Florida April 2013

Day 1 - Delray Beach and Cuban dinner in Boynton Beach
Day 2 - Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Pool, and dinner at Johnny Long Boat, celebrating Ryan's birthday, and walk on the beach at night
Day 3 - Seaquarium Miami, Beach, and dinner at Versailles
Day 4 - Kayaking at Loxahatchee Riverbend Park, Pool, and dinner at Delray Beach, Deck 84 second birthday celebration, Kilwin's Ice Cream, and adventures in Delray
Day 5 - Butterfly World, Fort Lauderdale, dinner at Mellow Mushroom in City Place - West Palm Beach, adventures on Clematis Ave.
Day 6 - Beach day - Boynton Beach, movie, and dinner at Two Georges
Day 7 - Sunrise at Delray Beach, Brunch at Tropical Smoothie, and back home




Trip 2 Plans:

1 - snorkel the reef

2 - open airboat ride through the everglades
3 - taste more florida beer (it's truly yummy)
4 - see the keys (key largo to key west) and camp there
5 - camp in the everglades national park
6 - see more Miami city
7 - eat more seafood (not fried)
8 - see more gators and sharks 
9 - see the painted bunting/ more birdwatching 
10 - more time with friends
11 - see a better sunrise, and maybe even a sunset in the keys
12 - scuba diving
13 - Go to - Royal Palm, Long Pine Key, Pinelands, Flamingo Recreation Area
14- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site - snorkeling, kayaking, birding
15 - National Key Deer Refuge- Big Pine Key - Blue hole, Watson Trail
16 - Dry Tortugas National Park - wildlife, and interesting place in general
17 - Big Cypress National Preserve - National Scenic Trail, Tree Snail Hammock Nature Trail, 15 mile loop road scenic drive (camping)
18 - Biscayne National PArk
19 - Bahia Honda State Park


I like parks, it comes naturally!

Princess In a Different Land

I recently visited China, for business, and It was an amazing yet challenging experience. It was different from any other place I had ever been to, yet to similar to India. It was such a slam, and unexpected that i just had a hard time coping with the difference of language, food and culture.

Regardless of these petty challenges, I did make a lot of new friends. They would call me "Princess", and were amazed at my English skills, my American background, and my eyes.
Every morning they would flock towards me and want to take pictures with me. We exchanged contact information and they promised they would keep in touch and take me around China the next time visited, especially feed me delicacies!

Suki and I

Crazy camo team and I

Suki was very interesting, because she loves watching American shoes - Desperate Housewives, Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Big Bang Theory, etc. She also loves White men who are white, and have pink cheeks, and a cute fluffy belly. I told her belly's aren't considered attractive in general. So she pointed out to me that we might have cultural differences and thus what each considered attractive was different. So we began pointing out which men we thought were attractive, she thought my boyfriend was cute, but he needed more of a belly. She liked that he was tall. She was tall for a Chinese. She said her boyfriend was her height and had a nice belly.

In the picture with the camo team, they would come everyday to take pictures with me. they thought my eyes were amazing, and yet I thought their eyes were nice. Alice (the girl in the picture) was very pretty, but she didn't think so. This reminds me of how Caucasians like having tans, yet Indians are always finding ways to be fairer! We always want what we can't have! Straight haired want curls, curly haired wants straight!

Cultures are so amazing, and although I had a culture shock for the first 3 days, I began loving it! I recommend visiting China. It is different and amazing!

Keep an open mind and heart. Always!

Breathe!

Travel

We can travel the world sitting in one spot
Eyes Closed
Imagination Open

OR


We can travel the world with our legs, bicycle, trains, planes and automobiles
Mind Closed
Bank account Closed

In the end you are the journey
Destination Unknown
It's not getting there that matters, but how you get there

I would advice keeping your heart and mind open always
When we are resistant, we meet more resistance.

Breathe!

Life: In a second... in a day... in a year... a lifetime of moments!

