How well do you know yourself?

How well do you know yourself?

I feel the universe puts people in my path every day that remind me that we are all human.  This evening I went for a walk in the park near my house. Along the way I stopped to have a chat with a man about his shiba inu, a beautiful small dog with a curly fluffy tail.  He suggested to me to do research on the breed before I bought one; in his opinion they are NOTHING like other breeds.  "They aren't really a dog that you get just to have around. You have to really pay attention to them. They talk you know, it's called yodeling. They tell you everything you just have to really listen to figure out what they need," he said.  "They are different you have to basically convince them that what you want them to do will inevitably benefit them. They don't want to do anything unless they are going to benefit from doing it."  I laughed, "That's how I am!"  He smiled and said, "That is why I got a shiba inu." We grinned at each other and went our separate ways.

Another insight into my life by a stranger along my path, literally this time.

We all want connection

I went to dinner with a friend last night at a Moroccan restaurant in Denver.  We had the entire place to ourselves, which later I remembered because of Ramadan.  The owner was hobbling around with his broken foot waiting on us diligently, engaging in our conversation.  When we were getting up to go he invited us to come back after Ramadan for the live music.  I had to ask him some questions about Ramadan because I am in a continuous stage of soaking up as much information as I can, always wanting to learn.  He told us about the importance of fasting during Ramadan and how it can open your eyes to so many incredible things God wants to show you.  Going to bed hungry is a feeling that is way more prevalent than we could possibly imagine.  By fasting you are able to feel empathy for those that are poor and hungry, they may even be your family members.  He shared with us how he feels that Christianity should adopt a fasting ritual similar to Ramadan because it can bring you to such a higher understanding of God's heart and the cleansing benefits our bodies reap from a sunrise to sun up fast. He compared us to cars running 24 hours a day, needing a break. The most important thing I took away from this conversation with him was the importance of taking care of each other in a familial and community level.  He said that in his faith you feed the hungry poor people in your family FIRST, then you branch out to your neighborhood and then FINALLY your community.

Everyone has their own opinions on religion, eating habits, and spirituality.  But isn't it incredible that he was able to share this deep insight into what is important to him?  I feel that he wanted to connect on a deeper level, his heart was yearning for it.  I was intrigued by his truth and the importance he placed on the things that made his heart soar.  At the end of the day humans need connection, we want to share our truths with others; how we get it is unique to each of us.



  

Miserable Sunburn

For a feeling that makes you feel very much alive, sensitive to every movement of your being, and aware of the vibrations of your environment, thereís nothing like a good sunburn. Paul Sweeney

If a sunburn wasn't enough my legs had to swell up to twice their size!  These were taken in Pheonix on our 6 hour layover on our way back from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  I got this sunburn 2 days ago.

The first thing my grandpa said to me when he say me was, "Don't you know better?"  HA, yes I do.  I have no real excuses, basically I forgot to to put sunblock on my legs!! Oh yeah, because I stepped on a piece of glass that tore a gash in my foot and I was so overwhelmed by that that I couldn't focus enough to think about anything else.

Wear sunblock, while a tan is sexy .. a peeling sunburn is not!  A lesson I have learned multiple times in my life .. I think.

Love People, Love Life Words from a Stranger

I was at a local bank with my grandfather in the lobby waiting on a customer service agent, when a man began to talk to me.  He told me he came to America 37 years ago from Pakistan. When he arrived he went to Denver University, they taught him that if you are a nice, outgoing, people-loving person you will be successful in America.  He spoke to me for 10 minutes about how happy he was to be in America and how he loves people and is happy to be alive.  Beautiful words from an incredibly happy heart.

You never know when you are going to hear a bit of truth from a stranger.

Fun in the sun and snow

Neve

The snow has been falling since last night. I could hear the snow hitting the ground. When I closed my eyes it sounded like I was in an Alabama rain storm.

Everything was covered this morning with a fluffy blanket of fresh snow, we could barely find the car! We shoveled till our arms almost fell off.

Escursioni in montagna - Hiking up the mountain

"I would tell you we are almost there but that would be a lie," Elena said to me with a huge grin on her face.  It took us 1.5 hours to walk up the mountain, on the road while it was snowing, to the restaurant where Marco, Elena's boyfriend, works.  Boy, was the pizza AMAZING!  The five minute ride back down on the gondola a great experience, phew!

Even though the sun didn't show its face once it was a breathtakingly beautiful walk.

Elena and Malkine (the dog)

Makes you want to learn to ski, huh!?!

Good morning from Civenna, Italy. The sun is out, the snow is melting, and I'm eating vegetables again today!

green stuff - Civenna, Italia

I had my first snow day in a foreign country .. it was much like my regular snow days in Denver; good food, chick flicks, and gazing out the window watching the snow pile up, smiling knowing I don't have to shovel it.☺

Civenna-near Lecco, Italy

"You'll have to tell us when you need green stuff, we'll get you some, we don't eat it." So I had some vegetables for lunch, mmm!

Italy

I made it to Italy!!  I love it.  I'm in the northern part. After I landed in Milan I took a train to Milano Centrale, bought a biglietto (ticket), jumped on the train to Lecco, and into the and of my Italian family. Laura said it was like I hadn't even left.  In 2008, I stopped over in Italy after my trip to Greece, a trip that my brother Barret was planning to join me on.

