Mainland bound

Sitting in another airport, getting ready to board for my next adventure.  I've spent the last 3 months in Hawaii (about 10 days on Oahu and just over 2 months on Maui).  On Oahu, I saw family I haven't seen in nearly 15 years, learning more about where I come from.  On Maui, I did a work-exchange (check out workaway.org) with a family mostly involving house and animal sitting as well a separate Respite gig with a lovely nonagenarian.

It's been good to relax, just slow down my daily life.  I explored, but also found times where just reading a book or relaxing on a beach was considered a good day.  There's still a lot for me to see.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll be back!  ::chuckle::

My next destination is Seattle.  Lucky me, I arrive on my little cousin's birthday.  Shhh!  I've got a gorgeous mu'umu'u for her.  ::fingers crossed:: that she likes it.  Seattle is a pit stop before heading to Reno for....Burning Man!!!  Super excited to be back on the Playa for the whole burn.  Last year was overwhelming for a lot of different reasons and add on that I arrived late and left early...a bit hard to fully relax into the space.

Lots of people are asking when I'll make it out to them.  Wish I had an answer but just taking it a few weeks at a time.  I've got it planned as far as my next stop after Reno, but that's it thus far.  And all this flying isn't cheap!!  ::crying::  Finally getting my online teaching sorted so that should help give me some stability as well as flexibility.

Just wanted to give a quick update.  Love to everyone and see many of you soon!!!!!  Lovelovelovelovelove!!!!

Sunset on Maui

**Please Note: All photos are property of Kira Zebroski**

Not for re-use without prior consent and approval

New Glasses!!

Long time, no post...I know!  But hopefully you've been checking out my vlog on Youtube.  ::fingers crossed::

Today I'm going to share a video I posted a week or so ago with some new glasses I purchased from zennioptical.com.  Side note: No, I'm not getting paid to advertise this company.  Heck, they have no idea I made the video and this post.  ::chuckle::  I just really like this site!!

Anywho, I've been purchasing from them since about 2013 and fricken LOVE their frames (and their prices!  ::grin::)  I found out about them through a friend (Cecelia, was it you?) and have never gone back.  It was really helpful when I lived in the States because as my health insurance typically covered only contacts OR glasses, this let me still have both.  And went I traveled abroad, I also discovered they ship internationally!  Even to small islands in Thailand!!  Whoot whoot!

Here's a video of me receiving my most recent pairs of glasses.  My last ones finally had enough.  I'd had them for over 4 years and they'd put up with a lot so....well done.  ::applauding::  I went with one familiar pair, but decided to try something different with my second pair.  Funny story, I've ordered the same two pairs of glasses with varying designs every time purely by accident.  Apparently I just really like them!

And here are some random photos of my past pairs including the goggles I talked about in the video.  You can even seen the lens inserts.  I cropped photos as I didn't get prior permission to post of some of my friends/family. 

You can't see the side, but they have the same swirly design as my green ones.
Photo courtesy of Shawn Fe

               

In my video, I showed how my most recent pair was picked because it has swirls.  This is one of the symbols for my camp Habitat for Insanity.  I also got an inscription that has our placement this year.  Here's the thing though, our placement has changed.....to 4:30 B plaza.  Sooooo, I guess I'll have to see if I can turn that "F" into a "B".  ::laugh::  Wish me luck!!

Showing my campmates my new glasses (right after I'd found out our placement had changed).

**Please Note: All photos are property of Kira Zebroski**

Not for re-use without prior consent and approval

Don't forget to check out my Youtube channel and vlog at Monkeywithabackpack! 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAD533613901BA720

And here's the link to Zenni if you're interested!
https://www.zennioptical.com/

Dipping a toe back in

Hello everyone,
It's been a while since I've been online like this and I'm still not sure how much further down the rabbit hole I want to go.  The week of my birthday was a rough one both personally and for my country.  I basically shutdown my connection online.  I needed to focus on the present moment.  Limit my interactions in the social media world.  There are moments when I feel like I live my life through a cyberworld rather than the real world and I needed to disconnect.

I'm slowly re-emerging, feeling like I can take some of my excess energy and put it into outside activities which feel productive.  I'm still not ready for Facebook.  I've only been on a handful of times over the last month and a half and usually only for a few minutes.  Instead, I'm putting together some video blogs AKA vlogs (although this word always makes me tilt my head.  It's a weird word!) at the suggestion of my friend.  We'll see how they go.  I'm of course going to continue writing regular blogs; there's just going to be another facet to my sharing.

And now for something completely different!

Life has been busy for me.  I finished up my year visa in Australia and am now traveling around Japan.  It's cold but with my years in New York and Wisconsin, I guess I can't really complain.  ::chuckle::  I'm about 3 weeks in and it's been absolutely incredible.  Add on the fact I have a traveling buddy (my first in any of my travels) and it truly is a new adventure.  We've spent a week in Tokyo, splurged for a few days in Hakone, couchsurfed in Nagoya, and now we're meandering through the Kyoto/Nara/Osaka area.

I'm going to keep this short in sharing about all I've experienced thus far, but you can get a taste with two short videos I made while staying in Tokyo.  The first is the Chichibu Night Festival which happens in the mountains north of Tokyo.  Each neighborhood in Chichibu has a float which they push and pull by hand to the shrine at the center of the city.  There is also a huge fireworks display at the end.  You can read more about the festival HERE!

