A lot of people and bumpy roads

As I board a bus that supposedly takes 13 hours to get from McCloud Ganj to Delhi, I initially get my hopes up that I might have a little arm room... ...as if. The madness of the government bus would never allow such a thing. 

As we speed through the mountains in the dark of night, the bus stops anywhere and everywhere there might be a person who wants a ride to somewhere between here and Delhi. Although I would hardly call it "stopping". The bus slowly rolls while people frantically try to throw bags into the bus while holding on for dear life, and finally pull themselves in, before the bus speeds away. 

As 7pm becomes 8, becomes 9, the mountain air gets colder and colder. I in turn become more and more appreciative of the Indian man who is crammed against me and sleeping on my shoulder. Bags, people, children, and anything else you can think of get piled on and around everything and everyone. 

The incredible vibrations of the bus racing over pothole filled, half paved roads is initially a nice massage. 15 hours later, some smoke, pounding and bits of random material stuffed into the engine, a few screeching stops, an array of interesting smells, being physically launched out of my seat a few times, and a sunrise later, the massage therapy was more than I needed. 

I stumble off the bus, and before I know it, I hear "Jaipur, Jaipur, Jaipur" slowly rolling by me. This being my ultimate destination, I chase after the bus, jump on, squeeze past a few people and take a new seat. I am ready to be a pillow or of whatever I may become, once more. 

20 hours of buses later, my bruised butt, and achy and smelly body are ready for a bucket of water to bathe in and a bed to rest on. For $4 this dream comes true. Alone in a small, cement walled room, with a squatting toilet to myself, something doesn't seem right. Shouldn't I be sharing this space with a few more people? 

The Dalai Lama and his entourage

An overheard whisper at breakfast gives me the idea that the Dalai Lama has come back to McCloud Ganj to make a quick appearance and speech before journeying to Delhi for his scheduled talk. I step out onto the street and ask the next monk I see to confirm the rumor. After confirmation I quickly make my way to the temple. 

With no bags or electronics allowed, I pass through a metal detector and am patted down. I pass inspection and continue on. At the gate that the Dalai Lama is hidden behind a crowd of people anxiously wait. A dozen security guards circle the general area, and a few men with machine guns stand alert at the gate. 

Finally the gates open and the Dalai Lama makes his appearance, surrounded with more security. He smiles and waves as he slowly makes his way through the mass of people, up the stairs and to his seat. Translators of a dozen languages sit perched in front of groups of people waiting to hear the translation of what his Holiness has to say. I find English and take a seat on the cold floor. 

At some point during chanting I am served a piece of bread and a cup of tea. The Dalai Lama spoke for a couple hours on the subject of the four truths, the steps towards enlightenment, and the importance of not only chanting a mantra but also understanding the meaning and significance of the manta. 

After a couple hours, the cold, and the numbness in my butt and legs helped me decide to explore the temple complex. Hundreds of people from all walks of life patiently sat and listened. The hundreds of men, women, and children in red robes and shaved heads were seated closest to his Holiness, crammed in and pouring out of the room where he was seated.  

As a second round of tea came around, I retired back to the city, where the noise and chaos had certainty not stopped. At least a small piece of the wisdom from his holiness still lingered inside of me. 

An Orthodox Monastery in Bulgaria & a Sikh Temple in India

After watching the government protests (summer of 2013) in Sofia, Bulgaria, I decided to head for the hills for some peace and quiet.  

From Sofia, it was a few hours by bus to Rila, where I transferred to a smaller bus to take me up the mountains to an Orthodox Monastery in the middle of nowhere.

Once I arrived I went out for a hike, but 10 minutes into my hike the rain started the poor down. I retreated back to the sanctuary of the monks quarters, where I had been given a small, old, squeaky, saggy, wire framed bed, in a room for 3, which I had to myself. This was at first an appealing idea, but as the rain continued and the storm intensified, the structural integrity of the building was tested. Rain started to slowly leak through the ceiling. Then the drops got faster and faster and puddles started to form on the floor. The bed next to mine begin to become soaked through, and eventually drops started dripping out the bottom of the mattress. 

