A glimpse of Paradise

Thailand was a glimpse of Paradise.

At least if anyone had told me that in one country you could:

- Have frequent very cheap massage on the beach or any urban corner, but not any massage: Thai Massage, the best I've ever tried. In group, in couble, anyway! Full body, feet, reflexology, oil, etc!

- Eat the best and freshest fruit and 'fruit encounters' ever in every corner of the country, even in the boat, even in the water!

- Have any wish, the weirdest? Be sure of it: Bangkok has it.

- See monkeys, elephants, sharks and snakes.

- Experience an amazingly metropolitan capital, with sky-scratchers and beautiful urban views.

- Eat very cheap and good street food, including the unforgettable banana pancakes.

- Travel easily because - the tourism being the base of their economy - everything is thought of before you wish for it.

- Meet a clean neaty organized environment everywhere.

- Eat very good Thai food in almost every restaurant.

- Have three-wheelers (rickshaws, that they call tuk-tuks there), motor-bikes, side-cars, tri-cycles and cars working as taxis (5 options: not bad, uh?).

- Have sexuality being accepted to such a point that transvestis are not only very well accepted as also very respected in the society, and profuse.

- See sunrises and sunsets from the best locations.

- Walk dark beaches after midnight.

- Visit islands in the north and in the south.

- Party on the beach.

- Buy cheap cool clothes in cool roads.

- Meet all sorts of sandy rocky wavy still-water cristaline dark-watered beaches.

- Do or experience anything out of the ordinary you may ever have wanted to: if you thought of it, it is there, you can do it in Thailand.

- Travel comfortably in an already welcoming colourful smooth Thai flight.

- Walk the roads bear-feet.

- See the most paradisiac things ever:

- from pirate treasure beach discovered after swimming under a pitch dark cave... to snorkelling just to swim together with an amazingly diverse underwater world.

- from the thinest smoothiest whitest sand... to the clearest most cristaline most turquois or transparent ocean waters... to the sweetest coconuts under their trees.

- from watching gigantic ocean stones... to having your boat touch dreamlands of palm-trees and beach.

- from the amazing waterfall site... to having its litters of salty water dropping heavily on your shoulders.

- From feeling like you're sailing the fancy boat with your singing in the front... to having the strong ocean splashes on your face when travelling in a fisherman boat that caught a big current.

- From dancing the maddest ever with hardly any clothes on, on the beach, feet on the sand and the sea, temperature: high, in 2 very important nights: christmas, new years eve... to having some of the most special people in your life by your side all the time.

- From watching golden Reclining Budha... to attending the simple rituals of the budhist spiritual commons.

- From the smiles of all the people... to the life in the floating market, where you watch and buy everything from canoes...

: ... if they told me this and the more I'm not able to tell you all, I'd definitelly say this is what salvation dreams should be all about. :)

Working as a Volunteer

As this part of the amazing journey comes to an end [today], I want to explain to you all briefly what I have been doing as a Volunteer Project Manager for Lalita Shivaram Ubhayaker Foundation for the Arts, where I was very happy:

Ashvasan Foundation (senior citizen welfare) - http://www.ashvasan.org/

• Conception and management of innovative projects; • Fund-raising; • Reporting, optimization and participation in current projects; • Update and management of website and newsletter.

Smriti-Nandan Cultural Centre (art & culture centre and auditorium) - http://www.smritinandan.org/

• Event conception and management; • Communication design and management; • Technical assistance for programming.

22nd Devnandan Ubhayaker Young Music Festival - http://www.smritinandan.org/dusu.html

• Communication design and management; • Merchandising and media management; • Backstage assistance.

Check some pictures below. :)

I am leaving to Thailand today.
I am wishing all of you a lot of peace, faith, tolerance, health, love, ineer and outer discovery, realization, happiness, positive thinking and worthy investment in 2009.

Latest news from the heart

MY CHOICE!

My Choice! has been a life-time experience. Actually building something from scratch especially a social responsible initiative is a great feeling, sharing it with people you love and admire even greater. But then seing the happiness in the children, the actual impact you had on their awareness, the ammount of lives that you touched, the social momentum that you created together with friends just because you'll believed, faught and dedicated... is something out of this world.

Right now we're preparing winning children's trips and the passing of the contents for a company who wants to take our project all over India to as many schools as possible. How incredible is that?

CONCLUSION from 6 months of VOLUNTEER work with Seniors, Art & Culture and Children: IT IS VERY SIMPLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU GENUINELY WANT. It's not a matter of time, but of commitment and belief.

DANCE

Getting back to dancing and teaching was great. I rediscovered my passion for teaching, while the passion for dance was never forgotten. I had decided to leave that part of my professional life aside during this experience, but I guess when you really love something and when that thing and those partaking in it love You in It, it just chases you wherever you go. And that is good. Because WHEN DANCING THAT'S WHEN I FEEL MORE MYSELF.