The second is from the light display in Tokyo Midtown.  Winter illuminations are big in Japan and we've been working our way through many of them as we travel.  You can read more about the different popular displays HERE!  There are so many different types of illuminations and some of the smaller cities have lantern displays made by students and local artists.  I have more video coming so keep an eye out.  Until then...

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE!!!! from this Monkey with a backpack.

Chichibu Night Festival

Lightshow at Tokyo Midtown

Voting From Abroad

My ballot has arrived!  My ballot has arrived!!  It is with mixed feelings that I found my absentee ballot waiting for me when I came home today.  This presidential election has been different to say the least and being abroad for the duration of it has given me an interesting perspective.  I’m disconnected from the usual influx of political ads I remember from past elections.  Most of my information comes from foreign correspondents and the trickle of facebook posts from friends back in the States (which often prompts me to do more research on what is actually going on).

I’ve tried a few times to write a post about my thoughts on the election: when Bernie and Clinton were running for the party’s nomination, being torn on where to cast my vote once it became apparent Bernie was out of the running, when Clinton became the Democratic Presidential nominee, and now with seeing the election process come to a head as Clinton and Trump debate over the national budget, social/economic equality, and the suitability of their temperaments to becoming President of the United States.  I could never seem to find the right words to express how I was feeling.  Especially after reading so many posts and articles of others who spouted their opinions so loudly it became more of a shouting match than a debate, I didn’t want to be just another decibel of sound.

As a single female traveler, one of the most oft asked questions I received was some form of “You’re traveling by yourself?”  Now when people find out I’m from the States, they instead ask me what I think about Trump.  I’m not going to get into my opinion of him and if you’re interested, message me and we can have a conversation about the ‘suitability’ of Donald Trump as president.  Watching the media about the US presidential election from Malaysia and then Australia, I saw the outside perspective of how our election process was viewed.  To be honest, it hasn’t been that favorable.  It’s turned into a reality show for politics and taken just as seriously.  That’s not a compliment for our country.

I knew I was going to vote in this election come hell or high water.  I just wasn’t sure how.  Luckily I met up with my friend Todd while in Sydney and he’s an active member of Democrats Abroad.  He directed me to Vote From Abroad, a site which helps those living abroad to register and vote in US elections.  This was especially important as I’d changed states from New York to Wisconsin when leaving and hadn’t been able to register before I’d left.  They gave details for each state on requirements to register and request an absentee ballot as well as deadlines for the election.

Photo Property of Kira Zebroski

My own personal experience with an absentee ballot has proven to be a bit frustrating; however, I think it’s finally been sorted so I’ll be able to vote.  ::knock on wood::  I’d sent my request for registration and an absentee ballot but had a moment of difficulty when trying to figure out how to prove I reside in Wisconsin since the best way to prove that is with mail.  Luckily my mom and I figured out I could send a printed copy of my bank statement.  Even though it’s an e-statement, it still has my address printed on it.  Then a few weeks ago I was contacted by the Town Hall of my residence to call them as they needed photo ID from me.  Photocopy of my passport?  Sorted!  

I’ve now received my ballot, been researching the candidates in my State and local election, and almost lost it all in the 11th hour.  Wisconsin needs a “Certification of Witness” which is the signature and address of another US Citizen to prove I am who I say I am and the voting procedure has gone as planned.  SERIOUSLY????!!!!  I’ve been traveling to some remote areas with only a couple hundred residents and they want me to find another American to sign my ballot envelope after I’ve sent them my photo ID, bank statement, and social security number??  In the two years I’ve been traveling, I’ve met less than a dozen other US citizens.  It’s one of the reasons people thought I was so crazy when I said I was going to start traveling.  It just isn’t typically done in the US.  So if I’d still been on TI or the Gili Islands or potentially even Koh Phangan, I would have been shit outta luck.  That is an incredibly frustrating feeling.  To work so hard to get to utilize my right to vote, only to have some unnecessary, redundant, and potentially impossible hoop to jump through be what stops me from voting??  That is completely unacceptable.  Wisconsin, you already disappointed me when I read about how difficult you’re making people who physically live there get a photo ID so they can vote.  This just brought my opinion of your voting process down even lower.  You can and should do better.  There is enough complaint about the lack of voter participation in the United States without needing to make it impossible for those who DO want to vote.  Luckily, I think this particular story will have a happy ending.  My Sydney friend has connected me with the Melbourne group of Democrats Abroad and one of them should be able to sign my envelope.  YEY!!  Crisis averted!!

