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Nipawin

Nipawin

Walking is my happy place! En savoir plus🇨🇦Vancouver Island

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Voyageur Portugal
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- Jour 57
- mardi 27 mai 2025 à 01:56
- 🌙 16 °C
- Altitude: 536 m
- Canada Unorganized Division No. 18 57.228992, -105.56484957°13’44” N 105°33’53” W
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More pics and then " The End"
27 mai, Canada ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
I have just included more pictures of the scenery that I saw each day.

The weather was wonderful.

I counted over 30 different bird calls while I was there. There was also a lake where the Mallards and family plus a blue heron were regulars.

I left Chitthurst walking n the rain today. I wanted to catch the 11:25 bus to Petersfield early enough to enjoy English Fish and Chips before I left the UK

.Unfortunately the fish was way too battered for my liking and I removed it all. But it was super fresh and the chippies with salt and vinegar were delicious. AND they had Heinz catchup!!! They gave me sweet and spicy Thai sauce for my Prawns🥰

I have become quite a food snob as my diet has been Thai and Sri Lankan cuisine everyday with fresh fruit and vegetables. My taste buds have been doing hip- hop dancing in my mouth😂

I caught the train to Gatwick Airport and flew down to Lisbon.
I stayed over at the airport until my flight to Montreal left at 8 am the next morning. I had another 8 hour layover in Montreal until my final flight home to Vancouver.

I am presently 2 hours away from landing flying into the sun which is slowly setting for the night....
It really is a perfect ending for an incredible adventure!!!
TBC..... 😉😂🤗En savoir plus
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VoyageurI hear you about the layovers - yuck! The travel part is not so much fun. Happy arrival back home!
29/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur So peaceful looking...
29/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Awwwwww....
29/05/2025RépondreTraduire
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- Jour 43
- mardi 13 mai 2025 à 01:26
- ☁️ 11 °C
- Altitude: 100 m
- Angleterre Enford 51.275605, -1.8065251°16’32” N 1°48’23” W
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Over to the UK for 2 weeks
13 mai, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
So I landed at Gatwick airport and took the train to Petersfield. I then took a cab to Chithurst to stay at Aloka Cottage for a 2 week retreat in the forest.

I had a lovely room to myself ( very appreciated) and a shared bathroom and shower.

All I could hear were birds and the stream. No sirens, motorbikes, lawnmowers, power washers etc.

I would walk up to the main house each day at 11 :00 am for our one meal of the day. We were able to have a small breakfast at 7:00 at the cottage.En savoir plus
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VoyageurOh my! I thought you were back home in Nanaimo... Yay for a 2 week retreat! Sounds like a piece of paradise!
29/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Looks so quaint...
29/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Ah - no code.
29/05/2025RépondreTraduire
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Voyageur Portugal
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- Jour 42
- lundi 12 mai 2025 à 02:09
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 101 m
- Portugal Lisbon 38.770129, -9.12990238°46’12” N 9°7’48” W
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Fun things like laundry
12 mai, Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
I was offered some breakfast by a group of 4 Korean guys. They told me that they started in Korea and rode on their bikes to Paris, then Bayonne, then St. Jean and did the Camino to Santiago and then did the Camino down Portugal to Lisbon!!!!! Absolutely incredible.

Did my laundry and sent home more things.....I won't say how much it cost but probably the same as the airline charge honestly.

My flight leaves for London at 6 :25 am tomorrow so I will take the Metro to the airport later tonight.

Goodbye Lisbon😘En savoir plus
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VoyageurHow sad to leave & head home.... But maybe, it's time....
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Love those cozy looking bunks!
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Yikes!
15/05/2025Répondre
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Voyageur Portugal
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- Jour 41
- dimanche 11 mai 2025 à 01:42
- 🌙 13 °C
- Altitude: 29 m
- Portugal Ericeira 38.962523, -9.41831338°57’45” N 9°25’6” W
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Bus to Nazare
11 mai, Portugal ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
I was very excited to take the bus to Nazare today. It is a coastal city that attracts surfers from all over the world due to its enormous waves.

The bus ride was just over an hour.

I walked up to the lookout early and I am glad that I did because it got very hot!

The views were spectacular. There were a lot of tourists.

I spent the whole day there and got home around 7 pmEn savoir plus
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VoyageurLooks so beautiful
12/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Ooooooh!
15/05/2025Répondre
Voyageur Sure does...
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
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Voyageur Portugal
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- Jour 40
- samedi 10 mai 2025 à 22:34
- 🌙 15 °C
- Altitude: 28 m
- Portugal Lisbon 38.708282, -9.14392838°42’30” N 9°8’38” W
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Back in Lisbon
10 mai, Portugal ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
Rest day.
No agenda just to take it easy.

