The Shift

Life is the moment in time where our one action, no matter how small or innocent, makes the difference.

With the wave of my hand, I was able to open up a smile into this world today. To lighten up the tensions on our faces and to create a small conversation between two cultures, where the only reason we are staring at each other is because we are curious. Curious to look, to see, to try and understand one another.

It's an amazing event when two eyes meet. The look, the quick examination of each other, how much we read in those brief seconds, how much we judge in a short period. Most people shrug these intimate little moments off, but I think these are the moments of most importance. It's where we really get to interact with human nature. To see it, for all that it is, isn't and wants to be.

It's where the change occurs. It's the moment between the inhale and the exhale of our breath. That's where and when life happens. In the least unexpected moments. When you meet someone on a train, connect over an innocent touch and let all precedence go.

Life happens when we listen to our heart, truly. When we act on life and not just wait. When we have the energy and courage to let go of our fears and insecurities and invite everything in.

Experiences are created when we are willing to take the risk, put our criticisms aside and do what we feel. When we connect our souls with our brains.

The paradigm of people's life in the 21st century is beginning to shift. It just might start with the fall of the most powerful country in the world.....but I think this needs to happen in order for awareness to be fully realized, in order for us to really understand the fragility of life.

The next step of Jessness

I Will Not Die an Unlived Life.

I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance;
to live so that which came to me as seed goes to the next blossom
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.

--Dawna Markova

Cambodia

Oh! Cambodia went to fast. We got greedy and sped through it and now I wish I was in quite ole' Siem Reap instead of dirty Bangkok. But that's what one gets when rushing into things. Anyways...Cambodia!

What a beautiful country. I miss it already. Beautiful caring people, beautiful landscapes , quite, peaceful, relaxed. It was fabulous. Angkor Wat...magnificent! The entire complex is so amazing. I loved just walking around in the forests surrounded by peacefulness and old temple ruins. One of my favorite parts was just driving around in the tuk tuk. It was so nice, country road drives that took me back to Iowa memories. It also reminded me a lot of the Philippines. Very simple lifestyles, they mostly ride bicycles. The power doesn't always work and cows everywhere. For such a beautiful country, the people have suffered greatly and still do due to the 3-5 million landmines that exist there still!

Tonight, Derrick and I are on Kosan Road in Bangkok wishing we weren't here. Ugh...dirty, nasty, noisy city...We are leaving to go to the North tomorrow though, so only a few hours left here. Today, I feel that I am ready to head back to Taiwan, but we still have 16 more days. We will see how I feel in 2 more days, hopefully things will get better once out of Bangkok! Take Care!

The Uncle Ho Trail

It is raining this lazy Sunday morning as we prepare to say goodbye to such a beautiful country. From the early age of 16, when I was introduced to my second family in life, the Tran's at Asian Gourmet, I've always wonder what Vietnam was like. Lien always said she would take me there, but I couldn't wait any longer.

From the minute I entered Saigon I was happy. Ecstatic more like it! Clean air, western style, everything that Taiwan isn't. The people are amazing! Friendly, quite, resiliant, hardworking, and passionate for their country. They don't take less than they deserve and seem to strive each day to make life better for themselves and thier families. They don't give up. Evident by the masterminds of the Cu Chi Tunnels.

The highlights of my trip have been Dalat and Sapa. I had no idea what amazing mountains were in this country. I took in every negative ion the greenery produced and repaired my mind and body. Nature...I've missed it so much. Crusining on scooters in Dalat, sucking in the awesome big, blue skies, the fabulous cummulus clouds and the fresh wind whipping thru my hair. Getting sick on buses because my eyes couldn't get enough of the amazing amount of elevation that we would gain and lose was worth it all. Trekking for 3 days in the rice terraces of Northern Vietnam, opening my eyes to the way people live just to have survive each day, while the stock market crashes in America and everyone thinks the world is going to end. What little they realize....

