Japan and beyond

It seems as though I preface every blog entry with some sort of an excuse for why my posts are so infrequent, and here I go again. By now you probably know that my computer skills are rudimentary at best. Even writing the word r u d i m e n t a r y takes me forever!  The superficial excuses include my lack of skills, and other things not always under my control. Japan is an enigma. It is first world and high tech and at the same time old fashioned and maddeningly complex.

simplicity

    These are all just excuses however. Without going into too much detail, our lives have been altered by a recent event in my family. We were called back to the united states about 2 weeks ago due to a serious illness of a family member. We spent time around Thanksgiving in Columbus Ohio where most of my family lives. Seeing my family under these conditions around the Holiday was both difficult and profoundly moving and positive. I am still attempting to assimilate the new reality of our condition and the lessons and yes even gifts to be gleaned from this unexpected turn. Life is short, we never know where it will lead us. We pretend we have a solid grounding and we go along with the illusion of permanence, until something happens to shatter that picture and we are left with the new reality. There is no future, there is only NOW. Love is the only constant, everything changes all the time, sometimes for the good, sometimes not. Cherish what is real. Our mortality is a curse and a blessing, but there is no denying it. We will be in the US until the 4th of Dec. then resume our travels in New Zealand. The 2 things iIwas looking forward to in Japan were gardens and onsen. The Japanese revere nature. Probably because of their numbers and relatively small land mass the manicured garden has been elevated to an art form like few other places. Even the most modest of homes has some homage to nature, be it a garden,flower arrangement, or water feature. Typical gardens attempt to find a balance between the natural and the manipulated,never entirely wild or completely manicured,as if people really are an extension of nature and not separate from it. The skillful use of stones, gravel, plants and water are vital elements of the Japanese garden. Gardens can be exceedingly simple,with the skillful placement of a few stones or incredibly expansive, with changing vistas, water features, and skillful use of plantings. The intent is usually to invoke nature without strictly duplicating it. My favorite gardens were in the city of Kyoto, the capitol of Japan prior to Tokyo. The absolute favorite was the Katsura Villa. To get a ticket to see this garden we first had to go to the the imperial palace in downtown Kyoto, request tickets for a future time(tickets are limited)and hope for an opening. We were in luck, but due to some arcane reason Anika could not join us. Adults over the age of 20 only! Dont ask me why, perhaps they feel younger people wont appreciate the garden enough. The tour was in a group of about 25 people,almost all Japanese with a Japanese guide. We got audio info by pushing buttons on our devise. I believe based on the interest of the crowd and the length of the guides talk that the Japanese received the better tour. No complains however, the grounds were stunning

one more bridge to cross

     Now on to Onsens! Onsen proliferate in all areas of Japan, and range from the simple, natural to the complex. They can be found in large cities as well as the countryside. Practically any where in japan, if you drill down, you will find hot water. In many places drilling is not needed, the water is percolating out of the ground. As onsen are a fabric of Japanese life they come with rituals refined through the centuries. onsen are a social hub of Japanese life. They are usually though not always divided into men's and women's sides. Before entering the baths strict rules of hygiene must be observed. rule # 1,you must be absolutely clean before entering the water. This usually requires at least 15 minutes of careful scrubbing in the shower. Showering is done sitting on a small stool with a bucket for water and a wall mounted shower wand. Several cycles of scrubbing and rinsing are required. Once your skin is tingling with cleanliness you are ready for the soak. Often many options are available to you. In our favorite onsen in Kyoto the choices included small tubs with mineral water, large pools both inside and out, individual jaccuzi jet tubs, freezing cold pools, saunas and steam, foot soaking pools, and areas to lie down where hot water flowed across the floor! When bathing the men carry around a small "modesty towel" used to cover that area needing coverage, but not taken into the water. My favorite ritual was the regular sauna routine given by the staff attendants. On the men's side at regular intervals a staff member would walk through shouting out something which inspired nearly everyone to enter the sauna. Being the curious person I am I followed. Picture a sauna laid out in a semi circle, with four different seating tiers. The capacity when full was about 40 men. 2 attendants march in and start a friendly back and forth banter. After a while one of them applies aromatic water to the sauna rocks producing a dense steam. Then, one by one the staff approaches each person and asks if you want him to fan you with his giant hand held fan. Everyone complies and the fanning proceeds for the next round lasting 15 minutes or until your stamina expires. The staff leave as quickly as they arrived and the sauna resumes its role as viewing space for the wide screen TV show with quirky reality being the norm. Ahhh.
     What struck me the most about my onsen time was how natural it felt to be there and how much a part of everyday life social bathing is in Japan.
   While our time in japan is over, our memories are strong and each of us are dreaming of our return to this amazing land. I want to extend a special thank you to everyone who made our trip memorable, but especially to our fantastic host, Shige.Without his hospitality our trip would not have been as meaningful or enjoyable.
  On a final note, be sure to express your Love and appreciation to all of the people and experiences that make our lives worthwhile. we can not predict what comes our way but we do have control over how we respond to it. Life if an amazing miracle. obey the awe!

Japan, it's complicated,and expensive,and Amazing!

Greetings from Japan! We have been here about 10 days now and this is the first time I am able to post a blog. Leaving Bali was hard,because as much as I complained about certain things in my last post we made strong connections there with locals and other visitors. Like Joni Mitchel sang; you dont know what you've got till it's gone. Bali was so Easy in hindsight. Things that we took for granted there are amazingly complex here.

Mt. Fugi from the bullet train

     There is no such thing as a soft landing in Japan. After a long flight with a layover in Malaysia we arrived in Tokyo very late and very tired. We were fortunate to have a connection in Tokyo, thanks to Lysa, who met us at the airport. The man is a university professor and an ex student of Lysa's Uncle. His name is Shige and having him meet us was a blessing. Lysa had been in email contact with Shige,so we had a place to stay on the west side of Tokyo on campus for a very reasonable price. Shige whisked us there and we collapsed into our new home with no energy to spare. Shige is very concerned about our welfare and I'm sure feels personally responsible for making Japan manageable for us.  OK, here's the complicated parts.... Getting $ is much more of an ordeal here than in either Bali or Thailand. We discovered that the only places our bank card works is at the post office and 7/11 stores. We tried several other ATM's before we figured that one out. Making a phone call is a complex undertaking. Shige insisted that we have our own phone(more for his peace of mind). Buying a phone is a complex and expensive ordeal that took several hours,tons of paper work and more money than I want to admit. I heard we could rent a phone but Shige insisted we buy one and put us on his family plan. Using our computer to connect to the internet, which is vital, has also been a challenge. Very few places offer wi/fi our usual method,and internet cafes are non existent.

