Sri Lanka; trains & tea

There was NO WAY I can get into the packed train which finally arrived to Peradeniya station. I was shocked and a security guard helped me to break the “Law of physics”. I was on my way to Nuwara Eliya the perfect place with tea plantations, mountains, cold and fog.

I have been living 10 years by the beach so I mostly look for cool weather whenever I travel.

The train trip supposed to be about 3.5 hours but it became 5. I was on the 2^nd class, sitting on the floor but with a VIP view. My hair was flying around like a medusa and my eyes were happy to see such a beautiful scenario between mountains, tea plantation, traditional houses and kids saying goodbye with their tiny hands. Next to me a couple from England traveling with no water and no sanitizer, so I shared mine as they still had another 3 hrs to go.

Once I got out of the train, the new adventure started, to get transportation to my hotel…the little detail was that I booked one of the most expensive hotels and it was 1hr away, and of course I didn´t want to get ripped. I sorted it out and when I arrived I was so pampered by the staff as one person opened the door, 1 carried my luggage ( 1 medium backpack LOL), one person came and served me some clove with sugar and another one served me tea. OHH tea yes! because this hotel used to be a Tea Factory and that´s why I chose it, besides the landscape.

I love to have all kind of experiences, so I traveled on the 2^nd class sitting on the floor of the train, I invited my tuk-tuk driver in Colombo for some beers sitting on the rocks contemplating the sunset and I also hire private drivers or pay for a nice hotel. Why not?

Experiences are everything to me, and I love nature. When I felt the cold wind on my face and my eyes perceive how the fog was wrapping my hotel until it disappeared I knew I was on the right place. I am not into very touristic activities but as it was raining all day I decide to join to Tea plucking activity. They dressed us as locals, gave us baskets that were hanging from our head and the lady explained us how to cut the tea leaves and then explained us all the procedure and how the machines work.

After my 45 minutes cold activity I was having some tea on the sofas of the hotel when I noticed something moving …

I was shocked to realize that it was an old lady covered with a green plastic, barefoot and carrying 2 full baskets that she came to deliver to the hotel. I asked if I could take a picture and somehow I wanted to give her money that I didn’t have at that time. It was a moment of excitement and disappointment; why she was barefoot and wet, what if she gets sick, why this expensive hotel don´t provide her with equipment. I also felt stupid for doing this activity to be entertained by something that represents the poor lifestyle of so many people until today. They earn 4 usd per day if they get at least 20kg of leaves…otherwise they get paid less.

I felt guilty and I kept this in my mind, I wrote to my parents and some friends…life is so unfair. Of course I thought about the same conditions of people working in agriculture in Bali where I live or in Mexico.  Sometimes I feel that the world hasn´t improve much.

These memories always reminds me how lucky I am to travel, to learn, how I should stay humble and grateful, how can I help people and to keep my feet on the ground.

Bali: forbiddance that will bring you to heaven

The government closed the airport, vanished the TV and ask to stop the WIFI, what, The WIFI? No please, take my life but no the wifi (joke). We were not allowed to go on the streets or anywhere actually, if you were staying at a resort you couldn’t go out, or even to the beach, forget about music and also light!

The darkness was covering everything, and we were not allowed to turn on the lights. Few years before one of the employers was catch by the police fixing a light at the gate and was deported. I was excited and little bit concerned as well. “Nyepi” The day of silence had come and I was in Bali.

It was 19:30hrs when I came out of my room and BANG I couldn´t see anything, there was not a single light in the resort, quite unsure if I was allowed or not I used my cellphone to be able to see little bit and went downstairs and suddenly when I looked up, the whole universe was contemplating me, I was absolutely astonished by the quantity of stars I could see, it was an overwhelming feeling and the silence allowed me to hear the music of the nature.

Nyepi is an Hindu celebration based on the Saka calendar, a very special “New Year” and it is a day reserved for self reflection, preceded by the Ogoh-Ogoh ceremony where the communities chase the demons and build big figures to represent them and bring out on the streets while the young people play some music, and everybody makes a lot of noise to scare them.

A day of silence, while us westerns would be preparing the party blowers, a playlist with all the current hits, etc. The Balinese new year is the opposite: God, humans and earth come to a balance, the whole island stops. I decided to stay awake with my friend and we took one big bed from the swimming pool and carried it to a very open area to see the sky. Hours passed while we were in silence just looking at the universe and tons of stars that might not even exist now but that sent their light thousands of kilometers away to reach my eyes. The night was chilly and I could feel the humidity and also hear the waves crashing on the sand, we took some towels to cover our bodies and we decided to sleep there enjoying this magical experience.

