tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62595506085308403082024-03-06T06:10:47.296+11:00What's around the corner ... ... beauty of the unknown, together with a kaleidoscope of real life stories and other bits and pieces that will encourage you to follow your intuition, to look with your heart, to listen to your body, to dream and to cherish every moment of your life.
It is never too late or too early to enrich your life with more joy, laughter and better health! Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-67199275596261670342013-08-09T12:05:00.000+10:002014-04-25T12:35:41.698+10:00“There is no end, only the beginning ...”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My
haiku as promised ...</span></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sm3uzZHmxeI/UQ7y1aGijgI/AAAAAAAABc4/KIRPpRE8vKw/s1600/scan0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sm3uzZHmxeI/UQ7y1aGijgI/AAAAAAAABc4/KIRPpRE8vKw/s1600/scan0004.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Run
towards the joy</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> for
the joy of running</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> there
is no end, only the beginning </span>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">...
and yes, the beginning it is!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
would like to invite you to my new blog just launched and titled ... </span><strong>“</strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong>Edith
Piaf and my Parisian journey ...”</strong>, </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">while
my current one is going to have a bit of a holiday.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
Here<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
is the link ...</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://olgakulanowska1.blogspot.com.au/">http://olgakulanowska1.blogspot.com.au/</a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Hope
you can join me in Paris!</span></div>
</span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K16wsKfPB8Q/Ufx4a-z3LUI/AAAAAAAAEpI/FryNqLWnNvg/s1600/DSC01533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K16wsKfPB8Q/Ufx4a-z3LUI/AAAAAAAAEpI/FryNqLWnNvg/s1600/DSC01533.JPG" height="320" width="310" /></a></div>
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Photography by Olga Kulanowska</span></div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-7908166579374024282013-07-05T21:00:00.000+10:002013-08-23T22:03:52.823+10:00“Random acts of kindness ...”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nL8vfv9mZbA/UbLzXW0-NAI/AAAAAAAADCI/u3cObI5uA_0/s1600/DSC05235.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nL8vfv9mZbA/UbLzXW0-NAI/AAAAAAAADCI/u3cObI5uA_0/s400/DSC05235.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Today
I have decided to share with you something </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> that I have started nearly
9 years ago. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Something that might be needed right now even more than
before.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here
it is ...</span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10<sup>th</sup>
October 2004 (Sydney, Australia)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Hi
... </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my
name is Olga.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If
you value harmony and peace, please allow me to share this short
story with you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
other day I watched a very inspiring movie based on a true story
titled “The Last Brickmaker in America”. It not only brought
tears into my eyes, but also an idea into my heart.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We
often do not pursue our ideas for one or another reason, so they
stays locked in our heart like a caged bird whose song may only be
heard by one person. But if this bird was to be set free, more people
would have a chance to enjoy his song.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">About
two years ago I was preparing material for a new one-day workshop. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
ended up with so many ideas that it became impossible to condense
them into a seven-hour time frame, and consequently it was easier for
me to place it into a “too hard basket”.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
earlier mentioned movie had not only reminded me of the essence that
I had planned to convey through this particular workshop ...</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Just
because of our weaknesses and imperfections </b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>we
should not stop ourselves from sharing our strengths with others.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The
more we focus on sharing our strengths, </b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>the
more our weaknesses and imperfections will dissolve in the process.”</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></strong><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">...
but it also prompted me to act on it!</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-htb5pUt_VxY/UbL3cKuIrKI/AAAAAAAADCY/yr5ER3pr42A/s1600/DSC05387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-htb5pUt_VxY/UbL3cKuIrKI/AAAAAAAADCY/yr5ER3pr42A/s320/DSC05387.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">An
invitation ...</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"></span></strong> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"></span></strong> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"></span></strong> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>...
to embrace my simple idea on sharing our strengths.</b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>At
first:</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Extend
three acts of kindness to strangers.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These
acts can be very simple...</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">help
a mum to carry a pram up the stairs</span></div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">help
to catch someone's hat blown away by the wind</span></div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">if
you see a car in a shopping centre car park with the lights left on,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">advise
the information desk of the registration number</span></div>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
number “three” is only symbolic and you may choose to do more or
less acts of kindness, or adopt this as an annual ritual. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There
is no copyright on this idea, although may I ask you for one thing
...</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Please,
let the intentions behind it to remain pure and unconditional.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once
you open your heart, you will see many opportunities.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Then:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When
you have extended an act of kindness, please forward this letter to
another person. However it is important that you forward this letter
(or print and drop to someone's letter box) after you have conducted
your act of kindness, as this will increase a positive energy held by
it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Think
of the act of kindness as a stamp required for posting/emailing of
this letter.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My
wish:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
would love you to share with me any special experiences that have
arisen from your participation in acts of kindness with hope of
gathering enough stories to create a blog, and to allow your words
(with your permission) to inspire even more people into extending
their acts of kindness ... just one of the strengths we all have in
us!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Please
remember that every act of kindness offered by you will help to
rebuild harmony on our planet, just like every water drop will help
to create more rain. A multitude of small actions is often by far
more powerful and lasting than one big one.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you!</span></b></span> <a href="mailto:harmony4uandme@hotmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">harmony4uandme@hotmail.com</span></a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Freestyle Script, cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Segoe Print;"><i><b> Love
& light,</b> </i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<em><span style="font-family: Segoe Print; font-size: large;">Olga</span></em>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Now,
I would like to give you a link to something as sp</span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ecial </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> as the icing
on the cake ...</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: black;"> <span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_attZ0kvFE&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_attZ0kvFE&feature=player_embedded</a></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPL_oxe5UzmnuTCWX9E_ps73P0VE85wT-sZ_YaEe6Jxs0nl_wjKdYu543xIacDLKm4ION7_5u5q5ZACU5uDEQqZWbCt2MBgSqRV1ul1NJI_RT9ew5Jv25kZxM6LrGE4OUxVrCxuOpnSLF/s1600/DSC00051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPL_oxe5UzmnuTCWX9E_ps73P0VE85wT-sZ_YaEe6Jxs0nl_wjKdYu543xIacDLKm4ION7_5u5q5ZACU5uDEQqZWbCt2MBgSqRV1ul1NJI_RT9ew5Jv25kZxM6LrGE4OUxVrCxuOpnSLF/s320/DSC00051.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">E</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">njoy!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Photography by Olga Kulanowska</span></div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-77157934354462859292013-06-05T17:59:00.000+10:002013-08-23T22:04:24.012+10:00Follow up on ... "Feel what your eyes see and let the words flow"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-asRDyx3JOHQ/UQy7_988kfI/AAAAAAAABcY/ERH3H7ka24s/s1600/scan0002.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-asRDyx3JOHQ/UQy7_988kfI/AAAAAAAABcY/ERH3H7ka24s/s400/scan0002.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Photography by Olga Kulanowska</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
wonder how did you go with created your own haiku to the photo above?</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> As
promised ... (my haiku) </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Through the mist of my past</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> in search of answers</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> my journey ends where it begun</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong> More
of “Olga's haiku” ...</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></strong> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></strong> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wOBPhKuID-8/UYXvYpIE8mI/AAAAAAAACTs/t-YXm1-0DEo/s1600/13-Gerd+Heise-PB250003%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wOBPhKuID-8/UYXvYpIE8mI/AAAAAAAACTs/t-YXm1-0DEo/s320/13-Gerd+Heise-PB250003%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> My
twisted body</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> ready
to let go</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> awaiting
winter's touch</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><br />
Photography by Gerd Heise</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> A
bridal waltz</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> twirling
dreams around</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> can
you feel my heart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWC21SQGLdPTID1XvkNXlaDMrP7RSJwH8cZpmGamRoByueYX1Tmoqd0oLOqIFuWCCsKL2njU0pHxgOEXzeMDO-KBuKmrhAR4H4ZMOzlecf7mMHcZyH4qvhNiFqOIATb7NGuPs8ETw9N1C/s1600/14-Gerd+Heise-P8210005gh%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWC21SQGLdPTID1XvkNXlaDMrP7RSJwH8cZpmGamRoByueYX1Tmoqd0oLOqIFuWCCsKL2njU0pHxgOEXzeMDO-KBuKmrhAR4H4ZMOzlecf7mMHcZyH4qvhNiFqOIATb7NGuPs8ETw9N1C/s320/14-Gerd+Heise-P8210005gh%5B1%5D.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Gerd Heise</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38mkyFrypVw/UYXvdF3iFAI/AAAAAAAACT8/_HzkmrvKDRE/s1600/15-Jacky+Fox-tumblr_mdu4wtlqs71rl07uso1_500%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38mkyFrypVw/UYXvdF3iFAI/AAAAAAAACT8/_HzkmrvKDRE/s320/15-Jacky+Fox-tumblr_mdu4wtlqs71rl07uso1_500%5B1%5D.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Magician's
hand</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> leading
the dance</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> story
lost in colour</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Jacky Fox</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQLAVhERsqM/UYXvgJII2II/AAAAAAAACUE/7b_B1d5wNyw/s1600/16-Yushan+Sui-desert%5B1%5D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQLAVhERsqM/UYXvgJII2II/AAAAAAAACUE/7b_B1d5wNyw/s320/16-Yushan+Sui-desert%5B1%5D.jpeg" height="320" width="317" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Between
the folds of time</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> an
awaken soul</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> basking
in the light</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Yushan Sui ~ </span></div>
<a href="http://goo.gl/hNmfw"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://goo.gl/hNmfw</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Teasing
the sky above</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> romancing
the air</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> colourful
ribbons in my hair</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ABlAeK7K3Pw/UYXvlGWInoI/AAAAAAAACUM/AWRHF8bZT94/s1600/17-Gonul+Balci-IMG_0409%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ABlAeK7K3Pw/UYXvlGWInoI/AAAAAAAACUM/AWRHF8bZT94/s320/17-Gonul+Balci-IMG_0409%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Gonul Balci</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lhvSY40c19M/UYXweDowvRI/AAAAAAAACVE/4DYksCUIhyg/s1600/18-Olga+Kulanowska.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lhvSY40c19M/UYXweDowvRI/AAAAAAAACVE/4DYksCUIhyg/s320/18-Olga+Kulanowska.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Free
spirit trapped</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> by
the wing of wisdom</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> rooted
deeply in earth</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photography
by Olga Kulanowska</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bGLg2WhFKg/UYXvny8vSUI/AAAAAAAACUU/183PiJ6kkcI/s1600/19-Hatice+Dincer-480292_10151218206762893_119098828_n%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bGLg2WhFKg/UYXvny8vSUI/AAAAAAAACUU/183PiJ6kkcI/s320/19-Hatice+Dincer-480292_10151218206762893_119098828_n%5B1%5D.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Captured
within my eye</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> a
gazing moon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> suspended
in the sky</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Hatice Dincer</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Wheel
of fortune</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> with
golden rind</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> bubbling
with joy still to be found</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62bPbgoaNhc/UYXvylcTbbI/AAAAAAAACUc/P5KDXQSnFA4/s1600/20-Bartek+Ryszka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62bPbgoaNhc/UYXvylcTbbI/AAAAAAAACUc/P5KDXQSnFA4/s320/20-Bartek+Ryszka.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Bartek Ryszka</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f-YrsvKlq1k/UYXv5Z9U9TI/AAAAAAAACUk/Ajczq-pjwwU/s1600/21-Claudine+de+Fay-12+-+1%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f-YrsvKlq1k/UYXv5Z9U9TI/AAAAAAAACUk/Ajczq-pjwwU/s320/21-Claudine+de+Fay-12+-+1%5B2%5D.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Reality
fading away</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> as
I follow you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> through
the void between us</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Claudine de Fay</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2C-efW20lTE/UYXv9LN72fI/AAAAAAAACUs/MCylHgfTr3A/s1600/22-Jeff+Dowell-12+-+1%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2C-efW20lTE/UYXv9LN72fI/AAAAAAAACUs/MCylHgfTr3A/s320/22-Jeff+Dowell-12+-+1%5B2%5D.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Waiting
for something</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> something
not there</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> does
anybody care</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Jeff Dowell</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Fishing
for wisdom</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> shining
from above</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> in
the depths of my life</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_rlbCMUMuI/UYXwAJbl4vI/AAAAAAAACU0/NjLBLqNTjDs/s1600/23-Alessandro+Baffa-_SEA2338%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_rlbCMUMuI/UYXwAJbl4vI/AAAAAAAACU0/NjLBLqNTjDs/s320/23-Alessandro+Baffa-_SEA2338%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Alessandro Baffa</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbvfOs6Bu5cVIceqU3VFSjGDJLh6iK9z4nTF5BnAG4ExmG3qTkSUvQch8lD7rxxtKDsQXoBS4AF1zqQ3Xy2D9J2MNWYik6ox2cfFaT1bMozvik9s7cpFq2MhqXuNgbCmfvlImGfkbWt5j/s1600/24-Mikko+Tyllinen-C360_2012-12-26-11-18-39+(2)%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbvfOs6Bu5cVIceqU3VFSjGDJLh6iK9z4nTF5BnAG4ExmG3qTkSUvQch8lD7rxxtKDsQXoBS4AF1zqQ3Xy2D9J2MNWYik6ox2cfFaT1bMozvik9s7cpFq2MhqXuNgbCmfvlImGfkbWt5j/s320/24-Mikko+Tyllinen-C360_2012-12-26-11-18-39+(2)%5B1%5D.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A
fire of your love</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">keeps
my heart burning with hope</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my
body so bare, so cold</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Mikko Tyllinen</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b> ...
