REFLECTIONS

ADVENTURE...

Greece, the 6th oldest civilization to have ever existed in the world. Taking form during 2700 BC to 479 BC. It delivers a glance into our history unlike any other country on Earth. At every turn, nook and dusty crack, you will find ruins to remind you how far back in time you've traveled. Today, the masses custom popular islands like Mykonos or Santorini, where people dance until sunrise, and sleep under the Mediterranean sun on beaches packed as tight as sardines in a can. I decided to ignore the pop culture mayhem and found my way to Athens, during off season, when the crowds are lighter and the weather is fair.

As I drifted through the streets of Athens, I often noticed the sounds. No ambulance, silent-humming car engines, the happy buzz of words coming from the locals moving about, birds conversing while the wind carried their calls. A jovial city, filled of laxed people, that is the definition of Athens as I saw it. I found myself deeply hungry to munch on the history that Greece represents, so I made my way over to the Parthenon. She stands on the highest peak of the city, once the dedicated temple to the goddess Athena, and she looks down at the remains of an old civilization now devoured by the existence of the 21st century. I make my ascent to the top. As I walk on the Peripatos that ancient Athenians trampled, the clouds start turning. In the distance I hear thunder. The crowds start fleeing the peak and coming down to avoid the upcoming showers, I keep climbing. In the heights of the mountain there is little coverage, just the old remains of the ancient city surround me. I see lighting and the thunder roars in my ear, is it right behind me? I feel naked, vulnerable and afraid, but I look around, the whole of Athens below me.. it is a beautiful scenery and it helps me forget my fears.
As I have been blessed with the likes of Jupiter, luck strikes and the clouds pass quickly. I am left with deserted surroundings, only a few brave souls are in my vicinity, sharing the rare, serene moment that never comes to popular archaeological sites such as the Parthenon. The sun starts beaming, creating surreal special effects upon the sky.. My shutter starts clicking.
I can ramble on with the many blessings Athens will give to those who seek it, but I'd rather keep it short... All in all, the food... Ah! the food, perfection to my palette. The people are kind and happily helpful. The streets are a remembrance of the visions Raphael painted. And the wine...Gasp!!! I never had a bad glass. To experience all things in one seating make sure you stop at Cinque Wine Bar & Deli, where the owners, Evangelia and Grigoris will treat you like royalty.

Though the magic of Athens city is enchanting, I refused to lodge in its veins of cobbled streets. Instead, I slept under the starts in a seaside town called Artemida, about a 45 minute commute to the city in taxi. This is Mediterranean bliss. There is not much there to see, that is the magic of it. Though you can come upon the ancient ruins of Braurona, beside a tiny museum of archaeology. The terrain is a trekker's dream, with tiny trails hidden and exposing the paradise around you. The cliffs will take you to high points that will display unfathomable vistas, which will show you as far as Athens city. On Sunday, locals custom a family outing to eat in Porto Rafti, the upscale section of the east coast. You will witness fishermen docking their tiny boats, churches standing atop a miniature, desolate island, with the Greek flag flapping in the winds coming from the Aegean Sea, and see children wandering with joy as they play with the ducks. I relaxed into the rhythm of the bodies of water around me, ate the catch of the day seafood, drank the nectar of the local vineyards, and spend some well deserved time melting into the massage table of our Spa. The Dolce Attica Riviera delivered culture, views for decades, kindness and spoiled me drunk.

For a healing bath in mineral springs I took a quick car ride to the west side. Across the Athenian Riviera stands Lake Vouliagmeni. a geological phenomenon. There, I sun bathed while I napped. Once I made the commitment to swim in the crystal waters, I experienced a welcoming of hundreds of fishes exfoliating my skin with their ticklish little mouths. I came out reborn. My skin, spirit, and mind detoxed with the mineral waters.
For me, the biggest highlight of being in Greece is the people. They are loving, respectful, giving, natural artisans, and genuinely happy. Thanks to the Nikolou family I had the perfect send-off tasting local wines on my last evening in Greece. The Nikolou Winery is a family operated business in the Koropi region of Greece, 30 minutes south of Athens. They have a diverse selection of wines, fit for any palette. I had the pleasure of tasting about half of their collection, including their award winning natural wine, called Savatiano Yellow. Mister Vassilis Nikolou, father and prime owner of the winery, gleams with pride and joy when speaking of his hard work, time, and knowledge, which makes the winery the success it is today. I toured the facilities, along his son Evangelos and Vassilis himself. It is a state of the art operation, immaculately organized, and displaying a window into the day to day production of the Nikolou wines. You can see the amount of love that goes into the work, and you can taste it in the resulting product. We walk over to a special section, where the sparkling wine is fermenting in the traditional champagne method. "I come everyday and I talk to each one" Vassilis tells me with a soft smile on his face. "I take my time and rotate each bottle, after they tell me what they need" We laugh in unison, I know he is telling the truth, and his energy is intoxicating, I can feel the whole of his spirit, joyfully caring for his product. As if that moment is not enough to leave the snootiest wine connoisseur satisfied, he takes me over to the tasting table. An immaculate sunset awaits us by the terrace, the edges of the bottles and furniture glisten with golden rays. His wife presents a spread of locally sourced lamb, feta cheese, grilled sausages, eggplant dip, potatoes, and a two day old olive oil which tastes like heaven. "May i purchase some of the olive oil as well?" I ask sheepeshly. "oh no, sorry" Vassilis is wearing a sly smile as he speaks "that is for the family only". I cower with defeat, but I count my blessings, as I know how rare it is to have such a unique, magical opportunity such as this one, in the midst of today's travel culture.

