Au revoir!

We're about to get on the train for Agen, where we will catch a bus to Condom. Ted will pick us up and bring us to his organic farm where we plan to stay for the next 10 days. I've managed to get a ton of planning and confirmations done for our later rail journeys and accommodations, which is ideal, because I'm not relying on having any internet access on the farm. Feeling a tad nauseas from spending a couple of thousand of bucks in the last three hours though.

Au Revoir!

Incredible Switzerland!

Tantra has absolutely gone beyond my expectations and what I could have asked for, and Amber and I have been having extraordinary sex as a result. The day after we had arrived Amber was thrilled to discover from me that our previous lovemaking the night before was my best ever! I am being very careful in how I attempt to explain the deep processes of my experience and what goes on at this workshop during these few days, knowing full well that words fail miserably to convey the wondrous spiritual transformation I underwent. My attempt at describing my experience is not so important anymore as I know my being will speak for itself. I miss the family I have made at Lutzelfluh however, and am sad that I have to return to the world who have not yet had this astonishing experience. Real transformation is lasting, and only time will tell. I do not want to forget.

Today Sonya took us up to a mountain restaurant for an incredible lunch. We did a bit of a hike to work up an appetite and took some amazing photos. This place is gorgeous and I have been completely swept off my feet by its splendor and peacefulness. By far the most beautiful town I've ever been to.

On the left is the restaurant where we had our lunch.

Coming down the mountain towards the end of the hike.

Flowers

We settled in for lunch after hiking for about 45 minutes at a fancy restaurant with a great view. The menu was in french so Sonja had to do the translating. Things are very expensive here and the most expensive meal was a steak at SF$50 (NZ$75-ish), which I was very tempted to try. I decided to go for the more exotic option of rabbit, and 6 snails as an entree. I have not had either before. The snails tasted absolutely divine, and the rabbit was fleshy - Good, but I don't think I'd care to have it again. I also ate most of the Venison Amber ordered, she really didn't like the gooey texture. Sonya ordered risotto with scallops. I'd have snail again. Sonya has been an absolutely wonderful host while we've been here and I was glad to pay for her meal.

Sonya translating the menu for us.

Eating snails!

After lunch, we Sonya provided mountain bikes which I thoroughly enjoyed riding mostly downhill back to La Chables (where our house is). On the way, we stopped at Stu's on the way down the mountain (a friend we had met the night before at a group dinner) and he showed us around his fabulous home that we built/renovated. I am totally inspired by his creation! I'd love to build my own one day.

Appreciating Stu's beautiful door made out of raw wood.

Stu's balcony.

Great view!

Finally, on the last leg of our eye-opening downhill cycle, I decided to try our the video function of our Lumix camera. I got over 7 minutes of riding and wished I had thought of it sooner as the view when we started up the top was breathtaking. This turned our great though - I strapped the safety cord around my right wrist and held the camera with my fingers over my right handle-bar. Viewing the video back at the house for the first time reminded me that this camera has an anti-shock function that reduces bumps and jerks specially for footage like this one. I'll remember to try it next time. In the meantime, enjoy!

Kinks in Blogger's video upload function

so I've posted it on FB.

A snippet of my experience - Mystic Tantra, Switzerland.

I find myself wading in dark blue waters. I am a but a single drop of water dropping into a vast, infinite ocean. I bathe in it, consciously choosing to experience All of life; its entire spectrum: profound sadness, joy, happiness, pain. I am allowed. I am allowed to witness. I am present. No judgements, simply present to exist as the other. To see as if the other. To experience of the other. How can I love but one, when all are of the same essence, and all feel as all feel? You are all my children, and I love all of you equally. I am the breath of God, a fusion of spirit and nature; where heaven meets the earth. I am love. I see; I feel; I Am.

I am allowed.

My "Past Life Regression," London.

I am lying down and begin to be aware of my breath. I imagine that I see a large house out in the country. I am led into this house and see myself at the top of ten wide and safe steps leading downwards to the large front door. As Doug (the therapist) counts down from 10, I am to follow his lead and take each step down towards the door, feeling 10% more relaxed with each passing step. At the bottom I open the door and see a large space with trees and grass and a fountain. I walk toward the fountain and Doug suggests I find a chair. I sit and look up into the bright day sky. I see many clouds and notice a distinct one larger than the rest coming toward me. It engulfs me and whips me up into the sky moving back towards the house of whenst I came. I pick up speed, moving faster and faster. Following Doug's suggestion, I am asked to recollect a past life.

Darkness.. silence.