and how about writing a haiku to this photo?</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sm3uzZHmxeI/UQ7y1aGijgI/AAAAAAAABc4/KIRPpRE8vKw/s1600/scan0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sm3uzZHmxeI/UQ7y1aGijgI/AAAAAAAABc4/KIRPpRE8vKw/s1600/scan0004.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> This
will be a happy challenge for you and me!</b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-59647541448954117942013-05-05T01:53:00.000+10:002013-08-23T22:05:04.887+10:00(Part 3) “Lake Titicaca, me and the power of Natural Therapies.”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;">PART
3 <span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;">...</span></span></span></span></div>
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzZ9ygIzi9AedBehWzKLA6qNqvJAyVquMJ345RaGe9ByFJWjD7p9Pyq9MEKRwZP5haiPwBgPjKaf5akBydjj7EpI92b6TeuYFghH-Ypdwp4oLW1JAgKsmAeMSf9vgS460XVZEXBOdZ413/s1600/scan0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzZ9ygIzi9AedBehWzKLA6qNqvJAyVquMJ345RaGe9ByFJWjD7p9Pyq9MEKRwZP5haiPwBgPjKaf5akBydjj7EpI92b6TeuYFghH-Ypdwp4oLW1JAgKsmAeMSf9vgS460XVZEXBOdZ413/s400/scan0010.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxqDbIuR1sQ/UXKTvRDR3fI/AAAAAAAACIQ/Uh4CFje47c8/s1600/scan0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxqDbIuR1sQ/UXKTvRDR3fI/AAAAAAAACIQ/Uh4CFje47c8/s320/scan0013.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bv6Zw_3HS-o/UXKT6b_-iyI/AAAAAAAACIY/OJMbmMcVIL4/s1600/scan0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bv6Zw_3HS-o/UXKT6b_-iyI/AAAAAAAACIY/OJMbmMcVIL4/s400/scan0034.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">I
was startled by a knock on the door and my name being called. I got
up feeling rather annoyed.</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">As
I opened the door, I saw Bruno in the company of another man. “What
is it?” I asked. He told me that he needed my help and went on to
explain that one of the tourists, a young Danish man, was not very
well. He was losing consciousness and had a temperature. Without
hesitation, I agreed to accompany them. I started to pray for
guidance, asking God for all the help I could get while quickly
dressing and gathering all that I might need.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyuTSMs766M/UXKUMlBvtGI/AAAAAAAACIo/FruT02XHNJU/s1600/scan0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyuTSMs766M/UXKUMlBvtGI/AAAAAAAACIo/FruT02XHNJU/s320/scan0011.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGtWwZvWNN4/UXKUPqZhmaI/AAAAAAAACIw/3fJthobC-5c/s1600/scan0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGtWwZvWNN4/UXKUPqZhmaI/AAAAAAAACIw/3fJthobC-5c/s320/scan0012.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Though
woken from my sleep only moments ago, I was fully alert as I followed
both men up the rocky path with unexpected ease. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">It wasn’t long
before we entered the room where a few people were gathered. Lying on
the bed was a young man in his early to mid twenties with two friends
standing by his side. I could sense that he was filled with the fear
of dying. I too was filled with fear: a fear of not knowing if my
skills would be enough to help him. He whispered to me that he was
feeling hot, dizzy, barely hanging on in his body and most of all,
afraid of falling asleep.</span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
</div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Bruno
introduced me briefly to the host family and the island’s first
aider who had done all he could. As I glanced at their faces, all
eight of them shared with me a look of hope. We all knew that the
closest medical help was about four hours away by boat. The silent
“expectation” placed upon me together with the need to totally
trust in myself and my knowledge felt challenging as well as
frightening. And so without knowing how, I entered into a different
state of awareness — a state of totally being in the now while
surrendering to my highest wisdom. It is in this state that at times
the impossible becomes possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R0RCR_cerp7u1EAo274jz8aJwoa__prZLi16iXLucyoXLnxvb3qOAbC1blxhcNctppFZMk9Zr-_XrHaq5G7UWEi4PRRnybEvCy53NRAN9IDWVHitxjOKLoLvNZjCQdY9QOfX65oekJek/s1600/scan0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R0RCR_cerp7u1EAo274jz8aJwoa__prZLi16iXLucyoXLnxvb3qOAbC1blxhcNctppFZMk9Zr-_XrHaq5G7UWEi4PRRnybEvCy53NRAN9IDWVHitxjOKLoLvNZjCQdY9QOfX65oekJek/s320/scan0032.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ABsH6OAG5aA/UXKVIcePeWI/AAAAAAAACJI/XfS7U4huvIw/s1600/scan0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ABsH6OAG5aA/UXKVIcePeWI/AAAAAAAACJI/XfS7U4huvIw/s320/scan0031.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">I
started by placing some peppermint oil on his chest (over the
clothes) while gathering more information from his friends about what
else, apart from the high altitude, might have contributed to his
present state. As I held Jin Shin Jyutsu (Japanese Ancient Art of
Healing) point 17 (Left + Right) I was told he had smoked quite a few
cigarettes that evening, including three other ones. He had also played
soccer and made his way up to the temple rather quickly. As I
followed with JSJ point 22 (L + R) he mentioned feeling a little
relaxed but a bit more hot and dizzy. After holding JSJ point 1 (L +
R) he started to feel better. After this I moved to his feet to do
some Reflexology. His body was starving for oxygen and to keep it
functioning, I placed the priority on increasing the blood flow to
the brain by working on his big toes. Then I placed my palms over the
soles of his feet to allow for the energy being channelled to
strengthen his weak body.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span> </div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mvGJwy8q-18/UXKVXtZ1dwI/AAAAAAAACJQ/AnyoQmt15k4/s1600/scan0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mvGJwy8q-18/UXKVXtZ1dwI/AAAAAAAACJQ/AnyoQmt15k4/s320/scan0028.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Minutes
later, he shared with us some good news: he felt less hot and dizzy,
more relaxed and more present within his physical self. At this point
I got up to do Energy Healing above his body and when I returned to
his feet, I felt compelled to make a request of him: “If you
believe in something then just ask for help.” I asked his friends
to give me a hand. I got one of them to hold JSJ point 17 (L + R) and
the other one to hold JSJ point 1 (L + R) as I continued channelling
the energy through his feet and working his big toes to further
increase the oxygen flow to his brain.</span></div>
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Maybe
ten minutes went by before he announced the need to empty his
bladder. By then he was able to get up and with the help of his
friends, walk outside to do so. After his return we decided to check
his temperature and while awaiting the reading, I went on to do some
more Energy Healing above his body. Even though his temperature
wasn’t high to begin with, a drop of .2ºC from 37.2ºC to
37ºC was still a positive sign and so was an increase in his
blood pressure when rechecked by the first aider.</span><br />
<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40HBRqI4-B8/UXKVh05_D7I/AAAAAAAACJo/1qWWuPKBKUA/s1600/scan0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40HBRqI4-B8/UXKVh05_D7I/AAAAAAAACJo/1qWWuPKBKUA/s320/scan0029.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">By
now he was feeling much better compared with how he felt just over an
hour ago. He appeared to be much more at one with his whole body
(physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) and the fear had left him.
His condition seemed to have stabilised and I felt comfortable that
my help was no longer required. But before leaving, I asked them to
come and get me if his condition deteriorated and instructed his
friends in how to assist him while awaiting my return. I also
recommended a medical checkup once he returned to the mainland and
that he should avoid cigarettes of any kind for at least a few days,
the longer the better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Before
leaving the room, I silently bid goodnight to everyone present, which
I then realised also represented reassurance to them that everything
would be fine. Hoping for this to be true, I continued to pray for
his full recovery while walking home.</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">On
approaching the front gate the man guiding me back stopped to say
something to me. With my half-dozen words of Spanish and with the
help of other languages I knew, I was able to understand that his
wife had some stomach problems and he was asking me if I could see
her the next day. His request felt like a reward to me for a job well
done, and I was most gratified. I felt as if that night, I had truly
graduated.</span><br />
</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wf6bIkFA3s/UXKWa9OhQeI/AAAAAAAACLQ/VsmDFKd9UHY/s1600/scan0001+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wf6bIkFA3s/UXKWa9OhQeI/AAAAAAAACLQ/VsmDFKd9UHY/s320/scan0001+%25282%2529.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u7xX-SvDBkE/UXKWgiLRmZI/AAAAAAAACLY/ncSguoRh5sc/s1600/scan0003+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u7xX-SvDBkE/UXKWgiLRmZI/AAAAAAAACLY/ncSguoRh5sc/s320/scan0003+%25282%2529.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Entering
my room as quietly as possible, I was looking forward to much-awaited
sleep. However, as my mind was busy coming to terms with what had
just happened and my body was still letting go of the mental and
emotional tension, sleep was out of reach. And when sleep finally
came, it was very light as my subconscious mind remained on standby.</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">With
the rising sun sneaking into our room, I felt like I could give
myself permission to take a deep breath. I was hoping to see Bruno
before their departure to ask about the young man but it wasn’t
until the following week that my mind’s uncertainty was fully
cleared with the news of his successful recovery.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span> </div>
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</div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">During
my short stay I was privileged to assist quite a few women and men
both young and old who came to see me from different parts of the
island. I was almost embarrassed as I felt their high respect and
total trust towards me. Me, a foreign woman who could not even speak
their language and with qualifications endorsed only by the witnesses
of the never-to-be-forgotten event. An event with its many lessons
for all present and a message to all: not to underestimate the power
of Natural Therapies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span> </div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YSaPr-vPr4c/UXKV3Ofx-MI/AAAAAAAACKI/DcKJPG3PRu4/s1600/scan0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YSaPr-vPr4c/UXKV3Ofx-MI/AAAAAAAACKI/DcKJPG3PRu4/s320/scan0018.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span> </div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Before
I knew it, I was saluting my last sunrise on Amantani with a dance of
mixed feelings in my heart and preparing for a goodbye to yet another
of my “spiritual homes”. </span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span> </div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
</div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span> </div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Deep inside I was hoping that I could
somehow leave behind my “absent body” to allow the energy to
continue with the healing and I found the way – a wooden rosary. It
was a present from a client of mine from her recent trip to the
Vatican. I had been rather surprised by her gift and suspected that
my Polish background might have led her to think that I followed
Catholicism. My decision to take the rosary with me was influenced by
an unusual event that took place close to my departure from Sydney.