I did end up walking and saw some sights including a huge flea market.

I went down to the river after dinner to watch the sail boats and other watercraft.

It was packed with people.....Saturday night the city never sleeps!!!En savoir plus
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VoyageurMust be part of the Spanish culture - I've seen the same thing in Central American countries & Colombia. Waaayyy too much noise for me...
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Yikes - no sun there!
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Interesting. In Madagascar we rode in little canopied carts that were pulled by a local walking and running in his bare feet! Their feet soles were thick and hard! Fascinating, but we felt kind of guilty.
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
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Voyageur Portugal
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- Jour 39
- vendredi 9 mai 2025 à 22:11
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 15 m
- France Mesnac 45.770753, -0.3526845°46’15” N 0°21’10” W
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Day 7 Last day of Retreat
9 mai, France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Beautiful sunny day.
I had an early shower to beat the crowds and then went for my coffee as per usual

I entered the dining hall to be met by the Chef....."Come now" she said and led me to a back table. There were small glasses, a very small teapot and a thermos.
She said, " I make tea for you." She then poured hot water from the thermos into the tea pot and each glass. She then poured the water out of each glass and dipped the rim of each glass in hot water. Next she put the tea into the pot.
" This tea comes from very old tree in North Korea." she said.
She let it sit for a few minutes and poured it into my cup.
She then said, " Don't drink just smell the fragrance.....then only use the tip of your tongue to taste it. Then you can drink it..."
Our teacher taught us this ( meaning Thay....short form of Thicht Naht Hahn)
How cool was that!!!! Amazing🥰
Slowly other sisters joined us and other participants
It was something I will never forget🫶💕💕

We had hugs and happy tears as we said goodbye .....until next timeEn savoir plus
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VoyageurNice picture of you. It is a calendar worthy
12/05/2025RépondreTraduire
VoyageurWhat a warm and magical way to end your retreat - yes, something you will never forget. So special! Sad though to leave everyone and all that peace behind, I''m sure.
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Love this picture - I copied & pasted it into my photo album. Copied a few others too - hope that's okay...
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
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Voyageur Portugal
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- Jour 38
- jeudi 8 mai 2025 à 21:36
- 🌙 14 °C
- Altitude: 94 m
- France Ensigné 46.082458, -0.26374946°4’57” N 0°15’49” W
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Day 3-6 Retreat
8 mai, France ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
So I followed the same schedule basically every day.

I forgot to mention that they have a lazy day every Monday.
Now this isn't to be used to do laundry etc but to do nothing. Rest, read, journal, walk, sleep....meditate and so on if you catch my drift it actually is difficult to not do things....I learned I do like structure and following a schedule. Very interesting....

I forgot to mention that they would ring the bell all day long and it was for us to stop what we were doing and breathe and be present in our body..... There were also signs everywhere as a reminder to get out of our heads and into our body🤗

The first service meditation was in the kitchen. The chef was hilarious!! The first thing she said was: " No Cooking....No Chopping...Just Scrubbing!!!!"
She gave us 3 carts filled with large service pans that were very laden with grease......the fix was vinegar, baking soda, steel wool and elbow grease. We were having so much fun until one of the Sisters told us to be quiet and work in a meditative fashion.....

That same day I was chatting with Anna and a Sister reminded me of the Noble Silence and ralso to wash my dishes as if it were a baby Buddha.....

I also should mention that every night I had to get up to use the outhouse.....But....it was thrilling because not only did I see the beautiful stars 😍 I heard the Owl.

I continued to hear the Owl every night but it's call was not loud enough to be picked up on Merlin....until one night👏🥰

I identified it as a Tawny Owl. There were several in the area calling to one another......such a thrill!!!
I also heard the Nightengale as well😍 I think my next trip should be a bird call ID trip😉 It is so gratifying identifying their calls.En savoir plus
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VoyageurGlad you are onto Merlin.
12/05/2025RépondreTraduire
VoyageurThe tawny is the same genus as our barred owls.
12/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur I just love bamboo groves!
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
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- Jour 34
- dimanche 4 mai 2025 à 18:14
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 47 m
- France Reignac 45.237203, -0.52055645°14’14” N 0°31’14” W
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Day 2 Mindfullness Day New Hamlet
4 mai, France ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
So 5 am wake up.
Today we had a chanted meditation and an early breakfast at 7 am .

We then were transported up to New Hamlet in vans to join the other 2 Hamlet's for Mindfullness Day. All of the Hamlet's gather twice per week Sundays and Thursdays alternating Hamlet's.

There are 3 Hamlet's:

New Hamlet ( don't know)
Lower Hamlet (women)
Upper Hamlet (men)

Honestly I figured out there must have been 200 participants.