To the craziness of Hanoi, boy! I am glad to leave it, to the serenity of Halong Bay. To all the awesome people I have met in this countr! I am usually jaded to the tourist track, but it's been great to be able to keep relationships going throughout our trip.

Vietnam has opened my eyes. Opened my eyes to all the places in the world I have not been yet or even thought of, to changing my attitude and lifestyle. To helping me realize what Taiwan is to me, what it was and how it will be. It's been a good mind expansion, to say the least.

Now we are off to Cambodia...I have no idea what to expect, which is good, for I am trying to live my life with little expectations. Just trying to life life for each moment that it hands me. So, stay tuned to the adventures of Team D.J. as we roll into Camobdia to discover whatever it has to give.

American Woman!

Wow! Another day in Paradise. Can life really be this good? I guess it can, because I am living the best life right now. Today, as I swam in a beautiful bay in the middle of Asia, rode my bike through remote villages, I realized how awesome it is to be Jess.

I've worked so hard, taken so many risks and struggled a lot this year, but I realize more and more everyday how worth it, it has been. My friend Donna once said to me, "I choose to be happy." That simple statement has influenced me for the last year. It was the initiator into my life in Asia. And, it is a priority in my life. I choose to live a happy life and that meant leaving Brian, leaving a huge part of my life behind and it has been worth all of it!

Today, I realized that American women are highly regarded around the world. I am so lucky to be an American woman! We are so lucky to be able to have the rights we do, be self-confident, independent and opportunities galore. Others are not so lucky...we are lucky to be raised in a culture where we are equal. No silly standards to live up to.

Well, it's time to close this blog and I hope you all are well. I will write more soon and miss you all!

Sapa, Vietnam- 3 days in Paradise

We just spent the last 3 days in Sapa. We took an overnight train and a one hour car ride to this great little mountain town, it was worth every bump and motion sickness pills to get there!

From Sapa, we booked 2 nights to sleep in minority villages. We got to stay with the local people in their homes. It was quite an experience. The first day we hiked 12 KM. Through gorgeous rice terraces, mountains and the freshest air I have had in a long time! The local Black Muong tribe followed us the whole way. All the women follow the tourists each day, being very nice to us, making us beautiful flower wreaths for our hair, little animals crafted from rice stalks and bouquets carefully crafted into heart shapes for us. They carry handbags, bracelets, blankets in woven baskets on their backs hoping that us, rich white people, will buy their goods. Each day, the walk the mountains in hopes of making such little money on their intricate embroidery. There embordiery is so detailed, beautiful, it blows Gramma Sahm's away! So, you know me, I definitly purchased my fair share!

We had this fantastic tour guide named Zung. He really made our trip the best! Super enthusiastic and always making sure we were happy! We went swimming in beautiful waterfalls, crystal clear waters and beautiful mountains! It was very interesting to go from village to village. It was obvious which villages had more money than others and how important it is for the local people to have the toursit industry come to them. They are so very poor, indoor plumbing is definitly a luxury item, only for the richest people in the village. And those people are the ones who host the tourists in their homes! Amazing how everything in our lives is just an "extra" compared to these people. It's a good eye opener for Derrick, I believe.

We hiked a total of 28 KM in three days! I loved getting out and being in nature and it feels so good to exercise. Along the way, I met a very nice Vietnamese man named Kien. He was very passionate about learning English, so I spent many hours helping him with pronunciation, phonics, etc. He was also very good looking :) But, what I loved about Kien is that he opened up my eyes to how important learning English is for them. It is a survival tool they need in order to make money. He opened my eyes to how much I have learned how to be an English teacher and how I am looking forward to doing this more, just in a different environment. I have many tools to give and want to give them to the people who need them most. So now, I am on a journey to figure out how to do this. I guess Sister Mary Lee is calling my name again!

I miss you all and hope you are well. Looking forward to returning to the States in June!

