I have arrived into Albuquerque, although not with Claire and Layla.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
How Many Years Has it Been? 5?
It's been years since I posted. Last time I posted I was nearing the end of my year traveling, and for some reason, I thought that my [ad]ventures ended there. There's something a bit depressing about that- that unless you're traveling you're not adventuring. In reality, I have had many adventures since then.
I lived in Portland, OR for 4 years.
I live in Seattle, WA.
In the last 5 years I have been to Washington DC twice, Savary Island about 7 times, Montreal once, Denver once, and New Mexico twice.
Between moving and those little trips, I would count that as adventuring.
Also, I'm a doctor now.
I am immediately urged to include that I am a naturopathic doctor, I wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea; to think I am a player in the medical establishment. It doesn't matter though, because I am a player in the medical establishment, whether I like it or not.
Anyway, I was inspired by my mother's recent post under her pseudonym Flora Bass. An homage to her relatives. I love her blog, I love her description:
"Becoming an old woman is work. Chasing youth tempting but fruitless. So, how do I become someone I can die with?"
I relate to my mother. I'm 34 but I already feel I'm becoming a hag. I get the most love from my dog, and I spend almost all my free time alone/with my dog.
I need to go to work. It's a beautiful day and all I want to do is play/sleep. I guess you could say I'm a little depressed.
I lived in Portland, OR for 4 years.
I live in Seattle, WA.
In the last 5 years I have been to Washington DC twice, Savary Island about 7 times, Montreal once, Denver once, and New Mexico twice.
Between moving and those little trips, I would count that as adventuring.
Also, I'm a doctor now.
I am immediately urged to include that I am a naturopathic doctor, I wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea; to think I am a player in the medical establishment. It doesn't matter though, because I am a player in the medical establishment, whether I like it or not.
Anyway, I was inspired by my mother's recent post under her pseudonym Flora Bass. An homage to her relatives. I love her blog, I love her description:
"Becoming an old woman is work. Chasing youth tempting but fruitless. So, how do I become someone I can die with?"
I relate to my mother. I'm 34 but I already feel I'm becoming a hag. I get the most love from my dog, and I spend almost all my free time alone/with my dog.
I need to go to work. It's a beautiful day and all I want to do is play/sleep. I guess you could say I'm a little depressed.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
porcelain homecoming
Maybe you saw it on facebook: welcome back to Canada, can I offer you some quality time in the temple of the porcelain god?
As my direct flight from Istanbul to Toronto prepared to land I was staring at the little barf bag in the pouch in front of me. Am I actually going to have to use this? Please Maria, please just hold on...
There's a hold up getting off the plane, the police are checking our passports before we're allowed to leave the airplane walkway thing (what's that called?)... oh god, hurry up!!
I'm through and scanning for the toilet- ah, there it is. please just let me through, I'm serious, I'm not trying to beat you to the immigration queue!
It's been a long time since I've been that sick in public. It really sucks. I felt a lot better after offering my airplane food as pooja to the porcelain gods of Pearson International Airport. I brushed my teeth, wiped away the tears, and made my way to immigration.
Unlike almost all other airports I've been to, in Toronto, there is no separate line up for foreigners and Canadians. It seems we're all the same here... nice, but I was kind of looking forward to some VIP treatment. No such luck. Although, I guess I didn't get hassled at all, which you might be if you're foreign?
I collected my bags and went through to meet Corinne who was patiently sitting having a tea. I wish I hadn't felt so off, perhaps I could have taken a picture of her, she looked really beautiful sitting there, clearly off in her thoughts. It took her a moment to see me waving.
I'm afraid I was terrible company, certainly not the way I had envisioned my return to Canada to look like. Oh well, we caught the bus then metro, and although I thought I might have to use the plastic bag in my hand, I managed to stave off the nausea until I was in Corinne's apartment. Once there I did the obvious ceremony, I then went to sleep. Ah, glorious recumbent sleep. I slept for about 5 hours, then got up, it was about 9pm. Corinne made me some rice and we had a chat before I went back to sleep around 1am (I'm not sure how I passed all that time actually) and slept for another 6 hours. I think I'll get over this jet lag quickly.