Magome at dusk

    Unfotunately, Lysa was not feeling well for the first couple of days and that added further stress to our adjustment. There were moments, I admit where I was longing for my simple life in Santa Cruz.  Anika and I had an exploratory day together that gave me some confidence that we would survive Japan. We took the JR train into downtown Tokyo for a shopping adventure. The JR train system is amazing efficient and helpful for visitors. We made the effort before arriving in Japan to buy rail passes which has been very useful, although expensive. We went to the uber trendy Shibuya district and followed the cute fashionistas to "109", a shopping mecca for the younger set. Anika was in heaven and she turned some heads herself, being one of very few western kids. There are surprisingly few western travelers in Japan. We have only met one other couple from the US and a few European visitors. Japan is set up for the Japanese and they know how to enjoy their own country.

Inuyama Castle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner in Magome

  After a few days adjustment, we were ready to explore the country. Lysa being the research and plan person had laid out some potential itinereries and after much back and forth with Shige we had a plan. Shige was sure we would get lost at every turn and lobbied hard for us to stay in Tokyo and do day trips. While that may have suited Anika, it wasn't what we had in mind. We set off with our new phone, tons of cash from stockpiling, and our rail passes. Our first destination was the Kiso valley, near theJapan alps. The town of Magome would be our first night away from Tokyo. Magome is a beautifully restored town on the old post road from Tokyo to Kyoto. We spent the night in a "minshuku" which is a lodge that offers tatami style rooms, and 2 meals in a rustic building.  The Japanese have elevated dining to an artistic and gastronomic delight. There were at least 12 different dishes at most meals, even breakfast. Magome is a pedestrian heaven, no cars strolling wonderland. Every view is magical. We were starting to fall in Love with Japan! The next morning we sent our bags ahead to Tsumago, another link on the post route, and walked the 5 miles through the country side at our liesure. We past old buildings, farms, waterfalls, and Shinto shrines before arriving at our next days lodging. Both towns are picture perfect and a throw back to days past. Such a relief from our first days in Tokyo. Next was the town of Inuyama, known for the oldest remaining castle in Japan and the 3rd most admired tea house and garden. We happened upon a street festival showcasing the towering floats built in the eighteenth century, adorned with carvings and topped with "kurukari dolls",fantastic mechanical dolls that do elaborate performances. These floats are so large it takes a team of 20 or so men to pull them down the street.

Takayama

   We stayed at a "youth hostel" more like a hilton, which also included two lavish meals,for 2 nights. The following day our plan was to head to Takayama a small city with much to offer. Getting there turned into a major fiasco which I was entirely responsible for. As I mentioned we are traveling by rail with a pre purchased Japan Rail pass good for 21 days. These tickets are like gold and cost as much. They are also non-replaceable if lost. We had a 9:00am train to catch and got to the station with time to spare.  Money....check, passports...check...Railpasses no check. I looked every where, they were in my possesion last but were not to be found. Picture 3 desperate travelers frantically searching all of their belongings, tearing through their luggage, while sympathetic locals wander by. It was a travelers nightmare. Lysa kept saying I told her I put them away safely but where? Finally I looked in the one place I should have looked first. They were in my money belt where I keep extra cash. I was giddy with relief when I found them but we missed our train by minutes! My family was forgiving of my blunder but it cost us several hours. We are now in Takayama. We are staying at a Buddhist temple,with tatami rooms, a kitchen and wi-fi access! Takayama is a city of 100,00 people with lots to see and also many nearby day trips. We explored the Japan alps, which reminded me of the Sierras.
We left Anika at home to skype her friends and catch up with email. There is so much to do and see everywhere we go, we already know we cant see it all and we vow to come back. We all love Japan, for different reasons. Anika for Tokyo and shopping, Lysa and I for onsen, history, nature,food,and culture. In my next blog i will report on our onsen experiences. Suffice to say AHHHH.
   One final note before I sign off... a big warm Birthday greeting to my friend Karuna.  Obey the Awe!

Saying Goodbye to Bali

Happy loading bricks

Hello friends, It is with mixed feelings that I write this last blog entry before leaving Bali. Yes, Bali is an amazing island with natural beauty, charm, kind people and a complex and enthralling culture. Much of these comments I had heard from friends who have been here before we left on our trip. What I also heard was that the first time was the best for most travelers. The common lament was how much it had changed since their first visit. I took that info in with a grain of salt because what place ever really stays the same,change being the only constant. There is change, and then there is the kind of change I see happening in Bali that I fear is destroying its appeal. First it is important to understand that Bali is a relativley small island, being approx 300 miles in circumference. That means that any sort of rapid development without planning for infrastructure improvements can be devastating. Unfortunately this is what I see going on all over the island. The roads are narrow and windy,with the burden of too many cars, scooters, BIG buses, and lots of huge sand and gravel trucks. Throw in to the mix a kind of casual disregard for what we would consider good road ettiquette and you have the recipe for chaos. There is a general neglect to considering the pedestrian as any thing other than a nuisance,sidewalks are rare and often landmines of potential danger. Parking lots are nearly non existant so the accepted practice is simply to stop in the road and let the other drivers worry about how to get around you. This is very common,so it doesn't take much to create gridlock. I am amazed at how casually people accept this as the accepted norm. I'm afraid in the states riots would break out and blood would pour over common practices here.
   OK I am on a bit of a rant here and there is plenty to commend but while i am on the ranty side... We as a world culture must come to terms with our plastic trash,specifically the single use plastic bag! The plastic bag is overwhelming our planet with lethal waste. bags are everywhere flying in the breezes, clogging the waterways and eventually finding their way to the oceans where they linger forever. In Bali you will see men on motorbikes who work as scavengers scouring the landscape for anything they can sell for recycling,metal,cardboard, even plastic bottles, but they dont collect bags because they cant get any $ for them. There were so many occasions when we were touring that we would be looking out over magestic rice fields or towards the volcanoes or at the beach and then look down and see the plastic litter strewn about.  We are ALL part of this global problem and I believe the solutions must be global in scale. All products including the bag must have the cost of their nuisance built in to the upfront cost of the item. Only one part of the solution, and please don't misunderstand, I don't mean to imply that the Balinese are any worse then any other people. One explanation I have heard before ,
esp in regards to third world cultures is that things like the plastic bag came suddenly into their culture and they haven't adjusted yet. Think the U.S. 40 years ago compared to today. Before ,when their goods came in natural materials such as banana leaves throwing them on the ground was no big deal. Now with 30 million people and gobs of visitors the effect is overwhelming.
    Lastly I fear that the onslaught of visitors is going to ruin the very thing that attracted people here for so long.  Tourists will simply stop coming and find the "next Bali". Maybe that's a good thing, I don't know
     Now on to a more positive spin. We experienced some amazing culture and explored many stunning places in our time here. As I mentioned before, Ubud was our home base and as such we were able to connect with the place and its inhabitants. Lysa and I in particular were struck by the kindness and hospitality of the people and their willingness to share their lives with us. Our driver friend Radde invited us to attend his family purification ceremony, which takes place on the beach about 45 min. away from Ubud. When I say family I am talking about 2,000 people! All related some how. Picture a caravan of cars trucks scooters and buses winding their way with all the items in hand for a full blown religious gathering the likes of which I have never seen. We were one of very few outsiders invited to attend.  I still am boggled by the amount of energy that goes into maintaining their religious culture. The benefits are obvious...the sense of community, and of belonging to something larger than themselves must bring comfort. We in the West are such an individual first culture and i am not sure if one or the other is better,we could of course  learn from both.

