Koh Haa/Koh Bidha

With a splash back into the waters after nearly 2 years, SCUBA diving this past weekend was refreshing! Just off the coast from Krabi Town in the Andaman Sea is a large island called Koh Lanta which has many dive shops scattered about. The majority of the dives shops will take customers to similar dive sites, some of which are ranked in the top 25 sites in the world! Two of the local islands for diving are Koh Haa and Koh Bidha, both of which offer spectacular sites.

Swim through entrance to cave

Koh Haa Archipelago is a collection of 5 islands ranging from large to small, each with multiple dive sites. Depending on weather conditions the boat master decides what two sites to dive for that day and it seems unlikely that they could choose a bad one. The first site we dove had a cave that you could swim up into and actually surface in the air pocket inside. Hanging from the roof were massive stalactites creating an inverted crown around us. Koh Haa typically has great visibility but with a strong current it went from 10 meters to 0 in less than 2 seconds. Imagine just floating along being able to see all of the stunning coral around you and then all of a sudden, dirty darkness where you cannot even see your own hand! With no option but to keep swimming forward (slowly!) we emerged from this turbid current to see more underwater life.

Lion Fish

Koh Bidha is located north-west of Krabi town (closer to Koh Phi Phi rather than Koh Lanta) and offers a blissful dive spot. Both Koh Bidha Nok and Nai offer extensive coral walls along which you can slowly crawl along and spot a variety of sea life as well as deep caverns which you can cruise above and see what lies at the bottom of the sea! With massive schools of snapper fish, lion fish, moray eels and nudibranches, Koh Bidha offered a great variety of sights to see as well as clear, warm water perfect for diving.

School of Yellow Snapper

There are many different dive shops located at each beach in Koh Lanta but in terms of Ban Saladan I would recommend Go-Dive Lanta. (http://www.godive-lanta.com)  They had great, knowledgeable instructors who were always willing to share information to not only make your dives better, but to make you a better diver. If diving in Thailand sparks any interest, make sure to check out these two islands for some spectacular diving!

**Note** Pictures were taken by Max from Go-Dive Lanta. Thanks Max!

What do you see in the anenome?!

Loi Krathong

Loi Krathong is an annual festival held on the full-moon of the 12th Thai lunar Month (November 17th according to western calendar this year). Three SEA countries celebrate Loi Krathong with the majority of Thailand partaking as well as some people from Burma and Laos in the adapted Buddhist version of the festival. Loi Krathong originated in India where it served as a Brahman festival honoring Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma but was then adapted to worship Buddha's footprint in the Nammathanati River beach, India.

Even with the adaptations to the festival, the preparation for the festivities remains. Loi means to float and Krathong translates loosely into crown or decoration therefore Loi Krathong translates into Floating Crown. Since the tradition began Krathongs (the crowns)  have been made using a banana tree trunk as a round base with elaborately folded banana leaves surrounding the base. Many colorful flowers are then placed about the Krathong with a lotus flower being the original species used.

Once the base and flowers are completed three incense sticks and a candle are placed in the center, allowing the light to venerate Buddha. By cutting some of your hair and fingernails and placing it in the krathong it is said to wash away negative thoughts and small coins are used as an offering to the river spirits. Now that the krathong has been made, the most beautiful part of the ceremony can happen!

Any river will suffice but luckily Loi Krathong 2013 was spent at the Krabi River. All the candles and incense are lit and before each krathong is placed in the water, forgiveness is asked for using, dirtying and drinking water, respect is paid to whomever god you choose and wishes are made for the following year. Finally, as the krathong floats away taking with it all of one's anger, hatred and defilement any last respects are paid and an observation of a beautiful, well lit wish floating away occurs.

The Homeland

There I was, North America....