“Just in case”, I thought to myself when adding it to my luggage,
and I was glad that I did.</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmdLd25_eyYtRQ0rJxXhEssWUv1HdKyaT3NSE4hEJtDUt_zKuWFeSsh5xNHn7ZUnT8H1itoi-amoNl4w0R-GEcr8DU2o8l4hXOhoz7ek0N29NEuLBx34mQlD8CteWIe0ZKwR7byJON3PQ/s1600/scan0005+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmdLd25_eyYtRQ0rJxXhEssWUv1HdKyaT3NSE4hEJtDUt_zKuWFeSsh5xNHn7ZUnT8H1itoi-amoNl4w0R-GEcr8DU2o8l4hXOhoz7ek0N29NEuLBx34mQlD8CteWIe0ZKwR7byJON3PQ/s320/scan0005+%25282%2529.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">On
the boat leaving the island behind, I reached for the wooden beads.
With tears in my eyes I called upon Pachamama and Pachatata for
support before handing the rosary to the guide with an unusual
request: “Please give these beads to someone on the island with a
health problem. They must hold them between their palms for about 10
minutes in the morning and at night for seven days, and after that,
pass them on to another person in need of healing.”</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAMiNOlvdP0/UXKWqqLZvwI/AAAAAAAACLo/N34D53a99y4/s1600/scan0004+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAMiNOlvdP0/UXKWqqLZvwI/AAAAAAAACLo/N34D53a99y4/s320/scan0004+%25282%2529.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Will
I ever find out if my request is fulfilled?</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><strong>6
March 2006 – Sydney (email from Lima)</strong></span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
“<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Hi
Olga, I received news from Puno they told me that people continued to
pray with el Rosario ... Regards Gisella”</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><strong> With
thanks to Pachamama and Pachatata I hope for no end to this story.</strong></span><br />
</div>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><strong>PS</strong>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Knowing that hands in the prayer position correspond to Jin Shin
Jyutsu position for activating a general whole-body healing, I
decided to use a rosary as a facilitating tool.</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
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Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-13464048583670050232013-04-14T21:05:00.001+10:002013-04-19T10:02:58.680+10:00(Part 2) "Lake Titicaca, me and the power of Natural Therapies."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>PART
2 ...</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc3Dl30a1TM1rQI3YWizB_3RadMniN5Q63qhrNmBwfPtV2gF49htVA00wh5gh0vogkWXN05mhrpa8nfOgCLOoQuFybPDd0TmkfwV0BJcC0S5mVqRdE3P3QckBjmB0oGnHRxD6E7g1UIX1/s1600/scan0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc3Dl30a1TM1rQI3YWizB_3RadMniN5Q63qhrNmBwfPtV2gF49htVA00wh5gh0vogkWXN05mhrpa8nfOgCLOoQuFybPDd0TmkfwV0BJcC0S5mVqRdE3P3QckBjmB0oGnHRxD6E7g1UIX1/s400/scan0013.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Another
three weeks went by without any success with obtaining a refund or
any clue about the purpose of my trip. And then, one afternoon about
seven weeks before my departure, a message shot like an arrow through
my mind: “You are going back to Amantani Island to offer your
healing services for the community.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MNTnEAGdERg/UVjyotD55eI/AAAAAAAABxk/qH_2yXXpmLg/s1600/scan0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MNTnEAGdERg/UVjyotD55eI/AAAAAAAABxk/qH_2yXXpmLg/s320/scan0003.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></a></div>
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“Thank
you!” I replied as I felt my “Virgo rising” letting out a big
sigh of relief and my “Piscean sun” looking forward to the
magical energy of Lake Titicaca.</div>
</span><br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w7Lkykwp-WI/UVjym6Pzz0I/AAAAAAAABxc/FWw6L_1kBOk/s1600/scan0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w7Lkykwp-WI/UVjym6Pzz0I/AAAAAAAABxc/FWw6L_1kBOk/s320/scan0002.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>18
December 2005 – Lima to Puno</strong></span></span></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Only
a few hours after arriving in Lima at 11pm, I was back at the same
airport catching my 6am flight to Juliaca near Puno. With quite a few
plane trips in recent years I have become proficient in saying “Hand
check, no X-ray please” when handing over the homeopathic items for
my personal use. I also noticed the security staff were getting more
familiar with this kind of medicine, making the whole process so much
easier. I guess this is one way of introducing natural therapies to
the world.</span></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">On
this particular morning I had an older man with a happy face checking
my “treasure box” and while looking at the collection of
remedies, he asked: “Do they really work?” to which I joyously
replied: “Yes, and with no side effects.” He seemed content, as
if my answer reinforced his own opinion. Furthermore, after
questioning the purpose of my trip, he was pleased to hear my answer,
acknowledging that the people on the islands were often the last in
line to receive any help. His comment gave me a warm reassurance that
I was heading in the right direction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><strong>21
December 2005 – Puno to Amantani Island – Lake Titicaca</strong></span></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">I
was all ready and full of anticipation for my two week stay on this
“very special to me” island. A travel representative called to
confirm my early morning pickup. He also informed me that Benedicto’s
home where I had organised to stay was situated on the other side of
the island from where the boat would arrive. And so, my first night
on Amantani would be with a different family. I wasn’t too happy
about it as I wanted to set myself up as soon as I could, but in
South America hiccups are not uncommon. At times, “going with the
flow” is the best option to avoid making things more difficult.</span></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">I
was one of the first to be picked up and once on the boat, I was
greeted by yet another hiccup. Expecting a direct trip by the public
boat, I was surprised to be part of the overnight tour to the
islands, identical to the one that I had done only a year ago. I
wondered if it was my safety or extra income that had influenced
their decision. However, on the more positive side, there is a
usually a reason behind most hiccups, in this case to be revealed
sooner than I thought.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hHa8CSly8xs/UWqEifGqHeI/AAAAAAAAB8o/d24tOV0j_bs/s1600/scan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hHa8CSly8xs/UWqEifGqHeI/AAAAAAAAB8o/d24tOV0j_bs/s1600/scan0001.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d6BtOkRU5GE/UWqE4mBQwbI/AAAAAAAAB84/_Hr5BKJhIFs/s1600/scan0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">The
group on the boat was made up of smaller groups of two to four
travellers from different countries. Our local guide Bruno as well as
other people on the boat were a bit curious about the reason for my
extended stay, as Amantani is not exactly a Greek island.
Nevertheless it has its own charm, despite an altitude of about 4000
metres, lack of electricity and running water, a rainy season with
overnight temperatures at the time of below 10ºC and daytime
temperatures in the sun of 54ºC as well as other minor
“highlights”. Bruno was very interested in my work and in natural
therapies. He was eager to find out as much as possible, so I tried
my best to answer his many questions.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">Upon
arrival on Amantani by the floating islands, I discovered I was to
share a bedroom with two French girls. Shortly after entering the
premises of our host family, we were invited to the kitchen for
lunch. This was still being prepared in clay pots over traditional
wood fire clay stove by the mother and daughter. It wasn’t long
before the increasing level of smoke looking for a non-existent
chimney filled our eyes. Our “French” resistance was short-lived
and with tears running down our cheeks, we gave ourselves permission
to wait outside.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zz45D_ufEx4/UWqFob6q1mI/AAAAAAAAB9g/Gq0L_Iineoo/s1600/scan0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zz45D_ufEx4/UWqFob6q1mI/AAAAAAAAB9g/Gq0L_Iineoo/s1600/scan0008.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">After
lunch, together with Bruno, we made our way up to the Pachatata
Temple where we would await the sunset over Lake Titicaca. The island
has two temples: a round-shaped Pachamama to celebrate the female
energy of Mother Earth located on the highest point of the island and
a square-shaped Pachatata to celebrate her male energy on the second
highest point. You can make a wish and have it granted by walking
three times in an anti-clockwise direction around either of the
temples. Having done this on my first trip, I was pleasantly
surprised to see my wish come true. Be careful what you wish for as
these requests do get granted, except perhaps when you wish for a pot
of gold at the end of the rainbow.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuYcaClyFOsT0BlyK05sK9GK98CRTMga2UzhBIyscrpVUM12MGCX5yMgBMOt_ZKUoGtMJ3J5djOR4eJlXEtzPiUvqxqy8C_soTW5OtmkLsBKujfc0yWsbdR01S0FFnClVp2a5N8G5vM6U/s1600/scan0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuYcaClyFOsT0BlyK05sK9GK98CRTMga2UzhBIyscrpVUM12MGCX5yMgBMOt_ZKUoGtMJ3J5djOR4eJlXEtzPiUvqxqy8C_soTW5OtmkLsBKujfc0yWsbdR01S0FFnClVp2a5N8G5vM6U/s1600/scan0006.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j7UHlbh1qYI/UWqFlaZ7bQI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/Om-vh76oCI8/s1600/scan0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j7UHlbh1qYI/UWqFlaZ7bQI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/Om-vh76oCI8/s1600/scan0007.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">As
the sun disappeared, the temperature dropped rather quickly, so a
warm dinner upon our return was very much appreciated. And to warm us
up even more, a traditional dance party was awaiting us at the local
community hall. Dressed in their traditional clothing, we had a lot
of fun following our local dance partners to the sounds of the Andean
band. As the party came to an end, we felt hot, tired and definitely
ready for bed. The sky was full of stars that night and it seemed to
me like there were more stars than the sky itself.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSg5a8SJgEbd_YVpgNlB-S-jUNRr2NqX_w0AJwdgpEjn_pc8gnxYALdeoZYSHkHf9t33xVwJhSCHonRwh1zfA3L8AlJ3ZNq3RQf_5FpKd7xwpl_SGAKp51xDvOTFvLBY2cr37ZXsIik4W/s1600/scan0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSg5a8SJgEbd_YVpgNlB-S-jUNRr2NqX_w0AJwdgpEjn_pc8gnxYALdeoZYSHkHf9t33xVwJhSCHonRwh1zfA3L8AlJ3ZNq3RQf_5FpKd7xwpl_SGAKp51xDvOTFvLBY2cr37ZXsIik4W/s1600/scan0009.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">As
my roommates went to sleep, I stayed back with Bruno in the courtyard
as he offered to write a short note in Spanish for me explaining the
purpose of my stay and anything else I thought the people might want
to know. The island’s native language is Quechua, but the majority
of people speak Spanish. I could speak neither!</span></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">With
an introductory letter in my hand, I quietly entered the room so as
not to awaken the girls. By now I was looking forward to a
well-deserved sleep as it had been a long journey for my body. Less
than an hour later, I was woken up by the sound of the metal gate
being opened and a conversation between two men. Wondering what was
going on, I was startled by a knock on the door and my name being
called. </span><br />
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<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> To be continued next month ...</span></strong></div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-46993712912819458032013-04-05T10:17:00.001+11:002013-04-14T17:24:55.272+10:00(Part 1) "Lake Titicaca, me and the power of Natural Therapies."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Early
January, 2005 – Sydney</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I
arrived home to an empty bank account, but full of excitement and a
kind of disbelief that I had finally fulfilled my late teen’s
dream.</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It
was in 1981 when I lived in Brussels (Belgium) that I became aware of
a strong connection to the Andean culture. However my dream of going
to South America took 23 years of watching the kettle on the stove
steadily heating up the water until finally one morning, the sound of
the whistle filled my body with the message that the time to go had
come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And
suddenly it all became clear to me why I had been prevented from
making this trip sooner. Had I gone to Peru earlier, I would probably
still have had a wonderful time, but most likely without experiencing
the same spiritual depth that I did by going when “the mango was
ripe”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I
started taking the first small steps on the way to my spiritual
development in 1991 and I haven’t stopped. Over these past years, a
whole new world has opened up to me, or more honestly, I reconnected
with an ever present beautiful “inner/outer” world that until
then was simply outside my awareness. Through this reconnection I was
able to recognise my inner calling and embarked on the new path of
becoming a natural therapies practitioner. My Peruvian Pachamama
(Mother Earth) was patiently waiting and watching my petals of
spiritual growth opening up (at times very slowly) and when my bright
yellow centre finally revealed itself, She knew that I was ready to
come; ready to heal a very old issue that took place on the Andean
land many lifetimes ago. But it is not the experience of this
particular journey that I wish to share with you on this occasion, so
let us return to the opening paragraph.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My
trip to Peru did have one other plus. It gave me enough extra
Frequent Flyer points to book a ticket to Thailand for this coming
Christmas. But here comes February and my plans for Christmas are
being challenged! It seemed like an ordinary day until I received a
strong message from the “Big Boss” (God, Creator, etc), or to be
more precise, an order: “You are going back to Peru for this
Christmas.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“What!?”
