Railroad Tracks

I stopped lifting my feet when I go over railroad tracks. Yes. I embrace my superstitions in life, it's not a burden, but just something I have completely grown to coexist with. Smiley face.

Lifting your feet as you go over railroad crossings was meant to secure your life track in marriage...in "getting hitched." Make sense? Why is this something I must do..because most everyone I grew up with (for the most part) are on their 2nd or 3rd child?  As this is a wonderful and indescribable life notch, it is theirs, and not necessarily mine.

I have traveled enough at this point in my life to know that my priorities 10 years ago or <  were completely uneducated. At least in correlation with me and the magical life I intend on living. Life is what you make it. It is unexpected, unpatterned, and consistently changing. This took a while for me to understand. 

Placing parameters on yourself is a far different cry than setting goals. I believe we should allow ourselves to accomplishing something greater than ourselves (and the parameters life sometimes seems to be intent on setting). We should always remember to listen to the earth, sun gaze, moon gaze, hug wonderful creatures, help others, lift others up (physically and metaphorically), and continue to shine as this can only help the glow increase in others. 

We are what we do, what we say, how we act...and it doesn't take education to know how precious and short our lives are. How about embrace and laugh at the unexpected instead of fearing the unknown? Count riches in the memories and adventures had, give gifts with the value of love and kindness, drawl conclusions with the knowledge that THINGS CHANGE. 

Here's to falling asleep in the moonlight, deep breaths, and wonderful adventures to come.

love, peace, & kindness,
Brooke

last weekend's notes...

Saturday. 

Gym

Rainstorm

Vegan fajitas

Organic Canadian gin

Metro

China town

Mochiiiis

Walk through Old Port

FIREWORKS OVER THE WATER 

vegan poutine 

Sleepy metro and bus ride home

Sunday.

Sleeping in

Coffee and brown sugar 

Packing a picnic 

Hammock on the mountain

Kettle chips

Vegan hot dogs & Greek salad 

midevil fantasy fights

Dogs & Tam Tams 

Guitars, a bagpipe

Oh and kazoos

Magical vegan chocolate truffles and magical brownies

Jazz bands sitting and playing on the grass

Cool summer night

Softball

Hoodie 

Smiles

Feeling grounded.

"I'll make it to the moon if I have to crawl" 

Magical Montréal

Life can be fickle and can be crazy, and now I find myself in this beautiful town brilliantly sparkling with snow and culture.

I guess this is what happens when you fall in love with a French-Canadian in Asia...

The plan was- well I guess it does not matter what it was, but what it has become. A few months back I was in a beautiful little apartment on the beach in the Philippines. Which...was lovely, and would have been even better if I wasn't missing someone over 7 thousand miles away. Love took me from Asia, to Chicago, then to NYC, then to Montreal.

This city looks like the backdrop to dreams:

Snow covered hills and art museums, churches and graffiti, snowmen and sushi places, layers of brick on brick and magical stained glass, timeless churches and Volkswagens...

The community is French, so once again I have put myself in a position where I MUST learn. To which we should never cease. :)





As the snow is melting I find my Floridian self smiling at the 40 degree weather and more excited than ever for the wonderland that is a Montreal summer. Guess I can get used to the turmoil of twinkling cafe's, BYOB Thai restaurants, maple syrup everything and using hockey sticks as brooms.

I would never have thought that life would take me here. But then again, we never know whats ahead. We must follow the music of life, the notes of love, and the magic of living.

xo Brooke

Be still and listen, the earth is singing.......The Philippines 2016

On December 8th, 2016 I began my second trip this year to South East Asia. Thailand was only the tip of the iceberg, and every single part of my being could sense it. Therefore when the opportunity arose again (weeks after returning) 'yes' was an easy answer.

Three months, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and lastly the Philippines. There were more crazy moments than I can count, endless people I will remember and know for the rest of my life, realizations, 'awe' moments, epic landscapes and skies dripping with more glimmering stars than I have seen in my lifetime. I am truly blessed to be living, to have experienced all that I have seen and done on this adventure in my life journey, and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

The last stop for me was the Philippines. There is so much to do on these islands..though I was not there to be much of an adventurer, but wanted to reflect. I wanted to reflect within myself, on where my life had lead me so far, on where I am now, and on where it may lead me in the future.

