~ Bali ~ Heaven on Earth

           Dancing around the World for 2 years, 10 Countries and I think Bali is one of the most Beautiful places on Earth*

Keeping these newly planted Rice fields flooded ensures a healthy crop.

Art is Life in Bali. Pursuing a life as an Artist in Bali is not as 'Foe-Pah' as it is in North America. Almost every house has a temple like this one, Intricate Stone Carvings, Incredible Wooden Carved Doorways, Stone Statues of all the Deities > Entire towns of Painters, Traditional Balinese Dancing, Fire Dancing in Ceremony, Jewelry crafters of precious metals and hand carved wooden pieces. Art is alwaysin High Demand. It seems like the Balinese believe the Gods really Love Beauty and so they Aspire to Create Beauty Everywhere

Anyone whose ever Frolicked with me through a Forest likely has heard me say that Moss is one of my Great Teachers. The Moss you see here is likely decades old, yet so small.  Moss is such a slow growing Beauty. Reminds me to Slow Down. Appreciate Beauty in all things. Listen.

Be Still 

Sitting with moss is perhaps one of my favorite mediation spaces.

'The Underwater Keith'

One Morning we ventured to this Water Temple for Sunrise Ceremony. Fresh Spring Water pouring out from the Mountain side, Blessing us...ahhhhh


           Purity

-By the  time I got in the water, it was covered in thousands of tiny flower petals from  the offerings in ceremony.

*An Enchanting experience indeed 

An Underwater Sea Snail (...I think)
testing out my camera's underwater capabilities.

Moss
Reminding me to
Listen

Be Still

 and Love

* * Malaysia * *

~~~ And the Adventure Continues ~~~

 this is Bangladesh

...I think it looks like a lego city I build back in '94

"Where in the World is Carmen San Diego!?"

MalayAsia bound

From India on my way to Bali, I stopped in Malaysia for a week---
simply because the flights were half price by doing it this way.

I really loved Malaysia

Landing in a sea of green, with loads of new fruits in season.  A commonly known Dragon fruit shown here, (bright pink when ripe) grows on a cactus! I had no idea.
....humour me- I love plants.

doesn't it look jurassic? 

OH MY GOLLY!

This is the first time I found Cacao fruit sold at a fruit stand.
GOOD GLORY
yes my friend, those big oval fruit are chocolate fuit, the red, yellow, and the dark purply green ones.

ChoCoLaTe !!

wandering around China town, in Kuala Lumpur--- I smell something delectable, I follow my nose and what have we found here?!?
Coffee beans roasting with Hazelnuts 

yummmmmmmm

smelt amazing

I made my way to Penang Island.

it didn't suck.

 What could this be you ask?


why, Fresh Nutmeg Ofcourse!

Yes, raw chocolate on the beach. 

I know, I know. some of you are thinking 'Aya, you should think about reducing the stress levels in your life'

Thank you for this advice.

I'm working on it.

One large Jack Fruit.

these ones are amazing. 

Literally tastes like bubble gum fruit.

The Guinness book of world records tells us the largest one ever grown in China weighed in at an astonishing 148 KILOS!

ohhh, herrrrro birdie

Sometimes you just gotta take self portraits when travelling by yourself.

The two Largest buildings in the WORLD!!

Asi- zeee twin towers of Kuala Lumpur.

Ever wanna pay 2 dollars and have
your toes nibbles on by hundreds of small fish??

Flower arranging in Asia is a time honored, Mastered Art.
...pretty

Tid Bits of India

Here's some ramdon photos of the my last week in India:
Loving and Hating India ; all in One

Trying on Sari's with my fellow Leo, Ashley :)

Haven't you ever wanted a bike--full of Strawberries?!

These are some of the goodies I had made and am bringin back with me :)

The day we went Rafting down the gangees...

~~~SiLLiNeSS~~~

shucks. what FUN!

Special kids... drinkin chai 

does he dare to dance into the waterfall > tho it may look small, the water came down Full Force..