During my time in Australia, I’ve also gotten to learn more about their election process.  Voting is mandatory.  It always happens on a Saturday and voting booths are at public facilities (typically a school or town hall).  One of my friends told me that school groups would run sausage sizzles (similar to a brat fry in Wisconsin) and people would chat online on who had the best sizzle.  I really liked this as it brought more positive attention to schools as well as promoting a sense of community.  Election campaigns are short.  There was apparently complaining over the most recent election which lasted 2 months as opposed to the typical 4 weeks.  Imagine...only 4 weeks of campaign trails, debates, and political ads.  Now it isn’t all bliss.  They don’t elect their prime minister, but rather vote for their political party and the leader of the majority party at the time becomes prime minister.  They’ve had 4 prime ministers in the last five years.  So consistency and success of long-term planning can be difficult.  If you ever watch Australian politics, the two main parties are Labor and The Liberals (who ironically are conservative) with the Greens getting about 10% of the vote.  And there’s also been a rise of minor parties, sometimes with rather interesting names.  Pirates Party?  Australian Sex Party?  Political party….or theme for the next great get together?  ::chuckle::

So as I prepare to exercise my right to vote in the 2016 Presidential Election, I urge my fellow US citizens to do the same.  Don’t just write about the changes you want to see on social media, share articles, or talk.  DO SOMETHING!  VOTE!!!

And if that isn’t incentive enough, it’s also my birthday that day.  Give me a really good birthday present America.  Please.

Links to Articles and Groups:

Vote From Abroad

Democrats Abroad

Wisconsin Systematically Failing to Provide the Photo IDs Needed to Vote

2 year anniversary

Hi everyone!!  I know this has taken a while for me to get out.  And here I thought it would be easier and faster since I made a video.  I guess I should take into consideration bad internet connection next time.  ::chuckle::  Oh well!

Here it is!  A rather long video of me putting some thoughts out there about the last 2 years of traveling and an update (sort of) on where I'm headed next.  In true Monkey fashion, I ramble a bit but I figured it makes the video all the more endearing....maybe.  ENJOY!!

I also have a small compliation of some videos I've done while traveling if you're interested.  I have many I still need to put up but it's been put in the "to-do" list like so many other things.  

Youtube vlog

Thank you again for everyone's continued support and love.  It really helps keep me going in times when I wonder what the hell I was thinking leaving everything behind.  ::laugh::  Lovelovelovelovelove!!!!!

Hitting a wall

I’ve hit a wall.  A rather reoccurring one here in Australia.  Work.  Finding work that doesn’t involve me performing sexual acts or selling my soul at a call center or door-to-door sales.  The problem I keep running into is time.  Time enough to train me.  Time enough to be useful.  I was willing to stay 6 months in Brisbane, the max I could work for a company while on a Work and Holiday visa.  I had 4 months to offer when I first arrived in Melbourne and now I’m down to just over 3.  I’m tired of having my resume handed back to me with a shake of their head, both of us disappointed.  

After another rejection, I hit my breaking point.  Tears started to come and I just needed to get away.  I was frustrated, tired, and the last thing I wanted to do was go back to the house and fiddle on the computer.  I told Tim since he was going to paint, I was going to keep biking.  He could tell I was upset; I wouldn’t look at him.  I told him I didn’t want to talk about it.  He pushed and I repeated myself a bit firmer and kept riding, telling him I’d see him in a few hours.  I knew he’d be concerned but I needed the space.  True to it, he tried to ask me what was wrong when I got back, expectantly waiting for an answer.  I told him I still needed space and still didn’t want to talk about it.  I feel like I should feel guilty but I know that’s not true.  And it’s another emotion I’m battling with.  Guilt.

I went riding for a while, not really sure where I was heading.  I just needed to move and be out, let my brain have a rest.  It tends to figure itself out more easily when I’m moving.  I didn’t feel the need to expel large amounts of energy.  If anything I felt tired.  I stumbled upon a labyrinth and it was exactly what I needed.  In a marshy area by the creek, it’s raw setup appealed to my jumbled brain.  I parked the bike, dropped the bag, and just walked.

I don't know if you’ve ever been in a labyrinth, but it’s meant to be a meditative practice.  Focusing on your breath and steps, letting your body relax.  There was a dedication stone at the mouth of the labyrinth and it’s words brought tears to my eyes.  It spoke of release and remembering hope.  I felt like it was written for this very moment of my life.

As I walked, tears fell and dried.  Breath hitched and evened out.  Steps felt surer as I progressed.  I arrived at the center, took a deep breath, and sat down.  I felt calmer.  Ready to sort through my problems and try to come up with some solutions.

I thought of Tim and our relationship and the stress it was causing me.  I’m couchsurfing at his house, but I am beginning to feel like I am mooching off of his good graces.  I am feeling like I am receiving more than I am giving and that’s not a comfortable feeling for me.  A vulnerable and dependent feeling.  I feel like our relationship is unbalanced and this has been causing me stress.

The other stressor is money.  But what about it is causing me stress?  I don’t need a lot and true enough I’ve lived on less.  But it goes to two concerns: the feeling of contribution (or lack) to the household with Tim and saving for my next destination.  I have a finite time to make money here and Japan is expensive.  Time is shrinking and I’m feeling the pressure.  Watching time slip away as I think of all the work I could be doing and therefore the money I could be making.  

I realized I am doing everything I can.  I need to not lose heart and trust that something will come up.  To continue to explore the options I find and know things will work out.  I made a list in my head of a few things I could do and to promise myself I’d follow through with them.

I decided to walk in reverse back out of the labyrinth.  One final time to gather my thoughts.  Afterwards I went to look at a tree nearby with notes and Tibetan prayer flags strung amongst the branches.  Upon closer inspection I saw they were wishes.  Written on paper, cloth, even a shoe lace, and the tree itself, the wishes were mostly for the world.  I felt a bit selfish for a moment that my wish was more self-directed, but accepted we all have moments of self vs. universal reflection.

