Yogi of Oz - The Sequel

Hi everyone!  I have started my new Stateside blog!  http://myyogasadhana.blogspot.com/

Final Thoughts

I heard once from a very wise man that the greatest gift a person can give you is freedom.  I am here to tell you that he was absolutely correct.  Reflecting on the past few months I see that it was not my travels which where solely responsible for my recent transcendence, but the gift of freedom given to me by a friend, an ‘ex’ if you prefer, but one whom I will forever consider a friend.  I have seen the change in me most acutely through the reflection of myself in the eyes of those around me.   Never before have I walked down the street and had multiple people stop to talk to me, just because (in their words) “they wanted to know what was behind the light.”  Someone commented that it is as if I have won the lottery, and I truly feel that I have.  There is no monetary value to this lottery, however.  It is the lottery of life.  I see the world before me and look forward to the challenges because I know now that I have the capacity to transcend any obstacle and overcome the sway of duality.  I am truly and deeply content; at peace with who I am and how I fit into this life.

My travels have landed me in Mexico until after the New Year at which point I will be starting a new blog for anyone interested in following my journey to find a home.

Thank you for reading about my travels.  I love you all.  Happy New Year!

God Bless and Namaste

Headline: Harry Potter meets Dorothy then meets Vancouver Police Force

Hello from North America!  I have successfully returned to my continent of origin and am happy to report that this last leg of my trip has been the most eventful to date.  This may require a bit of math in some parts, but bear with me.  I got up this morning (Monday) at 0330 (GMT+13) making it to the Christchurch airport with plenty of time to spare before my flight to Sydney.  It was a pretty bumpy ride across the Tasman Sea, but we made it at our expected arrival time.  I had four hours to kill in Sydney so it was no surprise that my gate information wasn't up yet, but when it still wasn't up an hour before departure time I was becoming mildly concerned.  It turned out that the incoming flight was delayed, so we were going to be delayed about 30 minutes.  Being the clever traveler that I am, I decided to take the extra time to wash my face, etc., and.... Harry Pottered my glasses!!! Broke them right down the middle, even split.  Overcoming the devastation of having to wear my contacts on the long flight, we boarded at 1230 (GMT+11) then proceeded to sit at the gate, all buckled up, until 1400.  Evidently the winds were so strong in Sydney that they had closed down all but one runway.  We were finally cleared to push back from the gate (hallelujah), then had to wait in line for take off for another 45 minutes.  The winds really were horrific.  Not even trying to be clever with the whole "Yogi of Oz" thing, I half expected to see Dorothy or the Wicked Witch of the West flying past as we took off.  And so.... what was supposed to be 14 hours of pure bliss on a 777 turned into a glorious 16 hours trapped in the window seat by two exceedingly large men (whom I later found out were not only Canadian tractor trailer drivers, but also stimulating conversationalists).  We arrived in Vancouver at 0930 (GMT-8) on Monday (again...or still).  Fortunately, I didn't have a connection on the Vancouver end of the flight, so I was at a far lower stress level than the majority of the plane.  

I made it through customs and immigration with minimal questions as to the nature of my travel and tracked down the taxi stand (after nearly being killed by my own stupidity - cars drive on the other side of the road here).  My taxi driver was incredibly friendly and we were chatting away about his home town in Africa when, "whoop whoop" Vancouver's finest pulled us over.  Haha!  I didn't even know that cops pulled taxis with fares over.  It was hilarious (for me).  The officer told us that he is also a commercial vehicle inspector and the taxi didn't have daytime running lights on which apparently is a Very big deal.  My driver didn't get fined, but he did receive a list of things he needed to fix before he could take another fare (after dropping me off of course, although a ride home with the cops would have made a far better story).  

Don't worry, this story has a happily ever after:  I made it to the hotel, they let me check in early, I got new glasses, and have a nice low key evening of Canucks hockey ahead of me. 

As always, all of my love!  