On the plane ride from Newark to Delhi, I watched a few very very dull films: The zookeeper (oh why did i pick this one?) and Bad Teacher (They should show this movie to torture people. Honestly how immature and shallow does one get!). There were a few good movies I picked: The Help. It brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me of Gopa Didi, the lady that helped bring me up. She was with our family since I was 7 in Chennai. She took care of me (my sister and I), bathed me, washed my clothes, cooked for me and sometimes even tucked me into bed. She saw me grow up. Then she had a child and got married. She and her daughter lived with us for a while in Calcutta. I saw Gopa Didi's daughter till she was about 5. Now she is 15, and speaks English, Tamil, Hindi and Bengali! She writes lovely poetry and has memories from what her mother speaks of. She has a younger sister who is hyper and naughty, and a 2 year old brother who can't walk but is utterly cute. Her name was Trishna, but we called her Chintamani (chinta-thinking, mani - the one: the one that thinks too much). I took a video of the brother who walks with the help of a luggage dolly which my dad purchased in the 80's. It's amazing how something so mundane from over 20 years ago can create such a difference in this little boy's life. I was close to tears. I shall try to post the video sometime. In India people (such as Gopa Didi and her family) who come from a village, place more value in having a son than little girls. This is because the boy can work bring money home, and the girl needs a dowry later in life and is just another mouth to feed. This leads to female infanticide in Indian villages. So this family was humbled by being blessed by two bright lovely girls, and a son who has been slow in development. It took them heartbreak and hardship to realize the value in girls, and yes having a son is great, but now a days girls can accomplish as much as boys can. So what they thought was a curse, is now a blessing. However their families in the village do not understand and still think they are "cursed" and have cut them off. Having two girls and a slow boy is not a "blessing" to them. They don't see. I sometimes think it took my own grandparents many years, and loyalties to realize the value of Granddaughters, daughters and girls. The world is such a beautiful place thanks to girls, such as Trishna, and her sister. Their innocence, joy in simple things and enthusiasm in life, makes one see the world from such a different perspective. Children, will do that to you. Do you remember those days? I do!

This is a Picture of Chintamani (Trishna Ghosal) and I. She goes to school in Chennai, India and lives in a very humble but warm home, and could achieve awesomness if she had the opportunity. I shall try to help send some $ her and her siblings' way. If anyone wants to contribute, that would be lovely $1 can make a difference!

This is a video of the Little Boy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvemZl65I6k

Talking about joys in simple things... I watched another movie: Life in a day. It is an amalgamation of videos sent from all over the world, to youtube, and it was all shot on one day July 24th 2010 (which is also my sister's birthday!)... I don't remember exactly what I was doing that day, but it was a Saturday. I posted this on FB: The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose. --Hada Bejar
And I probably called my sister and wished her, at this time she was going through a very rough patch. Do you remember what you did that day?

I would definitely recommend watching this movie because it is beautiful... its reminds us it is the little things that count. It is eye opening, and moving in the most unsuspecting ways. I liked it so much I watched it on the flight back to USA. I bought the movie and now am watching it with everyone. Every time I watch it, it is new! I see something I had not seen before! That is life!

This movie has strong affect... because it is real, raw, surprising, and it is LIFE! It made me realize that every moment, every little thing, is new and beautiful! Celebrate and love each moment we are alive. Everything is proof we are alive: living, heart beating, lungs breathing, eyes seeing... life experiencing. It is happening! Absorb, observe, be and enjoy. Learn, Love, and Laugh to it...

There are some dark moments in the movie. Yet these moments might be subjective to the viewers perspective. This reminds us that there are many people out there, everyone is different... it is up to us if we are haters, or lovers! If we see things "this way" or "that way"!

My dark moment was life and death: slaughtering animals... I made a friend on the streets of Delhi... it was a goat... Goat meat is delicious, but this goat (see below) came up to me and nuzzled against me and reminded me of all my doggies (doggie blog soon to be posted). That's one thing about India, that no matter where I go, there are doggies, goats, cows and other animals, and I don't need language to communicate with them, and they don't see me as foreigner or Indian. I just am a human to them who shows affection and they warm up to me. So my conclusion was, how can I eat my friend. So I decided to stop eating the mammals.

My goat friend and I (Nizamuddin, Delhi)

I definitely recommend watching it, and I would love to hear what you think about it!! Here's a picture of the DVD cover. Also the music/soundtrack is lovely!

Live Life! Breathe!
My New Year's Eve Idea was this... Instead of celebrating One night, celebrate each moment... as in live in it and BE PRESENT. For EVERYDAY is a NEW day! Every Moment is New and Happening! Live it! Love it!