I said, followed by my rather assertive and daring “If you want me
to go back, you will have to pay for it because I have no money
left.” From my past experience, I knew that this message was too
strong to ignore or even to negotiate, so at the earliest opportunity
I went to organise my trip to Lima with faith in my purse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well,
I needed more than faith and I needed it sooner than I thought, as I
had to pay for my ticket in full within seven days of booking.
Fortunately, the seven days got extended as my travel agent was
waiting for the release of departure tax fees for December 2005 to
finalise the sale. As more than a few days went by without any
response from the airlines, she decided to phone them directly. After
obtaining the required information she fortuitously felt a need to
reconfirm the price of the ticket before debiting my credit card. To
her disbelief my ticket price was $1300 less than originally quoted.
Without any delay she finalised my purchase and could not wait to
share this exciting news with the comment: “You definitely have
someone looking after you!” “I know” was my reply and I quietly
thanked the “Big Boss” for his first instalment. I was sure that
by now my name was pretty high on the “difficult souls” list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A
day later, a conversation with my herbalist after returning from my
first trip to South America came to my mind. He had commented that
Thailand seems to be much more healing for my spiritual body, and for
my physical body … Peru. To which I replied, “Maybe for the next
holiday I will buy two lots of tickets—one for my spiritual body to
go to Thailand and another one to Peru for my physical body. The
travel agent will probably suggest a trip to the psychiatrist.” We
both laughed. Little did I know that a couple of months later I was
going to have two sets of tickets with a departure date to Peru only
a day ahead of my trip to Thailand.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XcmcUP8fFck/UVkDLQjxEqI/AAAAAAAAB0M/ORHcx7Pw0co/s1600/scan0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XcmcUP8fFck/UVkDLQjxEqI/AAAAAAAAB0M/ORHcx7Pw0co/s1600/scan0023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now
that my trip to Peru was confirmed, I started to question its
purpose. Seven months of searching for possible clues went by. The
few doors I opened left me waiting with false hope for further
directions. Furthermore, my follow-up emails were unanswered. With
only ten weeks to go, my acceptance of “not knowing” was tested
for trust and patience once again. I even made a joke that maybe the
“Big Boss” was planning to disclose his mysterious plan for me
only upon my arrival in Lima. But as I felt my joke possibly becoming
a reality, I started to wonder if the “Big Boss” had changed his
plans. It felt like a good time for an ultimatum. “If you have
changed your mind, that’s fine by me, providing that you arrange
for a refund of my non-refundable ticket. If not, you will have to
tell me the purpose of my trip pretty soon.”</span><br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WYoDvJb1Kc-2zQgvPv1NYGWlp6GaXZ7F7EqUjStTLdWFk_27HAZpLFiyla8N5TbXHmFsHXfj9vCeCwiwJFJT1WLGK10grDrrtFXmY_wFEeHNtNmqbc8wG-AiKyQTLg9C3RlzUY_bqBHs/s1600/scan0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmCSDdrZGzjAR6Zy_rWWsirr5OvcqPWUgLXs_kHhFTkPxmJexn-VOSNFpmt2ZvHMNu3C8e6N5zv39eOp1_8HGVN0V7AxW6EU2wKEiXZGQ8tyDXNRn41UAKCOBdrsmr9hMA3v8h_djSzri/s1600/scan0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmCSDdrZGzjAR6Zy_rWWsirr5OvcqPWUgLXs_kHhFTkPxmJexn-VOSNFpmt2ZvHMNu3C8e6N5zv39eOp1_8HGVN0V7AxW6EU2wKEiXZGQ8tyDXNRn41UAKCOBdrsmr9hMA3v8h_djSzri/s320/scan0035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WYoDvJb1Kc-2zQgvPv1NYGWlp6GaXZ7F7EqUjStTLdWFk_27HAZpLFiyla8N5TbXHmFsHXfj9vCeCwiwJFJT1WLGK10grDrrtFXmY_wFEeHNtNmqbc8wG-AiKyQTLg9C3RlzUY_bqBHs/s1600/scan0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Another three weeks went by without any success with obtaining a refund or any clue about the purpose of my trip. And then, one afternoon about seven weeks before my departure, a message shot like an arrow through my mind: “You are going back to ... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WYoDvJb1Kc-2zQgvPv1NYGWlp6GaXZ7F7EqUjStTLdWFk_27HAZpLFiyla8N5TbXHmFsHXfj9vCeCwiwJFJT1WLGK10grDrrtFXmY_wFEeHNtNmqbc8wG-AiKyQTLg9C3RlzUY_bqBHs/s1600/scan0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: medium;"> To be continued in two weeks ...</span><br />
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</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmCSDdrZGzjAR6Zy_rWWsirr5OvcqPWUgLXs_kHhFTkPxmJexn-VOSNFpmt2ZvHMNu3C8e6N5zv39eOp1_8HGVN0V7AxW6EU2wKEiXZGQ8tyDXNRn41UAKCOBdrsmr9hMA3v8h_djSzri/s1600/scan0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>
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</a> </div>
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp1VP6SADrNtJGLxYMwe2Jzz5PCRDLHWk06u_7gCzqS1m4g5qIlwOmyL55XQZNfyEfM1HPFqyK3YI16pZrwLFSGXj_yt0nKdmHvmUTOplM06nI-jsljjTOimP_ECIFpCpfMzz3XxNhbOo/s1600/scan0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp1VP6SADrNtJGLxYMwe2Jzz5PCRDLHWk06u_7gCzqS1m4g5qIlwOmyL55XQZNfyEfM1HPFqyK3YI16pZrwLFSGXj_yt0nKdmHvmUTOplM06nI-jsljjTOimP_ECIFpCpfMzz3XxNhbOo/s320/scan0002.jpg" height="320" width="120" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When
the neighbour appeared at the door with a milk bottle in her hand my
mum asked jokingly ...</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do
you have a baby?”</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">No,
but you do!” ... was her reply.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> . . . .
. . . . . . . </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> (I
was 9 years old at the time)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On
this particular day my mum had to make a trip to the city and the
next door neighbour was going to keep an eye on me if she didn't get
back in time.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
school day was over and while playing with other kids at the front of
our apartment block awaiting my mum's return, I overheard something
terrible.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
few boys had confiscated all the puppies born only yesterday to a
homeless dog and were on their way right now to drown them in the big
hole filled with water at the abandoned brickworks site.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
news was more than horrifying and I had to do something ... but what?
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Having
no time to waste I decided to save at least one of them and I was
thrilled when my year older neighbour Mariola joined me in the
fastest run ever with the hope of grabbing a puppy each before it was
to late.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kh__XAdpeX0/UTM7jIWW6uI/AAAAAAAABkc/6Sddy9yJnfY/s1600/scan0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kh__XAdpeX0/UTM7jIWW6uI/AAAAAAAABkc/6Sddy9yJnfY/s320/scan0003.jpg" height="320" width="187" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
can no longer tell you how we did it, but we did it!</span></span><br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
while the details of our battle have faded away, a memory of our
victorious run back home with two tiny treasures will always remain
in my heart ... and so will the sadness of loosing the other eight.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
my mum was still away, I asked my next door neighbour for help and
while she was trying to find a milk bottle for the crying puppy I
felt a great fear arising inside of me.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What
are my parents going to say to this?”</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
how much trouble am I going to be?”</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What
is going to happened to me and the puppy?” and ... knock on the
door!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> . . . .
. . . . . . .</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What
do you mean ... I have a baby?” ... my mum asked the neighbour as
the answer made its appearance ... </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mum,
look what I have saved! The boys tried to ...” </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipSw7LOhb80eoR_A6WT-Ae02gmOY8dzzyHNYAU6xFWZzdBpPPU-xLXZ3XnLXfELLxEshUUldRrApHyuTvEGAF0PMgrUWG4qT-0h1qn6c64IKSQPBVVFE6FLnI3yT_oXj0CF_owYqTLW2b/s1600/scan0001+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipSw7LOhb80eoR_A6WT-Ae02gmOY8dzzyHNYAU6xFWZzdBpPPU-xLXZ3XnLXfELLxEshUUldRrApHyuTvEGAF0PMgrUWG4qT-0h1qn6c64IKSQPBVVFE6FLnI3yT_oXj0CF_owYqTLW2b/s320/scan0001+(3).jpg" height="320" width="296" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Faced
with two sets of puppy eyes and the whole rescue story behind it, she
was “check mate” to open her heart. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
guess, I better take them home” ... she replied.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> . . . .
. . . . . . .</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While
fussing around the little one we totally forgot about my dad until we
heard a key turning.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dad,
dad, look what we have!” ... my heartfelt determination began a
final plea.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You
should have seen me jumping for joy when the last deciding signature
landed on the imaginary adoption certificate. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What
are you going to name him?” ... asked my dad.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
this is how a tiny boy named Bambo officially joined our family.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73MthtC7QBM/UTM8CHT2T1I/AAAAAAAABks/NTu1HmlpGxY/s1600/scan0001+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73MthtC7QBM/UTM8CHT2T1I/AAAAAAAABks/NTu1HmlpGxY/s320/scan0001+(2).jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
decision to follow one's heart without knowing if a door is going to
open is not easy to make, but there are times when we need to take
such risk.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Life
is not as simple as the game of chess. There are no black and white
squares to follow, but rather many shades of grey for your heart to
choose from.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> With
big thanks to my parents for opening their hearts.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Illustrations by Jane Corrigan</span></div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-74509160942152874192013-02-05T23:22:00.000+11:002013-02-22T23:51:40.943+11:00“Feel what your eyes see and let the words flow.”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b7ximoQUKfA/UQy6Y-PG79I/AAAAAAAABcQ/cexjjKX2L1g/s1600/DSC00706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b7ximoQUKfA/UQy6Y-PG79I/AAAAAAAABcQ/cexjjKX2L1g/s320/DSC00706.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> Photography by </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Olga
Kulanowska</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When
I opened a Google account to set up my blog I was totally unaware of
G+ until a friend of mine said ...</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So
you are on G+ !”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
what is this?” ... was my question.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
few days later I decided to see what this “G+” was all about and
I was simply amazed at the quantity of magnificent photos uploaded by
many photographers from around the world.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
every visit I was bombarded with so many magical images that my face
would get sore from saying yet another wow, ooh etc. and my eyes
would get bigger and bigger.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One
day I realised that some of the photos would speak to me louder than
others. It was like getting an instant telegraph at the first gaze. </span></span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Shimmy, shimmy let it flow</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> a shiny veil </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> away from your core</span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FGQIlwT8HPQ/ULNmzRITBuI/AAAAAAAAAS0/OlVt4DaP7u4/s320/new+camera+003.JPG" width="240" /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Olga
Kulanowska</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Rose
from my neighbour's garden.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
used to write poetry in my younger years with my first poem created
when I was 9 year old and out of all the places, this creative spark
decided to choose a bathroom. I had no control over it! It simply
just came out without any intention on my behalf.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
poem was perfect not only in its expression, but also in its
structure; 4 x 4 line verses, the right amount of syllables in each
line and it rhymed on top of it.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
was a story about the ram and the goat that fell in love, but because
they spoke a different language they had an argument. However there
was a happy ending in the last verse ... the wedding bells.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
wish I still had this poem as it would be great for children to teach
them about being open to multiculturalism in a metaphoric way.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Going
back to the photos on G+, I realised that my poetic energy decided to
come out of hiding in a form similar to Japanese Haiku which was
unfamiliar to me until a few weeks earlier. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
decided to embrace this creative spark and named it “Olga's haiku”
as its form is not 100% in accordance with the official haiku rules. </span></span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>To
me creativity and fun go hand in hand, </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> so I would like you to have
some fun too!</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> It
is only fair</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> to
share</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> the
joys of life ...</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>...
and so I would like you to visit G+ or any other site that contains
beautiful photos and have some fun with creating your own “haiku”
of any form or shape or you can start with the photo below ...</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-asRDyx3JOHQ/UQy7_988kfI/AAAAAAAABcY/ERH3H7ka24s/s1600/scan0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-asRDyx3JOHQ/UQy7_988kfI/AAAAAAAABcY/ERH3H7ka24s/s320/scan0002.jpg" width="215" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
photo was taken in Nepal in April 2012 </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and I have already written </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">an
“Olga's haiku” </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">for this image, </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">but I am not going to show you yet
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">as I would like you to give it a go </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">without being influenced by my
words.</span></span></div>
</div>
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> Photography by<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Olga
Kulanowska</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
wonder if you felt anything as your eyes gazed upon this photo?</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If
yes, please feel free to share your “haiku” in the comments box
and know that you can choose to be anonymous. </span></span>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> I
would love to read them!!!</b></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Give
it a go!</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> It
is easier than you think </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> or
rather ...</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> it
is easier if you don't think, </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> but
feel with your heart instead!</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> .