* By the way: should there be something like I and MYSELF? I am working on this sense of oneness with myself and with all that is.

COUNT-DOWN

The feeling of count-down is in me as my internship is about to finish, my dance classes, my immersion in My Choice!, my basing in Bangalore and with my best friends and myself leaving.

With my Thailand trip coming, meeting Johan in 10 days, Christmas away from family, packing having started, spiritual and natural experiences ahead of me, antecipation of separation from the daily sharing with my new Indian family, strong decisions to be made in face of India's unstable situation, more and more trips being planned and an increasing feeling of SENSE IN LIFE, I am nostalgic about what's about to end but also excited about the new stage about to start.

I am sure to be in the right path and happy to have my parents' support, as always, in whatever I decide. I love you, mãe and pai, for that and for all.

After Mumbai Attacks

AFTER MUMBAI ATTACKS

... shock, sadness, revolt agains those responsible and those in charge...

AND THE LIFE OF THE COUNTRY, AND MINE... CHANGING.

I was going to teach for the biggest Festival here - Bangalore Habba (check the last line of the poster above). It just got cancelled.

THIS WAS THEIR LETTER to the artists:

At the outset, on behalf of the Artistes' Foundation for the Arts (AFFA), we would like to thank you for your support towards Bengaluru Habba.

The Government of Karnataka – the prime stakeholder of the property - has taken a decision in the cabinet to postpone the event due to security reasons. As the Bengaluru Habba is spread over numerous venues and public spaces over a span of 18 days, with a potential audience of over 7 lakh people, we felt that our prime responsibility was to ensure the safety of our audiences.

AFFA, Airtel and the Government of Karnataka have thus decided to unanimously postpone the Bengaluru Habba. We will let you know the probable dates and schedule of events soon.

We hope that you would understand the situation and that we look forward to associating with you in the years to come. Please accept our humblest apologies for any inconvenience caused to you.

Thank you.

Is it really like that there? - Pedro asks

Is it really like that there? - Pedro asks
Yes. Everyday. Everywhere.
Driving and Traffic in India:

Findings

In such little time, I feel an unexplainable bond with the Ubhayakers. I feel as part of the family and I feel a deep respect and privilege, happiness and security but most of all a tremendous blessing for being embraced among them, share their life stories, learn from their wisdom and be inspired daily by such honourable, accomplished, socially active, warm-hearted, forward-thinking human beings whom I will forever take as role-models in so many senses of my life. I am greatful forever to Life and Mrs. Lalita for this opportunity that made me grow so much especially on a personal level, and I reinforce my sense that nothing comes coincidentally, and certainly not this experience, and also that some bonds are cosmic and independent from age, race, religion, upbringing, information... I shall honour my new revered God-Mother and the moments we lived and will live together.

......

I went to Goa last month.

More than a Portuguese heritage hunt, it was a beach life trip where friendships were reinforced and the wonders and baths of Nature striked all of us.

Together: Raquel, Maria, António and Afonso from Portugal, Mariana, André, Ricardo and Evandro from Brazil, Pauline and Anne-Sophie from France, Ahmed from Egipt and Nataly from Colombia.

The best-kept memories are: that of a sunset at Vagatore beach, where the forest meets the beach, the rain met the farewell of the sun and gifted us with two simultaneous rainbows, rocks were climbed with the help of Andre to see the dawn from "the middle of the ocean" while all the friends watched it from the water (I did it the following day); and still that of ridding a scooter for the first time; dancing my spirit out at Mambo's; savouring fish and portuguese influenced savouries still with sandy feet; and shopping for clothes at the locals' tents. These and still some more of love, sharing and new experiences with every day more brother-alike friends.


Also last month: travelled back to Pondicherry as Auroville needed to be revisited.

Out of that trip with André, Mariana, Evandro, Ricardo, Pauline, Neeraj from India and Svetla from Bulgary... I took the great luxurious relaxed beach life at Mahabalipuram, the comfort of travelling in private or rented vehicle with a driver, the apparent easy-living at Pondi - that coastal city colonized by the french, sharing care and love with my best friends here, meeting Kurt in Sri Aurobindo's Ashram in a totally sinchronized non-coincidental happening, but mostly the certainty that I'll go back to Auroville to live the concept and the truth - check http://www.auroville.org/. This time I had the privilege of going inside the Matrimandir and meditate for 15 minutes in the most profound silence in 25 years of existence in a white room enlighted by a cristal. Some truths reveal, the atmosphere and intents, I totally identify with them >> have to get back. Will in the beggining of 2009.

