Building Excitement

My babe is gone. I just got in from dropping her off at the airport and I will miss her greatly. I am ever grateful for the support of my friends and that I will be surrounded by them for a good portion of the time while Melissa is away.

On that note, I'd like to post a few pictures from last year at Shambhala to set the mood and bring forth excitement and anticipation.

I've been going through the lineup bio's on the Shambhala Website and have written down some the acts I simply must experience. Here are a few:

Taal Mala - 2pm Sunday @ the Living Room (beach)
OTT - 2pm Saturday @ the Living Room
Sphongle - 4pm Saturday @ the Living Room
Tarran the Taylor - 9:30pm Sunday @ the Living Room
The Hell & Backs - 11:00pm Sunday @ the Rock Pit

Of course, I'll be venturing to see some of the big names,

Hallucinogen - 12am Sunday @ the Portal
Hive - 2am Saturday @ the Village
Bassnectar (Lorin) - 12am Saturday @ the Fractal Forest
Bassnectar (Lorin) - 12am Sunday @ the Village

.. but the above acts are mainly local and generally unknown and in the past have proven themselves to be masters of the their craft. I highly recommend!

Im sure though, as is always the case, that which will impress me the most will be the most unexpected thing of all. That seems to be the spirit of Shambhala. The people and the vibe always come through to create the heart of the event.

And as the stages volume grows, and the sounds of the night blend into a blissful cacophony of sound, I will be sure to...

Dance under the moon. Illuminate the night.







Until next time,

Peace.

Hello. Goodbye.

As another crossroads in my life approaches emotions swirl past my minds eye. I keep myself from being washed away in the vast blur of emotions through my daily meditations as it has helped me stay centered through this time of much excitement and sadness.

Tomorrow Melissa leaves for a month to Guatemala and I am without my soulmate for longer than ever before. Not to mention she is going to a place which is not considered the safest of destinations. However, I feel confident in her ability to handle herself well and that the trip will be a huge character building experience much like our hike to Grizzly Den last winter. I expect many truths to be revealed to her about herself and the world.

So with a mix of sadness, loneliness, and excitement I bid her farewell and wish only for the safe return of my love.

As I say good-bye I also find myself in the presence of old friends long unseen. Both Bryan and Anton are back in town as we prepare to head down to Nelson for the roadtrip of the summer. SHAMBHALA! It's finally here!

I am highly anticipating seeing my music idol Simon Posford as well as the reunion of friends who have moved from home. I cant wait to see Matt as I believe Shambhala will be an inspiration to him and that it will benefit him greatly.

Also, as of recently I have learned that I will indeed be able to take Melissa's camera to Shambhala so expect a photo-journal update upon my return. She has decided not to take it along due to the value and bad attention it may bring to her and the group. In addition to this news something even more shocking presents itself. My dad recently informed me that he's interested in coming to Shambhala this year. I would have never expected this, but it excites me.

So, after one more shift out at the Bowron Lakes, I, along with Bryan, Anton, TomG, and Kenbo head down south for the greatest festival I have ever known.

And that concludes this entry. Let me leave you with a few snapshots of my last week out on the Bowron Lakes.

Peace.

Niyaz

While drinking my morning coffee and reading emails I received one from a close friend, Cody Biles, suggesting I check out Niyaz. Always keen to look into any suggestions from Cody as our music interestes are suprisingly intertwined, I checked out their website and was blown away.

Along with the email came the suggestion to see them live at the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues festival which takes place after Shambhala. I ponder this deeply as I view their videos.

Check them out by clicking the image below yourself, I highly reccomend.

The Majestic Bowron Lakes

I was lucky enough to get a job at the Bowron Lake Provincial Park this summer for my last "between semester" job. Thanks Curt!

I live out in the secluded ranger cabins and work around the Bowron lake circuit which is paddled by thousands of canoeists every year. It is truly wonderful place and has allowed for much needed inner contemplation and meditation.

After the end of this last semester I was in stressed and in bad mental health to the point my it manifested itself physically in the form of intestinal cramping and digestive issues. This lasted for several months and left me realizing I had to do something about it as all the doctors tests said there was nothing wrong. Just like with my tendons :(

At one point it became apparent that this problem was not going to go away unless I made conscious effort to better myself.

I since realized the importance of meditation and have been making sure I get at least 30-60 minutes in every day. The changes have been drastic and I'm feeling much better. I cannot stress enough the gift of inner peace.

Throughout this time (nearly 3 months already) I have captured much of the beauty of the park through the eye of my camera and am able to show to you the wonders of this province and country. I hope I can inspire you to go out and experience for yourself the endless beauty of nature.

Here are some of my favorites.













You can view the rest of this photo set by following these links:

Bowron Lakes - West Side
Bowron Lakes - East Side

A New Way To Chronicle

With long gaps between recent posts due to my RSI (repetitive-strain-injuries) I've come up with a new and exciting way to chronicle my life. In fact, I wish to show more than a glimpse into my thoughts, but also the vision from my eyes.

Without further adieu, I present to you...

My Photo-Blog!

The above link will constantly be updated with all my new photographic exploration and adventure. This will not simply replace this blog, but rather, enhance it as I wish to continue my creative expression. Where there is a will there is a way, so they say.

I will continue to post highlights, (and lowlights) on the blog, however chances are they will now be accompanied by pictures, and since a picture is worth a thousand words, my tendons will thank me greatly.