Friday 28 September 2012

Something I've known all along...

Apart from the fact that I'm totally lazy when it comes to updating this blog, is that I have a fear of heights. It's not debilitating, it's just one of those things that freak me out.  

I think the earliest memory of this affecting me was on a family holiday at Girraween National Park when I was thirteen. One of the hikes called 'The Pyramid' saw me frozen to the side of, what's best described as, a large rock. I recall being left there as the rest of my family climbed to the top and then collected me on the way back down. I did manage to conquer it a few days later but still I was pretty darn petrified. 

Another time, and this is a hang my head in shame moment, is the Giant Drop at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast. Basically, you get winched up a tower to 120 meters (or 39 stories) and then left to drop at roughly 135km/hr with your legs just dangling in free air. Once I was back on solid ground I cried. There, I admit it. I was 23 or 24 at the time and I cried like a baby.

Still, I haven't let these incidents deter me. So when my brother and I decided to do one of the alpine tracks at Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park, I thought 'Sure, no sweat. How hard can it be?' Well, let's just say it wasn't a walk in the park. There were some parts that were pretty much straight up. It wasn't that that worried me. It was the straight down cliff that I was walking along that managed to freak me out. That and the melting snow on the track and the fact that I wasn't wearing hiking boots or I didn't have any hiking poles. My mountain goat of a brother just wandered up (and down) like he was walking on a footpath while I clung to the side of the mountain and managed one small step after another. There were times when I felt like I was going to cry and had little panic attacks every time my foot slipped but somehow I managed.

Once we got to the top the view was AMAZING! I'll let the photos speak for themselves though they don't compare with being there yourself.

Still, after all is said and done, I don't think I'd hesitate at doing something like this again. The reward far outweighs the effort and I feel that the more I challenge myself, the better I'll become at dealing with this little fear of mine - here's hoping anyway.



Sunday 19 August 2012

I don't know what to write...



Yesterday I left the Yasodhara Ashram. It was an experience which I think has changed the way I view myself and my life. I'm finding it hard to describe just what effect it had on me, I could write so much but it really only effects me so I'll spare you this time and keep it short and sweet.

Through a lot of tears, hard work and self reflection (40ish pages of journal writing in 10 days), I have become aware of some of the things that are holding me back, my fears and the way I dwell on my past mistakes and old hurts.

I'm never going to be perfect, no one ever is. I am feeling more in tune with myself realising that only I am responsible for my happiness and I shouldn't rely on others for it. My life is my own unique path and I have the choice to continue to make new memories and not be bound by the old ones.

Let it go and keep going...

Love and Light, Namaste



Friday 29 June 2012

Feeling blue...

I think I'm really feeling the pangs of homesickness (for real) for maybe the first time since I've been away. I've had little spouts of it over the past year but recently it's been quite unrelenting.

I actually think it's a combination of things. Number one: being away from family and friends, of course. Even though I have some great people in my life right now it still doesn't make up for the fact that I miss the family and friends I have back home. Those are the people I don't feel like I have to be on my best behaviour with all the time, the people I can just be me with, farts, burps and all. 

Number two: the weather. I'm pretty sure the continual cloudy, rainy weather could get even the happiest person down. Over the last couple of days it has been what I like to call Summerish though. I've been able to get a much needed fix of vitamin D and have even managed to regain my 'farmers crack'.

Number three: I'm missing hugs. Yes, hugs. I suppose this comes under the family and friends category as well, but I really miss having someone to wrap my arms around and squeeze. I could hug a tree I suppose but it's just not the same.

Number four: I miss my dog... full stop.

So, here's hoping to more sunshine in the future. I will snap out of it soon - it really sucks to be sad when I'm in such a beautiful place.



Sunday 24 June 2012

They Call Me Dr Worm...

Good morning, how are you? I'm Dr Worm...


I get this song stuck in my head nearly every time I mix soil, probably because there are worms everywhere - big fat juicy ones; long slim slimy ones; itsy bitsy, fuzzy wuzzy worms.

I find it funny that I no longer have a problem with them. Growing up I would never touch them, even when fishing, I would get my dad to bait my hook, that's how much of a princess I was. Oh, how times have changed.



Saturday 14 April 2012

Three Conclusions About Myself...

Today, while biking and hiking around Denman Island, I came to three conclusions about myself.

They are:
1] I am really, really, really (and I mean really) afraid of snakes. I know, I know, I'm in Canada and they are tiny little harmless snakes but I still jump half a mile when I see one. Today I saw two and I'm glad there was no one around to watch me have a little freak out.