Istanbul is a city of wonder, it can have you going further in time, circa 3500 BC–500 BC with its rich archaeology and well kept treasures, or it can pull you into the chaos of the religious mecca it is today. I find myself walking the paths the Mesopotamian civilization once refined. The structures which stood in commemoration of their feats are mostly gone, but the remains of 17th Century reign are still alive and functioning. You don't need many days to cover the touristy traps, which I must add are worth visiting, but if you want to feel the the local vibe, give yourself ample time. You can get lost in the endless labyrinth of European cobbled streets, or you can visit the oldest street market Kapali Çarşi, dating back to 1461. Either way you will find the same products. I would argue that the authenticity of the hand made silks, cotton, gold, and artisan goods that the Turks were know for, are no longer found. Instead, you will meet mass production at its's finest, with real fine materials just no longer hand made.
Istanbul is most magical away of the bustle of commerce. Crossing the Galata bridge you will peep the household heads fishing for their daily or weekly supper, while the locals chew on the tasty restaurants that align it. Alternately, you can catch a ferry to glide on the waters of the infamous Golden Horn. My favorite activity is to indulge in the practice of an ancient Turkish bath, visit Hurrem Sultan Hamami for an authentic, hygienic experience... Having a maternal figure scrubbing you, bathing you, and dousing you with oils is a cuddly, zen place that I would like to permanently live in.

The first time we met I had your coconut rice. I wondered what is this place, that shares a coconut rice recipe with the northwest coast of Colombia? The universe looked me in the eye and answered, “My ignorant, teenage soul, Barranquilla is not the only one, one day you will see for yourself”

I have been drawn to Malaysia like a Pygmy Marmoset seeking the teat of a mother, hungry for nourishment. Nature knew all along that somehow I would make my way there, I was clueless. It is here where I began my journey of South Asia; I spent two fourths of April taking in the spirit of Malaysia. I was in rural Johor for two thirds of that time, keeping noble silence and attempting to reflect. Only jungle and animals surrounding me, I was completely off the grid, my identity and ego stripped from me. The rest of the time I trampled through Kuala Lumpur trying to quench my thirst for travel. In this city, I spread my fairy dust while feeding exotic animals in urban parks, I listened to bats hymn a lullaby in unison, I trekked caves both over and underground, I watched people dance to the sounds of temples during meditative Tai Chi, and I experienced the Indian, Muslim and Chinese cultures that remain alive in colorful Malaysia.

This may sound funny, but this place helped me see how the more I try to be in control of my whereabouts, daily routine, success and purpose, the more I am fighting the nature of my future. The universe knows exactly where I need to be at any given moment, and I can no longer tune out the sounds that lead the way.
Thank you Malaysia!

Photos taken with Fuji XT2. © April 2018 Velvet Image Inc.

Singapore is a mix of cultures, architecture, and people but they all represent one thing… Asia. Diverse, technologically advanced, bustling economy, acceptance of non-Asian settlers; These are a few of the attributes that makes it the unique island nation that it is.
One popular touristy stop which stands out from the rest of the world are the Gardens by the Bay; An urban forest which covers 250 acres of Singapore’s real estate. It is a land for pixies, gnomes, banshees, Viper wolves and all furry creatures. Allow your mind to travel into the sci-fi oddity that engulfs you as you walk the paved walkways and enter the domes. Embrace the photosynthesis occurring around you from the abundant green life that you encounter. Go slow and take in every single wonder of this park with all your senses.
Once you exit the park, not too far from it, there is Little India. A district where Indian convicts were once settled, but today only colorful buildings and people exist. On Sundays all the workers take their free time to visit their temples and indulge in consumerism. The stores offer glitzy toys, shiny fantasy jewelry, pounds of 24k gold, over-saturated greens, and jazzy stands filled with multicolored homemade-sweets adorn the sidewalks. The temples echo the colors of their flowers and vegetables; dazzling pinks, vivid greens, crimson reds, sunny yellows and more indescribable colors adorn the deities that reside in the temples. The statues stare back at you as if recognizing why you are there in the first place. Never forget and never judge, their frozen sculpted eyes tell you.
On the opposite side of the island you can find the residential quiet streets of the river bend. A plush lifestyle frames the riverside of glitzy Clarke Quay. Light skinned, light haired and light-colored people inhabit the pricey condos and spill out from the restaurants. Families are abundant, most groups consist of a child or two, a dog or two, mom, pop and a fancy stroller…For a millisecond, you almost forget you are in Singapore.

Photos taken with Fuji XT2. © April 2018 Velvet Image Inc.

