balitrip

Cacao

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I am addicted to Cacao. I have almost the same breakfast every morning for past 7 to 8 years. And main ingredients for it is Cacao powder. My morning won’t starts until I take cacao… If I want go luxury, then I go with Raw Organic Cacao power with Raw cacao nibs. And if not, any unsweetened cocoa power works with other ingredients(fruits, nuts, coconut oil etc).  

Since I drank a wonderful cacao ceremonial grade drink twice in Reykjavik, I began to be interested in Cacao ceremony. The taste was amazing! I never experienced such a taste…. It is super rich, richer than any cocoa I had before. And it’s not sweet, and really fatty witch I LOVE! 

Later, I heard that for cacao ceremonies are usually use fermented raw cacao. And yes, I love fermented food! Like Natto!!

And the time with friend while drinking the cacao was warm and happy. My friend told me that cacao has power to opening the heart. It’s been used for ceremonially for at least 5,000 thousand years by a number of South American groups. I just wanted to drink the cacao again, so, I started looking for a Cacao ceremony. Surprisingly, it is everywhere. I saw one in SF, and of course it’s happening almost everyday somewhere in Bali!

So, I had my first group cacao ceremony Feb 13th at pyramid of chi. Thought nice to cerebrate Valentine’s day in that way. And I had awesome time:) And other unexpected surprise was I met two people who knows from NY at the ceremony! 

Anyway, before the ceremony, I was bit afraid that maybe I won’t able to feel anything, or open my heart to connect others. But somehow I could do it. It was so natural and simply my heart was opened. I cried few times, laughed, danced hard, and singing. At one point I felt I was too much loosing myself, and has to bring back myself.. which I never felt before. 

I said good job to myself. Because I still have lots of blockage to people. I am quite friendly and easy to make friends in anywhere(It’s new thing btw), but showing emotions or really open up myself is hard. Recently, it’s become harder to really “look” others eyes.

While I was lying down and receiving sound healing at the end of ceremony, I was thinking how I was open when I was a kid. I had no fear or doubt to others, always happy to meet new people and do something together. And compare to that, how hard it is now to meet people and not bring up my past experiences to judge others.  Because of it, I can’t really see them as who they are or experience the moment.

Cacao ceremony… it was a wonderful gift to experience the feeling of childhood and sort of understand what is open heart means. 

私は　チョコ、というか　カカオにハマってます。毎朝　ほぼ同じ朝食を過去７−８年食べ続けてるんですが　そのメインがカカオパウダー。ちょっと豪勢にしたいときは　ローオーガニックカカオパウダーとローカカオニブとかにしますが　甘くない１００％のココアだったら全然いい。それにフルーツ、ナッツ、シード、オイルなどが加わるのをずーっと飽きずに食べてます。で　カカオがないと朝が始まらない！！私は　ハマりグセ？子供の頃から何かの食べ物にハマることが多いんですが　これが一番長いなぁ。。。

レイキャビックに行ったとき　友達に作ってもらったり　連れてってもらったカフェで初めてカカオセレモニーグレードのドリンクを飲んで　えええ！！！！ちょーうまい、美味すぎ！！！って大感動してから　ずっと　あれがまた飲みたい、カカオセレモニーに参加するか？と思ってて　なんとなく気になってたので　バレンタインだし！と思って　ウブドのヒーリングセンター、プラミッド　オブ　チ　でバレンタインイブにセレモニーに参加することにしました。

アイスランドの友達が　カカオはハートをオープンにする作用があるんだよ。と教えてくれて　実際　その２回のカカオドリンクを飲んだときは　友達とのとっても暖かい、オープンでつながりを感じれる　幸せない時間でした。調べてみると　南米では５０００年くらい前から神聖な飲み物として儀式に用いられていて　ハートをオープンにする、神、自分、他者とのつながる、みたいなことが書いてある。

で　使われるカカオは生で発酵されているものらしい。すっごいオイルたっぷりな感じで濃厚で甘くなくって　本当に美味しいです：）

正直　セレモニー受けてみたいなーって思ってはいたけど　抵抗もあった。　グループでヒーリングセレモニーでシェアする。。。って苦手。まずグループが苦手だし　知らない人と手を繋いだり　目を見たりするのかなぁ？とか（そういうの書いてあったので）感想をみんなの前でシェアするのかなぁ？（すごく苦手）とか。　で結果としては　ぜーんぜん大丈夫だった！　笑って、泣いて、踊って歌って　なんだかそういうことが自然とできた。カカオパワー？　参加者が多国籍（ロシア人がほぼだったが）だったのもなんか良かったし　偶然　ニューヨークからの知り合いがセレモニーに参加してたのも手伝ってのことかもしれない。

