Baba Marta

Perfect Balance

One of the beautiful Bulgarian traditions is the celebration of 1st of March as the day when the winter is coming to an end.

According to the legend, on that day grandmother March (‘Baba Marta’ in Bulgarian) scolds her naughty grandchildren -January and February and commands them to put an end to the harsh winter times.

On that day, we wear and also gift each a thread in red and white – Martenitsa, with the wish to be healthy and happy. The thread is worn until we see a stork ( symbolizing the upcoming spring) and is then put on a blossomed tree so it grows healthy and fruitful.

This year baba Marta finds me in India where the hot and humid weather has nothing to do with the typical cold and often snowy conditions that I am used to experiencing back home in Europe.
Nevertheless the traditions remain the same independently of the location. Just like in all the previous years I wear my Martenitsa and give Martenitsas to people around me. And the same memory visits me in such a vivid way that it feels like it was yesterday- my grandmother gives me a Martenitsa, a bunch of amazing smelling flowers that grow in Bulgaria in March and also a hand-made card, made by a friend of hers containing an inspirational wish.

My grandmother is no longer here to give me these gifts, but I make my own cards now and I give them to others so they can feel the same way I felt when receiving them:) And I am going to keep doing it every year. Traditions will always be followed.

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The Elephant Bath

Experiences

Elephant bath

Elephants are one of the biggest but also the most beautiful and intelligent animals. There is a saying depicting a clumsy person – “like an elephant in a shop full of glass”, but I completely disagree with the comparison. There is a certain grace and elegance that they radiate which is even more apparent when they are in the water. I believe the pictures below depict this very well.

Elephants are also one of the most auspicious animals in India and especially Kerala which is also playing an essential part of the Indian culture and mythology. Experiencing an encounter with them is an absolute must for every visitor of Kerala.

Seeing elephants take a bath was one of the most interesting experiences in my life. The sight of them splashing their ears in the water , using their trunks as showers and submerging like cute submarines with only their trunk outside is something that will stay with me for a very long time.

There are a few elephant centers in Kerala; the one that I visited is Kodanad elephant training center which is aproximately 40 km from Cochin.

More information about the center at: www.keralatourism.org/destination/kodanad-ernakulam/123/

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30 Day Photo Diary- Day 11: A Story About Special Boat Rides

30 Day Photo Diary

Every day Shivan transports people accross the river Peryar in Kerala charging about 30 rupees per trip. He has been a boatman for the last 25 years. He is married and has a 21 year old son who is a painter.

His boat is a handmade piece with typical Keralan design, not really an eye catcher, but very sturdy and enduring and definitely pretty unique for the European eye.

When the sun gets unbearable he wears a funky big umbrella-looking hat (it is lying in front of him in the boat on the first picture). He doesn’t like it so much when people take his pictures, but I haven’t been giving him much choice, so he eventually gave up.

Shivan likes his job and he is good at what he does. There is a certain ease with which he operares and his focused yet very relaxed manner of pedaling gives his passengers a soothing vibe.

Every boat ride with him is like travelling back in time- him silently rolling his beedi (tobacco rolled in a dried leaf), me enjoying the warm Keralan breeze at the time when the sun is setting and sky and water are merging in a beautiful purple-shaded embrace. It is a truly special boat ride every time.

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Picture Perfect- 10 tips from me

Perfect Balance

Photography has been a part of my life for three years and my fascination with it grows every day. For me it has a double purpose – in a purely factual way it allows us to learn more about the world around us; but it turns into a pure art by serving as a thought-provoking reflection of the personal journey of the photographer. As if somebody took your hand and walked you through the stage on which their images evolved. It reaches its ultimate goal when it turns into storytelling – when a picture speaks more than all the words that we could use. For me it has grown from merely a hobby to something that excites and inspires me and provokes my curiosity; something that I am trying to get better at and want to know more about. Photography is embedded deeply in this blog and it goes hand by hand with the words that I use to tell the stories that I tell.

A friend of mine recently asked me to share my experience with learning how to take better pictures and at the same time make the whole process more enjoyable and fun.

So here are my ten tips for all the fellow photographers:

• Know your camera! Whether you shoot with a DLSR, System Camera or your phone it is absolutely essential to have control over it. Most picture-perfect moments occur spontaneously and you have only few seconds to act. And there is nothing as annoying as realizing post-factum that your perfect picture is actually a blurry/ over/ under-exposed mess. So read up your manuals and know the settings of your camera. I am shooting with Sony Nex 6 (the predecessor of the Alpha 6000) and can share the a very useful book explaining the camera with those of you have the same camera.

