Bumthang

I have my permits! I am well-chuffed about getting a chance to explore some more of Bhutan. :) As if it weren't exciting enough, I'll be travelling with a Bhutanese man who is both a licenced guide and photographer. He's published books of his photographs and most of the postcards I've sent have images that he took. I think it will be an enjoyable adventure (and one that comes just in time as I'll need to head to Paro shortly after returning). Paro is where the airport is and home to a number of other interesting sites which I'd like to see before leaving. It won't be all that long before I'm on a plane, and that means Canada doesn't follow long-after.

Just a quick note to let you know that all continues well here in Bhutan. Though volunteering has fallen by the way-side, I am still pursuing the experience as best I can. I am trusting that the in-country travel that I intend to do will show an as yet unseen (by me) side of Bhutan. I am certainly hopeful that that will be the case, anyway.

The adventure is half-way over according to the calendar. Have I reached goals that I may have intended for myself? Probably not, but who knows what the remaining time brings?

Thimpu and beyond

Apologies for any delays in writing but I am not physically connected to a computer here as I am at home. Shock of shocks, I went a couple of days without getting online!

I am writing from an artist's studio. I met one of the artists when I arrived as he helped friends find me a place to live. He and some of his fellow artists and I chatted about Bhutan, Canada and all sorts of things. Though I'm not an artist in the way they are, I have a genuine interest in the range of both fine art and commercial work that they do so that alone has been interesting (saying nothing for the conversation - which was also very interesting).

I'm planning to do some travel to other parts of the country as I've remained in Thimpu, the capital, since my arrival. I may join a couple of Canadians for some travel early next week or I may strike out on my own. In any case, I look forward to doing it in a way that helps me not just see more of Bhutan but to experience more of Bhutan.

I've met a wide range of people already and it's given me a number of insights into Bhutan that I would otherwise never have had. I have plenty more to learn (of course - since that is always the case, no matter where I am) and am looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.

Bhutan

Sigh... I'm here, but have exhausted myself catching up other folks directly. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait for details. I can say though that in 8 hours or so here (and with the help of some great folks), I have an apartment, some groceries and maybe even a volunteer opportunity. :)

The Adventure Continues

It truly became an adventure yesterday when Druk Air (Bhutan's only airline) told me that they had no record of me and that I had a visa letter from the wrong government ministry. Funnily enough, it didn't strike me as a big deal. I knew that I needed to contact some people and get things happening, but it didn't really concern me greatly. I knew things would work out. Remarkably, they have worked out according to the original schedule. This is pretty impressive considering not only did I have the wrong documents, but tomorrow's flight was already full. It pays to have contacts, I guess. :)

Next you hear from me, I'll be in Bhutan. As if it weren't going to be a shock anyway, after a couple of days in Kathmandu, I think it will be a huge change. Bring on the change.

P.S. I saw monkeys today. :) For anyone wondering, I did not do my monkey impression for them (but I did feel right at home). ;)

And so it begins...

If you've ever wondered why those relaxing massage chairs that are often found in malls don't have a "turbulence" setting, I think I know why. After not the most restful flight across the Atlantic, I arrived in London all bushy-eyed and bright-tailed early this morning. Luckily for me, I had a date with a good friend for some quality time in London-town. The day has been great and has already found me thinking plenty about what has been and what is to come. I step forward with excitement and just a little bit of trepidation. But first, further visiting. That means no more typing.

By the way, if you're going on a multi-leg flight in the future, put your deodorant in your carry-on. Just sayin'.

Too x 4

Too few days to go. Too few details to go on. Too much to do. Too bad. :)

Me

I have let much time pass since acknowledging the thoughts that were floating in my head relating to my first experiences of hot yoga last month. I fear that the most substantial aspects have decanted leaving some nice clear (read: empty) space with all those great thoughts in the muck at the bottom of my brain.

Still, I do recall that much of my inspiration related to self. Self-awareness and consciousness of self (not to be confused with self-consciousness) were highs of the experience as I live a life full of distractions. Hot yoga saw me concentrating (almost) solely on my body and the pose. This was very refreshing, despite the 40-degree heat.

Though I haven't continued yoga in the past few weeks, I will continue the journey of self both literally and figuratively. In 9 days, I will be flying to Bhutan to spend 4-5 weeks learning, living and experiencing. This will encompass new cultural and physical experiences while including many opportunities for self-reflection. One of the things I look forward to most is the change in distractions. I hope to use my time to capture my thoughts and experiences across various media. If you know me, you know that photography will be a big part of that, but not the only thing. I look forward to writing more and think this experience will allow me to explore aspects of myself while I explore aspects of Bhutan and it's people.

Went to Hot Yoga for the first time tonight. I really enjoyed it. It's got post material floating in my head but it will have to wait 'til the weekend to coalesce.

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "A"

Affection –noun
1. fond attachment, devotion, or love: the affection of a parent for an only child.

