Wednesday, March 31, 2010

One third of way there!

Hi! from the traveller! currently in the SEOUL airport, waiting for flt number 2 to Mumbai and then the third and final one to Kathmandu, arriving tomorrow morning (April 1 with us!) Korean airlines is FANTASTIC!! leg room .... great meals, lovely
people .. watched movie on Michael Jackson rehearsing his last performance "This is it" and also some tasteful ballet dancers ... gal beside me is from China and was thrilled with a little bit of english I gave her and she asked me in her broken English to
come and teach in China!! ha ha..

It was strange and wonderful flying westwards, turn right from Vancouver airport, up north, north west, skirting B.C and Alaska and then over the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea, crossing the International Date Line and suddenly we were late afternoon on March 31st! Nostalgic and beautiful flying right over Hokkaido, my old stomping ground in Japan and then over the East Sea and into Seoul, Korea... Airport austere, slanty architecture, generic shops no advertising on any walls. Sort of like a fancy barricade. The floors are wooden and well polished. Sophisticated in a down played way. As I trolley ed my way through the airport with a few hours to spare I was asked to join a group of intent painters. Free cultural activity... I finished painting a small 'Dancheong' plaque in 'traditional Korean color scheme' wat they use on buildings. So neat, this rather meditative and calming exercise right here in the airport!

It was a busy few days in Vancouver. Arran was very helpful with my last minute arrangements, especially closing and securing my backpacks and my "Bonnie Bag" with clothes, toys, etc. for kids in the Kathmandu orphanage.

Tiredness begins to seep into bones; it is 4:20 a.m. Vancouver time!

Thanks for your various notes of encouragement. hugs, Dyane

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Taking off soon to Seoul

One more hour to go! Sitting here at the Vancouver airport, beside gate 64. Arran helped me close and lock my backpack, "Bonnie Bag" or bag of clothes and games for children in Kathman and my handluggage. Newness and adventures await me. I would like to share with you too a lovely poem by Irish writer and poet John O'Donoghue:

A BLESSING FOR THE TRAVELLER

Every time you leave home, another road takes you into a world you
were never in, New strangers on other paths await.
New places that have never seen you, will startle a little at your entry.
Old places that knew you well will pretend nothing changed since your last visit.

When you travel you find yourself alone in a different way,
more attentive now to the self you bring along.
Your more subtle eye watching you abroad; and how what meets you
Touches that part of the heart that lies low at home:

How you unexpectedly attune to the timbre in some voice,
Opening a conversation you want to take in to where your longing
Has pressed hard enough inward, on some unsaid dark, to create a crystal insight,
You could not have known you needed to illuminate your way.

When you travel, new silence goes with you,
And if you listen you will hear what your heart would love to say:
A journey can become a sacred thing.
Make sure before you go, to take the time to bless your going forth.
To free your heart of ballast so that the compass of your soul may direct you
Towards the territories of spirit where you will discover more of your
hidden life;

May you travel in an awakened way, gathered wisely into your inner ground;
That you may not waste the invitations which wait along the way to transform you.
May you travel safely, arrive refreshed And live your time away to its fullest;
Return home more enriched and free to balance the gift of days which call
you.
By John O'Donohue

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Two more sleeps left

If you want to follow my steps, inspirations and feelings during the next four months please open my blog. You can just read and if you want to write me just e-mail me. Its more personal.
BLOG ADDRESS: http://dyanegoingsolo@blogspot.com Please save it into your bookmarks.


If you want to know more about the Annapurna Circuit trek itself try going to
http://lonelyplanet.worldexpeditions.net/lpau/index.php?#tabTripNotes




**************
It was wonderful to see some of you yesterday in Vancouver at the sleezy Biltmore Hotel bar!! Thank you for coming to visit with me (Arran and Teresa) for a short time. If you could not make it, I am sorry to have missed you this time around and we will meet up 'after it's over' this August. I know you found the short dvds interesting on the wonderful work of Bonnie and Fred and Child Haven International Thank you again, you have no idea how you revived my rather weary planning spirits as you peppered me with questions, comments, support, chocolates and beer .... now, two more sleeps to go, and, I am READY!

