jandals and earthquakes

I have just emerged from my first class.. and I survived it! Really the survival is more social than academic. I won't say I am the OLDEST person here at u of Canterbury,  but I am   experiencing the visual phenomenon of freshmen looking like middle schoolers.    And the are a LOT of "freshers". (Pronounced: frehshahs)

The library at university of Canterbury.  It is 12 stories high! 

                                                             
When I awoke  this morning I felt no nerves about the first day of school.  Now,  immersed amongst the many munchkins I feel old and gnarled as the wicked witch of the west. And even more uncomfortably,  quite conscious of the fact that I am sensitive to, and caring about, how I am perceived. These are all feelings that didn't come up for a few years,  as the unm taos branch campus is 1) miniscule and 2) mostly inhabited by adult students.  So,  this is not what I was expecting (for whatever reason), yet I can't reason through it and be surprised.

Optimistic first day of school breakfast.

Slightly dejected after class lunch.

A few other cultural adjustments,  small and large:

-jandals.  They are also occasionally called thongs.  And they are not allowed in the physics lab.      
-quake danger.  We don't do fire drills;  we do earthquake drills.
-the mustache and only a mustache style is not "in" (favoured man styling is the man bun with short clipped undercut)


My schedule is rather full with about 3 one hr lectures per day and it seems that my excursions will soon be limited to  weekends.  Still,  I have my bike and the nearby parks are a great place for yoga and meditation.

Yoga schedule at the gym. 

Yesterday I went to Akaroa, this beautiful wild reserve,  for a hike.  My roommate and I split from the group of 30 for a 1.5hr hike down to the ocean.  Along the way we enjoyed the yarrow, waterfalls and blackberries.  As we got lower in elevation and closer to the sea we began to hike through herds of some of the cutest sheep in existence.

Yellow-forelocked sheep en route to the ocean. At this point we could hear sounds from both ocean and sheep.

Here the farmers mark their flocks by dyeing their forelocks different colors.  We saw the yellow and the green farmers.

Fern gullies abound

This tree has lived my lifespan more than 23 times over! 

Due to the locked Sim card on my phone and a wifi-less dorm life,  I am living a life significantly less attached to technology. This of course presents blessings and challenges.  Overall though,  I am spending more time doing fun things and less time blurred in a computer.  Henna, yoga, reading, cooking,  and meaningful (literal) face time getting to know my 4 female roommates are the best perks of putting down my phone.

Practicing henna on patient Nareh's shoulder

And I provide a very accessible canvas as well.

Ps the book I am reading is The Tiger's Wife, and I recommend it!

Peace friends!

1 week in Christchurch

7 days

2 am will mark my official first week in NZ. It has been school orientation jam packed with student friendly events.  But the most exciting day this week was the day I got my new bike!  I can already soar no hands down the bike lane with minimal swerving÷ (don't worry- christchurch has a helmet law). Adjusting to the "opposite" roads has required dedicated focus but it is becoming second nature.  (When crossing the road look right, then left).

The town is beautifully peppered with obscure plants that seem neither palm tree nor pine. All the greenery paired with smooth bike lanes and vast parks makes for a very habitable feel.

Said greenery creatimg said habitable feeling reading spot. This is on campus but there are plenty of parks with the same green happy happy joy joy. 

The biggest shock is the sticker shock.  Prices at the natural grocer,  which I ventured 45 minutes by bike to find,
Absolutely blew my mind!  The yogi tea which is so wonderful and tasty costs double what it does in new mexico.  I guess island life is more expensive than landlocked.

Rice and beans is not a cheap meal here. 

Christchurch is called "Quake City" owing to the 2011 earthquake that rocked the whole city center.  Construction workers are well employed all across the town.  Many buildings have beautiful,  colorful graffiti.

A building under construction in Christchurch after the 2011 quakes. 

Aside from exploring beaches,  trails,  and shopping from the two wheels of my sleek pony Black Beauty,  a highlight has been learning to roll sushi from my Japanese roommate.  The yellow pieces are pickled radishes. .. a tart addition to contrast the savory seaweed wrapping.  YUM.

Final product

Ingredient prep

Tomorrow and a week from tomorrow I am going or with the University ofCanterbury on a tramping excursion.  Don't get too excited: tramping is just the kiwi word for hiking! Tomorrow I will go to Hinawei reserve, which is in the Akaroa region-- reputed to be one of the prettiest parts of the Canterbury region. The week after I will go to the popular tramping spots of Mt Isabel and Hanmer.    