I reaffirmed my wish I’d discovered in the labyrinth and wrote it on the discarded resume from earlier.  Strung it up on some empty yarn and I was ready.  Getting back on the bike I left the creek path and meandered my way back to the house.  I knew the first thing I needed to do when I got back was write everything down.  To physicalize my realization and cement my affirmation of acceptance and patience.  And now I have.

UPDATE: I wrote this post about two weeks ago. I'm happy to say I've found a job since then, albeit only a 6 week contract. I'm just happy to be working. Cheers everyone!!!

**Please Note: All photos are property of Kira Zebroski**

Onward and upward

I’m sitting in an airport yet again waiting for my first of two flights which will take me back to Australia.  In a small part of my brain, I’m worrying if the flight will be delayed, if my baggage will come quickly, if I’ll make it through security once again in time for my second flight, if I’ll make it through customs with my double passport.

But the majority of my focus is directed towards these past 6 weeks.  Or rather, focusing on not focusing on it.  I can visualize the mass of emotions and memories this ‘US tour’ has both created and brought up.  I know I need to process this experience and yet I feel myself shying away from it.  The desire to put it all in a box to deal with later.

This whole trip has been about moving, catching up, shifting, shedding...

Crap, I’m still not ready to get a piece out about this trip.  I had this grand plan of some sort of post that would be eloquent and fun and thoughtful.  I’m just not ready to deal with all the emotions and memories. I am actually rather looking forward to arriving in Sydney simply so I can sit and not go anywhere. Take the time to decompress and process. I'll try and get something out afterwards.

For now I just want to thank everyone I was able to see. For the new friends I've made, the friendships I've renewed, and those that have strengthened. I'm so incredibly blessed to have each and everyone of you in my life. Thank you for making this trip so special and just what I needed. I love you all!!

Smores and cuddles with my little nephews

**All pictures are property of Kira Zebroski**

Just an update: I've made it safely from WI to LAX and about to board my final flight to Sydney. It was a close call with some passport issues. Like I wasn't allowed on the plane for a bit. But all is well. ::knock on wood:: It's never a dull moment with the Monkey!! ::grin::

Global Underscore

I feel so calm at peace right now.  Grounded.  I’d gone to the Global Underscore in Buffalo, my first global one, and the journey over those 4 hours was intensely beautiful.  I came in feeling rather drained and not sure how much I wanted to be near people.  Which is an interesting headspace to be in when you’re going to be doing contact improvisation.

These last couple weeks and the last few days in particular have been both amazing and overwhelming.  I knew coming back to the US would be a process.  The culture shock alone knocked me on my ass.  And then there’s the personal reaction with friends and family.  Life has continued on without me; dynamics have changed.  It’s all for the better but still an adjustment.  So much being thrown at me that the energy to deal is taking its toll.  I have to make sure my self-care is strong and consistent.

So back to the Global Underscore.  I arrived in the space unsure how my current emotional state and the environment would mesh.  I requested during opening circle to have some personal grounding time (a chance to arrive in the space) before we began triad body work.  The group was incredibly open and receptive to the ideas being given.  It allowed me a feeling of safety and acceptance as I explored my reactions.

The Underscore was grounding, allowing me to release into the moment.  Initially my body felt so heavy.  How do I work with movement in relation to this physical (and probably emotional) state?  This was first my struggle and then my triumph.  To release into what the body was feeling.  Demanding.  Forcing no movement and keeping it authentic to inner and outer stimuli.  

As I found the balance of grounding myself and relating to others in the space through a safe connection, I explored point of contact more than I ever had before.  Many of my dances in the past center around the push and pull of weight bearing.  There is more tumbling, lifting, posting, jumping...instead this became the hand dance using my entire body.  There was more exploration of the space between contact.  It continued to be dynamic which initially surprised me.

Throughout the jam there was also a recurring motion of shaking and tapping.  Stimulating shaking in others, tapping the ground, creating energy currents through multiple bodies.  It would rise and fall in diads and triads with others from the Underscore joining in for moments.  It reminded me of kundalini meditation aka the shaking meditation.  The idea of shaking your body to drum up energy, drum out thought, and just be present in your body with this sole action.

At the end of the session, I found myself more energetic and present in my space.  I wasn’t ready to run a marathon, but I felt filled.  Satiated.  I feel truly blessed to have been part of this group for the Global Underscore.  The safe container allowed me to release myself into the space.  To be truly authentic in the exploration my body’s reactions throughout this process.  Thank you everyone who was a part of this.  I am so incredibly grateful.

A glimpse of our Global Underscore setup

**Please note all photos are property of Kira Zebroski**

Lift Off!!

Just wanted to send a quick hello and goodbye as I get ready to board the plane that will take me Stateside for the first time in almost 2 years.  You ever notice I seem to find the most free time to write posts when I'm in airports?  Huh...

Anyway, I'm both nervous and excited to be coming back to the old US of A.  It's been a while and the culture shock may be a bit of a, well...shock.  I just changed over some money to USD and it was weird seeing the money all be the same color.  I'm used to the Monopoly color scheme most countries sport.  I'm going to have to look really closely to make sure I don't mix up my notes.