It was a long, damp, and hungry night.  Although I saw 2 monks carrying a sheep by its legs into the monastery and another with a heap of vegetables, I was not allowed to eat with these black cloaked, bearded men. I was stuck with only the water and loaf of bread that I had brought with me. 

As the sun rose, so did I.  The storm had passed and the monastery looked magnificent in the fog with mountains all around. I attended a service, which seemed like an endless string of kissing (pictures, the floor, books, etc.) and chanting. Hours later it ended, and I was free. I enjoyed the quiet, the sanctuary and the scenery for the remainder of my time there. 

Shorty after arriving in Delhi, India (my first time in the country), I decided that the noise, pollution, and busyness of the city was enough for me (especially since I was staying in the main bazar). I bought a train ticket for Amritsar, and 2 days later I was off. After 7 quick hours on a train, and a bicycle rickshaw ride later, I was standing at the gates of the Golden Temple. I quickly found the pilgrims quarters and was given a bed in a 3 person room. This time my room was full, as well as every other room, courtyard, stairwell, and ceiling.

The difference in noise, as compared to Rila was incredible. I was hoping that my tendency to be a light sleeper would quickly change. 

I ventured through and around the temple. Watched people kiss the ground and bow. Saw them bathe in the water that surrounded the temple, repeatedly and rhythmically dunking themselves. I also enjoyed the melodic chanting that could be heard throughout the whole establishment. The temple is said to be made with over 700kg of pure gold.

This time I was allowed to eat with the people at the temple. Food was provided to anyone and everyone who so desired, and so I sat on the floor, in a hall with hundreds of other people, and enjoyed a great meal. The system of preparing food, handing out plates and cups, serving food, and cleaning was one of the most well tuned operations that I have ever seen, and was completely by volunteer.

I stayed for two nights. During my time there I also bathed in the communal shower, which is a series of waist high fosets that spit out luke warm water. I bathed in my underwear, which everyone else did also. I also enjoyed walking around the temple at night; a pretty sight to behold.

Endless Awesomeness - Rock Climbing

The Northwest of America has been a playground that I have played on as much as I can the last Month or so. Rock climbing has been a large part of that.  Washington Pass, Mazama, Exit 38, Sehome Hill, the UW rock wall, the Mountaineers wall, Vertical world, Smith Rock, more Exit 38, and Frenchman Coulee have all offered me a wonderful experience. The rock climbing pushes me physically and mentally, the scenery is inspiring, and the company and memories are irreplaceable. 

I have had the opportunity to take a few classes with KAF Adventure, a company that I am currently interning for, and after every weekend of adventure, I like climbing and them more and more. Learning, exploring, and meeting amazing people brings me home each Monday exhausted in the best way possible, and also completely alive.

It has also been an amazing venue for me to spend time with my sister, girlfriend, mom, friends and to make new friends. Some who have climbed and some who have not. 

My sister (Renee) has now climbed on rock for her first time, cleaned her first anchor, and also climbed some great 5.9 routes.

Karen has cleaned an anchor multiple times now, and has also led her first 5.7. No matter what I lead, she is able to get up and clean, and we are great partners for each other.

Spencer climbed for the first time, and was thoroughly freaked out as Renee started to belay him, but he was smiling from ear to ear by the time he made it down.

My mom (Liane) climbed for her first time, and kicked some butt in a cool chimney.

All in all, it has been amazing getting to know these areas and this sport better. It has been amazing spending time with people I care about, and forming new relationships with others.  If you want to adventure with me, just let me know, I plan for the amazingness to continue!

A journey through Europe done right, and a thank you to those who made it so.

After 5 months in Europe, I had an amazing and unforgettable time. The people I met along the way made it what it was;

It is a blessing to spend a couple weeks with your family in Ireland (during which time you all finish a half marathon), and then another week in Paris 4 months later.

It is great to see a friend from WA in Dublin and eat some local food.

It is a beautiful moment when you arrive in a city you have never been in, and meet up with a friend you haven’t seen in 10+ years. 

It is beautiful when you arrive in a city you have been to before, and stay with a friend you haven’t seen in 3 years.

