Naked Soul Kitchen

Thanksgiving. I like this holiday because of what it tends to bring out in people. It's a good time to stop and look around at what we do have. Everyone in the world should take some time to be grateful for what they have and not only complain about they don't have. It's true, you may not have all that you want, but I can bet that you have so much more to be thankful for than you think. We shouldn't need a day on the calendar to tell us to be grateful for what we have but hey, everyone needs a little nudge sometimes! This year is coming to an end and although a lot has happened, I can't call any of it bad. All the things that have happened, have moved everything forward including time. And whether it's because I'm getting older or wiser, time is moving seemingly faster these days. I hate to sound like a tree hugging hippy, which I kind of am, but even on this rainy, otherwise miserable day, I feel overjoyed with the world and life itself. I'm ali...

Nice people, a festival in Brussels and lots of good vibes was how I ended up in Belgium. A road trip from Amsterdam to Brussels was a good time and it was nice to see the countryside of the Netherlands and not be on a crowded bus or train. Brussels was very much a city whereas I was craving for a small town feel with a laid back attitude. I was in luck because I found Ghent. It was recommended to me by a group I've met from here when I was in Southern France. They've said it's a super relaxed town with lots of ancient and beautiful architecture. Since Brussels proved to be a nice place but too much of a city life for my flavor. So after a couple of days there of some relaxed time and just walking around the city as well as a couple nights of some socializing and going out, I left Brussels and moved on to Ghent.  Ghent has stolen my breath the moment I walked through the streets and felt like I was taken back in time. It's such a lovely place that seems to be very...

It has been a while since I've written any travel advice or any contemplations about life. I figured right now is as good time as ever to get back into the groove.  Amsterdam evenings by the canal I am back in Amsterdam! I've been here for a few days already but today is my first day on my own again. It is a beautiful day and the sun is out, but unfortunately my traveler senses and the desire to actually travel, has certainly lost its appeal. Maybe it's because I got used to having someone there when traveling and just living so life otherwise seems a bit dull now. I know that there's a big beautiful world out there but I just need to find a place for me in it. I am a bit lost in terms of what I am doing after Amsterdam. I wish I had a grand plan of action but the only plan I have is to get fit again.  Having my surgery definitely slowed down my lifestyle but now it's time to stop being lazy and get fit, be active. That'll definitely give me a boo...

Now that I've been back home for nearly three months, it was nice to occasionally sneak a peak at my travel photos. Especially when the weather outside was truly frightening. So I decided to put together a compilation of the best moments of my India journey condensed into 40 minutes of photos and videos, filled with beautiful views, wonderful people and hypnotizing music of Ravi Shankar.  This video encompasses January 2013 through May 2013. My India journey continued after that until June so there will be another one or most likely two videos that I'll make. And all of you who see your faces in this collection of memories, know that I think of you and will always have a place for you in my heart.  Thank you for watching and enjoy! :) 

The Art of Being The greatest artists one can ever know are the artists of being, who, without paintbrush, chisel or stroke of pen, bring more aliveness to the world around them. Their very presence generates beauty, for their lives are their work of art. They are masters of the moment,  moving through each hour with graceful ease, painting the canvas of their day  with vivid hues of love. Their passion for life is their medium,  bringing fresh bursts of inspiration,  wherever they are, and leaving strokes of uncommon wisdom, wherever they go. They embrace all of life,  their arms outstretched in a wide arc of splendor. For all that has been, they are grateful. For all that is to come, they are welcoming. Their response to life is a resounding yes. Their hearts are as open as the sky. -Diana Loomans 2004 I found this wonderful quote while I was at Loompini Park in Bangkok. There was a beautiful little ...

For those of you who have been away from our so called "civilized world", you know how different life abroad is and specifically, life in Asia. For those of you who have not had a chance to take Asia for a test-drive well, pay attention. It is a whole new world out there. From your daily routines, to grocery shopping. Nothing is the same. Asia has its charm and many of us have called that part of the world "home" for quite some time. But just like any place where you stay for a while, you find things that bother you and you will also find things that you love. It's a roller coaster ride so turbulence can be expected. One of the lovely evenings on their porch up on in the hills in Arambol As I was sipping on some wine with my mother on a cold Sunday afternoon, I was reading an email from a friend I met in Arambol, Goa, India, which reminded me of the random, fun, wonderful times I had there with those guys. Learning Russian, watching fire shows, riding aro...