• Get the basics right! There are certain elements of the photography, such as shutter speed, aperture, focusing and exposure, that you need to have at least awareness about in case you want to develop your photography skills. There are many ways to get you started. I did an online photography course (www.iphotographycourse.com) which I was very happy with. I have also subscribed for the newsletters of a several photography blogs that provide photography tips, my favourite of which is the blog of David Peterson.

• Composition is key! After you get to know more about your camera you will soon discover by experience that composition plays a critical role. Knowing what the elements of an image are, how they relate to each other and how this impacts the overall mood of the image will help you create pictures that truly impact the viewer. My favorite book on composition that I can highly recommend is “The Photographer`s Eye” by Michael Freeman.

• Discover where your interests lie! By experimenting see what kind of topics you are most interested in – landscapes, architecture, portraits, etc. This way you will also know what kind of resources/ tips/ equipment to look for. During my first trip to India I discovered that I really love taking portrait pictures, but I also enjoy taking shooting landscapes (especially sunsets) and close-ups of flowers and animals.

• Bring your camera with you, experiment and enjoy the process! Every time when I go somewhere without my camera I deeply regret it, so I try to take it along as often as possible. I have also discovered that it takes me about half an hour to “warm up” by taking random pictures and playing with the settings until I shoot my “picture of the day”. Therefore I would highly encourage you to be playful and enjoy the process without being too outcome oriented – the results will come naturally.

• Read photography books/ magazines of your interest! One of my best friends gave me a book for my birthday that I am reviewing every other day and I learn so much from. It is called… Magazines/ photography websites, on the other hand, are a great way to keep yourself up to date with upcoming competitions, new trends, interesting tips and also a great way to keep yourself away from time-wasting sources, such as Facebook 😉

• Join a photography community where you can share your pictures and get inspired from others! It is a great way to filter your best images, think about what kind of text you want to add to your picture as well as to get feedback from fellow photographers and get inspired from their work. I am a member of an online picture sharing platform called ViewBug and what I enjoy mostly about it is the opportunity to review the work of professional photographers.

• Find user-friendly photo-editing software which can help you to perfect your pictures! I usually modify my pictures from my phone and use an app called “Snapseed”. What I really like about it is the speed with which I can get things done (I use the wireless network of my camera to transfer the pictures to my phone/iPad and then I directly edit them) and also the super user-friendly process (for some sort of reason I find all the buttons/ menus/ options in Photoshop and Lightroom a massive turn off).

• Competition gives you a healthy kick! Even though I know I am far away from being a professional, taking part in competitions gives me a drive and also motivates me to take the best picture. Additionally, involving you in communities where people share pictures and vote for each other can be a good way to stimulate yourself to get better (try Viewbug that I talked about above).

• Think about ways to utilize your pictures! Putting your pictures to use brings them to life and allows them to turn into art. I mainly use the pictures for my blog, but there are many other ways such as making photobooks, postcards, collages or my favorite – printing them in big size and decorating your house, but also gifting them to friends. Printing a picture of yours in big size and framing it beautifully can be a beautiful present and thinking which pictures would fit the personality/ interior of the house of your friend makes the process even more enjoyable and rewarding. Furthermore, I always believed that gifting something that came from your heart and making the time to think about it and work it out is a lot more valuable than simply purchasing a gift.

Hopefully these tips would help you not only to take better pictures, but also to enjoy the process and have fun with it 😉

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A letter to my future stressed out self

Perfect Balance

There will be days when you feel stressed out, busy and not satisfied with anything. When you want more of life and nothing seems good enough.

When this happens, look at these pictures. And remember the other days that start and end with you feeling just right. When you manage to experience the joy of just being. Without worring, comparing, wanting. The moments where true happines lies. The moments that trully matter.

Life changes constantly. You cannot expect that all days will be good and things will always work out. You cannot always change the circumstances. But you can always be in control of the way you react to it. Don’t let your environment or current mood shape your response towards life. Take a few deep breaths and act in accordance with the person that you want to be.

Now close your eyes. Breathe. And smile.

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30 Day Photo Diary: Day 10- A story about Loving Life

30 Day Photo Diary, Perfect Balance

Nearby the village where I stay there is a a church on top of a hill called St. Thomas Church. This lady was selling candles at the start of the rocky path leading to it.