When Broken Glass Floats

As I chatted with a very close person to me today, I realized where his pain comes from. He swells with pain that comes from the absence of love in his life. The absence of a certain love. A Mother's Love. I believe that there is nothing else of more power than the feelings that eminate from a mother to her child. A Mother's Love fills us, the children, with energy, confidence, HOPE. A feeling that we can achieve all of our greatest dreams. Mother's are the backbone of the world. Without them we are non-existant. A Mother's Love is of the purest form, like mountain water that first sees the sunlight, like a new flowering bud during the first weeks of spring. Mother's Love is powerful, it can make us and break us. When we cannot feel our Mother's Love we are on a constant journey to reach it again.

Sally Sells Seashells

I need someone to pinch me, I must be dreaming. But...I know I am not. As I plop my somewhat overweight body (for Jess that is) onto my beach chair, I am in paradise. I've worked so hard to do this and I am finally reaping the fruits of my labor.

I woke up at 6 AM, ran out my door and headed for a morning walk on the beach. How awesome it is to walk outside on Tuesday morning and have the East China Sea as my backyard. At 8 AM we met our Welsh and New Zealand friends for kayaking. It was fantastic! The water here is so blue and the lush, green mountains shoot right out of it. We kayaked to a small rocky beach where I now have a new collection of the most enormous seashells. I can now officially be Sally who sells seashells at the Seashore!

As I sit on the beach and look out at the cerulean blue waters I wonder to myself, why am I here? I think of Facebook. Each time I log onto Facebook, I see my classmates from HS, living in Dubuque, raising a family and doing the same same. I feel so young at 27, but I am living such a rich lifestyle. Why do I choose this and others don't? Why do they choose to settle down? There is so much to see and experience in this expansive world, I can't understand, but I want to. Let me know your thoughts on this...I keep thinking of it and want to hear others perspectives and ideas. Why do we choose the paths we do? Hmmm....

Well, tomorrow I am off to snorkel, while the others go scuba diving. We are not even half way up the Vietnam coast yet. At least 6 weeks more, so stay tuned if you choose to hear about my travels....keep me posted on your thoughts and ideas of this blog....it keeps me thinking, growing and trying to understand all people's roles in this life. Peace until then.....

The Mekong Delta

Wow! What an amazing lifestyle! One river completely shapes the way these people live! The Mekong is a beautiful area, full of traditional Vietnamese people.

We did the tour thing, which just about drove me crazy, but that is kinda how traveling in Vietnam is. But we met interesting people, so that was a benefit. Last night was the best for me. After a long day with the tourist crowd, there were 7 of us who decided to stay at a homestay place. Well, we trampled into a rickety old boat in complete darkness last night and our boat driver took us for a beautiful, awe inspring boat ride down the Mekong. It was fabulous! I haven't seen so many stars in such a long, long time! Beautiful stars, thousands! It was so peaceful and calm. I loved looking into the people's dailyness of life. We were able to peak into the private lives of these people by looking in their windows and doors of the little river shacks they live in. I am just amazed every country I go to, how simple people still live these days. Life doesn't have to be complicated, we make it that way.

The Mekong is their survival. They brush their teeth in it, do their laundry in the dirt brown water, the use it as drinking water, everything! We went to a floating market where everyone just goes grocery shopping from boat to boat. We also took the "classic ride" down the Mekong. The picturesque ride of an old person rowing you down in a traditional boat in an canal of trees and nothing else could be seen. I was loving it. And just like that it was over. As they dropped us off at our bigger boat, the beautiful, "tradional" scene was then over, as the old people whipped on the motors of their boats and took off to do the same tourist trap ride! Ha Ha! I could do nothing more than just laugh at this scene!

Next we are headed off to DaLat, Vietnam. I don't know what we will find, but hopefully some scooters to rent and some peace and quite. Hope you all are well, take care and I miss you!

The Agent "Mr. Orange"

Hello Everyone!

I am in Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam right now. I've been here for three days and I feel a little crazy. Crazy because I don't think life is all too strange here. I am used to it now from living in Taiwan. I actually feel like Saigon is much better because they have lots of trees and fresh air compared to Taiwan!

