My healing heart, my singing soul

Dear reader,

a new day, a new dawn, a new life! I turned 34 (whoa!) and I'm feeling good :-) Celebration of the full moon at the Rainbow Gathering near Krumovgrad, was at the same time the perfect bdayparty. I'm very happy to have had my first Rainbow experience, met many lovely people and just enjoyed the shanti shanti that is so eminent there.

Now I'm back in Kran, with the weekend off since Dimo is delivering Biotor in Sofia. I am considering to go check out a traditional folklore festival in a village called Zhernovo (or something) and meet Sophie there, and join her to her place. the thing is that she's at that festival as we speak and I don't have her number, so I'm not sure if I should just go... I must admit I am a little bit reluctant to leave my comfort zone here, I love staying here with Dimo and I am so used to this place by now. But maybe all the more reason to get a move on, getting too attached isn't healthy anyway.

Some more pics!

Happy Horses in the Sky

                                                                                    Friday 8 August

Hello dear reader,

It’s nine thirty and Dimo and Nadja have already left early so I am alone and loving it J Just had some watermelon, did the dishes and tidied up a little so now let’s take advantage of this free time to blog on.

Where were we. At the Happy Horse Farm with the Guru! Interesting experience. As much as I respect the man and his followers, there is still something inside of me that resists the worshipping part of the deal. Nonetheless it was nice to be at the lectures and share some thoughts. No new insights or anything, but just generally uplifting optimism. It’s always good to be around people who are connected, as much with eachother as with god. For those of you who can’t deal with the term god, think: animating force, universal energy. That ‘je ne sais quoi’ that makes the world go round? God! Anyway, it was nice to be around people who get all that and share the belief that people can make a difference by spreading the love. Therefore the ‘Tsjeshki’s’ organize tsjeski fests all over the world, for people to gather and share, usually with some workshops or lectures about ways to respect mother earth and live music. Tomorrow there’s one at Pavel Banja and I am looking forward to it. Dimo will be lecturing about composting, Momera will do a dance workshop, there’s a world music band from Mexico… should be fun.

I’ve been spending  a lot of time at Pavel Banja lately, since Dimo is ploughing the fields for Nicola with his little green tractor (and the estate is huge). I’ve been hanging out with Tania and her daughter Arwen, and Lidia and Momera. There’s constantly people staying at the dome as guests, to help in some way, or to ride a horse, or whatnot. It’s a beautiful place and you would think it’s paradise, and it is in some ways, but then the owners rush by, with a bunch of their kids in their wake, more often yelling at eachother than not, and then the relax is far off… I feel  they get so stressed  that they don’t see the beauty of their situation anymore… which I think is a crying shame. Maybe they need a little tarot reading, it might bring some clarity in the constant chaos… They are living in a little piece of heaven, have such gorgeous, smart children…. Now if they could find peace in their hearts and family! That be great. Sat nam!

As far as I’m concerned, I ‘ve been feeling a little off the last two days. My period finally REALLY started, which is a relief but comes with the traditional pain, and the smouldering heat didn’t help much. Thank god for Game of Thrones, I’m really enjoying the read, it got me through the slower times. There’s a lot of work at the farm but it’s not always clear who’s doing what. I kept to the kitchen and the rest of the household, but Tania and Lidia are like the official housekeepers and do most of the work, and Momera does the cooking. All I’ve been doing the last couple of days was cutting veggies and doing dishes, and in moderation…anyway I got bored, so yesterday around four pm I decided to take a bus back to Krân because I was aching for some me-time, a hot shower, fresh undies and clothes. After  two unforeseen nights at Pavel Banja  I thought I was up for staying all the way until after the fest, but I changed my mind and I’m glad I did. On the way back I had to change buses in Kazanlâk where I took the opportunity to buy a BG phonecard. So here’s my number: 00350893817309 in case you need me.

