Kathmandu

Himalayan thunder

It's awfully late. My imagination keeps me awake tonight in this far away place. I lay cocooned in my sleeping bag listening to the thunder as it roars across the Kathmandu Valley. The storm has a strength to it which I imagine comes rolling down from the north like it has a million times before. An ancient course. Gaining greater life force as it rolls through Mongolia, frightening ancient warlords. Then into China, startling the Geishas who still do not falter as they gracefully maneuver on delicate feet. Then it sweeps thru Tibet spinning the prayer wheels in it's wake until finally it crests on Everest, pausing for just a moment to admire the glory of creation and then like a roller coaster, comes spinning into this valley. Roaring into our dreams. Bringing with it wisdoms that stay on our tongues only thru the twilight hours. When we fully awake, we will climb the stairs up to the roof. Cold breath and hot tea. Looking out to the mountains that envelope us, we will feel that there was something we wanted to tell each other but couldn't quite remember...

Caves and Kayaks

"You want me to swim under there!?" All of the sudden my knees buckled and I quickly decided that I would 'stay with the bags', which of course was not necessary. I watched with trepidation as my partners on this voyage slowly slipped into the cold river water and pulled themselves on their tubes and into the darkness. I sat down on the table by the water, feeling defeated and like a little child that had missed her chance. "Amanda!", echoed from within the blackness they had just slipped into, "you gotta see this!!" Without allowing a moment more of doubt to come, I too slipped into the icy waters and into the dark. The three of us and one guide slowly, and nearly silently except for giggles and shrieks echoing off the walls, pulled our tubes along a rope. Further and further we recessed until we couldn't see our lifeline of daylight. Our head lamps clicked off and there was nothing. Sensory blankness. As we pulled further and further in, our guide stood up and told us to leave our tubes on a sandy embankment. Through an impossibly narrow space we crawled and a few moments later we stood up. Sparkling jellyfish chandeliers in an underground ballroom! Delicate and laborious stalactites painstakingly produced in the womb of the earth. How could I have almost missed this dance? The symphony playing was the "drip drip drip" of water, producing another work of awe. We left them to their work and crawled back out, plunging back into the icy water. As we slowly made our way out, lost if not for our headlamps and rope that we pulled on, the light slowly began to reappear. I understood that only my hesitation of the unknown would have prevented me from experiencing this. It was not from lack of trust but from FEAR - F.alse E.vidence A.ppearing R.eal (thanks Maureen) So I hope that I will continue to face my fears.... you never know when you might stumble into an underground ballroom!

Kuang Si Falls

The webs they weave

Did you know that a silkworm will eat and eat and eat for 20 days until it can't possibly fit anymore in it's tiny little body and then 8 days later will shed it's cocoon which is what will later become strands of silk. I was unaware of what a labor of love tending and weaving silk really is. I had the greatest gift of seeing this first hand while in Luang Prabang.
Ock Pop Tok is a textile gallery and weaving center for Laos women to spin their craft. Down the end of a very dusty road, just outside of town is a beautiful and quiet retreat and workshop for women from over 11 different provinces. Together with the center, these women are able to keep their traditional craftsmanship alive while also learning how to create profitable businesses for themselves. A truly beautiful union.
If you have a moment check out the website www.ockpoptok.com.
Sumptuous