The Dreamer Awakes

This is a painting of Abby.

It was a gift for the wonderful time I had with her at home in Oosterhout, Netherlands.

Its been about a week since I left. Our moment together was about as long. Yet, my goodness, it felt like much longer. Each day was either so full of feeling, challenge, or crazy cool cultural experiences that it felt like a week. We spent alot of time together in spontaneous little adventures and if there was a theme to our moments, it was honesty and openness. I learned more about myself in that week than I have in many months of my life. I am most grateful for this.

We spoke much about our feelings about relationships and I had the pleasure of meeting the actual characters in her life. Each morning, we would share our dreams of the night, in which these characters often featured. As I painted this picture-- again without any preconceived plan-- the idea of dreaming seeped in. The circle of characters in her life also seeped in. It struck me that they swirled about her as if in a dream. Most of what they knew of Abby was a dream, an illusion, that even she seemed to be awakening to.

Its a theme I can myself attest to: Finally awakening to yourself, being true to yourself, following your heart, and then as surely as the night follows the day, being true to others.

I think this is one of the reasons I resonated so well with Abby. My journey has also been a process of awakening to myself. As I awaken, I more deeply embrace who I am and the road that my heart points me-- not just geographically but in relationships and in love.

In the painting her eyes are wide open-- unlike the other characters. The dreamer awakes. Like a butterfly breaking out of its crystalis, she tests her new wings as they sparkle in the most resplendently fresh colour. She is poised for flight.

It is beautiful to see someone awaken.

It is beautiful to awaken.

Bedankt Abby.

Amsterdam!

Holy molly!

I am in Amsterdam!!!!!

I write from a cafe right in the center.  Wow.  What a ride.  I have to pinch myself that this is reality.  And now, a beautiful woman has just sat down beside me.  Time to close the laptop!  

 This is now the end of this note.

The Sky So Blue

The last two days, I have been cruising through the coastal dunes between The Hague and Haarlem.  Its been a dazzlingly ride.  I can't get over how blue the sky is-- climatically and existentially.   The cycle paths are amazing.  However, its winter, so I am one of the few cyclists out there.   

It is beautiful.

Not only in terms of landscape, but of the people I am meeting and the blessings that befall me.   I have actually really been looking forward to making my camp in this beautiful location.  Yet, every night, something happens and I ended in a nice hotel, a hostel, and in general a warm bed.   It is indeed pretty cold outside.  That is frost you see on the bushes in the photo above.  The universe is looking out for me!

The other day, cycling out of the Hague into the night to set up my camp, I heard my name called from way off in the distance.  Had it been my imagination?   I stopped, didn't see anyone, but decided to fix my bike's lights anyhow.   It turns out that my friend Bilal and his two friends had indeed called my name!   They insisted on treating me to a night at wonderfully warm hotel in the center of the Hague.  Wow.  What a blessing that was.   

The next night, again, just as I was leaving a cafe to head out into the night, the owner told me about a hostel down the road. If I mentioned his name, they would give me a deal I couldn't refuse.   And they did!

Today I met with Denis, country coordinator for Humanity's Team here in Holland.  We shared a fabulous connection over a homecooked meal.   I depart inspired with a slew of new ideas and intentions for the 1Mandala project-- not mention the best sleep ever in his peace-full house.

Again, I have no idea what is going to happen tonight.   I head towards Amsterdam now and the intimidatingly non-rural landscape of the mythical city of openess.  

Onwards!

Hey... if you haven't joined the project yet, or sent in your peace portrait.  Here's the link:  www.1mandala.org

Ultimate Hope

I've been meaning to post this photo for a week now.  Last weekend, after joining a drop in Ultimate Frisbee training evening near Tilburg, I was invited to play on their league team that needed a player!  They picked me up near Oosterhout and we headed off for a full day of plastic chasing fun in Amsterdam.  Yes!  The mythical city of Amsterdam.   

What a cool experience.  

The team picked me up in Oosterhout and we made the 3 hour drive to Amsterdam for a full day of games.   Everyone was speaking Dutch, it was a full out cultural sporting experience.  I hadn't really played in 8 months, plus I had a bit of bruised heart, so my game wasn't exactly 100%.   Its amazing how emotions can effect you.  Yet, it was not only therapeutic, but fun.

However, the reason I so adamantly wanted to post this is because of what the Dutch did at the end of each game.  Ultimate, unlike football, handball or other traditional sports, doesn't have a referee and thrives on a truly exceptional and progressive spirit.  It gets intense and competive, but never in a negative, divisive way.  At the end of each game all the players gather around in a circle and put their arms around each other.  A player from each team then comments on the game and wishes the other team well.

Wow!

  One of our players, observed at how different Ultimate is to his experience playing football in the Netherlands-- where everyone is tackling,  jostling, arguing and generally being agressively more competitive.   However, in the circle, any hard feelings that might have arisen over the course of the game quickly evaporated.  It might look cheesy in the picture, but it was actually quite a profound and really effective conclusion to each match.  

Beautiful.   If sports are a reflection of our social patterns and philosophies, then, there's hope in Ultimate!

Following the Dream

This morning I awoke in the town of Gouda, Holland.   

A dream had brought me here.  