So I'm back in Canada, and I'm eager to experience Canada with new eyes. What will my impressions be? My first impression is how non-segregated and multicultural this city is. I saw such mixed groups on the subway, it was really cool. In Canada, or correction: in Toronto, you would never look at someone and assume they're not from here based on their appearance. Your appearance says nothing about whether or not you were born here... I've missed that. The concept of foreigner is almost not applicable here, at least, not the way it is in other countries. I guess that's what happens in a city where immigration is so prevalent. A symptom of a wealthy country, one which I appreciate.
I am sure I will come across differences which are less cool though. In fact, I can think of one already. There was some uncertainty last night as to whether or not it would be ok for me to sleep in Corinne's roommate's room while she's away. In Canada, it is so important to get permission and be considerate, it's part of our privacy, a concept which is almost completely lost in places like Sri Lanka. So even though I love my privacy, it also means we're a little less laid back and hospitable in some ways. I mean, in Sri Lanka, India, and Turkey there would be no issue. In fact, the roommate would probably be offended if you didn't sleep in their bed while they're away!
Anyway, I'm going to go look into getting showered and dressed. Maybe I'll go speak some rapid English to someone!!!
As my direct flight from Istanbul to Toronto prepared to land I was staring at the little barf bag in the pouch in front of me. Am I actually going to have to use this? Please Maria, please just hold on...
There's a hold up getting off the plane, the police are checking our passports before we're allowed to leave the airplane walkway thing (what's that called?)... oh god, hurry up!!
I'm through and scanning for the toilet- ah, there it is. please just let me through, I'm serious, I'm not trying to beat you to the immigration queue!
It's been a long time since I've been that sick in public. It really sucks. I felt a lot better after offering my airplane food as pooja to the porcelain gods of Pearson International Airport. I brushed my teeth, wiped away the tears, and made my way to immigration.
Unlike almost all other airports I've been to, in Toronto, there is no separate line up for foreigners and Canadians. It seems we're all the same here... nice, but I was kind of looking forward to some VIP treatment. No such luck. Although, I guess I didn't get hassled at all, which you might be if you're foreign?
I collected my bags and went through to meet Corinne who was patiently sitting having a tea. I wish I hadn't felt so off, perhaps I could have taken a picture of her, she looked really beautiful sitting there, clearly off in her thoughts. It took her a moment to see me waving.
I'm afraid I was terrible company, certainly not the way I had envisioned my return to Canada to look like. Oh well, we caught the bus then metro, and although I thought I might have to use the plastic bag in my hand, I managed to stave off the nausea until I was in Corinne's apartment. Once there I did the obvious ceremony, I then went to sleep. Ah, glorious recumbent sleep. I slept for about 5 hours, then got up, it was about 9pm. Corinne made me some rice and we had a chat before I went back to sleep around 1am (I'm not sure how I passed all that time actually) and slept for another 6 hours. I think I'll get over this jet lag quickly.
So I'm back in Canada, and I'm eager to experience Canada with new eyes. What will my impressions be? My first impression is how non-segregated and multicultural this city is. I saw such mixed groups on the subway, it was really cool. In Canada, or correction: in Toronto, you would never look at someone and assume they're not from here based on their appearance. Your appearance says nothing about whether or not you were born here... I've missed that. The concept of foreigner is almost not applicable here, at least, not the way it is in other countries. I guess that's what happens in a city where immigration is so prevalent. A symptom of a wealthy country, one which I appreciate.
I am sure I will come across differences which are less cool though. In fact, I can think of one already. There was some uncertainty last night as to whether or not it would be ok for me to sleep in Corinne's roommate's room while she's away. In Canada, it is so important to get permission and be considerate, it's part of our privacy, a concept which is almost completely lost in places like Sri Lanka. So even though I love my privacy, it also means we're a little less laid back and hospitable in some ways. I mean, in Sri Lanka, India, and Turkey there would be no issue. In fact, the roommate would probably be offended if you didn't sleep in their bed while they're away!
Anyway, I'm going to go look into getting showered and dressed. Maybe I'll go speak some rapid English to someone!!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Kapadokya
Ümit and I are in Göreme, Kapadokya. It's amazing. I know, I think I always say 'amazing' but still, it is. There is something about the spirit of this place, maybe it's just all the big rocks, but it sort of reminds me of Hampi, India.