It was hard to believe that without a telescope the sky looked this way, it’s also hard to believe that this is the way it would look everyday above our heads if we were not surrounded by lights everywhere. There were so many shooting stars that I told mi friend: after 1 hour here, I will be slim, rich, etc, as I can ask so many wishes. We laugh in the darkness, and I started my special ritual that I do in moments when I feel so blessed and I say in my mind; Thank you God, thank you life, destiny, family, myself, my job, mother nature…at the end it is all related and things need to fit like gears in a machine to let us be there in the right moment with the right people.

Picture by Chris L.

during the Ogoh Ogoh celebration

picture by Fabrizio Martinetto

Gili T; NO mushrooms, YES sunset and maybe love

Mushroomsss, do you want mushrooms? It was the last day of my Holidays and I was in Gili T, this tiny Island known by its beauty and party atmosphere, in Indonesia. I was quite surprised to see this big announcements everywhere and people offering this on the streets, bars, etc. First of all, aren’t you having Ramadan festivities now? Isn’t this illegal? Isn’t quite weird to have big boards with colorful chucks saying “buy here your trip to the moon”?

I was walking around the Island and I found some amazing spots for my artistic/amateur, cellphone pictures haha, as it was low tide and the sun was going down the reflection of some trees, branches, dead coral and clouds was simply beautiful and I could not resist to take tons of shots.

On the background I could listen some techno music and people enjoying those beach clubs having some drinks and getting ready for the sunset. My feet kept walking until they found a quite bar with only another 4 customers, some puffs and shade to sit, I got a beer and food to enjoy the scene. I am a big sunset lover  (I might also love sunrise but I don´t wake up that early), It is just magical how this happen, the sun disappearing first slowly and then fast, in a question of seconds its gone but the color party remains for another half an hour covering everything, changing the contrast in your pictures and putting smiles on people’s face and kisses on others.

I was the last customer but nobody was coming to bring any bill so I went to the little bar counter in the back where a smiley Indonesian guy with curly messy hair  gave me the cutest smile and somehow I ended up sitting there talking with him.

Soon, I was hypnotized by this 23 years old boy playing the guitar (he was not Carlos Santana but very charming ) or maybe it was just the moment. He was singing sometimes in English and sometimes in Bahasa as his other friends were coming one by one, I was feeling as always so lucky as I never imagine in my life to live in this country. I truly give value to these type of opportunities where you embrace the culture in a very local way, the other 3 friends were only able to sing in Bahasa (1 girls and 2 boys) and I was taking videos every time, what a night!!

Next morning I woke up with the birds singing  and the waves dancing, the rest of the bonfire was there and the crickets were whispering the night gossips .The volcano right in front was floating between the clouds, waiting to welcome the sun like my eyes were doing. Little by little the sun rose in front of me and the melody of life was getting loud with all the birds and insects surrounding us… Did I say us? Yes I did!! I said goodbye and walk following my google maps back to my hotel to pack and try to get a speed boat to go back to Bali (my house for the past year) and end up the wonderful journey that took me around Java, Lombok and Gili T.

Lucky girl, I saw a stunning sunset and sunrise to close one of those memories that you can tell later on to your grandchildren… in case I have one.

Amsterdam and my tiny socks

Snow?? – I exclaimed – and look down at my tiny socks and olive converse.

Of course! It is -3 but it seems that there is no snow today, still is going to be cold – The KLM flight attendant gave me a quick look and probably felt bad about my unprepared outfit.

In fact, I was prepared…at least my body’s upper part haha. I was traveling to Mexico for my yearly holidays after being 1 year between Thailand, Japan Malaysia and Bali working and my company bought me the longest trip ever, crossing the world.  I remember checking the weather online but probably I got confused between the 13°C In Mexico and the -3°C in Amsterdam.

Anyway, I had 7 hours of an stopover in Amsterdam and I was ready to discover the city, I put on my long sleeves shirt, my hoodie from Paris and a scarf from India, took the metro that makes 17 minutes to the central and wrongly or luckily came out from the backside that looks to the river. It was 8 in the morning and the pale sun started to come out behind the buildings and my happiness was rising together with it, feeling the cold wind in my face and smiling to life.