The last couple days have been all about the Vietnam War. I learned all about Ho Chi Minh, who is the man who wanted Communism here. We went to the War Museum! Wow! It's amazing that this war still affects these people today! The pictures of what the American bombs did to these people were horrifying. Children born in 1991 still come out all deformed because their parents were exposed to Agent Organge. Napalm victims in many places! What damage a war can cause. It just makes me think of what we are doing in the Middle East! The last effects war has on a place are inmeasurable...

We also went to the Cu Chi Tunnels today. This is where the Viet Khong, (the Vietnamese Communist Soldiers) build hundreds of Kilometers of underground tunnels to kill the American soldiers. It's amazing. We went into the tunnels that they have made bigger for the Western tourists to go in and I was still crawling on my hands and knees to get in it! I highly reccommend reading about the Cu Chi Guerilla fighters. They are the ones who made America loose the war! So, Vietnam is a Communist country today because of these people. Truly amazing! Oh Yeah! And I got to fire an AK47 automatic rifle. Now that baby had a kick!

Tomorrow we are spending two days on the Mekong Delta. We will spend the night with a host family, do boat rides, floating markets and the like. I don't feel shocked at all here. Just like normal life for me. Very similar to Taiwan in many ways. Thoughthe Vietnamese are exceptionally friendly and very beautiful!

I will post photos as soon as I can! Hope you all are well!

It's time....

It's time for me to hit the road again. I am off to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia for the next 2 months! I am excited and hope everything goes well! Stay tuned for more insights.....

Asian Affair

Asian nights

by Daniel Reid

I love the glow of Asian nights,
Streets ablaze in neon lights;
The heat and noise of throbbing crowds,
The swirling sea of gaudy sights.

I love the smell of Asian nights,
Kitchen smoke and pungent spice;
The mingled must of sweet and sour,
The heady scent of sweat and flowers.

I love the sound of Asian nights,
Temple bells and cocktail ice;
Shouting touts and chanting monks,
The siren song of tender vice.

I often dream of Asian nights,
With all her charms and soft delights;
If I could have one wish today,
I’d be in Asia’s arms tonight.

What do I love about Asia? Why do I have this strange connection with it? Ever since I met my first Asian man, his name was Kay, when i was 8 years old, at Joyce Connor's house, I've been enthralled with this culture. As I sit out in front of Bert's Music Cafe I ponder the Asian world.

Do I love Asia for it's rickety, exhausted scooters flying by? No, I don't think so. Is it the many colors and designs of face masks and moto helmets? Maybe. How about all the random noises of garbage trucks, Wa Guay Men at 7 AM and dogs barking outside of my window? No, definitely not. And it is certainly not the 90 degree humid weather at 8 AM!

It might possibly be all of this randomness mixed together with beautiful rice paddies, international friends, TAO temples, freedom, lack of enforced laws, intricate characters printed on everything. It also just might be my students and their passion of learning English and discovering culture, the tropical flowers and lush mountains. The conglomeration of all this randomness and the hoards of people packed in like sardines might be another reason why I love Asia. Whatever it is, I feel strong about it.

Something has been telling me ever since I got there that this is where I belong at the moment. That's why I made the decision to not go back to the States, why I took a trip to the Philippines and why I continue to make a way of life here.

I've also come to learn that I can always rely and know that change will always occur. I will keep my heart and my mind. But now, I need to go to work.

Photo: Daraga, Philippines

I have always viewed my life like a journey up a mountain. Today, I rode my bicycle up Bai Guo Shan, shan means mountain in Chinese. It was a very difficult and tiring ride. As I was slowly rode up this challenging shan, I had a lot of realizations.

I realized that when I ride my bicycle up a mountain, it is a very slow process. I have to work very hard, the sweat rolls off my body, even my arms! We cannot go up mountains very quickly. Even if we are very strong, climbing up a mountain is still in the slow category. No matter how hard we try, the mountains makes us aware of each pedal stroke, each step along it's path. We cannot rush.

