Camino de Santiago

photo-2, originally uploaded by veggy.

After 3 weeks on the road I am finally sitting at a computer. It does feel foreign and sort of wrong. It does draw away from the experience of walking every day 20 to 30 km from village to town to city but I thought it would be nice to update everyone. It has been a trip and a half. People of all ages and sizes, from all over the world and all sorts of motivation take to the Camino. Something that I didnt know existed till a couple years ago when my step father decided to do this walk himself for his 60th birthday. I began to read a couple books of peoples experience and I was enamored by this pilgrimage route that people have been walking for 1000s of years in the name of god that has now morphed into a walk for all people no matter whether they are religious or not. A day does not go by that doesnt have some sort of special event, for example walking the last 10km into Astorga I was dying for a lemonade, saying outloud to my new friend Sam, I would die for lemonade. A couple hours later we come upon this man named David from Barcelona who has been living in this run down shelter offering pilgrims all sorts of goodies, including LEMONADE, peanut butter, tahini, fruits, teas.. etc. He gave up everything and lives here year round very simply on donations and giving to the people that choose to walk items of food or a roof if needed for free if necessary. Fascinating and perfect.
I am constantly getting goose bumps, and teary eyed from moments of bliss, but this has been equaled by a day one when blister turned into 8, and then a stomach virus, and a head cold slowed me down. At that point in time I began to get home sick for the first time since I have been away. I think being sick and away from those that love and care for you is a tough go, but I survived and was well taken of by the most amazing, positive and loving people that I meet every day that will give you whatever you need when you need it. The say that the people you meet on the way are mirrors to yourself so I have been reflecting on this.. also on asking on what you need and miraculously having it show up. The landscapes, the colours, the sunrises, and sunsets, the dormotories, the snorers, and the surprising bad food a long the way is part of the adventure. It is truely a walking meditation and encompased in one of the safest places I feel like I have ever been. The locals greets you with Buen Camino all the time, and often stop you to feed you the fruits from there trees. I have eaten more food from the branches of trees then I have ever in my life. It is truely a beautiful journey. I just hope the weather sticks out as the rain makes things even the more challenging. I have a couple more weeks to go and thanks to you all for your kind words and thoughts. I think of you all constantly and miss you all dearly. xo

Amsterdam

Damrak - Amsterdam, originally uploaded by MorBCN.

Amsterdam welcomes you like a long lost home. Everything is easy and convenient. If your lost you don't even have to ask for directions some smartly dressed and very attractive Dutch man will point you in the direction of the hidden vegetarian restaurant you are looking for and give you advice on it as well.
A city built on sand surrounded canals and streets perfectly laid out for transportation on bicycle and cable cars. The best thing to do in Amsterdam is do as the Amsterdamers do and rent a bicycle. Cycling around this city is pure joy, because you will not be killed.. well one odd bit is that they let motorized scooters on the bike lanes who are mostly insane and I don't think they should be allowed in the bike lanes if there are just going to cut in and out like mad people.
The boutique shopping and design stores are some of the best I have ever seen. There has been a lot of care put into creating things that are useful and so beautiful that it makes me want a home so I can fill it up with these 'things'.
Of course everyone is fit, and gorgeous, so people watching is an easy way to spend some time. Watching women leave their tiny babies outside shops on their bike carriers is something you don't see in many western countries.. but also short skirts and high heels on bikes aren't something you see very often anywhere as well.
The streets are full of coffee shops (marjuana shops) that cater to different crowds. The locals don't really care much about this but interestingly they are changing the laws to make it only legal for locals to smoke in 2013 which will be interesting as most of the shops in the center are littered with tourist getting stoned all day long.
The red light district is something that still haunts me in what we think as progressive, but is ultimately a support of revictimization of women come from eastern europe as a way of escaping and sold into this industry and are stuck in this industry. The majority of women in the sex trade are not there because they love to have sex, they are there because they were molested/raped as children and don't know any different and fall into this path. The women looked very young, orange skin from over tanning, skinny but not sickly skinny, and dyed hair with way to much make up. The clientele on the street was mainly men from other countries. I do know this goes on all over the world and will go on for quite some time, and don't believe in criminalizing this, but there needs to be an awareness and understanding of every women's story as it is never a pretty one. If we get to the root of the issue we can start to get women into healing and doing something more compassionate for themselves.

On another topic I have done two days of yoga in a row at Breathe yoga studio on Overtoom street. It has been wonderful to reconnect and enjoy a normal schedule of somewhat luxury. Yoga, bike rides, coffee, and I got to see my brother William for a few days :)
I have been couchsurfing with an awesome girl here named Jolijin who has her own blog on vegan cooking here (it's in dutch) : http://www.vegadutchie.nl
My next stop is Barcelona for a day and then the train up to Pamplona to start the Camino de Santiago. Wish me luck!
xo

Isle of Mull

Isle of Mull, originally uploaded by veggy.

Taking the ferry from Oban to the Isle of Mull has been a life long trip in the making. As soon as we pulled into Oban I felt at home. It may also have to do with not seeing the ocean for almost 4 months.. the longest I have ever been away from the ocean.
The Isle of Mull (Scottish Gaelic Muile, pronounced [ˈmulə]) — or simply Mull — is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland. We are staying at quaint and homely bed and breakfast.

Our bed and breakfast is set above the shores of Loch Scridain in the village of Pennyghael with stunning views of Ben More and surrounding mountains.
Driving from the ferry to here is a one way road of rolling hills and lush greenery of epic colours and contrasts. A landscape photographers dream because it is rare to see shades of colour like this.
An afternoon of tea and biscuits followed by a dinner at the Pennyghael hotel where I got to try the local amber ale from the Isle of Mull brew company. Tomorrow we are off to explore the Isle of Iona and Staffa.

