Episode 9 Adventures with Charity JOY

Wow what epic lessons I’m learning everyday. One thing I can definitely repeat again and again is, “Expect the unexpected”.

My sister, Olivia, and Mom drove me to Albuquerque for my flight to Los Angelos. As I checked my luggage through, which was overweight, Linda waived the fee to a lower rate to help me out. I was shoving the passport and wallet back in my bag and I handed her a “U R Amazing” card, she was deeply touched and said, “you made my day”, with a huge smile upon her face. That’s the thing you just never know who you will touch with a simple gesture. It went both ways for her and I.

In LA I had a nine hour layover, jeez I will not do that again, but I did make the most of it. People watching, writing, making observations, eating fries and drinking soda water as others around me said good byes, children having meltdowns, adults drinking one alcoholic beverage after another, couples cuddling, and sisters hugging one another. At last the check-in counter opened and I breezed through check in. Once on the other side of TSA the airport energy was so much cleaner, easier and lots of space to sprawl out and wait for the flight to board.

Gate 202, flight boarded, and an empty seat next to me for the next ten and half hour flight to Fiji. I was in and out of sleep. Watching movies, listening to new music, eating small amounts of the food served. The smells towards the end of the flight start to get a little more noticeable, and not very fresh. Landing in Fiji was absolutely beautiful. I was asking myself why I didn’t stay a few days there to snorkel, but flights were booked and I was ready to get down under.

Landing in Sydney I had a quick connecting flight. I asked an airport worker how to get to domestic flights. Not only did she tell me, she walked me there down the elevator and down the corridors, she was so pleasant and I was grateful.

Coffs Harbour arrival, Katie was waiting excitedly at the small terminal with her witch’s hat on. We hugged and laughed and even a tear shed. What a beautiful moment to meet a soul sister in person finally, after 2.5 years of training and getting to know each other online.

Hence the training began! I definitely was feeling the flights and I took a few days to adjust. The first stop after the airport was straight into the ocean! It felt amazing to jump in and acclimate to summer time after the last two months in the southwest cold, snow and elevation. My Kalaripayttu teacher, Lalita, arrived the same night as me. It felt so surreal to have dreamed this moment into existence, being together down under and ready for training!

Within a week of landing me and 12 others met up for a Kalari Martial Arts Ayurvedic Retreat in Kyogle. Situated west and inland of the Gold Coast into the mountains surrounded by beauty and nature. Originally this retreat center was run as a Buddhist monastery for 40 years. The property was pristine, with the sound of koalas at night and the cutest little pademelons hopping around at dawn and dusk around our rooms. Our training began at 6:30am and ran for two and a half to three hours. Led by Lalita Yagnik, guiding us in Kalaripayattu and Adam Martin, in Chinese martial arts. These two amazing trainers kept us motivated and inspired through their passion and integrity for teaching and the traditional practices. We were challenged physically, mentally and energetically everyday. At the end of our training sessions we were greeted by our Ayurvedic chef Ricky who put the utmost care into our activated and beautifully presented meals three times a day. During the day we had free time to take and compare notes from our sessions, nap, or just bask in the beautiful sounds of nature around us. We trained again in the late afternoon for another two to three hours. In the evenings after dinner, we had fires, sang, played drums, did some practical self defense movements with Adam and shared life stories. The connection that was made with this tribe was awesome, one I’ll never forget and hope to meet in the future for more training.

After a week with this amazing tribe Katie and I headed back to Woolgoogla. I took the opportunity to drive down the mountain with a right side drive manual car as Katie was happy to let me play chauffeur. I took my time driving until I felt comfortable which took about twenty minutes. It’s using both sides of the brain when we shift from driving from what we had always known, on the right side of road with a left hand driven vehicle. This was not my first rodeo as I had driven in many countries before with a right hand side car. We were high from the retreat, and eager to keep the momentum going with the training and good food preparation.

An unexpected announcement was made where I wouldn’t be able to stay where I had planned. I called Lalita to organize Plan b, as to where we would be continuing our teacher training hours. She arrived a few days later in her new van that was to be built out and we got on the road and headed to Byron Bay Area. She had organized a place for us to stay in Suffolk Park. It was about a 2.5 hour drive north from where I had been, so a little warmer.

Upon arrival the door of the place was open, but no one was around. We checked out the room and I could sense I wasn’t going to be completely comfortable, I told Lalita, and she reached out to everyone she knew in the area to see what was possible. In the end we chose to stay but first we went for Brazilian food and a little Brazilian forró music jam at a park. It felt good to move and dance to live music. It was my first time hearing this style of music and I really enjoyed it, dancing with a partner or on my own, both felt really good in my body.

Forró music

Nature and Training Spaces in Suffolk Park!