Obaitori

Vietnam 2015 - 2016

Taking two children to a third world country for a month was exhausting! A 21,000km round trip! We've spent 7 weeks together. 4 of those weeks we were really stuck together - like glue - in Vietnam. I thought they could get lost or stolen so I spent the time holding on to their hands for dear life, constantly looking at where they were and slept with one eye open. When I wasn't so worried about the personal safety part it was just stressful managing the passports, transfers, language barrier and finding something vegetarian to eat; breakfast, lunch and dinner. I did relax though, I did. We had some lovely hotels that were out of the main cities where I could let my guard down and take a deep breath in and out. A big sigh out, several of those. I looked forward to coming home where the children could just play out in the backyard, drink out of the tap, eat whatever they wanted and when and I could focus on what I love, peace and quiet. I honestly don't travel well. I have a love hate relationship with it. I'm okay when I'm doing it but I have to practice being in the present moment, living in the present moment. I cannot think about home, my comfort zone, my pillow, my dog or my favourite teapot. We did really have a lovely time, retrospectively (insert emoji joy). It was one of those holidays, it will get better with time.

Today the children returned to school. I'm not sure who is more relieved. I've got a lot more post recovery to go. I'll let you know how that goes. In the meantime, here are some images. I hope you like them. Sorry, about the random sizes!

{this moment}

Precious, memorable, one time, a slice of life - with Manda Soule xx

Have and make a majestic weekend. Katie

pebbly beach postcard

We had a visit to Pebbly Beach. The kangaroos laze around the whole day. They graze, breastfeed and sleep. They are quiet and sometimes shy but they don't mind people scratching their sweet ears.

We met a lovely family of Germans and spent the night chatting whilst their two children and our two slept. It was fun, lovely to have adult conversations and drink wine with chocolate til midnight - not so great in the morning.

The sun came out that next morning. I don't have a photo. The rain forest is over 800 years old. Most of the eucalypts grow straight up and occasionally a tree will look like it has grown twisting with the turn of the Earth. The forest floor is dense, it is rich in bird life, fresh, alive and with the gold light shining on everything it took my breath away. It is placed at Murramarang National Park and spans 44 kilometres of coastline. It is a forest. It is for rest.

perfect compassion

Today's visit to the Nan Tien Temple, near Wollongong. So many Buddhas, Avalokitesvara; the thousand handed Buddha with ultimate compassion, the patron bodhisattva of Tibet. We gave our garland of roses to two little Buddhas playing in the garden.

road trip autumn 2014

Im hoping with battery and internet permitting to post everyday or so a few words and some pictures of our holiday. Please excuse typos and the like as I'm using my phone to create these little posts.
We've headed south this time and the first stop was yesterday at the enormous Sri Ventkateswara Temple at Helensburgh. We had a puja done for our car - I love it - Happy journeys. Katie x

warm ebbs of love

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

I've got that seasonal feeling that happens - the times when you remember something happening because the season or the month or some other tiny trigger reminds the mind. This time last year we were up north driving along in the van extending the warmer weather the further we climbed up the coast. We spent time at the new Gokula Hare Krishna Farm - near Mullumbimby. Here is the stained glass window in the main temple. Hare Krishna!

autumn getaway

We escaped for the weekend to a lovely local hotel. The east coast of Australia is so beautiful. It was therapeutic to fall asleep and wake up listening to and taking deep breaths of ocean prana.  We finished long conversations, walked, swam and did everything at our chosen leisurely pace. We walked to an Arabic Lounge, watched a belly-dancer, drank cocktails and smoked an apple hookah. My favourite part after diving in the ocean was - as all mothers would appreciate - lying in bed, being.

pilgrim heart

A very happy birthday to my Beautiful Man celebrating his special day in the Mother Land, India.

Dazla has an insatiable desire and colourful passion for India. I think the term is an Indophile; a lover of the Indi's.

This is Dazla's 7th or 8th visit. As a pilgrim he is journeying for 3 weeks to the last 2 of the 12 Shiva Jyotilingam Temples. He is brave and adventurous, far more than me and others I know. He left with an empty backpack, a strong desire for solitude, long train journeys, a thirst for the unknown and the quiet of his soul.

God Bless and God Speed.

guitars and other magic

On Thursday night I was so inspired seeing the film about Aung San Suu Kyi's life, 'The Lady.' It made my life seem so insignificant, sheltered and dull. Seriously this woman has gumption. If you get the opportunity, please see the film. This week she is on her way to Oslo to formally receive her Nobel Peace Prize from 1991.

The 'boys' had a weekend away in Sydney. They shopped for clothing for Bodhi - he really is an intriguing three year old. He changes his outfit on the hour. Says random comments like whilst getting out of the car for school , "Mmm, I wonder what Leo is wearing to school today?" and "Do you think Yogi will like this white t-shirt?" Whenever Daz walks in the room, he sizes him up, runs out to reappear in moments dressed as close as possible to what Daz is wearing. The boys stayed in Darling Harbour, creating moments and bonding as father and son. They went to the Sydney Aquarium, ate noodles and walked the streets of Chinatown.

Indira and I stayed on the coast. We painted, went to the Avoca Beach Market and listened to crazy wild live guitar rifts, drank Chai with the beautiful Nic under Sonia's chai tree, visited a good friend and his five wonderful children, had dinner at Indira's favourite Indian restaurant and stayed up late watching movies on the lounge.

A beautiful weekend and I sure am counting my blessings.

How was your weekend? What did you do?

And here is my slightly tipsy poem inspired by Bjork, written late Saturday night...

It's all so quiet,

Shhh shh.

It's all so still,

Shhh shh.

The fire is burning,

Shhh shh.

The wine red velvety

Shh shh.

Jazz music humming

Shh shh.

So peaceful and still...

 

a wedding party on the harbour

My focus for the weekend was two spiritual practices, not dwelling in the past or the future; awareness of the present moment and constant awareness of & connection to oneness, to the Source. Here are two short examples.

The present moment I find a bit easier than the latter. As soon as my mind wanders, I bring it back. This weekend I mainly had fear of the unknown. I had to drive Dazla's big ute into the city with the children, all the way negotiating freeways, tunnels, one-way streets and carparks. I was stressed - no doubt - and the way I coped was; air-conditioning - it cools me down - and deep breathing. The breathing oxygenates my brain so I can think straight. I just tried to focus on the road I was on.

When I took the wrong tunnel I was reminded of the source. I decided that this is the way we were meant to go and we may as well enjoy the journey. We got to see a shadier part of Sydney, the majesty of Saint Mary's Cathedral and the very lush Hyde Park.

We weren't late and we caught the boat for my uncle's wedding party ...

We cruised Sydney Harbour for four hours listening to the cool tunes of his jazz band.

We did the usual, ate, drank, danced, talked and laughed. It was a magical evening. And by the way have you ever seen such a beautiful women hold a tea cup so stylishly? I haven't.

The very vervy Bernadette ...

 

We had our dear friend and Bodhi's godfather, Brother Lucas over on Friday night. On Saturday we celebrated Vasant Panchami - Saraswati's Day - the children received gifts from her that she left on the family altar. Indira received Can You Catch a Mermaid?. Bodhi received The Gift; a magical story about carig for the Earth.You can read a little more about our last year's celebration of Saraswati here.

We thank the Goddess Saraswati for wisdom, education, knowledge, music and the arts. Her energy was certainly with us this weekend.

Have a peaceful week.

Joining with Amanda.