Focus Words for 2016

This sculpture is in a park on the southern tip of Vietnam in the city of Vung Tau (I think). For me, visiting this place was really significant. In the late 70's and early 80's many Vietnamese Refugees came to Australia by boat, most left from this port. My broader family, under the watchful eye of my grandmother, adopted a Vietnamese family and assisted them as they settled in South Australia. I learnt alot from this family about cultural differences and respect of different religions, and also about gardening. My husbands family also adopted a Vietnamese family who also had a impact on his values in life too.

I share this story by way of saying I am hopeful that I will be able to live by the values I hold close, those that I have adopted from some wiser than me, and those I've come to hold dear just because of my own journey.

This image will remind me to focus on these principles/values as I embark on 2016, a potentially busy year. Last year my words were influencial and remain meaniingful to me.

Pause.... Breathe.... Focus

Loving Summer

Spending time with Friends (who keep me honest!)

Enjoying Traditions

In Awe of amazing women who find their own focus and stay true....

Following a kind a busy Christmas Break, I returned to work for two weeks knowing I would be having this  little break now. I'm in South Australia for a week to enjoy, watch and take in the Cycling at Tour Down Under. This is a tradition for my partner and I. We catch up with friends, have belated Christmas gatherings with family, and lap up the festivities. 

But this is also a wonderful opportunity, while I'm away from my own chores and tasks, to reflect on the year to come and the year I want. I've been following my blogging friends as they launch into the new year, and I'm in awe of some amazing blogging women who have set their focus and started on their actions. Kate at Fox's Lane set her goal to post every day in January - she's amazing. She writes about life on the farm and their gardening, parenting, family fun and other wholesome things. I've been in awe of her daily commitment - and how she doesn't bore us. Brydie at CityHippyFarmGirl has launched her new focused website Brydie Piaf - her photographic stories are inspirational. Ellie at An Emergent Life has been sharing her journey and inspiring me to think about mine.

So, I'm cleaning up my blog as a symbolic step to cleaning up generally. I'm looking for a new focus in almost every aspect of my life... I'm trying to be honest to myself about whats really important. I'm keen to focus on some of Ellies advice from An Emergent Life and be Mindful.

I'll be back soon... with some focus :)

Under Construction

Here we go again.... It's time for a change.

 I feel the need for a refresh. 

Please be patient with me, and offer me your suggestions... 

I welcome any comments. I'm looking for clean, uncluttered, and navigable. 

I want to create a place that's welcoming, homely but yet unique and interesting.

 

I should be settled on a new place by the end of the month.

 

 

Loving the Spanish!

Isn't this just amazing!

New Years Eve 2015

Strawberries at a French marketplace!

Happy New Year to my blogging friends around the world!

 May 2016 bring you joy and happiness, experiences that leave you with special memories, and may you be happy.

At this time of year, I am reflective - someone who likes to look back on the achievements, struggles, challenges, and hopes of the past, and then use the lessons learnt to think about what's next for me. I like to set  my goals, and work towards them. I love that sense of completing something I want to do. I love ticking the list. I haven't done too bad this past year.

One of my goals this past year was to improve the productivity of my garden. With help from a blogging friend, I changed a few gardening habits this year, and I can proudly say I've made some success. I now have at least 7 productive rhubarb plants, well on their way to supplying this happy householder with regular yummy desserts. I also have some pretty awesome eggplant bushes, producing almost all year round. Among other successes, these two were on my wish list and are signs that the garden is producing things we like.

 

Another of 2015's great successes was the Paris in July event, hosted here at Thyme-for-Tea. It was a big year with some fabulous participants and some great variety of contributions. Thank you all for playing with us this year. Lets see what 2016 brings? 

One of my major disappointments from 2015 was not getting to India to visit the school and girls hostel I love. I made the most of the difficult situation with a wonderful trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and enjoyed spending time with a close friend, and meeting new friends.

