TravelStream™ news feed for member gyl.johnson on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/gyl.johnson en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:41:37 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1193505120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1193505120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1193505120/tpod.html Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:41:37 -0400 Montpellier is My Home Away from Home

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Tossa de Mar, Spain

I often enjoy going to Barcelona from Montpellier because its only a four hour train ride which is also easy on the wallet. However, on one of my visits, I decided to hop off at Girona and take a local bus to Tossa de Mar located on the Costa Brava. Tossa is a small beach town with all the beauty of the Cote d'Azur in France but without the crowds and the prices. Not the place for you if you want nightlife or intriguing tales to tell your friends...it's a quiet family beach resort. However, for some needed rest and relaxation with inexpensive prices by the sea, its wonderful. As the Costa Brava is on a rocky coast, there was the possiblility to go hiking and discover amazing views of the sea line. As I write, I think Tossa was special for me because I really needed time to think about what would be, if any, my next move and here I was able to take the time and space I needed to make a decision.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1191057300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1191057300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1191057300/tpod.html Sat, 29 Sep 2007 05:17:56 -0400 Montpellier is My Home Away from Home

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Barcelona, Spain

Often I get the chance to visit Barcelona from Montpellier. Its one of my favorite cities in the world. You know, in the summer, they really don't sleep.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/thailand_2002/1191057180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/thailand_2002/1191057180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/thailand_2002/1191057180/tpod.html Sat, 29 Sep 2007 05:14:56 -0400 Some small discoveries in Thailand that had a Huge Effect

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Georgetown, Malaysia

Often, it was necessary to escape here just to renew my visa.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/italy_part_1/1191056880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/italy_part_1/1191056880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/italy_part_1/1191056880/tpod.html Sat, 29 Sep 2007 05:12:49 -0400 Italy Part 1- My first real experience spending time in Europe

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Genoa, Italy

We had the special opportunity to visit the opera house Teatro Carlo Felice before it was completed and ready to open to the public.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/italy_part_1/1191056580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/italy_part_1/1191056580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/italy_part_1/1191056580/tpod.html Sat, 29 Sep 2007 05:07:02 -0400 Italy Part 1- My first real experience spending time in Europe

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Florence, Italy

We visited here several times more for the art than the architecture.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/marrakesh/1190571540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/marrakesh/1190571540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/marrakesh/1190571540/tpod.html Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:12:22 -0400 My first trip to Marrakesh- A journey into discovering my next step.

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Marrakech, Morocco

It was the first week I was there that I realized that there were going to be problems when it was time to leave. As I had already felt as though I was at home. Unlike my vacation to Thailand that turned into an eight month teaching gig, I had/have work commitments in France as well as people I care about and what is frighteningly beginning to look like an actual home. You don't know this about me yet but I am a recovering commitment phobic which could explain the constant travel/living from country to country.

Anyway, as soon as I arrived, I sensed that moderate lack of organization that I missed from my previous lives in Asia. My senses were suddenly assaulted by all the sights, sounds and smells. All that said ironically, coming directly from France, not many experiences there were so overwhelming because everyone speaks French as well as most Moroccan food and a lot of artisan work we can find in France. It truly is a Francophone country equipped with all the major French TV stations and major services for French expatriates and travelers.

Basically what it comes down to for me is I really enjoyed the people and their approach of enjoying the process instead of the final result. We hear a lot of negative stories about Morocco especially in regards to making purchases, taking cabs and doing touristic endeavors. Yes, in general, if you look like a foreigner, it is assumed that you are rich and the natives may try to take advantage of that fact. But understand, even amongst each other, Moroccans haggle to buy just about everything, so its a part of their culture. You, the foreigner, will be expected to haggle as well but if you don't know the real worth of things you won't end up on the winning side. That first week, I definitely spent way too much money on everything. In fact not even the first week, it was like that the majority of the trip. It was only after I began to pay attention to the worth of things and being prepared to leave without the item or service I wanted that I began to feel that I wasn't getting ripped off.

This whole process of trying to shop in Marrakesh got me thinking about how there, the act of shopping is the experience not just the outcome of having whatever it is we want... One must discuss, have tea, discuss, then speak of price, have tea and finally agree on a price that will make everyone happy. In my subsequent trips I have found other activities in Morocco that celebrate the process of the "act" not "outcome"...that parallel the art of the deal in the souks of Marrakesh.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1190448480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1190448480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1190448480/tpod.html Sat, 22 Sep 2007 13:04:52 -0400 Montpellier is My Home Away from Home

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Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France

One place I often visit which is only an hour from Montpellier is the Camargue. Here amongst the marsh land you can find wild horses, bulls, real cowboys, flamingos and gypsies. I'm not exaggerating. The only town in this small region is Saintes Maries de la Mer which lies on the beach. While not a lot of English is spoken, this is a welcoming town where we can go to bullfights and drink sangria. While having paella, bull steak or a seafood dish typical of the region we can listen to live gypsy music. Yes, I'm still talking about France and I think this area could quite possibly be one of my favorites.