(shrutipb@gmail.com)


 I found out - My friend Miles Reed has some footage in this film.
Also upon googling I found this article by NYT. It is the flip side, the point of view of those who won't enjoy the film... probably people who want the standard formula, and nothing exotic and different!

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/07/29/movies/life-in-a-day-review.html

All I can say is this guy probably enjoyed Transformers.


It's a powerful movie! Watch it!

Glimpses From A Rickshaw

I walked to the main road and caught a rickshaw... the bicyclist said he would take me through the inner roads however, instead of the main roads. I took this alternative mode of transportation cause the three taxis had all the excuses in the world not to drive at 9:00 am 1- car is broken, 2- jaboo na (wont go) 3- washing car.

The inner roads the rickshaw walla took were really gully-gully windy roads... suddenly there was a intersection and clearing, where there was a little vegetable market... right there in the middle of the road, in the middle of the little golf green area behind south city mall. There were people waking up, and showering, drinking their morning chai, and spitting. Honestly it was 9:30 by now and these people were still waking up! What a life!

Doggie was sleeping right at the edge of the road and the rickshaw wallah irritably said "aiy!" yet in a very laid back manner, so typical to Bengalis. Suddenly the a load but squeaky horn sounds behind us, and we give way to a little lorry that passes us, and kicks up immense amount of dhullo (dust). I cough. The rickshaw wallah pedals on.

We pass a man slowly opening his store, the sound of shaankh baajna (conch shell or "shankar dhoni") shokal balai (morning time); there are men sitting and staring into space, minds still foggy, sipping on hot chai in little clay cups... a man at a corner enjoys a biddi while sipping on chai. This was the morning scene.

Once at south city there was a lot of rush, and people trying to catch any mode of transportation (this was near lord's er moor - lord's junction). A crow shat on my head, while I was trying to hail down a cab. My friend texted saying I was now blessed with good luck. Stinky good luck and still no cab.Finally I got a cab, who reluctantly took me where I wanted to go.

On the way back, my friend accompanied me till Golpark (round park, a circle and major junction). Then I got off at South city mall so I could get a book at a store there, since the book I had bought previously off the street vendor, was OK for the most part, but a few important pages were blank! Acquired the book and a few more hindi movies, and I was able to get a rickshaw guy right at the mouth of South City Mall. I told him "please take me to golf green", but he had no idea of where golf green was (how strange). So I said, "behind the TV towers", then he understood. So of we went down Uday Shankar Sarani (which is adjacent to Prince Anwar Shah Road). So this Doordarshan ("seen from afar" tv station) Bangla main station is there. On that road, a guy was washing the car, a two men working on a car, wearing lungi (cloth tied around the bottom areas) and ghamcha (cloth towel) on shoulder, another man was painting his shop, a dog was sitting and patiently awaiting scraps from a street side food stall, a couple was being annoyed by a person trying to sell stuff, another man was lecturing two other guys, probably giving them "gyan" (knowledge/edumacation)... So went the afternoon, so went the little snippets of south cal life from a rickshaw...

The City of Joy

Calcutta... the city of joy...

its definitely a tad bit dirtier than Delhi, it seems different than Delhi. A week here now, and I feel like I am getting more "Indian-ized"... my English is morphing, and my Bengali and Hindi are getting better. Haven't drank dabber jol yet (coconut water). Calcutta has changed, grown... for better or for worse? As all these cities have grown; grown outward and upward. Cars, People, boom!

Malls, Hotels, High rise apartments, now they want to introduce wal-mart? Hmm bad idea. I will miss the chai valla, the roadside bazaars etc. I guess everyone wants the same conveniences the west has, while the west is beginning to move towards organic farmers markets, etc. Crazy!

Calcutta! Surprised me by springing my teenage years on me. I met Rohitesh, my classmate from tenth standard, (grade 10) in Park Circus, it was a crazy taxi ride to get there. The taxi walla was on his cell phone, talking so loudly. Took me some long way, but apparently it was the right way, the traffic was ridiculous! Everyone thinks his/her car comes first, and they all do whatever they want! Who needs lanes, traffic laws, just do whatever you want!