Purification Ceremony

   Another highlight would be the time we spent in the coastal village of Ahmed on the North east of the island. Ahmed is still calm and quiet, the water is warm and blue, the coral and fish were stunning. We spent our brief time there snorkeling in some of the finest coral I have seen anywhere! Lysa especially was in heaven having had her fill of the relative bustle of Ubud. Lysa made a beautiful connection with a young girl and her family. We met them while investigating the local salt production operation on the beach. We are talking old style, primitive labor intensive salt production. Lysa will i am sure describe it in further detail. The young girl was happy to show us the means of production and there was an undeniable spark to her personality.
    Another fun event we participated in was the Ubud readers and writers convention. International writers converged here for a week of book launches, workshops and special events. We saw a poetry slam and also went to the street party. Lots of fun, Reggae music(it's everywhere) along with more traditional offerings. I was pulled out of the audience to dance with a woman doing traditional Balinese style dancing! I did my best white boy imitation as I am well beyond feeling embarassed about such things.
    Lastly before I go to sleep, I have been contemplating happiness, what it means , what we need to be happy, and my perception that our western culture has significant wealth but not corresponding happiness.  The people of Bali and Thailand in contrast have much less wealth but seemingly more happiness. Remember these are generalities based on my personal observations. One concept from Buddhist philosophy is the notion of suffering and its origins. The Buddhist would say suffering(unhappiness) stems from our striving and clinging to our picture of the way things should be and not accepting things as they are. In our culture we are taught that we can all achieve greatness, usually defined in terms of personal wealth and power. That of course can lead to bitterness when we discover that no, we cant all get rich. We tend to also sacrifice many other things to strive for the illusion of success. We give up often deep connections to friends, community,family the planet etc. You get the picture,even if we achieve wealth we are not happy, we are taught to keep striving and of course now we must defend that which we amassed. So ,how to be happy esp. in such chaotic times? I am not sure I know but I believe I have a direction, and I also believe that I have been incredibly blessed in my life and Luck also plays a part as does the concept of Karma.  I have many friends and Loved ones that also help show me the Way to a Life of deep connection and fulfillment. Thank You  All. Next stop, Japan!  Remember to Obey the Awe! 
                                   Dave

Settling into Bali

Classic Rice field view

Well, we have been in Bali nearly three weeks now and i am just getting to this blog entry. My apologies to all my expectant readers(I can dream cant I?). Either we have been staying very busy with lots of engaging fun or we have been bored to tears and ther is nothing to say about it. I choose option one. First let me express how easy it is to be in Bali,specifically Ubud where our home base is. Ubud is the kind of magical place with its own cultural identity plus a healthy dose of visitors who appreciate it and the amenities that go with them. There is a vibrant yoga,dance art music,spa, food  culture here. Did I miss any of my own personal favorite things to do? So with only a little effort Bali is wonderful. One intention of ours when traveling is as much as possible to try to engage in some culturally enriching activities which help us appreciate the people we are visiting. Lysa being the ever intrepid planner and researcher found out about the local library and the community events board there. We made it one of our first stops in Ubud and it definitely set us in the right path for finding things to do. Lysa found an amazing batik painting class taught by a family of artists in there home compound. Imagine nearly one on one attention from a master artist in his home for about $7.00 an hour. Needless to say Lysa was in heaven and stayed enroled for 4 days and created some amazing works. She even convinced me and Anika to go one time. The help from the artist was just what you would want,helpful suggestions,but not too intrusive. Plenty of instruction in use of tools and supplies and time to work at your own pace. Another enriching class I enjoyed was wood carving. Again the instructor who was about my age was amazingly skilled and encouraging. He gave me just enough help to make sure I was engaged and challenged but not overwhelmed. I have worked with wood before but have always wanted to learn carving but was too intimidated. Nyoman was the carvers name and he came from a family of carvers. He was using tools his grandfather had made and his 22 year old son is also a carver. Again for $7.00 an hour I was working with a master. I told him I wanted to carve a Buddha mask and showed him a pendant as an example. We started with a round chunk of wood with the bark still on and took it from there. He also lent me tools so I could work at home. I have gone 3 times over the past 2 weeks and will go at least once more.

Lysa creating

Buddha emerging

       One thing about being in Ubud is that it is so easy it can be hard to motivate to see other parts of the island. Days can go by going to yoga class, eating lunch or dinner out ,carving, reading etc. We do have our driver Rhadde who not so subtly lets us know how much he needs the work and with Lysa's enthusiasm we have managed to see a bit of the surrounding countryside. On one excursion we visited the"Mother temple" of Bali up near the volcano Arung.( Bali has 4 active volcanoes). The Balinise people, being hindus have an interesting relationship to their temples. Rhadde told us there are 4 kinds of temples in bali each with there own ceremonies and responsibilities. There is the home temple, the village temple ,regional sacred temples and the mother temple. Everyone in bali is expected to visit the mother temple at least once a year. And of course every tourist is expected to visit it as well and leave a very generous donation. Not only is there a modest entrance fee, after paying at least twice for parking, there is an expected donation to the village, and also to the temple itself. I should say that it is actually a number of temples perched on the side of the volcano. The expectation to pay at every opportunity and the various vendors in your space can take some of the spirituality out of it but that is the bali way as our driver says. The views are beautiful but at the end of the day we left with a bit of unease about the experience.