Still Blessed… Just check this week’s news

Tuesday, 4.Nov.08
Ø Started working with the biggest Salsa Company in Bangalore – Lourd Vijay Dance Studio (http://www.lvds.in/)- with African workshop for the dancers 8 a.m to 9.30 – even though the sound system didn’t work, it was a success to be continued the following 3 mornings. This day: general Hip and Arm Work with Tribal sound, Batuko, Kolá San Jon and Mazurca.
Ø Attended Satsang – Hour of Good, the Spiritual session I frequent at my centre on a weekly basis. We are reading “The Power of Now”, by Eckhart Tolle. Probably the book that will provoke the second spiritual turning point in my life (the first was “Celestine Prophecy”, by James Redfield, many years ago). Kurt and André, my friends from My Choice! project were there too.
Ø Mrs. Lalita’s niece was helding a private classical indian music concert in her hall/ living-room. We were invited to join and sat on the carpet watching this transe-inspiring voice singing a classical recital. I felt that I got out of this world and came back: the emotion and vibration of the singing, tabla, harmonium and tampura together made that one of the most emotioned musical moments of my life. In the end Mrs. Lalita cried looking at me, as she hugged me saying: “the way you were feeling the music, my God!!” – I really was, somehow, even without understanding any technicality of it.
Ø Had nice dinner with Kurt, speaking of trips, My Choice!, healing technics, plans and unplans.

Wednesday, 5.Nov.08
Ø Dance Company applied last days’ learning in music: Hip Work, Batuko, Kolá San Jon, and we added Ragga and Soucusse.
Ø Had my Odissi Dance Class – Odissi is a classical Indian form of dance that has its origin in Orissa, in northern India. I feel drastic improvement in exactly the three things I specially needed to work on my fitness: flexibility, balance and discipline/ persistence.
Ø My Choice! – it’s more then time to tell you all about this project me and 3 other expatriates lauched in Bangalore – we are bringing sustainability issues to Bangalore school children. This happens in 3 stages: 1 – inspirational and interactive classroom sessions conducted mostly by expatriates; 2 – live simulation where some of the kids from the classrooms come together to learn more about sustainability through experience and games; 3 – teams of students build projects trying to reach Zero Waste in there school, be it on the level of energy, food, water consumption, waste, etc. And 4 – we will do a final Fair and Awards night where media, principals from other schools who may take the programme up, parents, etc, will see the projects, a jury will evaluate them and the documentary we will have filmed during this pilot of My Choice! will be showcased as a best-practice case. PLEASE DO CHECK www.mychoicebangalore.org AND http://mychoice08.ning.com FOR MORE DETAILS on this initiative. So this day we gave our second training to the expatriates who will be mentors in class-room sessions and for the sustainable projects realization by the students’ teams.

Thursday, 6.Nov.08 – DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE
Ø "Como se dice? Como se llama? Obama! Obama!"
Ø Couple work started with Lourd Vijay Company: back to Mazurca, introducing Kizomba individual and in couple and finishing with Kuduro.
Ø Was invited to give workshops and dance for the biggest festival in Bangalore – the Bangalore Habba.
Ø Was invited to be interviewed by one of the upstream newspapers in the city, The Hindu
Ø Received a Yes from a personal contact (through Mrs. U) in a wild-life sanctuary to sponsoring an Award for one of the winning teams in My Choice! Project Awards, the prize being a 3-day retreat in this sanctuary in Coorg – www.saisanctuary.com
Ø Confirmed the presence of My Choice! Team in Chinnara Habba on the 20th of November, in Palace Grounds, SPEAKING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY TO 100.000 CHILDREN through a quiz my team is developing.
Ø AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: MY MENTOR, MRS. LALITA UBHAYAKER, NAMED ME HER GOD-DAUGHTER. I couldn’t feel more blessed and fortunate.
Ø Called my mother and André and SMS’ed Johan and Pedro: had to tell them how happy I was.
Ø Came home to a great sharing moment with Katherine, good friend, great non-coincidence in my life who is just about to leave back to San Francisco, USA.

Friday, 7.Nov.08
Ø Finished the workshop with Lourd Vijay Dance Company having taught the basics of 10 african-originated rhythms (ending with Semba, Funaná, Kuduro and a revision of the other rhythms), with great response and invitations to give private lessons to the choreographer and the main dancer.
Ø Was invited to dance at a Media Seminar and a Flee-Market in Bangalore.
Ø Was very tired and again saw how I found myself one more family, two more parents, in the Ubhayakers, as they worry for me and take care of me.
Ø Held a movie screening of “11th Hour” film-documentary, produced by Leonardo Di Caprio, followed by a discussion on environmental issues. This initiative was promoted by Smriti-Nandan and me and conducted by an already good friend and fundamental piece in My Choice! creation: Kurt Archer, Canadian Eco-traveller and environmentalist, currently travelling Asia raising awareness around sustainability issues (http://www.globaldamu.org/asia/). It was a success, the movie – I knew it already – is much more impacting and positive then An Inconvenient Truth even: you should see it. The discussion that followed and the commitment of some of the audience led Mrs. Lalita to start a series of initiatives around Environment and a discussion circle that will gather some of the people present that day: “What can we do about it?”.
Ø My Choice! Team had had the privilege of being invited to stay for dinner at the Ubhayakers after the movie. And whom else stayed and inspired us all dinner-long but two of the greatest environmentalists of Karnataka? Lovely Awe-like evening, ending with Mr. Hiblekar accepting to be Chief Guest at My Choice! Award Ceremony.