Doug asks me to look at my feet. I see a scrawny pair, naked from the waist down. I stand in a dark room and the floor seems/feels grimy under my feet. I try to see what is around me and I imagine reaching out with my left hand touching a cold, stoney wall through the darkness. I find a similar wall on the left. Everything is very dark, but I make out a passageway/corridor and follow it. I see light coming from the top left of my hindered vision, walk up stairs leading to it, and open an underground cellar type door allowing myself to be bathed in sunlight. My eyes have not adjusted, and I can only make out the bottom of tree trunks and grass that surround the cellar doors. This is one point in many where I doubt my regressive 'experience.' Doug presses onwards. "What is going on now?" or "What do you see?" I imagine myself standing on the higher steps of the cellar with my waist above ground level. It takes many moments to try to see my surroundings, doubt and skepticism reigning over my thought processes. With much difficulty I step out of the cellar and start running towards the trees. At this point, I step out of my "body" and see myself as an 'art dummy' in a running stance. When asked, I interpreted this to mean a sort of tabula rasa (blank canvas) for my life.

Darkness.. silence.

Doug prompts me to go to another past life. I vaguely see the top part of an arch. It's greyish-white and made from big chunks of lumpy stone. I walk through it and find a large sqauare space/room/chamber. It has similar archways on the opposite side, right and left. 3 or 4 steps leading down to a lower level with a raised circular basin/container with clear blue water. I look into the basin and I think I see a light-haired female in the reflection. I look down and see on my body a thick brown robe/skirt, and think that I must be a nun or priest of some sort in a monastary because the space I am in is imbued with a deep sense of peace. I dip my right hand in the water and move it gently back and forth, making a serene sound with the waves it produces. I walk around the basin once and when nothing happens, attempt to walk through the archway on the right. I am unable to do this and feel that I'm not supposed to.

Upon suggestion, I am brought back to the life-end point of my first past life - scrawny man running into forest. I see a wooden texture in front of me, it's dark. I reach out to feel it. I am lying in a coffin, but am not dead. Doug asks me to go to the final moment of this life. I struggle and find no experiences arising. Even though a normal reaction of being alive in a buried coffin would freak anyone out, my breathing was normal and there was no sign of panic. Maybe in this life I knew that the life-force never dies, and that there was nothing to fear. Or that this imagining was completely artificially made up by my mind with obviously nothing to fear. I wasn't sure.

The longer I stayed "under," the more frustrated I got. Doug attempts several other methods and questions to keep the session moving, but I only got more uncomfortable and frustrated. I wanted to just sit up and end the session as I had had enough.

I came away from this experience initially discouraged. I had come into this hoping to substatiate and confirm my suspicions of reincarnation and perhaps rediscover some explainations of my personality. Instead, I felt no relief from the "therapy." I felt like I was creating my experiences more than recollecting memories of past lives. Plans to study hypnosis and past life regression therapy in Singapore in august is thwarted because of my own underwhelming experience. At this point, I am uninspired and it would be inauthentic for me to pursue this avenue of alternative healing as a profession. But when one door shuts, another opens..

Blog du Paris.

So we were supposed to leave for Zurich today, but because we have been feeling really travel weary and dis-organised, we've decided to stay in Paris for 2 more days! Yesterday we paid for our Eurorail tickets and booked our trip to Zurich by rail for monday at 1:13PM. This two extra days will allow us to see the Palace of Versailles (just outside Paris), and Crazyhorse. We decided against Moulin Rouge after reviewing online ratings and comments. http://www.lecrazyhorseparis.com/

We're walking all over Paris! Check out these snapshots - most need no introduction..

Sacre Coeur is located in Montmartre, just behind Caroline's apartment. This is the first major landmark we see and recommended by Reg. It's a very impressive basilica with lots of gargoyles. Located in the north and on top of a hill, it overlooks Paris:

 Standing on the basilica steps overlooking Paris on a cloudy and damp thursday.

We make our way towards the heart of Paris and look what we find! 

(I planned this, of course.)

 We decided against going into Pompidou museum (houses modern art) as we had already been in MoMA, NYC a few days earlier. Besides, we were already impressed enough by the queue that had formed that looked as long as the Great Wall of China.

Seine River. 

Notre Dame Cathedral

We caught this guy jerking off walking along the Seine River. No shame!

Louvre Museum. We had planned to visit this museum but Amber was not so keen (she had visited before in her 20s) and I was not too fussed. Besides, the "Great Wall of China" had formed in front of this entrance too. It houses three of Amber's favorite art pieces - The Mona Lisa, Venus De Milo and Nike aka The Victory of Samothrace.

Arch De Triumph honors those who have fought for France, especially during the Napoleonic wars. The names of Generals and wars that were fought are inscribed on the walls of the arch. Underneath lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

We've not been able to use the 'Velib' to travel around town. Apparently you need a local bank card as a deposit to use it and we haven't bothered to find out how to get around doing this yet. So we've been walking everywhere. It's no wonder why we're so tired all the time. It's good to be fit, though.