Blessing the dead

    On Sun. we went on a rafting excursion. We called the tour company directly expecting the best price that way(no middle man). I tried to negotiate with very little sucess,we arived a a price and organized the trip. We were picked up in Ubud, drove about an hour and were given the usual gear and instruction. The walk down to the river was a marvel in concrete stairway engineering. The drop was at least 500 ft down a narrow gorge to the river. I was thinking at least I wont have to walk up that at the end(wrong).  The scenery was fantastic tho the river was a bit tame with not a lot of recent rainfall. Picture a deep narrow river gorge with lush jungle vegetation and the occasional terraced rice farm thrown in for decorative contrast. Drop in a few monkeys and some Aussie yahoo types and you get the picture. Not too cultural but plenty of fun. Even Anika seemed to enjoy herself. I was told later by Raddhe that we paid too much and that he can always get us a better price and make a little himself. The Bali Way.

Me waiting for the Burn

   Something I was able to experience on my own was a huge cremation ceremony. Lysa was a bit under the weather and Anika was inclined toward a death ritual. I was there on the street for over 3 hours. I watched them put the finishing touches on a huge movable tower which carried the emains of the person. The local holy man did an elaborate blessing. The whole village seemed to be involved in one way or the other. A local gamelon music group provided the lyrical sound track and large paper mache puppets were also part of the mix. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention the 25 foot long bull that eventually became part of the  procesion that worked its way down the street to the temple where it was joined by several other towers and animal figures which were all eventually burned! It became a carnival like atmosphere of competing gamelon groups from different villages and their entourage of animals and towers. Not one but 6 people's remains were burned on that day, a once every few years event. WOW.
Well, I haven't described the half of it but my brain is fried and it will have to wait. Please see Lysa's blog for her take on things esp. our visit to the "Green school"and possibly culinary adventures. And if you want to know what goes on in the mind of a 13 year old girl visit Anika's blog. I am having fun learning about myself, reading and missing you all. Love,Dave aka H2ot

Thailand to Cambodia to Bali

Cambodian Dancer

 Last impressions of Thailand... The 4 pillars of Thai culture at least from my perspective are 1. the Temple, 2. the cuisine, 3.massage!, and 4.the Royal family. The Royal family attain almost sacred status amongst the people. Although we have our biases based on our democratic background I must say that the monarchy has done pretty well by the people. The Thai people were never colonized, and they managed to stay out of the major strife we created in the region, nosmall feat considering the influence of the US and China being so close. I have extoled on the cuisine ,massage, and the temple in earlier blogs so now to describe our exit from Thailand. One can only spend so much time languishing on the island of Ko Chang esp. considering the rainy weather. Almost on a whim, we checked out a tour package offer to Angkor Wat. I am not much for the arranged tour thing but seeing the ruins was appealing and getting there on our own seemed beyond our personal talents. Angkor Wat is a massive temple ruins that should be on any travelers must see list. The tour was pricy but it included everything;4 days and 3 nights travel, border crossing(no small feat), hotel accomodations, meals and our guide. Travel there took most of a day and as in many travel situations you have to sometimes accept that things are not always in your control and to have faith that they will work out. This day was a perfect example. From one stop and transport exchange to the next it seemed as if by magic the next person would show themselves and lead us to our destination. Having no decisions to make takes a little getting used to, but all along the chain of events we made it across Thailand, the border into Cambodia and finally to Siem Reap, the city nearest the ruins.  Please read Lysa's blog at Lysasbigtrip.blogspot.com for more details and pictures.
       One thing I have discovered is that having a knowledgeable guide can enrich the tour experience profoundly. Our tour guide Art was an exceptional example of this. Without him our tour would have been overwhelming but not nearly as enriching. Art had a true Love for his culture which he shared with us in many ways. His knowledge of the ruins was vast but he also brought his own perspective into his descriptions of the people the environment and the place. The Cambodian people have a complex and often painful history. Art was able to explain it and also share his emotions around it. The reign of Pol Pot and the legacy of the killing fields is still a fresh scar on the psyche of their country. An entire generation of inteligent people was wiped out in a fashion similar to the attrocities of WW2. The US contribution to the pain inflicted here is also very troubling. Given their recent history it is impressive how kind and willing to share the people are.

A Family rooted in history

    Well ,we spent one whole day touring the ruins. One thing I hadn't known is that Angkor Wat is actually a series of temples covering an area approx. 2x1.5 kilometers. It's HUGE. The ruins tell many stories of the Hindu religion but they also reflect the transition to Buddhism that happened there. Cambodia like Thailand is predominantly now Buddhist.

Apsara, Hindu Dance Deity

That evening we were treated to a meal and a dance performance at a nearby restaurant. The dancers did a series of performances in various costumes reflecting the rituals of everyday life as well as more stylized routines.
 The next day Art took us out to the lake where we were able to experience a fishing village floating on its banks. Each year this massive lake swells and recedes with the rain and the village is in movement with it. The lake is responsible for much of the fish eaten throughout Cambodia. The lifestyle of the people here is much unchanged over the generations(save for the boat motors).

Another pretty face

After the village we went to visit an art center where the local crafts of painting, metalwork, and carving are taught to the next generation of artisans. The workmanship was amazing. I now regret not buying anything but our capacity to schlep is limited. Throw in lunch and the cultural museum and we experienced near overload. I almost forgot to mention that we were on this tour with 2 others, a man from Australia and a charming youngish woman from England,on her first holiday away from home. We especially hit it off with Erin and when Anika discovered she is a Doctor Who fan we knew we had a friend.
  It is getting late and I am getting the signal to wrap this one up. So to conclude,yes you must go!  Cambodia was the best part of Thailand.
    After a couple days back in Bangkok we are now on the Indonesian island of Bali! Wow! is all I can express for now. Hindu culture, very dense. We are settled into a house for a month in Ubud, known for its rich cultural offerings. From here we will take day trips with our new best friend and driver Radde. Radde helped us find our house and also rented us a small scooter to get around on(just around town, dont worry Mom). We have already seen a beautiful Kecak dance performance as well as being accosted by monkeys at the sacred monkey forest temple. One aggresive fellow mistook Lysa's camera bag for food, jumped onto her snatched the bag and took off down the hill with me in pursuit. Not sure what I was thinking I would do when i caught up to him. Fortunately one of the locals gave me a cucumber and we negotiated a trade. Dont turn your back on a hungry monkey! More to come. PS Welcome back to the default world to all my friends returning from Burningman. Obey the Awe!  H2ot

Chang Mai to Ko Chang

Bon Voyage

It has been over two weeks since my last blog entry. We have been mostly out of easy internet access so please excuse my delay. Our family has been traveling for about  weeks now. I'm sure you have noticed how when traveling time gets warped in strange ways? Kind of like that star trek episode where Sean Luke has a second life in a French village one day? Thats how I feel. Lots has happened, feels like forever. Today is Friday. If I was home I would be all packed and heading to Burning man with my camp, the French Maids.I want to wish them all an epic Burn and a safe return to our default world, with plenty of stories to tell. Bon Voyage!

