Travelling Nepal

Busy streets and discovering secret temples.... Kathmandu is a constant source of surprise.

Travelling from Kathmandu to Pokhara, we get first glimpses of snow capped Annapurna Ranges..

Trekking on the Goonapani cirtcuit for 5 days, we had many glimpses again of snow capped mountains, and opportunities to meditate on the amazing glory of this country. 

Visiting the significant sights around Pokhara... the World Peace Pogoda is particularly outstanding. They ask for visitors to respect the silence as we walk around the Stuppa. I found this amazingly powerful.

Travelling brings with it opportunities to learn more about yourself, the people you travel with, and the host country. Today, we have changed our travel plans because we've been invited to join our hosts at their family home to celebrate the Hindu festival of Dashain. I'll post more about that when I know more about it...

Singapore weekend

 I'm reflecting on the past and taking time to recover and prepare for the next journey of my life by taking a holiday. This time, I'm enjoying a trip with some great friends. However, holidaying with others opens up both new experiences  and challenges. Im enjoying both..

My friends have joined my partner & I in singapore for a few days, so weve be creating an itinerary to suit all. So we've been to the botanic gardens (my choice), and to have breakfast with the Orangutans at the Zoo, and to see a light show at Marina Bay.. each experience different and exciting.

Breafast with th Orangutans (my friends choice to add to itinerary)  was very touristy, as we sat down to a smorgasbord of Macdonalds quality french toast, waffles, eggs & terrible coffee with 100 other families. The Orangutans sat on a timber perch while individuals & families lined up in front of them for photos.

I had imagined something more like being seated in a location where we could watch them in their own space while they also had breakfast... more natural...

Visiting the other animals in their enclosures also came with mix of awe & wonder, distress & concern. But who cant love a meerket??

 The National Orchid garden is in the Botanic gardens and is just amazing. The garden designs and the 1000s of varieties are just beautiful.

 Singapore has the most amazing gardens, and I can get lost in them for hours.... but apparently its not everyones cup of tea..

Our final night in singapore with friends was celebrated with a boat cruise and a light  show. This was not on my itinerary but so glad i was convinced to do it.. the light show came with music, smoke, laser lights & fountains. It was thrilling, and (even the costly price tag for the boat) well worth the time.

Now for the next phase of the journey, my partner & i are heading off to Nepal fora few weeks... a very different adventure.

Spring & Wellbeing

I started this post several days ago, and just got distracted... but the intention was to celebrate Spring and Wellbeing.  I was so proud of this harvest recently, I found myself returning to the photo just to check it.... yep all of this came out of my garden.... chuffed!

This spring my garden is flourishing, which is nice because the past few years its been a struggle.  This Spring, I too have been flourishing after a long period of hip pain (since 2015). But  since my hip replacement I've bounced back, as my garden has....

I see my vegetables as signals of wellbring in my garden & myself.. 

This magnolia is near my flat in the city, and it too, speaks to me of spring, new life & energy.. Next week, I am off to Nepal for my 2017 adventure, trecking in the Annapurna Ranges!! 

So, here's to Spring 🍾🍹

I love this poem of an Australian Spring..

Spring is the magical time

When the rainbow lorikeets hum and the honey suckles Blossom,

When I actively bounce down the sand dunes

And onto the pea green grass,

The waratahs and the wattles bloom,

And my heart opens to the riot of spring.

I love this time when everything comes to life,

Nature triumphs in the trees, swaying freely in the wind,

Stealing my train of thought

And making my imagination run wild.

I am inspired by this heavenly kingdom,

The tranquillity of dew droplets falling,

Slowly

The mastery of the rain.

I feel connected.

Tree sap trickles down the bark of native gum trees

I examine this , calmly, curiously.

Sometimes the wind whispers to me at dusk

Giving me confidence within my body

I promise

I will always make the most of springtime.

Source: these poems were written by Australian children in masterclasses on The Four Seasons using The Hathorn Technique led by Libby Hathorn.