Rohitesh and I visited the mural my sister painted on Roudon street, right next to the la martiniere girls main entrance. Then we parked and wandered around Park Street; hit new market and then went to the infamous Oly Pub. Never been there but heard about it ever since 11th standard when all the guys would head there. Dont know why I never went there before. Very rustic but awesome in its own way!

Then we headed to Swabhumi which is just outside Salt Lake. Here we found ourselves falling rapidly down the rabbit hole, a twilight zone... an inter-school dance fest... it was wow! All the kids were dressed up, and the choreography was MJ worthy and music mixing was pretty good too for younglings. It was like Indian GLEE!!!! I talked to some of the little girls, (they were 15 or 16 years old) they were so warm, enthusiastic, friendly and ridiculously energetic... not to mention innocent. I think I remember being that age, but it does seem out of reach. All of them so pretty and confident, it was so good to see them, so excited for all of them, and their futures! I hope WE as their leading generation can leave a better brighter cleaner world for them!

This made me happy, and truly it is the city of joy.

Took some lovely pictures, will add them soon.

*hugs*

*Breathe!*

Delhi

14 hours straight from Newark to Delhi... didn't get a wink of sleep, because the Bangali Babu (not my dad) next to me, kept whacking me with his elbow. I did watch a bunch of movies... two were really good "The Help" and "Life in a Day"... recommend both.
Anyhow can't sleep now, feeling under the weather, and we are staying at a hotel in Delhi... "The Emarald".
I would recommend it, cause its near Connaught Place, but its right next to the railway station, and some other shenanigans. However the people are being rather uncouth and noisy, really though why can't people be considerate? Is it just India? Need to be more observant.
Anyhow, my friend Romit picked me up from the airport, and ended up going to see the India Gate that night, and eating ice cream!

Then the next day we went to the "Parantha Valle Gully" and then to Red Fort. It was wonderful. That night we went to Nizamuddin and ate at Karim's. I met a goat who was rather large and friendly, and apparently a pet.
Sayan bought a nice coat. Also saw the inauguration of an art museum "Kiran Nader's _____ Museum". This was a live art piece that opened the museum up. It was interesting and reminiscent of my KFI days!

Day three I had a rental car, with tourist sign on it, and started with the Qutumbinar and Humayun's Tomb, both which I did not get to enjoy as much because - well they guessed I was foreign and made me pay foreigner's price of Rupees 250, instead of Indian ticket price of Rupees 10. Also there were like 10 schools visiting each location, and the kids were like the stampeding creatures that trampled Mufasa in the Lion King. Ok they weren't that bad, but you know kids! The next stop was Purane Kela, which was quiet and gorgeous and packed with lovers, who were obviously bunking work/school/college. Last but not least I went to Deer Park, which was also lovely, green, and quiet. Peace Peace Peace.
It was 3, and I had not had lunch, so driver took me to the mall, where I went to "Big Chill". This place was playing all the coldplay songs, and it was like a wanna be applebees, with more interesting food! The fresh juices is the best drink in Delhi! Untainted juice, freshly squeezed from fruit, right then and there, and no sugar added... pure bliss ya'll! Healthiest drinks ever! Yes I had pomegranate, orange, watermelon, and can't wait to drink more!

Got home (to Romit and Sayan's apartment) and soon Romit was home too, then we went to eat Dosa at a near by place, we got juice after that!

Day four - rested, watched Hindi movies. Evening - we went to Delhi Haat, and there were some cool programs like the East Indian Art of Cutting Cucumbers (while eyes are blindfolded). It was lovely yet scary. And some Bharatnatyam dancing. Then we ate - Bhel Puri, Papdi Chaat, Channa Batura, Maach Bhaaja and Chai. Later the guys helped me check in to the hotel, and we hit CP (Connaught Place) for dinner, although I had already eaten so much and felt like a pregnant horse. We ate at Zen (yes it was Indian Chinese Food). The guys met Babi (my dad) and then we parted. Miss hanging out with them already.