If you left a lovely cashmire scarf at the bar please give me a call! Otherwise I might well bring it along with me on my Annapurna trek!

Karen, your ikebana flower arranging yesterday was beautiful! MMMhhh! thank you for delicious dinners Joan, Louise, also Sue. Sue, last nigh's sleepover in your place was sooh comfy and the walk this morning was refreshing as we walked with Gypsy along sodden paths lined with baby-fresh ravishing leaves and fully flowering magnolia bushes.

Arran and I have just attended a Unitarian service and they were talking about empowered women ... hey, gals, that's us! empowerment to all!

Soon Arran, Teresa, two dogs and I are off to see Glenys and Galloway in West Vancouver. He is downstairs right now finalizing a deal to sell yet another of his buy-and-fixup- Honda cars for $5,000.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

freaking out a bit in Vancouver


a bit freaking out! things on table and on floor.... off to get ziplock bage for order in backpacks... going to an ikebana flower show this afternoon and then meeting friends in Biltmore from 4 - 7! Deep breaths! positive thinking!!! hugs, d

Friday, March 26, 2010

Contact info. in Nepal


This is a picture of Rosemary and me with an ardent group of Toronto Unitarian "doo bee doo" afgan quilt assemblers. Taken the day after I left To. for Vancouver.

Three more sleeps left untilo I leave for Nepal!!

Mailing address is:
CHILD HAVEN INTERNATIONAL CANADA
PO BOX 9676, Kathmandu, Nepal
Child Haven Telephone: 011-977-1-4485-805
e-mail dyane.lynch@gmail.com or
childhaven@wlink.com.np

Emergency:
Arjun's home: 011-977-1-4461030
Arjun's cell: 977-985 1086372

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Vancouver and To Do list ...

It's Thursday now, I think! I have been to the doctor, got visa pics. done, visited a friend in UBC. Then walked to the bank and talked about monetry and morgage things there, then on to down town to apply for a tourist Visa. You need one for India, even though I will only be there a few days en route back to Canada. But this visa is good for 6 months. Then on to get the last set of shots in arm. Finally home here with Gracie the cat. It is rainy and sort of cold so have the fire on. Trying to decide whether to have a rest or check out the hotel foyer and bar where I plan to meet up with friends on Saturday.... Then I have to do a complex Income Tax return with H n R!! oh the joys of planning! then I would love to have a nice dinner ready for Arran ....
I hope that this finds YOU in great form! hugs, Dyane-in-transition

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Vancouver and Arran

Arrived in Vancouver this afternoon (March 24) after a great 3 days with Rosemary, Matthew and the Woods gang. Great to spend a little time with the tiny ones and relax with the bigger ones. Joined Rosemary's Doo Bee Doo Bee Doo Unitarian group and helped put together knitted squares for an afgan. R and I went for two walks in the ravines. Great to see Ann, Linda and Poppet.

Flight smooth, beautiful day. Finished a book. Arran met me and made dinner for me. Sorting my stuff out .... spread out all over the floor.

Now the flurry of things to do during the next few days. Tomorrow it is doctor, immunization booster, visa office, dentist, Income Tax .. only three more business days to go!!

hugs, Dyane

Child Haven International ~ wanna help?

Please contribute too! to
CHILDHAVEN INTERNATIONAL
REGISTERED CHARITY
BN #: 118851922RR0001

About a year ago I told my sister Rosemary that, high up on my bucket list, was my desire to volunteer in India. She told me a little about Child Haven International and the extraordinary work of Bonnie and Fred Cappuccino in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Tibet. I was intrigued. Being retired and doing some part time ESL teaching in Alberta I was looking for some deeper meaning in my life. I searched the web for Child Haven International ~ www.childhaven.ca ~ I was captivated!

Child Haven International was founded in 1985. Inspired and motivated by the ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, Child Haven has five orphanages or homes in India, one in Nepal, one in Bangladesh and one in Tibet. Each home accepts children who are disabled, parentless, destitute, or from socially disadvantaged living situations. The staff at Child Haven assists children and women who are in need of food, education, health care, shelter and clothing, emotional and moral support.

