I’m back from my 2nd time around the world buying one-way plane tickets along the way. I was exploring, teaching, and reflecting for 8 months and it felt like 8 years – but it went so fast I am out of breath just thinking about it. For three months I lived down the street from the Dalai Lama. And his light-filled energy rubs off on you even when he isn’t at home. I made friends with his bodyguards, official photographer, and translator and one day I received a miraculous gift; I got to photograph him. He’s so radiant it knocked my eyeballs out and spun them around in my head and made me wake up to kindness and generosity. I’m still working on it. It’s a practice. Then I lived in an ashram on the Ganges River for 2 months and taught kundalini yoga and loved every minute of it. I was on the clean part of the river and I bathed in the water. It does wash away your sins. Look Ma no sins! And after I started swimming in it I stopped getting sick.
Then I went to Ladakh in Kashmir, the northern most state of India. Ladakh has more monasteries per capita than anywhere else in the world. We are talking ancient stupas here - 500 to 1000 years old. It also has the highest motor-able pass on the planet. And even in June it snows up there and everyone cheerily chugs along as the share jeep clings to the icy road looking down guardrail-free cliffs that plummet to kingdom come.
Next stop was Nepal – I traveled overland to Lumbini where Buddha was born and did a retreat meditating 12 hours a day. Slowly it started to dawn on me. I am in too much of a rush and need to slow down and breathe. Be mindful and aware of every moment. We can die anytime. Lets get along while we are here on earth. And do some good too. People come first. Not a BMW, big home, or fat bank account.
All these modern gadgets we have can be distracting. Text messaging, cell phones, Internet, ipods. Have you noticed there are few people on the street without earphones in their ears? Most people in the world don’t use ipods or have a 5CD changer or even a telephone.
Like my friends in the jungle who take care of the elephants at the breeding center in Chitwan, Nepal. Mahouts, they are called in this world heritage site jungle. So they asked me to come in the jungle with them while the elephants grazed. It was one of the best days of my life. Probably because it was illegal. Nepali law states that tourists must have a professional jungle guide with them because we can be killed by tigers and other animals that are made into purses. But I did have 4 elephants and 4 guys who gave me a taste of their daily life - 6 hours in the jungle in the pure wilderness and they didn’t bring any water or food. We communed with the elephants as they chomped on grass and we sat under our umbrellas in the monsoon. Enchanting. I was in an alternate universe. No electricity, no water, no Internet, OK we did have a cell phone. I was learning Nepali and translating it into English for my new pals. And a mutual unofficial adoption, I fell in love with Manesh who is about 18 years old. He took me on his elephant bareback and after that I was smitten. I'm going back there to live at the breeding center with the guys and hang out with the baby elephants. Manesh invited me.
Then I went to a nunnery in Kathmandu and made friends with 360 nuns. They made me laugh, discussed Buddhist philosophy far into the night like a dharma pajama party and fed me. They never seemed to sleep. I would go to bed at night hearing their chanting as I drifted off. Morning prayers were at 5AM so when I taught them kundalini yoga we did it at 4AM. Those nuns were busier than Lee Iacocca.
I usually leave the USA for 6 months but this time it was 8. The 2 extra months made me feel I was truly living in another country not just exploring. I learned how to begin bonafide self-employment while traveling – teaching photography and yoga. I settled down and made friends in communities and didn’t move so often as I like disgorging my backpack and not packing it again for several weeks. Putting down some roots and chutes and enjoying the communities I find and helping out when I can. I’ll keep on being a vagabond until I think of a compelling reason not to. But I haven’t thought of one. I’ll be back in California not sure when, so celebrate today and remember that life is short we could leave at anytime. I’m off to my son’s wedding in Thailand, there will even be a parade.
I’m grateful to be celebrating 25 years in my photography business. A quarter of a century is a long time. I supported my family in Palo Alto on my business and made so many friends doing it. I love my work and I enjoy doing it. Thank you for your enthusiasm and support!
If you haven’t seen my youtube videos kindly check it out and see baby elephants, the Dalai Lama, and a surprise guest in my bedroom...
Stay in touch with me by email, facebook, skype, and telepathically. Write me. You will always get an answer no matter where I am in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/user/zestyzippy
skype name: grisanti1
Peace and Love,
Mary
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