Wanderlust

Connecting 101

/ xAngelinax / Leave a comment

This past weekend I went to a place called “The Rainbow Temple of Whatever”. I met heaps of different people, from enormously diverse walks of life. Travelers, locals, Australians, Germans, Venezuelans…But out of all these people, one person in particular stood out. Guy Feldmann. He came up with the idea of the Rainbow Temple:

“a place where like-minded souls can share with each other their dreams and aspirations…a place where we can collectively and individually grow to a greater understanding of life, and to celebrate the many, many gifts that life on Earth offers. A place devoted to the raising of consciousness so that we may evolve out of ignorance and ultimately move away from suffering to a greater enjoyment of life.”

In hindsight, it is truly unbelievable what I learned about myself and the place I occupy in this world in relation to others.

On one particular night, Guy was sitting across the table smoking a cigarette while I finished a drawing. Since arriving, I had tried to suppress my curiosity of discovering what, how, who or why had led this extraordinary character to build such a magical place. What he told me is a beautiful story of wonder, amusement, connecting, discovery, awakening and above all, adventure. It is a story that I don’t dare tell you, for it is his only. Suffice to say that it marked me, not only because of the story itself, but because of that personal moment Guy and I shared, sitting opposite each other surrounded by people enjoying the bonfire, some singing, others playing musical instruments and others partaking in a challenging game of chess. For the next two hours, Guy captivated my attention to a point where I could feel us connecting. His words were like music to my ears, and my emotions danced to the rhythm of their melody. The last day I went to his house to say goodbye and he read me a few poems he has kept, from a guy that ‘changed his life’. Ironically, Guy changes a lot of people’s lives too, including mine.

Guy inspired me to want to know the world. To travel to places without fear of becoming lost, because doing so could, in the end, mean finding yourself. One should never hold back on learning from people’s experiences to build your own enriching life. Something Guy said really stuck with me. He said that we are all connected; all originate from the same source. Today, I reflected upon this and thought that perhaps I liked Guy so much because in him, I saw a part of me that I would like to be. Could you imagine? That each of us is simply a reflection of one another and that whatever you are vibrating into the cosmos, can ultimately ‘infect’ someone else’s energy?

Viewing things from this new-found perspective has allowed me to reflect on the unforeseen circumstances that I have experienced in my life. What if, for some unconscious masochistic reason, I manifested experiences that at the time seemed unbearable, but that (and it seems so clearly now) I needed them to grow, to evolve as a conscious being.  And so slowly, we all attract into our lives exactly the experiences, people and situations that we need, because doing so might help us see ourselves mirrored in each other and slowly work towards improving ourselves. If so, I am grateful to the Universe and to myself for attracting the people and situations that ultimately led me to meet Guy.

My EcoTrip To The Pico Duarte

/ xAngelinax / Leave a comment

This past weekend was a long one here in my country, and since December my boyfriend and I had been planning on going to the Pico Duarte. I don’t even remember how we got to talking about it. When I was a little girl (I was the six the firs time I went) I used to go there every single year with my father. But it has been 9 years since I visited. Last time I went, I was 15 and it was the year 2001. We went for spring break when the weather was pretty okay. This time, it was mid January, and the weather was much colder.

Anyway, we contacted a group of people that my boyfriend knows were planning a trip. Thursday January 21st we headed to Jarabacoa and stayed in my family’s house there. The group was leaving by bus at about 1:00am past midnight. Since my house was on their way, they stopped for us at about 4:20am. *funny* We had already packed our bags the day before, so we headed out. The ride there was longer than what I had anticipated. I was very tired and sleepy but try as I might I was never going to fall asleep with the excitement I was feeling inside me. It was the first time in forever that I was going back, to a place I had not been to for about nine years. I wondered what I was going to see changed. What was I to expect?

At about 7:30am we arrived at La Ciénega, it was still a little before dawn and the bus lost track of the road. We ended up going up some hill where it wasn’t supposed to and it was hell to turn it back. Once we were able to solve that, the whole group got together and we gave some kind of “briefing” about the way things were gonna’ go down. They gave us some canned sausages, a Milky Way and some other food I can’t quite remember. I was anxious to get going, and I kept rushing my boyfriend to hurry up. At about 8:15am we were finally able to go.

The first stop you have to make is pretty close from where you actually get going. It’s a place called Los Tablones. The road is pretty easy and most people find themselves commenting on how “harder” they thought it was going to be. I always laugh at them because they have absolutely no idea that they are just about to walk straight into the devil’s road to hell. The first stop we make is at a place called La Cotorra, which literally translates to”The Parrot”. The name was given because once, a long time ago, these mountains were full of, well, parrots. When I used to go with my father, I remember listening to their noise as I was going up. I used to get pissed off because it sounded like they were laughing at me. So anyway, once you get there the road starts becoming much more steeper, muddier and sure as hell harder to walk on. I’ve always had excellent cardiovascular resistance, despite the fact that I tend to smoke. Not long before, I plugged on my earplugs and took it up a nut. Without realizing it, I left my boyfriend behind and caught up with the people from our group that were basically leading us. We were a long way ahead of the others. I had never met these people before in my life, and yet here we were fighting the same battle. Once you have about 3 to 4 hours walking, it is then that you realize “Fuck, what the hell have I gotten myself into?” It was very different from the last time I went, because three years ago a forest fire had engulfed everything in flames. All the trees were burnt and butt-naked. The ones that did have leaves, only had a few remaining on its peak. They all loOked like Mohawk-Strutting Pine Cones

After stopping for about 5 minutes at La Cotorra, we were thinking on stopping and having lunch there. But we decided to keep on going til’ the next stop, La Laguna.