So as this idea was brought to my attention, I realized that we cannot rush this journey. If we rush, we will burn out and not make it to the top. We need to take it easy, climb the mountain at a steady pace and enjoy the scenery as we go by. Bonnie said "Climbing a mountain is not an easy thing." I don't know why I ever thought it was!

As we continue the mountain of life, we need to be aware that it's not always going to be easy. Parts will be difficult. At times the mountain will flatten out a bit and give us a break. But remember, that the switchbacks will come and keep us always reaching for the top, forks in the path will arise and we will have to make a choice.

The future will always be unforeseen, this is why we must focus on what we have, TODAY.

What I've been waiting for!

I have this amazing friend! She is the most beautiful person! Her eyes are like blossoming flowers, full of energy and a love for life. She is a strong and courageous woman, never afraid to speak her mind. She is the person I have been looking for, for a long time in my life. I feel so fortunate to have been able to meet her and share life with her. She brings a spark to my mind, body and soul. After spending time with her, my world feels completely positive! No man could ever make me feel the way she does.

I am so happy for the both of us. We are passionate dreamers and creators. We live each day to bring our dreams into reality. We are not afraid to be the women we were born to be! Laura Michelle Andrew paints my world in Technicolor! I thank the universe for bringing us together!

Saving Face

What are we saving ourselves for? The time is NOW. If we have a desire to do something we need to let ourselves do it.

We need to stop saying "We will do it next time." There may be no "next time." We only have "this time." This moment.

Gather your friends, family and enemies...unite, embrace, educate, communicate, defeat ignorance.

Let's learn from each other, put our egos aside. I've had to try and do this a lot recently and wow! It can be very difficult to put our egos aside, bite our tounges and just listen with open ears, open heart and an open mind. Something good for us all to practice....

Old Man

Old Man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you were......

What I have come to realize is that we all are more alike than we are different. Bonnie would always ask, "If we are mostly made of water, are we mostly the same? Something to think about."

Well, Bonnie, I've been thinking about this idea. We are mostly the same. The differences that lie between us are simple. Languages, houses, modes of transportation, religions, etc. But at the core of it all, we are the same. We all breathe, think, eat, learn, grow, laugh, cry, communicate. But most of all, we love. We all care about someone or something. We all strive to be happy. We all have a family.

As I sat in a traditional house in Taiwan one rainy night, I realized how similar we are. I was nervous to enter the house. Not knowing any of the language, feeling a bit insecure. But as I sat there in the living room with the family I watched what was going on. What was going on, was the same exact thing going on with any family. People watching T.V., parents and grandparents teaching the children how to talk, play and learn. Aunts and uncles sitting around chatting with each other, relaxing on a Sunday night. I thought to myself, this is exactly what my family is doing right now. Why do we tend to think that people from other countries, backgrounds and origins are so different? I guess another misconception floating around the world.

I try to imagine what it might be like if we all embraced each other with open arms, open minds and open hearts....what would the world look like? How would we feel? What would we hear? My senses are starting to tingle with an electric hope!

Switch it On!

Aliright.....it's time for Chinese again! I am back HOME to Taiwan. Crazy, to call Taiwan my home, but I do feel this way now...well for the time being.

As I drove the bus home from Taipei last night, I took it in through a whole different lense. What I used to think was ugly, dirty, polluted and full of too many people, now seems clean, and not so many people! Amazing how visiting a different country can compeletly change one's persepctive.

Our brain's are amazing machines inside of our bodies. They produce so many thoughts, ideas, actions and perform so many functions. Culture shock is a good trick for it to learn how to deal with. When I first got to the Philippines I had a bit of culture shock, English signs, English being spoken, being able to speak to people. I didn't know quite how to handle it. Now, it's just the opposite again. I am back in my silent world. Back to getting my pointer finger out when I want something to eat or drink. My mouth now has to learn to be shut again. But hopefully not for too long, in 3 months my Chinese should be much better.

I have two weeks left of my vacation that I am going to dedicate to getting my life off on the right foot here. Finding a place to live, getting that set up, relaxing, exploring Taiwan and making some art. I hope this finds you all in peace and thanks for following my travels. May there be many more to come for all of us and let's work together, focus our energies and keep the positive vibes flowing.

