Zen Out!

After the cool, green mountains I found myself on a tropical beach, with a bunch of cool Ashtanga yogis. And where's Ashtanga, there's always Finns too. So I was able to speak my native language again after a couple of months break. Ashtanga Lanka is a yoga center located on a southern beach, with beautiful garden where colorful flowers are blooming, squirrels, bright green lizards and birds are hopping around, together with some occasional monkeys. What a place!

I thought I started my Ashtanga practice slowly. But my anxious mind wanted me to do more than my body was able to do. I burst into tears in a middle of my practice when I felt the pain in my lower back, so strong that I couldn't move. I cried out my frustration and disappointment. I was angry at myself, why haven't I kept up the practice to keep my muscles strong. I also felt sad, wondering if  this is it, I have to give up Ashtanga and do something else instead.

Strong pain killers, day off, resting, talks with other yogis and plenty of delicious Sri Lankan food made me feel better. I am taking this experience as an opportunity to learn. I want to listen to my body and keep to Ahimsa... Find my inner teacher. I don't know yet how I will or will I not continue Ashtanga asana practice in some form. But I trust that everything happens for a reason.

 

Zen out, sisters and brothers!

How can these toes ever fit into office shoes again?

No yoga practice on Full Moon days

Fresh coconut to start the day

Casey Palmer, our Ashtanga teacher from Oregon, US

The Tea Hills

I met some great people again. I hung around with John, Maxim, Stephanie, Matt... all born that year I first started traveling, late 80's... Those guys were all so cool, and I didn't feel myself old with them at all - traveling makes you feel young! And who says I'm old anyways! :-)

I had some nice walks in the tea hills, interesting tea factory visits, scenery train trips and crazy bus rides. I stayed in family houses and ate some delicious home made Sri Lankan dishes, as curd and honey, rice hoppers, samosas and kotthu roti. Nice change from that rice and noodles diet I had had for some time already.

I could have easily spent more time in the mountains, where the air is fresh, nights cool and life relaxed, but I wanted to move on to the south coast, to see the sea and sun.

LankanStyle

I loved Sri Lanka right from that first moment I arrived Colombo airport. Somebody said Sri Lanka is like India, without the annoyances of India, only the best parts... I had already started to miss India, so this is what I needed now.

The last leg of my journey (before the next one...) has started. Sri Lankan people are super friendly, the landscape is spectacular and the culture is rich and diverse. Food is great and traveling on this small tear shaped island seems to be relatively easy. What else do you need?

Sri Lanka (former Ceylon) is a land of elephants. You can see them wild in the islands many national parks but sometimes they also walk on the roads. I visited an Elephant orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild elephants. They seemed to be well looked after.

Sri Lanka is also a land of tea. It is one of the leading tea producers of the world. It is sold under the Ceylon tea brand. Sri Lankan people normally like their black tea strong, with milk and sugar. I like the black tea here when it is not too strong, without milk or sugar. But I still prefer light and sweetish green or silver tea, sometimes fine oolong tea. Or sometimes fuller, malty gunpowder green tea. And absolutely no fruits or flavours added. Yes, I am a tea freak.

Roses To My Mom

I am sending these flowers to my mother, wishing her to get well. Hyvää vointia äiti!

Caka New Year 1935

After all that rain I was after sun! When my flight arrived to Bali, I took immediately another flight to Lombok. It was raining. I traveled through Lombok, and finally found myself on a small island just outside Lombok. It was sunny and dry, good food and laid back people. My bed was comfy like at home, I had a hot shower, got all my clothes washed, went snorkeling and swam with turtles. How lovely is that! 

I was lucky to be able to witness a Lombok Wedding ceremony and after that experience a Balinese New Year. Ogoh-ogoh, giant monster puppets, were carried along the main streets and at the end they were torched, a symbolic act of destroying all the negative and demonic elements of the universe. When the flames died out, the people in Bali were ready for the total silence that marks the new beginning. 

