Ecuador, Ama la vida!

What a joy it is to be in Ecuador. I can't believe that I'm here for work. It has been quite an adventure in so many regards. I'm back in Montanita after passing a week in Guayquil and Cuenca. Fausto and I ran around the city filling out paperwork and talking with government officials about becoming licensed exporters. It is a suprisingly streamlined affair, if you know what your doing. Thankfully Fausto is studying International Business so he's been the man of the week. We topped off all of our hard work by going to a natural hotspring off the beaten path in an area of mountains called Los Soldados (The soldiers) We drove our way up a windy dirt road in a valley following a river, until the vista opened up into mountains soaring above our heads with rocks jutting out like... soldiers. The paramo, the high altitude plains is ethereal. We didn't quite make it but the valley just disapeared into the endless vista of rolling hills. The hotspring was right next to the river, and our view held the mountains, rocks and paramo all with only the turn of our heads. We went with a friend of mine who I hadn't seen in four years, Inel, from France, she was an exchange student when I was and is now studying tourism in Cuenca. As well as a woman from Switzerland who is staying with Fausto and studying Spanish. We sat in the waters for ours talking and taking in the beautiful scenery, it was astounding. The speed of the clouds, passing in front of the sun and changing the light every so often kept the soldiers in constant motion. The owner of the hotsprings came down and asked us to pay the nominal fee of $1 each. He told us some tall talls about 16 meter anacondas, cows producing 70 liters of milk and other stories that were pretty interesting. 

Staying with Fausto and his family was great, living with a family is always interesting. His mother is so accomodating and was happy to see me.When Fausto was in class I wandered around Cuenca looking for tasty things to eat and interesting people to talk to. I had more flashbacks staying with his family, eating together and hanging out than I've had yet. Eating different foods that I used to love, like ripe plantain with a slice of cheese in it, or Morocho the drink made from corn. Has elicited waves of memories of my life back in Quito. I look forward to staying with my family in Quito before I come back to the states.

Today a woman told me that my accent still is from Quito. She's from Quito and couldn't get over how much I still had the accent. It's so funny that people know the city where I learned spanish because of my accent.

All is well and swell, I still can't believe I'm here "working!"

I'm an international model, say what?

I arrived in Ecuador the evening of the 7th, Fausto, who stayed in our house five years ago met me at the airport in Guayaquil and we went directly to Montanita. As soon as we walked into town we bumped into my buddy Riley who had been traveling for the last three months. Another friend, from Germany who was an exchange student when I was also happened to be in montanita at the same time. It was a night of reunions, seeing Fausto and Leo after four years and the juxtiposition of seeing Riley in Ecuador was almost too much to deal with. Even after traveling for almost 28 hours  from leaving Ashland to getting to Montanita I was energized to hang out with everyone.  Fausto and I quickly found a hostal, showered, ate and met everyone to go out.
The next day, Fausto and I were sitting out on the street side eating a set lunch. Here in Ecaudor one can get a meal from $1.50 to $3.00 usually, it comes with rice, lentils or beans, a piece of meat and soup usually. We were going to town on our chicken when two women approached us and asked if they could sit down at our table. We told them that we were almost finished and they said that they wanted to talk with us. They asked if I would model for them in a video in an hour. They said that they'd pay me $100, so I of course said sure.
We went back to our hotel, showered, took a nap and they picked us up. We went to another part of the beach where they took the video above. Pretty funny, I had a hard time keeping a straight face sometimes, I couldn't believe that on my second day in Ecaudor I was modeling. It sure wasn't what I was imagining!
When everything was finished they asked if I could come to Guayquil the net weekend to be in a runway walk. I did, on Saturday I spent all day at the location sitting around until we finally got to walk. It was a great experience, now I can say I've modeled.  It's a crazy world, shallow and superficial, but another interesting experience worth sharing.