This was it! This was the opportunity that I was looking for!
I have just returned from a two day (March 19-March 20) Child Haven Orientation session in Maxwell, Ontario. Bonnie and Fred have taken me on board! I will be sharing my energies and skills with Nepalese children and women in the Khatmandu orphanage starting May 1 this year. I will be in this home for three months, until the end of July.

How exciting is that?! I am currently preparing for a life altering experience. I can hardly wait to start!

Meantime, please join me in supporting the valuable work of Bonnie, Fred and the Child Haven staff. I want you to know that every penny donated goes directly to Child Haven International and I am responsible for my travel and living expenses when affiliated with this cause.

Please make your cheque, payable to Childhaven International and give/ mail to my sister, Rosemary, and she will direct all proceeds to the Child Haven International office in Ottawa.

Child Haven will issue you an official tax receipt.

Rosemary Wood
390 Cummer Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M2M 2G2
Telephone: (416) 223-8258
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

En route to Toronto

Thinking of you, Colin as I travel the Via train!

I feel a refreshing new age luxury and privilege as write my Blogspot and listen to Enya and Itunes classics on the train! And I disturb noone! A sweet young woman is sitting reading beside me. I am in my own world as I glance over to the very red and beautiful setting sun on my right hand side.

It is a bleak day outside with an overcast sky. Thin skeleton trees stand stark against the darkening sky. Clumpy bushes and occasional ponds higgleypiggedly lineour route.

I left Ottawa Bonnie and Fred Cappiccino at the Ottawa train station at 5 pm today and am now heading for Rosemary and Matthew in Toronto. I look forward to seeing my sister and sharing our nightcap before retiring.

Yes, my journeying and adventuring has begun! there is no turning back!! I am leaving Ottawa and travelling west now, first stop today in Toronto, second stop, Wednesday, in Vancouver and my final destination of course is in Kathmandu, Nepal!

I remember travelling by train from Mission to UBC (2 1/2 hours each way) ...
I remember travelling by train from Tomakomai to Muroran, Kita Horoshima and Sappora ...

So many memories ...

I wonder if this will save and publish ...
on the Via train to Toronto.
peace, Dyane

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Step Two Ottawa ~ Child Haven projects orientation

ok! the two day orientation is over! It was very informative and fun. The meetings were held in Fred and Bonnie Cappuchini's huge old house in Maxwell, near Ottawa. This house is where they brought up 21 children, 19 adoptees and two of them are their own.

You can get lost here at the CH Maxwell home, just looking about! Huge office cum board room, huge kitchen where delicious meals surfaced, regularly, and a huge living room with Buddhist, Hindi and other figurines tastefully placed and/or hung. Nostalgic photos of many groups or gatherings of happy healthy children. Look around at interesting pictures, prints and other works of art that cover the walls and stairwys. The windows look out to a rather winter-bleak but bright robin sound exterior. Theirs is a large property. Four or six of us took two walks these past two days to clear our challenged minds.

There are books everywhere! such interesting topics and stories ranging from Ghandi's story and life work to Nora Roberts novels. There are facts and myth in these books reaching from many evolved minds from the west stretching eastwards to unite somehow with India, Tibet and Nepal. Bonnie and Fred have founded their eight Child Haven projects, and their lives, on Ghandian philosophy.

By the time the two days were over I think most of our questions and concerns were addressed. The meeting started yesterday at 2 pm and finished today, Saturday, around 3 pm. We were well informed on facts and figures by Fred and his right arm assistant Steve. This was followed by inspirational talks and dvds presented by distinguished guests. Today four young men, former CH interns who worked in Nepal spoke about theri personal involvement with this Ghandi-inspired operation of Child Haven.

Eight came to this orientation. Eight 'interns' or wanna be volunteers who wanted to know about the Child Haven projects. There is only one, ME, who has decided to take off really soon for one of the Child Haven orphanages (Kathmandu)!

There is a CH orphanage-home in Kathmandu (in Nepal); Ghaziabad (in New Delhi, North India); Gandhinagar and Ahmedebad (in NW India) and Savarsi (south of Mumbai or Bombay. There is another project in Hyderabad, (central India) and in Kaliampoondi (near Chennai or Madras in SE India, where Nazyia, Arran and my sponsor child lives).