With four weeks off from school while the kids had their mid-year holiday, it seemed due time to return and nourish my roots in a few places. Almost one year to the date I left from Alberta, Canada with a one way ticket to India. It was in India where every aspect of life seemed intense, powerful and full of sensations so much so that I realized Asia has much to offer and a desire to keep exploring it grew.  After India came Nepal for two months where the immense mountains and silence experienced during meditation developed a new strength within. And then Thailand happened. Somehow this amazing opportunity presented itself, providing me a great lifestyle with a job that I enjoy going to everyday, a group of friends who are nothing but supportive/amazing/fun and an appreciation that rises with each waking sun. Even with all fulfilling experiences, there is nothing like where returning to places where your roots have been growing for years. It is in those places that upon return, even if for a short time, a re-charge happens; one that in my case was a great surge of energy to my system after a year of adventures in Asia!

The free state of New Hampshire was my first destination and after 54 hours of travelling, seeing that first license plate stating "Live Free or Die" a welcoming and familiar feeling surged throughout. UNH Homecoming is held in October every year and it is a time for alumni to return and celebrate together while tailgating for a football game among other festivities. With many people and not enough pick-up trucks, the brilliant idea of renting a 10 foot U-Haul seemed it could only bring an epic, legendary kind of day. And that it did... Four years seems like a short time to have developed such deep roots in a place that I entered knowing nothing about but from the people to the bridges, from the ocean to driving down a backroad, New Hampshire will forever be rooted.

Alberta, Canada was the next destination. Although it has now been years since actually living in Canada my roots will forever know their first growth there. My family and a few dear friends remain in this homeland and it was that burst of their energies that made all the hectic hours worth every second! Sunset trap shooting while watching the moon rise nourished some farm roots. Driving along those seemingly endless flat roads reminded me of the beauty of the country; from the freshly harvested fields to skies that light up with different palettes of color depending on the time of the day to a light, crisp snowfall in the early morning. And lastly, seeing the quickly growing faces belonging to the next generations of my family brought warmth to my heart.

 It is fascinating to see how much of a year of growth is physically visible on small children whereas my past year of growth has been very internal. It ha also been over this past year that I realized the importance of knowing where you come from, how you started out and where your interests were focused. It is through recognizing these initial variables that I have been able to now focus on where I want to be living in this world, the person that I am now and how I can focus my energy where I see fit. Knowing that there will always be support and more nourishing of roots that is possible, I can eagerly return to Thailand with this quote, "See the world, come home for love".

Ava Blair (4), Khloe Marie (2)

Also, check out some of the recent pictures (Thailand album) taken from hikes and from our Halloween carnival at school!

Sak Yant: The Art of Blessed Bamboo Tattooing

Traditional Sak Yant tattoos ('sak' means to tap, 'yant' is the Thai word for Yantra) originated centuries ago and have evolved through both Hindu and Buddhist religions. Sak Yant tattoos are created by masters (Ajarn) who are believed to have expertise in the spirit of the tattoo and the ability to place an incantation on the new ink. Most often these experts are monks who have spent years studying Buddhism and Pali (an ancient script used for writing both Hindu and Buddhist prayers). Sak Yant tattoos were originally given to warriors seeking protection in a battle and if covering the whole body they were thought to give protection from knives and arrows piercing the skin. In many cases the monks will not tattoo Sak Yant on women but if they decide to go forth, a tissue or paper is used as a barrier between the monk and the woman. From monks to warriors to common believers, Sak Yant tattoos can give the wearer magic powers associated with healing, luck, strength and protection against evil.

Sak Yant tattoos are hand-etched onto the skin using a long metal spike or sharpened bamboo and have no solid lines. Instead, hundreds of dots speckle the skin forming ancient geometric shapes and Buddhist prayers. Sak Yant tattoos are unique in the sense that these beautiful dots cannot initially be placed anywhere on the body. Instead the first tattoo must be a nine point tattoo high on the back running onto the nape of the neck. This is considered to be a location on the body where protection must begin hence it being the initial spot.