2] I am completely incapable of going for a slow leisurely walk, I must power walk everywhere. For this I blame my mum - she knows why :)

3] I believe I am the best version of myself when I am surrounded by nature. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy some aspects of cities but I find I end up being a big negative mess if I spend too long in a concrete jungle.

Anyhoo, thought I'd just share that and now I'll bore you with some pics of the dreadful scenery from todays trek and last nights sunset...





Tuesday 13 March 2012

I finally found Pok Pok...

Ok, story from the beginning. I was recommended this place to eat (along with many others) by a customer at the Wychwood Barns Farmers Markets in Toronto, so naturally, when something gets a recommendation I have to try it for myself.

So, last Friday I hired a bike with the intention of going there for lunch and to check out the east side of town. Writing down the exact address or marking it on my map probably would've been a smart thing to do (yes, I still don't have a smart phone - that would have been so much easier). So off I went, and I rode and rode and couldn't find it. Once again, I probably could've just asked someone - but oh well. I was heading back down SE Division and got distracted by a Food Cart Pod and decided to have lunch there instead (turned out to be delicious Venezuelan food). After that, I just gave up and went shopping over on SE Hawthorne at some awesome vintage stores.

Next day, I went on the Epicurean Walking Tour (which was fantastic! 3 hours of walking and eating) and I mentioned to a couple also on the tour that I had tried to find Pok Pok and failed and they said I have to go back because the place is amazing. They even gave me two bus tickets to get me there and back which was totally sweet of them. So now, I really had to go!!

And I went today!! By bus (for free) and I did my research and found the place without any trouble. Turns out, the Food Cart Pod I ate at on the Friday was directly across the street from Pok Pok and I completely missed it!! Talk about having a man look.

End of story, it was delicious!!!

What I ate:
I had the Pok Pok Special which consisted of Kai Yaang (charcoal rotisserie chicken stuffed with lemongrass, garlic and cilantro) which came with Papaya Pok Pok (best green papaya salad I've had outside of Thailand) and sticky rice.
Than I just had to have dessert which was a Coconut Ice Cream Sandwich, which is supposed to found at any Thai Street Food but I never saw any while I was there. Anyway, it too was amazing!
All washed down with a Pok Pok Som Lychee flavoured drinking vinegar.

Now I don't think I need to eat again for a week.



Monday 12 March 2012

Welcome to Portland...

 I'm sorry, did you say I had to eat my way around the city? Only happy to oblige...
The line for Voodoo Doughnuts...
...is totally worth the wait. The pink one is called Dirty Snowball and the other is Dirty Old Bastard.


























































Street Eats from the food carts - Korean Bulgogi Taco

More street eats - Venezuelan style food (Plantains and Chorizo) and some gorgeous sunshine!
























































Lunch @ Bunk. Roast beef + caramalised onions + horseradish = DELISH!! 





























I'll be updating this post later, just in the process of trying to feel better and getting my appetite back :( Nothing worse than getting sick on holidays - the joys of communal living I suppose.

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Ch, ch, ch, ch changes...


Well, three seasons later I have finally left Marvellous Edibles Farm! Ayse, Jens and Cengiz are now like a second family to me and I can't express enough how grateful I am to them for putting up with me for so long :) It was a hard decision to leave but I knew if I didn't, I would probably spend the rest of my time in Canada there - which definitely wouldn't have been a bad thing but this country is huge and I should probably see some more of it while I'm here.

So, Ayse, Jens and Cengiz, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! Thank you for teaching me everything you could about farming, baking, sausage swinging, tractor towing, garlic planting and much more. Thank you for welcoming me into your home and family. Thank you for the laughs and the memories. I had an absolute blast being there and I will treasure my experience forever.




Tuesday 14 February 2012

Happy Valentine's Day

I just managed to scrape this one in on time - 30 minutes left of Valentine's Day here in Canada.
Hope you all had a beautiful day!

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Chewy, Baaaby, Fluff Ball, Big Fatty Boomba...

or otherwise know as Chewbacca, pig herder extraordinaire and St Jens' connoisseur.





























I have to admit it took some time for me to warm up to this ball of fur (or should I say for him to warm up to me) but since I'm nearly part of the furniture now at Marvellous Edibles Farm I think it's fair to say that Chewy and I can be called mates. Beneath his huge exterior he's just a big sooky la la.





















































































Oh yeah - Happy New Year everyone - where did January go already??