I'm also a bit overwhelmed with my travel schedule.  I never can do anything halfway and so I'm making it to 5 states in 6 weeks.  Whew!

**By the way, I've had very little sleep so my typing style may be a bit slap happy.  I'd apologize but I'm just proud I'm getting a post out.

So those of you following my travels, here's the low down on where I'm heading:
LA 23-24th
Florida 24-3rd
Pittsburgh 3-7th
Rochester 7-24th
NYC 24-26th (oop!  I had the wrong date.  Not bad for only 1 mixup)
Seattle 26-1st
Wisconsin 1-10th

And fly back to Australia on July 10th.  I've actually had to make myself an itinerary with all my flights/buses to keep them straight.  I'll try and keep updated on how things are going but you know how it goes.

They're calling my flight so ::massive hugs, cuddles, and kisses to all::  And see many of you soon!!!!!!!

Me and Monkey Jr getting settled in

**all photos are property of Kira Zebroski**

Cairns Wildlife Dome

I met my first koala today!!!  And I just wanted to nuzzle and cuddle the crap out of this little guy.  He’s a 4 year old male named Micro.  I think I’m in love.  ::sigh::  He was so sleepy and just snuggled in.  Ahh!!!  Did you know koalas only live for about 15 years??  So sad.  Okay, I’m rambling but look at this picture and tell me you wouldn’t melt inside as well!!!

Me and Micro the koala

The girls and I went to Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome which is in….wait for it...Cairns!!!  I’ve been here for almost a month and finally leaving on Monday for a short road trip down to Brisbane.  Work here for backpackers has been nonexistent and we’re hoping for some farm work outside of Brisbane.  I’m going to be relearning how to drive a manual and on the wrong side of the road/driver’s side so wish me luck.  Err, actually wish the fellow drivers luck.  ::dry chuckle::

Overly friendly rainbow lorikeets.  I don't think she's very keen

The Wildlife Dome was pretty cool.  It’s the top floor of a casino and has an array of wildlife with primarily birds.  One of my girls may have gotten much more up close and personal to a pair of rainbow lorikeets than she’d planned.  I know the picture’s a bit fuzzy but I couldn’t stop laughing.  The cool thing about the admission is you can actually go back for the next four days so you don’t miss some of the presentations and feeding times.  We’re going back tomorrow to see Goliath the 4.1m crocodile get his lunch.  YEY!!  I swear this guy looks like the croc from Peter Pan.  I even listened for a ticking sound.  No such luck.  ::finger snap::  And on a completely different note, if you get thirsty there’s free hot chocolate in the casino!!  I may have had a few cups.  ;-)

I’m going to keep this post short or else I’ll never end up putting it up.  Case in point being the other 2 I’ve half written while here in Cairns and have been sitting on the last 3 weeks.  We’ll see if they ever get posted.  I miss you all and can’t wait to see many of you in just over a month!!!  MAH!!!!  Lovelovelovelovelove!!!!!!!

**PLEASE NOTE: All pictures are property of Kira Zebroski**

Monkey Invasion

I continuously feel bad during my travels about not updating my blog more.  A couple of times I’ve thought ‘Well, I’ll just try and post little stories instead of these long drawn-out ordeals.’  Have any of you ever known me to tell a short story??  Yeah, that’s what I thought.  ::chuckle::  I guess I prefer to tell stories in person; there’s that added element of arm gestures and vocal tone you just can’t duplicate.  It’s what makes a Kira story a Kira story.  Plus I get to be such a perfectionist while writing that I’m constantly going back and adjusting my words so it takes forever just to get a paragraph down.  And then I sit on it for a while and feel the moment has passed to post it.  It’s no wonder people rarely have any idea where the heck I am in the world.  ::laugh::

But I have great news!!  Many of you will be able to hear these stories first hand!!  Yes, that’s right.  Monkey is coming to the States for a visit!!!!  ::happy dance::  When I found out one of my best friends was having her first baby, it was a given that I had to be there.  And obviously if I come back, I have to make the rounds.

Now I don’t have exact dates yet since plane tickets cost money.  Crazy, right?  ::grin::  But I’ve got tentative dates in mind and I’m just too damn excited not to share.  Hell, this all may change tomorrow, especially if people know of cheaper flights and such.  ::nudge nudge wink wink::  I’m looking at flying into LA around the 23rd of May and catch a connecting flight to Florida to spend time with my two siblings for their birthdays.  And then depending on baby dates, either a long weekend in Pittsburgh and then about 2 ½ weeks in Rochester, or flip it and go to Rochester first.  And then of course Wisconsin to see the parents, my other brother, and my adorable nephews.  I'm looking at heading back to Aussie around July 8th. There are other places I would love to visit if time (and money allows) such as Minnesota, Seattle/Portland, and NYC.  Guess we’ll just have to see!!

So mark your calendars people!!!  And prepare the couches and floor space!!  I’M SO FRICKEN EXCITED TO SEE YOU ALL IN A FEW MONTHS!!!