. . . . . . . . . .</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now,
I would like to share with you a few more beautiful images that spoke
to me louder and extend a big thank you to the photographers who's
photos have awaken my poetic energy. Please check them out ... and
enjoy the journey.</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1lEa4d0OBw/ULdS6jQ33xI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/qSDyiMJw6iI/s1600/Edith+Kukla-DSC09415-001%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1lEa4d0OBw/ULdS6jQ33xI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/qSDyiMJw6iI/s320/Edith+Kukla-DSC09415-001%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Please shake my hand</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">there is warmth in my world</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I see you walking away</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Edith Kukla</span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YNR4v0Y09Ls/ULdSJzVquiI/AAAAAAAAAWw/6s73hM23iy4/s1600/Edith+Kukla-DSC01446-001%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YNR4v0Y09Ls/ULdSJzVquiI/AAAAAAAAAWw/6s73hM23iy4/s320/Edith+Kukla-DSC01446-001%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through the fine skin</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can see my past in the now</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">waiting for the future</span></div>
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Edith Kukla</span> </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Standing
on the edge</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> the
power of one</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> ready
to ripple the world around</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="168" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2gZX_ajz3FI/ULdQvQ3egWI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/HWRMS7wVzfg/s320/Edith+Kukla-DSC01533-001%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> Photography by Edith Kukla</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-U9pt_M9lY/UQYMqTuvI7I/AAAAAAAABbw/s2MitgiPSQ0/s1600/5-Katja+Konowa-177039%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-U9pt_M9lY/UQYMqTuvI7I/AAAAAAAABbw/s2MitgiPSQ0/s320/5-Katja+Konowa-177039%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
colours of love</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the
rainbow of warmth</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">who
needs a pot of gold</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> Photography by</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Katja Konowa</span></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G8ktA8d4lss/ULdJEuCH11I/AAAAAAAAAVk/-BJhQ-OXaBw/s1600/Mikhail+Petrovsky-33%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G8ktA8d4lss/ULdJEuCH11I/AAAAAAAAAVk/-BJhQ-OXaBw/s320/Mikhail+Petrovsky-33%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Who
cares where I land</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">as
long as I can fly</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">so
high, so high</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mikhail Petrovsky</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Nature's
lighthouse</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> l</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ost
in the beauty</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> on
the way to oneness</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJkR4j4AFd8/ULdVEeOWSwI/AAAAAAAAAX8/CJFMJnDCl5Q/s1600/Michal+Pavlica+post-taurus13_1094578041_izgrev6XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJkR4j4AFd8/ULdVEeOWSwI/AAAAAAAAAX8/CJFMJnDCl5Q/s320/Michal+Pavlica+post-taurus13_1094578041_izgrev6XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography</span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">from G+ post shared by Michal Pavlica</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> (Author unknown)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s4b2Ay74yJI/ULoAVKzg7nI/AAAAAAAAAeY/YYcv4hoDwbE/s1600/154392_173866896084673_2040841222_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s4b2Ay74yJI/ULoAVKzg7nI/AAAAAAAAAeY/YYcv4hoDwbE/s320/154392_173866896084673_2040841222_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mirage
of life</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">burning
in the sky<br /> no need to hide</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by Dimka Angelova</span></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkH-Ifx-Uvo/ULoBSQzLerI/AAAAAAAAAe4/lD1UTs2rmd0/s1600/541322_476460825717519_1262582955_n%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkH-Ifx-Uvo/ULoBSQzLerI/AAAAAAAAAe4/lD1UTs2rmd0/s1600/541322_476460825717519_1262582955_n%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkH-Ifx-Uvo/ULoBSQzLerI/AAAAAAAAAe4/lD1UTs2rmd0/s1600/541322_476460825717519_1262582955_n%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkH-Ifx-Uvo/ULoBSQzLerI/AAAAAAAAAe4/lD1UTs2rmd0/s1600/541322_476460825717519_1262582955_n%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkH-Ifx-Uvo/ULoBSQzLerI/AAAAAAAAAe4/lD1UTs2rmd0/s1600/541322_476460825717519_1262582955_n%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkH-Ifx-Uvo/ULoBSQzLerI/AAAAAAAAAe4/lD1UTs2rmd0/s1600/541322_476460825717519_1262582955_n%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkH-Ifx-Uvo/ULoBSQzLerI/AAAAAAAAAe4/lD1UTs2rmd0/s1600/541322_476460825717519_1262582955_n%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<img border="0" height="232" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkH-Ifx-Uvo/ULoBSQzLerI/AAAAAAAAAe4/lD1UTs2rmd0/s320/541322_476460825717519_1262582955_n%255B2%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Splash
of egg yolk<br /> into a muddy mind<br /> stirring the wisdom
out</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> Photography by Dimka Angelova</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I
am back my friend</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> the
time has grown </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> your
body and my own</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oo05HZ0NEIA/ULaFtbbY8GI/AAAAAAAAAU4/v1abC5k4jIw/s1600/leonardo_amaro_05%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oo05HZ0NEIA/ULaFtbbY8GI/AAAAAAAAAU4/v1abC5k4jIw/s320/leonardo_amaro_05%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
by</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Leonardo Amaro
Rodrigues</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gpz8tQCF_AI/ULoPOeIYPNI/AAAAAAAAAf0/hjz705fezfQ/s1600/Jiang-Debin_3600_535%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gpz8tQCF_AI/ULoPOeIYPNI/AAAAAAAAAf0/hjz705fezfQ/s320/Jiang-Debin_3600_535%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As
the petals fall</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">it
is time for your heart to show</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the
wisdom hidden inside</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Photography
from the G+ post shared by Maria Herodt </span>
</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o89enbI4Hkc/ULoY8SJXI8I/AAAAAAAAAgg/pAbiMOBTuZ8/s1600/tumblr_m6sm8jfQQN1qb30dwo1_500%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o89enbI4Hkc/ULoY8SJXI8I/AAAAAAAAAgg/pAbiMOBTuZ8/s320/tumblr_m6sm8jfQQN1qb30dwo1_500%255B1%255D.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What's
above so below</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a
winding road</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">is
taking me home</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photography
by Jacky Fox</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.jackyfoxphotolandia.com/">www.jackyfoxphotolandia.com</a></span></div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-59793734229792953362013-01-21T12:43:00.000+11:002013-01-21T12:43:43.483+11:00"I am back ... " (please read the previous story first)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I
am back ...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> and
what a fantastic experience it was!</span></span></div>
</div>
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21cOWTxsDWE/UPuLdLWS2KI/AAAAAAAABNA/PB7WKICxZL0/s1600/20130106033311%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21cOWTxsDWE/UPuLdLWS2KI/AAAAAAAABNA/PB7WKICxZL0/s320/20130106033311%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Stepping
in ... </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pXzsL_v2BDM/UPuLiqGHMZI/AAAAAAAABNI/VkNYXJsrm9E/s1600/20130106033311%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pXzsL_v2BDM/UPuLiqGHMZI/AAAAAAAABNI/VkNYXJsrm9E/s320/20130106033311%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> Nearly there ...</span><br />
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bAWtaM5ObA/UPuLoEfQhvI/AAAAAAAABNQ/zOAM_LD-x6I/s1600/20130106033311%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bAWtaM5ObA/UPuLoEfQhvI/AAAAAAAABNQ/zOAM_LD-x6I/s320/20130106033311%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am in ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfjFDCm5wBuXj42UZAAgHF1E2qXiV8yBFy4Z5Pk9gpHIPEP9x94bjKlkyIoL9r716Tvw7bZF2fYmgzNTeitKQppNk46k9ppTXhuSeA4c_BtfgtMUlIb8nYF5AxdA6iy9OIgAqimuyMjX4/s1600/20130106033311%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfjFDCm5wBuXj42UZAAgHF1E2qXiV8yBFy4Z5Pk9gpHIPEP9x94bjKlkyIoL9r716Tvw7bZF2fYmgzNTeitKQppNk46k9ppTXhuSeA4c_BtfgtMUlIb8nYF5AxdA6iy9OIgAqimuyMjX4/s320/20130106033311%25286%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Time
to taxi off ...</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqU-2BcjpR7_Xt26uiazhlN61dzJobdfmhMG_mmTNadEVFP6DFZ2aO5C9V3J3z2k6ghrxHFl-l4_CPY7JfZfcrx1lsw0Z5bSBctHUOjLu73S5o84UNT3s9_AXtLcoJF2kc47ik5WC_UJT/s1600/20130106035614%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqU-2BcjpR7_Xt26uiazhlN61dzJobdfmhMG_mmTNadEVFP6DFZ2aO5C9V3J3z2k6ghrxHFl-l4_CPY7JfZfcrx1lsw0Z5bSBctHUOjLu73S5o84UNT3s9_AXtLcoJF2kc47ik5WC_UJT/s320/20130106035614%25286%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Off
we go ...</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVSq6rU8YC8HxhPLyrb1gl7hK1gux5IpmhivUeLS8KMdEr5oMECcymxq9ABzJcvdxRNLYf_zRfKeFwal3rglCc1Sa0ww4WjjgFRRSE4t01iXwZuWDH2KlNn6b8EsE1fDk6nNhcnLPhImG/s1600/20130106042637%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVSq6rU8YC8HxhPLyrb1gl7hK1gux5IpmhivUeLS8KMdEr5oMECcymxq9ABzJcvdxRNLYf_zRfKeFwal3rglCc1Sa0ww4WjjgFRRSE4t01iXwZuWDH2KlNn6b8EsE1fDk6nNhcnLPhImG/s320/20130106042637%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Back
on Earth ...</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--2EiLWQWeFA/UPuMDXJrpgI/AAAAAAAABN4/0xusjCyZCxY/s1600/20130106042637%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--2EiLWQWeFA/UPuMDXJrpgI/AAAAAAAABN4/0xusjCyZCxY/s320/20130106042637%25288%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
highly recommend Gostner Aviation in Camden NSW (Australia). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The owners, David and Rhoda
Maddock were very welcoming and our pilot Rakend kept us calm with
his unlimited patience.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwcWD4Qswt256og_e6lL6COcLby8yYB707jH7YVkJm1qVmcFjKpIbx2UPOShmD1z7BlbNq2nYHaBvBX6XEH7giKVw7A-ktOXtOCoAcpENDEu5qQyAEshIWhhuB5XW0o0Ja3ulMYSMCd2v/s1600/DSC01261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwcWD4Qswt256og_e6lL6COcLby8yYB707jH7YVkJm1qVmcFjKpIbx2UPOShmD1z7BlbNq2nYHaBvBX6XEH7giKVw7A-ktOXtOCoAcpENDEu5qQyAEshIWhhuB5XW0o0Ja3ulMYSMCd2v/s320/DSC01261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Me,
my partners in crime and our pilot Rakend.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> So
who's next ... ?!<span id="goog_2057383235"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_2057383236"></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-25330483591980129892013-01-05T08:08:00.000+11:002013-01-07T10:58:45.487+11:00"Unstoppable New Year's resolution."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGXGBDZkVa3PoWNnEGYGgLllFstN9WTQDLdzvIJCvuZjupU2LW9zcwN-I52o67uv5vEB0AnbTqB_w3FlCSVtldrltV2CWtY6vstgnzuVcZYN1KmxAqSxqzTU8fnYAjJJ0psaCzjCDlITV/s1600/23.01.11-b-Sydney+Habour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGXGBDZkVa3PoWNnEGYGgLllFstN9WTQDLdzvIJCvuZjupU2LW9zcwN-I52o67uv5vEB0AnbTqB_w3FlCSVtldrltV2CWtY6vstgnzuVcZYN1KmxAqSxqzTU8fnYAjJJ0psaCzjCDlITV/s320/23.01.11-b-Sydney+Habour.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Special
Offer </b></span></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unstoppable
New Year's resolution</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">at
a fraction of competitors' price.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 100%
success rate guaranted or your money back.</span></span></span></div>
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Are
you tired of ...</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...