Peace and Love!
Jess

Mountain Mama

Well...Beach life....hmmm....

It's not the life for me. I'm currently in Borocay, Philippines. My first experience at the true, picture perfect beach atmosphere, white beaches, teal blue water, fruity drinks, etc.

It's been nice to experience this, but it also lets me know that I prefer the mountains. I find nothing more relaxing than just walking and walking for hours thru trees, where peace and quite are easy to feel. I love the sound of the ocean waves, but I've come to truly hate sand! Sand in my hair, stuck on my arms, legs, sand in my shoes, in my camera, ugh..... I love the way the trees protect me from the sun too!

I am still really enjoying my trip and I am learning lots about myself and about the Philippines. Though, I've decided to head back to Taiwan early. I'm tired of being in a country full of dishonest people. Everywhere I go people seem to be trying to rip me off or just get the most money out of me as possible. It gets real old, so do the shitty conditions of places to stay, food to eat, water, etc.

Living and traveling abroad and working on the Indian Reservations has made me realize how lucky Americans are and they don't know it! (once again!) I miss being able to turn on my faucet in the house and just drink the damn water out of it! I miss being able to turn the shower on and have nice warm water come out of it. People in American don't realize this, but most countries don't have these water luxuiries. Americans need to wake up and say "thank you" to the fact that water is easy for them to have, use and get.

Really...when I travel I've learned that I prefer to travel with someone. It's so much more fun to have someone to share my experience with and a shoulder to lean on. I needed to travel alone to do this for myself, to tell my kids one day that I was able to step out of my comfort box, take a risk and do something on my own, to hopefully inspire them to do it was well. But, Backpacking is a tiring affair. By the time I leave I will have traveled for about 20 days. That is enough for me. Also, if I was a male I would feel completely different. I do not feel safe traveling alone in the Philippines. I don't like the looks I get from the Pilipino men....it is scary....

Another realization is that I truly am a "homebody". My heart has spelled out for me what is important to me, one is travel, but most importantly it is being in a place where it feels like "home" where I can relax, be around good people and just take my time. What is amazing is that I feel like Yuanlin gives me this. I look forward to going back to Taiwan where I have a family of great friends waiting for me and plenty adventure around every weekend!

It's been good to step out of the Taiwan forest and be able to see all the trees in my life. I've accomplished everything I've wanted to get out of this experience and I feel successful. Stay tuned for more insights.....this trip will bring many more to my mind......

Plastic bags

May today there be peace within. May you trust the spirit that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of hope. May you use those figts that you have recieved and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of the spirit. Let its presence settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and everyone of us.

This prayer was sent to me by my 6th grade teacher recently. It is the only thing keeping my soul afloat as I just spent a saddening day in Manila.

Manila is a place of extreme poverty. It is also the consumer mecca of the world. It has the Mall of Asia, as well as at least 6 other malls, tons of street markets and mass confusion everywhere. From living in Taiwan to now traveling in the Philippines, I know where all this "stuff" comes from in the world.

How is it that these malls and markets are full of people buying all kinds of "stuff", but if you look on the streets there are children sleeping on cardboard boxes, slums full of families just trying to make it thru the day, pollution fills the air, it makes me sick to breathe.

Today, I was in the middle of some crazy market and I was watching at least 10 children on a Friday afternoon, when they should be in school, selling plastic bags on the streets. Yep! Plastic bags, the kind you get at every Wal-Mart store in America! 10 pesos per bag they sell. They are filthy dirty, no shoes, ragged clothes. Why is this happening?

My heart is sickened...saddened. I realize today how in-tune I am with my surroundings. My soul feels all the vibrations in the air. I realized today that my mission in life is to try and help create equality for all children. I am not sure how I am going to do this, but I had a good education today and my eyes are now open.

Though, I officially hate Manila now, I am glad that I spent the day here to realize why I am here on this earth.