最後のサウンドヒーリングを受けてるとき、子供の頃の感覚を感じていた。　私は子供の時、とってもオープンで　誰とでもすぐ友達になれた（子供ってことだよね）、大人も男性も女性も偏見なしに信頼していた。それと比べて今はすぐ友達にはなれるけど　ものすごく閉じているとことがある。それは自分の過去の経験から　その人を判断して　その枠に当てはめるというか　本当のその人、その瞬間を見ずに　その人を見ていることがほとんどだから。それでも　数年前の私とは随分違う。２年前　バリで１ヶ月いた時は　まだまだ人に話しかけることも　友達を作ることもなんか抵抗ばかりだったけど　今は　毎日新しい出会いがある。

計３時間のカカオセレモニーはかなり濃厚ですごい充実感。ノンストップでたくさんのヒーリングが組み込まれてた。ピラミッド　オブ　チのオーナーの人？ファウンダー？がセレモニーをリードしてて　あの値段と労力から　ほぼ奉仕だなぁって思った。

子供の頃の感覚を体感できたこと、自分がハートが開けるんだっていうのを思い出せたことが大きなギフトだったなぁって思う。

Awesome Cacao ceremony drink from https://www.systrasamlagid.is/ And my dear friend who made the best cacao drink only for me:) https://www.instagram.com/onelovesol/

One of my muse in Kauai, presenting heart chakra :) https://aananuna.com/

Home

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After traveling while and spent lots of time staying someone’s home, hotel, airbnb… I am craving to find another place that I could call home… My home in Kauai is more like investment at this moment. 

It was very hard for me to know what I really want. Because tons of options! But now I am feeling much more clear. After I lived in another houses, cities, or countries, and experienced lots of someone’s life...   I only need few things and not much options after I really know what I have and what I need for my lifestyle. 

My first search was somewhere in America, and city. But to be honest, I wasn’t really attracted to any places in America… So one of the first thing came in mind was “where is the best place for skin??”….. Stupid, but I seriously searched that. Portland OR was good for that, though.


And ended up I gave up and just exploring other countries. I fall in love almost all countries and cities where I visited, but I couldn’t felt so realistic to moving to other countries. 

And what I was trying recently was “why not Japan??” So, after leaving Japan for almost 20 years, I was thinking of living in Japan again. 

I was craving to settle down and to have a deeper connections with others. I met wonderful people during the trips, but I can’t really build any relationships if I keep moving. 


I thought it should work in Japan because I already have people who I feel deeply connected, family. I am feeling loved and belong to, but ended up I couldn’t picture myself live in Japan. My simple needs in my lifestyle are nothing met in Japan. 


But I know that I couldn’t find this answers what I really need until I spent some time in Japan and my family. I feel supported by them. I can still show them everything and act like a teenager. Because of it I could feel it is okay to be selfish to live my life.  Also Japan is definitely my root, so I could see why I became like this,(me) and what is important for me better than when I am in other places. The experience from living with my family in the last two months has given me the courage to do what I really want and say aloud that I need it.


So I am having a big expectations for Bali… I hope I could able to feel home in here at the end of my stay!

*Photos of few places where I stayed…. Only few from tons of places. And I am regret that I didn’t take all !


Yoga while traveling

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One of the things I definitely like to do thing while traveling is to take local yoga classes. Some people might like to go to a local bar and feel what it’s like to live in that area.For me, I find yoga studios and take classes as much as possible. It helps my physical and mental conditions while traveling. I just really enjoy an experience to feel like a local, and to find a rhythm. And surprisingly, most of the places I’ve stayed have a yoga studio in walking distance!

Yoga has become so popular in the last 20 years. I didn’t see a yoga studio on every block in NYC when I first visited in 1998.Now it seems that’s the case.In Spain, I was really surprised at the yoga teaching quality, and the numbers of studios. In Barcelona, we stayed near Park Güell, and I found a tempting yoga studio like every 2 blocks. Although in Madrid, so many studios were closed for August. Still, I was able to find a really nice one near where we were staying. I was only expecting awesome wine and tapas, but I found great yoga classes and healthy foods too!

I don’t remember Bali being so popular for yoga 22 years ago when I first visited. Now it’s a popular vacation location for Yogis. I tried to count how many yoga studios I visited this year, and couldn’t remember… But I made a list of yoga studios that I do remember. You can find them below, under the Japanese translation if you’re interested!

I feel I am so lucky to be able to experience Yoga everywhere in the world. Also that’s why I can keep my yoga practice, because it’s convenient. Yes, I can practice by myself, but I am too lazy…When I feel I’m having 1 hour yoga practice, I check the time, and says it’s only been 15 min. So I go and take classes.