So tonight I will rest up for my hike tomorrow. I discovered the film section in the library and will watch a NZ indie film called Boy. Heard of it?

Aroha nui! (Much loooovvveee!)

Kia Ora - Welcoming Day

Kia ora friends! This is the aloha of NZ.  Can be used as: what's up, hey, thanks, please, hi, bye, wishing you good health, and blessings.

Today is my third in Christchurch.  The first was such an exhausted blur that I can't remember what I did aside from grocery shop. Yesterday was more eventful with a trip to bridlepath hike, which brought me and two of my roommates to a spectacular Vista: on one side we witnessed a turquoise bay; on the other was the whole flat of christchurch,  which is shouldered between mountains and ocean.

Top of Bridlepath trail. The trail system here seems incredibly accessible.

It is dry here. Yesterday, listening to one of the albums I had on nearly constant repeat last fall in Taos brought me riiight back.  (Album: To Be Still by Alela Diane)

Kind of like Taos, kind of not... as my good friend would say, "same same but different"

Mullein- a plant that is not only familiar but a favorite!

I'm glad to be living in a nice bluebird day today.  Currently I am on the bus to the beach.  Soundtrack: Animal Collective's ' super sparkly happy chill song What Would I Want? Sky.

How apt!

   Today the international students (that's me!) were given a beautiful orientation.  My favorite part was the petting zoo at the end. I got to hold a week and a half old sand colored goat named Rose. She fell asleep right in my arms. . It's a wonder I didn't melt right into the new zealand soil then and there!

(You can take a girl out of the farm but you can't take the farm out of the girl)

not NZ. Missing scenes like this one from Southern Colorado.

  Yesterday I was feeling the blues.  Despite my really great, scenic adventure, I couldn't help but feel that this culture is a bit cold and regimented. Everywhere I looked were scowls and super serious faces.  But today seems so much sunnier.  Perhaps it's just like taos where when we get sun all is dandy,  and we get so accustomed to our regular doses of vitamin D that when it's gone we are just a depressed,  helpless bunch.

Nothing like a beach session to keep the doctor away.

÷Kia Ora÷

The 'Getting To'... Again

The process of getting to New zealand.  Sometimes we rush around trying so hard to get somewhere, that we forget to just be where we are, when we are.

It's 5:00 pm in Sydney. The international terminal is soothingly quiet, which helps to quell my unease about the Big Changes of travel.

At the Honolulu airport this morning, a security worker remarked that "girl, you're a long way from home and going even further!"  Truth.

The taxi driver who brought me to the Honolulu airport this morning was super concerned for my well-being when he discovered that I am traveling as a single lady. He compassionately put his hand on my gargantuan bag as if it were my own back, looked me in the eyes, and invoked me to "be careful of yourself.... at every moment."

There is so much love and compassion in this world.

Last evening I took a little puddle jumper jet between maui and the big island; when I got to my hotel I was informed by the security guard that my name was not on the list and he couldn't let me in my room. I was just starting to feel ill, certainly tired,  and feeling very alone.  He informed me that the procedure was to get someone to come from the main office to unlock my room,  but it would be another 20 minutes and 45 dollars.  Frustrated,  I couldn't help but cry.  He was not in the position to help solve this dilemma,  but he was so incredibly compassionate! He started to shed a few tears himself and told me he hates to see people cry.
He is accustomed to being verbally berated when this sort of thing happens. It was really comforting to feel that despite things not going my way, there is always love and human compassion out there.

After the lockout incident I began to feel The Chills. Bad. The overheating. A bit of nausea... you know the rest! It was 1 am and my taxi was coming in less than 4 hours to bring me to my great NZ travels! What a drag. I drew up plans to delay flight, blah blah blah.
But in the end I pulled through. The taxi ride was a challenge, and so was waiting in line at airport security, but after I got into the airport and had a chance to walk around I started to feel much better.

Now it's 12 hours since I have been in Hawaii. It is so hard to leave such a heavenly place. Especially when the very last day there I got to ride a horse down to the ocean for a burger!

On the ride to the beach. The white stones are washed up coral, contrasted against the black lava rock from the last explosion in 1790.

Life in the saddle is my favorite kind.

This horse's name was Beauty. I am by association, 'The Beast'. You can call me that.

Alas, new adventures and new friends await. Thrival of the Fittest!

Ps what travel mantras do you know? Have any favorite quotes? Email them to me at darwinscreationisms@gmail.com

Pps darwinscreationisms is my instagram name too. I put lots of nice pictures up.