8:30am and this marihuana smell was everywhere, OMG really? At least you should eat some corn flakes with milk for breakfast. I remember that smoke marihuana is like buy a Coca Cola in this country but I am not interested in this type of souvenir…at least not now.

Amsterdam Is as beautiful as all the postcards you can find, the architecture and its reflections on the channels give to the city a “movie touch” where everything is perfect. I imagine me and my boyfriend riding our bicycles with the pale winter sunrays on our faces, laughing and singing…but first I need to find a boyfriend haha.

My legs and feet were freezing and my nose was as red as Rudolph the ranger so I did a quick stop for breakfast which was delicious and help me to warm myself up before continue my tour. I end up in front of the famous letters that says I love Amsterdam where of course I took many selfies. And there I was, standing in front of the museum that is dedicated to my favorite painter when I was a kid, I knew his life since I was about 5 years old, Vincent Van Gogh, always the geniuses are misunderstood.  Didn’t have enough time to get in but I did it on my way back from Mexico to Bali and I was the happiest girl on earth.

I forgot to tell you that I was traveling to Mexico to visit my parents and friends but without telling them so it was a surprise, I supposed to be there for Christmas but I couldn’t, therefore I was full of excitement and buying souvenirs everywhere.

I choose to be happy always and that makes every moment perfect!

Japan: Snowflakes, nudity and red foxes

A red fox!!!! I couldn’t believe it. We were driving on the roads covered by snow on our way to an onsen that was in the middle of the forest and Lydia was yelling: red fox, where are you? Come red fox!. I was in the back, in the darkness and in silence appreciating the nature’s shapes and shadows, last time I saw snow, it was in Canada 9 years before and just in the city. Suddenly it happened, a red fox jump into the road and we all got excited like kids in our car, whoever was driving diminished the speed as it seems it wanted to cross the road, but in fact the red fox was playing with us…or at least that’s what we assumed as it was running on the side of the car and then kind of in front guiding us until it finally left.

The onsen was still closed as it was end of November, so we came back few days later and we succeed, I stick my nose to the glass on the window on our way to this place as it was snowing and I also enjoy to see the naked trees covered by this white powder.

We pay in the onsen by putting a coin inside a machine, got in, got naked and proceed to take a shower sitting in a little plastic chair in front of a long mirror, side by side with other ladies taking shower, fortunately or unfortunately it was separated for boys and girls, so while washing properly all your body with the soap and shampoo provided I was trying to don’t look in the mirror the other ladies around me and also avoid to see my fat reflecting all those hamburgers and beers that I should not eat and the lack of gym hours. We entered to the suuuper hot water where another 2 Japanese old ladies were already there, in other situation I would be making jokes and laughing loud but it was Japan. I need to admit that was little bit embarrassing to be naked with some coworkers but I was trying to focus in the cultural experience, that was very quiet by the way.

We went to the outside area for what you need to do few steps in the snow and jump in the hot water as the temperature was about –10 and my only cover was my own skin. It was not snowing anymore but if I stand I could see the forest and all the trees covered by the snow as long as the light allowed me to see, it was purely amazing. I felt so alive and grateful to be there, sharing it with a girl from France and a girl from Japan, across the bamboos that separate us from the male onsen we can hear the boys voices so 1 guy from Morocco and another from France where enjoying this as well.

Few days later I was taking pictures outside of the resort when I started to hear some bustle in the back and when I look there was a red fox standing very close to the entrance surrounded by some people taking pictures, suddenly the red fox started walking towards me and I got super excited ready with my smartphone to take some pictures, and then for a second I got little bit scared as it was a wild animal, What if it attacks me? Then this beautiful animal just accelerated the pace and got lost among the trees not before I took few pictures to remember this forever.

Japan was welcoming me with so many treasures to make me wanting to stay there between snowflakes, nudity and red foxes.

Malaysia: rich life style

Living like a rich girl without being one is fun of course! My job gives me some good advantages and also sometimes I just get lucky or maybe is because I try to have good relationships with everyone.

To wake up early is not one of my skills, all my friends know this, so when my boss and friend told me: I arrange to get the sail cruise for our day off to go to a little island and then we are invited by the General Manager of other resort to spend the day there sounded like an awesome idea until she said; let’s meet at 8am. WHAT?? 8 in the morning this means I need to wake up at… 7:40 haha because the boat was leaving almost in front of our rooms but still so early to wake up in a day that we suppose to rest.