Day five- business meeting and setting up the booth at pragati maidan for the LED expo. When we got there, they sent us from one gate to the other (Pragati Maidan is huge). Then we had to fight to get in to take our "Maal" (exhibition stuff) in. We got to our booth, and it was so dusty, there were paan stains on the bottom of one board, the ENTIRE exhibition hall was in a mess, chaos, last minute preparations. This is the India I remember from 10-15 years ago. So I was not impressed, and frankly the people handling the organization of the whole hullabaloo of an exhibition were very - un-precise, un-prompt, forgetful and just lacked professionalism due to the above reasons. By this time I was feeling very sick - Dust, Dust, Dust, and the night before it was cold when we walked around CP. So got home and here I am unable to sleep and writing! Hopefully tomorrow will be awesome!

Breathe! (actually breathing here is tough with all the dust... I shall wear a mask and breath!)

 Humayun's Tomb

Connaught Place, at night!

And yes I wore my Vibrams everywhere!!!!

Be Still, Be Present

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

- Lao Tzu -

 

 

 

 

Picture Courtest Iloveclimbing@facebook - Dana Augustin playing with the block of La Grave La Meije FRANCE. Photo: Jerome Josserand

Aliens and Hexes

As a child, I always loved climbing stuff. Maybe humans have a natural inclination to climb. I climbed buildings, football goal posts, trees, walls, rocks/boulders etc.
Then somewhere the climbing stopped as it was inappropriate all of a sudden.
I wanted to start climbing again when I saw the rock wall at the University of Akron and wanted to get in shape to climb. I thought it was all arm strength. Little did I know it involved so so so much more.

So I wanted to have a strong upper body, but it was actually the whole body, mind and spirit. It all had to be in tune in sync with each other - this is what I learned much later.

I finally began climbing in 2009. I would do easy routes at the rock gym. I bought my own shoes and harness, but didn't learn to belay until 2011 summer. Therefore I really got into it in 2011. In 2009 I didn't push myself, mental conditioning was lacking a lot, technique lacked, and didn't handle the challenges enough.

As of 2011: I climbed outdoors, indoors and have see and experienced great heights. Mental conditioning - there is no end to that. Our minds are brilliant yet we have a lot of barriers to overcome. It is much like the matrix - you HAVE to "free you mind" so you have to get over the fact that "I can not" and just do it, because you can! (there are many proofs that one CAN do it, no matter what).

Seneca rocks - The beauty and intensity was mind numbing. I'm still reeling from the experience which I loved, but filled me with a 1000 different emotions, all as intense as the other... love, hate, anger, frustration, fear, self loathing, determination, exhaustion, warmth, cold, dread, fear, dread, love...

I was nervous the whole trip... irrational fears filled me: KKK, aliens, satanic worshipers... yes... I was "fear vomiting", cause I knew I would be stressed by the exposure of the cliff face we would be climbing. We were studying the book of the routes, self saving techniques, etc... funny thing was both aliens and hexes were mentioned on the same page (Seneca Rocks Climbing Guide). So the book makes it sound easy, but you know reality is different. Reality! Its just not a climb, its you, your mind, your body with the earth - doing together, getting to a higher place of consciousness and overcoming obstacles which include the above (your mind, body, spirit and the earth).

I also had a deep drunken conversation with Keith about eating animals, vegetarianism... which gave me a lot to think about and question, about respect, love, friendship, life and death. YES this is LIFE! We think about what nourishes us, where it comes from, it makes us do what we do, and we need to respect it (the food), ourselves, and our bodies.

So in tune with nature, body, mind and deep deep feelings, thoughts, beliefs... = Intense and beautiful.

The beauty and the intensity made me shed a tear or two, but I know its a catharsis I still need to face and let flow.





Breathe.

Changes Occur... Like Seasons

So I feel like it has been ages since I wrote a blog.
It is almost fall.
Things have changed in my life.
I have changed my life.
I decided to change.
Then everything changed.
However I realized it is a lot of hard work.
Exhausting.

It takes persistence. Determination. Perseverance.
Now i realize it takes will. courage and that desire to follow through.

I am tired. However, I will not quit.

I will be like "the little train that could".
"I-think-I-can. I-think-I-can. I-think-I-can"
and if i pursue and keep at it and chug chug chug all the way up the mountain, one day I will be saying "I-thought-I-could. I-thought-I-could"
and "I-knew-I-could" and I will use that power to keep climbing higher hills.