Now I'm about to embark on some major study, so I'm conscious not to set too may high and lofty goals for 2016 - but one I'm sure I have support for - is to keep Thyme-for-Tea alive as a spot for me to return to when the going gets tough. This is a space for me to remember those elements of life that sustain - connection to community, reflection on simplicity and generosity, and a reminder that reading opens the mind to other worlds and other experiences. Now with that in mind, I will be trying to post some more book and movie reviews in the new year. Coming soon - some Japanese Lit Challenge reviews.

Markets in Vietnam & Cambodia

 

Water Markets 

 

There's something really fresh and delightful about food markets. 

Visiting the supermarket just isn't the same experience. 

Delighting in the smells, sounds and sights,

I loved visiting the different markets 

and bargaining

and trying new foods

and maing the locals laugh as I did.

The market stall holders were fun and gentle on strangers.

Dragon Fruit - became one of my favourite foods - had to have it every day!

This is Lucky! He was my cooking school teacher in Phnom Penh.

Market lady keeping fish alive 

All sorts of dried fish

and more dried fish

While Farmers Markets are growing in popularity in my part of the world, they aren't quite as exciting as the markets in South East Asia. I think the key differences are that the food available is different, the way  people use food (lots of dried fish) is different, and the community only has one place to get their food - while we have multiple choices, some of which are available 24hrs a day.

I appreciated the market experiences I had on my recent holiday - but on reflection - I think I appreciate them just as much as I appreciate the French markets - perhaps the French learnt their market skills from Vietnam or visa versa?

Where are your favourite markets?

Temples

This isn't really a holiday blog, it's more about me contemplating and ponder important things in life. However, visiting temples makes one stop and reflect, meditate on the important, and rest in the moment. So when some of you asked for holiday snaps, I was torn.

Anyway, here's a few snaps of different temples I visited. I am a christian women, in my own kind of way, but I feel it's important to walk with my fellow life travellers and understand and respect the different ways we express our spirituality. This most recent trip (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos), as with my trips to India in the past, has given me more of an opportunity to visit and understand others in my world. I'll do what I can to recall where these temples were - but I cant promise to recall their names. I apologise this is a long post.

Mekong Delta (somewhere?), Vietnam

We stumbled across this on a walk through a village. 

I admire dragons and noticed this interesting motive on top

This poster was hung around this temple commune - with an important message for us.

 All of us,

Children of God

Shall pray

Together so that

God may grant 

Peace of 

Mind for everyone. 

Chau Doc, Vietnam

With a local guide, I enjoyed the peace and tranquility of this working temple.

Monks quietly gardening and working in the background.

 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

This temple site was created by a wealthy widow. It's called Wat Phnom.

The flag at Wat Phnom

Wat Phnom, Buddhist Temple

 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Silver Pagoda at the Royal Palace

The intricate details are amazing beautiful and stunning.

 Battambung, Cambodia

Dont know the name, but this was an active temple with many monks, in the town area.

My Favourite Temple stops. Our TukTuk driver said this was called "Chicken Hill".

Also at Chicken Hill near Battambung. Beautifully peaceful setting.

 Luang Probang, Laos

Somewhere in Luang Borbang! This town is full of beautful temples.

 

Found the Sleeping Buddha on Mount Phousi (Centre of town).

Also on Mount Phousi - this scene reminds be  of devotion and learning

Top of Mount Phousi

An ancient gate to temple in Luang Probang

 Hanoi, Vietnam

The Red Bridge leading to the Green Turtle Temple in lake Hoan Kiem, Hanoi City

Gate to the Turtle Temple

Turtle Temple.

Chua Tran Quoc, Hanoi City

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Small temple I found when Kayaking in Halong Bay. I didn't get out of the Kayak.

Just posting these photo's I am reminded of how I felt visiting these places, who I met there and what I reflected on. I am impressed by others dedication to their faith, and their commitment to learning more. I am overwhelmed by others generosity and their humbleness. I seek to reflect some of those characteristics in my life from time to time.

Thank you to the monks, the locals and the guides, who shared these impressive little secrets with me.