Yesterday and today we spent ages just hiking around admiring all these amazing stone pillars. I'm still not entirely sure how they were formed- something to do with volcanoes and erosion- but wow! In some there are these caves where people used to live and there are churches in some where you can still see the old Christian paintings which are beautiful. It's magical.
And perhaps a little phallic...
Tonight we're going to catch an overnight bus to Olympus, a town on the Mediterranean sea. I'm looking forward to being on the coast again- not that it's been so long. I suppose I'm always happy to be near water though.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
cats, my elusive god, and the rhythm of life
i am back in istanbul- typing with one hand while i cuddle with the sweetest cat, duman. she purrs and kisses my nose. and instead of going out, into this city that i love so much, i am thinking about cats and god.
i was reading through old emails and i found this email which my father sent to me while i was in india. it really had such a profound effect on me. i want to share the passage he sent me:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 12 of AE's Song and its Fountains:
The high noon of time is past. We are nearing to its
twilight, but are like children who run about and play and
do not hear the voices calling them homewards, though
indeed they are weary and their play has not in it the young
delight of their dawn. How may we start on this travel? The
scriptures, which are the high Oracles of the Oversoul,
have told us the way. But they speak a language so high
that few can understand its symbolism, for it is to most of
us like a speech maintained in the court of a great king --
an ancient aristocratic speech -- while the rabble without
think, chatter, and barter with each other in a vulgar
tongue from which courtesy, dignity, and beauty are
absent. I cannot speak that high language of the seers who
wrote the scriptures of the world. I am as a child puzzled
and enchanted by the wood into which he has strayed,
who has the feeling that there is One who is playing hide-
and-seek with it in the tangle, and the child peers through
the leaves for a presence which always eludes it. I have
never had the high visitor of those who have gone into the
deeps of being and who have returned rapture-blinded by
the glory, and cried out in a divine intoxication to the Light
of Lights:
Spread thy rays and gather them. The Light which is
thy fairest form -- I am what he is.
I am a far exile from that great glory, and can but peer
through a dusky transparency to a greater light than the
light of day. That greater light shines behind and through
the psyche. It is the light of spirit which transcends the
psyche and the psyche in its own world transcends the
terrestrial ego. The psyche has a dual nature, for in part
it is earth-bound, and in part it clings to the ancient spirit.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
searching god in my travels... but still god eludes me.
soon i will return to canada, albeit, not to my home. i'm not sure that i have a home right now. for now i will continue to travel.
and now duman has become playful as she bites my hand and bats, claws retracted, at my arms. i have met so many wonderful cats on my voyage. cats everywhere are unique and yet the same. what a stupid thing to say- i mean, so are people: unique and yet the same!
i have been transitioning into the western style. turkey is the perfect place for this- it is where east meets west. a more perfect bridge could not be found.
oddly, i find that i have stomach problems in turkey. i recall i had some problems with my stomach last time i was here and i do again. in sri lanka i could drink the local water without issue and in india i only fell ill once, but it seems- even though i only drink bottled water here- i am always suffering from diarrhea. maybe it's just all the coffee...
but what does that have to do with god, you ask?
god is everywhere.
in the sky, in the sea, and in my bowels...
please don't take offense. don't be so serious. god has a sense of humour too. don't let the joys of silliness escape you too.
when i was in sri lanka i went to this turtle hatchery. in the evening we released baby turtles into the sea. the man who works there, handun, sent me an email yesterday. it was a handwritten letter which he had scanned and sent to me. he explained the meaning of my name to me in sinhala (edited slightly to make a little more sense): There are small currents in the sea. Sometimes they are floating on the surface of the sea waters. They go very slowly as a beautıful girl walks. Due to the nice rhythm, we call them in sinhala 'mariya.' That is the meaning of your name.
i thought that was nice. i always thought that mariya was a big wave, but it seems i misunderstood the concept.
well, i shouldn't spend more of my day on the computer when there is a beautiful city to explore. perhaps i can live up to my name and be a rhythmic current on the surface of istanbul...
today is a day for contemplation, a long walk is in order.