After Lampang we headed North to Chaing Mai. I dont know if I am getting used to the long bus rides but it didn't seem as bad as the last one. Chaing Mai is often described as peoples favorite city in Thailand, the shopping, the temples, food, etc. I guess I'm just not that much of a city guy. Our accomodations were fine, the Gulare guest house. The shopping was amazing at the night market. Ethnic ware and clothing from all over. I bought 6 pairs of pants mostly for dance and Burningman(already shipped home,said a prayer and let go).We bought a cheap unlocked cell phone which has proven invaluable. We will be able to use it everywhere we go. We buy minutes at any convenience store. Local calls are dirt cheap and calling the states is only 10 cents a minute.

     I have had several massages now from low end to high and can relate some of my experiences. Just a caution, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR,(you just might get it). Friends suggested going to a temple for a massage as they might be your most consistent bet. OK, Lysa and I found our nearest temple offering massage, walked into a large hall of activity and made our request for an hour each,me on the floor and Lysa in the chair. Picture a huge hall with rows of mats and dozens of people receiving massages. As no oil is used in thai massage you stay dressed in loose fitting clothing. I found my place on an empty mat and waited to begin. I am guessing a number of people came in at the same time as there was a bit of confusion and hustle to get going. I think my massuese was the boss lady(figures I would get her). While she was getting me settled she was on her cell phone and also directing traffic. Picture one hand Kneading my leg ,one hand directing traffic ,and a phone in the shoulder going constantly. Not what I would call personal attention. OK I'm only paying $4.00 but still. I was doing my best Buddha effort to not get pissed, and then she actually left me for 15 minutes, coming back occasionally to rub a muscle here and there. Well the hour went by and I did use the time to practice loving kindness and compassion so it wasn't a complete waste. Lysa's was somewhat better but she also was on the phone a lot(a common practice I'm discovering). We had been told of a high end spa called Oasis, so the family made reservations there. This place was amazing! The décor and the grounds were stunningly maintained and the customer service and courtesy were perfect. Lysa and I booked 2 hour treatments together and Anika got a facial and milk bath. The staff had obviously been trained in catering to the western clientle. Everything about this experience(save one) was perfect. Our treatments were a combination of Thai and western massage techniques. As such they were done on a typical massage table not the floor. The room was amazing, wood paneled,flowers ,soft lights and music. We were directed to put on these funny spa panties and lie face down on the table. Unlike at home since it is thai and western the practitioner is standing on the floor and also actually on the table for parts of the work. My massuese was attentive and well trained, but the massage table itself looked homemade and had no padding on the front edge where my western style adam's apple settled. I tried various ways to relieve the pressure but try as I might I couldn't find a comfortable position. Every time she applied pressure to my back or shoulders my neck was crushed into the edge causing extreme discomfort. Seeing my unease she attempted to remedy the situation with a towel as a cushion with limited success. Of course when I flipped over that problem was resolved and the rest of the massage was fantastic. Both Lysa and Anika had a fantastic experience. I resolved that somewhere in Thailand I would have a fully satisfying massage experience. To that end I went to the local shop in the food court where we ate many of our meals while in Chaing Mai. This spa was a small storefront with chairs out front and massage space inside, partitioned with curtains. I made my request and received the most satisfying treatment yet. At $7.00 per hour it was mid price and worth the extra 3 bucks. While on the phone occasionally and talking to other workers sometimes ,my person was attentive and offered a proffesional ,satisfying experience. Now let me tell you briefly about the last massage I received in Chiang Mai. The family had trip business to attend to and after as a reward we treated ourselves to another spa experience(why not?). We stepped into another of the ubiquitous storefront spas and made our requests known. Lysa and Anika mani/pedicures, Dave a 2 hour massage. After a bit of phone work my massage person arrived. While lying comfortably on the mat my therapist asked in a gentle voice “sir would you like light medium or firm massage”? Being a pro with an ego I replied “firm please”. My first warning should have been when she said “Its OK you can ask for change later”. Without going into every excruciating detail let me just say that it was the most intense 2 hour physical experience of my life(by far). I saw all kinds of colored lights as I tried to breathe through the pain.I was crying like a baby on the inside wondering why I didn't tell her to ease up. I survived, barely, but for over a week my body was so sensitive that a mere touch would evoke painfull flashbacks. Another lesson in keeping the ego in check, thank you very much. I have since had other massage work and I am learning what to say and ask for. I will say however that I even more appreciate all the excellent staff members at Well Within. Thank you for the thousands of great massages I have received there.

Doi Suthep

One of the highlights of Chaing Mai was our excursion up the mountain to the temple at Doi Suthep. Lysa and I did this one without Anika who by this time was pretty much templed out. Doi Suthep sits outside of the city on a rocky promutary. Its a bit of a schlep,but by far my favorite. Its hard to describe why, perhaps its location ,possibly the fact that it seemed to be a more vital active temple with dharma talks ,meditation retreats, and a Mothers day celebration. Maybe it was the misty rainy environment or the young boy with the smile beyond his years begging for money at the temple steps. I purchased a Buddha amulet from the concession stand and it was given a blessing from the monk before being presented to me. I wear it every day now.