seeing your New Year's resolutions lasting on average a 100m run?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If
your answer is “yes”, </span>follow this story ...</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1vtM-YWdcBo/UOPY4in8RvI/AAAAAAAABHM/tTxoqU_bKVo/s1600/scan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1vtM-YWdcBo/UOPY4in8RvI/AAAAAAAABHM/tTxoqU_bKVo/s320/scan0001.jpg" width="188" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
was 1993 and the roller blade craze was at its peak bringing back
roller skating memories from my younger years.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every
spring I would watch my friends taking off with ease and expanding
their skills, just like a tree, by adding more branches year after
year.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
for me, </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was like a bulb </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">starting right from the beginning </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">every
single year. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">However,
with the arrival of my 30<sup>th</sup> birthday I decided to have
some fun and challenge my Sisyphus (Greek mythology) roller skating
destiny by choosing a different type of stone.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
a brave face I ventured to “toys r us” to fulfil my secret
mission.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While
scanning a large selection of roller blades I was approached by a
young sales assistant wanting to know if she could be of any help.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After
providing me with some valuable information she asked ...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Who
are you buying it for?”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TcyZW2mFTT0/UOPX6dOlNVI/AAAAAAAABG8/kkB0n0S8Ads/s1600/scan0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TcyZW2mFTT0/UOPX6dOlNVI/AAAAAAAABG8/kkB0n0S8Ads/s320/scan0002.jpg" width="203" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh
no, how am I going to get out of this one?! ... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and the only way out
was to tell her the truth.</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before
too long I had blades on my feet,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">helmet on my head together with the rest of the padding </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">that she very much insisted on.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
would never risk roller blading without any protection.” ... were
her words.</span></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well,
if a 19 year old tells you this I thought ... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I better listen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An
hour later I was ready to challenge myself in the park at the end of
my street.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
probably looked ridiculous on my first attempt, but at least I did
not fall.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After
a few sessions I started to feel a bit more comfortable and decided
to test my abilities beyond the flat pathway within the park. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJCTjtrVavDTZ9Hc1EwJmuOM46GZ0RecSCskz_nSKpvhAMaerRkAuYTDK9KNvTL0LmEulehTfbrkc2l1ZQOilqSyqfPbx7jWmu6hH1w497GwdCIV8bGBK-hc9wKDjcbq6T1koOHoxxMk2/s1600/DSC00828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJCTjtrVavDTZ9Hc1EwJmuOM46GZ0RecSCskz_nSKpvhAMaerRkAuYTDK9KNvTL0LmEulehTfbrkc2l1ZQOilqSyqfPbx7jWmu6hH1w497GwdCIV8bGBK-hc9wKDjcbq6T1koOHoxxMk2/s320/DSC00828.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My
self imposed challenge was to return home on roller blades which
meant crossing a three cars wide road and negotiating an uneven
footpath.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After
a successful street crossing I began my downward ride along the
pathway and to my surprise a barely visible slope accelerated my
rolling above the speed level or so it felt to me.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not
knowing how to slow down or stop I started to panic. Then seconds
later I spotted my saviour ... a large concrete ball decorating a
gate post.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now,
see if you can picture this ...</span></span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speeding
like a racing car I get ready to grab the ball. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
grab the ball and ... (and what?!) ... I become mortified as I feel
the ball sliding off the post. Oh no!, a heavy concrete ball is
coming with me for a ride.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Don't
they say ... “Do not judge a book by its cover.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To
prevent a greater disaster I immediately take hold of the post below
successfully ending my unexpected nightmare. Phew! </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Relieved
not to see anyone around I carefully reposition the ball and quickly
disappear. </span></span></div>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
end.</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What
end ... ?!</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes,
the roller blading may have ended, but the New Year's resolution born
out of this adventure has not stopped rolling and it doesn't look
like it will.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For
the past 20 years, I have been exposing myself to new experiences
with a preference given to those taking me out of my comfort zones
and ... </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am no longer a bulb variety! Well, at least in one sense
...</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
every passing year I am getting more and more comfortable with
feeling uncomfortable! </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You
may think what you want, but to me this is a progress.</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unstoppable
New Year's resolution ...</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Be
quick, grab it and let it roll with you for the rest of your life!</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjDrhmSvU3OOeT0BCHTNa967Wyg2LjR7b8MuE5Fyi6Fq4I4dYXghl2RGEj4WKDd6oDEQPtK4-Nrh5u7-rZdtmARoi11yGS91FoHcr0z-HxR9B4K4Kv2ZLcmAooYUmsBeuGZLllZg_SnRq/s1600/scan0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjDrhmSvU3OOeT0BCHTNa967Wyg2LjR7b8MuE5Fyi6Fq4I4dYXghl2RGEj4WKDd6oDEQPtK4-Nrh5u7-rZdtmARoi11yGS91FoHcr0z-HxR9B4K4Kv2ZLcmAooYUmsBeuGZLllZg_SnRq/s320/scan0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
what's on tomorrow?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> My
upcoming 50<sup>th</sup> birthday challenge!!! A one hour flying lesson on
Jabiru J-160.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vma9jiRAoGM/UN1sjFYN5jI/AAAAAAAABAU/S7hbQvrde7s/s320/Jabiru+J-160+aircraft.jpg" width="224" /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My
advice ...</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Please
stay at home as there are no concrete balls in the sky to stop me!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Illustrations
by Jane Corrigan</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-7249788939668127882012-12-05T10:25:00.000+11:002012-12-05T10:25:07.475+11:00“Christmas joy in a cup of hot chocolate”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwhb1dC1Mfeiub-YaHjo8su93jAscHN2Fooz0mf1QbrrreMMMACHpfNB7cuTgQWFhbZ1xBJWG804tYlhgLHv6f0NhCPuCV8phJHQ_L86wUYcAxmal-OZu5WnD0BLZhZV-rBMAzv6XEPw5/s1600/scan0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwhb1dC1Mfeiub-YaHjo8su93jAscHN2Fooz0mf1QbrrreMMMACHpfNB7cuTgQWFhbZ1xBJWG804tYlhgLHv6f0NhCPuCV8phJHQ_L86wUYcAxmal-OZu5WnD0BLZhZV-rBMAzv6XEPw5/s320/scan0009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
would like to share with you a particular unforgettable moment from
my first trip to Peru in the hope that it may inspire your heart in time
for this coming Christmas.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>19<sup>th</sup>
December 2004</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Equipped
with over forty rolls of film I was ready to capture my 18 day
journey from Lima to Cusco in as much detail as possible.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>23<sup>rd</sup>
December 2004</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wD5yFQvNCGE/ULlsB6ETaEI/AAAAAAAAAaw/2XexVxBU_b8/s1600/scan0001+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wD5yFQvNCGE/ULlsB6ETaEI/AAAAAAAAAaw/2XexVxBU_b8/s320/scan0001+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before
leaving Arequipa for Yonque where we would spent Christmas, our
leader Jonathan shared with us a beautiful idea which was embraced by
all without a moment of hesitation. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rather than having a traditional
Kris Kringle gift exchange he suggested we share a cup of hot
chocolate with all the children living within this small community. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
hope you can imagine our excitement at the possibility of
participating in such a heart (and body) warming experience.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So
now it was all on Jonathan's shoulders ... including a large amount
of chocolate blocks and spices that needed to be pre-purchased in
Arequipa. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entrusting
in our leader's charm, we were very optimistic that our hotel in
Yonque would not let us down. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>24<sup>th</sup>
December 2004</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j2-DNqAwUBM/ULlsuKmOIUI/AAAAAAAAAbY/L8a5NKdxToU/s1600/scan0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j2-DNqAwUBM/ULlsuKmOIUI/AAAAAAAAAbY/L8a5NKdxToU/s320/scan0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shortly
after our arrival in Yonque, Jonathan set out on the </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“hot
chocolate” mission.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Supported
by the invisible army of our positive thoughts while wearing an
armour of chocolate blocks studded with spices he was well assured of
his victorious return, and so it was.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes!
We are going to make the best cup of hot chocolate in the world.”
... were his words. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We
were all thrilled to hear that our hotel embraced Jonathan's idea as
much as we did and were ready to pull out their biggest pots for this
special occasion.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since
the number of small children living in this community was close to
two hundred, we were definitely in need of those big pots to
accommodate nearly 100 litres of fresh milk to be sourced from the
local farmers. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7DxhQSz8RU/ULls0YPJo2I/AAAAAAAAAbg/UpU8bZR3ooQ/s1600/scan0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7DxhQSz8RU/ULls0YPJo2I/AAAAAAAAAbg/UpU8bZR3ooQ/s320/scan0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7DxhQSz8RU/ULls0YPJo2I/AAAAAAAAAbg/UpU8bZR3ooQ/s1600/scan0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
town's office was also very helpful by offering to announce our event
through their megaphone. I would have loved to see the reaction of
local people and especially children on hearing something along these
lines ...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All
children up to the age of ... please come to the “Collahua“ hotel
at so so time with your mug to receive some free hot chocolate.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Christmas spirit was definitely felt or rather heard in the air.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>25<sup>th</sup>
December 2004</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAZAZWE2Z90SDB6pWD2Ddt9lcuARWdj9g7RJL8DNPu7gibTc5WzS1wS2pATblxP5AsVQwiqpL9vKT-eAI7TSWaFeSwnttGm-a7dkvSGZAmZ8Mf8PUiRYDPv0fDHk17VUWHN4N1hoGK8l9/s1600/scan0001+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAZAZWE2Z90SDB6pWD2Ddt9lcuARWdj9g7RJL8DNPu7gibTc5WzS1wS2pATblxP5AsVQwiqpL9vKT-eAI7TSWaFeSwnttGm-a7dkvSGZAmZ8Mf8PUiRYDPv0fDHk17VUWHN4N1hoGK8l9/s320/scan0001+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We
were on our way back from an early morning trip to Colca Canyon to
watch condors when my camera gave up. The shutter jammed and that was
it.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">No,
it can't be it! Not now!” ... I screamed silently with a sadness in
my heart, </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> while </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">some
of my colleagues perceived this as blessing. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
blessing ...?!”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> .