I’m done for now, TBC… and godspeed xoxox

Dear diary, 5th of august

                                                                                              Monday 5 august 2013

Hey dear reader,

A heavy stirrup of many different emotions drives me to the computer to write it all down, to get it out of my system and maybe shed some light and bring fresh perspectives into the mix.

Let’s go back to the thirtieth of July. Last I heard from Dimo was that he was going to pick me up in Sofia the 30^th, after he dropped off his sister at the airport. Since I arrived in Sofia our communication had been limited to the very minimum; the connection at the Happy House isn’t all that and I didn’t have a phonenumber to call him so all I could do was leave him my phonenumber and wait. And the entire day no sign of Dimo. So in the afternoon I went to say hi at the Art Hostel where I had a very nice reunion with Chicho Bore, still all smiles and huggable as ever. Angela was there too and she told me about this guy who was going to Ozora on Thursday and might still have a free spot in the car, in case Dimo wouldn’t show up. This guy threw a birthday party that same evening and she would give him my contact info. Not the best plan B, but it was better than nothing. When the wind came up and it started to rumble in the distancre I took off back to the Happy House where I found Leonid who finished work and told me about this birthday party he was invited to that night J Yes indeed, same party, we could go together and then meet the guy in person and ask for a ride to Ozora… Plan B suddenly seemed a lot more likely! But as the evening proceeded (drinking beer and smoking, long live summer holidays)the courage to go to this Bday party diminished, and eventually Leonid called the guy to excuse himself and ask him about the ride…. Which turned out  a bummer since the car was alreadyfully occupied. But he would ‘keep an eye out’. Ok, back to plan A. Where was Dimo!!!!???? A plan C started occurring in my comfort –zone loving mind: why not stay in Sofia, wait for Tsvety to come back, take a bus to Kazanlak later… I like the Happy House so why not!!

The next day I tried to contact Dimo once again and there was a message from him: today I get you. At eleven. Time of reading: ten thirty. My luggage is spread around the room, I am starving and I need a shower. My lazy brain prefers having a quiet morning and is pleading to go for plan C. But something inside me stirrs me  into action and I pack in twenty minutes while the coffee is running, then have my coffee and some melon for breakfast and get in the shower at 10.55. At eleven I’m all set to go, but no Dimo. No problem, I had a bracelet to finish so I took my book, the bracelet in progress and chilled. For the next four hours. To Dimo’s credit: he called me around twelve to say he would be an hour late J Anyway, around four he finally got there and it was so good to see him!! It’s a shame he didn’t get to meet Leonid and Tsvety but there will be other occasions for sure. So we got all my stuff in the good old jeep and drove to here. With a coffee break at this pompous ‘lake resort’ that is an obvious money laundering façade but see-worthy none the less, in all its kitshy grandness. After walking around the lake, visiting the peacocks and deer and bunnies, taking a picture in the fake western carriage and sipping coffee from a paper cup with a foto of the premises on it, we hit the road again. Next stop: Pavel Banja, Happy Horse Farm! I was glad to go there because I am hoping to volunteer at this place in spring, and learn to ride in meantime. When we drove down towards the valley it was raining and the sun shone in under the clouds which made for a humungous rainbow, shooting from the clouds overhead down to the houses in the valley. I don’t think I ever saw a rainbow as bright and wide as this one! Minutes later the one multicoloured beam had expanded into a full bow, spanning the entire valley from the mountains on the one side to the mountains on the other side. “Your welcome!” Dimo grinned, and I couldn’t feel any more blessed and grateful!! What a grand entrance, what a grand nature, what a miraculous place this planet is!!! So at dusk we arrived at the farm and lo and behold: there awaited us a true guru and a bunch of his disciples!!! Guru Deva, what are the freakin odds. So the next thing I know I am sitting in a circle singing bhajan, am served a delicious vegetarian meal, surrounded by wonderful people in a place soring with good energy. Krishna provides, indeed.

the magnificent view from my new home

picking blueberries at the farm

Dimo's nephew Simeon

at the farm

Gora, probably the best dog in the world

we crossed this beechforest on the way to Svilan's summerhouse, Fairy Forrest!!