At first I was really attracted to her unique jewellery, which I had never seen before. Then I noticed that she was quite old-much above the retirement age. Nevertheless, she was super energetic, smiling and very very friendly to the excited stranger (me), using my body language to inquire whether it is possible to have her pictures taken.

Her energy, desire to look good, work hard to earn money despite her age and friendliness reminded me of something very important – there is a special type of people who independently of their age have bright and young spirits and never fail to make memorable impressions on the ones that they meet- these people are the life loving ones.

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Phenomenal Woman

Inspiration

My best friend had her birthday yesterday. It made me think about the time when I first met her- we were four year old toddlers visiting our grandmothers in the countryside and hiding behind our mom`s dresses, because we were too shy. There wasn`t an immediate click– she was a bubbly, happy kid while I was supremely coy and sensitive. I remember after our first meeting I told her “I don`t think we`ll ever play again”.

Well, this is a great example of how first impressions can be totally wrong. Twenty something years later we have been through everything together- from all the childhood memories in our village that will forever be imprinted in me- those amazing nights when we slept outside and counted the starts, the unforgettable trips to the river and the long walks back to the village…And then all these letters that we exchanged in primary school in anticipation of seeing each other during the next holiday. Through all the firsts- crushes, kisses, heartbreaks, disappointments, victories- always being there for each other and looking forward to our next meeting.

Later on, our grandparents passed away and summers in the countryside were resumed. Then we started going to the seaside together. Sometimes to the mountains. The spirit of spending time together was always kept alive.

And then I went abroad. And almost every time when I would fly back she would come and meet me at the airport. And ask me to stay over at her place. And I would always stay as much as I could. And it would always be the same. Because there are things in life that change and there are those other things that don`t – and friendships for life are one of them.

I remember the note that you wrote to me when I was really sick a few years ago- “My dearest friend, this note is purely symbolic and is meant to remind you that I`ll always be there for you”. That pretty much wraps up the relationship that we have and the amazing person that you are.

Apart from being my best friend, you are also a magnetic woman with very special energy. So let this poem by Maya Angelou be a celebration of your charisma and allure and let this also be the beginning of the best part of your life. I love you!

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,

They say they still can’t see.

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need for my care.

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

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Enjoy the Silence

Experiences, Perfect Balance

Life goes in cycles. There are times when one should focus on doing and other times meant for just being – this is something that is often mentioned in spiritual literature. But how manageable is it to just “be”- submit to the silence and to simply do “nothing”? To most people the concept of spending ten days in silence sounds completely unimaginable. What am I actually going to do there? Won`t I be supremely bored? No dinner?! The exact same questions had been continuously crossing my mind. But strangely enough they did not seem that alarming when balanced against the memory of the distinctive peace and serenity that enveloped the people whom I met, and who had done Vipassana. Overall, the feelings that the thought evoked in me were a strange bitter-sweet mixture of panic and supreme curiosity. That is how I knew I needed to give Vipassana a try.

Vipassana means “to see things as they really are”. It is a meditation technique that was popularized by Gautama Buddha 2,500 years ago. Since the time of Buddha, Vipassana has been handed down, to the present day, by an unbroken chain of teachers. One of them is Mr. S.N. Goenka who began teaching Vipassana in 1969. Since then he has taught tens of thousands of people of all races and all religions in both the East and West. He had also given numerous speeches on Vipassana at big forums such as the UN World Peace Summit. An interesting fact is that Vipassana is now recognized as an effective method for reforming prisoners. The meditation technique has been taught to prison inmates and staff in many parts of India as well as the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Taiwan and Nepal. There are permanent Vipassana centers in two Indian prisons.

Currently there are Vipassana centers all over the world. The Vipassana technique is not taught commercially, but instead is offered freely. There are no charges for the courses – not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to experience the benefits of the meditation.

The practical aspects of the meditation are very straightforward: observe your breath for three days, and then observe your body for the next seven. By doing that you learn from firsthand experience how everything within and around us is impermanent and transitory in nature. As a consequence, you make first steps into developing a more calm, accepting and peaceful approach to life.

In terms of immediate changes that you observe- what happens after a long period of silence is that after all the noise is over (be prepared for a vast amount of mental noise in the beginning) and you greet and say bye to all the thoughts, emotions and body sensations that come and go like waves, you are left with a vast amount of peace and a feeling of connectedness with yourself. Not talking to people allows you to detach from the all the clatter, worries, hopes and constant distractions of the modern world and gives you the space to experience being yourself without thinking how others would perceive you. Realizing how uncontrollable our minds are, putting active effort in taming and seeing the results from your work (improved focus and concentration, better sleep and calmer mind) gives you a feeling of being on the right path in your spiritual adventure. One of those adventures that change your life and the way you see things.

