Roots of movement.

Journey through Asia

Part I

   Bamboo dam, Thailand. 

Asia, oh Asia.

By now I have been in south east Asia for the last 10 plus months. This journey has been one of abundance in so many ways and more. 

Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and even Singapore. All holders of space, and for a little while they all were my home. 

With a mission for connecting with the land, learning about self sustainability and gaining some skills for my own practice, I embarked on a workaway adventure which would be witness of some of the best moments of this life in which I try to stay proactive. 

    Planting avocado tree in Laos

Still on the road together since our encounter in the UK, I had the pleasure of sharing 5 months of this adventure of discovery along side Leanne. We shared times of peace and relaxation, as well as moments of hard work and green creation. 

We used workaway to find farms where we would volunteer out time as we learned the local ways of living with the land. 

    Goat farm in Laos

Workaway.info is one of many volunteering websites known to many travelers. It's network of places around the world where one can offer volunteering time in exchange for food and accommodation, interaction with the local community and in many cases you get to learn very valuable living skills and lessons.

During our time in Asia, we volunteered in many farms, all very different from the other. Our criteria when picking a farm is simple, we would only support projects that are working towards an organic, natural, eco friendly and self sustainable way of living/building/gardening. Ideally this places will also hold space for spiritual practices and the exploration of other skills.

    Lana style meal in Thailand

In the district of Samoeng, northern Thailand we found many places like this, and they have all inspired me to dream my own vision. One day, not to far into the future, I will tell that story. 

I have fallen in love with bamboo and natural building. I have found pleasure and meditation in digging the soil. I have relaxed to the sound of uncountable birds as I gaze to the greenery from my bamboo shack. 

I have cut my own flesh, scrape my skin, entangled in weeds and thorny branches. I have hung out with spiders, snakes, scorpion, pigs and goats, and have many friends of the bird specie. I have exhausted my body to sleep and awakened with the sun. I have learned some skills just to impress and other that I can use the best. I have taught and I have learned. I once thought I knew to realize I really don't. And up to this day, the soils still teaches the lessons. 

    Love rock in Laos

Here is a video of our first farm experience in Asia. A place called Happy Healing Home. 

http://youtu.be/cD9F6-HKnGw

And the little pk playground I built there for which Im proud of :)

    Parkour playground.

With me, movement, exploration and play are never to far away. In Thailand I also had the pleasure to re encounter with old friends. Dan Edwardes and Stephane Vigroux, from Parkour Generation, who along Chris Sotiriou, Haleyluyaa Yaguzaa, Johan and Julian Vigroux from PKG Asia, showed Leanne and I a good time in Bangkok where we were invited to participate as coaches in the 2013 Asian fitness convention. An awesome event where we shared the concept of true functional movement through Parkour training to a very strong and stiff fitness community. :P

It was such a greet time and pleasure. Thank you guys. 

   Asian fitness convention, Thailand.

Check out the video here

http://youtu.be/lKZpNkh_yH8

   Laos

   Waterfall in Laos

While our time in Laos was short, only 30 days, our experiences very valuable. Among goats and pigs and adventuring into the unknown, motorcycling on the country side exploring waterfalls, dodging pigs on the road and helping families gather their crops. We worked hard and played hard and definitely learned a ton. 

We had the opportunity to volunteer at a organic mulberry and goat farm. That was a fun and very rewarding experience. 

Here are some of the memories from that place.

http://youtu.be/lHE_BO_G1rc

There were some sad moments in 4000 islands where we witnessed a couple monkeys in different occasion being deprived of their right to freedom. It's moments like this when walking away is the hardest. When a primal desire to take actions in any means possible fires up within my heart. This time sadly I choose to walk away for without a long time commitment there would be very little I could do. This would be a story very hard to tell. 

Aside from that there were moments in which we were useful to more than just ourselves. And other moments in which we indulge in lushy green and relaxation.

A little bit of the journey through Laos.

http://youtu.be/cer8i0GRySA

Biking through 4000 islands 

http://youtu.be/kv_RkBW0kwU

   Cambodia

And then there was Cambodia.