Yant Kao Yord or 9 Spires (kao is nine in Thai) is the design behind all first Sak Yant tattoos. The triangle represents both the Triple Gem of Buddhism (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) and the Three Lords of Brahminism (Shiva, Brahma and Narayana). Each spire represents one of the nine peaks of Mount Meru or one of the nine holiness's Buddha. Mount Meru is a legendary mountain in both Hinduism and Buddhism, thought to be the center of the universe. Each spire (called Unaalome) is represented by both spirals and straight demarcations. The spirals symbolize humans wavering on their normal path of life whereas the demarcations represent those who have attained Enlightenment and are on the direct path to Nirvana. The beauty of Sak Yant design is that although no lines are formed, all patterns are connected therefore any path is attainable. Within the triangle are symbols written in Khom, an ancient Cambodian alphabet but the language itself is Pali (Sanskrit). This sacred language is exclusively used for Buddhist prayers, magic and sacred texts.

This beautiful etching of shapes, designs and alphabet is considered to be powerful and sacred with the ability to protect the wearer from physical attacks, danger, weapons and magical assaults as well as bring good luck. These blessings are not merely attained by the ink though; the wearer must follow the five Buddhist precepts.  The final step in receiving a Sak Yant tattoo is the incantation and blessing by Arjun which is completed with three taps of a sword on the back and a soft blow of breath saturated with blessings and protection.

Jamsterdam

Jamsterdam is a local New Hampshire band who play most of their music in the Portsmouth area. The band consists of four members and define themselves as " high energy rock band that specialized in up beat covers, rap mash-ups, and catchy originals". This high energy started as jam sessions at Osprey Landing but soon led to open mic nights at Blue Mermaid and gigs at Thirsty Moose. From there they are making their own history and have just recorded their first seven tracks as a band. Check out this link to rock along with them for a while!

http://jamsterdamnh.bandcamp.com/

And if you like what you hear, think about to just a few years ago when we had to pay for all of our music and the excitement the musicians experienced knowing people want to listen to them and purchase their music! Or just go check them out live...

Adaptedness

Since any form of life began on this here planet, it has been constantly changing, constantly adapting in order to better survive and function. Adaptation is a process, one that allows organisms to adjust to their environment and thereby live in their habitat via challenges and experiences. Each adaptive trait is categorized as either behavioral, structural or physiological and can be inherited or learnt over time. As these changes occur, adaptedness (the state of being adapt, degree to which one can live in their habitat) is reached.

In animals, mimicry (changing their physical appearance to match that of another species) is an obvious showing of adaptation. Take for instance this moth who has developed two sets of fake eyes on it's wings to symbolize multiple species, instead of one large target. There is also the long process of adaptation that occurs within a whole species such as the camel, who's long legs keep it further from the hot sand and who's hump stores fat so it can travel long distances without food or water. The term 'natural selection' stems from adaptations that animals undergo and those who adapt with the most success outlive other members of the same species, therefore being the ones that reproduce and pass on their adaptedness.

It is not only plants and animals that undergo adaptations though. Every day humans are constantly adapting to their surrounding environments and are in the struggle to be better fit for their habitat. The way that we respond to challenges of any sort help us to adapt, as do new experiences that we thrust ourselves head on into. It seems that the more we experience one situation we either grow to appreciate it or find a way to change it. Really, what can we as individuals aim for more than to be happy, enjoying what we are doing and living to the best of our ability in a habitat?

For some time now it seems that everyday creates an opportunity to adapt, to create change within myself in order to be happy and live the life that I dream of! A new opportunity to teach has presented itself to me and in three weeks I will be seizing the opportunity. It entails a move from Hat Yai, Songkhla to Krabi Town, Krabi. Krabi is also a Southern Thailand province; it is bordered by the Andaman Sea, has multiple islands just a boat ride away and is dotted by immense, beautiful limestone formations. With a new habitat to adapt to, it seems only appropriate to continue living by the words of James Otto, "I'm gonna fly just as high as I want to, and I'm gonna roll like the river anywhere that I choose. Ain't nothing gonna slow me down and I ain't gonna stop".