    As I type slowly(about one word per minute) this blog entry is going to take all day. After Chaing Mai our next destination was a village homestay in the North east of Thailand. Lysa had made this reservation in advance of our ttrip from research she had done online. We took another long bus to get there from Chiang Mai. Lamai guesthouse is run by Lamai and her Scottish husband Jimmy. We had some arrival communication issues and we weren't at our best upon arrival after a long day. I was wondering if this might have been a mistake as my first impression of Jimmy was not favorable. I have learned however that first impression can be misleading esp. after a long day of travel. I will say that one good thing was that most of our stay required very little decision making on our part and that was a nice respite. Jimmy was a retired playboy type with all sorts of facts and opinions of Thailand and the world. He mostly regaled us with travel horror stories and his impressions of Thai culture(not always favorable). He took us touring to the local ruins, the zoo and other nearby attractions. This part of Thailand recieves only 2% of the tourism and Jimmy has his own theory about why. The touring part was all good but the real pleasure was experiencing the local village scene with Lamai. Lamai has lived in her village her whole life and unlike most has chosen to stay. Those still living here lead a very simple life much unchanged from their ancestors(save the TV and cell phone). They still farm rice for local consumption and augment their diets with foraging for frogs ,snakes, rodents and bugs.(really). We visited the local school which i'm sure Lysa will describe in greater detail. I introduced the kids to frisbee which they took to immediately and they showed me a game they play with stones similar to Jacks. We also spent a day with the local basket weaver, learning to make a basket. This man may be the last of a dying breed in his village as no one is learning from him. He weaves mostly from split bamboo. We made a simple basket, but he showed us many utilitarian objects he creates. The most impressive to me were these intricate long(4 feet) tubular baskets used to trap fish when draining the rice fields. Each basket takes about 4 days to complete. He sells them for 280 bat(thats only$9.00) You can understand why no one is learning his craft when they can move to the city and make $1.00 an hour. Lamai pointed out the houses where it was apparent that a family child had left and was sending money home. The housed were well constructed and acted as a nest egg for when the children would return for their own retirement. Other highlights included a day in the silk weaving village learning the process of silk production and weaving. We(mostly Lysa) wove our own silk scarf. It took us 2 days on this old loom set in the side of the weaver lady's house. She patiently set us to work and fixed our problems as they appeared. Apparently we were a little strong on the loom and kept breaking threads, but over time we got the knack for it and produced a lovely scarf.

    After a week of village life we were faced with the decision of where next.Weary of rain we longed for a sunny beach environment but were unsure where to go. We chose Ko Chang in the gulf of Thailand hoping for the best. After another long bus and a night in the coastal town of Trat we took the ferry to Ko Chang. Since we are here in the off season we made advance reservations for only one night, figuring we could look around a bit the next day. We picked a seaside spot recommended by the book, Blue Lagoon, more like blue swamp. Run down mosquitoe infested with a rat on the front porch. Lovely. Good food in the restaurant though. I was starting to get that sagging feeling that we had made a tremendous mistake but kept it at bay with a large bottle of Chang beer. The next day we wandered about and happened into KB resort. While twice as expensive($40.00 per night)it was worlds better. Clean cottages ,a swimming pool ,close to the beach,friendly staff etc. Everything I need to have a relaxing time. And this is where we stay. Plenty of fun things to do interspersed with hours of lounging.We visited the local waterfall which is part of the interior national park. Ko Chang is mountainess with most of it within the park boundries. Chang means elephant in Thai so an elephant excursion was part of our itinerary. Lysa in particular has an affinity for these grand animals. Once again she was in heaven during our 2 hour trek through the jungle. After trekking we had a chance to swim with the animals(yes,swim!). We went down to the stream where 2 of them were bathing in the water and we could jump in and on with the elephants. Great fun.

   We plan to be here for several more days then we will take 3 days to go to cambodia and visit the ruins at Ankor Wat. From there its back to Bangkok where Anika wants to buy a Ukulele.After that its on to Bali.

I finished reading the book on Buddhism by Lama Surya Das. Awakening the Buddha Within. I would recommend it to any one interested in Buddhism or interested in personal reflection. I have tried to incorporate some of what I have read into my life and have found it helpful esp. with my relationships with others, Anika being the most immediate benefactor.

   I have been typing for hours, my back is tired and its time for lunch. I wish for you all peace and good health. Sawadee , David

Lampang to Chiang Mai

Lysa and Dave getting worked Thai style

I am writing this blog entry From Chiang Mai in northern Thailand,but want to first describe our experiences of Langpang to the South. Langpang is a small city approx 2 hours by bus south of Chiang Mai and due to its proximity is usually no more than a day stop for most people going north. We spent 4 days here and could have stayed longer. Langpang has alot going for it not the least is the slower pace and not yet tourited feel. The people are genuinely happy and curious to see you in their town. We were one of very few Americans there. We stayed at a very comfortable guesthouse situated on the river,run by an Italian lady we never saw. Our daily routine usually included eating breakfast there then off to tour the city or surrounding countryside. One day was spent visiting the nearby elephant sanctuary. We saw a performance where the elephants demonstrated their skills including how they move big logs with instruction from their mahout who sits atop their neck and gently prods them with his feet while barking orders. I got the impression that there was a real bond between trainer and elephant. I understand that there is a one man one elephant relationship which can last a lifetime. The show ended with 3 elephants demonstrating their painting skills! Very impressive if somewhat gimmicky. We wandered the grounds and eventually took a 30 min. ride through the forest. Lysa and Anika on one and me on another. Lysa esp. was in heaven. She has always wanted to ride an elephant so it was a lifelong dream fulfilled. There are only 2,000 elephants left in the wild in Thailand due to habitat destruction. Elephants require large expanses of uninterupted habitat and unfortunately that has been compromised. Seeing them up close is a highlight. Looking into the eyes of a beast so majestic was humbling.
      Another day was spent investigating the local massage culture. Massage services are provided everywhere so choosing where to go is the biggest challenge. We read about one place that seemed interesting. From the description it sounded like it was affiliated with an herbal health clinic and it also offerd herbal sauna treatments so we were off on an adventure. I was picturing a somewhat medical looking clinic but had no idea what we would find. Thats part of the fun of not knowing. We were dropped off by our tuk tuk and seeing the confused look a local assumed we must be there for massage because there wasn't much else around that I could see. He pointed us in the direction of a very dilapidated wooden building which did not look like a business. We finally saw a sign amongst the rubble indicating we were at the right place. Following a corridor back we reached a large room strewn with misc. stuff and an older women(mid 60's?) working on another woman. She saw us and with hand gestures understood we were here for massage. Without interupting her work she phoned another woman who showed up within minutes. We both wanted hour massages while Anika preferred to watch. No english was spoken but we were able to communicate none the less. We both lay down on mats fully clothed and the treatments began. Thai massage is a vigorous style of pressure point kneading, joint stretching and limb manipulation. While working the women were having a polite conversation between themselves. I was trying to guess what they might be talking about, Us? the weather? their children? While not what I am used to it wasn't bothersome. Since we are on a mat not on a table the massage person uses her body in an entirely different way.Often her leg would be used as a prop while working. Some of the moves were very intense bordering on painful but I trusted her and never felt threatened. One move in particular invoved a spinal stretch akin to a yoga pose only with the assistence of the therapist. My spine released in a series of pops in both directions!
      After our massage we were given a wrap and led to the herbal steam rooms, Lysa and in separate small enclosures.  She mixed up a batch of herbs and dumped them into a bubbling cauldrin of water. The room was very small and funky but the effect of the heat and herbs was intoxicating esp. after the massage. While we were in our rooms Anika was being attended to with a mini traetment of her own.After about 3 rounds of heat lysa and I were both blissfully ready to go. One last treatment was provided to us where the older woman who worked on Lysa used  balm of some sort and did some work that made me jump from the effect it had on my nerves. @ plus hours and a total of $12.00 later and we were on our way. I attempted to explain that i owned a spa and gave her a card. I think they understood.  Can I just say that in general the Thai people are gentle, kind and helpful. It must be the Buddhist influence. After our massage we visited an old teak mansion filled with antiques ate lunch and went home.
      I need to say again, the food here is FANTASTIC!(and cheap) Lunch for 3 costs about $6.00 and dinner about $10.00.
   Another highlight esp. for Anika was the night market. They close the street and all the vendors come out. Anika was nearly delirious with pleasure. All variety off goods were offered from clothes to toys,  crafts, food etc.
   People back home who have been to Thailand tryed to describe the experience but of course only a visit will truly suffice. I had no idea how many temples one country could have, all magnificent in their own way,most in some state of renovation.
    Lastly before I cant type any more i will describe our tour up into the mountains to visit a national park known for it's waterfalls and hotsprings! We hired a private driver to take us there and along the way stopped for pictures and to tour a wat(temple) and visit a weaving studio. Both interesting but the park was fantastic. Being out of the city gave us another perspective on this land. The mountains are forever green and flowing with water. We took a short hike to a series of waterfalls. On our way we met a man who was once the helicopter pilot for the royal family. He explained how he used to fly them to this park when it was the private domain  of the royalty. The queen bequeathed the park to the people only 20 years ago. After the hike we meandered through the hot springs. Picture a mini Yellowstone. The locals buy a basket of eggs and cook them in the pools. We opted for the soaking experience and had the entire outdoor pools to ourselves. AHhh.