Ester and I walked up to Pasta Fresca from the house. The vistas were beautiful! Later Elena, Sunny, and I went to a local hockey game .. brrrr!

Our view of the house on or walk up to Madesimo.

The view from the entry way window.

The ski slope just ends on the road.

Team Madesimo

As Kiwi As ..

I have been in New Zealand for 3 weeks now and although we "speak" the same language I feel, at times, that I need a translator!  Yesterday I got a fringe cut .. bang trim.  Every morning we load the boot .. trunk.  Ocassionally we go to a spa or hot springs pool where we wear our togs .. swim suits. And the best thing yet is that they say "as cool as" .. it's a simile but they don't finish it. Like this candy bar below- "As kiwi as .."  Everytime I hear someone end the sentence with "as" all it takes everything within my power not to laugh.

The people we have met so far are great. Kiwis are known for their hospitality.  We are currently in the South Island but I will update you all about our travels of the North Island in the past few weeks.

Tauranga is our home base and it is where my mom's working kidney's pair lives.  The reason I brought my mom to New Zealand was to visit our family friend Fridolin Kathan who donated one of his kidneys to my mom last September. The Kathans are a great family and they have been taking great care of us.

Tauranga has a populations of 111,000 and it continues to grow. The area, like the country of New Zealand, is on old volcanic rock.  In the harbor is Mount Maunganui which you can see from most of the city center and the white beaches.  The Kaimai mountain range is on the western side of the city.

Tauranga City

 Mount Maunganui

 Mount Maunganui Beach

 Old Town - buildings relocated from around the area.

Wonderful walking path around swamp near the Kathan's house where we take our daily walks.

A few days after we arrived we went to Otorohanga where Maureen, Fridolin's wife, grew up, for her high school reunion. While there we went to a Kiwi house and saw a real live Kiwi bird, they are nocturnal birds so the houses keep their rooms dark so visitors can see them during the day.  Many kiwi bird species are endangered species. Their existence is being threatened by the introduction of small mammals such as possum, ferrets, and mice by the early European settlers of New Zealand. More kiwi info

 Many of the streets of the coast towns are lined by cherry trees but because it does not freeze in winter there are no fruits.

 An interesting house in Otorohanga.

 A taste of tree tomatoes for the Americans.

The Kiwis are proud of their kiwi birds.

We celebrated Fridolin's birthday at his daughter Olivia's flat in Whitianga at the end of September. Whitianga is a popular beach town on the Coromandel Peninsula. 

Whitianga 

Symmond's beach 

We took a train ride on the Driving Creek Railway. It is New Zealand's only narrow-gauge mountain railway. The railway was built by a local artist in Coromandel in order to bring the clay in from the mountain side to his art studio.  He enjoyed building the railway so much that he continued until he reached the end of his property.  The bank encouraged him in the '90s to start taking passengers because they wanted him to start paying them back!

 Driving Creek Railway

 Kuotouna Beach

 We got a Tip Top Icecream and walked along the beach.

Coromandel is incredibly beautiful area. We enjoyed everyday of our stay, the weather was beautiful and the people were fantastic!

Honolulu and Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor was incredibly moving. We took a bus tour, which I highly recommend. Our bus driver was very knowledgeable and she had this love for history that was contagious!

I truly believe every American should go to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, to remind them off the horrible things that come from war and the precious lives that are lost.

Always a good time to thank the service men and women.

The sunsets in Waikiki were incredible!

No trip to the coast is complete without a fishing trip, so we headed to the docks. Kayla and I were stoked!

 Although the fishing trip was not very successful for Kayla nor I but we had lot of fun and the deck hand grilled up the other patrons fishes to share ... Yum!

Kona coffee and new friends

We were in Kona for 3 days. We stayed in the bottom floor of a local family's home, that was listed on airbnb. It was nice to hear the giggles and pitter-patter every morning. LK's mother called her a "Hawaiian chili pepper" she is such a spunky little girl. She has an incredible personality. She became great friends with my cousin Kayla and I. She woke us up one morning with a "See you later alligator! In a while crocodile!" We had an entire conversation with her through the bedroom window. We even painted our finger nails so they matched.

The first morning we drove a couple hours down to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. It was a gorgeous drive south along the coastline. 

We stopped at Punalu'u Black Sands Beach.

Although many of the Hawaiian islands are eroding the volcanoes of the Big Island of Hawai'i add 4 inches per year to the coast. There was an eruption in 2008 that forced the park service to close off a large amount of the road so we were unable to drive to the coast and active volcanoes.

We walked through the Hawaiian rain forest that had been spared from the many eruptions of the volcanoes. There we found the Lava Tunnel. The Hawaiians used to be a burial site for their loved ones.

Kayla and I had to make it to the beach, our travels had been full of beautiful beach views but no actual beach day, imagine that! 

That night we went to a great luau and has a fabulous time. There was the funniest guy there putting on a presentation about how to open a coconut. The performers were great and of course gorgeous. ;)

The next day we had a marvelous breakfast with an incredible view.  We had some entertainment from a cute gecko. 

Nothing like a cappuccino to get the day stared off right!

Then we hope on a plane to head to Honolulu. Whoohoo!