saying goodbye to 2010

it's the last few days before the year ends and before another one begins. but the time to let go had come earlier. to let go of old ideas. even some old dreams. but most especially, let go of things that have been holding me back in the past.

the funny thing is i have been through a lot of letting go these past 6 years. one thing that i've learned is the more you let go, the more you realize you have more to let go. it almost becomes addictive. you let go of a bad habit & you realize how good it feels. unburdened. relieved. suddenly you get to see the real version of yourself more clearly.

for the longest time my word has been melancholy. ok, let's backtrack here for a minute. a couple of years ago a friend asked me what my word was. and there it was - melancholy - like a sad old toy waiting to be noticed. there's really not a single strong reason why. but for many tiny & unexplained reasons this word had been the unspoken theme of my life. little did i realize how much i let this word take hold of my life, as if each story that is woven in this tapestry has a fated melancholic ending. but year & a half ago, when i went deeper into my yoga practice, something changed in me. and just like that my new word came - transformation. it came with such force & such grace that i literally saw the change - in my body, then my actions and consequently my life. but the thing was, it was i who created those changes and that was such a powerful difference. now i understand i don't let the word choose me. i choose my word.

as this year comes to a close, i have yet to decide on my new word. but it's coming, i know. i sensed it the moment i knew i'm letting this one go. this being my island, my home for the past 6 years. i always thought i'd grow old here and i desperately clung to this idea in the beginning because then, nothing else made sense. but things change. i've changed. i'm letting this idea go only because it's time to go on another adventure. there are many places i want to go to, languages i want to speak. my heart will not rest with this knowing. my heart will keep on looking just like it did before it found this.

i used to think it was restlessness, but now i understand it better. there is the dream of another life, another home, another continent. each time i leave to look for this dream, i let go. and each time i do, i get to live with a better understanding of the world. but most of all, i get to live the life i want.

these are days

living on the island for over 5 years makes one used to the beauty that surrounds you.
in no way is the magic lost,
but you come to settle on a bed of wonder
and makes one sleep sweeter at night.

and yet there are times when this exact same wonder catches your heart again
& overwhelms your spirit.
these are days when you are reminded why
you came to be here in the first place.

These days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face
and when you do, then you'll know how it was meant to be...

same same, but different

this is where i got to play with the waves once again
where the blazing sun painted my skin brown
while i surfed my little heart out.

beautiful bali.

where the setting sun transforms the sky & the sea
into a watercolor dream.

just like home
same same, but different.

when the heart wanders

it's a sunday and for the first time in a long while, i chose to stay in... my mom left for manila this morning after 10 beautiful love-filled days & now i'm feeling a little blue... adding up to the tiny bits of blues i've been having the past few weeks... i know it's time to change something.... and i will... changes are coming soon... but for now i'm lifting myself out of this blue hole i'm in with a few reminders of some random things i really like, of things to come, what i love and what makes me smile....

photo booths

fair isle sweaters


soft leather brogues


clever little things


inspired spaces

chairs i wanna sink into


islands in greece

beautiful hawaii

a house by the beach


playing with the waves

baby love

cupcakes

and lots of chocolate


it's the start of another week, happy week everyone!

break free

breathe
take a leap of faith
open to something bigger
and break free.

live the life you've always imagined.
it's not just the right thing to do
it's the only path to take.

wanderlust wednesdays: madrid, spain

the art of doing nothing...
taking a siesta around plaza mayor.

wake up where the clouds are far behind

deep inside i've always known
that the life i've always wanted
is the only life to live.

wanderlust wednesdays: koh samui, thailand

discovering new islands with my girlfriends
rediscovering each other
(march 2010)

a dose of magic

she dances in the day

and she dreams at night

under a blanket of pretty stars.

There is something almost magical about Amy Borrell's illustrations.
Visit her website (http://cakewithgiants.com/) for more of her lovely creations.

wanderlust wednesdays: taipei, taiwan

isn't she lovely? :)

the wanderer

Not for lack of longing
Not for fear of being alone
Essence from a star wandering
Exploring a life to call my own
Across this strange planet I pass,
Moving as a traveler of fate,
Please, for a moment to wait I ask
'Til the sun I kissed yesterday rises late

Han Cha-hyeon

wanderlust wednesdays: mcleod ganj, india

a young Tibetan monk runs free in Mcleod Ganj*

*up in the Western Himalayas (North India),
the Dalai Lama & the Tibetan government claimed asylum
after China invaded Tibet.

happiness is

when we let the beauty of what we love be what we do (Rumi)
happiness stops being the destination.

wanderlust wednesdays: bali

i miss thy food, thy iced tea drink, thy waves...

wanderlust wednesdays: santorini, greece

happy sunday

everyone's cups were filled
& everyone's smiles were pretty much like this.

today was a spanish feast
we cooked gambas & berenjenas rellenas
made tortilla de patata & drank some sangria.

what a delicious way
to spend a beautiful sunday!

august break

i am having a lot of fun with susannah conway's august break - a fun project which involves posting a photo each day (or as many as you like, there are no rules really) as a way to document this whole month of august. it's teaching me to appreciate taking pictures on a deeper level wherein i start to build a sense of commitment towards it. these shots wouldn't have made it if i hadn't signed on & agreed to take my camera with me everyday.

see more august break photos here.

while checking out other august breakers, i discovered this cool website that transforms your digital photos to polaroins ~ instant polaroid-like pictures for those who love the look but does not have the real thing.

wanderlust wednesdays: burano, italy

four years ago i set foot on this tiny jewel of an island.
now i wish i had taken more pictures.

wanderlusting

love on two wheels

art by miriam shenitzer

art by blanca gomez via happiness is...

is it just me? or do they all look happy, giddy even, riding a vespa. i can almost see it - an island girl in her flip flops on a lilac-colored vespa, fueled by wanderlust, wind in her hair, a smile on her sun-kissed face...

i therefore conclude, vespa = bliss.

gypsy girl's guide

look who guest posted at the gypsy girl's guide last saturday!

check out alessandra's blog - a place to share inspiration among gypsy girls!

Gypsy Girls are free spirited. We are dreamers taken by wanderlust. We are holistic, easygoing and kind. We are peaceful warriors. We love nature and care about the planet. We are worldly, bohemian, mystical, strong. We are cultural nomads, brave explorers, writers, journalists, photographers, surfers, designers, artists, athletes, performers, business women, jet setters, expats, humanitarians. We are pioneers and entrepreneurs leading unconventional lives around the globe. We believe in global consciousness. We think, care and act globally. We rock locally. We believe in following our dreams. We cultivate courage via safe risk taking. We believe that challenges are our teachers. We believe in spiritual growth. We believe in tradition, in connection, in the power of community and in the gift of sharing. We believe in practicing authenticity, mindfulness and gratitude. We believe in nurturing creativity, the earth and all beings.

Are you a Gypsy Girl too? :)

p.s. thanks for creating this lovely space Alex & making me a part of it! :)