San Francisco Airport

Hello everyone,

I'm back! and off on another adventure. I'm sitting in the SFO airport after being delayed on my flight to Houston. I've been meaning to write for a long time but finally I have no ecuse. Ecuador here I come, it's been two years since my brief visit and adventure to find the woven baseball caps. Four years since I was there as an exchange student. Now, I've got five weeks to figure out the logistics and reality of importing these hats into the USA. My godfather Cedar and I are very excited about the possibilities of these hats. While I'm in Ecaudor I hope to be picking up my blog where I left off.
I thought that India was an adventure, being back in the USA took it to a whole new level. Being sick, living at home again, and reacclimating to the USA was quite an adventure itself. I took off and tried to fly right out of highschool but I came back to earth pretty quickly. Now I hope to continue my way as a wanderer, and possibly make some money doing it!?

Alex

Mystifying Musings

Man with his buffalo bathing together at Shivala Ghat, Varanassi

I'd like to lead you down my mind trail. Please enjoy.

We know that oil companies are the most powerful companies in the world, that they dictate the world what our government does, indirectly and directly, through lobbying, foreign policy, and other ways. That they are causing so much of the insanity that we see around us. Wars in the Middle East, a culture that eats 30% of it's meals in cars, toxic emissions that poison the planet causing global weirding (As Tom Ward aptly calls it) causing global anomalies in weather patterns to cover 10% of the earth rather than 0.5% when the modeling began in the 50's. This finite resource condensed energy from the sun, 50 million years to make and 100 years to burn through the easily accessible oil. This cheap energy has itself intricately woven into the fabric of our daily lives. I'm wearing it, typing on it, in a house made partly from it built powered by it. Yet with this knowledge, not to mention it's cost, over $4 dollars a gallon at our local gas stations. We continue to feed the maw of this giant machine, shoveling our dollars into it. 70% of our oil use is transportation. And we drive our cars? Every day, all over the place, to work, to the gym, to get groceries, etc. What? Do we realize what we are doing? That what we take now won't be there for the future generations, that we are stealing the future of the world for our own convenience? And this is just one example. Our lives are unsustainable, haven't we heard this before? And we have spread the message of consumerism hand in hand with globalization. As the economies and populations grow in Brazil, Russia, India and China they will increasingly want stuff, just like us. We have opened Pandora's box, set the wheel turning on a chain of events that we will increasingly find ourselves less and less important in. We have the largest economy in the world, thus our collective buying power is the greatest in the world. We need to make decisions that will carry us into a future that is equitable for all.
One of the ways that I see this made possible is by cutting our consumption. This could possibly offer the corporations a reality check. A shrinking market means more innovation in the direction of the consumers, we play hard to get and they'll come to us. We can bolster our own local economies and drive less, maybe none. We have amazing minds and technology is running in leaps and bounds. Yet I do not think we will leap our way over this conundrum. We must consume less, other wise it doesn't seem like there will be any for my children.
Coming back from India personalized so much of what we hear. Population, Climate Change, Consumerism, Waste, Education, and so many other hot topics became wedged into my soul. I lived and breathed in a world so different from this one, where clean water,  food and air. The most basic human needs are scarce. Where over a billion people are watching the screens of the TV or cellphone. Watching Hollywood and dreaming of their own car, house, Refrigerator, Flush Toilet and everything else we have grown accustomed to here in the USA. We are the 1% of the world the cream of the privileged. I know I am. when I think of my friends in India I can't help but be amazed at the contrast and appalled at the lack of continuity. We have the power to change, ride our bikes, grow a garden, I mean whatever. Let's do it, why not? If not now then when, are we going to live our lives blocking out the distress signals from all sides until they get handed to us on our front doors. I want to change the world, make it better for all. We all share this dream somewhere within us. Let's cultivate it so we can truly create the world that we wish to live in. It's going to take all of us. I heard this recently on a TED talk, "The power of the people is much stronger than the people in power"- Wael Ghonim

Blessings

Losar Tashi Delek!

