Friday, December 28, 2007

Proposed Agenda

Today is the last day of work. However, my bosses have offered to let me use their computer and e-mail access in January. Since I don't have a computer or internet at home, that's GREAT! So, I haven't yet moved out, but intend to. My charming co-worker also offered to let me camp out in front of his computer for my remaining time here. There are just plain options everywhere now. Because I already wrapped up my work last week, I spent today planning for the future. I considered cell phone plans, requested an unlocked phone - that means free text message and phone calls from abroad while I'm in Thailand, at least! Got that everyone? You can text me right after I get a SIM card from Thailand and figure out what my local number will be...details to come...next question is what sort of insurance to get and where to store my items at home - any ideas anyone?? next question is whether if I want to write a book (which I'm considering), I should bring a fold out keyboard attached to a blackberry or something like that. Remember I said I'm a luddite. Any ideas on this anyone??? BTW, I appreciate the responses I got from everyone on my hotmail account from cell phones to spirituality - very helpful, thank you. I would love to get together with each of you, absolutely! Whenever is fine with me now. You CAN post to my blog rather than e-mailing on hotmail, it's up to you. I think you can also subscribe to the blog, too.

Now for the trip part. I wanted to just flow with no plans. However, while looking at entry and visa requirements, I can't get either a visa or enter the country for many countries unless I have an onward bound ticket. That means my desire to surrender to the flow is slightly inhibited. Hence, an agenda is needed to firm up with STA Travel. Hopefully, an agenda alone will suffice (it did for Thailand). We'll have to see. Below is the preliminary agenda with several tours with Intrepid Travels (b/c I'm kinda intimidated to travel Egypy, Middle East and Morocco alone). There are slots (in italics in below agenda) for people to join me in my independent travels during the month of May in Cambodia or Indonesia; July to August in Turkey and Greece; October trekking in Nepal; Christmas and NYE in Goa followed by ???? in India. Goa is by all accounts a real Ibiza type of scene with cows on the beach and lots of yoga and international chill going on. So.....who's in?? Let's celebrate the birth of 2009 year in Goa! Of course, anyone is welcome to join the Intrepid Tours as well, if interested. See: www.intrepidtravel.com. The tours' names, dates and prices are in my itinerary.

Here's the plan with my budget exc. airfares (to save you time from doing your own).

1/23/08 Flight: SFO to Bangkok

2/3-4/24 - Yoga @ Koh Phangan @ Pyramid Yoga Center - on weekends, lots of scuba diving to be had at the nearby island of Koh Tao, where I got my diving license 10 years ago for free w/an A-frame bungalow on the beach in exchange for waiting tables at a restaurant. Great place!

4/26 Flight: Koh Samui to Bangkok to Cambodia or Bali

4/26 - 5/25 - go to Cambodia and/or Bali on my own (budget $33/day x 30 = $1,000)

5/24 - Flight - Cambodia or Bali to Bangkok

5/25/08 - Flight: Bangkok to Cairo

5/26 - 5/31 - Egypt (Dahab Beach Break - Intrepid 6 days) - $250 ($50/day) - I may do this on my own - lots of scuba diving to be had!!!! Imagine Bedoin tents and low tables on the Red Sea, as well.

6/1-6/15 - Cairo to Cairo - last two days in Cairo (Egypt Explorer - Intrepid 15 days) $1,055 ($70/day)

6/14-7/4 (start tour on 6/15 - Cairo to Istanbul (Cairo to Istanbul - Intrepid 21 days) $1,995 ($95/day)

7/5-8/15 - Turkey and Greece on my own (6 weeks) (budget $40/day x 42 = $1,680 or get a job here - remember Koh Tao??)

8/15/08 Flight: Athens to Casablanca

8/16/08 - 9/5/08 - Casablanca to Marrakesh (Morocco Encompassed - Intrepid 21 days) - $1,900 ($90/day)

9/14/08 - 9/25/08 - Marrakesh to Marrakesh (Southern Morocco Explorer) - $1,482 ($123/day)

9/27/08: Flight: Marrakesh to Kathmandu

9/28-11/1 - trek in Nepal and explore No. India (Dharamsala/Ladakh) on my own - budget $30/day x 31 = $930

11/1/08: Flight: Kathmandu to Mumbai

11/2-12/22 - Mumbai to Goa (Circle India -Intrepid 51 days) $2,995 ($60/day)

Xmas/NYE in Goa (10 days on my own) Goa - budget $20/day x 10 = $200.00.