My life is super simple. I get bored quickly, but I love routines. I’ve been eating the same breakfast for the past 6 years! Also I would say I have an addictive tendency… Yoga and self Kinesiology healing is essential in my daily life. I bet yoga could replace Ballet if it’s not as convenient as yoga. And Kinesiology could replace meditation if it heals me better. Traveling makes me clear on what I really like, and what is important. I keep finding that the same things are necessary for me, no matter how much the environment changes. Overall, I am happy if I can use my body, and take time to talk myself. Also if I am able to create something to express my self and feel a deep connection with others.


旅の最中に私が必ずしている事は　ローカルのヨガスタジオに通う事。その土地のバーとかに行って　地元の雰囲気を味わうって人もいると思うけど　私は地元のヨガに通うことによって　その地に生活している雰囲気を味わうのが好き。もちろん　旅の途中の健康管理にもなってるけど　スロートラベル、住んでるように旅するのが好きな私にとって　欠かせない楽しみになってる。そして　本当にどこに行ってもヨガスタジオがある。今まで泊まったところのほぼ全てに　徒歩圏内にヨガスタジオがあった。

２０年前、初めてニューヨークに行った時は　ここまでヨガが溢れかえってなかったと思うし、２２年前かに　バリ島に初めて行った時は　バリがここまでヨガバケーションで有名だった覚えがない。スペインに初めて行って　スペインがあそこまで健康志向で　ヨガスタジオがたくさんあるなんて思ってもみなかった。美味しいワインとタパス、くらいしか考えてなかったから。　笑　

今年　どのくらいヨガスタジオに行ったんだろう？と数えてみようとしたけど　思い出せない。印象に残ってるところを　下にリストアップしたので　もし興味があったら見てください：）

世界中のヨガスタジオに通えて　その違いやら共通点を経験できて　すごいラッキー！と思うし　これだけ便利に通えるから　ヨガ続けてられるってのもあるなぁって思う。ヨガは一人でも出来るけど　なんせ私　一人でやると　１時間やった！と思って　時間チェックすると１５分、って感じだから　ヨガに通います。笑

私の生活ってすごいシンプルだなぁって思う。飽きっぽいくせに　ルーティーンが大好き。同じ朝ごはんを６年食べ続けてるあたり　それがよく現れてる気がする。っていうかハマりやすい？？

ヨガとキネシオロジーのセルフヒーリングは　私の生活に欠かせないものとなってる。ただ　ヨガは　こんな風にどこでも出来るんだったらバレエとかダンスに置き換える事はできるだろうし、キネシは瞑想とかにも置き換えられるかも。ただし私にとって効果がキネシのように高ければ。旅をしてると　さらに自分にとって大切なものがわかってきやすいと思う。どんなに環境が変わっても　自分が必要と思うことがあるから。私は身体動かして　心を見つめる時間があって　クリエーション出来てたら　本当に最高だなぁって思う。あとはやっぱり人との深い繋がりを感じれることだな〜　


BALI

:The yoga barn https://www.theyogabarn.com/ Of course! I tried this one. It’s very popular but still great number of classes and good atmosphere. Teacher is hit or miss (for me)

:Intuitive flow https://www.intuitiveflow.com/ It was walking distance from one of my stay. I liked the walk to get to this studio and the view from the windows.

: Matra Bali https://www.matrabali.com I think they changed their name since last March. It was behind my hotel in Canggu.

I went weekend yoga and ecstatic dance event in Canggu. It was awesome! but don’t remember the name!

Boulder, CO

:Amana yoga http://www.amanayogaboulder.com/ It was nice studio in walking distance, and not so crowded which I like. I went bulldog yoga near by for a class. It was not my style, but they were offering free class and give you free drinks? at a restaurant near there. Nice of them, and Kam likes it and it was different type of workout!

I took classes at one a yoga studio in Barcelona. People was nice, but I didn’t like the atmosphere.

MADRID

: A YOGA https://ayoga.es I really liked this studio. It’s beautiful studio with big window. I could know the teachers are knowledgable from their adjustment and sequences even they speaks Spanish. I also liked they are them, not faking themselves to teach yoga. I like teacher use normal voice, and not acting.

New York

: ISHTA Yoga http://ishtayoga.com/ It’s home to me:) Amazing teachers!

: Bowery Yoga http://boweryyoga.com/ I actually never had their class yet! But I took bunch of the owner’s class at ISHTA, and she is awesome!

LA

:Yoga Salt https://www.yogasalt.com/ It was closest from my friend apt. I enjoyed LA vibe!


Portland OR

: Yoga Union http://yogaunioncwc.com/ High celling, beautiful studio!

: Sellwood Yoga https://sellwoodyoga.com/ Cozy, at home. I enjoyed the walk from our stay.