There is the option for horseback riding, cycling, birdwatching, kayaking or just hanging out on the beach. Its a cross between, New Mexico, southern Spain and a typical beach town along the Mediterranean.

Outside of summer weekends, this town is quiet and cheerful which is why many times I go by myself for contemplation. It's easy enough to rent a bike and traverse the marshland where many small roads are inaccessible by car. As the Camargue is a protected bird sanctuary, there I can watch the flamingos as well as other birds. I can hear myself think. Its cool. The only downside? The mosquitoes are relentless here...No place is perfect.

The last time I was there, I took two friends along with me who were just visiting. I thought it might be a good idea to sign us up for a jeep tour in the marsh land and the range. I don't think they believed me when I told them about cowboys, bulls and flamingos.

The tour was a half day and cost about 40 euros per person. We were seven people all together and our guide was a older worn out cowboy in a previous life kind of guy. While he was quite knowledgeable on the area, he didnt speak a word of English and made no apologies for it. So I translated for my friends. This is definitely something that occurs often here in the south.

However, fun was had by all and by the end of the journey, we had gotten our fill of bulls, horses and flamingos. Now it was time for food and merryment! Bring on the paella and, yes of course, sangria.

While we are still in France, one of the things that makes this town and region so special is that the cultural influences of France, Spain and the Gitans(gypsies)who live there, have shaped this region which is still evolving even as we speak.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/thailand_2002/1190395080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/thailand_2002/1190395080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/thailand_2002/1190395080/tpod.html Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:26:01 -0400 Some small discoveries in Thailand that had a Huge Effect

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Bangkok, Thailand

It is 98 degrees in the shade. I have been sitting with my legs crossed for the past two hours underneath a canopy of trees that are home to the eardrum popping sounds of cicadas. There in front of me is a huge bowl of Thai food. Enough for two people, I might add. As I stare at this generous helping of food, I'm trying to muster the energy to pick up my spoon and fork to eat. You see, I have not eaten for the past twenty-four hours. This will be my only meal until the next twenty-four hours. I recognize the importance of this bowl of food and yet eating has now become an arduous chore only for survival. It is somewhere between forcing those last spoonfuls of food down my throat and realizing I can't stand up because both legs have fallen asleep that I tried to remember the exact moment when I thought this would be a good idea.

I had been traveling in Thailand for about six weeks. In that time, I had lived quite the hedonistic lifestyle. Relaxing on the beach, getting Thai massages, drinking Thai rum with cute boys and generally spending all my days wrapped in barely more than a sarong. In the course of my self-indulgent trip, I had met several foreigners who had spent time in monasteries for meditation. The idea of studying meditation under the guidance of monks was quite exciting to me. I've been practicing yoga for close to ten years and while I've flirted with meditation modestly, to be involved in monastic life promised to be a most intense experience. Besides it was time for me to purge, right? I discovered Wat Sangathan, a monastery located about one hour north of Bangkok. I took the Chao Phra Ferry to get there. When I arrived at the dock, it was about a ten minute walk through a forested area. This monastery is actually a huge compound. When I arrived, I was put in the care of a very friendly woman who goes by the name of Pooky. I was asked to change into an all white outfit. I was to wear this everyday of my stay. I was shown to my room right after. I was quite surprised it was a very nice room and I had it all to myself. I even had my own bathroom. However, it wasn't exactly the kind of bathroom you'd find back home. There was no running water. There was an Asian style toilet that had to be flushed by hand. For you western toilet folks, that's where there is a trough of water with a pail that sits next to the toilet and you scoop water from the trough and dump into the toilet until all the waste is gone. (It's not as bad as it sounds.) The other amenity provided for me was a big trash can full of clean water and a small pail. This was for my daily showers. So you guessed it, no hot showers. That was okay by me as well. It was so hot, that throwing cold water on myself with reckless abandon was a ritual I looked forward to every evening. My private bathroom also came complete with the occasional bullfrog, resident spiders that were as big as my palm and of course what bathroom in Thailand would be complete without mosquitoes.

Upon getting settled, I was required to take an oath promising to follow the rules. Most were obvious. For example, no drinking, no smoking. But there are the rules of no talking and taking only one meal a day. In all honesty, I was quite looking forward to the silence. I have always thought that there was far too much talking in the world than was necessary. As for the one meal a day, this was big. I wasn't sure if I could make it. But I figured you never know until you try and besides if I were to keel over from weakness, they wouldn't just let me lie there and starve to death. Would they? Once all the formalities were finished, it was time to get into the swing of the things.

It was a simple schedule. Most activities took place outside in the big square. At 4:30 am chanting began. This was followed by meditation. Mid- morning is for tidying up. 10:30 am is mealtime. (Buffet style) Then there's afternoon meditation followed by a long rest. At 7:00, it's time for more meditation. Finally it's bedtime. On paper it sounds easy enough, right?