The Eiffel Tower is pretty impressive up close, although it looks like it's made up of rusty iron. After all that walking around Paris, the last thing I wanted to do was to pay to go up this monstrosity. Now I can say I've been here! Amber's second time.

We found staying at Caroline's convenient and liked the character of the northern district, however she couldn't accommodate us for another two days as she had another guest arriving. So I looked up Hotel Richmond located just outside Gare Du Nord Station (which is convenient) and a 5 minute walk to Gare L'est - where we catch the train to Zurich on Monday noon. But tomorrow, we go to Versailles and watch a cabaret! 

We're in Paris!

So much has happened and we have just had no time to update our blogs. We arrived on the Eurostar into Paris' Gare Du Nord this morning at 11AM and walked to Caroline's apartment about a 20 minute walk. I found Caroline's ad on and B&B website which was among the more affordable options. I wouldn't usually opt for a "shared" apartment, but this is Paris, and it is really expensive here. Besides, I figure we're only here for 2 nights, will spend most of our time out and about, and we might make a new friend in Paris.

Caroline's a french fashion designer and lives in a small and stylish apartment in Montmartre - strategically chosen as is close to the international railway, and a "velib" downstairs. Velib is Paris' answer to alternate local transportation. Automated bicycle rental stations throughout Paris for pedestrians to use. What a great idea! I love it.

So we've had lunch at a cafe Caroline had suggested, and walked Boulevard De Clichy (LOTS of sex shops) and where Moulin Rouge is located. We've found another cafe, ordered coffee and where I'm writing this blog - Cafe De Luna. Feeling pretty travel weary, we're wondering if we are doing too much. Our Europe journey has only just begun!

Itinerary for Paris:

1. Moulin Rouge
2. Louvre Museum
3. Use the 'Velib' to see Eiffel Tower and Arch De Triumph

I hope I didn't miss anything!?

New York nostalgia.

Wow, we've made it to May! It's been almost 4 months since we've left New Zealand. We've seen Los Angeles, Costa Rica, Washington DC, Philadelphia, North Carolina, Hampton and New York. Now we're in London.

We landed in Heathrow airport early yesterday morning at 6am and took the 'tube' right across London to Walthamstow Central, where Charlotte, with her baby, picked us up. Her husband, Brendon (also known as "Silks") is a friend of Amber's and has kindly offered us their home while we're here. The train ride took just over an hour and a half and I had an interesting ride through central London people watching at rush hour.

I feel so much more at ease commuting here compared to LA, Costa Rica or New York. Our immigration process was uneventfully smooth and I found using the subway convenient and comfortable - save for an announcement to subway passengers to not leaving personal belongings lying around unattended and to be on the lookout for suspicious looking "packages" over the intercom. Fear (largely due to terrorism) is not as palpable here then it was in New York city. People do not seem as afraid of each other too. This reminded me of Michael Moore's thought provoking 'Bowling for Columbine' we watched in New York describing how America breeds a culture of fear through gun control (or lack thereof). Barack certainly has his work cut out for him!

Anyway, I sit here in this English living room at 230AM having slept most of the day recovering from my flight. I've just spent an uncomfortable amount of money booking the Eurostar into France, accommodation in Paris, and the Moulin Rouge on friday night. But before another day dawns, I want to show you the rest of our photos we took in New York, starting with..

 Ground Zero Museum was very emotional. Located several blocks north of the site itself, it took under two hours to watch the video, and view the items salvaged from the debris on display. The tour is told from the perspective of Gary Suson, the only official photographer at Ground Zero for FDNY (firemen) who was allowed unrestricted access to document every phase of the recovery.

It was conducted by the tour guide very professionally and I enjoyed the experience. The part that most got to me from the entire tour though, was when Gary instinctively found from under some debris, a page from the bible. Highlighted in yellow by the previous owner of the Tower of Babylon. According to the biblical account, the people decided their city should have a tower so immense that it would have "its top in the heavens." However the Tower of Babel wasn't built for the worship of Jesus but instead dedicated to the glory of man. The Book of Genesis then relates how God was displeased and "scattered the people throughout the earth" (Geneisis 11:5-8).

 Window remnants. All but less than 1% of glass from the Twin Towers were recovered. 

Most disintegrated into powder from the extreme heat.

