HELLO OUT THERE TO CYBERSPACE; TOMORROW I WILL BE IN ANOTHER ZONED OUT PLACE.
Jamaica mon! No, not Jamaica, Long Island. Too much snow. Jamaica, West Indies. On Valentine's Day I fly to Negril, the West End of Jamaica, for a yoga retreat. I will be gone 12 days in all. I make this trip every year and I think I have done yoga in Jamaica about 20 times.
The trip to get there is horrendous; two planes, a longish shuttle bus ride to the site, and all the security and customs mess we all have to endure these days when going from one country to another. I go a few days before the actual retreat begins, so I can rest up and relax before I rest up and relax. 75% of the attendees are doing their downward facing dogs every year so it will be really nice to see and visit old friends. We do yoga between 4 and 4 1/2 hours a day; 2 1/2 hours in the morning and 2 hours late afternoon. In between there is beach, beach and more beach. Some yogis snorkel and swim and go sightseeing and shop. I swim. And lay around. And read. The water is wonderful, warm, green and calm.
I will be at one hotel right on the beach for a few days and then move to the sister hotel on a cliff overlooking the sea where the retreat is held. I will be sharing a room with the friend with whom I am travelling. This is the first time ever (except for the first time) that I am not going alone. I am happy with this. It will be a different experience for me.
This hotel is just okay; it would be a two or three-star hotel in the U.S. Jamaica is, after all, a third world country. So many of the people are very poor. They seem happy enough, but who really knows. My Jamaican friend Jennifer is a single mother of two children by different fathers, none of who she married. Her kids are adults now so she only has herself to provide for, but this is enough -- I think she makes about $50 American a week. She works as a waitress at a nice restaurant on the beach. We laugh a lot together; she has a fabulous outlook on life.
The food is extremely good. Fresh fish, vegetables and fruit are bountiful. The restaurants are very pretty and most of them are either on or face the beach, in the middle of a jungle like setting, so the view while eating is fantastic. The sunset is spectacular, being so far west. The music is reggae. And loud. Wherever you go. Not a big fan. I mean, how much Bob Marley can you take? But the tourists love it so it goes on and on and ON. Day and night. Marijuana is easily available but if you don't want to buy, not to worry -- you can get a nice high on the exhale in the air!
There is time and space and atmosphere for reflection and thought. Sitting on my porch which is several feet from the sea and watching the sun take an hour to set, is never boring. I walk on the road (there is no sidewalk) and cars will stop, honk their horn and say "hi Allegreta!" -- This gives me a very nice feeling. After all these visits, I am remembered.
And so as the sun sets in Los Angeles, I bid farewell to you all. I hope the end of February will bring warm and sunny weather.
And remember -- Don't worry, be happy.
Jamaica mon! No, not Jamaica, Long Island. Too much snow. Jamaica, West Indies. On Valentine's Day I fly to Negril, the West End of Jamaica, for a yoga retreat. I will be gone 12 days in all. I make this trip every year and I think I have done yoga in Jamaica about 20 times.
The trip to get there is horrendous; two planes, a longish shuttle bus ride to the site, and all the security and customs mess we all have to endure these days when going from one country to another. I go a few days before the actual retreat begins, so I can rest up and relax before I rest up and relax. 75% of the attendees are doing their downward facing dogs every year so it will be really nice to see and visit old friends. We do yoga between 4 and 4 1/2 hours a day; 2 1/2 hours in the morning and 2 hours late afternoon. In between there is beach, beach and more beach. Some yogis snorkel and swim and go sightseeing and shop. I swim. And lay around. And read. The water is wonderful, warm, green and calm.
I will be at one hotel right on the beach for a few days and then move to the sister hotel on a cliff overlooking the sea where the retreat is held. I will be sharing a room with the friend with whom I am travelling. This is the first time ever (except for the first time) that I am not going alone. I am happy with this. It will be a different experience for me.
This hotel is just okay; it would be a two or three-star hotel in the U.S. Jamaica is, after all, a third world country. So many of the people are very poor. They seem happy enough, but who really knows. My Jamaican friend Jennifer is a single mother of two children by different fathers, none of who she married. Her kids are adults now so she only has herself to provide for, but this is enough -- I think she makes about $50 American a week. She works as a waitress at a nice restaurant on the beach. We laugh a lot together; she has a fabulous outlook on life.
The food is extremely good. Fresh fish, vegetables and fruit are bountiful. The restaurants are very pretty and most of them are either on or face the beach, in the middle of a jungle like setting, so the view while eating is fantastic. The sunset is spectacular, being so far west. The music is reggae. And loud. Wherever you go. Not a big fan. I mean, how much Bob Marley can you take? But the tourists love it so it goes on and on and ON. Day and night. Marijuana is easily available but if you don't want to buy, not to worry -- you can get a nice high on the exhale in the air!
There is time and space and atmosphere for reflection and thought. Sitting on my porch which is several feet from the sea and watching the sun take an hour to set, is never boring. I walk on the road (there is no sidewalk) and cars will stop, honk their horn and say "hi Allegreta!" -- This gives me a very nice feeling. After all these visits, I am remembered.
And so as the sun sets in Los Angeles, I bid farewell to you all. I hope the end of February will bring warm and sunny weather.
And remember -- Don't worry, be happy.