day and it's after 6pm!

It was a travel day today. Rome to Santorini, one of the Greek Islands.

I left some stuff i didn't need at the hostel to make my baggage lighter including my carry-on bag (accidentally forgot it) but neaya, I figured I can live without vegemite for a while. Then I remembered it had my phone charger - and spare charger - (such good planning to put them both in same bag) but I've bought another one so all's good.

I left about 8:45am and had a pretty bus drive to the airport. I eventually arrived at the hostel in Santorini about 5pm.

At first I thought it was quiet here but as I walked towards the town the traffic is crazy. I think I should join the craziness one day and hire a moped so I can see the island. 

I've switched from coffee to Sangria.

I was at a wine bar & cafe called Graffiti. I chatted with an Aussie couple from Adelaide who have come over for a friend's birthday party. We agreed that it very nice of our friends to make us come to celebrate special events with them in fabulous places.

The most fun I had ... aha there was just a pussy cat at my window... was in the shop buying a sim card. Having won over their seriousness with some of my intentionally stupid jokes, he tried on the blue hat I bought to wear on the cruise I'm going on tomorrow to the volcanoe in the bay, hot springs and beautiful beaches at sunset.

I practiced yoga on the yoga deck as the sky grew darker and the lights of the town came on. There were even fireworks in the distance. It felt a bit special.

I was too tired to go back out to get dinner - I keep waking up at 4am. I lived on a couple of chocolate bars, chips and a small bowl of peanuts with the sangria since breakfast. I was still full from my Roman dinners!

It's after 6am. Time for a nap. 

Good night xoxo

Day 2 Rome

It is so great to wake up whenever I like with no alarm. I admit, so far the Alter ego has taken over and I have only done essential yoga, legs up the wall.

The day was perfectly blue and very hot. I wore very little out shopping, my favorite piccolo (tiny) French lace top. It raised some eyebrows. 

Before I went out I managed to get stuck in the lift and when I got out I pulled the handle off my door. It was a slapstick moment that would only happen to me! Haha so funny. The boys I asked to help were from Poland or somewhere and didn't know a word of English. Wiwa came to my rescue.

I have bought out most of the shops in Rome by now. Make up, new bag (it's blue) and more shoes (soooooo comfortable) today. 

I had a chat to a sweet old couple from Ireland who asked me the way to the Trevi Fountain and walked along my favorite cool & leafy street eating a gelato. 

If only Singleton had left our trees along John street, we would have had a street like that in another hundred years or so. 

The best hotels are along this street & my hostel is around the corner, in the safest spot, between the huge American Embassy building and the FBI on the corner under my window. I have to be a bit careful when I'm deciding which outfit to wear, the plain clothed guards may be glancing up at my window.

Exhausted from shopping, my afternoon nap extended till after 8pm! I had to jump up and get ready to go for dinner. Wiwa had slept-in too, so that was ok.

One of her friends picked us up and we drove a way out of the center of the city. We were 4 girls and one Italian boy who didn't know English which was handy at times. I would say the night was kind of Wiwa's unofficial hens night. 

Tartaruga is the best word I learnt from my Italian app. It was the star word of the night. Tartaruga is turtle and another word for your tummy. Either way - if you are full your tummy is the top of the turtle shell but if you have six pac abs you have the underside of the tortoise shell. From now on there will be no more ab exercises - we will have exercises for tartaruga.

We had a delicious dinner, they had bistecca  (steak) but I had my favorite tonno  (tuna) pizza. Sarah loves pizza.

We also had wine. Life is different when I'm not the yoga teacher. Then we went to Brazil. 

Brazil is a bar set amongst the graffiti of Rome that serves extra potent cocktails and good music. Graffiti is the art form of the common people I see in all the places around the world.

It is different to have friends who live in the city. It is my fourth visit and I am no longer the tourist! And I know what Tartaruga is!

I'm off to Greece now. Caio.
Sarah :-)

Day 1 Rome

I arrived in Rome on the same day as I met Wiwa 5 years ago! Isn't that an amazing cosmic universal coincindence!? 

We went out to celebrate our anniversary last night with dinner at Trastevere.

