Mendoza and Wine

   After spending a week at the Hare Krishna ashram I needed a place to unwind and to break all the rules. Mendoza was the most logical place to go because it's one of the best wine regions of the world. I was obviously not disappointed and I definitely had my share of Malbec for the weekend. The landscapes were really mesmerizing. The vineyards with the multi colors of autumn were gorgeous especially with the backdrop of the Andes. To explore the region I did a vineyard bike tour that had us quickly swerving through the many wineries. The wine was delicious, so much so that I have been converted to a red wine drinker, something I never expected to happen to me. On day two I rode a horse through the hills as the sun went down painting the sky in pinks and purples. As all good endings in Argentina, a full asado (BBQ) was included accompanied by gallons of local Malbec. Every one was very jolly when we piled back into the van to take us back to the city.

   The city of Mendoza is very pretty as well with lots of greenery everywhere. All the streets are lined with giant trees that look magnificent especially in this time of year when they get decorated by yellow, orange and red leafs. There are tons of parks for people to relax in or if you are me they are a perfect place to dance. As my trip continuous I'm becoming braver by the day. Now when I want to sing I sing and when I want to dance I do that too. I find myself a stage in strange places like on top of the fountain of independence which is the heart and soul of Mendoza. A lot of people pretend they don't notice me, which is totally fine because I'm not doing it for attention. I'm dancing because that is what my heart desires. Other people take an interest or think I'm crazy, I'm not really sure which it is. They applause at the end of my dances, they thank me for bringing beauty into their day or they ask me for pictures. The best response I've had was a bunch of clowns jumping in and joining my twirls and shakes. Or the time I was dancing with Rata, the rat, along side two great musicians. Yes I did get it on video and as soon as I get this whole editing thing down they will be here for you to laugh at with me.

   I have learned so much about life and myself on this trip. One of the most valued lessons for me has been to listen to my heart's callings and then be brave enough to act. Others opinions don't concern me because I love myself, especially when I'm having fun and being silly! Thanks Mendoza for all the good times. I don't know when I'll be back in Argentina but it was a delight especially with all the dulce de leche, facturas, and all that amazing meat you cooked so well. Te amo Argentina y gracias por todo!

The area full of wine and vine!

 

Mendoza and all its glory!

The Food!

The Asado!

Yes these all have dulce de leche layers... Yummmm

Facturas = the 3rd meal of the day before dinner that is just dessert

The dances that will soon be here:

16-19 May 2014

Eco Yoga Park

   Tranquility awaits you in the shape of a water drop forming on a flower pedal or in the clouds that change colour as the sun sets. The birds start chirping and the wind blows bringing all your senses to life. In that moment I feel inspired and full of energy to be me. To really take it all in and give the moon the attention it so deserves as it rises to all it's magnificence. Then words start to escape me and a melody forms. The song takes me away to another place as my body starts swaying with the music. Here I create magic, the kind that spills out through dance moves, heart felt lyrics, or in the form of creation. I am me and I am free. 

   This is how I felt everyday at the Eco Yoga Park. It had all the necessary ingredients for the perfect manifestation of this magic, as I like to call it. The food was amazing and fresh from our own garden, the air was clean and unpolluted, the animals were many and there was a lot of spare time. Time I filled making new yoga types like gumboots in the garden or stretching in a hammock. Both served not only as great exercise but also as a sure way to get my soul to smile broadly. 

   I applied to do a work exchange here that I found through the HelpX website that has volunteering opportunities all over the world. My 4 hours of work per day was usually spent on garden work, cooking, chasing horses off our property or decorating the temple with the mosaic art project. The art was my favourite part as it was my first go at glass work and I just adored the shapes and colors we were forming. To my surprise I still had to pay $20 per day which seemed a bit much considering I was doing physical labour but it did include all my accommodations, food and daily yoga classes.

