~~~He who binds Himself to Joy
does the Winged Life destroy...
But he who kisses Joy as it flies
Lives in Eternity s Sunrise..

-William Blake



This morning i got out of bed and immediately went to the roof top terrace where i had a hydrotherapy treatment. This consisted of a hot steam bath (i had to sit on a bench inside an enclosed wooden box as my head protruded out of a hole in the top enabling me to breath while my body steamed away). This was followed by cold water poured all over me and repeated for 50 minutes. Certainly an effective way to wake up.

Now awake and thinking of what to write...im compelled to congratulate Banos for its excellent weekend night life. I think ive had more alcohol this weekend than i did the entirety of last year, and have developed a slight obsession for Mojito. To support this obsession a friend told me that its also very good for colds, what with all of those limes. Yey to Mojito.
I found a great club called Iguana, with a fire and little water feature outside which turned into my favorite place. Any where with fire is an instant appeal. There i was able to dance, something i have longed for and greatly enjoyed. Ive slept for about 3 hours each night, filling my nights instead with adventure and wonderings. Im loving walking the Latino streets in the early morning hours, when all seems softer, darker, less chaotic and with an ere of mystery. The night owls roam, exchanging smiles and curious glances. I found a quirky cafe open at 4:00pm where local men sat and ate rice and chicken, and stared at me when i approached. I found myself intimidated but highly amused. A Scottish guy i was with ordered some food and we hung out for a while, communicating our poco Espanol knowledge with the inquisitive persons around. I had a friendly chat with an Ecuadorian lad who tried his best at Inglis. We managed to make some sense. At the end of the night he took a while trying to ask me something... it started as "me....ummm...you?" and got refined to "me... kiss you?" Mark, an American hippy i was with, found it very entertaining and thought the boy was sweet in his attempts. Sweet maybe, but tempting not. Mark said "She is a free spirit, a Goddess. I will step in if i have to" I said "me gusta solo". Im getting used to these kind of interactions.


I watched an amazing film last night. Its called Paridiso Travel directed by Simon Brand and with the truly gorgeous Aldemar Correa. I highly recommended it. There is a restaurant here called Casa Hood which does free film screenings everyday at 4:30, which i have been taking good advantage of. They also do wonderful food and the best honey ginger lemon i have ever had (a REAL kick of ginger, not for the faint hearted. Well, actually its probably very good for that...)


Im feeling that travelling is a great way to look at oneself. Life constantly gives opportunity, but traveling is unique in that i find myself constantly coming into contact with new challenging situations, choices, opportunities, mirrors. Things are more intense and short lived, more changeable. The awareness of impermanence is constant, with changing faces, routines, environments in rapid ebb and flow. Travelling is like dancing with change. Being in new environments ensures that i am constantly alert, noticing surroundings with acute awareness. Things are fresh, my eyes open. Encounters with others helps me observe my relationship to the world. What are my tendencies and Patterns? What attracts me? Repels me? What subtle believe systems am i holding onto? Conditionings? What does all of this tell me about myself and the areas i need to develop, befriend, face?


The people we are in relationship with
are always a mirror, reflecting our own beliefs,
and simultaneously we are mirrors, reflecting their beliefs.
So... relationship is one of the most powerful tools for growth...
If we look honestly at our relationships,
we can see so much about how we have created them.

~ Shakti Gawain ~


I´m going pretty deep into this. I don´t like everything i see, I´m coming into contact with some little demons that have been eating my insides for a while. But I´m trying not to feed them self-perpetuating sinful foods anymore, rather rays of love and understanding...which enables them to evaporate. I´m reminded of a book called "Feeding your demons" which teaches an effective Tibetan technique to face the fears and that control and possess us. So much pain seems to come from ignorance, and fear of the unknown. Just being aware of this, i find, helps. And Socrates' guiding rule "Know Thyself" seems to be eternally significant.


x