It's that time of he year again! My yoga ladies, Joyce and Anissa, you must remember our Sunday morning in Mysore, India when we decided to do our own version of the already well known challenge in the yoga community. Well, this morning I woke up feeling quite unmotivated and the idea of doing my regular ashtanga yoga routine did not sound exciting to me and I saw myself quitting halfway through. Then I remembered where I was a year ago at this time and it was in Mysore @Ashtanga Yoga Mysore, along with everyone else there and Eva, who kindly took photos for us and supervised us, although she refused to participate ;)  Post 108 Suryanamaskara Challenge Joyce, Irma, Anissa (we're attempting to make the number 108) @Ashtanga Yoga Mysore, India February 2013 Well here is your chance, Eva, Joyce, Anissa and anyone else who would like to test their strength, stamina, and mind-over-matter mentality.  I challenge you to challenge yourself!  You won't be doing thi...

Hello,friends, family, an everyone else in between! From now on and for the next couple of months I will be selling pretty much everything I own. Anything from winter coats, skiing jackets, dresses, shirts, pants, sweaters, shoes, jewelery , accesories, cameras, CDs, other technology and many other things in between. Designer & regular clothing & shoes as well. And quite a few things while acquired overseas in places like South America, Asia & Europe. So keep your eye out  I never realized how many things I really had and what I actually need in reality, until I started traveling. And now that I am back (temporarily) I would like to empty my parents' home of my things because they take up a lot of space. It will also add to my traveling piggy bank & helping me get to my next destination  So if you, your friend, your neighbor or anyone else you know is in the market for literally ANYTHING, please let them them know because I'll probably have it and that they ...

Time came for me to go back to where it all started... My time on the island was up and my six month visa in Cambodia was ending. Tom was selling his business share and I was feeling like making a move soon as well. So I looked up flights to literally everywhere and I couldn't choose for days, weighing pros and cons of each country I considered. The decision was pretty much made for me one morning when I checked for flights yet again and I found an incredible deal to one place...  So a couple weeks after I found myself packing my things, which I had more of than expected and saying goodbye to Koh Rong and its inhabitants. It was a very bittersweet moment for me because in my five months living on the island, with a month being away in Thailand with Tom, I called that place my home and the people there were my family. A very dysfunctional, crazy, funny, strange family. Nonetheless, I loved it and my time there will never be forgotten. As I boarded the boat for the final tim...

I just found this old post which never actually posted on my blog so here it is :) "We are all here for a reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future. -Robin Sharma from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari  I am starting with a quote from Robin Sharma's book because after reading just a few chapters everyday, I rediscovered quite a few ways to make my life and the life of those around me, more meaningful and selfless. It's a great read and an easy book to pick up at any time.  Out of the books and into the real world. The island has been pretty calm. After all the recent events, I was worried coming back to the place I call home. Upon my return I was pleasantly surprised with high spirits and positivity all around. It was excellent and so reassuring. The island now appeared even more beautiful and precious than before.  Somehow things tend to be easily forgotten here. A sort of out sight, out of mind mentality. I guess it's good, people ca...

It's been more than a year now that I've been rampaging through Asia. Before that, I was here for half a year with only a little bit of time in between in Lithuania, London and then the US. Time goes by so fast, I can't really believe it.  A year and a half wandering through South East Asia. Didn't see that coming. I knew I was going to end up somewhere away, although I didn't expect it to be on the other side of the world!! I'm so used to how my life has been in the last couple years, that it's quite hard to imagine it any other way.  Traveling has been the greatest adventure I never imagined. I did and saw so much in the last couple years that it feels like I've already lived a lifetime or two! I definitely don't feel like I am 26 in terms of what I've seen. What I do feel is young, alive, richer with knowledge and experience.  Before I started traveling, the world seemed mysterious and scary. And of course it still is those things but I am not...

Baby duckies living at Island Boys  Two days ago,around midday, I left Cambodia and crossed into Thailand. I left half a year of my life behind me, moving forward. Will I ever return to Cambodia? Who knows. You never know where life may take you. For now though, this chapter of my life is closed, making space for new pages. A quick look back on my time on Koh Rong... Whoa! Where to begin? 4km Beach Well, let's get this one straight from the beginning. I didn't start my yoga business while being on the island even though that was the original reason I stayed there. I did a lot of swimming though, so that was keeping me healthy and fit. I worked for a little guesthouse, restaurant, bar called Vagabond's and got to see behind the scenes life of people in Cambodia as well as the foreigners coming here. I met some amazing people and a few that I can actually call friends. I was loved dearly by Aila, the Vagabond's dog who was a young pup when I ...