Hello, Namaste!

I'm here! I live in a house (which is discussed in blog #1) with Chef Simone. We're working on a few excellent projects. We're developing the interior sculptural layout of a Bar in town, as well as an exterior terrace restaurant. We're also developing a networking platform to promote the synergistic qualities among different fields, developing retreats to promote this synergy, and contacting ambassadors to write on their fields of expertise. We also dance, adventure, and play with the downstairs neighbor's dogs. Life is good, and India is an easy place to visit and stay. Cheap, friendly, and beautiful. They say "India Changes people! You may hate it, you may love it - but you'll never forget it..." Come visit! (Or at least visit my on my blog!)

Pictures! As promised!

I know I promised some Pics of the new digs... so I'm here to deliver on that promise:

So, this is the View from my Balcony... Those are Mountains coverd in snow - not clouds...well, a few are clouds, but most of the white stuff is snow peaked mountains...

This is my bed.. Some of you may recognize that fabulous flowery sheet as the one I took from Grandma Hoovler's house.. :)

This is my Favorite Part... it's my new "studio" - aka: a desk. But the desk fits the handmade indian papers perfectly, and I have a little stool to hold my paints. You can see the painting I've been working on on the table...

This is the Kitchen, which, admittedly, I don't use much. I cut my carrots and keep my snacks here, but mostly I am eating with the family in their kitchen and at simone's for lunch.

Also: A Yak!!

Finally, here is an image of the painting I just completed for my Friend in the States..

Yey!

Okay - just pictures today (I know that's what you all like best anyways..)

Be well! I'm off to Delhi for a Wedding, then to Jaipur & Agra for some good ol' fashioned tourism.

Love, love!

Zoe

The Power of the Mountains.

I've lived in the plains most of my life. Long, flat, open fields of golden corn or fluffy soybean plants. I have grown accustomed to the sounds and sights and feelings of spaces like these. It's no surprise that living in the mountains of India has it's differences, sometimes I'm just surprised by the ones that effect me.

Living in flat indiana, man has a dominant feature over the land. We cultivate it, roam it, can see it all, stand atop of it all, and in many ways 'direct' the land of its behavior. We cannot control the weather, but we can control the land.

Here, things are Different. I can only see so far as the land allows me to see - which is, in all honesty, not very far. I live humbly in the shadows of giants: Mountains that are only step stools to the mammoth beasts that lie beyond their tips. They control when day begins and ends. The mountains control where you walk, and how fast - their rises and rocks impeding or making impossible certain paths I otherwise would love to walk. The rocky lumps direct the waterflow, the practice of business, the availability of heat and Food. Even farmers, of which there are many, are forced to work around the land, rather than upon it and with it.

It's been a rainy, rainy few days. Hasn't stopped raining, and doesn't look likely to stop soon. Every burst of thunder rolls around the mountains, bouncing off of walls and resonating in such a compounded way, I hardly recognize it as thunder. I've woken up, not a few times, thinking some thunder was a rock-slide and the lightening was my final light.

It's a whole different land here. I am sure, for some of you who have lived in mountains, this is no big discovery. For me, however, raised in the tamed and refined farmlands of Indiana - it's a new thing to learn: how to be in deference, in humility, with every waking step, and every sleeping breath. I am learning how to bow my head to a strength greater than I understand, larger than I am capable of conceiving. Thunder will not bring rock slides. The mountains are much stronger than that.

Ah, a small peek of sunshine. With any luck, it'll come and fill up the day. I've had enough of the rain. Makes it difficult to hike around & do the things I love to do.

Love to you all, on this Rainy Himalayan Morning.

Back in India!

Hi! I'm back in India! I've moved from my old house in Manali to a new spot over in Vashist (which I've finally learned to spell!). Pictures forthcoming. I'm living with a lovley family who owns a guest house (a really nice one) and is having me stay in the guest house, while teaching some English. Overall the move has been good. I have more privacy, more direct interaction with the village culture, more direct access to the hot spring baths (essential for winter) and - much better access to weddings!

It's been busy here! There have been 6 weddings in the last 2 days. It also snowed - and I couldnt go anywhere... we lost power, I hiked around 5 hours, and have been painting and avidly reading "The Icarus Agenda" - a departure read courtesy of Dan. Visiting friends and working on the network, as well as teaching English everynight is making for a very busy Zo! (plus at least 2 hot spring baths a day).

Manali is about a 1:15 hike from Vashist. It's a good workout and a nice enough path. I go over the rivers and through the woods - and it's pretty lovely. Pictures of the views and the snowfall are also forthcoming. The only real drawback to my new location is the internet/power situation. Vashist is not nearly as modern of a village as manali, and power outages occur often. Also, we do not have internet in the guest house - making it tricky to keep up with the family - since the internet cafe's don't open til midday. A challenge I'm working on conquering.

So - this post was a little.. scatterbrained - but forgiveme! I've flown around the world, bused up to the mountains, moved houses, conquered a non-existant but none-the-less frightening pseudo-blood-clot, gotten snowed in & out .... so I'm finally catching up with myself! Plus, I'm becoming non-coherant after the 6 course dinner for the wedding tonight - woah!

So off I go - hope you are all well!
Love to all of you. The sun has set over the mountains here, pink and purple in the sky - catching just the tops of the snowcrested peaks... I trust it's rising over there, pink and purple - catching you all from your sleep.
Be well, and know my love is with you.
Zo

Zoe Live

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A blog for all the wonderful travels and adventures I'm having. Documenting incredible people, places, and experiences in an effort to share the wealth of richness that is here in India with the rest of the world!

Hello, Namaste!

Pictures! As promised!

The Power of the Mountains.

Back in India!

Zoe Live

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