Tomorrow morning I am going to attend the Unitarian church service in Ottawa with Bonnie and Fred and then in the afternoon will take the train to Toronto to spend a couple of days with Rosemary and her gang. This is Step Three towards my adventures in Nepal!

Dyane

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Step One, off to Ottawa!

This is a copy of a note I wrote to my friend to show you where my
head was at until NOW!
**
I await my flight in over an hour to Ottawa! I am soooh glad to be
here, as the last few days have been amazingly hectic, finishing off
with a great ESL class, a little pary (you may see pics on Facebook)
and stayed with a lovely couple friend. Meantime, I almost got two
tickets within 2 hours for not wearing a seat belt. They ONLY (!)
charged me for one .... $115.00 or so!! Missed a lunch appointment in
Banff, thinking we were meeting one hour ahead. Spent ages looking
for my cell phone which was under my car seat.... Did manage to walk
Robyn's little dog before leaving... Anyways, its all history now.
Here I am with my back pack and hand luggage and a good book (The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, thanks Lynn!)

All the other STUFF and things are way over the other side of the mountain range I see from the a/p window.

Yesterday's class actually was the highlight of the last couple of days!!
Cheers, and here I fly! Love y'awl
p.s. I think you have to sign up on a Google Account if you want to comment here ... ask Wilma, the Moonshadow person on this blog, she seems to have mastered this.. Right now I want to get back to my book.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Count Down time

.... Just a few more days left until I take off for my Child Haven orientation in Ottawa. I leave from Vancouver on March 30 for Nepal and will first go trekking around the Annapurna Circuit and then spend three more months volunteering for Child Haven.

Keep posted! I am not sure if this will work.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

This is a pic showing a group of empowered Canmore, AB, women writers. We are now great friends! It was March 9, the last day of Wilma's 6 week writing workshop. We gathered together to share stories. This was the day that I became 'unblocked'! at last! After months of procrastination as a wannabe writer in the Canadian Rockies, I have written something!

Here is my contribution for the evening "Dyane Going Solo ~ Story number 1" It is a little adventure I had in Hawaii in October, 1983.

Read on!
Dyane

Going Solo, Story Number One!

Hans said he would paddle alongside me on my solo training warm up swim. Eight of us triathletes had been sponsored by the Government of Alberta to participate in the October ’83 Ironman in the exotic island of Hawaii. It was two days before the race and I had little time to acclimitize to the conditions of the island to be ready for this trifold personal challenge. Hans’ wide smile and wave and in my direction tossed his encouragement in my direction as he sauntered over to rent a row boat.

Little did I know that rental boats are not permitted, any afternoon, between the hours of 3 and 6.

Feeling warm and strong, I tip toed into the warm and inviting waters of the Pacific Ocean. I needed to gear my resolve for stage one of Sunday’s Ironman ~ the 2.2 mile swim. I chose to go on this short solo journey to acquaint myself with any idiosyncracies of this ocean. It was important to feel comfortable in these unknown waters . I wanted to introduce my body and mind to the depths, temperatures and any creatures I might encounter during the length and breadth of this wet course.

I looked out to sea and planned my training route. “Yes”! I had decided my destination. I would swim towards a small pleasure boat anchored about one kilometer in front of me.

Blithely happy I stepped into the ocean my focus on this happy little boat bobbing up and down. I didn't look back. I knew Hans would be rowing alongside me soon. I felt surges of gratitude and excitement. I felt so free, so empowered.



I felt the water cover my body as I stretched my body lengthwise, my fingers pointing towards my goal. I took my time as I breast stroked and side stroked in the general direction of the little bobbing boat. From time to time I would pause and perform a leisurely 360o body roll or jackknife and reach down to the ocean floor and swim a few strokes. Oh! It felt good to explore the unknown depths. All my tensions seemed to melt into the watery element. My body felt strong and empowered as I linked my energies with those of the Pacific Ocean.