So, I rented a little apartment directly on the beach in Puerto Galera, Philippines and started my month of rest.

Its funny- you imagine yourself needing weeks of rest and recuperation after months of travel, yet by day 5 I found myself bored.

This is when we learn. This time when we think we need to go-go-go, we forget to stop and be still. Smell the roses, listen to the wind and the waves, smile in the sunlight, (and dance alone in your kitchen to french music).

My routine was simple. And exactly the same every day/week.

-Woke up to the Rooster (who typically began his beautiful-beautiful song at 3am)
-Made green tea and watched the sea
-Laid out on the balcony to the sounds of the sea and Jean Leloup, sometimes changing it up to Eddie Vedder or Grimes)
-Had a snack of p-nut butter on toast
-Cleaned up a bit (to which I danced to the music and the sounds of the island)
-Had a tomato and onion salad for lunch
-Laid out some more if the sun was still out
-Went for an afternoon walk around the mountain and bought some fresh veg that had come directly from the farm
-Yoga for an hour
-French lessons (audio) for at least 45 min
-Cooked dinner with beautiful vegetables
-Journal-ed a bit
-Went to sleep smiling with the waves as loud as loud speakers

The movie 'Ground Hog Day' came on the little TV that was in the apartment one rainy day and it made me think. We get ourselves stuck (in whatever way) in these routines-and this happens.  What is important is that we learn from the moments that seems so routine. We can look at somethings in our lives and see it and acknowledge it's presence for years, without truly seeing it for what it is.

This is what being in the Philippines taught me. We need to sometimes 'be still and listen, because the earth is singing.'

This beautiful little island which began as needed 'breather,' then quickly seemed to be a bore, blossomed for me into a magical little place. Where time stood still...where the waves are the soundtrack, the sea and the stars are the backdrop, the cool morning sea air breaths life upon all living things, and the smiles of the people are as beautiful as the best hug you can think of. This is life. It can be crazy, and it can be simple. What we need to remember is that things are not ever what they seem, if we allow ourselves time for the dust to fall and the earth to sing, we truly can realize how wonderful and magical life can be. How magical it already is.

"Be Still and Listen,

the Earth is Singing"

-xoxo Brooke

An excerpt from my daily journal: Today I am Thankful..

I am keeping a daily journal whilst living on the island of Puerto Galera in the Philippines for the month. It's quite personal hence I rarely share it on my blog. But today, I felt it was appropriate. :) This is my day so far, Thursday, February 11th, 2016

Day 11

Last night I slept very well. Had very real dreams of being in El Tunco, and seeing everyone I know in my life all at the same time. It was like guest star after guest star after guest star in my dreams. (Maybe I am missing everyone). Woke up @430 and thought 'wow no roosters during the night, this is a first.' and just as that thought scrolled across my mind, the rooster let me know he was still there, outside my window. :) Slept in a little, made some Jasmine green tea and skyped (which has become the best part of my mornings❤ ). I think I am sleeping better because of starting back up my yoga practice.. I know its only been a few days but things get moved around and energy sets in, blood flows faster and pains are leaving. So today I am THANKFUL.

I had some bananas, peanut butter, toast and coconut jam for brunch, got stuck watching a bit of 'Into the Wild,' then laid out in the brilliant sun listening to Jean Leloup and Grimes. Walked to the sea on the bed of tiny shining shells and stared into the wild.  Smiled and said aloud "I am thankful." 

Twirled around and around like a woodland fairy in my kitchen and laughed once I became dizzy. Cleaned the apartment and took a cold shower.

I have so many things I am thankful for.  For breath. For life. For music. For being. For the sea- it's strength, its life, its power, its magic. I am thankful to be alive, to be standing here looking at the ocean from my little place in the middle of the sea.  I am thankful for what has gotten me to where I am today. To the mistakes I have made, and the lessons I have learned. 

"I believe good gets better." -Into the Wild

"Life is so short it's barely a blink of an eye." -me

Malaysia

Hmmm.

I spent about 7 days in Malaysia, no clue what I was doing there. It was- to be honest, a cheaper route than heading straight for the Philippines, and to add another stamp to the passport still feels slightly childlike in a happy immature way. :)

Landed in Kuala Lumpur, not even sure I was saying the name correctly, took the train to China Town and got lost en route to the hostel I booked, should have expected it to be 1000 degrees and unbearable in comparison to the Northern Vietnam I had just left. Met some new people at the hostel, had 2 over priced beers on the rooftop bar (of the hostel) and left for a walk through China Town.