Prepare yourselves people!  It's gonna be a crazy ride!!
Photo property of Kira Zebroski

Side note:  I just re-read this thing and had to laugh at all the exclamation points.  Maybe I’ll need to change some to bold, capital letters to get my point across.  ::chuckle::

Shaving a head

So every once in a while, I feel the need to change things up.  And one of the ways to symbolize or even instigate that change is to do it physically.  As I'm not a huge fan of needles, tattoos and piercings aren't really my thing.  Instead I have my hair.  ::grin::  For many years, I've had really long hair, but with it being almost always up, the length is sometimes unknown by those around me.  Case in point: I once cut off about a foot of hair and a lot of people didn't notice right away including my Mom.  I still love you!!  ::chuckle::

Anyway, I've been itching to shake things up over the last few months.  I saw a girl walk past while sitting in a cafe on Koh Tao and she had a great mohawk hairstyle.  I'd seen variations of it around the islands but it hadn't really interested me.  Now...hmmm....Let's do it!  It's edgy and outside my comfort zone.  Perfect for my restless feeling.  Two nights later I was sitting in front of my dive shop with a friend and her husband's electric razor.

Making the first cut!

Can you feel the excitement?!

I'm so pretty!!

 I was grinning the entire time.  The owner of the dive shop would walk by and just shake his head.  I would like to point out I was sober.  I didn't have a beer until after we'd started cutting.  ::wink::  I happen to have a videochat with my Mom right afterwards and was really excited for her reaction.  What a let down; she hardly blinked.  But she did make a good point.  I've already dyed my hair purple and blue, left everything behind to backpack around the world, climbed questionable things at Burning Man, and made it through a hospital visit in Thailand.  Shaving part of my head wasn't even a blip anymore.  ::laugh::

I decided to first only shave a section of my head.  Work my way up to a full mohawk.  I liked the initial section.  I felt a bit punk and playful.  I was ready for my next adventure.  Over the next two months, I got my dive master and then started nannying for a family in KL.  I began feeling stagnant and ready for the next step.  Not just the next step.  I was ready to dive in head first, if you pardon the pun.  I'd been feeling, well, I'm not sure how to describe it.  I want to say unfeminine but it was more being asexual.  I didn't feel comfortable and confident in my own body.  I was stuck in a rut and having an overwhelming need to breakout.  Getting rid of all this hair would get rid of so much weight.  I once had a coworker tell me that my hair calmed my personality down; short hair would put that energy in people's faces.  She wasn't sure everyone could handle all that Kira.  I laughed at the time, but right now with this feeling of my personality being stifled I needed to get rid of anything blocking me.

In KK, just after I arrived.

Right before the big change.

I looked through numerous photos online and eventually fell in love with a look.  I was ready!  Now I just needed to get to someone who could cut it and have the money to pay for it.  Not as easy as that sounds.  Until one afternoon it just all came together.  Well, sort of.  The family and I were walking around a shopping area and saw a salon giving 15RM haircuts but only on the weekdays.  It's Saturday.  But then they remembered there was a barber just down the road who cut hair for the same price.  We'd already discussed that with the haircut I wanted, a barber could do it just as well as a stylist.  And I needed it cheap!



But of course it wouldn't be a Kira-story without adding some obstacles.  First I couldn't access the picture of the haircut because the internet connection was wonky.  Then it wouldn't download the picture so I tried to find it by searching online but remember what I said about going through a lot of photos?  Finally got the bright idea to message my friend back in the States I'd sent to the picture to and hope she was awake at 1am her time and could download the picture and send it through What's app.  Yeah...that happened.  ::laugh::

So armed with my picture and my purse, I headed to the barber.  Should have known this would be an experience as well.  It was in a back hallway of a mall with 3 little stations.  You put money in a machine and was given a card with a number.  When your number was called, a guy with a face protector would sit you down and prep you for your haircut with some toilet paper around the neck (not that unusual, I know) and the cape thing (no, I have no idea what it's called).

Getting in line

I loved every minute of it.  I couldn't stop grinning as he cut, shaved, and trimmed the majority of my hair off my head.  He was meticulous.  It was like watching a clockmaker make sure the gears worked juuuuust right.  I could feel so many of my worries, insecurities, and self-doubts lighten as my hair fell to the floor.  I got goosebumps as I watched the reflection of my transformation.

And then out came the vacuum.  I kid you not.  There was a vacuum hose attached to the wall.  He put it right to my head and sucked up all the little bits of hair on my scalp and around my neck and ears.  To go back to how good this barber was, he checked my haircut as he cleaned and ended up trimming a few spots.  Which meant he had to vacuum one more time.  And then I got a scalp massage as he styled my hair and adjusted strands just so with his fingers.  Talk about getting your money's worth!

A mother and her daughter came in just as he was finishing with me.  I was grinning from ear to ear and playing with my new do.  I saw her reflection in the mirror as she assessed and judged this new ?unfeminine? look and said "did you ask him to do that?"

"Yes ma'am, I did.  And I love it!!"

And it reminded me the importance of doing things for yourself.  As long as you love you, what does it matter of others opinions?  Especially something as malleable and impermanent as hair.  And so I walked away with a new jaunt in my step and swing in my hips.  I can't say I felt more feminine.  I don't think the cut makes me look girly.  I just felt new, fresh.  Like I'd sloughed off all the dead skin and was bright and shiny with a chance to make new choices.  And it floored me that something as simple as cutting my hair could have such an effect on me.  But I rejoiced in the simplicity of being able to get to that point.  And I look forward to making this energy snowball into bigger and better things.  You've gotta start somewhere.  This time for me, it started at the top of my head.