From there, explore India (or study in an ashram) on my own for as long as I desire.

1/20/-09 arbitrary return date from Delhi, India to SFO, USA

Budget w/all pre-arranged trips plus yoga plus budgets plus transport, insurance, shots, souveniers and just plain being comfy when I want to is $25,000. Steep, but comes out to just under $70/day. Right now, I pay $54/night in accomodation/rent, alone plus $5 for breakfast and $10 for lunch, not to mention dinner and entertainment in our fine city, so it's pretty much the same, but oh so much more! The fact I don't have an income is only slightly problematic. ha ha! Fortunately, I am spending my savings. When I return to the USA, I should have $5,000 left to get me started. If it turns out that I want to stay abroad, we'll see...

Tomorrow, I visit my father in Monterey with my sister and niece; then pick up my other niece for a slumber party at mine in San Francisco while my apt. is still intact. As for NYE, I still haven't figured out what to do that evening (family in So. Bay, Sea of Dreams, yoga w/Janet Stone incl. tibetan bells w/Karma Moffet, Mt. Madonna Center w/Baba Hari Dass, Stacey's party in San Francisco, etc., etc., etc.) - what a blessing to have so many options. New Year's day is a co-worker's party (if I'm in San Francisco), then I will begin to gather boxes and pack my place. Any ideas re. boxes here?? Those of you interested in buying stuff, now's the time to call and pick it up. I decided to sell my furniture, after all, btw. Move out date 1/15. I'm also looking for movers. Again, any ideas?


Just in case I don't blog until 1/2/08, have a lovely NYE everyone! I hope the year finds you healthy, loved and truly content. 2007 has been exceptional! Love, Kyra

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Test re. UWIFM

Today is December 27, 2007. I am sitting in my own office in San Francisco at a powerhouse firm of consumer protection and consumer rights. The office has only glass walls and high ceiling-windows in every office. The office is filled with the chilling sunlight of San Francisco. My window overlooks the gate of Chinatown. I have been her since October 20, 2003. Tomorrow is my last day. Soon, I may be walking through any number of gates to China proper. This is the beginning of my travels, a/k/a a spiritual journey to surrender to the unbroken wholeness of flowing movement. Tibetan monk Rinpoche and a physicist whose name I can't remember have described reality as the unbroken wholenss of flowing movement. The practice of yoga has allowed me not to grasp too tightly to things and to allow myself to feel the universal connectedness of all. Emotions are waves that come and go in the vast ocean of reality - they come and go, they are created and dissolve into the same realm - wholeness. I have spent my life in the western world and been highly educated therein. Now, it is time for me to explore the eastern realm. I will begin with three months of chakra yoga teacher training at Pyramid Yoga Center (www.chakrayoga.com) in Thailand (2/2/07-4/24/07), followed by???
I am considering Bali/Malaysia/Australia/New Zealand/Fiji or Cambodia/Laos/China/Tibet/Nepal/India or Egypt/Syria/Jordan/Turkey/(maybe Iran)/Greece/Spain/Morocco/Nepal/Tibet/India.
Ideally, I will travel and learn and just BE. The idea is to flow, to surrender, to grow. To experience what the East has to offer and to offer whan I have to provide.
I grew up in the Silicon Valley, but my ancestors owned orchards in 'The Valley of Heart's Delight.' During the dotcom boom, I was in law school and in law firms. I am proof that things aren't always what they seem - I am a luddite - this blog is my first technological feat and I am setting the objective of continuing this blog throught the year - a marvel in an of itself.
The reason for this blog? To keep my friends, family and loved ones included in my travels. If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, whatever...please let me know. If you'd like to join me somewhere, please let me know. We will meet! The good news is that with this blog, we will meet as often as you'd like. I will never be farther than one click away from those that I hold so dear. I love you. I love this life. I am grateful for my freedom and courage and curiosity. I am grateful for you. Now, to work - only two days left!