It was not exactly what I had expected..just a bunch of vendors selling the exact same things..watches, shoes, wallets, t shirts, and fake Burkenstoks (which I totally got a pair). And the only street food to be found was a man in the middle roasting chestnuts, (which I totally got some as well). Found some above par Indian food and called it a first night.


Beach day followed. Note: find out if it is a completely Muslim beach before you take 5 buses and a taxi to arrive and be the only girl in a bikini.

Did some walking around (with heat pouring out of the sun), got Indian buffet food, and some tattoos the following day.

Then headed out to Penang, Malaysia with a friend I had met. We took the train, then a ferry, then walked to the first hostel that looked happy- Reggae House. Kittens playing on the first floor and an owner named 'Uncle' (who knew everything in the entire world, seriously) made this place feel perfect. We probably walked a fourth of the island that first day, posing with street art, eating street food, browsing the Little India markets, and getting lost. Penang lasted for a a few days and it was lovely. Ladies night was literally every night and we made it out to hike at the National Forest (and saw monkeys everywhere). It was a good mini trip and I smiled the whole way back to KL.


A friend, whom I met in Bangkok (from Scotland), and saw for dinner in Vietnam, flew in to KL for the weekend. Was a pretty happy wknd with brunches, a butterfly garden visit, rooftop bars and a jazz concert.



I headed out to the Philippines on very little sleep but satisfied with the wonders of what a little week can bring. Its funny when you are a traveler, you sort-of make plans, but the thing is, that things always come up. And whatever they are or may be- they are put in our way for reasons we can not explain..and we should just embrace life as it comes. These are the times when lessons are learned, clarity can surface, and magical times occur. Live, love, learn, smile like crazy, and enjoy it all.

cheers Malaysia....xo

My Vietnam Summary

It's six thirty at night (not quite sure the day) and I'm writing this from my bottom bunk in my hostel in china town, in Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia (in the world, in the magical universe). Listening to Jean Leloup singing 'Paradis City', just came back from getting a tattoo of the Ohm symbol and a quote from the super amazing zen monk Thích Nhất Hạnh, translated to "Compassion is a verb."

From this comes where am at and where I want to go. 

I spend almost 2 months in Vietnam (minus a week in the beautiful kingdom of Laos). From South to the North. Which both hated each other, and are so different in just about everything, but were both enjoyable enough to go back (well maybe not Saigon). 

Saigon was busy, it was the slap in the face welcome to Vietnam I had sort-of expected. Hot, super hot, and busy. I remember screaming the entire time I was on my rented scooter going continuously around the round-a-bout over and over and over until I got the nerve to get out of the loop. There definitely was an immensely diverse culture and population there. Had bottle service with friends, went to a Japanese whiskey bar, had famous Vietnamese pancakes on the street in a busy alley, many massages (not as good as Thailand), and remember dancing- a lot. A bit frustrating but it was just growing pains.

North a bit to Hoi An. I wouldn't be opposed to moving to this little slice of true, boldly and brightly colored life a bit. The lanterns, there are so many of them, and every single street looks like it came out of a Disney film. Dragon bridges, (lanterns everywhere), paper birds, street are of ancient cobblestone, beautiful shops filled with goddess clothes, and shops where you get anything you can imagine hand made for you to wear for under 10usd.  Great food, great Indian food, tons of veggie food and the best local veg stands. I helped with the Vietnam Animal Welfare over this Christmas holiday and lived on the "outside" of the town with a duck in a clinic. The country people are the nicest. The expats are taking over but its whatever, the locals are sweet, the energy is alive, its all walking and bicycling streets and a UNESCO World Heritage site. What more can you ask for? It looks like a dream come to life just after the director yells action. For the beach you just take a bicycle through the rice fields to the aqua ocean freckled with the bowl-shaped boats on sugar sand. I remember wishing I could snap my fingers and all those I truly cared about would instantly appear there with me. 