Christmastime in Christchurch

family away from family at Lyttelton Harbour

I think I may be reaching new heights of depression tonight… I don’t want to leave this amazing country!!!  =)  And, this past week has been one of the best of my entire trip.  I truly feel as though I've been staying with family this week. I am so blessed to have so many amazing people in my life.  As with most time spent with family, this week has been chock full of fantastic family events including a grade school awards ceremony and concert, working in the vineyard, a mini road trip, my very first zumba class, Greening the Rubble, and Christmas carols at the local church (just to name a few).  The weather has gone through all four seasons and back again, but it hasn’t deterred our adventures in any way.  I will touch on a few highlights from the week, but what I’ve enjoyed most of all has been the companionship; the nights spent catching up over a bottle of wine.  Thank you, Murray family, for really making me feel at home.

huge nerd in the vineyard

The first of the week’s highlights took place Thursday morning.  I got to help Laura out in the vineyard!  We were just pulling vines up off the ground and running them up through the wires, but it was fun to participate in a “local” activity and try something entirely new.  I would not want to work in a vineyard for life, but it is an experience I feel fortunate to have and will not soon forget.

The next highlight of the week occurred later the same evening.  We all went to the local high school auditorium for Wilson’s award ceremony and school concert.  Wilson won an award for a painting he did that will now be displayed in the school!  Additionally, we got to hear samplings of a rock band, recorder ensemble, ukulele group, violin duet, the orchestra and the choir, including a Christmas classic that was new to me, Christmas at the Beach.  =)  (A side note to my parents – you are truly amazing for all of the school concerts, sporting events, ballet recitals, etc., that you attended in support of me.)

Highlight number three was a day trip around Banks Peninsula. We stopped at various gorgeous harbours en route to Akaroa, a perfectly picturesque beach town.  We had lunch, walked around the local church market, and then made our way through the display area of a car show complete with Santa and Christmas carols.  The pictures from the drive are stunning and can be found in the album for this post at http://picasaweb.google.com/smichelle.manning/Christchurch?feat=directlink. (I have also downloaded the rest of my pictures from my past two weeks.  You can find them all at http://picasaweb.google.com/smichelle.manning.)

Capoeira

My last morning in New Zealand was spent at an event for a project Leicester is involved in called Greening the Rubble.  They are a group of Landscape Architect students who are turning demolished buildings (from the earthquake) into temporary parks.  It was a rainy day for a launch party, but I did get to see morris dancing for the first time in my life (check it out on youtube, it’s pretty fantastic) as well as Wilson trying his hand at capoeira.

And to finish up my Christmastime in Christchurch week, Laura and I went to the local church this evening for a Christmas carol service.  I was shocked at how many of the songs I had never heard before!  Apparently the weather isn’t the only difference between Christmas here and Christmas in the States. 

Tomorrow I am getting on a plane to Canada before flying down to Montana for Christmas.  Thank you all for following along with this journey!  I plan to post another blog from Vancouver, but if I don’t post it before Christmas, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!!!

~All my Love~

XO

Life in 1300 kilometers

In the past five days I’ve covered over 1300 km; I have seen breathtaking scenery, been touched by the kindness of others, and met some of the most incredible people in my life.  I can honestly say that I am a different person today than I was just one week ago.  This has been my journey…

km 0-225 – Drive from Paihia to Auckland

Christmas in the Park

I woke up to another beautiful Paihia sunrise and drove back south to Auckland just in time for Christmas in the Park!  About ¼ of the population of Auckland turned out for the event.  It reminded me of lawn seats at a country music festival except that instead of singing along to Achy Breaky Heart, everyone was singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.  They did a countdown to light the tree, Santa rode his sleigh through the crowd, and they finished with an extraordinary fireworks display.  Amongst the celebratory crowd I met someone whose impression will remain with me for the rest of my life.  I may have only talked to them for a few hours, but I know the impact of that conversation will alter my life to come, playing into every decision I make from here on out.  If you are reading this, I can only say Thank You.  In this person I saw the beauty of dreams on the forefront of discovery and have been inspired to stay true to my own dreams.  I experienced the power of listening and am the better for the wealth of knowledge I received though open ears and an open heart.  I have heard before, and deeply believe, that people come into and go out of your life for specific reasons.  They may be in your life for 1 day, 6 months, or even 50 years, but there is a purpose behind it and it is our job to discover that purpose.  I believe the purpose of this encounter will continue to show itself, likely at times when I least expect it.