The meditation hall was packed.

We sat for a Dhamma talk which lasted an hour and a half.

Then walking meditation and lunch.

We arrived back at our " Lower Hamlet" at 4:30.

Dinner was at the usual time.

We had a Lazy Night which I will explain tomorrow😉🤗En savoir plus
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VoyageurSo interesting and different from our "normal" lives...
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur That's a LOT of participants. Imagine keeping everything flowing smoothly with that many people.
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Ooooh - all the good stuff!!
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
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- Jour 33
- samedi 3 mai 2025 à 20:50
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 22 m
- France Salles-d'Angles 45.643144, -0.33581245°38’35” N 0°20’9” W
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Day 1 Retreat
3 mai, France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
***So Sorry for this long post***

II woke up at 5 am. It actually wasn't too difficult.

The bathroom was very busy.....
The meditation was a led one and I was familiar with it . Very nice♥️

Afterwards I walked back to my cabin. Breakfast was at 8.

I was trying to figure out where the dining hall was as I hadn't been orientated..... A Sister approached me and said it was at 7:30!! She directed me and all was well kind of I didn't know that it was Noble Silence until after breakfast....

Anyway, the Sisters make their own baguettes and honestly they were the best whole grain ones I have ever had!!!! Perfect texture and not a struggle to bite and chew like some.

The food in general was a Vegan's dream come true 🥰💕♥️👍👏

BRRAKFAST
Porridge
Fresh Baguettes
Home made plum jam and peanut butter or some seed?
Fresh fruit of all kinds
Seeds
Flax seed
Rice Milk
Soy Milk
There was no white or brown sugar

After breakfast we had orientation.

Walking meditation was everyday at 11:30. We always sang a variety of songs before it and Service Meditation

Walking meditation lasted for 45- 50 minutes

Lunch was at 12:30
Sooooo.....it was Vietnamese style food every day!!!!🥰
Like I said......AMAZING!!

Every day was a different variety of dishes. Always rice, brown and white. Also fresh Vietnamese herbs and greens along with Lettuce from the Happy Farm.
Also tomatoes, cucumbers, fennel and leeks.
There was also 2 different types of soup.....The Bamboo Soup was so delicious!!!

Chickpeas were always available along with Nutritional Yeast, and Flax and seeds.

They actually make their own tofu!
It takes over 4 hours to do.

They also had pickled radishes Vietnamese style🤗👍

We had afternoon rest at 1400. Service Meditation was at 1500
Physical exercise at 1700 and Dinner was 1800.

Dinner was like lunch....🥰

Noble Silence began after dinner until after Breakfast so roughly 13 hours.

A meditation sit was at 2000 but not every night

So lights were out for me by 9

A very full and enriching experience ♥️En savoir plus
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VoyageurGlad you are enjoying the food.
11/05/2025RépondreTraduire
VoyageurSorry for the delay in responding. 5 glorious days of happily playing in the garden absorbed all my time!! The food sounds amazingly healthy as does your schedule of activities! A blessed peaceful time away from the stresses of daily life - OMG - how awesome! Happy for you!
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Such a serence spot.
15/05/2025RépondreTraduire
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Voyageur Portugal
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- Jour 32
- vendredi 2 mai 2025 à 03:49
- 🌙 14 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- France Ambarès-et-Lagrave 44.924103, -0.52646244°55’27” N 0°31’35” W
Day 29 Lisboa to Plum Village France
2 mai, France ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
I left at 9 from the Hostel and was at the airport by 10:15 which was great.

My flight to Bordeaux is delayed by 40 minutes so I will have to change my train tickets to an hour later .

It is 30 minutes from the airport to train station but I luckily caught the express bus. Then an hour to St. La Foy de Grande.

I am on the train to La Foy de Grande. I have a fellow who is picking me up there and then driving me 30 minutes to Plum Village.

I am going to this Buddhist Monastery called Plum Village, for a week long retreat. I will be offline as well during that time.

This place is where Thich Nhat Hanh lived. You can Google about him. He basically was the father of the "Mindfulness Movement." He also was Tara Brach's teacher if you know her.

" Being in the Present" by using the breath.... Mindfulness training is what I am here for.

I arrived at 7:30 pm and missed the orientation. I will receive it tomorrow morning.

All I heard was birds.
It is so peaceful and quiet here out in the country.En savoir plus
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VoyageurI didn't realize you were doing a retreat - how wonderful for you! And, how special to be where "mindfulness" made its beginnings. Soak it all up and enjoy. I guess we will "chat" after your week....
04/05/2025RépondreTraduire
VoyageurI figured out the map better - it certainly shows quite the journey!
04/05/2025RépondreTraduire
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