. . . . . . . . . .</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36aplfbk66cLfCohzRpbkxG1D65o60uz2HA-X2F6o5i6RxMdCuzSh45bH29IxIhQ4FY7lsm-gruDsmSU9A00vi7q7D0C_cNtCTjRXgBy8akW0bt1RD2xoGid-JJxg-izcLazPKfVumt_M/s1600/IMGP0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36aplfbk66cLfCohzRpbkxG1D65o60uz2HA-X2F6o5i6RxMdCuzSh45bH29IxIhQ4FY7lsm-gruDsmSU9A00vi7q7D0C_cNtCTjRXgBy8akW0bt1RD2xoGid-JJxg-izcLazPKfVumt_M/s320/IMGP0606.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
time to share the joy of Christmas had finally arrived as the
children started to gather at the front of our hotel and the spicy
smell of hot chocolate could no longer be ignored.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEF3Po__t4c/ULlp_xl5WNI/AAAAAAAAAZs/u6KR8BGM07E/s1600/IMGP0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEF3Po__t4c/ULlp_xl5WNI/AAAAAAAAAZs/u6KR8BGM07E/s320/IMGP0611.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
children kept<span style="text-decoration: none;"> on </span>arriving from all directions and before too long their number was
bigger than expected. </span></span>
</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dwrTBVJs_k/ULlqGSoDXHI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/zGK982A5OM0/s1600/IMGP0613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dwrTBVJs_k/ULlqGSoDXHI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/zGK982A5OM0/s320/IMGP0613.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
was pretty much heartbroken upon seeing so many beautiful faces and
being unable to capture them on film. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Their eyes, their smiles ...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When
the first two pots were brought outside, a separate queue of boys
and the other of girls had already formed and waiting patiently to be
served. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SxEafMv_qH7nv7jSB1T6tN2NYZKibrMWEbCjasBgixmxfAKT7Ur2imqJEuv5ddp4eHG-U06Y9G4Cd925bmCKAwCvB2eKCEb741MBseNG_I32MmlEN67bGopAOkvcwuhR05atdivkzDKD/s1600/IMGP0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SxEafMv_qH7nv7jSB1T6tN2NYZKibrMWEbCjasBgixmxfAKT7Ur2imqJEuv5ddp4eHG-U06Y9G4Cd925bmCKAwCvB2eKCEb741MBseNG_I32MmlEN67bGopAOkvcwuhR05atdivkzDKD/s320/IMGP0617.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have to say that the girls behaved much better than the
boys who used a touch of elbow to get ahead or tried to sneak back to
the line for a second cup. </span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
every mug filled, the joy of giving was amplified by the joy of
receiving and as the time went on the intensity of excitement soared
higher and higher into the sky just like a condor.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By
now, I could hardly wait for my turn to take over the “ladle” and
when it finally came ...</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7xEVb_ptIT8/ULlqxg2VW7I/AAAAAAAAAaM/2g2MRPzMBe8/s1600/IMGP0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7xEVb_ptIT8/ULlqxg2VW7I/AAAAAAAAAaM/2g2MRPzMBe8/s320/IMGP0620.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...
seeing those little hands reaching out towards me with an empty cup
and the eyes full of gratitude moved me so much that I could barely
hold back my tears.</span></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IEEMjmSwZpk/ULmM1HibKnI/AAAAAAAAAcE/OWy-eHSDMzs/s1600/scan0001+(5)+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IEEMjmSwZpk/ULmM1HibKnI/AAAAAAAAAcE/OWy-eHSDMzs/s320/scan0001+(5)+-+Copy.jpg" width="177" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Among
them was this one little boy about 3 years of age </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">with a very small
cup. Trying to fill his mug as close to </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">the brim as possible, my
generosity made it slightly too full </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and I was a bit concerned about
his ability to carry it. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I will never forget seeing him walk away so
very slowly </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">with his eyes fully focused on the cup as he wasn't
prepare </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to loose a single drop of this precious treat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With
plenty left for top ups a temptation to try our own brew was hard to
resist and though we jumped at the unexpected opportunity, we did
not jump a queue.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8H_qjT-xDx4/ULlpxgSvq2I/AAAAAAAAAZg/8yeeyZDBwqw/s1600/IMGP0610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8H_qjT-xDx4/ULlpxgSvq2I/AAAAAAAAAZg/8yeeyZDBwqw/s320/IMGP0610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So
there I was ... cup in hand, waiting patiently in line to the
amusement of the little ones.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Who
would have thought that such a little thing like a cup of hot
chocolate could create so much joy for all of us.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> .
. . . . . . . . . .</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K3VAicqpm-g/ULlqPIgIeyI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/5bBiTeD_3e8/s1600/IMGP0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K3VAicqpm-g/ULlqPIgIeyI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/5bBiTeD_3e8/s320/IMGP0616.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> ...
and a blessing it was!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rather
than being preoccupied with photo taking, I was able to immerse
myself in this joyous experience on a much deeper level while
preserving it on my heart's memory card.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lnfpb-586Q8/ULmdrLw7i-I/AAAAAAAAAcs/LUJNUknOY4M/s1600/scan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lnfpb-586Q8/ULmdrLw7i-I/AAAAAAAAAcs/LUJNUknOY4M/s320/scan0001.jpg" width="293" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
the download of this story from my heart </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to yours has come to an end, </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">may </span>its essence fuel the
joys of the upcoming festive season and beyond.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<br />
<br />
</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Photos of children taken by Sue and Nick with his wife. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Illustration of a little boy created by Jane Corrigan.</span></div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-41697626479547107262012-11-05T10:28:00.000+11:002012-12-01T17:24:39.322+11:00"A heart warming moment in the least expected place."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKop7qBG6mB1qy1Nagg6SMEl3NUuQYCi50OrwvyJVT9A8LBKwqROtRXvxAtzwHV6wuVjMgz6h6ODIuM7XFsKb1-IjGM_wv1gcY00G6wCHFt2fRkL3YR_vzOoPDdg2sXBhGmjgR6x7NKJl0/s1600/dreamstimefree_65935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKop7qBG6mB1qy1Nagg6SMEl3NUuQYCi50OrwvyJVT9A8LBKwqROtRXvxAtzwHV6wuVjMgz6h6ODIuM7XFsKb1-IjGM_wv1gcY00G6wCHFt2fRkL3YR_vzOoPDdg2sXBhGmjgR6x7NKJl0/s320/dreamstimefree_65935.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For
most of us a public toilet is a place where we go to do our “private
business”, and personally I like it to be an “in and out”
experience.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks
to technological advances nothing stays the same and simplicity seems
to be a thing of the past, so a visit to a public toilet can be at
times interesting, challenging or surprising.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
am sure (or at least I hope) that I am not the only one who at their
first encounter with a flush that knew when you were done, felt a bit
spooked out.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over
the past years I had a privilege to see many of us (including myself)
impersonating Mr. Bean, when after pulling and pressing the obvious
we still cannot get our hands on the soap or rather the soap on our
hands. Getting a tap running can be even more challenging and fun,
especially if we were successful with getting some soap first. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In
situations like this, we are often left at the mercy of another
visitor who hopefully kept pace with technological inventions.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My
last personal challenge was with a very strange looking hand dryer at
the Milson's Point train station, that felt a bit too aggressive for
my likening. I am happy to say that we are now friends. </span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
wonder if the “no where to be seen” instructions for use have
also undergone a technical face lift and are now available for
download on a smart phone.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
have also noticed a rising number of people expanding on the original
“private business” activities associated with this public amenity
by mistaking a toilet cubicle for an old fashion telephone booth. One
can not help, but feel sorry for the recipient of this no longer
private conversation enriched by a symphony of unique sounds hovering
in the background. </span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
wouldn't be surprised if by now, some of you have started to question
the title of my story.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What
about this heart warming moment? Surely, she can't be serious about
having one in a place like this.”- I hear you think.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Well, </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">serious or not serious here it comes ...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">About
10 years ago, I had a rare opportunity to be the only occupant of a
public toilet within a shopping centre. The silence of the place felt
unusually noticeable before being interrupted by a mother with her
little boy, who sounded about 3 years old. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As
he entered a cubicle, the palpable silence returned once again to
serve as a background for something unexpected and very special.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQ7Yu-tCvz8/UESQul2CBHI/AAAAAAAAADE/sbpR7BMGTJ0/s1600/dreamstimefree_239831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQ7Yu-tCvz8/UESQul2CBHI/AAAAAAAAADE/sbpR7BMGTJ0/s320/dreamstimefree_239831.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mummy
...”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes?”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
love you.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
love you too.” </span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
was just about to flush, but on hearing this I decided to honour this
beautiful and innocent declaration of love by allowing the silent
background to linger a touch longer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
have to admit that a part of me was waiting for one more line,
something like ...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mummy,
can you buy me a ...”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But
no, there were no strings attached to this declaration. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">His
feelings had genuinely arisen from the depth of his heart and their
purity was emphasised by a touch of seriousness in his otherwise soft
sounding voice.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
was so lucky for this moment to be blessed by the lack of an
automatic flush, phone conversationalist or any other visitor that
would have prevented me from witnessing something as special as this.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My
advise ...</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be
always on standby to enjoy the unexpected wherever you might be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">(photos: "Two hearts with candy" by Neil Mey, "Boy with red cap" by Judy Ben Joud)</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-10406707773451964562012-10-12T12:11:00.000+11:002013-01-04T21:08:22.306+11:00"One thing leads to another." <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-210Su2_DQxg/UGbQTGhzQaI/AAAAAAAAAMU/PrpSON72YN0/s1600/5.08.2012+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-210Su2_DQxg/UGbQTGhzQaI/AAAAAAAAAMU/PrpSON72YN0/s320/5.08.2012+014.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>This is a follow up on ...</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>"If you want some magic, look with your heart."</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong>Do
you know why though ...</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everything
has its beauty, </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">but not everyone sees </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">it.” </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(Confucius)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong>It
is because ...</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes but with
seeing with new eyes” (Marcel Proust)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong>and
that ...</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's
not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” (Henry
David Thoreau)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong>and
...</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What
we see depends mainly on what we are looking for.” (John Lubbock)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong>as
well as that the ...</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sight
is a faculty; seeing is an art.” (George Perkins Marsh)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong>and
this is why ...</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No
great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would
cease to be an artist.” (Oscar Wilde)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong>so
...</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There
is nothing insignificant in the world. It all depends on how one
looks at it.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <strong>To
summarise ...</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMN71F2l0g3F55dThJ1HRolZKG76rtjs2F6wHd9aKFtSSt0HeRILwxgbtUPoyUh0ALQacUkrh84SCnFCB1boXCwvaVLAe7e-xgdwlwI49pmwZHykl_a8C5oHIDhBfBtxoZ0tYBrX6PxMc/s1600/dreamstimefree_229476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMN71F2l0g3F55dThJ1HRolZKG76rtjs2F6wHd9aKFtSSt0HeRILwxgbtUPoyUh0ALQacUkrh84SCnFCB1boXCwvaVLAe7e-xgdwlwI49pmwZHykl_a8C5oHIDhBfBtxoZ0tYBrX6PxMc/s320/dreamstimefree_229476.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
response to what we see is strongly influenced by our inner feelings
and the uniqueness of the moment at the time. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is why we respond
differently at different times and differently from each other, and
with this understanding we can minimise unnecessary disappointments
when others may not mirror our perception.” </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(Olga
Kulanowska)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">(photo "Stones" by Clarita)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-65239806759222834012012-10-05T10:09:00.000+10:002012-10-05T10:09:46.876+10:00"If you want some magic, look with your heart" <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">July 2012</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This
has been my tenth trip to Chiang Mai (Thailand). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During
the first few visits I explored most of the streets and lanes within
the old city surrounded by the moat. Afterwards I was happy to
