TRANSPORT

My first ride on a motorbike… lets just say…was a total exercise in surrender. We were on back roads riding with short sleeves and no helmets, narrowly avoiding cows, wild dogs, pigs, children, not to mention various types of other vehicles. On choppy semi paved streets, the sound of random horns filling the air, every turn seemed a new jungle path. And with every moment I knew I was relinquishing control. I didn’t know where we were or where we were going. And there where no signs leading the way.

Riding behind my guide I realized I had 3 choices: hold him tightly, grab the handle behind me or raise my arms to the sky… I made certain to try all 3.

Read more...

GERTRUDE

In the middle of the night I became aware of just how much water I had consumed before bed. With the mosquito net surrounding my bed and the unfamiliar jungle noises filtering in from outside through the open windows, I tried to go back to sleep. But I soon realized that I couldn’t hold it till morning.

I crawled out from underneath my thin blanket and through the net, slipped on my slippers and wandered sleepily into the bathroom. I sat down and began to feel some blader relief until I heard a prominent thump just behind me. Just then a tiny tree frog, perhaps only 2 ½ inches long, had jumped onto the back of the toilet. I curtailed a little squeak that pulsed in my throat. "Just stay calm, its just a tiny frog." I tried again to relax. "Just complete this common daily ritual. Everything is ok." Then she jumped again- and so did I! I quickly pulled up my pjs and dove back under the perceived safety of my mosquito net.

In the morning when my friend Corame asked me how I slept, I told him about the tiny frog in the middle of the night:

“ A trip to Asia without animals would require a refund,” he said with a smile, “And what did you name your frog?”
After a deep breath and a bit of soul searching I replied:

“Gertrude. Her name is Gertrude.”

Read more...

COCONUT

I awoke this morning inside a coconut. A large thatch covered round hut complete with running water and a mosquito net surrounding the bed. The sound of the crashing waves just paces away coupled with the dancing light filtered through the palms that shown through the open door created a peaceful sort of trance that made me question not only my will but also my need to hurry anywhere.

Ever.

But my breakfast was waiting outside. Fresh fruits, musli, bread with honey and fresh hot chai. The watermelon juice a deep color of sienna the likes of which I had never seen. And as the sweet guitar music flows through the window, I believe I have spotted my hammock- the home of my hopeful afternoon nap.

I think Im going to like this “work”.

Read more...

THE ROAD TO GOA

The road to Goa was a long one.

When we finally arrived at the place where we would lay our heads for the night, a fellow traveler asked where I was coming from. I answered perhaps too completely- “Berlin by way of Los Angeles, my 30+hours of travel had included a flight from Berlin to London Luton, a bus ride to Victoria Station, a ride to Heathrow then a flight to Mombai. It was all followed by an epic taxi ride to the local airport, a flight to Goa, then an hour+journey by private car deep into the thought provoking jungle countryside until we finally reached a our destination.

A shower, a meal and a nice long sleep and I would be right as rain.

Read more...

You're Good to Goa!

An amazing opportunity arose while I was in LA. A friend of mine who is working on a large international project needed an editor for the English portions of a globally comprehensive website. He proposed that while the work could be done from the city via the internet, that it would be more fun to do it live and in person with him on the beaches of Goa India. It just so happens that I had moved out of my apartment before coming to LA and I was still technically unemployed. Jobless and homeless I had the time and the ability to go. And it just so happens that I speak pretty good English ;-)

After discovering in LA just how difficult it was to get a “rushed” visa on a holiday weekend,I felt a little panicked. After about an hour of anxiety, I remembered something really simple.. this wasn't my idea. And I realized that the flow of my life had brought this whole thing on and it was kinda silly to think it would abandon me now. I took a deep breath and felt strongly that Berlin would come through. And once I had that thought, I felt a lot of peace. I called my friend Patrick in Berlin and he called the embassy to find out what I needed. I would land in Berlin on Thursday and have only 2 business days to procure my visa for India.

I went to the embassy, all my documents in hand. The line was pretty short and in no time I was up to the front of the line.

I complimented the man behind the counter for handling things before me so quickly. I smiled and thanked him. He seemed to neither understand nor regard the compliment.

After he went through my paperwork it seemed that everything was in order. I had read online and Patrick had also called to inquire about the fees. When I saw that we were almost finished I reached for the 50 Euros I had in my wallet. "That will be 75 Euros please" said the man behind the counter....

Ummm....what? He explained that German passports were 50 Euros but that American passports were 75. “You come from a rich country, “ he said with a slight smile. I asked if they took cards. He said no. I asked if I could try to find an ATM and bring back cash- he said I would never make it in time. In that moment I made a wish…

Just then a woman nearby told me that she knew of an ATM not too far. Another man near to her asked me how much I needed. I told him and almost before I could finish he handed me 25 Euros. I smiled and turned back to the man at the counter. "Ive got it!"

Samudra (which means Ocean) and I went to Podstamer Platz to find an ATM and afterward I treated him to some coffee. He was on his way back to his home to India to spend 3-6 months. He had been living here in Berlin for the past 10 years with his family and they were going for a nice long vacation. "If you are ever need a place to stay in Calcutta or you need anything while you are in India, give me a call."

I picked up my visa today. I leave tomorrow...

Read more...

Changing States

Today I am leaving home to go home: LAX to Berlin.

And moving from one space to another can be tricky for lots of reasons. Travel can often be equal parts adventure and stress because that’s what you’re doing: changing states. Water to Ice. Liquid to Solid. Hot to Cold. And it’s rapid. I think that’s part of whats going on here in the airport. I’m watching how different people deal with this. And it applies to so many things- moving from one mindset, place, set of ideas into another. Just like any other change in life only faster. We do this in our worlds all the time as we grow but it can be downright painful. Change is uncomfortable. And everyone reacts in their own way. I think the trick is to to get really good at the fact that it is the only real constant.


I have had the gift of seeing so many loves on this trip. I got to look them in the eyes, put my arms around them, share our hearts and stories. And as I sit here in the airport terminal waiting to board my flight back to Berlin, I realize that there is no need to search the world for what is already mine.

I am loved.

But I am out there exploring now, experimenting with my life in order to meet myself. I am changing states regularly in order to become comfortable with change. I am pushing out my borders literally and figuratively in an effort, a flow, a longing to finally find a way to truly love myself.

Read more...