Ppps if you want to stay in textual contact get the GroupMe app.. it's free and my eaay, and it allows you to text Via SMS or WiFi.   Be my fwiend!

Hawaii

Hike spot on the north coast of maui.

First Hawaii blog... could it be?

It has already been 5 days in Hawaii and I have had trouble finding a minute to write up my experience. I have jotted down a ton of notes to remind me though.

The first thing is WHALES! Northern Pacific Humpback whales to be specific. They were always jumping for joy off the coast of Lahaina. They are incredibly huge... 50 feet long and weigh 50 tonnes. And they just launch out of the water like it ain't no big thing. Seeing them up close, from a sailboat as we were headed to Molokini crater for a snorkel was a huge treat.

Captain Yoshi and I pose with the wild sea turtle we captured en route to Molokini crater

The Lahaina luau was another highlight so far. We got treated to some very genuine feeling Hawaiian hospitality.
Very first thing we were served terribly, delectably sweet Mai Tais and seated at a group table right in front of the performance stage.  Immediately we walked over to the BBQ pit where handsome, tattooed Hawaiians dug a whole pig out of the ground.  It had been roasting for 8 hours.  At sunset, huge plates that were actually just  platters were placed in front of us, and we wound through a buffet full of variety. My favorite was the pork wrapped in banana leaves. The Taro stew was new and interesting (healthy/earthy/bland).   Hula dancers, male and female, performed with live music and a narrator/mc who gave us a good cultural context to the performance.

Sunset hula performance at Lahaina Luau

Hungry?

And of course I have loved meeting people on the beach. I met Jay, a local photographer who has had images in yoga journal and surf magazines; Benna, a Huntington Beach transplant who Rented me a surfboard and gave me a precursory lesson on where to stand on the board, etc, (by the way I got up on my first wave!!! Intimidated by the sea but I did one things that scared me that day!); and last but
Not least Gary and Lee, who I stumbled upon doing Tai Chi on the beach and who showed me a few moves (Including one named Cloud Hands... that's right!). Lee teaches Tai Chi to homecoming veterans in Montrose,  CO, with a program called Welcome Home Montrose.

Jay, doing his thing in Lahaina. His business is called Lightwave Images.

Practicing my henna techniques on the beach. I have been working on mixing the perfect paste but this paste didn't stain so it was a no-risk doodle.

Now I am en route to Hana on the infamously twisty Road To Hana. The overnight and morning in Paia was wonderful. It is a hippy town full of young gypsys. Lee and Gary recommended Mana Foods as the coolest grocery store in all of Maui. They were right. Check out the tea aisle!!!

So much tea a panorama was necessary!

Paia, a very cool town with great presence.

Sunset from Mama's Fish house restaurant.... famous and delicious grub, kitschy yet classy atmosphere.

Aloha

the Getting Out

This post is significantly delayed, and even though it has only been 6 days since I was in Antigua, i'v gone through quite a few motions.

Returning to New Mexico:  I left antigua after boarding a 3:45 am shuttle which bounced around the cobblestone streets for nearly an hour, picking up more gringos along the way. By the time we set off, boy did that driver know what it means to put the pedal to the metal!

Clouds as the airplane descends back to 'Merica

The flights went smoothly and I utilized my usual American Airlines technique of bringing my bag through the TSA gauntlet then asking them to valet check it. The miracle is that when I got to Dallas-Fort Worth, my bag was there despite it being demarcated to travel to Miami! The customs, etc in DFW was like 1984. They utilize automated everything now, and I got diverted to meet with one of the less intimidating of the guys working that shift. He asked me a bunch of questions like bam-bam-bam, really fast, knowing full well that I would make for a terrible spy.  The whole compound was huge and sparsely inhabited. Those I did meet were in general mean and scary.

Driving Stella, my 2008 4-door Tacoma, brought on new feelings. I love ya Stella, but boy are you excessive!  Such a huge vehicle, all to myself. I sighed in relief remembering that after my 2 days back in NM, I would begin using more eco- and community- friendly ways of transport.

That was Sunday night. By Tuesday I had packed up all my stuff for the next 6 months and shoved all my skis, snowboards, beds and bikes up against the walls of my storage unit. Stella is packed full with stuff.. not as clean as I'd envisioned she'd be when I put her away... and most importantlt, I had said goodbye to my pup. It was hard to say Hasta Luego, but had to be done.

Obligatory last meal at Gutiz french fusion restaurant.  With the best waitress who served me a piping hot cup of house-made Chai and a Parisi an Crepe. yum.