It is beautiful when you arrive in a new country and stay with your old high school PE teacher.

It is beautiful when you meet a Brazilian in Kosovo, who becomes your travel partner through 3 more countries.

It is awesome to meet someone in Luxembourg, whose company you enjoy, and who you meet up with again in Brussels, and Lille.

It is amazing to meet a couple vacationing in Scotland, who live in Portugal, and have them extend an offer to visit, and then to go spend 3 days with them 2 months later.  

It is incredible to be introduced electronically to a man that my mother met 30 years ago, be picked up by his son in Austria, and then driven to Lichtenstein where they are incredibly hospitable.  Then to go meet their whole family and a few of their friends at a vineyard in Italy 2 months later.

It is cool to see a family friend in Germany, whose parents live next door to you in WA, and enjoy a long night out in Berlin for your birthday.

It is amazing to stay with a handful of couch surfing hosts, including: an Indian med student in Glasgow, two Hungarian working professionals in Vienna, a botany student in Vienna, a German teacher and Turkish film editor living in Augsburg (and their cute dog), a tech specialist at his brewery in the hills of Grachen as well as with his friend in Zurich, a French women who just returned to Lille from a 10 month adventure in Australia, a Spanish/French man and his two roommates in Toulouse, etc.

It is blast to meet all the hostel owners and fellow travelers along the way, as well as the friendly locals who always gave me more time than I could thank them for, and who shared meals with me after showing a lost stranger their city.

It is priceless to travel with a Eurail pass for 2 months through 10 different countries with your sister.

It is wonderful to travel for 18 days around Italy with a girlfriend whom you love very much.

I am happy. I am blessed. I am thankful.

THANK YOU!

Kayaking is Cool! Especially when you are kayaking with cool kids.

What better way to spend a long weekend, than to Kayak around the San Juan Islands, check out the sea life with a bunch of cool people, do yoga, hike, tell stories, dance by the fire, and eat MREs!

   

Sucia Island, Brittany, Karen, Leslie, and Ryan offered just that!

We drove to Anacortes (not Anna Cortez), hopped on a ferry to Orcas Island, drove to the north of the island, and then took a water taxi to Sucia Island, where we picked up the Kayaks. 

Water taxi to Sucia!

As first timers in the sea, we took it pretty easy, but thoroughly enjoyed figuring out how to cooperate in two person kayaks. We paddled around the island a bit, explored every cove, and enjoyed the occasional intimidating waves that raced towards us.

We saw jellyfish, porpoises, starfish, seals, and more.

Karen and I braved the cold water and dipped in on one of the sunny days, welcoming the sun to warm our bones as we exited the water.  

Leslie and Karen participated in a yoga session that their gracious instructor Brittany led one morning.

We all searched for firewood as Ryan elegantly prepared the fire, Leslie being the champ of breaking the unbreakable branches.

At every meal, we picked apart the MREs, trading each other for bits and pieces that suited our individual fancy.

The beauty of the island, nature and solitude were welcome guests in my eyes and soul, and the company was perfect. The weather cooperated and we all received our natural dose of vitamin D.

Of course, burgers and beer were in store for us as we waited for the ferry back home – a great end to a great weekend!

Nature is needed!

Visiting cities, capitals, historic areas, etc. was a very large part of my Europe trip, but it didn't matter where I was, I was always drawn back to nature.  If longings to go back to the PNW ever arose, I quickly got my fix with the nearest mountains, rivers, ocean, lakes, etc.  It didn't matter where I was, something was available, and it was always wonderful.

Mountains outside Salzburg. Swiss Alps. Biking through parks and up hills in Germany. Swimming in the Kotor Bay. Hills in Prague.  Hills in Edinburgh. Cliffs of Moher. Etc. nature is needed.

Mountain man patrolling the hills outside of Grachen 

Hiking with the locals just outside of Salzburg.

Prague:  A photo for a photo.

Can't beat Edinburgh on a sunny day.

When the single speed isn't enough for the hills in Berlin.

Napping on the cliffs of Moher.

Exploring the Alps.

Bay of Kotor with Leo.