   I spent 7 nights at the park in total but I did leave for a few nights in the middle of it. The reason of my mid escape was mostly to do with the long list of rules that I just couldn't get used to. The place is also an ashram with devotees filling their entire way of life with the Hare Krishna religion. I didn't know much about this group of people before and I certainly didn't know that this place was religious, which may have been a good thing as I'm not sure if I would have come. If you haven't guessed yet I do not consider myself religious. I am very spiritual and I feel a lot of love and respect for Mother Earth. For me it's important to enjoy the moments we are given in this life and putting a bunch of sensors on it just doesn't work. The list of what you can't do here was never ending. Some rules were obvious like no sex, no smoking, no drinking, and no animal products. Others were just surprising like no eating or drinking anything in the kitchen. Everything needs to be offered to Hare first before it enters a human mouth, which means you can't try things. This made cooking challenging, especially for me because I treat cooking like an art form that needs to be tested constantly to make sure its as delicious as possible in the end. With this rule I could live with, not that I would want to but yes it is possible, but the music is what really drove me away. The never ending mantras that idolize Hare during work, yoga and any other time that music is played really started getting to me. Yes some of it is beautiful sounding but I am a person that is madly in love with dance and limiting me to one kind of music is like caging my soul. In the end I needed to express myself and that meant breaking a few rules. 

   I did get what I wanted out of my experience. I have plenty of dance videos, a healthier body and a very satisfying dose of nature. I appreciate all the unique experiences that come my way and I wouldn't trade them in for a route that I'm more comfortable with. The best things for me are the hidden secrets we discover when we go far out of our comfort zone. Here, we find new passions that we never even knew existed. I walk a path filled with love and with that as my guide I know I won't stray off course. I hope you take some time out of today to do something that is really you. I think you'll enjoy it! 

 

4-15 May 2014

Buenas Diaz Buenos Aires

   When everything collapses underneath your feet the only thing left to do is build a new platform. We have all experienced such times when nothing seems to work. Everything that I thought Buenos Aires would present to me never happened and for that I give thanks because new doors opened and I found myself in a place I couldn't have even imagined.

   I came to this city having all my plans set. When things started falling apart I was in a bit of a panic. The place I was supposed to live at became unavailable and then many backup plans failed. The city seemed to be in a continuous state of revolt with strikes, marches, or people that want to be heard. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against all this and as a matter of fact I even partook in my very first march here. Buenos Aires can be very exhausting though as the city  doesn't only not sleep but it doesn't even stop to take a breath. 

   Buenos Aires has its on vibes. The new and the old, the passions with the tragedies and enough tears to spare all of Argentina. There are more one way streets there than I've ever seen before sending the city in all different directions. That is how I felt like the entire time and that's also what I loved most.

   The tango is what I originally came for and it was there. However, it was so much different then I imagined it for so many years which left me on a tight rope. The music was melancholy and everyone was older than me. It felt like an aging culture waiting for a new beginning. Then I found the drums and all of a sudden the spice shook everything up again. I danced to my hearts desires swinging my hips to the steps of my feet and all of a sudden Afro Tango was my new thing. All of it was magic, dancing in the park with sun sets and drum circles and then drumming myself to my voice. It all swept me off my feet in one brisk twirl and I was off. 

   It took me awhile to bid my farewell. In fact I tried many times unsuccessfully. Something just kept pulling me back to the city. I mean it's the only place that I revisited at all let alone 6 times. I don't even feel like I have said goodbye to it now and I'm seating in Mendoza many hours away heading the opposite direction. 

   Many things can only happen here like the Temazkal (similar to a sweat lodge) followed by an asado feast, the Argentinian serious version of a BBQ. From purification straight to indulgence Buenos Aires has it all. I left the city with a heavy backpack, a full stomach and a smiling heart. I am so thankful for all the memories, all the connections and all the love that I have found. It may have not worked out as I expected but in all honesty that's for the better. Gracias por todo Buenos Aires y hasta pronto!