On to Borocay, to read, relax, meditate and bring clairity into my life.

I ask you all one thing....Please, when you go to the store to buy groceries, clothing, or whatever it is you want to buy, bring your own bag. Buy eliminating even one bag, we are helping the children of the world. Thanks!

Donsol, Philippines

I just had an amazing time in Donsol, Philippines. It's one out of two places in the world where you get to swim with the whale sharks. Google them! They are absolutley huge!

When we would jump into the ocean we would be right on top of the whale. so close I could reach out and touch it. Huge mouths, with little fish hanging out of them. My anxiety was high becuase I get a bit scared in the water especially when we are looking for huge whales! When we would see them, i just stopped in total awe and amazement! Everyone else kept swimming after them ,but i was so ful of awe that I would forget to keep swimming. It was a once in a lifetime experience and now I have a bad sunburn! Yikes! I am so tan though, it 's awesome!

Now I will be spending the next two days in Manila, going shopping for clothes and waiting to head to Borocay.

The most beautiful thing about this country so far is the children. Everywehre we go they say "hello" and they want thier pictures taken. I will have lots of beautiful photos of children! Well, I have to go....I 'll write more soon!

Banaue to Bontoc

Wow! I've already been to many places. It's amazing...but what is most amazing is that I believe someone was looking our for me while I was here. I think my Gramma Sahm sent me a guardian angel.

In the Manila bus station I met my traveling partner. He is a nice German guy named Kai. We have been headed in the same direction most of the time and we are good at traveling together. He is always getting the best prices and teaching me the ways to travel. It is very, very awesome! The Germans, they know where it is at!

So, the first place we headed was Banaue, home to the famous rice terraces, the 8th wonder of the world. The guide book said that the rice terraces in Batad were better, so we hiked up a mountain for 2 hours and then walked into town. Batad has barely any electricty, no hot water and the only way in is to walk. It was so awesome! We traversed through the rice terraces all day, saw a big waterfall and enjoyed talking with the local people. We stayed at Rita's. Rita is a very old, Ifuago Native of Batad. I had a beautiful evening with her. She told me all about her life and she taught me how to prepare the rice for the grinding. So we talked about life and shredded a bundle of rice together. I loved looking at her old hands, rugged feet, her smile with no front teeth and imagining what a hard life she has had. It has been the best part of my travles so far.

Then we woke up early the next morning and headed to Banaue. We walked out of Batad at 6 AM, up the beautiful mountain. THere is nothing better than waking up in the morning and the first thing you get to do is hike in the mountains! After walking almost two hours out, we hopped on top of a jeepeny and made our way back to Banaue. Then we hopped a bus to Bontoc on our way to Sagada.

Transportation is absolutely crazy here. The main mode is jeepeny. Google Image a jeepney, there is no way to describe them!

So, we took a beautiful bus ride through the mountains, with rice terraces everywhere. It reminded me a bit of Colorado! On the crowded bus we met up with 3 Spanish girls and we had a good talk with them. They were also headed to Sagada. So all 5 of us headed to Sagada on top of the Jeepney. I felt so free and full of life!

Sagad was a nice little mountain tomb, where we went hiking to see 500 year old coffins. It was pretty interesting...the landscape is the most amazing.

Now Kai and I are headed back to Manila. Manila is kinda of the hub. We half to go there to get other places. So we are waiting in Bontoc for a 12 hour bus ride to Manila. We just had a wonderful lunch of bread and a can of sardines next to the dirtiest river ever! But, there were beautiful kids swimming butt naked in the river with the cattle and they happily posed for camera shots. Then some more kids came by us, they are so interested in us and we did a huge photo shoot with them! They are so wonderful. This has been the second highlight of my trip, it makes me realize that I truly love kids!

So, onward ho to Manila. We may either go to a volcanoe tomorrow or just head down to the beach to swim with whale sharks. I will let you know how it all goes. Miss you all!

Manilahh!

Wow! I'm here! I'm not quite sure what to think. I'm just trying to take it easy and once again, adjust to culture shock.