Lastly in Vietnam, Hanoi. After surviving the bus from hell (the properly named 24 hour bus from Luang Prabang, Laos to Hanoi) I spent a few days seeing an old friend, partying with a unicorn, and drinking .15 cent street beer on micro plastic stools. Met up with a new friend ( (I had met on NYE in Vientiane, Laos) and for a week we broke every rule in the universe. It was one of the most- god this is cliche-fun weeks probably of my life. Ordering all the take out food possible for 2 human beings, getting lost every single day, laughing almost at all times, and learning a lot, ha a lot. I left- after he went back to French Canadian snowland- to the valley of Mai Chau, South West of the city. Stayed in a home-stay and cycled until I could not stand. But I felt athletically accomplished so there is no complaint here, and it was nice to be with myself, just myself and my thoughts for most of my days there. When you spend this much time with yourself its trippy, in the way you want trips to be, you answer questions you've always had and at the same time, always have had the answer to. Dreams become just as opening as your reality and I think that we all need this type of experience, this type of escape and road to clarity life has given us for free..we just need to do it. Clearing your mind is just as important as finding your way.
When I went back to Hanoi I had an odd feeling of being happy to be home. Which was different. But when you feel yourself smiling and excited to walk gray cold streets, something is right int the universe. I stayed in Hanoi for almost 3 weeks, I saw how the people rose in the mornings, and how the city closed down late at night. Had my favorite vegan hole-in-the-wall places for rice porridge and for fried sticky rice, made friends with hotel staff from several places, and found a little smokey bar I could listen to locals jam out on classic rock while sipping on Johnnie Walker with couch change. I really, really liked Hanoi. 

I kept a little list of "things learned" on my phone, here is how it was written, from my beginning to end of the Vietnam leg of this journey:


-This is where Water Buffalo and Starfruit come from
-The sweeter the beverage they serve you, the more they care
-Download Chet Faker
-Having a long pinkie nail means that you are above manual labor
-Don't eat street Pho
-I am an excellent moped driver
-Don't cry for the lost, smile for the living
-A translate app does not work when the people can't read
-To ration water and food on bus journeys
-Always have tissue, always
-Never bring Indian food on a 24 hour bus ride
-I keep hearing 'ba nay nay' and I laugh every time
-I can play the bowl instruments
-How to walk in the streets of Vietnam, takes about 3 weeks
-Durian tastes like bubble gum
-I have FOMO

Quotes to remember forever:
"If your nerve deny you - go above your nerve." -Emily Dickinson
"Listen to your own voice, your own soul, too many people listen to the noise of the world, instead of themselves." -Leon Brown
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." -William Ernest Henley
"Compassion is a verb." -Thích Nhất Hạnh 

I would do it all again. I would go back. I would bring people I love back. This part of my life makes me happy, makes me feel the electricity running through my veins that is passion. Passion for living, for traveling, for learning, for growing, for culture, for people.

Vietnam was worth it.

Mai Chau, Vietnam

Pieces from my journal during my cycling trip to Mai Chau, Vietnam in January, 2016

Day 1 in Mai Chau, Vietnam:

Woke up super early. Got in a van for 4 hours to Mai Chau valley. Stopped and had sticky rice inside roasted bamboo in the fog. Checked into my stilt house home stay and rented a mountain bike. Rode to the highway that will be the start of my trek tomorrow, warm up 30 k, had sugarcane juice as my reward. Hugged a little little cow, played with an epic dog and a water bottle, and got high as the sun went down looking at the fields. The family at the home-stay made us a feast..the food just kept on coming. There's a teen party in the dried rice fields across the road, I can't stop listening to Jean Leloup (cursed by a French Canadian)..oh, and today is Sunday♡ Xoxo

Day 2 Mai Chau..rode 100 kilometers..never doing it again.

Started at 8, got back at 1840, took 5 min breaks every 30 minutes and 17 minutes for lunch. Got screamed at to clean before I could eat the little lady's food.
I think I swallowed a half pound of dirt riding..
Listened to Alt-J, Passenger, Milky Chance, Trevor Hall, and Bon Jovi ...not ashamed.
Note: Don't listen to Tribal seeds or Soja when your only vice is a mushed banana and water..
Truckers gave me a red Bull and tried to give me Doughnuts..
Saw a horrible scene where a lady killed a dog in a cage, and 40 minutes later saw a lady dog catcher- I told everyone around the intersection she had no heart with arm symbols. .
Saw the red teeth lady from my postcard (see pic) and almost crashed.
Started seeing things by hour 8...
I saw a box of Miller Light on the back of someone's scooter. Thought that the mud water was a street and almost rode right into it..
Got to the home-stay in the pitch dark...collapsed on the pavement..had to brace to stand up in the shower.
Had my first conversation with a person at 7pm.
Please work IB Profin.
Not sure if this was in correct order, even my mind is exhausted.
Xoxo Brooke

How I fell in love with Luang Prabang, Laos

I spent 5 days and 4 nights in the town of Luang Prabang in Laos. 