It Took Keith out > even with his helmet on.
haha

RAWR!
-'I am ALL that is MAN!

A well trained Monkey Thief

Shine in Rishikesh. 

Palm readings and all things spiritual are found in abundance in India.
What Fun.

Yummm > My favorite part of India is the food.

Golly, each dish in this picture cost between 50cents, to 1.5$

Delhi is the craziest giant pile of ruble, filthy, intense poverty, broken buildings and garbage as far at the eye can see. 13 Million people worth. 

Very Apocalyptic.

The water boy, downtown Delhi. 

I love that Indian airports have Prayer rooms.
The devotion in India in incredible.

Yoga, Yoga, Yoga

Rishikesh, the Yoga Capital of India,  located in the North, at the base of the incredible Himalayan Mountains. 

Whoa

This place changed my Life.

If you've never experienced something 'Sacred' - this place might just throw a dash of 'Enlightenment' at you. Sitting on the famous Ganga (gangees) River, people have been pilgrimaging here for thousands of years > to cleanse their soul, their Karma and connect deeper with their higher selves.

Even if you're not spiritual, you feel something here.

I dressed in long sleeves, covering my shoulders and ankles the entire time I lived here. 

No Alcohol can be found here, nor meat, and even eggs are a black market commodity.

(in a restaurant, you might just ask for some sunny side up, in a hushed tone and sometimes they'll say, 'oh yes, yes' and other times, they'll look and you grimly and shake their head).

Not that I'm a strict veggie, nor am I against alcohol > but the feeling of sober, clear headed city is incredible.

Walking around at night and feeling safe. 

The energy is pure, clear and focused. 

It seems everyone here is on some sort of spiritual pursuit. There are hundreds of ashrams in the area, temples, gurus, babas, sadhus and ceremonies going on everywhere.

Even every white person you see here, is gleaming in a brilliant state of awareness and love.

'A collective feeling of Peace' 

And thus it is here that I decided to dive deep into my Yoga Practice.
...a by golly, WOW!

This is My yoga teacher, Yogi Chitan Mahesh

A brilliant Teacher, inspiring Yogi and wonderful Friend.

I am grateful to have stumbled upon this place.

The school's website:

http://www.indianyogaassociation.com/

I took my Yoga teacher training here. Classes started at

 7:30am, with Shatkarmas (cleansing techniques- ex- neti pot, pranayama)

8:30 Tea (get jacked up on Chai)

9:00 Ashtanga Vinyasa (Sweat, Sweat, Sweat)

10:30 Breakfast (Smoothie on the River)

11:30 Class (Yoga Philosophy, history, objectives, sages, mudras, postures, bandhas)

1:00 Lunch & sometimes Practicum (student lead classes)

3:50 Class (meditation techniques, and study of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali)

5:00 Hatha Flow

7:00 Meditation/chanting

8:00 FREEDOM!

I really loved this course, and made some great friends along the way.

22 people int he course, and 20 different countries. yeaaaaaaa

This was our graduation ceremony. A traditional Hindu practice, with chanting, offerings and meditating. 

I Graduated!! I Did it MOM!!!

This man is beyond inspiring. I feel blessed to have crossed his path. A spiritual Dentist of sorts, from the UK - teaching meditation, yoga, life coaching and hosting various types of retreats.

http://www.kevinlawlor.org

Kevin you are an incredible soul, and I look forward to seeing you in the future. 

Playing Acro with my brother Keith and Shine in the courtyard of the Ashram.

Brother and Sister 

2 Peas in a Pod

When this School > How could I 'not' go?!? 

I want to do this someday...

and this...

I am Enthralled, in Love and Whole Heartedly dedicated to the Yogi lifestyle. Nothing is my life has ever felt more 'right'.  Meditation, cleansing, Pranayam, Asanas (postures) > all bringing me to a deeper awareness that I am already Enlightened, and tuning into my supernatural abilities.

This is what I am dedicating my life to at this time. 

...and I freekin' LOVE IT  :)