SO

MUCH

LOVE!!!

Side view

Da' back

I love this new do.  All I need is to figure out how to get the full-out mohawk and I'm good to go.  I'll update the post when I get some hair wax.  YEY!!!!

**Please Note: All photos are property of Kira Zebroski**

A Monkey and Her Backpack: a year in review (Part 2)

KOH PHANGAN

on the ferry to Koh Phangan

I arrived into Koh Phangan the end of September and I honestly didn't think I would be staying very long.  As fate would have it, I absolutely fell in love with the island and the opportunities that arose were ones I'd always wanted to explore: teaching contact improvisation, mediation, spirituality, diving, and so much more.  I felt the desire to immerse myself in this place and really explore the possibilities the island had to offer.  It was 7 months before I decided to leave the island and continue my travels.

In order to stay on the island, I of course needed some kind of income.  I didn't have much and I didn't need much; a roof over my head and food in my belly was sufficient.

who says you can't do CI at dinner??

The thing that inspired me to stay on the island was the ability to teach contact improvisation.  I ended up teaching an impromptu class when I met with Tatiana, the mutual friend of a friend.  The class loved what I'd done and asked if I could do more.  Tatiana was wonderful enough to let me stay in her place while I figured myself out on where I could teach and a job so I could live on the island.  I ended up teaching at two different locations as time allowed.  It's funny though, my first class was a disaster...no one came!!  I was frustrated but not discouraged and just took it as a learning experience.  Word spread and I had some lovely classes and jams while on the island.

my first poster I made as PR

working the bar on St. Patrick's Day

I ended up finding two very different job opportunities through two very different means.  I first found a bartending gig through a conversation Tatianta had with the owner of a resort while standing in line at the immigration office.  The only catch was I wasn't needed until the high season which started in the middle of December.  This was when I found the position of PR staff at a tantra/yoga school.  My job quickly became events manager and I took over bringing in and marketing new workshops and events at the school.  It was a rewarding and yet stressful job in major part because I was living at the school while I worked there.  As many of you know, I tend to take my work home with me as it is, so this was an even more difficult task.  I learned about many new types of meditation and healing and also about the lights and shadows of the spiritual community.  Unfortunately due to personality clashes, I cut my time at the school short and focused on self care and diving, a decision I don't regret.

Working at Seaflower Bungalows at their bar called Heaven (come on, who wouldn't love to say they get to work in Heaven every night?) located right on the beach, it was a relaxing and social job.  I met people from all over the world and perfected my caprinhia cocktail.  ::chuckle::  With beautiful beach sunsets every night and the occasional seafood BBQ, this was a dream job.  Like any bartending gig, the hours were crazy but I met so many people and built so many lasting relationships that staying up till 4am was well worth it.  I love my Seaflower family!!!

my first scooter!!

While on the island, I didn't just learn new things while on the job.  I also learned how to drive a scooter!!!  Cars aren't very popular in Thailand other than to transport goods and this is true even more so on the islands.  So Kira had to get on one of the back of these and eventually learn to drive so I wouldn't have to bum rides.  When I decided to stay on Koh Phangan for a while, I actually bought a scooter and then sold it at face value when I left again.  This is a pretty typical course of action for farangs staying long-term.

jellyfish sting my first day  :-(

motorbike accident and still smiling

Now an adventure wouldn't be an adventure without some physical mishaps on my part.  I tried to keep things on the down low until I'd recovered so as not to freak out the parents.  Shhhhh!!!  But they know I'd tell them if anything major was going on (right Mom and Dad??).  Anyway, true to form I was stung by a jellyfish my first day on Koh Phangan about 10 minutes after getting into the water for the first time.  Of course no one knew had to actually handle stings (including the locals running the front desk of my hostel) so I just waited it out and listened to music to distract from the pain.  NO, people!  I did NOT let anyone pee on me.  ::chuckle::  The air con at the 7/11 became my best friend and I actually went out dancing that night at the jungle party.  The jellyfish stings made for some pretty cool designs as it healed too.

Next was the UTI from hell which you can read in my other post Always an Adventure.  I then got in a motorbike accident a few weeks after buying my bike in late October.  Luckily it was just me involved but it was still a scary situation.  My brakes froze going down a steep hill that had a sharp turn and lots of gravel around a hole where construction had been happening earlier in the month.  Basically all the cards were stacked against me.  I was going down; it was just a question of when.  I had never been so grateful to contact improv with learning to fall correctly as I naturally protected my head and expanded my surface area when the bike finally tipped.  I had a lot more scratches but not nearly as deep if I'd had a small point of impact.  The worst was my side where the gravel shredded my skin.  I have a nice Koh Phangan tattoo now to show off when I wear my bikini.  ::chuckle::

birthday celebration at the Chocolate House

the closest I could get to a turkey on Thanksgiving

New Year's Eve buffet YUM!!!

Being abroad also meant celebrating the holidays island/Thai style.  I think the hardest part was not being around my friends and family during these different moments.  I made some wonderful friends but there is something to be said about family traditions at Christmas and a night on the town with my gals on New Year's Eve.

