Hong Kong!!!

As my plane took off in Vancouver I cried. My tears came from two thoughts; fear of the unknown and not knowing when I'll see Canada again. Upon the plane a very spiritual older gentleman initiated conversation with me from the seat in front. The conversation lasted for the majority of the flight and he provided me many valuable insights to the person who I am. He was headed back to China to teach a class in communication but reached out to me as a friend. I appreciated his constant conversation more than I knew at the time. Apparently the universe knew I needed a distraction from my own mind.

As the plane landed he walked me through customs and we said goodbye at the baggage claim. Then the task I was most afraid of was in front of me….Finding my way from the airport to the hostel on my own. For some reason this was the one thing I was most afraid of.  Leaving my job, selling my belongings and saying goodbye to my family was nothing compared to what was currently in front of me. This made the whole thing real! I was in Hong Kong with just the bag on my back, map in my hand and a few HK dollars in my pocket. Yet, I knew my heart that after I made it to the hostel it would all be down hill from there! I would met someone and then everything else would fall into place and that's exactly what happened.  Almost immediately after finding my hostel a local friend from Ottawa, who knew of my arrival, messaged me to meet for dinner and drinks so off I went…..

I wish I could load all my pictures but unfortunately that takes too much time and I need to go explore HK for my final night. Below is a snap shot of my time in HK and the people who were a part of it. Tomorrow am I leave for Beijing to go climb the Great Wall of China and meet up with my awesome travel partner for the next five weeks Cindy Q. 

Taking the ferry to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha  

Wesley (friend from Ottawa) and I on the ferry 

Mui Wo beach on Lantau Island. Beautiful little town.
 I could have definitely spent a week exploring. 

Bikes belonging to locals who commute to HK for work daily

We then took a bus up the mountain to the Big Buddha.
It was very foggy out that day but it added a super cool effect to the trip. 

The Big Buddha. 

This is what he actually looks like without the fog

During our time at the Big Buddha I bought a wooden bracelet that has markings on it representing safety.
Figured it would be appropriate for my long journey ahead.
In addition to wearing it daily I decided that before getting out of bed each morning I will give thanks to something different for each bead on the bracelet.
I am extremely blessed to have the opportunity to go on the trip. Most people never leave the country where they are born or have the financial means to even buy a plane ticket.
It is very important to me that I don't forget all that I have to be thankful for in life.  

SQUAT! This was a first. Many more of those to come. 

One the Wisdom path...

The pillars have sections of the heart sutra on it and the path is in the shape of the infinity symbol

Me on the wisdom path

After leaving the Big Buddha we took the ferry back down to HK.

A gondola with a glass bottom!!! 

At Kowloon Park by the hostel 

There are tall building everywhere in HK.
It is unlike anything I have ever seen before.
Vancouver is a fraction of HK.

At my hostel I met Larissa (left) and Zoia (middle) from England and Germany respectively.
Two amazing girls that I spent two days exploring HK with.
They both are currently living in China teaching English and needed to come to HK to renew their visas.

Beers in the afternoon while exploring the streets of HK.

'Please Hold the Handrail'
There are escalators everywhere in HK!
At one point I rode a sea of never ending escalators for 20 minutes through SoHo.

The Light SHOW!!
Words can't express how awesome the light show is. All the HK buildings light up in a show like movie to music.
Super cool life experience.

Everyone here does the peace signs in all pictures.

My fellow hostel roommates and I explored the local Zoo during +30 with 90% humidity.
During this moment I was very disgusted by how much I was sweating - moment caught on camera.

At the Zoo

That's a big turtle 

After the Zoo and some local food in SoHo Zoia and I went up to the peak.
The peak gives the best view of HK but you need a clear day.
During my 4 day visit it has been mostly overcast however on my last afternoon the sky partially cleared up.

Zoia and I at the peak.

Ladies and Gentleman this is Hong Kong

Bikram Yoga Vancouver/Metrotown & Bikram Yoga Metrotown

Bikram Yoga Vancouver/Metrotown & Bikram Yoga Victoria 

While in British Columbia, Canada for two weeks I had the opportunity to take class at three different studios; 1) Bikram Yoga Vancouver the Cambie location 2) Bikram Yoga Metrotown 3) Bikram Yoga Victoria. 

One of the best things about B.C. is that there are so many Bikram studios which means there is a lot of Bikram teachers. With lots of Bikram teachers comes variety in teachers, voices, rhythms, and energies. Often when you live in a small city, or a place with only one Bikram studio, you get accustomed to the teachers in every way.  Therefore while exploring new territories I was blessed with the opportunity to take class from various teachers.

Bikam Yoga Vancouver - Cambie Location 

The Bikram Yoga Vancouver Cambie location was walking distance from my girl friends Meghan's place which allowed me to take class everyday while in Vancouver. The studio is relatively new yet already very busy. Every class that I attended was packed and for good reason. The studio is a large space with huge women's change rooms (can't speak about the men's obviously) with a separate door for the ladies to enter the yoga room. The yoga room is large yet there was rarely a empty space. This was the first studio that I took class in where no one new my name, where I was from, or that I was a teacher.  It was awesome to simply absorb the heat, hear the dialogue and be a student. During my visit I had the opportunity to take class from Rea A a fellow yogi whom I graduated teacher training with. We haven't seen each other since graduation and her class rocked! Amazing energy, great motivation and good insight. Thank you sweetheart for such a great class! My hamstrings were sore for two days after your class.  In addition to Rea's class I also had the pleasure of hearing many other voices at the BYV Cambie studio. My top two favourite things I heard were;

1) "In class you aren't grabbing a hamburger, thumbs with your fingers".

2) "Come to class with a open mind, open heart and an extra large bottle of water".

Bikram Yoga Metrotown 

On my second last day in Vancouver I went to take a class with the beautiful Danielle Sullivan, a fellow yogini from Winnipeg, at Bikram Yoga Metrotown. Danielle and I have known each other for a very long time and both share a deep love for the yoga.  It is amazing how many Winnipegers are scattered across Canada as even the front desk girl was from Winnipeg. Her mother taught me my first Bikram Hot yoga class.... it is such a small world :)

This studio has two separate rooms one of which has windows overlooking the mountains. It was really a neat experience to be back bending and have the view of mountains with the sky train going by. Furthermore, the studio clearly has a very strong influence in the community.  There are pictures scattered across the walls of local community members, students/teachers competing, sport celebrities visiting the studio and students being sponsored by the studio for various activities. It is refreshing to see such strong community ties.

Bikram Yoga Victoria 

During my visit to Victoria I had the opportunity to take class at Bikram Yoga Victoria. Upon arrival to the studio I had the pleasure of seeing a familiar face - the studio owner Ken Mayes. Ken was a very influential person at Stafford Street Hot Yoga as we rarely got visiting teachers yet Ken's presence appeared more then once in the hot room. Ken also provided me with some very valuable feedback in my initial days of teaching. Feedback that I have always remembered and continue to carry with me. 

The studio is located within walking distance from downtown and has a very evident small town feel. Numerous students initiated conversation with me which doesn't always happen. Everyone was extremely friendly and appeared to know each other personally. Perhaps that day everyone was just a friendly yogi but I felt instantly at home; like I had been practicing there for years. There is a large sitting area for students to gather before/after class which appears to be regularly used. The hot room is located on the second floor which of the studio which was something I had never seen before. 

The class was hot, the teacher was great and it was awesome to see a familiar yogi face again!  

Thanks Ken. I hope to see you again soon!