If we give up at hill one, then we are stuck in the valley and never see the view from the summit. The lovely panorama. The mind blowing, eye opening vista that keeps us climbing up more mountains.

So keep climbing, and don't stop. Don't settle for the valley, but enjoy the journeys,experience the seasons and views. It's all one. Don't stop at one place. Accept the change and seek for new.


Find time to relax - breathe - smile!

<3 <3 <3

Finding the Conquering Spirit ... Finding Peace of Mind and Pie

So I have been going to West Virginia three years in a row now!
First time I've gone there without a person who is a significant other! BUT HEY
I was my own significant other! The whole trip took: courage, blood shed, tears, pain, inner strength, outer strength, love and patience.
Long and difficult 5 hours to drive, but so worth it in the end, for friendship and adventure. Ultimately exhaustion, lessons learned, new friends made, and the whole thing was therapeutic in finding the Pree in Me again.

I can breathe again, and know I am strong and able to conquer many tough challenges - yes I might have to be whipped with a rope at times, scrape my elbows and knees, cry a whole new river out of my eyes, yell at myself... but I get there in the end.

Determination, Will, and well belief in my self.

I did some rock climbing ... outdoors this time. It was tough. Discouraging, frustrating at times, but I did it!

Confidence, Courage, and maybe even a little ego!

So onward and upward shall we go!

(here's a little secret ---- after a hard days work we all get Pies and Pints! = Motivation!)

(That is Renee climbing at Rehab/Ferngully, near Fayetville, WV)


Breathe!!!!

4th July 2011 Fun with Fidge

Rafting the New River (WV)

5 months into 2011

We live we learn.

And it's not getting much easier at all. It has been very difficult for a while now, however difficulty is relative to what a person can handle. I am sure I am better off, I have so much to be grateful for. However the hurdles I face are difficult for me.

I pace myself. I breathe. I focus.

I thought this year would be different and it has been. I am growing. Making decisions trying to figure out myself? I think sometimes people go off on a physical journey, however I do not have the money or time to. Turns out its tougher than it seems. It is a learning process.

I have been learning from my sister, a wonderful man, my uncle and my parents. They are close to me right now. They help me along my way.

Patience. Insight. Acceptance.

I am learning to love myself, and be patient with others. Accept my self with all my flaws and those around me.

Love. Being Present. Trust.

To treat those around me with love. No matter if they are hurting me. I have understood its their own deal that they are being mean. As long as I keep my act, and the entire side of my road clean. I am good. Always treat everyone with love. It seems to work.

I am always worried about the future, or hung up about the past. However to be present and live in the NOW is helping so much. I can enjoy the people I am with. It is doubly joyous for all involved.

Trust is the hardest hurdle of all. I need to trust the people in my life and the ones I love. I need to trust myself.

All these things I work on... forget money, its just a part of this whole system thing we live in. Just getting the basics right, is something most people do not do these days.

Tolerance.

So many people have such low tolerances in regards to so many things. They hurt each other. It is not even necessary.

Meditation.

Every morning for at least 5 minutes. It has helped me this past one week to be more productive and calm at work, although the stress levels are rising, there is calm within me.

Change.

Change is something we must always be ready for. Change is the only constant constant. However it is the biggest variable! Accept it! Go with it... or be left behind.

Breathing, enjoying every single bit of this life, and staying positive.
I am strong. I will do whatever it is I need to do and want to do!

OM!

Climbing! Climb On!

Climbing is something which comes natural to humans as is breathing, walking, running, swimming and sleeping.
When I was a child I did not know how to swim, or so I thought. I remember I never liked going to my swim lessons at the age of 3 or 4 because my swimming teacher was fat, and she had a weird coffee stain on her swimsuit. I always thought that it was so strange. Anyway she would make me put my face in the water, and it was always very scary because her stained swimming suit was in it too. Years later when I was 11 I learnt how to swim. The swim teacher  to jump into the deep end of the pool and if I didn't I saw what he would do. He would say ok go back to the line, however when you turned around, he would grab you and throw you in. Miraculously you already know how to swim! You'll automatically surface and get to the side of the pool. I think 1 in 15 kids didn't swim and they quit and sank to the bottom, in that case the teacher would cuss, and jump in after the kid. The kid would be fine. I jumped in and swam, my sister was thrown in.
Climbing came naturally to my sister and I. She started it however, she would climb doors, walls, anything that went upward. Her problem was coming down. She would begin to cry, and usually jump into my father's arms. I enjoyed climbing trees and interesting shaped buildings. However one day our teacher told us that it wasn't ladylike to climb. The whole fun of climbing trees was the fruit of the labor - tamarinds, palm, mangoes, coconuts, dates... so much yummy fun!