Have you felt the deafening, earth shattering, vibrations from the fall of water?
Have you tripped and fell so hard in love with people that it makes your heart tear with happiness?
Have you been blinded by the over saturated colors of the rice fields?
Have you run from a gang of monkeys while a pack of dogs came to your rescue?
Have you raced against time to beat the sunrise to the top of Mount Batur?
This is Ubud… the heart of Bali. Unforgiving beauty at every turn. The people, the animals, the nature, the SUN.
Everyday the same, yet somehow still anew.

Photos taken with Fuji XT2. © April 2018

Sanur is located on prime real estate of Bali. It holds the port for boats that connect neighboring islands, it has the longest stretch of sandy beach, it has a bike path parallel to the coast so that you can frolic and enjoy the unforgiving vistas, and it houses Bali's first royal, tallest, and largest resort, The Inna Grand Bali. At this hideaway, you can witness the majestic sunrise and sunset with no obstructions at all. Yet somehow, Sanur is a forgotten vintage town. A place where the locals vacate and the tourist look down upon. It's not cool enough, they say. It's for old people the airwaves echo. For me it was perfect. I started my day ingesting the Sunrise and continued my meal with beach front Yoga. Not the kind of yoga you do in a cramped, sweaty, competitive NYC studio. No. This is pure Bali bliss, believe all the rumors. My Yoga Guru was a bit older than middle age, and Balinese; in fact from Sanur. His body defied any joints, muscles or human anatomy that science has proven. His approach was slow, precise, meditative and challenging. It was a true yoga flow.
After sweating out my life for an hour and a half, I grabbed my bike and continued on the beach path. I looked at my watch, it is only 9 am. Any and every place is perfect to have fruits and vegetables for breakfast as all the businesses are lined up to look out to the sea. After, I turned the wheels onto the streets of Sanur. There, I found quaint tourist shops opening to welcome the day, "you first, buy, you bring luck" they all said to me. I didn't submit. The power play came to a dead stop when a colorful burial invaded the streets, not even a car dared to move. The dead are sacred here, and all the people pay respect.
I could have easily spent all my days doing that routine, it was invigorating. Instead the rest of the Balinese wonders called out to me and I responded ardently. I witnessed ritualistic weddings in Dreamland Beach. I drowned upon more perfect sunsets in Seminyak Beach. I floated with the ocean tide on my way to Nusa Dua, and fought with monkeys at the sacred Uluwatu Temple. There is no place I'd rather be.

Tucked in the southeastern coast of Bali's Indian Ocean is the tiny island that could, Nusa Lembongan. A curry sauce of tradition and island life. The narrow streets all end with a perfect view of the sea, and the people move slow, reflecting the effects of the scorching heat. I hold on tight. My adventure partner assures me that I will be fine, the scooter is the fastest mode of travel and we only have a few hours to cover all of the island's primal beaches.

Paradise Beach, Mushroom Beach, Dream Beach, Sandy Bay, Tamarind Beach. These are titles fit for paradise and the island sure does deliver. You can easily travel this sanctuary in less than two hours of nonstop driving, but we take our time. No use rushing to get to the next place, that would defy what the islet is all about.
Some cold Litchi tea here, a Lemongrass ice cream there. Some swimming here, some cliff trekking there, are those mangroves near?. Don't let this small haven fool you, it is full of surprises at every turn, and if you let go of all previous conditioning, you will find that your mind slows down to match the heart beat of the volcanic earth your walking on. My spirit embraces the peaceful rhythm Nusa Lembongan offers, and as if that is not enough, she gives me a clear view of the mighty Agung volcano from every angle. Have I found Eden?

Teetering between Old World traditions and newfound modern freedom, Shanghai is a city of many contradictions.
On a hot humid Sunday in April, the locals use their free time to invade the Old City province, as if it is their last chance to hold onto their ancient customs. They shop, eat, scream, and laugh with a frenetic energy, merging the modern style of consumerist living with the ancient walls. Within this district you will find the Huxinting Tea House, founded in 1855 during the reign of Qing Dynasty’s Emperor Xianfeng. It is well preserved and an absolute work of architectural perfection. As I step through an intricate Chinese-patterned door, the swift aroma of roasted green tea awakens my senses. Before me sits a man, thin, worn, tired but with a bright smile. He signals for me to come over and smell the recently roasted leaves in his hand, he knows I will fall in love and be forced to make a purchase. I say “Bu, Xie Xie” in my broken mandarin, feel bad and add “on my way out”.
After the perfect cup of tea accompanied with quail eggs, rice dumplings wrapped in banana leafs, and candied olives. I cross the jam-packed bridge to enter the Yuyuan Garden. The grounds are picture perfect and were once the tranquil backyards of Pan Yuduan’s family. The stone walls created in the Ming dynasty to prevent Japanese invaders are just ruins now, but it all lands you a glance at what it may have been like in the 12th to 17th centuries of China.
I finish my visit by losing myself to the flow of the masses. I give up all control of my footwork and allow the crowds to glide me towards the Metro station. They take me through small and large streets, which showcase an explosion of their culture. Following the mob is the only way; you must embrace the rhythm of this city if you want to come out alive.

Photos taken with an IPhone SE. © April 2018

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