entering the temple

    Well, thats all the energy i have for blogging today. Lysa and Anika are at a cooking class then we will all go to a high end spa for treatments. This will give me the yin yang experience of Thaii massage Until next time, Sawadee(hello, goodbye) Hotwater

Thailand, 1st and 2nd Impressions

The Kings Palace

I was somewhat sad to leave the garden isle behind with its lush familiariy,but alas we have. Our plane left @ 6:oo am to Honolulu so we woke at 4:00 in the morning. Leaving so early does have certain benefits,most importantly the potential for flights to be on time. The downside of course is the lack of sleep and delerium. After a short layover we boarded the 10 hourflight to Manilla, waited 5 hours and dragged ourselves onto the 3 hour flight to Bangkok. Pretty much one full day of traveling. No real hassles, except Anika's dipleasure at not finding wi fi access in Manilla. Huge for her. Bangkok customs was a breeze, everyone very helpful and kind. We found the Taxi and made it to the "uber chic" hostel at 10:00 PM
local time(about 6 Am on our clocks). We promptly found our beds and fell asleep. The next day we had grand ambitions to take the local transit into Bangkok proper(takes about an hour) and visit the Kings Palace, eat some local cuisine and behave like the seasoned travelers we imagine we are(not). First BIG mistake. We made it OK via tuk tuk and canal canal boat to our presumed destination near the Palace. Being in a state of near exhaustion we were at the mercy of the seemingly helpful locals to make our way. A kind seeming man seeing our confusion approached us and offered assistence. We told him we neede to make our way to the Palace and he responded by informing us tha the palace was closed until 2PM because the Kings sister had died and he recomended we take a tuk tuk(small 3 wheeled motorcycle thing) to some of his favorite spots nearby,"only 10 bat". Having not read or competely forgotten the guidebook section on common scams we agreed. First stop was the "lucky Buddha statue(who's luck?) OK not so bad, then off to the garment factory to see real Thai taylors make clothing (starting to be suspicious) Thankfully Anika nearly blew a gasket when the man offered to make her a shirt for only $280.00 and we sped out the door. The tuk tuk guy looked concerned and offered to take us to the "gasoline factory"?! He spoke little English and when we protested he promised "just look, no  buy". We finally reached our limit and told him to take us back which he pretended not to understand. At that stage we paid the man and hailed a taxi to take us back where we started. Fixed price no meter. Another guidebook error. We paid twice as much as we should have and anded up where we starte 3 hours later. Of course by then we were exhausted hungry confused and the rain started coming down in buckets. Thanks to the guidebook and Lysa's navigation skills we found a restaurant and had a great meal. Somewhat revived we took the multifaceted transit system back. Our 2nd day was much more sucessful. We toured the Kings palace which was like a trip to Oz. We also visited the temple adjacent where the largest reclining Buddha resides. After strolling the amulet market we made our way home and ate another fantastic meal on the street in our neighborhood. We navigate the language barrier with pointing, shrugs, smiles, and naivete.

A Kindred Spirit

  The last day in Bangkok was consumed with figuring out how to get out. Our initial plan was to take the sleeper train north to Lampang. We went to the ticket office and were told with a shrug that the train wasn't running. We later found out that the rain we experienced caused flooding in the north. Oh well,adjusting our plans we went to the bus station and booked a 1st class sleeper there. One more great meal and we were on our way north. Lampang is a much smaller town known for it's temples and it's elephant conservation and rehab program which we will visit tomorrow. Our spirits and energy are starting to return,mostly(mine and Lysa's). Anika I think still wishes she was at home with her friends. She claims Bangkok was among the worst days of her life. She would prefer a wi fi connection and unlimited computer time. I keep reminding myself she is 13 and in a culture completely new to her. I am given many opportunities to practice Compassion, sometimes I succeed, sometimes I succumb.
    Lessons Learned: First impressions are just that , nothing more. Dont take the sleeper bus or train and expect to be functional the next day. Remain flexible and willing to change plans when circumstances require. Stay off the tuk-tuk to the lucky Buddha. Strangers approaching you have their own agenda, stay calm, smile, keep breathing.
 I am sending my Love home to you all, hotwater