i was reading through old emails and i found this email which my father sent to me while i was in india. it really had such a profound effect on me. i want to share the passage he sent me:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 12 of AE's Song and its Fountains:
The high noon of time is past. We are nearing to its
twilight, but are like children who run about and play and
do not hear the voices calling them homewards, though
indeed they are weary and their play has not in it the young
delight of their dawn. How may we start on this travel? The
scriptures, which are the high Oracles of the Oversoul,
have told us the way. But they speak a language so high
that few can understand its symbolism, for it is to most of
us like a speech maintained in the court of a great king --
an ancient aristocratic speech -- while the rabble without
think, chatter, and barter with each other in a vulgar
tongue from which courtesy, dignity, and beauty are
absent. I cannot speak that high language of the seers who
wrote the scriptures of the world. I am as a child puzzled
and enchanted by the wood into which he has strayed,
who has the feeling that there is One who is playing hide-
and-seek with it in the tangle, and the child peers through
the leaves for a presence which always eludes it. I have
never had the high visitor of those who have gone into the
deeps of being and who have returned rapture-blinded by
the glory, and cried out in a divine intoxication to the Light
of Lights:
Spread thy rays and gather them. The Light which is
thy fairest form -- I am what he is.
I am a far exile from that great glory, and can but peer
through a dusky transparency to a greater light than the
light of day. That greater light shines behind and through
the psyche. It is the light of spirit which transcends the
psyche and the psyche in its own world transcends the
terrestrial ego. The psyche has a dual nature, for in part
it is earth-bound, and in part it clings to the ancient spirit.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
searching god in my travels... but still god eludes me.
soon i will return to canada, albeit, not to my home. i'm not sure that i have a home right now. for now i will continue to travel.
and now duman has become playful as she bites my hand and bats, claws retracted, at my arms. i have met so many wonderful cats on my voyage. cats everywhere are unique and yet the same. what a stupid thing to say- i mean, so are people: unique and yet the same!
i have been transitioning into the western style. turkey is the perfect place for this- it is where east meets west. a more perfect bridge could not be found.
oddly, i find that i have stomach problems in turkey. i recall i had some problems with my stomach last time i was here and i do again. in sri lanka i could drink the local water without issue and in india i only fell ill once, but it seems- even though i only drink bottled water here- i am always suffering from diarrhea. maybe it's just all the coffee...
but what does that have to do with god, you ask?
god is everywhere.
in the sky, in the sea, and in my bowels...
please don't take offense. don't be so serious. god has a sense of humour too. don't let the joys of silliness escape you too.
when i was in sri lanka i went to this turtle hatchery. in the evening we released baby turtles into the sea. the man who works there, handun, sent me an email yesterday. it was a handwritten letter which he had scanned and sent to me. he explained the meaning of my name to me in sinhala (edited slightly to make a little more sense): There are small currents in the sea. Sometimes they are floating on the surface of the sea waters. They go very slowly as a beautıful girl walks. Due to the nice rhythm, we call them in sinhala 'mariya.' That is the meaning of your name.
i thought that was nice. i always thought that mariya was a big wave, but it seems i misunderstood the concept.
well, i shouldn't spend more of my day on the computer when there is a beautiful city to explore. perhaps i can live up to my name and be a rhythmic current on the surface of istanbul...
today is a day for contemplation, a long walk is in order.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
cold but happy
I am cold but happy. It was time to leave Sri Lanka, in fact, it had been time to leave for some time.
I had a bit of a stressful change in Doha as I had 3 hours to buy my visa, collect my baggage, then catch the shuttle bus over to the departure terminal where I had to book in to my next flight to Istanbul. Next time I decide to book flights using separate airlines I'm going to leave more than 3 hours... it felt tight. But I made it, and that's all that matters.
I got into Istanbul Ataturk airport early on Thursday morning. I'm not exactly sure how I ended up being so incredibly slow, but by the time I had gotten my visa and cleared customs there was no one at the baggage carousel and my bag was just sitting on the floor beside the now still carousel. No problem though... except I still hadn't been able to check my email so I didn't know where I was staying. I mean, I knew I had a place (Ümit's friend) but I didn't know how to get there and I didn't know her number. Again, it seemed I was moving extraordinarily slow and it took me 2 hours to locate internet and get a new SIM card. Finally, I was waiting at the bus stop where I discovered the directions I was given were not possible. Luckily, this man Çağri at the bus stop knew where I wanted to go and said I could take the bus with him to as close as I could get and then take a taxi.
