leaving NZ

plenty of time to write as Virgin changed all of my flights (AFTER check-in???!!!) and added a whole extra flight and 5 hrs of travel to my day. nice…
anyway, feeling pretty calm and philosophical, on the brink of a whole new phase of this journey. i think it quite apt to have changed the “name” of phase 1 (“roots, rocks, reggae”) (& funny), but i have every belief that phase 2 will truly live up to  the “eat pray surf” title. i feel ready & anxious to focus more spiritually, and look forward to this somewhat unique opportunity to deepen my practice.
the past few weeks in NZ have been magnificent - i grew increasingly strong, clear in mind and heart, confident, and more at ease. i met more and more spectacular people living incredible lives, and, of course, continued to be knocked senseless by the beauty and drama of New Zealand Nature. i got dolphin snot blown in my face (swore never to wash it again… uh, yeah, …not) and rode a horse (still walking funny).
i met a cool japanese woman in Ahipara who is surf-crazed, and talking with her now has me seriously considering postponing return to SF (do you blame me - shoulder surgery and a divorce??!!!) in order to travel & surf in japan this spring. we’ll see how much surfing my shoulder actually allows in the coming months before making that call. still hurts to put my arm in a sleeve if things aren't perfectly aligned…: ///
anyway… now that i’m Comfortable, its time to get Uncomfortable, so here i go, diving into the relative chaos* of SE Asia… exciting!!! next entry will be from Bali :)
peace be with you all (all 10 of you!! :))) )

i am intentionally betraying my biased preconception here, in the interest of transparency and dialogue - i have never before particularly imagined traveling in SE Asia - in my head it looked like oppressive heat and humidity, tons of bugs and insects, and an overwhelming amount of potentially bothersome attention from people who are offering help one doesn’t really want  or need - no fault of theirs, of course, but unnerving as a would-be traveler. i am looking forward to dispelling, if not the “myth” then at least my unease around it.

PS here are 2 pics my friend Miki sent me of the surf at shipwrecks THE DAY I LEFT and was on a bus all day… : ///