Crazy times

San Agustin sucked me in for longer than expected. Apart from the bed bugs, everything was beautiful. But seriously, the bed bugs drove me insane; loco. Really made me paranoid, OCD even. I found myself unable to sleep, frantically searching the beds for bugs each night...washing my clothes and bags with a mad desperation, scrutinizing each item i own to ensure freedom from the little vampires. My legs are in recovery now, they slowly seem to be improving with the help of Aloe vera, regular washing and lavender essential oil. I have been reccomended lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda which i shall purchase and apply manana. My legs want to heal before they hit the beach.

But, yes, apart from that San Agustin was a wonderful experience. The owner of my hotel was an angel. We really connected, a mother-daughter energy pervaded. Before i left she said she really liked my presence in her house. She often asked me to sing and play the guitar, said she loved my voice. I made up a new song here, and even integrated a bit of Espanol! We spent nights around the fire under the moon and beside a mysterious silver tree with no leaves (an unusual phenomenon here), we called it Arbol desnuda= naked tree. There was also a mother and 16yr old daughter working there. They approached me with much friendliness and curiosity. We spent time animated and trying to communicate, laughing and playing around. There was also a beautiful South American couple staying at this little paradise. Everyday they would go into the forest and climb trees, juggle and stretch together in the sun. They were travelling artists, heading to Panama to study natural medicine. I chilled with them, played music together (they played wooden penny whistles together which sounds gorgeous, like some awesome mating ritual), talked about yoga and meditation, enjoyed peace and an undercurrent of understanding that we seemed to share. True free spirits they were. The woman had been doing Aerial Silks for 4 or 5 years (circus skill also known as aerial contortion, aerial ribbons, aerial tissues, fabric, ribbon, or tissu, depending on regional preference. Its a type of performance where one or more artists perform aerial acrobatics while hanging from a special fabric). She put a super long fabric in a tall tree and i watched her dance with it beautifully. So did her partner, whom she had been teaching. I gave it a go and decided i need more upper arm strength so have begun press ups every day! My arms currently hurt well... :)

I spent the weekend with two fellow travellers. I met them whilst looking for a cash machine during a power cut. It turns out that Tommy, a dude from England, happens to be good friends with someone i know. Someone i used to live with infact, a childhood connection. I love these moments of serendipity. On Saturday night we went to a music festival, full of locals enjoying themselves. I gave salsa dancing a go with a Colombian lad who was volunteering in San Augustin (at an organic farm which provides free food for uneducated children everyday. A great place!). I also drank a fair amount of alcohol, whilst trying to divert male attention when my friends left me alone and they all circled in on me lol. Im married, did you know?

Together with my two aquired travel buddies we went to Popayan (again) yesterday. The bus ride is totally crazy. Over 5 hours long, most of which is on the most bumpy, rocky ground i have ever been on. Its a serious roller-coaster ride. I was literally flying off my seat regularly. No reading or eating possible. Could barely talk lol. I did laugh a lot though, and drink rum. We stayed in a hostel overnight and I went out for a meal with Marijana (gorgeous woman), enjoying conversation and sharing of stories.

Now in Cali. I had expected to bypass it but have since found myself booking into a hotel and liking the energy so much that im considering staying a couple of nights. Its cheap, its very cheerful, its full of colour and friendly people. The hostel is somewhat of a maze. I will explore it more tomorrow, today im just going to chill out on a hammock with a glass of wine and a good book, soaking up the moon rays (like it or not!) The full moon is so strong!

Full moon calls me awake with its light,
with a flight of madness it does ignite.
Luminescence permeates my once still mind,
a pregnant moon stirring my Soul trying to find...
Dreams? Injected with a fresh and vivid clarity,
deep feelings inspired and surfacing,
forced forward and displayed in a dancing maze;
a haze of amazed musing and bemusing.
the moon is my altar,
i wish to surrender to its charm,
jump into an abyss of ineffable magick
to cry and scream and love at this supreme and full time,
this maddening time
blossoms in my heart
spikey and dark,
beautiful, sometimes confused.
Nightmares and dreams run hand in hand,
dizzy and twisting before an unseen queen.
This dream honoured under the moons light.

-Cassandra ,)