Cute little town we checked out on the way home from our visit to Svilan

Nadia and Dimo, the lovebirds :-)

Belgijska retsepta i technologia!! HAD to try that, obviously. Not bad, but I'm hard to impress i guess :-)

Dimo's victory over the water tank

Could a creature be more adorable???? This pup lives across the street from Dimo's farm and always starts crying when he sees us :-(

 So much more to tell but I am gonna have to do that later, life is calling!! Warm hugs to all of you, and GODSPEED!!!

Ohm Namah Shivaya
Tinie xoxox

Home again

Hey dear reader

it's been a long time! But it was long overdue and now I am finally back: here I am sitting at the table in the Happy House, sipping coffee and eating some fresh melon, raspberries and blackcurrent. Only arrived yesterday and already had such a wonderful time.

In the plane I was sitting next to a Bulgarian named Ahmed, whom I had a nice chat with. He informed me about his house near Burgas, his friend from Kortrijk, his experiences as a teacher, then politician and mayor and eventually a busdriver, and gave me this very clear advice: don't hesitate to invest in Bulgarian property!

The taxiride turned out interesting enough aswell: the driver who spoke perfect English and Portuguese and had lived in South Africa and Namibia, also gave me some advice on Bulgarian property. Apparently there's a region near the Greek border that has a very nice climate, with reasonably soft winters... I like that thought, so it might be worth checking out. I have his card and wrote down the name of the region which I can't think of right now. My memory is worth crap with Bulgarian names!

Then I arrived at the Happy House and received a very warm welcome of Leonid. He and some friends are working on the kindergarten, refreshing the furniture and painting the walls. We smoked and did some catching up, and we agreed on going to the demonstration in town tonight: ever since the elections many young people demonstrate in the Sofia streets to protest against the corrupted government. So this might be very interesting. It's a peaceful protest, Leonid said, it's just the police that aren't peaceful ;-) But don't worry guys, i'll stay out of trouble.
Whenever I try to help everyone is telling me not to, trying to make me feel as comfy as possible, treating me like a guest. But Tsvety said it was just for the weekend :-), from Monday on i'm like everybody else, and I think I prefer it like this!

Early in the afternoon Tsvety came home and it was sooooooo good to see her!!!!! I love that womans energy and I spent the rest of the day with her and little Misho. She's going to a conference in Germany for a couple of days so we brought Watcho (superdog Golden retriever, cute, smart, playful, the kind of dog even a dog hater would instantly fall in love with) to Tsvety's aunt in the countryside near Romche, a town I visited last time I was in Sofia. Aunt Penka is a former professorka who has lived in Africa and speaks French. She looks like a wrinkly old fruit but she still has the bravoure and charisma of the young sassy woman she probably once was, smoking like Brigitte Bardot, shaking her dyed blonde hair like a model. She can read the coffeecups but unfortunately there was no time for it yesterday, or maybe she felt uninspired, that's also possible. Either way I will have to go back for a reading at some point.

On that note, Tsvety already suggested me going to see a clairvoyant who channels... I'm curious and hoping to be able to make an appointment. Ayahuasca might also be an option, but have to look into that.

We spent the night at aunt Penka's. Penka and Baba were in the one bedroom and Tsvety, Misho and me in the other, sharing a bed. Tsvety opened the window and we could hear a frog concert from the little river that is running through the village. It was more comfy than I suspected, and it was heartwarming how Misho cuddled and put his head and little arms on me in his half-sleep. It's great to not be a stranger anymore and to be coming home rather than being a strange guest.
We took a train back to Sofia early this morning and talked talked talked, so many things to catch up on! Just great to see Tsvety again and feel how we connect the way we did before.

Today I will try to see some old friends at the Art Hostel. And I need that haircut and a new guitar, but since it is Sunday today I will have to wait till tomorrow.

Stay tuned for more news!!

Godspeed
Tinie