“settle down” as the main focus of my holidays took on the theme
of a “full body service”. This translates to healthy food,
massage, reflexology and catching up on reading. I await the day when
I will grab the last unread book from my home library. French
champagne definitely!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CtGJhV8bfFQ/UD31xP_qenI/AAAAAAAAAA0/n5ToZienDLg/s1600/CSH-Chiang+Mai+July+2012-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CtGJhV8bfFQ/UD31xP_qenI/AAAAAAAAAA0/n5ToZienDLg/s320/CSH-Chiang+Mai+July+2012-b.jpg" width="215" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Going
back to the story ...</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During
my recent holiday, instead of taking my usual route to the printer I
slightly deviated and stumbled on something very special.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q09zfTczCoU/UD32aXL3mnI/AAAAAAAAABU/il1I604VYM4/s1600/Thailand+2012-2+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q09zfTczCoU/UD32aXL3mnI/AAAAAAAAABU/il1I604VYM4/s320/Thailand+2012-2+026.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It
was a shop set up under the canopy of green canvas with matching
walls, filled with a variety of colourful little knick-knacks and
intermingling sounds from many different wind chimes. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As
I got closer, I could sense this welcoming and playful energy calling
me in. Then suddenly, I felt like a little child full of excitement
as if someone has cast a spell on me!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now,
all I could see was a treasure cave. A secret place.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vHNv8PjMLpU/UD31QaHaGGI/AAAAAAAAAAk/3lVevQ6c7xQ/s1600/Classic+Summer+House-July+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vHNv8PjMLpU/UD31QaHaGGI/AAAAAAAAAAk/3lVevQ6c7xQ/s320/Classic+Summer+House-July+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Upon
entering, I was greeted by the girl with a lovely smile. She was
wearing a head band decorated with two red apples of reasonable size,
which looked great with her long wavy hair. Her free spirited energy
felt familiar, but I could not put my finger on it until much later.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She
asked me to wait while she brought me a drink, and before I could say
anything she disappeared into the adjoining house.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A
moment later she reappeared with a cup of cold drink in one hand and
a piece of lime in the other. In a story telling way she said to me
that if I squeeze some lime into my drink its colour will change. I
followed her instructions expecting to see my light blue drink
turning green, but to my surprise it became a beautiful indigo. Wow! </span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When
I asked about the secret ingredient my drink was made of, she pointed
to the bell shaped indigo blue flowers on the vine next to us. </span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While
sipping my mystery drink and twirling around the shop with eyes wide
open, a young couple stepped in unaware of the upcoming magic. I
decided to get a little bit closer to share their excitement. Unlike
me, they were a bit unsure about the drink, but following my
reassurance the lime got squeezed and the indigo colour appeared in
its full glory once again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV_h72aT6UeUxjVPG7_JiFKeKdXpy9C4l9vSoU2Q6MhReVQKL3ZfbgS1y8-6krEqdrE-443lzZ56HeehM_5sm8bi5laRFt-2-1JTMm_gzAPpmI_G0qW79HVr8EUF-SLTDqTxT-LlFyfPV/s1600/CSH-Chiang+Mai+July+2012-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV_h72aT6UeUxjVPG7_JiFKeKdXpy9C4l9vSoU2Q6MhReVQKL3ZfbgS1y8-6krEqdrE-443lzZ56HeehM_5sm8bi5laRFt-2-1JTMm_gzAPpmI_G0qW79HVr8EUF-SLTDqTxT-LlFyfPV/s320/CSH-Chiang+Mai+July+2012-a.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
“Classic Summer House” shop is not that big, but because it has
so many little things it takes a bit of time to see it all. In the
centre, there is a smaller square area (with its own silk canopy)
where you will find shelves filled with little figurines, tea pots
and tea cups as well as other tiny treasures. The eclectic content of
the shop definitely adds to its uniqueness.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As
I was equipped only with my film camera at the time, I decided to
revisit the treasure cave a couple of days later with a recently
gifted to me digital technology.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My
feeling about the place had not changed, but my drink had! This time
it was a non alcoholic banana “Baileys Cream” on ice.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In
a “happy hour” mood I started taking some photos and as I got
closer to the indigo flower vine to capture a secret ingredient of
the magical drink, I couldn't see any left. They were all gone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0cgUfJwxa14/UD33BysFgfI/AAAAAAAAABc/2FGdp_eJy1U/s1600/Thailand+2012-2+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0cgUfJwxa14/UD33BysFgfI/AAAAAAAAABc/2FGdp_eJy1U/s320/Thailand+2012-2+022.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On
hearing my disappointment, my lovely hostess took me to the vine
closer to the house to show me the last flower. As she gently lifted
a leave, she pointed to the indigo bud while saying: “But it is
still asleep.” Ooo ... so sweet!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As
I finished taking the photos and a video clip with permission for the
blog story, a couple in their late 20's walked in. They seemed even
more unsure about the drink than the couple on my first visit. To my
surprise, their level of excitement about the place was rather low
compared with mine, so I may have appeared to them a little bit on a
crazy side especially at my age. </span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At
this point I realised that they did not see and feel what I did. </span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3OGay5_i_F4/UD39gHDXbZI/AAAAAAAAAB0/kMQW6oqF3ho/s1600/Thailand+2012-2+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3OGay5_i_F4/UD39gHDXbZI/AAAAAAAAAB0/kMQW6oqF3ho/s320/Thailand+2012-2+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Looking
through my inner child's eyes, I have transformed the “Classic
Summer House” to a treasure cave and my lovely hostess to a ...
(can you guess?) Fairy God Mother! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
don't know where my 49 year old self was at the time, but my 4 year
old was definitely having a great time. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A time of care free joy!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks
to a generous support of August winds, the sound of the wind chime
that was wrapped with greatest care for safe travelling frequently
remind me of <span style="color: black;">this</span> special encounter.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Something
to ponder on ...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
way we perceive the outer world is strongly influenced by our inner
feelings and the uniqueness of the moment at the time.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Though
we may have little influence over the uniqueness of the moment, the
same does not apply to the garden of our feelings<span style="text-decoration: none;">.<span style="color: #6b2394;">
</span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As a
gardener we have freedom to create a beautiful space as long as we
are prepared to do some regular weeding. This can definitely be very
challenging at times as some roots can be very deep or generously
spread out. To clear all the weeds in one life time is pretty much
impossible. However, this should not hold us back from attempting to
release at least some of the feelings that prevent us from seeing
something special in every moment of our lives. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SRD5woxZxcXcSl2z9gY_AY_jnx8Qa2yrDltBZUCIMPvxwDKLuGyF8HWZFvvcAbogee4chYEEwnNFNhZcFmuNHmmn-tZy2ogXl-u2br6KqN8roVmP5zSDaxIufOLSQnBISWARmGDrHrxX/s1600/dreamstimefree_112634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SRD5woxZxcXcSl2z9gY_AY_jnx8Qa2yrDltBZUCIMPvxwDKLuGyF8HWZFvvcAbogee4chYEEwnNFNhZcFmuNHmmn-tZy2ogXl-u2br6KqN8roVmP5zSDaxIufOLSQnBISWARmGDrHrxX/s320/dreamstimefree_112634.jpg" width="246" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With each weed
removed we create more space for the seeds of loving energy to
sprout, followed by the blooms of happy moments.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> (photo by Dan Tataru)</span></div>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259550608530840308.post-73699445730554741262012-10-05T10:05:00.000+10:002012-10-07T23:22:53.904+11:00"Behind the scenes" (how it all happened)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5ppSarCg8A/UD63aKc_IOI/AAAAAAAAACI/3X1PgGrWfeY/s1600/IMAG0002_CO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5ppSarCg8A/UD63aKc_IOI/AAAAAAAAACI/3X1PgGrWfeY/s320/IMAG0002_CO.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What's around the corner ..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If
you didn't like brussel sprouts or fairy cabbages (as one parent
markets them to her children) you wouldn't buy them for your dinner,
would you?</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So
my question is ...</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If
I hate deadlines, why would I even consider starting a blog?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and
the answer ... “I have no idea!”</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All
I know is that some invisible force has planted a “blog seed”
within my aura and used one of my friends to make me aware of this
with her encouraging suggestion.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After
voicing a vague possibility of starting a blog, an instantly created
fan club has totally ignored the word “possibility” by replacing
it with a question about the launching date.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On
hearing “launching date”, all I could see was a word “deadlines”
flashing red in front of my eyes. I love writing, but deadlines are
my enemies. So no stories, no blog and no deadlines was my mind's
quick decision. Phew! </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While
my mind was ready to move on, my heart was still experiencing an
inner <span style="color: black;">battle</span> ... love of writing versa
fear of deadlines.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every
time love has scored a goal, fear matched it up, but as the time went
on (and on ...) the invisible force decided to interfere once again
by slowly tilting a scale in favour of my newly formed fan club.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--t4nhSZNnlk/UGbMdQYtRdI/AAAAAAAAAME/JQLXZICp5Fw/s1600/Mix-29.09.12-Sydney+city+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--t4nhSZNnlk/UGbMdQYtRdI/AAAAAAAAAME/JQLXZICp5Fw/s320/Mix-29.09.12-Sydney+city+050.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A
decision to start a blog was just around the corner, but the
launching date nowhere to be seen or too many corners away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In
order to cement a release date something else had to happened, and so
it did.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One
day, I decided to see a psychic with hope of clarifying this as well
as few other issues on hand.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One
of the strongest messages received during this reading was about my
new career path. To be honest, it was presented to me more like an
order rather than a suggestion and it even contained a 48 hours
deadline.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While
giving it serious consideration I became aware of this uncomfortable
feeling arising inside my body. The more I researched, the more
uncomfortable I felt about the whole thing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As
much as I had a heartfelt connection to the essence of this potential
career path, I could not see myself being limited by its outer layers
of puppet strings that would sooner rather than later suffocate my
free spirit. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You
need to decide” ... I heard someone's voice. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Am
I at the end of my 48 hours deadline?” ... I asked.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You
can either follow up on the reader's message or ... you can launch a
blog” ... was the reply.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since
when are they teaching selling techniques in heaven?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Who
said that I have to choose between a round or a square container,
when what I really want is an ice cream.”<span style="color: black;"> ...
were my afterthoughts.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However,
at the time of hearing this unusual request something prevented me
from questioning it and without a moment of hesitation my heart as
well as my mind have unanimously decided on the blog, as deadlines
(though scary) felt enormously less threatening to the existence of
my free spirit. </span></span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After
a few days of pondering, I have nominated 5<sup>th</sup> of October
2012 as the official birth day of “What's around the corner?” to
be followed by a private naming ceremony with my editor and my
immediate motivational support group as the proud Guardians.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This
news was received with great joy by one of my clients on the “blog
release” waiting list. As I was accompanying her to the door, she
said ...</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last
time I saw you, your feelings about the blog were very different.
What happened in the past four weeks that made you change your mind?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After
a moment of reflection, I became aware (this time on the conscious
level) that my visit to the psychic and the message regarding my new
career were the ones to initiate this change.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As
I was telling her about it, a Jewish tale read a very long time ago
popped <span style="color: black;">out from my memory bank.</span> The
similarity of this particular tale and my visit to the psychic made
me realise how fortunate I was to pick up on “Rabbi's” message
without bringing home a goat, a cow and all the chickens.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RYBDfpopqkU/UD63nM6iI1I/AAAAAAAAACQ/9hblN8g99xM/s1600/larger-a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RYBDfpopqkU/UD63nM6iI1I/AAAAAAAAACQ/9hblN8g99xM/s320/larger-a.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here
is the link to this very wise tale ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<br />
<dl>
<dl>
<dl>
<dl>
<dl>
<dd><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup><col width="6"></col>
<col width="250"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="2%"></td>
<td valign="TOP" width="98%"><h5 style="border: currentColor; padding: 0in;">
<span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><a href="http://www.beliefnet.com/Love-Family/Parenting/2000/10/Teaching-Tales-The-Way-You-Like-It.aspx" target="_blank">A traditional Jewish story, as told by Aaron Zerah, about being content with what you have - Beliefnet.com</a></span></span></span></h5>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</dd></dl>
</dl>
</dl>
</dl>
</dl>
</div>
Olga Kulanowskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933757023033960315noreply@blogger.com2