Yoga on the Rim

I went on a spontaneous camping adventure to Arizona with my friend Jimmy, and Max came too! Jimmy is a sort of expert outdoorsman while I didn't even own a sleeping bag.

I pitched my first tent, slept in a sleeping bag and cooked dinner on a fire in the darkness of night.

We stayed one night in Sedona, AZ, the red rocks are beautiful! I have never seen so many stars in my life!  This Universe is grand and infinite, seeing all the stars, made me feel small, and then I realized my sorrows are even smaller. Though my pains may feel heavy some days, they are not as significant as the complexities and beauty this world offers.

On day two, we traveled to see The Grand Canyon.  I did not know much about this place except for it's on the list of places to visit in the world, like the Eiffel Tower or the Pyramids.  Jimmy suggested I do a yoga session at the canyon. He would take pictures. Sure, I said.

Yoga on the rim of The Grand Canyon, is the scariest thing I have ever done. Standing on the edge, I had to keep my focus on being grounded, back to basics in all my postures, I could not think about falling, or I would fall.  I've practiced these postures may times, in a room, with even flooring; it was challenging to feel the uneven earth and to look forth onto the other side which was 15 miles ahead of me, and a canyon that's about a mile deep in between. Then it came time to do a headstand, I couldn't get up. My heart was beating fast, I was nervous, because if I fell, I would roll off this cliff. I kept trying, finally I got up! I stayed for a bit, then to come down slowly and safely. I did it! I didn't fall! I didn't kill my self! I felt liberated.

I am reminded, life is to be lived on the rim, the space where you are doing with effort, when it's scary but you keep going, between too much and not enough, between knowing you can and doubting your abilities.  I'm glad to have experienced yoga on the rim, because that's what yoga is, it's on the rim.

Thank you to a dear friend who let me crash his trip to see The Grand Canyon and for being an encouraging presence. Until the next adventure!

Budapest Ness

I took a holiday to Budapest, Hungary.  I was intrigued by the history and culture and left with many new friends from all around the world.  I visited most of the tourist sites: Fisherman's Bastion, Central Market Hall, The Parliament...the list goes on.  These sites were beautiful and full of a rich history, what I did not expect was to come across so many friendly, warm people along the way.

For those who know me, in my regular life, I'm usually costuming or studying yoga, in bed by 10PM, this was not the case in Budapest.  Janelle and I stayed up until morning!  That is not my life!  People were very curious about where we were from, a black girl and an Asian girl traveling together really threw them off.  It was a good conversation starter.  People demanded I was from Asia.  It was endearing. The night life in Budapest is very casual, everyone is out to have fun and talk to those around them, I love that. We met so many cool people, talked until the morning and went on adventures with them the next day.  It reaffirms that it doesn't matter where we come from or what we do for a living but when there's a connection from human to human we can all get along and even share some laughs.

My experience in Budapest really opened my eyes to living in another country.  I love my home here in LA, I am grateful to own a home and share it with my pup Max, taking walks around the lake everyday but I realize that I could make a life almost anywhere.  Until the next adventure! Enjoy the photos. =)
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