Having just returned from an amazing adventure in Australia a few things came up.  It’s a country, yes.  It’s a HUGE country with a coast all around it.  North, South, East and West.  Even diagonally there is a coast.  The majority of the population live along the coasts with less living in the desert regions of the country.  So it’s a country that’s also it’s own continent.  It sits out there all by itself in the middle of the ocean like a really big island.  Leading me to my next statement.  Yes, by all definition it also counts as an island.  It’s surrounded completely by water…hmmm.  Well all that aside it’s an amazing place.  The contrasts from the North to the South are not too extreme, but there is also the fact that in the North they are closer to the equator.  So yes, it’s warmer in the north and cooler in the south.  In fact it’s pretty much opposite from America even in the seasons.  As we approach winter they are approaching summer and lots’ of heat.  I ca definitely see the appeal of following the sun around the planet.  If you plan it just right, and stay in southern Cal, you can pretty much spend summer here and then summer there.  It’s tempting as I am a native of southern Cal and love this weather.

I can also see why you meet so many Aussies here, and in Hawaii of course.  They are pretty much like us.  I found Australia to be very Americanized.  The differences are basically the accent, which I was told the difference is the we pronounce our very vowels slowly.  They are in a hurry all the time, speaking fast and the driving thing.  They drive on the other side of the road and of course the other side of the car.  Fun and challenging.

They also like Yoga, yay!!  All along the trip, which was about 2 weeks and very full, I took Yoga classes.  I find that their classes tend to be a bit more traditional.  With Ashtanga and Iyengar being the main styles.  I guess being closer to India can have it’s advantages.  In comparison I guess the “California style” yoga tends to be a bit more free form or free flowing.  In any event, I love Yoga!!!  So I’m happy either way to take a class and learn something new.

I love traveling.  It makes me appreciate all that I have, all that I am able to experience and all that is yet to come.  I can’t wait until the next trip.  Next time…New Zealand!

I just returned from a vacation in sunny Puerto Rico.  It is a beautiful island, and if you’ve never been it’s part of the Caribbean.  Funny thing about Puerto Rico is there are many differing opinions on what it is.  If you go to Wikipedia it says it’s a Free Associated State.  What?? OK, basically what I was told by people that live there.  “Americans” and PRIcans is that it is associated with the U.S. It has a long history with that good old Christopher Columbus as well as Ponce De Leon. It was discovered, conquered, and then let be.  What?? Again, confusing in how does it relate to the U.S. Here’s the very abbreviated version.  Puerto Rico has it’s own flag, kids are taught English as a second language in schools…Spanish being first (or Spanglish), they do not have to pay federal taxes because they are not technically a state, remember we have 50 states, not 51.  They can vote in the Primary election for president but not the “real” election.  They get many of the benefits we have, they make almost all our pharmaceuticals, and they can claim Ricky Martin, and Benicio Del Toro (love him), Rita Moreno, Marc Anthony, J Lo…and on and on.

Still confused? Hope this helps…you do not need a passport.  Well that’s what they tell the tourists.  And there are a lot of tourists.  In the two weeks I was there I was able to see much of the island, with the exception of the Island of Culebra (a must see) and the Bio luminescent Bay (another big attraction).  There are historical places such as Old San Juan with it’s amazing forts that make you feel as though you stepped back in time.  These forts border the city and gives spectacular views.  Breathtaking actually, I tend to be a bit fearful of heights, with views of the city and of the Island of Bacardi…yes the rum factory is right there.  The only thing really disturbing this beautiful town is the presence of massive cruise ships.  This is a main port and tourist attraction of the Caribbean.  These ships are massive and tend to block much of the city’s quaint cobblestone streets and old buildings.  All in all there is a lot of history and fun people watching.

Another part of the island I visited is on the West Coast town of Rincon.  Yes, just like our Rincon just south of Carpenteria.  While in Puerto Rico I was able to brush up on my Spanish and was elated to be tested even just ordering coffee.  Not so in Rincon.  I don’t think anyone spoke Spanish at all.  I was told it’s a place where the Ex-Pats go to stay forever. (But wait are they ex-pats?)  It is a huge surf town with Maria’s being the place to be, with Steps being the place for scuba diving and everywhere else for those of of who like Sandy Bottom beaches.  It reminded me a lot of how Hawaii was 10 years ago when I was living there.  People fall in love with the idea of making their permanent home there and then realize there’s not much else going on.  Been there, done that.  Me, I like a city as long as there is a beach nearby.  I can always leave if it get’s to be to much.

Needless to say on this last minute vacation I met some amazing people, found a great yoga community headed by a David Kyle of “It’s Yoga, Peurto Rico”, met a great family from Kansas City, KS who made me wish I was a part of their family, swam in warm water, read a lot, ate even more…lots of fried food, yum!, and was able to relax.  This relaxing on vacation is a new concept to me and I found I was able to enjoy it fully and completely.  I will definitely be going back this time with a visit to the outer islands Viejas and Culebra.

Viva La Vida!!!