“Let’s take advantage of the day and wake up early she said” Then I reply: well, why not we take the boat to see the sunrise then. HER EYES LIT UP– off course she said, that is such a great idea!! In my mind I was dying. Why did I say that? Anyway it was too late to back off…

Next morning a security guard was knocking in my room as I didn’t wake up on time and my friends were waiting for me at the beach, I grab my stuff and run (wearing my t-shirt inside out), it was super cloudy so there was no chance to see the sunrise at all but we had a private cruise and a funny Indonesian captain riding a boat in Malaysia with 4 girls: 1 French, 1 Chinese, 1 Malaysian and 1 Mexican…just amazing.

WE had our breakfast with the wind blowing our hairs, big smiles, sleepy eyes and suddenly the sun hands caressed our bodies. The captain open the sails, play some music and we were enjoying life, being surprise by some big jelly fish in the ocean and taking pictures to save the memories that maybe one day our brain will forget.

To get to Snake Island we cross a small boat were a kid was fishing with his father and one thought crossed my mind; we were both early in our boats in the ocean with such a different purposes and realities…maybe if they didn’t catch anything they will have nothing to sell in the market to make money or maybe to feed their families while I was being pampered and feed without actually spending a penny.

I love the shapes of this desert island, with a sand made of thousands of tiny shells and coral, massive rocks to climb and rest on top of them and snakes everywhere (just kidding). We had some time to relax before the captain dropped us in the other hotel were the staff was waiting for us at the beach, I felt like a Paris Hilton arriving in our private boat to the hotel. The GM and his staff give us a tour in the hotel in the buggy cars, had a drink with us with a wonderful view, we had lunch and he actually book a room for us but we couldn’t stay as next we were back to reality and need to work.

To end up our day we went to the supermarket to buy some veggies and cheese to have dinner. Naomi the Chinese girl and Dee the Malaysian, cooked for us some typical food while my French friend offered us some cheese and champagne, of course, unfortunately I didn’t have Tequila or Guacamole to contribute with my Mexican heritage but I put some humor haha for our multicultural day off.

I went to bed feeling so blessed to be in contact with the nature, to be able to be in a boat for ourselves and enjoy the ocean, to see the beautiful scene with the fisherman, to stay in this island where I also feed the fish that came around me doing snorkel, visit the other wonderful hotel with very a kind staff and end up having this delicious homemade dinner with these people that I am glad to meet.

The wonderful shapes in the Island

amazing view from Snake Island

Arriving to the resort

Our view before lunch

 

 

Waiting, weekly photo challenge

Waiting

Time is 1 of the most interesting cultural dimension… Can be synchronic or can be sequential. 

On this trip to Lombok Island I climbed a hill and found this man that stop his work to rest or to pose and the animals did the same thing. Were they waiting for me to take the picture, were they looking to me wondering why my camera was interested on them or wondering what I was doing on top of that hill? I DON’T KNOW but they all wait for me to take several pictures before continuing their journey and it seems that we both enjoyed it.

 

 

Structure

Walking in the morning to my temporary office in Malaysia, mother nature gave me a surprise and this beautiful star was waiting for me in the grass, refreshing herself in the morning dew and making a contrast with her white color and perfect structure. I felt lucky after this!

Sahoro; snow trekking, snowflake & happy ending

Another day, another adventure! We took the gondola and went all the way up to the mountain to go down by doing snow trekking. It was quite confusing for the security guys at the entrance as normally people will do either ski or snowboard but they let us go.. the problem was when we keep going up and up and I started to feel vertigo and once we came out of the gondola and I look down to the mountain I was full of fear.

Here I am, a Mexican girl without experience in snow trekking, on the top of the mountain and with vertigo what a great combination!…suddenly a snowflake settled on my arm, I was absolutely astonished as it looked exactly like in cartoons and I took a picture of it to never ever forget how perfect it was and that it might be a sign of nature saying that everything will be fine so I made my mind and started to walk all the way down from the mountain feeling its ethereal consistency and capturing the beauty of the snow with my poor 5mp smartphone.

I do need to say that I had a short rehearsal for my snow trekking experience couple of weeks before with a funny ending.

