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!