The sun felt warm on my face as I swam towards the happy bobbing boat. I became at one with my short journey and I allowed my mind to wander a while. My concerns were in Ireland. I thought about my sick Father at home in Ireland. I said a prayer for him and renewed my resolve to dedicate my ‘Ironman race’ energies solely to him. I thought of my Mother who was bravely taking care of my Dad. Mum had been battling her depressions for years. I wondered about her new fear. Life is complicated and unpredictable and sometimes …. “enough for now”! I changed my breast stroke to a newly empowered front crawl. I felt the wonderful power of Now! A fresh feeling of gratitude surged from my heart as I realized the importance of my decision to go home after the race, to take care of my parents. Before coming to Hawaii I had left my job at the Banff Centre.

I was quite close to my turn around point, the happy bobbing boat. Little waves which had not been there before had begun to break gently over my head. On noticing this changing environment I calmly switched my swimming strategy. Relaxed and still enjoying my training swim I thought to myself “ this is different than swimming in the Banff Springs pool!!

The waves, which were at first small cute white caps, soon changed to be wirier and strong and deliberate. They came at me, on me, in me, from all sides. They were like relentless little terrier dogs, never giving me a moment’s peace. I tried different front strokes and side strokes. Then I rolled over and attempted ‘life saving’ back strokes. I turned my head to the left then to the right. I was attempting to somehow align myself with my now chaotic surrounds. The salty seawater continued to slither into my mouth, down my throat and pour into my nose and ears.

I have since learned that the natives of Hawaii know about these afternoon easterly Pacific winds. These winds affect currents and the ways of the ocean. These winds are responsible for the watery metamorphosis. I looked around for Hans in his rowboat. All I saw was the friendly bobbing boat, happily riding the waves.

I began to lose strength in my arms and legs. I lost my swimming breath. I had to constantly cough and blow out salty water; this was immediately replaced with more. My mouth, nose and eyes were in a world of their own. I realized that I was now in a life threatening situation. A switch or a button had challenged my now chaotic and frightened mind. The most dreaded fear is fear itself. This unwelcomed companion introduced itself to me. What a situation! I prayed fervently for calm and wisdom.

I looked over to my left. The waves there were more surf like, smooth, strong, welcoming. Each of these parent type waves reached upwards, each like a huge Rocky Mountain bear, and then retreated backards and paused awhile to gain momentum and then directed its energy towards the welcoming beach.

I knew that this was my answer! I chopped my way through the maddening whitecap waves. After a few more moments of prayer and newly focused energies I made it over to the first smooth bear like surf wave. “Thank God! I made it!” After another short coughing spell I faced the shore in readiness. With a certain humility I looked behind me to gauge when to dive forward and go deep under the oncoming surf. Sure enough, the deep energies of the oncoming wave swept me closer to the beach. Newly empowered I repeated this performance twice more.

The last wave deposited me gently onto a coral reef! With no warning I found myself atop a coral reef! Here I was stumbling about in ankle deep water! My sense of humour once again came to the fore. I felt like laughing. It felt silly to be hopping about like this when, minutes earlier I had been battling my life, subjected to the forces of Neptune. At first I ignored a painful jab in my left foot as I hopped, half swam, jogged back through the friendly shallow waters to the safety of the sandy beach.

Safely on the beach the pain in my foot begun to take my full attention. I knew that I had to get rid of the piece of coral that had sunk into my heel. It is well known that a crustacian can dissolve itself lethally into the blood stream.

The beach I had just landed on was deserted except for a young man. Not knowing what to do with my coral dilemma I enquired of the young man “should I somehow cut this coral out of my foot?” The young man calmly advised me “I suggest you go behind the palm trees and urinate on the affected area”.

I did exactly that! As I crouched in the bushes tending to my foot I mused on the mosaic of life. I thought about my Father and Mother, I thought about the job I had just left. I wondered about the Ironman on Sunday and how it would be living in Ireland again. Most of all I reflected with a new respect upon those cheeky but lethal waves and currents. I looked down and said goodbye to the crustacian now dissolving in my heel. I cursed under my breath " Where the heck did Hans get to"!

Bagel Company



I cant believe it, in the middle of my chaotic planning to go to Nepal, here I am, sitting with Wilma, in the Canmore Bagel Company. She is helping me set up my new blog.