Well, let's see. While I am a morning person, waking up at 4:00 in the morning was quite a challenge. But bear in mind that because of the intense heat, this was really the only time when I could meditate with some comfort. As for the meal time buffet, the food was delicious. This is assuming you like Thai food. The only problem I had with the mealtime segment was the over- emphasis of the ever- present hierarchy that exist in Thai monasteries. First, all of the monks go up to get their food. This is according to their rank of course. So, the elder monks go first and so on to the lowest ranking monks (who are sometimes children). Then the laymen go next. This meaning the men who like me, are just visiting for a while. Then, the nuns may go. From the eldest to the lowest ranked. Last, the laywomen go. That would be me. So I actually had no problem being in the last group to get food. There was plenty of food and after all I was just a visitor. However, being an exceptionally modern woman, I had quite an issue with laymen, who were just the same as me, having the privilege of going up before even the elder nuns. "Men always come before women". That was and is a hard pill for me to swallow. However I was, of course, able to keep my trap shut for the short duration of my stay. After receiving our food, we all sit outside crossed legged and eat our meal together. There is more meditation and some rest. Then, of course, there is more meditation. One of the best parts of this retreat was the daily meeting with a monk who was able to speak English. At this monastery, there were very few foreigners. Because of that fact, each day in the evening, we foreigners were to meet for an hour with the monk for meditation guidance. Just being in the monk's presence and being able to ask him any questions I wanted was a privilege I will always cherish. There was only one little glitch.
On about the fifth day, the other two foreigners I met with in the evenings left. Their week was up. That left me as the only foreigner. This wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that I am a woman. A monk cannot be touched by a woman or touch anything directly after a woman has touched it and most importantly, a monk cannot be alone with a woman. This is of course because we all have cooties. Therefore, the other foreigners leaving in effect cancelled my daily meetings with the monk. However, a solution was worked out and another layman was able to attend. Joy was returned to this character- building experience.

In spite of the small challenges I went through to stay comfortable, I felt very fortunate to be able to participate in such an intense environment. While at the monastery, I don't think I ever felt safer in my life. I don't necessarily mean safe from crime. But I felt an overall calmness that allowed me to float over the minutia that we human beings struggle with from day to day. The "safety" that I was experiencing had a lot to do with surrendering control. Ultimately, we don't have control of anyone or anything. The only control we do have is over our actions. In Buddhist teachings, we are reminded that we don't know what is in store for the future. It's out of our hands. The past is finished. All we have is now. We need to live in the "now", the moment. Since my retreat, I have been continuing my meditation. I have taken on some of the teachings. I can't say that I always live in the moment, that's a challenge for a lifetime. However, my life has taken some interesting turns. After leaving the monastery, I continued my travels in Thailand. I stopped thinking about my money running out. I enjoyed every single moment and stayed much longer than I had planned. While in this post-monastic euphoria I stumbled on to a job that, along with Thailand, suited me perfectly. I didn't know how long I would stay or how long it would last and in a way I guess it didn't even matter. What happened next was out of my control.

So, can just one week really change a life so significantly? There's only one way to find out. If you think a short-term monastic sojourn is for you, Thailand is covered with monasteries that will take foreigners as laypeople. If you're a woman be sure to check that there are accommodations for women. If you cannot avoid smoking, alcohol or three meals a day, this may not be the place for you.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1190316240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1190316240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/my_montpellier/1190316240/tpod.html Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:43:37 -0400 Montpellier is My Home Away from Home

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Montpellier, France

The best thing to do in Montpellier is to forget about possible sightseeing options and sit back and enjoy the scenery, sun and the people. The people really make the place.

Sunning yourself in one of Montpellier's countless cafes are exactly what should be on order if you have been travelling for a while. An experiential journey into how to relax French style is composed of shopping at the outdoor markets, having an exceptionally long lunch at Place Canourgue, cocktails near Place StRoch and finish it off with enjoying one of many nocturnal festivals that take place in the city at any time of the year.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/italy_part_1/1190308440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/italy_part_1/1190308440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gyl.johnson/italy_part_1/1190308440/tpod.html Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:11:23 -0400 Italy Part 1- My first real experience spending time in Europe

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Rome, Italy

My first real adventure abroad started in Rome. I actually had been to Paris and Madrid before this time with my family, but for me, I only really began to live when I arrived in the eternal city sixteen years ago for an all too brief study abroad during my graduate program in Architecture. It was the first city I fell in love with as well as the first to inspire me.

Even if you are not a lifelong student of architecture, the layers upon layers of history held with in the living brick, mortar and marble you see before you will make you a believer as well. Unlike many Western European cities, Rome still holds a wildness that requires you to watch your valuables, inhale a bit more deeply (a lot of air pollution) and heighten your awarness to the gastronomic delights and the tastebud popping regional wine.

For me Rome requires several trips; while the museums and architectural sights are major, that by itself will barely scratch the surface of what Rome and its empire are and were really about. Often we read of travelers' adventures, visits and logistical advice but even still, the culture of the given country have been missed.

While one may notice particular cultural habits which are different from their own, does one really understand or care why they exist or how they started? Walking around in Rome everyday are thousands of natives who could potentially introduce us to the "Real Rome" and with this leads to the real adventure and romance that we could possibly appreciate for a lifetime.
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