Years later, I have no more upper body strength, and developed fear of heights. I doubt that I can climb anything whatsoever. I wish and wish I could climb the rock wall in the University of Akron rec center, but I never have the guts to or find a buddy to go with.
Recently though I got the opportunity to at Kendall Cliffs, in Summit County. I have been climbing with my friends Renee and Mark. It has been quite the learning experience. In its entirety it is an exhilarating experience. You get a full body work out with the adrenalin rush, team spirit, trust building, strength building and mentally, physically and sometimes intellectually challenging.
The first few times I learnt the "codes" we are supposed to say such as "climbing" "climb on" "belay?" "belay on", how to tie the No. 8 knot. and to secure the harness. Then how to start the climb and use my arms and legs, following the color.
Recently however Renee/ Mark and Jeff stepped it up a notch, and taught be how to use my belay instrument, tie a few more knots, the secret to trying knots, also new techniques in movements, and holds. It sure made it more interesting and challenging. Realization to how much more I need to work on my core muscles, and arms. Also how we must use our arms and legs together. Usually Renee forgets to use her arms, and I forget to use my legs. So we learn from each other. I realized I trust Renee and Mark for belaying and everyone has different belay techniques. It all takes practice.
I started a new wall, and it was a puzzle and challenging. I would climb up four feet and then slip and fall to be caught by the belay person. Swinging like Tarzan (by mistake) from the rope is actually kinda "whoa". This wall had a very slight overhang and it had different kinds of holds... and now my thumbs hurt. Relearning how to climb again, and its fun and you use parts of your brain that we forget to use. We use muscles we didn't know we have!

Exciting! Intriguing! Believing! Achieving!

Under The Stars

Man creates his own world; dazzling and glamorous. Cities bustling, filled with pop-culture, entertainment, foods, music, cars, technology... its full of life. In the process we, mankind, miss out on the entire universe. When I mean the Universe, I mean the serenity of silence, the vastness of it all, what are we in the big picture. The Universe is glamorous, larger than life, too great to behold... but the little bubbles we create for ourselves, we never step out from it, we forget to look up and understand our place in it all. We are out own universes, we our own gods. We live a lie.

We went to the Allegheny Mountains and camped in the Allegheny National Forest. It was my first time. We camped Minister's Creek trail to a camp site. There we set up camp, and made our own fire pit. It was very nice. We collected fire wood, and it is something which came very naturally to me. I was born to do this.

At night, the embers glowed dimly in the dark, and the other campers around were quiet and settling down around their fires, or their tents for the night. I stepped out of mine to look up and be caught by the magnificence of the sky. I stood stunned by the glory of it... the stars.

Have you ever seen the milky way? The entire milky way... in the silence of the night?

I froze and did not account to how much time passed, I think I said "OMG it's amazing!" Many times. It was as though someone had shut out all the light in the world by draping a thick black cloth over it. However someone had made holes in it... and through that the light shined - bright. Like jewels on black leather it was beautiful, anyone could have cried. That's how the sky should look, but many of us do not know it can look that beautiful from earth itself. Standing there I imagined, if it looks so beautiful from here, Imagine the other wonders out there.

There are so many beautiful things to see in the Universe... and even on our planet. And truly they surpass human beauty, and material things... waterfall such as the Niagra Falls, wonders such as the Grand Canyon ... just to name a few. They are there for a reason, and we miss the message.

That night I realized looking out my window with city lights shinning up, it wont ever be the same. Another time when I had seen that kind of beauty was when I went to Sedona and saw the rock formations there. It was unbelievable.

The National Parks program is on PBS this week, and it should remind us all that there is the beauty of America and the World which we have to live for. There's so much to see, it truly is a beautiful world a beautiful life... once we see the bigger picture.