Addiction –noun
the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

How well do you think these two fit together? I think it is definitely possible to be enslaved to a fond attachment whose cessation causes trauma. In fact, I wouldn't be posting it if I didn't see that as a possibility (and in my own life no less).

It's no coincidence that quitting an addictive product/activity carries many similarities to ending a relationship. Is it best to go "cold turkey"? Is it possible not to? "Ya, now I'm down to one line of coke a week..." (JOKE! NOT REALLY!)

Maybe the difference lies in whether the source of the addiction, or more specifically the object of the addiction is a person or a thing. It does tend to complicate things.

Then again, an addiction to affection isn't necessarily about a particular person, but rather a particular attention or connection and that may be human nature - the need to seek out others with whom we feel a kinship or connection.

Addiction is a term that has plenty of implications. I guess I'm just trying to explore the language and the concept.

"it's a lunatic ninja coming through the window"

Can you imagine this happening in Kanata?

From an article on celestial happenings in the great Kingston Whig-Standard:

"Uranus has an 84-year cycle, so for the rest of your life, the planet will never again be as far away from you as it will be this evening."

It's a good thing that they specified that it is the planet. Otherwise, immature people like myself might think it was funny. Tee-hee.

The Fine Print

How often do you read the Terms of Service or End User License Agreement when you set up an account on a web service (e-mail, social networking, etc.) or when you install software? My guess is: not that often. Well, you'd be amazed at what you're agreeing to when you go through those systems. Those are the rules by which the company agrees to abide, and the rules by which they expect you to abide in using their service.

I've seen people get billed for the use of a service that they thought was free because that aspect of the Terms of Service wasn't clear to them. That sucks, but is it worse than giving up rights to your content permanently? Maybe being a photographer makes me more keenly aware of the issues of the latter. In any case, I'm not the only person with a concern.

Facebook recently changed it's Terms of Service, claiming perpetual rights to content that was posted. This caused an uprising of users around the world. Many saw it as an effort to claim ownership over the what users posted. Photographers who make a living from selling their photos were justifiably worried. Well, the uproar has borne fruit. Facebook responded both to explain their intentions (to have the right to use the content to help you share it) and to revert to their old terms of service.

Still, if people hadn't reacted so strongly, most people may not have noted what happened at all. As conspiratorial as it may sound, to ensure our rights are protected, we must remain ever vigilant.

It's always nice to have moments that make you smile (that is a generalization I am happy to make). I had a few today, but one of the most rewarding involved being out on the frozen surface of Lake Ontario. Besides the beautiful location and the good company, I was most pleased to see the enjoyment that others were getting. Specifically, seeing an elderly man with an electric scooter out on the ice exploring and, when the ice conditions suited, sliding around and doing doughnuts. :)

Apologies seem to be the order of the past few months. It seems to be the most common type of post that I write. That's what happens when days and weeks go by between posting. And so it has happened again.

Having an online presence has it's benefits and it's challenges. For me, the greatest challenge has been the extent of my presence and the energy required to maintain it. I'm on Facebook, Flickr, Blogspot, Twitter and of course e-mail (6 accounts - 4 work and 2 personal). As is my tendency, I spread myself to thin.

Plans for an adventure are afoot. But you'll have to wait for that. :)

Lost Opportunity

Governments the world over seem to buy into the economic theory that they can spend their ways out of a recession. Having been chastised by my first-year economics professor for talking in class, I know that I don't have a degree in economics (I should note, that I was explaining a concept to a friend that he had made a particular mess of). In any case, I'm not going to say I know better than the teams of economists that our government, and many others employ. I am though, concerned of with the short-comings in Canada's most recent budget. Sure, there's infrastructure funding, money for social housing, support for First Nations and more. All good things. But where's the forward-looking money? As Obama trumpets the opportunities of a "green" economy Canada cuts funding to scientific research and doesn't look to updating things like our utility distribution networks to better support new approaches to technology like networks to support plug-in hybrid cars. We may/will still come out of the recession, but I think it will leave us structurally behind other countries. Why be short-sighted? If you can immediately influence the economy while seeing long-term benefits, why not do it?

A new hope

Barak Obama is now the President of the United States (in case you live under a rock). His initial efforts and words have related to increasing transparency of government and doing what was promised. That is extremely heartening to me. I may not be American but I believe his approach to governing the U.S. will influence us all.

As people develop a taste for governance that serves the people, that is not explicitly partisan, that wants to remove the curtain behind so much political action takes place, people may come to expect more from their own leaders. This is an opportunity for Canada's politicians to scoop some of the hope inspired by Obama's inauguration. I also hope that if they choose to continue to obscure and fight, that we, the people, will react with the strength seen in the United States.

What kind of a system have we created? An economy that relies on continued growth. Where steady-state is underperforming and where saving money can be a problem.

Sometimes reality is more interesting than fiction: "Porn Industry Seeks Federal Bailout"

Happy start to 2009!

As years end and other begins there is much looking back and fore at what has come and what may yet come to be.

One chance to not only look back, but also to learn is BBC's 100 things we didn't know last year.