km 225-865 – Train from Auckland to Wellington

Mordor

After *maybe* an hour of sleep I got on the 0730 train south to Wellington.  It was a 12 hour trip through the country side of the North Island.  The views were stunning (including the volcanic cone used as Mordor in the Lord of the Rings trilogy), but what I truly enjoyed was the uninterrupted time for reflection.  What has been weighing on my mind recently, and for some time, is the concept of home.  I know I am always welcome and will always have a place to stay at the house I grew up in, but Montana just doesn’t feel like home anymore.  Everywhere else I’ve lived has been wonderful, but I don’t feel particularly drawn to return to any of those places.  I am comfortable with the concept that I have detached from all these locations in order to inspire travel, but at the same time I am starting to feel a pull towards finding a place where I really feel at home. I have no intention of stopping my travels, but it would be nice to have somewhere to return to that holds that illusive “Ahh, I’m home” quality.

I made it into Wellington at 7:30pm, checked into my hostel, and crashed!  I had a couple hours in the morning to explore before my ferry, but it was pouring rain so I really only made it down the harbor a ways to a café.  Oh well, maybe next time. =)

km 865-965 – Ferry from Wellington to Picton (with a detour to Havelock at the end)

I met another fascinating person on the ferry to Picton.  She is here from Nebraska studying Geology.  She was so clearly a free spirit it was really enjoyable talking to her.  She is leaving NZ in February (after a year’s stay) and then backpacking around South America for six months… something I would LOVE to do!  And so, another trip is in the planning stage.

Havelock

I arrived in Picton at 1618 as scheduled and was greeted by friends of friends of friends who’d been asked to collect me and bring me to Havelock where I was spending the night with friends of Laura and Leicester.

If you followed all those connections, I have to express how amazed I have been with everyone’s kindness and hospitality.  I have taken hour long car rides, shared meals, and stayed the night with complete strangers and have never felt more welcome. If this is what all Kiwis are like, I really don’t want to leave.

Anyways, I spent the night with a fantastic family who opened their home to me completely and unquestioningly in a way that I hope I can pass on in the future.

km 965-1305 – Train from Blenheim to Christchurch

Train to Christchurch

The train ride from Blenheim to Christchurch was a little over 5 hours of scenic bliss.  For a large part of the trip the tracks run along the coast so you have beautiful ocean views out one side and beautiful mountain views out the other.  And, once again, a fabulous setting for reflection, although this time it was mostly on my future yoga studio.

After a slight delay due to a “crossing accident” I arrived in Christchurch to the loving arms of Laura and Wilson (and Leicester a little later).  I am going to leave it here for this posting and share all my fabulous Christchurch stories later. 

More to follow shortly!
Love you all!

Northland, Aotearoa

Haruru Falls

What can I say about Northland?  The truth is I don’t think words can do justice to the experiences I’ve had the past two days.  I drove north from Auckland yesterday along one of the prettiest stretches of road I’ve ever seen.  I’m only sorry that I was driving and had to occasionally look at the road.  I arrived in Paihia early afternoon and went straight to Haruru Falls.  You could walk out onto the rocks amongst the pools of water where I found a great spot to sit and take in the sound of the falls and meditate.  Om Namo Narayanaya Namaha.  =)

After the falls I did a 30 minute hike up to the lookout point above Paihia in the Opua Forest. Most of you know that I am not a hiker, but it was well worth it looking out over the Bay of Islands as the sun began to set.  I was tempted to stay and watch the sun go down, but the idea of un-hiking the hill in the dark deterred that ambition.  Instead, I stopped at the beach on the way back to the hostel, laid in the grass, and watched the clouds change color.  Rough life – I know.