Happy Tibetan New Year!
Another wonderful rainy, cloudy and perfect day to celebrate the new year. Today is Losar, the Tibetan New Year. As it turns out just as we may mark this day as another day in our lives, living as some of the most blessed people on the planet, many people around the world are struggling for their basic human needs and rights.
Today H.H. Dalai Lama has called for Losar Celebrations to be omitted except for the basic religious rites as they still struggle to be heard by the Chinese. The situation of the Tibetan people is that of the most well known and publicised refugees in the world. China unwittingly exposed the world to the wonderful teachings of the Tibetan people. High up in their lofty vista they have been keeping and enriching a philosophy brought to the world by Buddha. Now with the help of many monks who have spread their message of compassion through careful contemplation and meditation to the world. Thanks to one of these Lama's, the Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche, there has been a monastery set up just over the hill from Ashland. Today I was invited by my friend Bill to join him for the celebration. What a wonderful chance to experience the goodness in the world. Over three hours of chants and percussion, supplication to the gods for their favor once again in this new year. As I understand it we began by invoking the gods, thanking them and asking for their continuing blessings in this year.
I lost myself in the chants, juniper incense and colorful imagery all around. Caught up in the fervor of life one lesson stands out: I am blessed. I was born and brought up in such a wonderful place. Loved on all side I'm back to my roots, here in Southern Oregon I can be transported back to India, back to the world I left. India hasn't left me, slowly my journey is being assimilated within. The glow of returning hasn't worn off, it's just sunk into my deepening perception and awareness for the glorious life I life. On the physical side, India has yet to be finished with me. I'm still confronted with MRSA staph, an antibiotic resistant version of the normal bacteria that lives on our skin. This has left me in a state of low energy and with two wounds, but it seems like life moves onward. I'm already healed, I'm so happy, surrounded by love on all sides. Thank you.
Back to the point, the Tibetans have a most interesting position in our global vision. They have brought the west back in touch with the Dharma, their leader H.H. Dalai Lama is not only charismatic but from my own brief experience in his presence is absolutely inspiring. At 100 feet away it was as if everyone in the audience took a deep breathe, and on the exhale let go of all their worry and tension. He was light, present with everyone, passing his eyes through the crowd, really looking at as many people as he could before he took his seat sighed himself and began to tell us how goofy we all were for wanting to see him. The Tibetans have found a global audience to their plight, the 6 million Tibetans living in China have been disenfranchised, discriminated against and much worse. Even with the "Free Tibet" bumper stickers China refuses to budge in their position that it is their rightful land. Money wins, and China has the influence that keeps the world at bay. Through this example a veil is removed upon the world. Resources, Commodities and Weapons are what is driving our world, not to mention money. China has that, so do we. In our climb to the worlds largest economy we too have had to push people out of the way. Rather than harp on the evil I'd like to move towards the good, all it takes is for us to say stop.
We can, we have more resources, are more connected and more aware than ever before. Let's turn this "normal" day into a day to wake up. To live brightly and to shine. Buddha taught compassion, a compassion that pervades and dissolves all other emotions, that transcends the self and moves us towards the light. we can all believe what we wish, but the tenants of all the great teachers on this planet has been the same. We have to wake up and learn to live like brothers and sisters, we've got one Earth for all of us. If you've read this it has touched you, please take a moment to stop. We can change the world, let's do it. Let's stop these atrocities and awaken our own Buddha nature. May all beings be happy, may all beings be at peace.

Ashland's Mixed Message

 Another letter to the Editor after a hair raising near miss in Ashland, I thought i was done with those in India. But amazingly enough, the roads here seem almost more dangerous. In the USA the rules of the road are supposed to keep people in line, yet they deaden many peoples senses to the world around them (not to mention the amazing amount of tasks we juggle in the car). In India the rules are simple, the bigger the vehicle the higher up one is on the food chain, and remember to never drop your guard!

I use my bicycle for transportation and joy. I’m out on the roads very often and there are a couple of things I’d like to share with all of the people who use the big metal box on four wheels.

Bikes, under Oregon law must follow the rules of the road just like cars. This means that when you have the right of way at a stop sign; please, instead of showing your kindness for your two wheeled friends and letting us go first, just go. As a biker, everyday a car will stop and wait for me to come to the crossing and then wave me through. Thank you, but no thanks. You, my friends, are using fossil fuels for your transportation, I would much rather that you keep on going, following the rules of the road, and saving the energy. I’m capable of stopping and getting myself across the intersection after you’ve passed.