It's been a long time.. a London update

Untitled, originally uploaded by veggy.

Well my friends, it's been a long time. So very much has happened. I have been living in London, England for the last seven months working on four of the largest shows in the world. With that now under my belt I have had time to reflect on what I have seen and done and am feeling more inspired to write again. One of the most lovely things about London (the place I love and hate at the same time) is the free museums. You are able to walk right into these absolutely stunning architecture marvels and see almost any single thing you want to see or learn about. London has it all! One does think.. how did they get it? Of course they stole most of it from say Egypt but at least they have preserved it for only the most fortunate who are able to get to one of the most expensive cities in the world to see. Having lived most of my time in East London in the largest Bangladeshi neighborhood outside of Bangladesh, London is a city of amazing culture and depths. People who will never learn "English" and children who wear full hijabs yet full British accents.. the lines of culture and living here come together. The city is now mainly owned by the Saudis as noted most prominently by the owners of Harrods but the list goes on. Nowhere in the world do you see wealth like you do here. (Sorry West Vancouver). London is still the land of opportunity. I can see it everywhere. Still stuck very much in the past, living and choosing to live in the bureaucratic inefficiency. People still smoke tons, run right over cyclists, and spend all their money on alcohol. Londoner's are not healthy. Chip/Burger/Chicken shops are most common, leaving a whole generation spending their welfare checks on this instead of real food. Microwaves are very popular and a chosen option for cooking in most homes and work places. I asked about having a toaster and it was a fire hazard.. just a little taster of reasoning that makes little sense.

It is all very interesting to watch and be a part of it culturally. It will be interesting to see the last health effects on the National Health system in the years to come.
Environmentally, every single item is wrapped in plastic, including produce so shops don't have to employ people and you can scan the items yourself. People throw things into recycling bins even though there is nothing that states what can actually be recycled because as most of us know you can't recycle everything but the system here sure makes you think you can.
I know I have been living in the Vancouver bubble of environmental sustainability and well being and I thought we had a way to go in Canada.. but boy does the UK have a long way to go. What Canada misses in culture, it makes up for in every other single way. The UK continues to output the most amazing musicians, actors, shows year after year and it is because it is supported. People care here about seeing things. There are constant festivals about everything you could ever want, but it also has the population to support it.
As you can see the pull is strong in me. I love culture, and I love nature. Balance in London is tough but possible but right now I am a much deserved holiday. More updates to come.

Yoga and kindness

Josie - yoga, originally uploaded by veggy.

You think yoga and kindness would go hand in hand. That women who can put herself in a pretzel, that has been practicing yoga for 20 years must be a nice person right? Not necessarily. She may be flexible but may not have a well rounded practice of meditation, mantra, karma or whatever else would be needed to explore her need to do asana all the time.She probably isn't breathing properly either. Human beings need balance, not just in asana but in every field of life. I have been having a hard time with my yoga instructors who stand up at the front of class and teach what they believe is the truth but then when you get on the tube with them they don't give up there seat to a senior, or they treat people in their studios poorly. It seems like an epidemic. Like politicians who seek power, there are yoga instructors who are not kind. I feel kindness is a foundation of yoga and this was reiterated in my weekend workshop with Max Strom. I don't claim to be perfect, and the good teachers will share this statement, you do your best and work on being a better person.
Maybe it is hard to be kind in a city that is moody, busy, where your space in constantly invaded? We are in primal attack mode constantly, but yoga instructors are known globally for being not very nice ego maniacs.
Kindness is key to any practice.

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Impressions from London

Portobello market - colours, originally uploaded by veggy.

Having picked up and moved to London this week for an amazing job, i couldn't be happier, minus the groggy jet lag of course.
London is an amazing place with energy and personalities that make you feel challenged yet inquisitive. Culture here runs deep and thick, so many layers, and from all over the world. Lacking a smart phone, getting lost is part of the adventure, which means having good shoes because i have been walking a ton.
I am getting the lay of the land, having explored different transportation routes, and discovered my favorite is the overground lines which are new, and quieter, and upgraded for the Olympics i suspect.
London has an abundance of everything, but it has been hard to find a good coffee surprisingly, but thanks to my wonderful Vancouver friend Jen, she has a book on where to find the best coffee. We explored the Coffee Plant on Portobello Road during the market on the weekend. One of the massive, historic places in Nottinghill that offers a selection of foods, antiques, knick/knacks among many other things. Crowded and a smidge touristy, the sun peaking out of the grey sky made for a lovely afternoon stroll.
An unusually warm spring has brought the cherry blossoms out, which gets me excited for the warmer season, and longer days.

My transformation into a Londoner wouldn't be complete without some whinging:

1.Women wear way to much perfume in public spaces, i would like to start a campaign of awareness against how toxic it is in the first place and how many people are allergic to it. Click on the link to find out more information.


Cities are never perfect but this is a city that seems progressive (or maybe i am just new?), or maybe i just arrived at an interesting time. The class divide between the rich and the poor is very evident as people live closer together and you can walk from one snooty area and then be in a totally run out migrant neighborhood. I can see how this would cause problems like the more recent London riots. I am excited to be apart of this energy, and have such good friends here already. It really makes so much of a difference.



Today i move to East London so i can walk to work for now and avoid the tube altogether for now which i think will make me healthier mentally.