After a last hike into the Rio Grand Gorge, Jarrod and I stopped for tailagate-style coffee and Chocolate mousse at KoKo café in Taos, NM

The next mornimg, when I landed in Los Angeles,  I received a beautiful text message picture of Taos Ski Valley from the top of Kachina peak. Tsv just had to wait until the day I left to open the highly anticipated new lift, huh? IN spite of that ski girl's buzz kill, I had. Fantastic day in LA. How did we pack so much in?
-delicious, authentic french breakfast
-shopping at the mall near Santa Monica Pier (plus a walk around the pier)
-a visit to the gardens and photography exhibit at the Getty
-more food at savory Utama Burger
-nap
-nap!
-nap
-fancy and best sushi I have had in my life

Cappuccino and (infuriatingly I can't remember the name of these European almond candies)

Smoggy view of LA as witnessed from the Getty

Looking up at a trellace/sculpture in the Getty gardens

It was a very long day and I was grateful to have no time to wallow in my own self-dug pity-pool about Kachina lift.  I will get to ski it next year! Plus, I am reminded that I hiked Kachina on the very last day of the season before the lift was put in... which is just as exciting of a story to tell my grandchildren anyways!

Taos Ski Valley: Where I Was Not

Antigua, Guatemala

Tomorrow I leave Guatemala-- as quickly as the day to embark on the journey arrived, the end too has arrived. In our finals Savasana this morning, Ashleigh (who was quoting Anodea Judith) closed with a wonderful pondering about ends and beginnings.  Sometimes I wonder how many endings and how many new beginnings we process each day. Big and little.

We did a photo shoot on the very last day of the Chakras and Chocolate retreat at Villa Sumaya

I have traveled by boat and wheels beside my new, beautiful swiss friend Miriam from Atitlan to Antigua.  We have had no problems in coordinating transportation.   After arriving in Antigua at 2pm, we ate some cocoa energy balls and put sandal to cobblestone.  This town is quaint and colonial. There are plenty of markets that all look the same, and there are spas, jade shops, and so many chocolate shops.  I had 300 quetzales (equivalent to about $40) that I wanted to spend before I leave for Taos tomorrow.

1st Avenue in Antigua. It was closed off to automobiles. Vendors selling scarves, play balls, art, jewelry, fruits and vegetables.  Miriam remarked how the tourists were of every shade, ranging from very gypsy to very formal.

After an espresso and a hot chocolate at La Doña Luisa, a very old establishment recommended to me by the antigua man I sat next to on the airplane landing in Guatemala city last week, I had only managed to spend 45 qz! We then walked back to a street where a jeweler had set up a simple trade blanket. He wasn't there, and just when I was remarking to Miriam how I had hoped to buy some of unique jewelry, he apparated in the street! He was easily recognizable with his round sunglasses... a guatemalan Johnny Depp of sorts! I purchased from him an intricate and luxurious quartz necklace, amethyst bracelet, and jade earrings-- all for 200qz.

Cacao caliente (con leche... naturally) and a bitter espresso to balance the dulce

After that, we stopped at a more upscale "jazz bar" for wine and dinner.  Transitioning out of an all you can eat buffet, back into pick-one-or-two-things-from-the -menu lifestyle proved challenging. Our salads, which cost nearly as much as all my newly purchased jewels, came out to us in almost laughably small portions. It stood in stark contrast to the bottomless salad bowls we were blessed with at Villa Sumaya!

Miriam and I chose the window display table at this cute little jazz bar and restaurant

We sauntered to the square for dessert, and for the equivalent of one dollar gorged on fried tacos and a fried donut that was filled with banana and black bean, then sprinkled with sugar crystals. We laughed about how it is necessary to transition back to our relatively "normal" lives by eating fried food, drinking wine, smoking cigarettes, etc.

Now we are back and the Internet is so painfully slow here that I can't bear to wait for the photos to upload.  I will post this text with the promise of photos to accompany.

Calle turisto en Antigua. Backdrop of a dramatic volcano.

Here is a beautiful quote to ponder:

"People do not seem to realise that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson


                                                 
What do you see in the world? Is it a reflection of yourself?

Reflections of Volcan Santiago and the upper Chakras in batik at the yoga studio in Villa Sumaya

Yoga teacher Liz Passau flashing her beautiful smile and new henna tattoo

Lyn from Taos, relaxing on the last morning of the retreat

Krystalyn and Liz. Krystalyn is a woman of many talents. In addition to conducting our chocolate ceremony, she does incredible henna tattoos and also does raw food facials