Inside of cars people seem to have found a way to do just about everything, I’ve seen it all, you’d be amazed at the visibility from a bike. But please remember that we bikers are outside and often on your right. Bike lanes have given a place for us to ride, but before making the right hand turn, check for bikers in your rearview mirror and in your blind spots. Yesterday I was almost hit by someone turning off of Siskiyou Boulevard. I have been hit twice in similar situations.

Please be aware of bikes on the road and bike lanes, we don’t want to get hit. Biking is so much fun, and great exercise. Ashland is small and bike friendly, there isn’t much better in coming to a crossing and meeting all bikers and no cars. Spring is just around the corner, please be aware of the increasing number of bikers on the road and don’t be afraid to join us! See you on two wheels.

Pooja, the founder of Town School, the NGO I worked with in dehradun India asked me to write a letter for her about the NGO for a volunteer website called Omprakash. Dear Omprakash, My name is Alex Landt. I’ve just returned to the USA after over a year in India and Nepal. I spent about 4 months during my travels volunteering. I met Pooja Dwivedi and Town School through another volunteer site, Workaway. I arrived in the first week of February 2011 and stayed for a month. I was her first volunteer. I returned for a two-day visit in the first week of December to say goodbye to Pooja and everyone who I connected with during my time at Town School. I have seen a few NGO’s and I’ve learned that many do not live up to their words. Town School does. It is a project that has been started by a local for the locals. Pooja is totally devoted to her work and the community. The challenges have all been taken in stride. However, in its second year, Town School is growing in leaps and bounds. In my eight months of absence from the school new rooms were added, a truck was bought to act as the school bus and enrollment has gone up. This project is one persons attempt to make a positive change in this crazy world. Pooja is doing wonderful work. She has such a big heart that extends to everyone she meets, pulling volunteers like me into her family in only one month. Not only does this attitude extend to the volunteers but to all the children and the community. This project is worthwhile for anyone wanting to see what one person can do when they’re willing to just follow their dreams. The area of Satyon is in the mountains, the foothills of the Himalaya, just north of Dehradun. The city has been known since the British Raj as a center of learning. Many famous Indians have gone to school in this city. Pooja is working to bring this high level of education to the local people. The community has been extremely responsive and many on the staff are locals. She is connecting many worlds with her work. Volunteers bring their skills, including English. Undeniably, English fluency is very important in the global world. Even in India it is hard to get a job without speaking English. Pooja has gone to the extreme in hospitality for her volunteers. It was the most comfortable place to stay of my travels. She provides all the amenities that we feel are necessary in the West; hot/clean water, good food and individual rooms for the volunteers. My stay with Pooja was a highlight of my trip. I got to experience the life in an Indian family and village. I was able to teach English and invariably learn so much more than I was able to impart. I’ve made lifelong friends in Pooja and the Town School team. Town School is a project that is working to make the world a little bit better for everyone. The opportunity for people to come and teach, see life in the Indian hills and to make new friends is wonderful. The education is amazing. Seeing the kids when I went back and visited, to see how well they understood English in only eight months just proves that with a dream, passion and the heart to change anything can be done. Smiles can’t be empirically measured, but my smile mirrored the children’s expansive gleam when I went back to visit.

This piece I wrote for the Daily Tidings, it was in Letters to the Editor on January 5th. Since my return to the states from India and Nepal many people have asked me to sum up my experience. “What was the highlight of your trip?” or “What did you learn during your travels?” Often times people ask me to sum it all up in a short amount of time. This just compounds the difficulty of expressing myself. Trying to tell my stories has been so enjoyable, seeing how I respond and react to people’s questions. A theme has emerged from the many conversations that I’ve had: Gratitude. Coming back to Ashland, The Valley, Southern Oregon, the Northwest and the USA has deepened my appreciation and gratitude. This place is a sanctuary, an intentional community in all definitions because people have come to this place to live out of choice. There are so many reasons to love Ashland, without listing them myself because I’m sure everyone can think of so many, I would just like to say thank you. Thanks to everyone who is dreaming, who is working to make the world a better place consciously or unconsciously. I’m so thankful to everyone who has made Ashland and the surrounding area their home. The people who have made this place the beautiful way that it is. Gratitude is a lesson that I’ve learned while traveling, to be thankful for all that there is. So thank you and happy New Year. May this year be filled with love, joy, gratitude and blessings for all.