After chatting with him on the bus ride in he offered to drive me there once we got to his car. I gratefully accepted. First we went to his house for a coffee. It was so nice to be in an apartment that looked like it could have been a friend's at home. After coffee he drove me to Burcu's where I was staying.
Burcu had to work, so she quickly ate some lunch with me, showed me around her apartment and then left me. I watched some crap TV, played with her adorable cat, had a luscious nap and then showered.
That evening Burcu and her boyfriend, Balant, took me out to Taksim square for dinner. The food was delicious and there was no rice!
Friday I caught the bus to Ankara where I was met by Ümit. We had a quiet evening and then yesterday we went downtown. It was super. I bought super new boots. We had some super food. I'm being super facetious.
But I digress...
Last night I had my coffee grinds read. Most of it was silly, but some of it was almost uncanny. Like she could see that I had two siblings who are like twins, but separated and one of their name's start with an S and that that one plays music... weird, eh?
Today all I've been doing is reading, eating and sleeping... it's marvellous. The rain is light and the skies are gray. I cannot take my sweater off. I'm cold but happy.
I had a bit of a stressful change in Doha as I had 3 hours to buy my visa, collect my baggage, then catch the shuttle bus over to the departure terminal where I had to book in to my next flight to Istanbul. Next time I decide to book flights using separate airlines I'm going to leave more than 3 hours... it felt tight. But I made it, and that's all that matters.
I got into Istanbul Ataturk airport early on Thursday morning. I'm not exactly sure how I ended up being so incredibly slow, but by the time I had gotten my visa and cleared customs there was no one at the baggage carousel and my bag was just sitting on the floor beside the now still carousel. No problem though... except I still hadn't been able to check my email so I didn't know where I was staying. I mean, I knew I had a place (Ümit's friend) but I didn't know how to get there and I didn't know her number. Again, it seemed I was moving extraordinarily slow and it took me 2 hours to locate internet and get a new SIM card. Finally, I was waiting at the bus stop where I discovered the directions I was given were not possible. Luckily, this man Çağri at the bus stop knew where I wanted to go and said I could take the bus with him to as close as I could get and then take a taxi.
After chatting with him on the bus ride in he offered to drive me there once we got to his car. I gratefully accepted. First we went to his house for a coffee. It was so nice to be in an apartment that looked like it could have been a friend's at home. After coffee he drove me to Burcu's where I was staying.
Burcu had to work, so she quickly ate some lunch with me, showed me around her apartment and then left me. I watched some crap TV, played with her adorable cat, had a luscious nap and then showered.
That evening Burcu and her boyfriend, Balant, took me out to Taksim square for dinner. The food was delicious and there was no rice!
Friday I caught the bus to Ankara where I was met by Ümit. We had a quiet evening and then yesterday we went downtown. It was super. I bought super new boots. We had some super food. I'm being super facetious.
But I digress...
Last night I had my coffee grinds read. Most of it was silly, but some of it was almost uncanny. Like she could see that I had two siblings who are like twins, but separated and one of their name's start with an S and that that one plays music... weird, eh?
Today all I've been doing is reading, eating and sleeping... it's marvellous. The rain is light and the skies are gray. I cannot take my sweater off. I'm cold but happy.
Friday, April 8, 2011
short update while crossing my legs...
Today I was talked into a tuk-tuk instead of taking the public bus. It wasn't a bad deal or anything, but just sort of annoying... because it turned out like all tours- me being taken to touristic spots without meeting any locals. Oh well. The tuk-tuk driver was nice and he spoke to me in Sinhala which I appreciated. I had to laugh though, because he spoke really slow and LOUD to me as if I were deaf....
actually, I am a little bit deaf, so maybe it was a good thing ;)
I went on an elephant ride and got drenched by the elephant, it was kind of funny, but like almost everything here: expensive. Also, the elephant was really bony, I worry she doesn't get enough to eat. Either that, or she's very old, I really hope it's the latter. I didn't think to ask at the time though.
I would love to write more, but I have to go find a toilet. Pronto. You know how it goes.
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