I also celebrated local festivals such as Loy Krathong, Songkran, the Colormoon Festival, and of course the infamous Full Moon Party.  You can read about my crazy experience in the bodypainting competition at the Colormoon festival HERE.

Many people confused Loy Krathong with the light festival which occurs in Chaing Mai around the same time.  This festival is also known as the floating lights festival, giving thanks to the ocean which provides so many gifts to the island.  We each light lanterns made from wood or coconut shells, decorated with banana leaves, flowers, and incense, and release them into the water.  You are supposed to leave a little of yourself with the lantern as part of the gift (a bit of hair, a fingernail).  With the intention to let go of the past and make a wish for the future, you set out the lantern in the present.  It was a beautiful experience both in having my own lantern and sharing this festival with locals and travelers alike.

Songkran is the Thai New Year and is celebrated with water... a lot of water.  I don't have many pictures from it.  In fact my camera had an unfortunate incident in which my dry bag sprung a leak.  ::sad face::  It still works but I can't use the display anymore.  Anyway, the water is meant to symbolize washing away the past year and starting fresh.  In present day, it has become an opportunity to use water guns, buckets, and hoses to soak those around you.  It doesn't matter if you're on a scooter or just walking down the street; NO ONE is safe!  ::laughs::  Locals will also mix water with a colored corn starch base and swipe on your face as a kind of blessing.  It was a great time even with the rain (the universe's joke on a day of water games).

my lantern for Loy Krathong

3rd Full Moon party

my first Full Moon party

body painting competition at the Colormoon Festival

Diving was something I've wanted to do for many years but despite my many wanderings, I've never lived near large bodies of water.  ::chuckle::  So living on a tropical island and near the top dive site in the Gulf of Thailand, I could finally take the plunge.  ::grin::  I went to Koh Tao for a week to get my Open Water certifcation.  It's known as the island to go if you want to dive and this monkey is always up for an extra adventure.  As recommended by a friend, I trained with French Kiss Divers.  I also want to send out a massive THANK YOU again to all of you who helped make this experience possible.  It was one of the most surreal, soul-inspiring experiences of my life.  To be underwater with a feeling of weightlessness, surrounded by brightly colored fish and coral, and the peaceful silence of only your breath in your ear....it was a practice in meditation I plan on doing as much as possible for as long as my body allows.  The dive shop was excellent and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to learn to dive while on Koh Tao.  Will, Oz, and the rest of the gang made my stay truly special and I was sad to say goodbye, but my new bartending job was calling.

my group with French Kiss Divers

Photo courtesy of Ian Hamilton Photography

Back on Koh Phangan, I started diving with Haad Yao Divers.  I discovered micro diving; nudibranchs and shrimp get me about excited as a giant school of barracuda!!  My fellow divers just sometimes just shake their heads with a grin.   I eventually was also able to get up to my Rescue Diver certificate when money and time allowed.  The more I have been in the water and shared the experience with friends, I've realized I want to do this professionally and slowly (much slower than I'd like!) I am working towards owning all of my own equipment and getting the training I need to work in a dive shop.  Even a bad day of diving is better than a great day in the office.  ::grin::






I had many other adventures during my time on Koh Phangan.  A group of us climb to Khao Ra, the highest point on the island.  A 3 hour hike through a jungle and probably the most interesting aspect was wearing shoes for the first time in 4 months.  I had blisters for weeks!!  I also introduced locals and travelers alike to jello shots (or jelly shots as Europeans call them).  It's rather funny to share these during my travels and see each person's expression.  ::chuckle::

JELLO (JELLY) SHOTS!!!!

Fire show on Sairee Beach, Koh Tao

Khao Ra, the highest point on Koh Phangan

While on Koh Phangan, I also had to do 2 visa runs to Penang and 2 visa extensions on Koh Samui.  You can read about my first adventure to Penang HERE My second time was eventful in a different kind of way.  By a random series of events, I missed getting to the visa office on the first day by 2 minutes and so had to stay almost a week instead of the planned 3 days.  On the bright side, it gave me an opportunity to explore Georgetown a bit more.  I also met some wonderful locals who took me for a few nights on the town.  Let me know if you want more details on those crazy nights.  ::wink::

Trying to figure out where we are.   Penang, Malaysia

Penang, Malaysia

Penang, Malaysia

Unfortunately my time on Koh Phangan drew to a close in April as the high season ended.  I had found a new love of diving and wanted to pursue it further.  I was also ready to move on and experience more of what the world had to offer.  It was a hard decision as I'd made many dear friends on the island.  My final night was a celebration of getting my rescue diver certificate, another diver getting his DM, and my goodbye to the island.  There were a lot of drinks, seafood to put in the belly, and even some slightly drunken tap dancing (I still need to put up the video).  ;-)  And as tradition of the island, I lit my first and last paper lantern.  And in typical Kira-fashion, I also broke tradition by having all the friends around me help to send it off.

my "goodbye lantern"

And so my stay on Koh Phangan ended.  I was off to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to figure out my next move.  The world was once again my oyster and Monkey was hungry!!  Stay tuned for Part 3 to catch up on the remainder of my first year abroad.

**Please Note: All Photos are Property of Kira Zebroski**
unless credited otherwise