A young man called Vincent  from USA came too and shouted us dinner, what a nice guy. His only brother was a victim of America - he'd been shot and killed in a car jacking. He had a smashed up leg from a work accident that's pretty much mended now. He was a wonderful positive person, getting on with life.

I wore fabulous orange high cork wedges out. It's a jolly good thing I have flexible ankles cause I rolled over on the cobbles at least 8 times. I'm going back to flats tomorrow.  I don't like shoes all together, I'm so used to bare feet

I had a great afternoon of shopping yesterday! New dresses, shoes and swimming costume. I'll have a whole new wardrobe of Italian dresses for summer. 

I may have to buy a new handbag, my Guess one seems to have flown its last flight, it's worn out, sad face :-(

The butterfly painting for Wiwa got here safely. I only left it somewhere once - outside of customs before I came through in Sydney so they had to escort me all the way back through to get it. 

And now Rome is full of butterflies! - not real ones, pictures and dresses and stuck on walls, though I suppose it's one of those things that you notice because they are already in your mind.

Wiwa has given me the best room at the hostel. It's very comfortable and I like the wall paper, it has flowers and little foxes. There is a picture of butterflies above my bed.

It's so great being here with her. She is very impressed with my Italian skills. 

Oh and yoga pose of the day was viparita karani- legs up the wall, for my swollen feet.

Namaste

Sarah

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

A Picture On the Wall

 4 years ago today, on May the 4th, I finished my yoga teacher training. Sunday was mother’s day and after lunch, William, Wayland and I went to the reject shop, one of our favorite pass times, browsing the shelves and rifling through the throw out bin. One of the isles had lots of yoga mats. Something had come over me during yoga teacher training, an awakening, a desire to follow a path in life that I had discovered. To go with the natural flow of the universe with the absolute belief that it would lead me in the right direction. We went and got a trolley from Franklin’s and filled it up with 20 yoga mats. I thought I might do classes in a hall somewhere or something like that. Wayland wheeled the trolley out to the car but something caught my eye and I stayed behind to buy it.

It was a 3 dimensional picture of a white Tiger and dragon entwined, or two dragons in combatant or a dragon under the sea, it changes as you walk past it hanging on the wall. Japanese dragons, symbolic of the martial arts, my sensei  and myself. I just needed a wall to hang it on.

The next day was Monday and I was out for a walk. I looked up at an old building that had a for lease sign propped up in a dusty top window. An idea formed in my mind. I could open a school, I could teach yoga and karate. The real estate who’s name was on the sign told me it was only there to seal up a cracked window and pointed me across the road to David William's. The young lady behind the counter told me that someone had already put in an application for the lease. I was about to walk out when I turned around and asked if they had any other properties for lease and she pointed to a black folder on a little table. I sat down and started flipping through. When her customer left I said I was thinking about opening a yoga studio. She lit up and came out from behind her counter and pointed at the page I happened to have open in my lap. She offered to take me over and show the building to me, We had become best friends before we left the office.

She told me how much she loved yoga as we walked up the street. Also that she wasn’t going to be at the real estate much longer as she was about to spread her wings and start training as a airline stewardess.

An old Greek man was up a ladder doing repairs to the walls when we arrived. The big empty room was in a pretty bad state, with holes in the carpet and walls. It had been a gun shop but they had neglected the premises and to pay the rent.

 I could see potential. Later I came back for another look. The Greek man was so cranky about what had been done to his shop. When I told him I was going to fix it up and turn it into a yoga studio his demeanor changed and his face lit up. He came down from the ladder, he was so happy and he asked me what colour I would like him to paint it. I asked for mauve inside and blue on the outside.

The picture of the Tiger and the dragon was hung on the wall as inspiration for my karate school. New carpet was laid. And my son's helped me hang my paintings in my own personal art gallery. I ordered blocks and bolsters and blankets, took out insurance and a business number. And I burnt A LOT of incense to clear out the smell and the negative energy.

I set a date for opening and though no one came to my first class, I did it anyway and waited for my first customer

Now 4 years later, 700 students have come through the door. My studio is more beautiful than ever with a giant Persian rug on the floor, stars on the ceiling and gold glitter on the walls, paintings have been hung and sold and most exciting of all, I woke up today knowing I am at last going to get my black belt in karate. Who would have imagined what would happen because I needed a wall to hang  picture on.