Happy Mother’s Day!
To my lovely mother who always always believes in me, loves me and who has the softest skin in the world! I can hardly wait to press my cheek next to yours. I thank God for you!
Your loving daughter,
Felicia
Out of all the sensational things that I photographed in Thailand this photograph in particular is the one that took me by surprise the most. It represents many things to me. When I look at it, I feel God, joy, silence and strangely, protected. I imagine that the lower light is me and the light above is where I come from and whether bright or dim, we are the same and therefore cannot exist without the other. To know what light is you must know the dark and to know darkness means cherishing the light.
I personally prefer what lies in the balance.
or Chim, as it is know in Korean.
I have been practicing my yoga for weeks now at the very peaceful hour of 5AM. Yes, you read correctly. However, there’s been a tightening of my right thigh and hamstring for a week or so and as I was walking and booking photo shoots today for my book, I suddenly saw Jaseng Hospital of Oriental Medicine. Am I lucky or what?! I’ve been wanting to try acupuncture for quite some time now and here was my chance. I only expected to make an appointment but Nurse Eun Hye (which means Grace in English) took care of me at once upon approaching the reception desk. She was so warm, professional and kind. It was as if she knew me and was welcoming me into her home. I filled out a questionnaire, the usual stuff and she explained to me that the doctor would see me in a couple of minutes. Wow! Someone had canceled and I filled the space. Divine intervention!
I was seen by the first and ONLY certified “western” Traditional Oriental Medicine Doctor in Korea, Dr. Raimund Royer. He educated me about the liver, why I have dry skin (but it’s wrinkle-free, OK?) and the importance of the kidneys and how it affects other areas of the body that I would have never known had I not met with him today.
What I thought would be a pretty humdrum visit complete with needles turned out to be one of the most enlightening experiences I’ve ever had with the medical community. He realigned my spine using a CHUNA BED (this bed realigns bones, joints and corrects the arch of the spine) as well as using as CHUNA manipulation. CHU means: push, and NA means pull. By doing this we both realigned my spine and the pressure that I had in my right thigh is gone. Yeah CHUNA!
And now the ACUPUNTURE: OH.MY.GOODNESS.
The first prick into the thigh sent a thunderbolt of energy (read:slight pain) straight to my lower abdomen, which surprised the heck out of me, but that was done on purpose because where he pricked me was a direct line to my abdomen. I could feel the pressure lessening in my leg and this eased my mind quite a bit. All in all, there were about five or six needles, one being in my decolletage.
I left that office smarter, happier and more relaxed but most of all, assured that I am in the right place and that I’m meeting people who are helping me in ways that I would have never imagined.
I mean, where could I go in the U.S. be met with kindness straight away, see a doctor so quickly and leave with instant results, peace of mind and with a smile on my face?
I want to thank the founder of Jaseng Hospital of Oriental Medicine, Dr. Jooh Shik-Shin.
See you next week Dr. Royer, and Nurse Eun Hye!
Consultation: 9 dollars
Acupuncture: 7 dollars
CHUNA manipulation: 30.00 dollars
Discovering Oriental medicine in Korea by an Austrian doctor who’s lived in Korea for 27 years: Priceless!
Today is the day before the great celebration of the Lantern Festival. I spotted these honorable monks near Jogyesa Temple this afternoon. This is a celebration of the The Buddha’s birthday and I thank The Buddha for the lighting the pathway that leads those who chose Buddhism to know God’s grace. Whether you are Buddhist, Baptist or Hindu I hope that you celebrate the light that surely flows through you each and every day, the light of Life and Creativity. I love the way that these Buddhist monks moved through the streets, steadfast and true…
Please, have something to drink and eat:
I want to reach out to you so that I may, hopefully, go forth fearlessly on several new projects. Really, I’d just like to ask you this question: Do you ever get tired of traveling and/or not really knowing what you’re going to do next while everyone else “seems” to be doing what they were born to do?
I know that looks can be deceiving and that probably everyone is trying to figure their lives out even though they may look cool as a cucumber and quite safe and secure in their careers, personal lives, etc.
As you know, I am a photographer and I also teach English as a means to put rather cushy sums of money in la banque de Felicia for future projects (books, better cameras, etc.) I do “seem happier when I’m abroad” as a friend just called and said to me, but I would also like to have a base somewhere stateside or at least in a country where I wouldn’t have to give my first born child as a downpayment on a nice little cottage by a lake. I could live in so many places, Italy (will go there this summer to learn beginner’s Italian as well as take cooking courses), Thailand, hell, even my native Virginia, although I wouldn’t know what to do in Virginia for a creative living.
If you’re a traveler, a free-spirit like myself, how do you make peace with the life you’ve chosen, when it seems so much easier, cozier to live close to friends and family you’ve known most of your life?
Very very soon, I will step out on faith and become a full time photographer. If I must teach English as a means to keep the money rolling in, I want to only do so part-time.
Your thoughts, opinions, advice will be very welcomed and respected.
Thank you for your time.
P.S. Here’s your menu:
Mugwort steamed rice cake (it’s delicious, really)
Omija tea (great for your liver and is perfection on the palate)
Pumpkin seeds, apricot
Pumpkin tea, mixed with crushed ice (Heaven)
Don’t worry, it’s on me.
Seriously considering Buddhism these days.
During one of my last days in Thailand, I visited the Indian market to pick up some more gorgeous sarongs and floor length dresses. Feeling oh so hungry (when wasn’t I feeling this way?) I found this gentleman creating offerings in front of the food stall I was investigating. He looked so peaceful, so determined amidst all the traffic whizzing by him, the calls from nearby kiosk owners, etc. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I loved the color of his skin, similar to my own and his hands…how he created beautiful offerings made of various types of flowers, all the while balancing a cigarette. Quels yeux!
They were so graceful, sometimes as serious as life itself and as happy as children.
More color, more warmth.
Women rule the world, we all know this and it was no different in The Floating Market, women cook, women provide, women negotiate, they TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, the business of life itself. I can only imagine the myriad of things that these women know, all that they’ve experienced in this life so far. I look at these photos and think of the women in my family. Some of these and other Thai women I met either resembled the splendid women in my family, physically or by the way they looked at me. It was strange, but comforting. It also reminded me that I’d better learn how to cook with a quickness.
I’m ready to provide.
Thank you Great Spirit! I have witnessed so many wonders: wonderful people, wonderful heat and please, WONDERFUL FOOD!
I’m back in Seoul (still cold) but the heat and joy of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, etc. is still within and on me! I am workin’ my tan to death! Had the scrumptious brown-skinned Thai men oohing and ahhing! Oh, yes honey! Real chocolate comin’ through! Ha!
I will supply the next couple of days, weeks with photos and insights about all that I saw and experienced.
What’s coming? Great shots of hotels, food, temples, COLOR! COLOR! COLOR! Will get on it as soon as I unpack!
I missed you guys and gals!
Double Kisses (French ones, of course)
Felicia
As I was fearlessly and fiercely walking down the street, hair swaying in the wind, listening to Prince on the pod’ I thought to myself, “as much as I love Korea, I cannot stay another year here, not alone.” Yeah, I have a funny feeling that something greater is going to happen and soon. I can feel it down in my soul and it feels so good.
Do you know what I mean?