2 April - 4 May 2014

The Sacred Valley of Peru

   The Urubamba Valley, also called The Sacred Valley, is a majestic place in the Peruvian Andes. The Incas left a real mark on our world with amazing architecture, such as Machu Picchu, and their paths are followed by wonderers and seekers from all over the world to this day. Everything from the ancient plants draping over the giant trees, to every rock and living thing, all of it has a purpose and a connective energy with a greater power. Here, I felt one with nature and an ancient knowledge of a past empire.

   The experience started in Cusco with my brother, his girlfriend and two of our close friends celebrating their honeymoon. Our spirits were high and celebrations of our reunion began straight away and didn't stop till it was time for all of us to get on with our lives. When in Peru, you do as the locals do so we rented a beautiful apartment through AirBnB, drank plenty of pisco sours, ate 2 guinea pigs, and probably finished all the cold beers the valley had to offer. It felt really amazing to be with friends again for the first time in over 6 months and I didn't even realize how much I missed it till we were all together.

   Cusco was a perfect city for our reunion. It is full of stunning Spanish architecture and an artistic vibe that captivates your feet to keep exploring the pebbled streets. The altitude can be shocking to the system at first so I really do suggest staying here for at least a few nights before attempting any hikes in the area. There are also many places worth checking out just a short drive away like Pisac (a well known market town), the Moray (perhaps used as an agricultural test station compromising of ring terraces by the Incas), incredible pink salt mines, a llama sanctuary which is home to a half alpaca half llama mix breed and much much more. 

   As a group, we really wanted to experience the authentic side of Peru well off the beaten path and that is exactly what we got in the form of heavenly chocolate! The chocolate museum in Cusco linked us up with a farm tour that we just couldn't decline. The very next day we arrived at a local farm and spent the day picking fresh coffee beans, brewing the stuff ourselves and trying out any thing else that is growing and in season. It was really amazing to see food travel from the garden to the kitchen and into our stomachs with delicious tastes begging you for seconds. The next day we visited the neighbouring farm and learned about making chocolate from the cultivation to the exquisite final product that is finger licking good. The home stay family was so welcoming and kind it really felt like we were visiting old friends.

   With giant chocolate bars in our bags we were ready for some exercise so we hiked the back road to Aguas Calientes along the railroad tracks. This walk was absolutely breathtaking and a great alternative to the 4 day Inca trail. The hike is not only free but also it's just a few hours with amazing scenery and a great behind the scenes view of Machu Picchu. Of course the old city blew me away the next day. Our group was the first to arrive at Machu Picchu's sun gate for sunrise out of the lazy bus tourists, which was an accomplishment at 5 o'clock in the morning! As the clouds began to clear and the unveiling of the mountains, the river and the city started to unfold I was in a sacred moment of my own with birds chirping to my songs and welcoming the sun with our dance. For the rest of the afternoon we galloped through the old city pondering over another way of life and appreciating all the dedication that went into the construction of such a wonder.

   Of course saying goodbye to all of this and my friends was so very difficult. I felt alone again in this big world and all I wanted was something familiar. I believe that all things happen for good reasons and just when I was down life picked me up again. I found myself again in Ollantaytambo led to a Temazkal (like a sweat lodge) surrounded by people sharing the same vision. A vision to make the world a better place by spreading love and kindness to all things. During the ceremony my voice came alive with pure expression. To know my energy was appreciated was even more amazing as one of the participants gifted me with beautiful threads and artifacts intertwined into a piece of my hair that will stay with me till it grows out. This gesture made me realize that the greatest gifts of all are not exchanged for money. Instead, they are gestures of kindness and love that touch our hearts and impact our lives. I wear a ring with a heart shaped stone on my left hand that reminds me to do everything with love. I hope you find inspiration to do the same.

Cusco

Mamita at work at the Llama Sanctuary

The group at the Moray

Salt Mines of The Sacred Valley

What a unique souvenir...

Llama love at Machu Picchu

Inside Machu Picchu

The beauty of Olla

My hair piece :)

23 MAR - 2 APR 2014