Aside from spending an unexpected week in the crazy hustle of Phnom Penh witnessing the rawness of life, we visited interesting places which soften our hearts. 

The contrast of streets kids with a fascination for Leanne and I's acro moves, beggars holding their babies asking for food, and westerners indulging in abundance and luxury. 

We visited the genocide museum and killing fields, which brought much awareness of the darkest side of human capabilities. We became more grateful of our "freedom" and a little more conscious of the happiness of a simple life, where little is needed and what we have, we are very appreciative for.

We adapted to city life and also enjoyed a little bit of farming on the country side. Cambodia was unexpectedly short, yet abundant in life lessons. 

A few pics and some of the madness of cycling in Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh in a flash

http://youtu.be/VfJnqIcqdUM

    Killing fields 

   Scavenger monkey 

    Friend in captivity

Thailad Round 2

   Cooking sticky rice 

Back in Thailand, this time around Pai, more farming awaited for us. New places and new friends, there were highs and lows. 

Leanne was to return home, after sharing so much and growing together, my words are not enough to describe my gratitude for this wonderful and beautiful woman. Without her this experience would not have been what it was. And I loved every minute of what we created.

    Paradise in southern Thailand

After two and a half months in Thailand, I embarked on a hitchhiking adventure heading south to Malaysia. Crossing Thailand north to south from Chang Mai and across the country side. Twelve days of synchronicity and Devine guidance, kindness and open heartedness from the people of this land. Most of this journey could not be described in words.

Maybe this images will do.

This beach held space for a solo ceremony in which the mother ayahuasca took me on its wings to visions of truth and warrior hood. And incredible experience of the self realization of my power and the responsibility behind it. 

I made incredible connection in Thailand, in many ways this connections allowed me to grow incredibly in very personal and cherished ways.

All the people I have met on the way, each person who has picked me up on the road, housed me, fed me, trusted their present moments to make a stop on their day. Without you this adventure of life would not be what it's. 

Thank you. 

Thank you spirit

Thank you spirit

For the rays of the sun and the morning dew.

For the sound of the birds I get to wake up to.

This is new light shinning once again.

Its time to awaken to a purposeful new day.  

Thank you spirit

For the earthy feeling of the soil under my bare-feet.

For the re energizing fresh air that I get to breath.

For the music from inside that makes my heart beat.

For the life that each morning I have the pleasure to greet.

Thank you spirit

For the strength of my body and the grip of my hand,

For the medicine in my heart that motivates me to plant.

For the greenery and earth in which I cultivate,

This is sacred work, this is appreciating the land.

There is teaching there are lesson awaiting on the trees.

Deep rooted to the ground up to the sky their branches will reach. 

Stay grounded, open your heart and pay attention.

All it takes is a moment of present touch to make the connection.

Enter the womb and embrace its darkness, open third eye and welcome the steam.

Prayers to the rhythm of the drums, sweat and surrender, you're the dreamer you're the dream.

The mind always moving fast, storming on and on.

Be the flow of water, just relax, without resistance move along.

It only takes stillness, a breath and a little patience  

Dig your bare-feet on raw soil, and stay here, stay present.  

Strength, versatility and flexibility the bamboo plants teach.

Be strong, stay grounded but dont become stiff. 

Allow adaptability to be part of you day.

Dont get stubborn on your approach and allow the unknown to stay

Creativity is our nature and we are here to express.

Get out of the day to day hole and please your ideas dont suppress.

All the divinity in your soul is here to manifest.

All we need is to connect and to our roots regress.

So dig a hole, plant a seed and watch it grow.

Sign to it and in its splendor your love will show. 

When it's ready your heart will know.

And when you taste it its medicine it will make your spirit glow.

Cultivate yourself your mind and your skills.

Embrace struggle and obstacles, for that's when your heart really feels. 

There is medicine in fire making,

learn to spin and manifest it. 

Patience and perseverance, many lessons, don't reject it.

Grow in adversity and observe yourself.

Let the wind blow your worries don't hide in your shell.

Open your chest to the road ahead.

Harvest your fears and face them standing straight. 