Saturday, 8.Nov.08
Ø Started teaching private Sevillanas lessons at her place, to a Bharatanatyam dancer and singer, Mrs. Susheela, the niece of the Ubhayakers who had hosted the classical concert on Tuesday. Great experience working with dancers again, as they catch everything so fast that we don’t have to worry but with the perfection details (I mean as much as I can correct them, of course, not being a professional in Spanish Dances)
Ø In the afternoon, the second of my World Dances Workshop sessions was even better then the first. Both kids and adults had a blast – I could tell by the clapping, laughing and rising energy: Salsa, Mambo, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha and Merengue lifted their soul for 1h30 hours (x 2).
Ø Had many friends surprising me at the centre and joining the last fun dance moments of the class. Our photographer and My Choice! documentary-film-maker Arvind also came to cover my workshop.
Ø Was contacted by a photo-journalist coming from the States who wants to do a photo-essay on me.
Ø Was contacted by the same Salsa Company to held a workshop for their students the following Sunday - check the page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=39749890094
Ø Had dinner at my favourite place, Empire, with friends.

Sunday, 9.Nov.08
Ø After sleeping 15 hours as never in India as I needed to recover from such an energetic week, went to Opus (where the Salsa Company has their studio) and attended an advanced salsa class as an invitee. In the end, I did an energetic 5 minute Demo of what the African Dance workshop will be the coming Sunday to attract students into attending it.
Ø Got invited by the owner of the company to give a Kizomba workshop at Chennai Salsa Festival on the 23rd of June.
Ø Went to have tea at Mrs. Deepti’s house, an Indian dancer, journalist, architect, painter and spiritual guru/ yogi who lived in the States for 14 years and had attended my Spanish Dances Workshop the prior weekend.
Ø After coming home to change, went with Katherine, Alexandra, Andre, Kurt and other 3 new international friends to Casa del Sol for my first Salsa party in Bangalore where I found again everyone from the Dance Company and other schools and danced in a couple as I didn’t for almost half a year. Great!
Ø Was offered regular work as a dance teacher across India, in Thailand, Singapour, etc, by this Dance Company - in case I want to stay longer I definitely will have means of sustaining myself.

Monday, 10.Nov.08
Ø Back to my Odissi Class, am noticing technical improvements. The coordination of movements and the persistence necessary for the fitness work is great challenge and non-comparable to any other dance class I ever went to.
Ø Came home to an experience with Galvanic Spa provided by Katherine, that refreshed my face and face-lines in an incredibly drastic way in just 20 minutes – following came a great Indian dinner with Kat, Thripthi and Roshin.
Ø And then the so-expected photo-shooting: great session with Katherine on the camera and me on the modelling, Rodrigo Leão on the laptop, candles and a scarf over the light in the room. For a long time I wanted to try to have my pictures taken: again India is going beyond my expectations even in things that I didn’t establish as goals.

Tuesday, 11.Nov.08
Ø Richard Seshie, the Coordinator of My Choice!, gave us the news that someone from AIESEC is contributing with 100 euros for My Choice! Our first financial aid: a lot of happiness, very welcome: again a renewal on the good-will of many people in this world.
Ø Meeting with Ashvasan member who will intervene on the kick-off session of my Youth Programme at Mount Carmel College on the 13th: “Ashvasan Cares: Bridging Old and Young Hearts!”. I’m trying to get my senior citizen foundation some young blood, some young volunteers to work with the elderly. We are also wanting to raise awareness among youngsters on the situation of the senior citizens in India.
Ø One hour later, meeting with Mrs. Lalita, Kurt and Mrs. Sughatta, an organic farming promoter – subject: what our next steps should be on initiatives promoted by Smiri-Nandan on Environmental issues.
Ø One hour later, Satsang and again the tremendous words of Tolle in “The Power of Now”.
Ø One hour later, interview at The Hindu newspaper for a column on foreigners in Bangalore. Great interview: outcome to be published on Saturday.
Ø One hour and a half later, dinner at Coconut Groove with expatriates from 6 countries.
Ø Two hours alter, hearing from Roshin and Thripthi, in the house, about the cast system in India and the Malu weddings.
Ø Half an hour later, starting to write this as such a great week had to be shared with my precious family and friends.