Manila is reminding me of what I picture a "spanish harlem" to look like. Colorful, lots of people, cars, jeepneys, dirtyness all mixed in together with KFC's, McDonald's and of course 7-11's.

Being here makes me once again feel like a wealthy westerner. I've been the only non-fillipino person at the bus station all day.

The people are absolutely beautiful! Beautiful skin, hair, smiles. . .hard working people.

It's 90 degrees here today and I am loving the heat and sunshine. Taiwan has been cold, damp and gray....only a couple more hours and I will be headed to my first destination, Banaue.

Stay tuned....

Life keeps on going. No matter what we try to do, we cannot control the perpetual flow of time. All we can do is to make sure that ourselves are awake at the steering wheel of our life.

Life has been a blur for me these past six months. I really have had no control over what is coming in and going out in my life. I am living in oblivion. Which tends to be real nice for a while. But as I was laying in bed tonight finsihing a movie, I had a huge awakening. Where have I been? What have I been doing? My life has been going so fast I can't see it!

I'm idling, but I'm not. Taiwan is confusing me. I am not sure what to think at the moment. The craziness of life here cannot be explained, only experienced, thru a hands on approach. The hum of the scooters, the grey of the pollution, the way the Tao rainbow dragon lights up the eyes. The Asian mist has a way of encompassing a soul and holding onto it with a tight grip. It begins to squeeze the life out of it and then reprieves us with it's beauty.

Asia is a strong woman, with a big heart. She tries to impress our souls with all of her mysterious allures of temples, buddahs, mountains and freedom. It's not hard to get sucked into her world.

I've been so caught up in it and feel that I am ready to leave. But her hold is so mighty, that if I leave, I will be scared. No one will understand me. No one will understand what I have been through. I may be more alone than if I choose to stay.

Somehow I've changed. Taiwan has brought me into a new circle of life that I have yet to understand. I am looking, searching and trying to see, but the haze is blinding my vision. Hopefully tomorrow, Asia will be generous and bring a breeze to clear my mind.

Election Weekend

Wow! Elections in Taiwan! What an experience! Tomorrow the Taiwanese
will vote for their next president. It is very different than how things are done
in the states.

All day, supporters have been driving around in trucks and cars with loud
horns on them. Projecting from these automobiles is obnoxious Chinese
voices telling us all who to vote for. It is noise pollution to the 100th degree!
Then in the middle of big interesections they stop traffic to light off firecrackers
by the brick full, bottle rockets, big fireworks, like we would see on the fouth of
July and parades of lights and flags of all the candidates! It is total craziness!

The Taiwanese would have it no other way! Why is this the craziest place I have even been? Why do they not understand what noise violations are? Why do the work and work and work, get taken advantage of by their employers and put up with this? I cannot understand it! All I can say is that it is "fong quang" which in Chinese means "Crazy!"

I have been living here for 6 months now. This picture I took last Sunday. It was the first time I ever saw this many mountains outside of my town. I never knew they existed. They are always covered by pollution. It is the Taiwan beauty hidden behind a culture that is struggling to emerge into the 21st century.

Craziness!

My brother

My Brother Luke is a crazy guy
He does not sit around and let life pass him by

He is witty and charming, a smile from ear to ear
When he is with me I have no fear

Childhood companion, mentor to me
Everything I am not, but enjoy it vicariously

Since he came to Taiwan, he lit up my heart
Now I wish we would never part

But onward Ho! We all must go
We are living our lives with an artistic flow

I am off to travel and explore what's here
Inspired by my brother, his spirit is near

Law of Attraction

A year in one's life can be many things,
Slow motion, fast forward, the telephone rings

Who or what is on the other end
Only one way to find out
as the path curves and bends

Experiences, travels, knowledge expands,
Follow the dreams your heart demands
For there's only one way to discover your life
Stop out of the box
There will be a little strife

Nobody said it was easy to do
A seeker will search for the path that's true

In one year's time there's much to release
Uncover your spirit
And you will find peace

JS 12/25/07