My 2009

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This New Year I will most definitely be embarking on exciting, new experiences. But before I do, I think it’s important to look back on the year 2009 and reflect upon it and the things that I have accomplished; most importantly on the things that I have learned. I think my 2009 was one filled with surprises, let-downs, and experiences that changed the person who I thought I was into a better me. Looking back, I believe that I took advantage of the 365 days we call a year, perhaps not to their fullest potential, but 2009 has been the start of my very own inner-self progress. I want to share this with the world…

I must admit that I started my 2009 on the right foot. For the Día de la Altagracia weekend on January 21, my friend Anita and I, along with my brother and a big group of his friends went camping to the most beautiful beach in my country: Bahía de las Aguilas. It is one of those places where you fall in love all over again with a country like Dominican Republic. The beach is almost 8 miles long, pristine, crystal clear with frosted-white sand that disappears into a whisper. Never in my life have I laid eyes upon a similar scenery, where the blue sky blends perfectly with the ocean’s turquoise horizon. I couldn’t believe I was there, watching the sun set on the horizon and disconnected from the outer world.

During the nights, the stars that are supposed to be on the sky land on the sea, impersonated as bioluminescence plankton. Light rain pours during the wee hours after midnight, blessing the day before us and the ones ahead. When the night creeps in, the stars come out. And oh, do they come out. Again, it was nothing like I have ever experienced. The black sky was full of tiny holes that looked like fireflies, like the whole world had sewn itself into a black sequin dress. I lost myself staring at it, and millions or perhaps billions of stars stared back at me. For the first time in my life I felt like an ant must feel when traveling on forest floors. I was lost in paradise.

* * *

2009 was the year for me to take full advantage of my Scuba Diving lessons. I started Scuba class on December 2008, but didn’t get my certification until almost February of 2009. I also bought my old Nikon Coolpix a housing to take pictures with it underwater. I have been to Isla Catalina, Bayahibe, Bávaro, and to many different diving places at La Caleta Underwater National Park, and the best part is that my boyfriend is my Diving Buddy, so we go diving whenever we want to. I think Scuba diving has struck a note inside me that I will never stop exploring. After my certification, I also started an Eco-diver class with Reef Check, so I can help monitor coral’s health.

I think the most significant thing that happened to me in 2009 was the fact that I tuned into a part of me that I knew I had, but hadn’t really realized how passionate I am about it. I realized that what makes me happy is working for social causes, especially environmental ones. I was involved with alot of things this past year, including the 2008 and 2009 International Coastal Cleanup, volunteering for the Vida Azul foundation (broken leg and cast included!). In May, I was involved with the Los Haitises campaign, one which opposed the construction of  cement factoryin the National Park Los Haitises. This campaign proved successful: On November 26, 2009, representative of the United Nations in the Dominican Republic concluded that the construction of such factory was not viable for the environment. I also participated in the underwater cleanup projects for World Ocean’s day. I started the 350Dominicana initiative in the country, with the help of my good friend Carlos Rymer who I contacted to work together to introduce the 350.org campaign to the Dominican Republic. I worked alognside Oxfam International, managing their Latin American Blog for climate change and how it’s affecting my country. I organized two reforestation projects, attended press conferences, hosted discussions about climage change and the importance of preserving our environment. All in all, it was one great year of challenges and wonderful outcomes. I also graduated from college, although I might be leaving to Australia on July to start a second career on Environmental Management and Policy *insert excited giggle here*

Looking back at the pictures from my year 2009, I have come to realize how much I’ve grown internally. I have left behind that antagonistic teenager I used to be and have become someone more mature, responsible and above all: more consciously aware. All the travelling I’ve made has opened my eyes to alot of things. I remember back in August when I made the trip with CYEN and 350.org to the south region of my country thinking that advocating for the environment is exactly what I want to do. And even though I got into a terrible accident while doing the beach cleanup at Bahía de las Aguilas, it was still not enough to stop me. Yes, I did get run over by a speeding boat and had to get 18 stitches and a cast to patch up two broken metatarsals on my right foot, but the satisfaction that I got from going there and sharing that experience with people who had the same passion for the environment that I do was very enriching, to say the least. Visiting Haiti also made me acknowledege the fact of how lucky I am to have all the things I do. I remember seeing children who had nothing, and yet they still offered you a gentle, sincere smile. That trip with 350.org and CYEN was very exciting. We visited the Sand Dunes in Baní, stayed in Pedernales for the weekeng, crossed the border to Haiti and went to Bahía de las Aguilas. My accident prevented me from expanding the 350 campaign in the country, but our International Day of Climate Action Eco-Picnic event on October 24th still proved successful. And although COP15 was a complete and utter failure, I think that this new year is going to pave the road to accomplishing what we are all rooting for.