Running along Manhattan's West Side, the HIGH LINE is a very cool walkway built over old railway tracks. We really enjoyed havng lunch here and being the this very sophisticated series of spaces. http://www.thehighline.org/

We walked close to 40 blocks (over an hour) up to Museum of Modern Art. On friday nights they have Target sponsored free entry nights between 4pm -8pm so we decided to take full advantage of this opportunity which would otherwise cost us US$20 each.  There was a 'special event' which completely wierded me out! Marina Abramovic's performances were shocking and bizarre. It felt like I had entered the twilight zone! We saw nude men lying face down on a field humping the floor, a very attractive naked woman exposed on a bare white wall being elevated by merely two ledges (one for each foot) and what seemed to be a single bicycle seat protruding from under her crotch, and a man and a woman, also naked, facing and looking into each other's eyes about a foot apart. To experience this 'performance' visitors were to walk in between these artists to continue into the room beyond. Amber and I didn't do it. The male artist's unerect penis was at least 5 inches long and I had no desire to risk brushing it on the way through as so many had done so before. http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/marinaabramovic/marina_exhibition.html

There is so much more to write about NYC and we're already in France! I'm going to have to figure out how to fit in another blog about our friends in Brooklyn before telling you our adventures in Paris.

Cain must stop murdering Abel.

We don't know how to live, and are destroying the world while doing it, is Ishmael's message. I found this book exceptionally important, it's ideas and interpretation of the biblical accounts of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel relevant to global issues such as global warming and extinction. Relief washed over me from finally finding relevant, sensible and meaningful interpretations of a book (the bible) which, so i've been told, contain 'wise and practical' information for living. 

Being raised by a very devoted Christian mother and in church every week on sunday when I was a child has left me with many unresolved questions about who and what God is. Largely, I've never found going to church meaningful and I've always wondered what it all meant. Today, being a little more experienced and educated, I find myself more inclined toward the non-sectarian spiritual practice of silence in meditation, not tainted by custom and dogma. If there is a God, or divine being, this to me seems the sensible path to find Him with. Even so, small traces of guilt from childhood pester me. Is Jesus really the ONLY way to heaven? Will I go to hell? Are all other religions false? More and more I find these questions central in my life, and that everything else is secondary, even inconsequential. Brought up in a modern and technologically driven culture, I've never felt like I 'fit'. I'm an only child with affluent parents and have it relatively easy, but I've never been driven to join the 'rat race' or felt any worldly inclinations to accumulate and 'be successful.' What's it all for?

Cain is still killing Able today, and you'll have to read Ishmael to fully understand what this means for yourself. What a great read!

Ishmael

Digesting a bite out of the Big Apple.

I am having such a great time!

Yesterday, we took the subway into town and spent half the day exploring the American Museum of Natural History. http://www.amnh.org/ We bought lunch at a typical New York food stand and had it on the grass in Central Park. As it got dark, we walked down to Times Square and found ourselves mesmerized by New York City's palpable vibrant atmosphere. The weather was fantastic, I didn't want to come home.

Today we're going to spend the day more introspectively at home. I'm going to fully get into Ishmael. Also, Paul and Gina have let us used our bikes so we'll get out and see a little more of Brooklyn later this afternoon. We'll head back into the city tomorrow to check out the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) http://www.moma.org/ and the Empire State Building, among others.

What a wonderful life.

New York City!

We're back at Paul's and Steve's in Brooklyn, New York. We spent all day yesterday (sunday) driving up from Hampton, which took us 9 hours. We stopped for lunch at Bob Evans at had a bountiful American meal - at an affordable price! So satisfied with the meal and service, I even decided to leave a tip (I usually don't).

It was great for us to spend time with Melissa! We got to Hampton on friday night and we arranged to meet her in front of Target after work at 5:30pm. We put our stuff down at her apartment, and went for dinner at a Thai restaurant. On saturday we decided against seeing the cultural attractions because everything was at least 30 minutes away by car, and opted to watch a movie instead. Oceans - what a spectacular movie, and backed by a great message (environmental awareness). I find so much evidence of human indifference toward the state of our environmental situation, it seems like all our measures to counter these effects are ineffectual, and feel that what's needed is a shift in consciousness on an individual level. Insight, wisdom and compassion are qualities that are intentionally developed and not fleeting feelings of emotion that overwhelm us from time to time. The result of our ignorance and indifference is demonstrated in our current global issues and each single individual is entirely responsible for that manifestation. If you want to change the world, change yourself!

Melissa got a job here at NASA as an atmospheric scientist, really enjoys it, and is up to her eyeballs with work. Despite this she has spent all her time with us while we are visiting, pays for all our meals, and the tickets for the movie! So Amber and I decide to cook dinner on saturday night (Singapore chicken rice - yum!). Man, it tastes like the real thing! And all that from a packet! She gives us another packet for the road, and we decide to cook for Paul and Steve tonight when they get back from work. Love it!

Thank you, Melissa! I found the weekend was extremely positive and am looking forward to crossing paths again in the future! We love you!