In case you would like to give it a try, here are some practical tips that will help you make the best out of it:

The ten day program is very structured and is applied in the same way in all centers around the world. At first sight it seems tough, but don`t let that put you down. It`s true that you are silent and don`t talk to anyone in the course of the ten days, but there are always other people who are there as well, so there is a feeling of doing something in a community of people. The daily schedule is quite packed, so there are hardly any times when you simply hang out and do nothing, so don`t even worry about feeling bored.
There is only tea and light food for dinner, but as you are really not physically active during the day, you will not feel hungry, so there is no need to get freaked out by that.
You might want to get a yoga mat in case you want to do some light exercise, or sit outside.
Take earplugs and a sleeping mask with you. This will help you sleep better and the sleeping mask can be also valuable during meditations where you feel an urge to open your eyes.
Centers around the world are different in terms of set up/facilities, so it is highly recommended to give them a call in advance and gather more information of what you can expect/what to bring, etc.

I did the Vipassana in Dharamshala and I can give some specific tips regarding the center there:

Facilities in the center are pretty basic, so bring your own bed sheets and towels
Due to water scarcity washing your clothes in the center is not allowed, but there is an excellent laundry service at super reasonable prices so there is no need to bring a lot of clothes along.
Bring a torch, as it gets dark relatively early and the paths are not well lit.
Be careful of the many monkeys in the center- no need to be scared, but still acknowledge the fact that they are there and follow the rules related to that (don`t walk around with food, don`t tease them, etc.)
Bring warm clothes as the weather gets chilly in the evenings

More about Vipassana and how you can register for it can be found at: https://www.dhamma.org/

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30 Day Photo Diary: Day 9- A Story about the shy and the beautiful

30 Day Photo Diary

I met her on a late afternoon during one of my walks around the lake. She was washing her clothes in the lake accompanied by her boyfriend/fiancée. There was something so gracious and pure about her that I couldn’t stop taking pictures of her.

She was supremely shy at the beginning, but also curious in a child-like way and did not protest especially after we got the approval of her boyfriend.

At the end I showed her the pictures and she suddenly lit up- it was like she saw her pictures for the first time. I promised to print them out and give them to her the following year – I will soon be there again and hopefully will be able to find her 🙂

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A Sprinkle of Rothschild Luxury in The Netherlands

Experiences

For those of us used to the traditional Dutch sobriety and down-to-earth attitude this castle will come as a big surprise. It is probably one of the most luxurious private venues in the country, more richly decorated than the Rijks museum and Het Loo Palace (which belongs to the queen of The Netherlands)

The young owner baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar acquired the ruin of the castle by inheritance in the late 19th century and decided to engage in an enormous project and build a luxorious home for his wife- the French baroness Helene de Rothschild. Helene was a member of the extremely wealthy De Rothschild family, whose family fortune actually enabled him to build the castle in the extravagant manner that he envisioned.

The place is all about comfort and extravagant spending- from the involvement of a famous Dutch Architect Pierre Cuypers (who was the architect of Rijks museum and who spent 20 years designing the castle), through the absolutely impressive interior (unfortunately taking pictures inside was not allowed, but I also really don`t want to spoil it for you guys) and ending with two interesting facts: It had its own electricity generator in the 1900s and at that time the plants in the park were brought from outside, so could enjoy their 100 old trees right away.

For the last century it has remained a tradition for the Van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar family to reside in the castle for one month a year, each September, and use it as a party house visited by celebrities all over the world (famous guests included Coco Chanel, Maria Callas, Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, Yves Saint Laurent, Joan Collins and Brigitte Bardot). In 2000, the family Van Zuylen van Nyevelt passed ownership of the castle and the gardens (45 ha) to the foundation Kasteel de Haar. However, the family retained the right to spend one month per year in the castle.

Despite of its extravagant splendor, what captured my attention the most were the magical gardens and their royal atmosphere. The deer, swans, the castle at sunset, all of it radiated a fairy-tail like atmosphere and the afternoon spend their felt like a getaway from the real world.

The castle has enough to offer to keep you busy for the whole afternoon. I would recommend booking a guided tour (there are also ones in English that need to be booked in advance). It can be ideally combined with a lunch in the restaurant of the castle and a walk in the gardens.

More for the castle can be found at http://www.kasteeldehaar.nl/english-version/

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