I know that I have omitted alot of things from my 2009 in this post, but I am hoping that the pictures speak for themselves. I look forward for my 2010, arms and mind wide open, smiling from ear to ear and above all, hopeful. =)

 

Explorando El Sur Profundo

/ xAngelinax / Leave a comment

Estoy tan feliz de estar viva. El fin de semana pasado participé en una conferencia de medio ambiente con el grupo del caribe CYEN. Parte de esta jornada incluía un viaje a la región sur del país a conocer diversos puntos turísticos. Partimos el miércoles a las 6:30 de la mañana. Nos detuvimos en el parador “Hong Kong” para desayunar. Como ya teníamos 4 días asistiendo a seminarios y charlas ya conocía a la mayor parte del grupo. Muchos de ellos no conocían mi país, ni nuestras costumbres y cultura, por lo que les resultaba un poco difícil asimilar el gusto al mangú del que tantos dominicanos somos fanáticos. Cada quien hizo su orden y al terminar el desayuno nos subimos al autobús y continuamos hacia nuestro destino. El viaje incluía las Dunas de Baní, Pedernales, la frontera con Haití y finalmente mi lugar favorito: Bahía de las Águilas, en donde haríamos una limpieza de costas. Me sorprendió que eligieran este lugar para llevar a cabo dicha actividad, ya que a mis ojos no existía mucha cantidad de desechos allí.

Al cruzar Baní nos detuvimos en las Dunas. Dos chicas en sandalias, jeans y camisitas nos recibieron como guías. Sorprendentemente, hacían un gran trabajo y me pude percatar que le guardaban cierto amor al gran monumento de arena. El grupo se bajó del autobús con muchas expectativas. Para ser honesta, y aún siendo dominicana, a mí también me llenaba de anticipación el estar en este lugar. Hacía tanto tiempo que fui a visitarlo que ya mi memoria no guardaba ningún recuerdo.  La entrada al parque la dividía una pequeña cerca de alambres de púas, con un letrero pintado a manos que evocaba el descuido de la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente. Algo que lamentablemente estamos acostumbrados a presenciar  y que ya hemos aceptado como parte de nuestra cultura.  Ojalá algún día presenciemos un despertar masivo como nación. Las guías nos indicaron que nos mantuviéramos unidos y comenzamos a adentrarnos hacia las grandes montañas de arena. El sol estaba Caribe, como quien quiere castigarnos por haber llegado justamente al medio día. Hacía un calor infernal y la arena debajo de mis pies lo multiplicaban. Comenzamos caminando alegres, riéndonos y con muchas ganas de conocer. Luego de pasar la pequeña caseta donde debe haber un guardaparques la vista fue impresionante.

Frente a mí había un enorme valle de arena, pensaba que de esta misma forma debiera verse el desierto de Sahara. Pocos árboles pequeños rodeaban el espacio, sirviendo de cerca natural en aquel gran paisaje. A lo lejos se veían grandes montañas de arena y una de las guías nos indicó que hacia ellas nos dirigíamos.  Pasamos un pequeño pedazo de grama seca pero sorpresivamente, completamente verde. Al terminarse la parte plana de aquel inmenso valle, doblamos a la izquierda y al final se encontraba una gran montaña de arena, incluso más grande que las anteriores. Las guías prefirieron tomar otro camino, pero nos dijeron que si queríamos intentar ‘escalar” dicha montaña esto estaba permitido. Obviamente, mi espíritu aventurero volvió a cobrar lo mejor de mí y me dirigí con Carlos hacia la falda de la montaña. De lejos parecía una montaña cualquiera, pero a medida que nos acercábamos me di cuenta de la magnitud de aquella escultura que la naturaleza había creado, sin ningún tipo de intervención de la mano humana. Estaba cubierta de aquellas líneas onduladas que se observan en los desiertos de las películas. Me sentía tan pequeña debajo de aquella monstruosidad. Ni siquiera con fotos se puede apreciar el tamaño de la  montaña. Entre risas y gritos de euforia comence a escalar entre la arena, la cual se sentía caliente debajo de mis pies. Lo que en un principio parecía una buena idea, a mitad de camino me pareció más bien una tortura. Era como si la misma montaña no quería que perturbáramos su perfecta superficie.  Finalmente, logré llegar a la cima, algunos de mis compañeros ya estaban allí. Del otro lado de aquella inmensa montaña el paisaje prometió ser una recompensa. El Mar Caribe se extendía hasta el horizonte, algunas gaviotas se desplazaban con el viento. La arena era negra y las olas violentas, escupían piedras de diversos tamaños hacia la orilla. Allí nos detuvimos un buen rato, yo me senté a descansar en un trozo de un árbol seco a observar y absorber lo mágico de aquel lugar…