Several days ago, in the midst of planning my trip Northwards from Oosterhout, I awoke with the name of the Dutch town of Gouda in my head.  To my surprise, looking at the map the town actually fit beautifully into the trajectory I needed to make across Holland.  

I believe that we can gain much by remember, listening to, and indeed following our dreams.   And thus I headed North towards Gouda.  And thus, a week later, here I am. 

But to what end?  

I rolled into to Gouda, toured around the town center, checked out the church, and bought some cheese.  The whole time I kept my eyes open, expecting some sort of mystical experience to befall me.   Alas, the sun was setting and I needed to get out of town to make camp.  Passing by a quaint little pub, the lady inside gave me a friendly smile.   

I continued on a ways, but couldn't help feeling that if I had dreamed about this city, there was still yet something to experience.   Inspired by the kind lady's smile, I returned to the pub, met all sorts of great people, had a few beers and I ended up staying the night in Gouda.  

The next morning, after rolling in to catch the Sunday service at the Gouda cathedral, and really when I had given up the thought of anything else happening to me while in Gouda,  I met Franz and Goney. 

I was in the middle of Skype conversation on a park bench, when they invited me to pass by their place when I was done for a coffee.   Not one to turn down a warm coffee on a cold morning, I knocked on the door of their vintage home in the historic center of Gouda.

It turned out that Franz and Goney were veteran traveling cyclists!   They too had been on long journeys, and they too had experienced the kindness of folks who had helped them out on their voyages!  We connected immediately.

 I happened to be the first traveling cyclist they had ever met in their home town!  They explained that they were overjoyed to be able to return kindness and assistance to a fellow cyclist on a similar voyage-- just as others had shown them kindness and helped them out.

Wow.  Talk about being at the right bench at the right time!

A fabulous afternoon ensued!   The best part (laundry, shower, coffee aside) was being able to talk to others who have experienced the same traveling phenomena as I have-- cycling through the countryside and the ease with wich one can connect not only with the land but the people.  We shared story after story.  Good experiences and the bad.   We also compared traveling philosophy and principles-- not turning down kindness offered, taking the back roads, asking frequently for directions, taking our time without worrying about timing, letting the schedule and route evolve on their own while still having a focus and destination, traveling in plain cloths-- no fancy logo ridden florescent tights for us-- that way our choosen attire that doesn't intimidate others.  It was so great to realize I am not alone in my thinking, ways and experiences!

And, then, they treated me to an absolutely fabulous meal at a beautiful and elegant restaurant in Gouda's central square.  Wow... red wine, roast duck starters, wild boar and a fabulous chocolate cake desert.

If I would have been told yesterday that I would have been eating wild boar last night-- I would have laughed.   I have some potatoes and onions that I bought from a local farmer in my paniers.   Potatoes, onions and cheese-- that's what I expected my humble dinner to be.

This morning, after waving goodbye to Franz and Goney, I rolled out of Gouda with the sun rising above the spires of the cathedral.  It was then that I saw it:  the window of local cheese shop.  A flash of a memory came back from my dream.  Deja vu!

Tonight, I'll be camping on the dunes outside of the Hague.  It will be considerably colder and more isolated!   however, the memories of last night we certainly keep me warm.  As Franz said, I've been warmed to the core!

Although there are clouds, the sky is not grey...

That's the lyrics from the song "La Vie est Belle" by Afterlieste, a Belgium band I have been listening to.

There are definitely clouds in the sky today.  The windy is blowing pretty hard.  Its even pretty wet and rainy!  But no...  the sky is not grey-- can you see off in the horizon that tinge of pink?  Greyness is state of mind, and I am not there at all today, despite the best efforts of the weather.

I am cruising with joy.   Its wonderful to be back on the open road.   The Dutch countryside roars by me in a blaze of incredibly real stereotypical icons.   Unending flatness, windmills, and canals, dykes and boats everywhere. 

  What a beautiful ride.

Warmth

Its the first time in my life, that I have had to adjust a shower downwards. Last night it was too high. Being tall, typically at a hotel, a house wherever, the shower head is too low.

That's not to say that I was on a low. Far from it! Yesterday, while having a coffee in the small town of Woodrichem, Holland, the owner, seeing my laden bike, invited me to stay the night with her family. It was only 4 PM, I was expecting to cycle alot more that day. However, it was rather wet outside, and still I had lots of work to do, and, well... it was truly a kind and timely offer.

But it wasn't just kindness that I experienced. It was an overwhelming warm, generous, and fun welcome by the nine members of the Liefe family-- most of who were well over 6ft tall! The dinner table was overflowing with not only good food, but people! Two sisters, five brothers and Mr. and Mrs. Fiege.

Matthias, the youngest taught me some new Dutch. Jim and I talked religion and middle east politics. Andrianna and I talked art and design. Then, over evening tea, the family and I sat around talked late into the night about culture, Canada and the world. I was even able to show them my 1mandala project online. What a wonderful evening!

And, what a warm, loving and together family.

Grace was said together before dinner. Everyone ate together-- with jovial jokes between the generations. The grandparents had even sent Jim some fruit that we had afterwards. All the siblings were not only interesting to talk to, but confident and clear in their conversation-- something that is surely inspired by growing up in such a thriving family environment.

Aside from the little matter of the shower head-- what a blessing! I left warm and ready for the road ahead.

Jim shared with me a Bible verse as I headed off:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9)


Nice.

:-)