Arrived on a sleeper bus (this one was not at bad at the others*) early one morning (days are getting tougher to remember).

After landing at the hostel, I made a friend from Spain (who is living in China) and there began our bicycling adventures. First around the little and beautiful town. There are temples, rivers, smiling people, puppies everywhere, cool breezes and a glittery night market that never gets old.

In 2 alone days we cycled over 100 kilometers. Riding the second day to the Kuang Si waterfalls, up mountain 36 kilometers, through villages, passing schools of giggling children, and stopping for fruit at wooden stands along the way. Well worth the trip, even worth the uphill pushing of the rented bicycles without tire treads. 

The falls were unbelievable, cascading into natures most perfect pools of cool blue water. One of those places, like so many I have seen, where you take about 100 of the same pictures, because at that moment in your life, every millisecond of beauty is different but as magical as the next.

The following day we rode a total of 52 kilometers to the Pak Ou Caves. The ride was easier for about two thirds of the way. then we left the concrete to the rough and tough soil and mountainous terrain. The ride was rough, but I felt remarkably connected to my surroundings. There were 'awe' moments left and right, mountains that looked like those floating on clouds in Avatar, and minutes at a time when we were surrounded by the most whimsical and colorful butterflies I have ever seen. Those random times in life when you find yourself smiling for at least half an hour straight and laughing at just about everything, well that happened on the ride that day to the caves.

Which- were filled with thousands of Buddhas and almost enchanting when you enter the caverns...

Back to how I fell in love with this place- I believe it is the synchronicity. The flow. Everything works smoothly, like clockwork but with comfort, and not anxiety. The monks in the early morning with their calmness, the curiosity of the new tourists and the mixture of the old and the young, the traveler on a budget and the English old money. The way the night market glitters with exactly the same thing in almost every stall, but somehow you are mesmerized by it every single night. The 10,000 kip vegan buffet located right in the center of the market. The little lady who makes the coconut milk cakes and gives me an additional 1 to 3 each time I visit. The hidden bar called 'Utopia' where we ended up every night sitting on cushions with strangers, surrounded by vintage motorcycles and travelers all under what seems to be a magical canopy in Neverland. 

The last sunset I had in Luang Prabang- I found myself on the side of a concrete wall, staring at the mountains, the skyline, the water, and the man on a small boat creating these wonderful and smooth ripples on the water just awaiting someone to paint him. As I bicycled slowly away following natures light show, I said to myself, and then aloud to my friend, 'I am absolutely in love with this place.'

That perfect feeling where your skin is smiling because your heart is smiling, never loose that feeling. And when you find it, engrave it into your memory so that your life never falls short of this wonderful feeling of living.

What to do with 6 hours in Vientiane, Laos

What to do when you have 6 hours to spend in the capitol of Laos (awaiting a not so special 10 hour sleeper bus)...

First, start walking, towards the temples and the big-highlighted places on the ever favorite tourist map.

-Ignore every couple you see and smile in the fact that you are brave and wonderful and on your own in this beautiful world as a glittery gypsy with zero obligations.

-Resist the urge to put on headphones on your long, long walk. A.) Because this is life and the smells and sounds and all of it is NOW. B.) Its dangerous.

-Take pictures of things you don't understand but think are important.

-Sneak in the back entrances of temples 

"Friend Ryan"

-Meet a friend.:) And in turn we both have picture taker buddies:)

-Travel towards the mapped destinations with this new friend.

-Take pictures of random Tuk Tuks, because its not like you don't have 20 of these already.

-Visit all the places that are gold and shiny and full of Buddhas.

-NEVER forget to look up ...

-Hit an ancient gong, as loud as you can...

-Pretend you are the Pope...

-Spent almost 2 hours in a coffee shop with new friend talking about Stargate SG1 and life...

-Finally, grab uber cheap Indian food and some more samosas to go for your (not so amazing journey on a sleeper bus).