Reflections on Kauai

Queens Bath, Kauai

We have been on the island of Kauai for two weeks now. The decision to start our trip here has proven to be very wise. We needed all this time to decompress from packing stress and take care of last minute travel details.
  Among the details I am most skeptical of is the amount of technology we are taking on this trip. We have been all over the world in the past with no more than a camera and address book. On this adventure we have decided to bring 2 cameras, 1 video camera, 2 e readers,an ipod touch, and a laptop. the amount of time we have spent so far maintaining this technological menagerie is absurd. I have had many moments of extreme desire to chuck it all(and I may still).
   That being said we have still found time to relax and explore this beautiful gem. We are here with our friends Paula and Ward who have a condo in Princeville on the North island. Having hosts who know their way around and are willing to share their favorite spots with us has been a dream. Mahalo! Among my personal favorites is the short walk from our place to Queens Bath. See picture. Queens Bath is a natural pool fed by the ocean. Small fish dart about as kids leap from the rocks above. On the way we passed a waterfall fed inlet and saw sea turtles munching the sea grass in the turbulent waters. I had a video of it but it was erased in one of many tech glitches. Other faves included a day snorkeling at tunnels beach where we saw a variety of colorful fish and coral, Hanalai bay and town, shave ice at wishing well, and the myriad of waterfalls fed by nightly rainfall.
   Anika celebrated her 13th birthday here as well! We enjoyed the day with shopping, Harry Potter, and a fantastic meal at Postcards in Hanalai. It it hard for me to wrap my head around having a teenage daughter but perhaps i will get used to it(or not). I will let you know in about 6 years.
   Besides playing with my touch I have been reading nightly from a book I picked up on the shelf of the local bakery for 2 bucks. It is "Awakening the Buddha Within" by Lama Surya Das(a white guy). Tibetan wisdom for the western world. If I was to embrace a religion it would probably be Buddhism. Not a lot of Dogma,personal reflection,etc. Putting it into everyday action is the challenge of course.

The pretty side of the family

  Well, thats about it for now. I have been having fun with my noise toy which I thought I broke but miraculously resurrected itself and keeping in touch with friends. if you like my Blog tell your friends. If you want to receive email updates sign on and enter your email address and click follow. Our family is having a friendly competition to see who can have the most followers(I am woefully behind). Be Well, Hotwater

Finally

saying goodbye

My sticker 

We are finally on our way! After years of fantasizing and planning our adventure in the world has begun. We are now on the island of Kauaii,having arrived yesterday. We will be here two weeks to recouperate from the big push to leave our other world behind. I had not realized how much we accumulate stuff until I started the process of eliminating it! I took at least 10 truck loads to the dump and know I wont miss any of it. I am making the commitment to live a simpler less cluttered life from this moment forward. The photo is on the beach in Santa Cruz with friends saying goodbye. Thanks to Karuna for organizing. Things I will miss besides my friends are disc golf, dancing at dance church and 5 rythms yoga with Kelly and Phoenix, this years Burningman(big), Well Within Spa(my former business),and making things in my garage. Speaking of making things, the last thing i made was a musical toy which I am taking with us around the world. It is an electric Kalimba with built in amp,speaker, and bent distorter circuit. My only concern is airport security suspecting it is a bomb of some kind. So far so good. Of course my family has its own concerns having endured the noise of other toys I created. This one though has an amazing range of sounds some of which even they can tolerate!

      I want to express my deep Love and appreciation to all of the people who have made this year possible. A big thank you goes to Eric at Well Within for being the right person at just the right time. Of course none of this would be happening without the constant visionary prodding from Lysa. I have created a theme for this trip which is "Obey the Awe!" Appologies to Shepard Fairy. With encouragement from Anika, we both had stickers made which I will use as gifts and calling cards along the way. Expect to see photos of them around the world on our adventure. Thats all for now, David aka hotwater

practice

Here is another piece of art that Lysa and I constructed from beach detritus. Mostly I am posting for practice. I finally got the visa papers into the post. The Thai consulate makes you jump through the hoops to stay longer than 30 days. We showed our house to a number of interested people on Mon. and Tues. We submitted an ad to craigs list and this time we received plenty of real interest. Knowing that task is near completion is a relief. Next task, buy tickets to South America tomorrow

conflicted

heart traveler

OK,can I start by saying how much I am looking forward to spending a year travaling with my family around the world? Now I must admit I also have my reservations, anxious moments, and outright terror at the prospects of traveling with my family for a year. My life in Santa Cruz by practically any measure is ideal. I LOVE my life here. I have fantastic friends,meaningful work as the ex spa owner, plenty of stimulating interests etc. Santa Cruz is a beautiful Ca. beach town that people from all over visit. So why the hell am I saying good by for a year? There is something calling me(and her name is Lysa). Yes Lysa is the prime motivating factor in making this trip a reality. It has been her dream for many years. Before I met Lysa I wasnt much of a traveler at all. I would take the occasional trip but not nearly to the extent we do as a family. Lysa has opened my eyes to the world and I can not look away. I tend to trust my instincts when making decisions.Generally it has worked out(a few setbacks along the way). Lysa was one of the best choices of my life and I have learned over time to listen to her suggestions, including this one. There you have it. Am I excited? yes. Will I miss Santa Cruz? yes. Will I MISS BURNINGMAN? YES!(have fun without me). Will we have our own fantastic adventures? YES.   Plenty to do this week to prepare. Showing the house, visa apps, pak shopping, insurance buying,tickets,work stuff. Thank you to anyone reading this entry. In peace,hotwater   PS the photo is an art project Lysa and I did from found objects while on Spring break in the Baja

so much to do

OK, here is today's list of to dos...1. finalize what kind of trip insurance we want to have. I am not a insurance fan but acknowledge that a certain amount is prudent. We will probably get some bundle that includes emergency medical and trip cancellation. Also we will keep in place our coverage at home(i think). 2. Send passports to the Thai embassy for tourist visa extensions as we will be there longer than 30 days. 3.Check in with our ticketing guy re. S America tickets. Is machu Pichu in Jan. a bad idea? Lots of rain we hear. 4. Check messages re. renting our home for the year,very critical. 5. Make appt. with bank to set up online banking etc. Whew, just writing this list is making me tired. I think I will take a nap. When I get my next lesson in computers from Anika I will attempt to post some photos from our trip to baja for Spring break. Until then, keep the peace flowing, hotwater

FIRST POST

With the help of my daughter, Anika I am now posting for the first time! We have about 6 weeks till our departure and a shitload of work to do.(does anyone want to rent our home?) Our first stop is Kauii,leaving July 17. Then on to Thailand, Bali,Japan, New Zealand. Whew, I'm already tired. If you all out there in the bloggosphere have any must sees please let me know. I am still contemplating an overarching theme for this year away. I am thinking about "everyday acts of compassion". I am looking forward to being moved,opening my heart and spending time with my family. As I progress I hope to make this site visual and hopefully entertaining. In Peace, hotwater