Touch delicately, step lightly, 

in every space life is thriving. 

Breath deeply and be still, create sacred space.

Feel vividly, feel grace.

Dare to let go, detach and thrive.

Don't ignore the call.

Get back to your tribe.

Beyond the heat of fire

During my time in Malaysia I had the opportunity to realize one of my spiritual goals and challenges while staying at a farm in the town of Kuala Selangor about 60k from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Selangor is a small town of very local Malay and Indian farming people, where food is not only cheap but delicious. During this time the Indian community was celebrating Timiti Hindu festival, where for 10 days people would celebrate life together. People would gather, play music and offer their respects and gifts to the many Hindu gods, while some would induce themselves in a trance in anticipation for the last day of ceremony. Everyone would feast and share, people would dance and kids would play. The food was plentiful and the kindness very felt. Some would wear their regular daily clothes while other their very traditional Indian garments, they would all celebrate together to the rhythm of drums and laughter. As foreigners, me an the rest of the people volunteering at the farm were received with open arms.

I was told that during this 10 days a group of man and women would prepared for the last day of ceremony, where they would pierce their backs with hooks while carrying very adorned ornaments over their shoulders on a long walk that would end at the front  of the 12ft long path of burning coals. This was a day I would not want to miss. So in the 10th day we returned.

The day was sunny and very hot, little by little people would start arriving until there seemed to almost be no more space. We saw the man and women arrive, one at the time barefoot, with hooks on their backs and seemingly already in a trance. They were damp in sweat, they would shake their heads and dance while sticking their tongues out, making the ornaments stacked high on their shoulders, seem lighter than they probably were. Once facing the hot coals in front of them, they were welcomed with petals of flowers raining on them, their eyes seemed to be somewhere else. They were blessed by another very interesting looking character, who seemed to be in a trance of his own, and forward they walked. 

Some walked while others skipped, some stayed strong while others seems to feel the burn. Some at the sight of the coals walked around. One after the other, man and woman, old and young, they walked over the hot coals which could be felt from the distance. 

Not to long after they were done, the space was open for anyone else wanting to line up for the walk, that was my sign. From the moment I heard about it several says prior, I had already imagined myself taking the hot plunge. In a sense, I had prepared myself mentally, and the open space was my sign that the doors were open for me to try.

One moment I was standing as an observer, and in an instant almost without realizing it, I was second on the line. As the locals saw me lining up, they asked if I was going to walk, some seemed surprised while others were encouraging. Once on the front, the interesting looking character places his hands on my head and with some chanting he welcomed me to go ahead. 

Timed stopped, so did the music, the moment was present and so was I. One step after the other, looking forward and with an empty mind a walked across the coals, no feeling, no thought. No fast nor slow. Several steps later I was on the other side stepping into a pit of cool water being received by people ready to assist should I need a hand. 

Still in awe and with tears on my eyes I did not believe what I had just done. My feet felt fine though I heat from within started raising. And it was then when I realized I had just walked across 12ft of read hot coals. 

As time went on, it felt as I was doing it all over again, and again, and again. As my feet felt like they were the fire. My left foot was blistering and my right one was fine. As I walk back to the farm, the heat from within my feet didn't get seem to stop. For the next few hours I was in my head convincing myself it was all in my mind. I thought I would not be able to walk the rest of the day nor work the next morning. 

And here is where the work started, I could not stay still. - Pain, what is pain?- In would ask myself. - In the very present there is no pain - I continued on. The sensation when from a cooling breeze when my mind was relax, to the heat of the sun when I thought about it. 

This went on for a couple of hours. - it's enough - I told myself. - You wanted to do this and now it's done, You're healed and the feeling is gone. - A after a little longer it all seemed ok, the cooling breeze was back and it seems to want to stay. I finally stood up, and it all was fine. With a few blisters on my left foot I was ready to make this experience part of an awesome memory. 

In the present there is no pain, in the present moment all is perfect and all that exist is the greatness that is beyond your self and the ego. 

Phones clips of the walk

http://youtu.be/jlHBmTaQVkc

http://youtu.be/eKGH70b3sgg