The total silence, called Nyepi, means that the next day and following night people are not allowed to go outside their homes or hotels and have any lights on. Even the hotel workers had to stay in a hotel. That also meant that all shops and restaurants were closed, there were no transportation in or out of Bali. No TV or Internet connection. So there I was, in a Balinese hotel, had a New Years dinner in March, glad I had a flash light. How would that work in our western life? 

After that relaxing day of silence I flew in and out Jogyakarta in Java Island. It is said that the world biggest Buddhist monument is a must see as well as some other sights. But, I found myself quite soon wandering around the tradition markets and the side streets. I am more impressed by people than monuments. 

During all these years I have been fortunate to explore beautiful Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples in Asia, Maya temples in South America, mosques in Muslim countries, Chinese temples, woodoo temples in Africa, cathedrals in Europe... So I guess after some time you just get "templed out". 

I am grateful to have met new great people again. I shared the excitement and also the angst of traveling in Timor with Michael. Good luck with your unique cafe concept in New York! I will come and check it out. I danced bare feet with Laurie in Lombok. Hey Girl, you really got some positive energy! 

I wish all the best to the young German couple who were recovering from a motorbike accident in Gili T. I had great time with Elsa and Lorraine, exploring the wonders of Yogyakarta. We felt like movie stars after all those "may I interview you please" and "can I take a picture of you". Our pictures must be on quite many Indonesian FB pages. Safe travels to both of you!

Be Like A Child

No worries, yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not here yet. Smile to the strangers, ask questions, play, see, hear, feel. Break the routines, take risks, make mistakes, learn. Have fun.

Amazing Atauro

Just couple of days on the island of Atauro in Timor Leste felt like a week. Dolphins swam and  jumped next to the boat, like welcoming to this remote and beautiful place. I stayed in a simple hut which to my surprise and delight didn't blow away in a tropical storm. I met many of the islands friendly people just by walking along the road, they always stopped to smile and say "Bom Dia". It is hard to believe that this paradise island used to be a prison not so long time ago.

I had a great snorkeling with Danish dive instructor Jens Peter from Compass Charter's. As an inexperienced in water sports, I felt completely safe with Jens, even though his Australian-Danish accent was sometimes hard to understand... :-). The reefs are so intact, and some are just there to walk from the beach, you just have to watch out not to step on the bright red sea stars.

Independent Timor Leste

Viva a Republica Democratica de Timor Leste! Viva o Poro de Timor Leste Livree Independence! Just ten years ago Timor Leste (East Timor) became independent, but only two months ago the UN Peace keeping forces left the country.

Timor Leste is very different to any other Asian country, people  speak Portuguese and Tetum, the official currency is US dollars and the main religion is Roman Catholic. Population is only one million. Many NGOs are here to help the new country, rebuilding the infrastructure destroyed and damaged in years of war and struggle. Tourism doesn't exist yet.

Transportation Troubles

"Hooolyyy shittt!" comes unwillingly from my mouth quite many times. A Muslim man next to me on a plane stares at me after a bumpy landing. People on a bus start laughing at my whining. A motor bike driver just keeps speeding when I yell "Hati-Hati", carefully! The traffic is crazy but both people and animals seem to be carefree. Where else do you see kids running on the runway behind the plane when your plane is taking off?

My unforgettable and scary bus ride from West Timor to East Timor took two days. My next transportation mode will be a boat tomorrow. I hope that the cyclone that has been over Indonesia has gone for now.

Buses are normally full both inside and outside

You can buy snacks on the way, peanuts, dried bananas, donuts, dried fish,  cooked  eggs

Landslides are common. You can either wait or walk to the other side and try take another bus or a car.

This was an unlucky trip. My bus drove off the road, luckily in the village road and not in the steep mountain slopes. Nobody got seriously hurt. I only got some bruises and small cuts.

Next day I changed to another bus and met a East Timorese famous politician, Jesus, who will become a president candidate 2022 in Timor Leste