Get out from behind the camera...

.... and get into the scene!

"Get out from behind the camera, and get into the scene!"

This is a statement to all. Stop living behind your camera's, behind your phones, behind your fears.  Drop them, put them aside. Go out there and live this one life (or more for the Buddhists reading this) that we've been given.  I keep seeing too many of my "friends" online constantly barraging the web with self photos and photos of their every move.  When you take a photo of something you are not part of that something. Once you step into instagram (or whatever) mode you now are outside the scene. Disconnected from whatever was happening.  And when you share every little detail, does it maybe seem like maybe a scream for help. "I'm so insecure about my constant every move that I am BEGGING for your approval. Like this photo, give me more followers, feed my Ego."

Now this isn't to say that a photo or social share of whatever sort from time to time, even multiple times a day are bad.  (Heck, what is bad anyways.. but that's a post for another day.)  No, rather just a wake up call to start to see why we do what we do as well as what we are actually doing.  This can also lead into a deeper and deeper rabbit hole of self inquiry.

But please, don't "like" this post.   You can share it with people if you feel, but I'd rather not feed my own ego here and request you honor that. First off, I am guilty of much of what I write about. Secondly, I write this all for your enjoyment. I get the enjoyment from sharing my adventures with you all, that is my "like" of it.

Now get off from in front of this screen, close the blog, and go out and explore. Go do something new, exciting, familiar, comforting, nurturing.  But sign off and go do it. Do it now!! Because the next moment may be too late.  (and if you must, feel free to take a photo of yourself doing it.)

In transit...

Yep, in transit again.  I know this past season I didn't post the most about Bhutan or travels. I do have a few stories queued up to post and hope to do it soon. I didn't have the best internet in Bhutan and was also pretty busy with work and life, but I'll be in Thailand for a few weeks and expecting some downtime to update some things.  Days of travel are always a bit confusing. While I'm sad to leave friends and loved ones in Bhutan, I'm very happy to be in Chiang Mai. It's a city I know well with super fast internet and more importantly it has good and healthy food.  Fresh fruit.. here I come.

New posts up soon too.

All the best to all you out there.

Love and Light

Intro to Cranio Sacral and More...

Hello y'all from Chiang Mai, Thailand.  I've just wrapped up a 10 day course on an introduction to craniosacral and biodynamics and have had a few days of resting and stocking up on supplies (that I can't get in Bhutan). In a few days I'll head off to a 6 day yoga immersion south of Chiang Mai and on the day it ends I'll rush to the airport to fly back to Laos for a 4 week intensive training on massage and various bodyworking type things.

I don't expect to update the blog too much during this time as I'll either be too busy learning or out in a jungle away from technology.  I apologize for those waiting for more content. I will be checking email sporadically so please feel free to message me if you have comments or concerns.

Love and Light

Andy

The Black Village - Baan Si Dam

Being in Chiang Mai for a few days before my massage course started I decided to head up to Chiang Rai to see the White Temple and the Black Village. Both are considered sacred places but also are seen as art installations.

Nearly completely opposite from the White Temple is the Black Village. Though both are very beautiful, the Black Village is... well pardon the french... but fucked up. It's gorgeous and inspiring in many ways, but it's also so freaky. Apocalyptic in ways and there is the feel of someone who did way too much acid and saw some out there shit.

The main room houses an art gallery of sorts for mostly Thai artists but also from all around the globe. (or at least around Asia).  Almost like a taxidermist gone wrong, each house has bones or horns or skins/hides of various animals.  One thing I really liked about the Black Village was how tactile it was. You could get your hands on a lot of things and many rooms which looked closed off were actually open to be walked around in or opened up.

For me there was too much to really digest in just one visit and I don't think I even got to see every house/room. But what I did see I enjoyed. It's a must see for anyone in the area.

The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

Being in Chiang Mai for a few days before my massage course started I decided to head up to Chiang Rai to see the White Temple and the Black Village. Both are considered sacred places but also are seen as art installations. 

The white temple is a modernistic take on a classical thai temple but the insides have references to sci-fi and pop culture. (unfortunately you are not allowed to photograph the insides).  

The day I was there was one of restoration and repainting. In some ways this was a bummer as the work interrupted the flow of the place but it also shows how the work is constantly evolving and growing.  Not just on the outside, but also the inside was being repainted with new designs and icons on the walls.

I'm glad I finally got to see the White Temple (and the golden bathroom) as it was truly a beautiful and spiritual type place, even with the mass hordes of people taking photographs.

Shanghai in Bankok

Through a series of fortunate events (as that is how my life seems to be at the moment) I was able to stay at a very nice boutique hotel in Chinatown, Bangkok. The hotel is managed by a friend of a friend and they comp'd my night there so I asked if they would want some yoga in exchange. Instead of teaching her, I was asked to teach her staff. Sure thing, why not?  

I had been told the hotel was nice but I was blown away by it. It's styled in a Shanghai circa 1930's theme and the rooms were beyond just comfortable but also attractive and inviting.  Sadly for me, I didn't get to use the beautiful magnificent bathtub (I do love tubs!)  But that aside, I slept like a baby which was my frist good nights sleep in a while. Pics of the room are below.

Yoga the next morning was also fun. We turned a part of the office into an area for yoga. What I didn't know was that most people hadn't ever done yoga before. Usually Asian people are very flexible (sorry to generalize) but here most were not. But we all had a fun time, stretching and laughing through it all.

I found it just amazing how I needed a room for my first night in Bangkok and then this one popped in my lap. Recently the universe has had a way of looking out for me, and I'm ok with this and hope that it continues on this course.

Thai Massage School

I'm only allowed to be in Laos for 3 months at a time before having to do a border run. As a US citizen I get a 1 month visa that can be extended twice for up to one month each extension. Around the middle of August would be the time my visa would expire but I also had a wedding I had to attend then so I figured I'd leave a little earlier to be able to make the wedding. You see, you can't just leave Luang Prabang, cross a border and come back. In Vientiane you can as there is a bridge to Thailand right there but in LP we're at least a day if not two to get to a border, and it ain't so cheap. So I figured if I was going to head to Thailand and incur the cost to get there that I wasn't just going to cross and cross back. No, I'd go and do something relevant. I'd go and get Thai Massage certified. why? well first off, why not? I've always enjoyed giving massages but never had proper training. Also, more importantly, there is a high correlation between Thai mMassage and yoga. In fact it is sometimes referred to as Thai Yoga Massage.  So, again, why not do this when I easily could? 

To further better the deal, my friends Adam and Kaja were going to be in Chiang Mai then and Adam ended up taking the course with me.  

As fun and relaxing as it sounds, getting and giving massages for 2 weeks is incredibly tiring. I was exhausted in ways I had never been exhausted before. Thai massage works with "energy lines" not with muscles so you release toxins that are blocking your sen (energy lines) and sickness can creep in. One day out of nowhere I had a fever, and perfectly fine the next day. Some students would get headaches, constipation, or other ailments.  But it's all part of the process and of learning.  In the end I had a great time with an especially great teacher. 

Now, who wants a massage?

Our fearless and awesome teacher, Dot.  She was so precious.

The class on graduation.  Bunch of hippies! :P

On the final day we had a fun veggie friendly potluck.

What's so funny about peace love and understanding? PS, nice belly

getting my hair done

rejection :(

she may be small, but this lady packs power. A great masseuse who knows the body and points of pressure very well.

Certified. thumbs up

dancing partners

Brothers in life and massage. Me and Adam!