alilou's Adventures in Wonderland - all over the map.

[Alilou]

Oh that's too funny. Don and I have been using "just this" for many years. It's great for getting back to presence and a remembering that this moment is all there is. Just this. Just here. Just now. Nothing is wrong. It's a very effective reminder. And it's true there's nothing wrong. It's this kind of deep exploration, and the discovery and release of hidden belief systems that has allowed me to become more and more free, and at home in myself.

 

[skatesindreams]

The first is about the inner journey, and pretty raw and self-revealing.
http://alisonanddon.com/2015/06/16/way-out-on-a-limb/

In case you need reminding, you are a person of great worth and accomplishment.
Whenever those "belittling" thoughts beset you, read about your journey

That person, who has grown so much on the way, is you!
.

 

[Alilou]

Lol, thanks skatesindreams. I get the message <3
The thing is I do these deep inner explorations and find out what crap I'm believing at unconscious levels and somehow it gets me free of it. I know it's nonsense to think my life has been all about what I can get, well no more than most people anyway, and also nonsense that I have nothing to offer. In shedding light on the hidden agenda it somehow melts away.

 

[skatesindreams]

I'm delighted to hear that!

 

[Alilou]

I've just published a new blog post. Back to beautiful New Zealand - pancake rocks, strange birds, and a street market in Wellington.

http://alisonanddon.com/2015/07/10/...-beautiful-scenery-new-zealand-in-a-nutshell/

 

[Alilou]

There is a new blog post ready. This one is for all fans of Lord of the Rings, and sunsets!
Mordor, Mount Doom, and Hobbiton all revealed

http://alisonanddon.com/2015/07/18/silver-ferns-and-sunsets-in-the-land-of-the-lord-of-the-rings/

 

[sk8pics]

Oh my, wild weather at Lake Taupo! That is my favorite shot in this batch of photos. Great job!

 

[Alilou]

Thanks sk8pics. That was a wild night down at the beach, but a fabulous sunset!

 

[skatesindreams]

Your effort to get a photo of the silver fern certainly paid off.
Wow!

 

[Alilou]

Thanks skatesindreams. It was so great to finally see a really good example of it.

We were interviewed on HuffPost Live along with some other "old people travelling"
http://alisonanddon.com/2015/07/24/huff-post-live-interview/

(I seriously need to practice focus when I'm on video lol)

 

[skatesindreams]

The differing perspectives of the interviewees about their travels were very interesting.

 

[Alilou]

Yes, I really admire that woman who travels with her mother who's in a wheel chair. That must take patience, and huge organisation. We have times being like the other couple - going to a place and staying for a while. Our next trip is to Turkey, Jordan and Egypt (soooo excited!), but early next year we'll head somewhere warm (Costa Rica maybe) and stay put for several months. We talked today about using that time to finally write that book we've been talking about!

 

[Alilou]

I've just published a new post - Walking on Boiling Water
It's about the extraordinary landscape of the New Zealand geothermal fields

http://alisonanddon.com/2015/07/31/...the-geothermal-fields-of-new-zealand/#respond

 

[Maofan7]

I've just published a new post - Walking on Boiling Water
It's about the extraordinary landscape of the New Zealand geothermal fields

http://alisonanddon.com/2015/07/31/...the-geothermal-fields-of-new-zealand/#respond

Stunning photographs. I think the Reporoa Caldera is close by where there was hydrothermal eruption just 10 years ago.

 

[Alilou]

Thanks Maofan. We didn't hear about the Reporoa eruption, but I did read somewhere that only a small portion of the geothermal fields are open to the public. From your link it seems the Reporoa eruption was only 8km from where we were at Orakei Korako.

 

[skatesindreams]

Simply "fantastic"; as in "otherworldly", Allison!

 

[Alilou]

Thanks skatesindreams. It really is a totally surreal place.

 

[skatesindreams]

This post deserves three WOW's: One for the deer, one for the wearable art, and one for Stuart!

 

[sk8pics]

Other worldly pictures, ali. Just amazing. What camera and lens are you using? Thank you again for sharing!

 

[Alilou]

This post deserves three WOW's: One for the deer, one for the wearable art, and one for Stuart!

Thanks skatesindreams. We thought they were all WOW. Never expected to see a deer farm, or the big-hearted Stu with his pigs, and we were totally gobsmacked by WOW - amazing exhibition, so glad we went to it.

Other worldly pictures, ali. Just amazing. What camera and lens are you using? Thank you again for sharing!

Thanks sk8pics. I have a panasonic FZ1000 with a built in 25-400mm lens. I like having just one piece of equipment to carry around, but I'd still like something with a bigger sensor, and a faster lens. A girl can dream . . . . . .

 

[Maofan7]

This post deserves three WOW's: One for the deer, one for the wearable art, and one for Stuart!

Completely agree. Love the photo's of the deer

 

[Alilou]

Thanks Maofan. We loved seeing the deer - so beautiful, and so unexpected. I love those kind of travel surprises.

 

[Alilou]

I published a new blog post a couple days ago - about how we got started, making the decision to sell our apartment and start travelling.
Do you want a home or do you want a life?
http://alisonanddon.com/2015/08/14/do-you-want-a-home-or-do-you-want-a-life/

 

[skatesindreams]

That all fell into place, showed the path you were meant to take.
It seems to have happened throughout the course of your journey.

I'm sure that will continue to be the case.

 

[Alilou]

That all fell into place, showed the path you were meant to take.
It seems to have happened throughout the course of your journey.

I'm sure that will continue to be the case.

It seems that way - it all felt so right. It's not like we never have our ups and downs. Both of us are grappling with health issues, but not enough to stop us from continuing. It still feels like the right path.

 

[Alilou]

I published a new blog post today, all about this amazing hand-built narrow gauge railway - all the vision (and most of the work) by one man.

http://alisonanddon.com/2015/08/22/if-you-build-it-they-will-come-driving-creek-railway/

 

[skatesindreams]

"Amazing" only begins to describe that!

 

[Maofan7]

I published a new blog post today, all about this amazing hand-built narrow gauge railway - all the vision (and most of the work) by one man.

http://alisonanddon.com/2015/08/22/if-you-build-it-they-will-come-driving-creek-railway/

Quite a legacy. Fantastic.

 

[sk8pics]

Beautiful and amazing! I am enjoying your bird pictures especially lately, since I gave taken up birding, inspired by our Israeli tour guide. I got a picture yesterday of an American Goldfinch. Not rare but I was still thrilled. I can share if you like. And thank YOU for sharing so generously with the world!

 

[Alilou]

"Amazing" only begins to describe that!

I agree. We were blown away by all this guy had achieved. What a life!

Quite a legacy. Fantastic.

Yes. Truly a remarkable man. Oh, and the train ride was fun too!

Beautiful and amazing! I am enjoying your bird pictures especially lately, since I gave taken up birding, inspired by our Israeli tour guide. I got a picture yesterday of an American Goldfinch. Not rare but I was still thrilled. I can share if you like. And thank YOU for sharing so generously with the world!

Thanks sk8pics. I'm always on the lookout for nature/wildlife so if I see a bird slightly more interesting that a sparrow I want a photo of it. It's really tricky. Darn things won't keep still! Yes please share your goldfinch, I'd love to see it. It may not be rare but I don't think I've seen one.