Sunrise in Paihia

This morning I got up at 0630 and went down to the beach to watch the sun come up (symmetry). Granted, sunrise was actually at 0602, but it was still a gorgeous morning.  Today was my Maori culture day!  (I must apologize for any fallacy in my relay of information; this is just a recollection of what I heard today.) I went to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. “In January 1840 Captain William Hobson arrived in the Bay of Islands to make a treaty with the Maori chiefs on behalf of the British government.  Busby helped revise Hobson’s draft and Rev. Henry Williams of Paihia and his son, Edward, translated it into Maori.  On 5 February 1840 hundreds of Maori and scores of Europeans gathered in front of the Residency at Waitangi.  The Treaty was read and explained in English and Maori.  The chiefs debated all day at Waitangi and into the night at Te Tii, across the river.  On 6 February 43 chiefs signed the Treaty… Copies of the Treaty were then carried around the country.  By September 1840 over 500 chiefs had signed it.  Hobson proclaimed British sovereignty over the whole country on 21 May 1840.  Though debate continues over the interpretation of its parts, the Treaty is best understood as a whole.  It is an agreement between two peoples to live and work together in one nation.  This agreement is as relevant today as in 1840, for it guarantees the rights of both Maori and non-Maori citizens in Aotearoa New Zealand.” (from the Treaty Grounds guide)

I had a tour around the grounds including the 35m waka taua (war canoe) which is still used during the annual celebration of Waitangi Day (Feb 6), the Treaty House built in 1832 for the British resident James Busby, and the whare runanga (meeting house) which is the only meeting house in New Zealand representing all of the major Maori tribes.

haka

I had read in a guide that Christianity is very prominent among the Maori people due to the influences of missionaries who came to the island in the early 1800s.   In my mind, I found this loss of traditional beliefs as quite sad.  But, I heard today that the Maori were actually impressed with Christianity and the message of peace the missionaries brought.  Apparently the Maori culture has always celebrated a single God; the multiple “deities” depicted in their art work are actually seen as guardians, not gods (i.e. Guardian of the Sun, Guardian of the Sea, etc.).  Anyways, coming back from that tangent… I also saw a Maori cultural show in which all the ladies in the audience (myself included) got to try our hand at dancing with the poi (ball on a string) and the men got to learn some steps of the haka (war dance – well known for being performed by the All Blacks before matches, check it out on youtube!). We also heard the story of how Aotearoa (New Zealand) was discovered by the Maori.  If you’re interested I recommend reading more here: http://maaori.com/people/maoriara.htm

Maiki

After my culture-rich morning I decided to take the ferry across to Russell, what used to be “the hell-hole of the pacific” as it was the home of fleeing convicts, whalers, and drunken sailors. Now, it’s a quaint little town with a beautiful beach and even more beautiful yachts.  I did another hike up to Maiki, where Hone Heke chopped down the flagpole four times after the signing of the Treaty.

I spent about 2 hours in Russell then caught the ferry back to Paihia just in time to catch the local Farmer’s Market.  I really love it here.  I don’t want to leave!  But I am really looking forward to my train ride from Auckland to Wellington this weekend. 

Until next time,

All my love!

Table for One, Please

I am fairly certain nobody would categorize me under the heading, “Shy”, however the idea of travelling alone in a foreign country was still a daunting one for me.  But I am truly loving it.  The freedom of it all has been overwhelming.  I can’t remember a time that I’ve been able to be so guiltlessly selfish.  =) I can do whatever I want to, whenever I want to.  It sounds very simple, but I feel that I’ve spent the past several years caught up in the never-ending checklist of things I thought I “needed” to do and have finally had the veil of commotion lifted.

Circular Rainbow!  They do exist!

I spent four days in Sydney taking in the requisite sights; Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Sydney Aquarium, Bondi Beach, etc. (Pictures will be posted of all of these later)  I even saw a circular rainbow!  True story.  See… I even took pictures.  I met some remarkable people while I was there – bonding over laundry and hunting for Thai food in the rain – whom I hope to keep in touch with for years to come.  Miss you guys!

I left Australia Monday morning for Auckland.  I have rented a car and made minimal plans other than to explore.  Today I went to the Auckland Museum (amazing), One Tree Hill (beautiful views), and drove along Tamaki Drive to Ladies Bay (nude beach). 

The hostel I am staying at in Auckland is quite different from the YHA in Sydney.  It’s in a two-storey house that was apparently built for Tongan royalty.  Everything is co-ed which is giving me flashbacks to my time at MMA, but everyone I’ve met has been incredibly friendly.

I have six more days of solo travel, and then it’s on to Christchurch to visit Laura, Leicester, and Wilson!

All my love!