Year: 2015

Stop. Breathe. Release.

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Sitting in the neon lit room, enclosed by cream walls, I can see speckles of the signature blue trickled throughout the room, in the notepads, the notices on the wall and the student’s vacant gaze. I glance down at the textbook and regurgitate yet another lesson in English 101. Feigning interest, I smile and pretend to be enjoying myself. Days and days go by like this, but the student knows the truth, they can see through my plastic smile, and feel it in their bones. resistance (n): the refusal to accept or comply with something. Resistance shows its destructive face in many ways, acting as the saboteur of our lives: when we decide to follow a creative calling; commit to a health regime; feel the urge to launch a new venture or simply get ourselves out of the present moment into a perceived better one, in my case, lying on the beach somewhere with a pina colada in hand. Resistance seems to come from outside ourselves, like an uncontrollable force emitted from jobs, partners, circumstances that poison us and cause us to be unhappy.  It …

What To Do When The World Says No

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The easiest option is of course to join in and say ‘no’ with them. To accept that you really aren’t that great and don’t deserve more. Of course you can’t have anything you want, I mean that’s ludicrous, it just doesn’t work like that. Go out, have that 2nd, 3rd, 4th beer or that double chocolate cookie and slip back into the hum drumness of everyday existence. I don’t believe it has to be like this. Most of us accept that a select few get to live their dreams. That they are blessed with luck and that things just come to them without much effort. We believe that we can’t really follow our dreams – whether it’s starting that pottery business; making toy airplanes, or opening a specialist sweet shop – these are just fantasies that can’t be realised in the ‘real world’. I think this is all bullsh*t. Excuse my French, but it had to be said. Perhaps the real issue is that most of us just aren’t prepared to put in the effort. To apply ourselves daily to achieving our dreams, however simple …

The First Rule of Tinder Is…

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… Don’t expect your date to look like his photo. The Second Rule: Drop your expectations dramatically, like 100%. And then some more. And the Third Rule: Swiftly delete your account (well, that’s for you to decide..) I’m an old school gal at heart, and not one who has ever delved into the magical world of online dating, but I thought I’d give it a try. I mean it’s 2015 after all and everyone’s doing it; I’m living in Tokyo and dating is tough for a western girl. So I got one of my closest buddies to sign up with me.  It started out as a joke of course – let’s just join for one month and see what happens; maybe we can meet some guys to take us surfing. Well things didn’t turn out quite like that. There sure are some strange cats lurking on Tinderland. We spent many train rides home swiftly swiping left for horrifyingly unsuitable suitors. There’s the guy who’s married but is looking for a threesome; the Marilyn Manson lookalikes, the redneck from Texas,  and of course the ones with poodle profile …

Roast Veg Nori Wraps

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Living in Taiwan, we are super lucky that fruit and veg are so cheap and abundant here. I sure will miss that when I leave! I popped down to my local fruit and veg street market this morning and came back with 2 bags full of colourful goodies for less than $8. I’ve been feeling like I need a health reboot, and the best way to do that is cook for yourself of course. I didn’t feel like just plain brown rice and veg, so decided to add in some nori (seaweed) for fun. I don’t need to tell you the benefits of eating seaweed, but incase you don’t know check out my previous post on 5 Essential Japanese Foods. So this is what I did: I  roasted up some veg, use whatever you have on-hand. I used squash, onion, red pepper, cloves of garlic and mushrooms. A splash of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, black pepper and some Himalayan rock salt and you’re good to go. I like it when the onion goes crispy and caramely when baked.. mmm mmm mmm. …

Slowly, Slowly…

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Step by step. I placed one foot in front of the other, pressing gently into the wooden steps as I made my ascent. Up, up and further up I went, slowly, steadily, with ease and flow. Until soon these steps became somewhat effortless, as if I was floating up the mountain. This was my experience hiking up Shoushan 壽山 (Monkey Mountain) today; very unusual for me because usually I’m puffing and panting all the way to the top. So what was so special about today? I decided to take it slow. I wanted to see what it felt like to feel each step, and keep my awareness there in that moment. To my surprise, something magical happened. I hiked and hiked and didn’t have to stop once along the way. My heart rate stayed steady, I felt full of strength, like I could go on forever. I felt connected to my surroundings – the beautiful old trees, butterflies, and monkeys. Perhaps because today I actually took time to look around, instead of forging ahead. Everything seemed wondrous. When someone came past me, I felt myself wanting …

Why, Hello There…

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As part of WordPress’s Blogging 101 challenge, we have to write a post about who we are and why we’re here. Ok, so Day 1 was 2 days ago, but here goes… Who Am I Really? I could start by telling you a list of things about me, like who I am and what I do in this world. But does any of that really matter? Instead, I’d like to tell you about what moves me. I’m inspired by beauty. It’s all around us, waiting to be seen. We just need to open our murky eyes, rub back the dirt, and look. Really look. I see it in people’s stolen smiles; I see it in trees, mountains, sunsets and cups of tea. Aaah… the beauty of it all. I’m inspired by travel, exploring unknown lands. Spending some time there, maybe a few years, and uncovering the essence of the place. Getting to know the people, the food, and the culture. It’s all very exciting. I’m moved by yoga. Everyday it gives back to me more and more. It teaches …

Thoughts Become Things

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Well that sounds easy enough. I’ll just think about all the things I want in my life and they’ll manifest NOW! Haha if only it was that simple. Well, it could be if we were in a place of complete allowing. Our intentions would be pure, our focus razor-sharp, and in an instant our desires would be fulfilled. But like everything in our perfect universe, this principle is based on that of duality, and on the opposite end of the spectrum we have resistance. allowing <<<  >>>  resistance Resistance is what ultimately stops us from fulfilling our desires. It keeps us stuck in the lack of it (the job/healthy body/relationship/money, etc.) and draws that which is like itself towards us. Haven’t you noticed when you don’t have resistance to something, how easily it comes into your life? It’s like the more you want something from a place of need, the more resistance is created, and the harder it is to get it. “If you are resisting anything, you are focused upon it, pushing against it, and activating the vibration of …

My Kaohsiung

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There’s a lot of reasons to love living in Taiwan, like the ever-friendly Taiwanese people, cheap food and accommodation, safety, amazing healthcare, $5 acupuncture treatments and the eternal sunshine, to name a few. But here’s why I love living here, and especially in Kaohsiung, which I think has the perfect mix of first-world living balanced with an easy-going edge. 1.  My Hood I live in the Cultural Centre 高雄市文化中心; area (KMRT 06/07) downtown. I absolutely LOVE living here. Maybe it’s because I live down a quaint little street that lights up at night, and the area is filled with eateries, cafes and pretty much everything I need within walking distance. I like that I can walk to the park which is always humming with people walking their dogs or families just hanging.  On the weekends, it lights up with craft markets and there’s a definite buzz and an authenticity about it. I love how the corner man greets me everyday, even though I have never eaten at his restaurant, not once. I feel at home here. 2. Massages with No.23 Oh yes, massages with …