I always tell the garden spirits that I am going away on a holiday of any length. They like to know my whereabouts and this way they don’t feel left out. More important is for us humans to acknowledge that the garden spirits are our helpers and supporters and they perform a lot of magic that you might not be aware of if you can’t see, feel or hear it. If you still your mind and take time to observe with all your senses what is going on in your garden or nature you will eventually start learning and understand.The spirits all present themselves one way or the other. Sometimes you will see a different light or energy movement between the sunflowers. You might get a pat on your shoulder or you hat will get knocked off your head while walking through your fruit orchard all caused by the garden … [Read more...] about Garden Spirit and the Wildlife
Travel
Mighty Mekong Delta
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City and for those of you who are a bit delicate it will be a great challenge to discover its beauty. I love the fascinating Ho Chi Minh down town. We have just booked in at a small guest house with such friendly staff that we feel at home straight away. We have a great view from third floor. Lovely breakfast included in the price and as much coffee and tea as you can drink – all day – every day. We are soon on the street roaming the dirty back alleys. The locals are milling around selling coconuts, cooked sweet potatoes, balloons, soft drinks, rubber bands and what have you. Heaps of rubbish is piled up everywhere and the smell is definitively a challenge to your system. In places it stinks to high heaven and it seems to me like a risk to my respiratory passage … [Read more...] about Mighty Mekong Delta
Narathiwat the Residence of Wise People
Welcome to Narathiwat, deep in the south east of Thailand not far from the border to Malaysia. I can’t remember if anybody actually did welcome us. However here we are. It is a most beautiful day and from early morning till lunchtime is spent being bumped around in a small public bus with see through wooden floor boards feeling claustrophobic lots of entertainment as vendors are getting on and off the bus selling smelly food, gooey snack and deadly looking drinks. It is not a trip for the faint-hearted person and I am utterly exhausted by arrival. Well, just dust off your feelings and residue chook manure from the bus trip. In this part of the world anything and everything gets transported on buses as long as it can be carried on board so we have a few chook passengers and old mum … [Read more...] about Narathiwat the Residence of Wise People
It Takes Two to Tango
More than often we have travelled in countries where we did not understand the written or spoken language. You get use to it and become accustomed to the situation like you acclimatise from living in Eskimo country and that of the hot tropics of down town Mareeba. (I just thought something brilliant! Is Esky called Esky because the Eskimo invented such a box?) I usually tell friends and fellow travellers that it is not a problem not understanding a different language. Language consists of many aspects. There is always a way of explaining your situation and your needs. If you can’t get your message through me automatic switch to and add body language. If no good I start drawing on a piece of paper or if really desperate in the sand of the desert. Then if that doesn’t help I use my … [Read more...] about It Takes Two to Tango
Cabbages and Condoms
Who would ever think that I was to write about cabbages and condoms! Most of my readers will by now be shaking head, hands and hats. Most likely they will also be rattling their mobile phones and IPods and pads at the same time eager to connect to Facebook to check if this story is pure imagination or just a twitter. It all started with a visit to the Hill Tribe Museum and Education centre in Chiang Rai in northern Thailand which is a great little museum with lots of information and nice display. As part of the visit you are invited for a complimentary cup of coffee or tea at the time of leaving. This cuppa is served downstairs from the museum in a restaurant called “Cabbages and Condoms”. Trust me this is the real and proper name of the restaurant. However I did not pay any … [Read more...] about Cabbages and Condoms
Meet Zaw May San Win
I don’t know why but I am drawn to op shops. I started roaming op shops when I was in my twenties many years ago like my friends were roaming the streets making it hard for little old ladies to feel safe while window shopping after sunset. In Denmark where I lived at that time the op shops were more like antique shops. It was like entering Aladdin’s Cave with old dresses embellished with beads and gemstones. There were piles of ancient Chinese coins thousands of necklaces and other jewellery. Embroidery yarns and sewing cotton. Wooden flowers and I just love Sunflowers. Carved ivory stolen from majestic elephants, stuffed animals by the millions, gold and silver candelabras, sparkling diamonds. The place was full of magic carpets on which you sit and fly to exotic places you only dream … [Read more...] about Meet Zaw May San Win