Let’s go out to walk on the snow and verify the area as we will open the resort soon! I was not exactly fit so she was in the front opening up the path for the virgin snow. Me, well…trying to manage to get her same pace, don’t fall down and take pictures at the same time. Believe it or not I perfectly managed all of this and before getting back to the hotel as it was lunch time I wanted to take the last picture because the wind was making the powder snow fly and with the sunlight was just magical, but right after I took the picture and try to walk the last steps down leading to the entrance next to the restaurant, my snowshoes got stocked one into another and like in a slow-motion shoot I was going down, first on my knees and then for a fraction of second standing like a crucified person as my hands were into the poles straps and …puff in a blink of an eye my face was in the snow!! Then with some help to remove my equipment I managed to get up and realize the full restaurant with the entire ski and snowboard instructors were stuck to the big glass wall looking at me, laughing hysterically and taking pictures. That night was the first training I need to deliver for all of them at the packed conference room… well, at least all of them know me by now, I said to myself.

That night my introduction for the training was: Good evening everyone, my name is Abi, I am from Mexico and YES it was me today the one that fell down in front of the restaurant, the whole room exploded into laughter including myself. We need to laugh about ourselves sometimes, it’s healthy.

I can say that this day I came face to face with the snow haha and I like it.

Snowtrekking- There is always a first time

Coming down from the mountain

Need a break

Bloody scary

Vertigo time

The picture I took before falling down

Landscapes with my guide

In love with the shadows

Japan; a dangerous Mexican landed!

I was stopped by customs at the airport! Of course I was the quota of the day; a Mexican girl (dangerous) living in Thailand (double dangerous) and coming for the 1^st time to Japan, it must be something suspicious! Even if my passport was full of stamps from all over the world.

In fact I was going there to train the staff of one of the resorts from the company I work with, but well, there is always a 1^st time to be stopped and I found it quite funny, one more story to keep. NO marihuana, NO tacos, NO… porn (well… not sure about my phone). Officers were super nice but with their poor English they didn’t arrive to understand everything that easily, anyway I didn’t stay there more than 10 or 15 minutes. An apology from the officers and then I came out to meet my Japanese friend that was waiting for me with an ironic smile knowing something went wrong.

Walking through the colorful ails full of what looked like hieroglyphics (Japanese Kanjis) I was feeling like a little girl in a candyland; food, drinks, bread, candies, basically the airport in Hokkaido Island was looking more like a supermarket for me. We stop to buy a “food box”, such a cute and smart way to bring some food into the train that we need to take to our destination. My friend put her phone (old one) in a little machine and in a blink of an eye she paid electronically…such a normal thing for her and super cool for me, especially as her phone was not a smart phone, but still smart LOL.

I was carrying quite a big luggage as temperatures were expected to be below 0°C and that would be a huge change for my body as I was living in Phuket, Thailand (around 30°C). The train was very proper and of course I was the only foreigner at that moment taking the train in Hokkaido Island and going to the ski resorts that were still closed, such an adventure for me. My eyes were trying to record everything as well as my ears, I was super excited… such a lucky girl…and I didn’t need to pay anything!!Well… I did with all my extra hours and no days off later on but that was nothing compare to what is one of these experiences in your life.

A lady with a little food cart was walking along the train selling food and beer, and of course as a Mexican girl who loves beer and knowing my Japanese friend also does, we bought our can to enjoy our 2 hours trip. When finally arrived to Shintoku station another 2 girls were waiting for us, we pass to the mini supermarket to get…of course, more beer! And snacks, OMG I was absolutely happy – a Japanese supermarket, and it’s me, I am here!! Hey parents look at this – I wished they were with me but they were at 10,616 km in Mexico.

It was getting dark when we arrive to our location in the mountains and the General Manager came out to welcome me together with the few staff working at the resort before the reopening that would be couple of weeks later, it was fantastic to see and feel a resort that is closed, no heating, just basic lights, reception and bar cover in blankets, empty vitrines at the boutique…WOW a perfect scene for a horror movie!

They took me to my room and OMG it was a traditional style one with a TATAMI! This particular smell was floating in my room, it was the tatami material, I wanted to lied down and roll over like a panda, and it has this small table with chairs that had no legs and slide doors covered by white kind of paper…of course I am giving you my description as a western that didn’t know anything about it…if some of you are reading this thinking how ignorant I am giving the descriptions, please forgive me.

I came down and walk to the small restaurant where we were meeting, walking through the dark and cold corridors with no more sound that my own steps and breathing was interesting still not scary. I was privileged to have the opportunity to see how does it looks a well-known resort when it is still closed and I was ready to rock my time in there. Be careful everyone, a dangerous Mexican is in Japan!

food boxes in Hokkaido airport

finding seats in the JR train

waiting to change train

Mexican and Japanese love beer

Ghost Reception

Tatami