Mexico Bound! | Travel Adventure

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Rio

BookCov VagMexico bound!

A Vagabond in Mexico is going with me to Mexico. The plan is to leave next month, if The Fates do not interfere. It will be interesting to see the places I traveled through, and lived, so many years ago. I know the people won’t be there. Fine! I won’t look for them anyway. I want to remember them as they were. In truth, we are all here now. May the Spirit guide my steps. I’ll keep you posted. Namaste.

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The Eye of the Dragon | A Traveling Light

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Rio

IMG_1192With Pamela Boehm / Lama Foundation

IMG_1183Pema, Joe and Megan / Lama Foundation

IMG_1150In Flagstaff with Kenna, Wheeler park

IMG_1153Downtown Flagstaff

IMG_1158Sunrise in Albuquerque / We find everything on the way

IMG_1161Downtown Albuquerque

IMG_1175In Santa Fe, NM

IMG_1172My friend Roark Barron’s House in Santa Fe

IMG_1174Roark Playing his harp at the plaza

IMG_1169Roark’s unique house. His Home page.

IMG_1176Sunset in Santa Fe

IMG_1201Hanuman Temple, Taos, NM

IMG_1204Saying goodbye to the Rio Grande

IMG_1211Santa Fe NM Spanish Crafts Fair

IMG_1220Tucson, AZ

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St Phillip’s Plaza Farmer’s Market | Tucson Farmer’s Market

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Rio

St Phillip’s Plaza

Ah! . . . bummer . . . I like St Phillip’s Plaza farmer’s market, but, again, some store owners complained and I was asked to leave. Isn’t that selfish? I guess they consider me (or my book) a threat. 

Whoever complained is not only showing selfishness but also ignorance. Selfishness, because promoting my book does not hinder their business; the opposite is true: it adds to the place during that day of the week, just like the farmers do. Ignorance, because what is really wreaking havoc in our economy (and therefore hurting their business) are the mega banks: Chase, Bank of America, Citibank,  Wells Fargo etc., and I bet most of those store owners are banking with them, with the criminal banks that are causing the collapse of our system, with the banks that may cause their going out of business. (A Central Bank’s Scheme) It is interesting, isn’t it?

But I think The Eye of the Dragon will survive anyway; it is indeed a timely book. You can check it out right here: The Eye of the Dragon: Stalking Castaneda and even look inside the book. Enjoy! It has a message for you.

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Detour | Gila River Camp | Gila Cliff Dwellings New Mexico

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Rio

On my way back to Tucson, AZ, I stopped at the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

The Gorge

The bridge to the caves

From a distance

A two-story building, about six families used to live in these cliffs, a window to the world of our ancestors.

The way out

With a good-looking ranger

Trees growing on sheer cliff

A beautiful hiker on her way out

My camp by the Gila River, a javelina just went by. I thought they always moved in packs.

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In Memory | The Sycamore Ranch | Riverbend Hotsprings in T or C

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Rio

My visit to the Sycamore Ranch was sad; my friends (the owners) had passed away. The place was deserted, most buildings stood in neglect, with broken windows and torn walls, battened down. The trail to the Sacred Grove had disappeared, but the trees stood tall. There was an offering at the roots of one of them, and a wind chime with a little fairy in another. I could feel my friends’ presence, and I took some time to say goodbye.

My best friend in the Sacred Grove.

From a distance 

In memory! The vegetable garden is gone, but the tree in the middle remains. This tree appeared to Dyan as a sapling, after she wished for it. 

*  *  *

Riverbend Hotsprings in Truth or Consequences

The hostel is no more in T or C. The owners closed it and reopened as the Riverbend Hot  Springs. I used to help them out also, so it was good to see them doing well.

My favorite tub, next to the Rio Grande; there is a stairwell to it.

Lee and Sylvia, the proud owners; they were friends of the Sycamore Ranch.

Me and Sylvia

Visit: http://www.riverbendhotsprings.com/

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Truth or Consequences NM | Paranoia | AE 9/11 Truth

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Rio

From the Lama Foundation I went to T or C  NM. I wanted to visit my friends at the Sycamore Ranch, where I used to live and work, and show them The Eye of the Dragon; the ranch has a chapter in it. On my very first day, a woman called the police (as I entered the public swimming pool) due to my “suspicious” bag. My gym bag was suspicious? I asked the police officer as he inspected it. He shrugged his shoulders, but then he asked me about my bumper stickers. I told him that there was evidence that 9/11 was done by controlled demolition.

AE 9/11 Truth

Then I realized the profound effect my stickers have on people that want to ignore the truth. I was stopped three times, during my short stay in T or C, with one pretext or another (I guess T or C wants to ignore the truth, or do nothing about it). Those stickers are doing their job (I have one on each side). It would be great if more people would do their job and do something , maybe use a bumper sticker or two. But let me tell you, whether they want to or not, the truth will be known and a new consciousness will sprout, a system so corrupt has to be changed. The time has come. Do your part, do something!  Spread the word somehow! Do it for your kids.

Ideas here: A Thrive

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Lama Foundation, New Mexico vs The Monster with Three Thousand Heads

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Rio

I went to the Lama Foundation with the main purpose of sharing my book and helping out. Lama is a spiritual community (on the slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico) where all religions meet in harmony to find common ground. You may want to visit sometime. 

Sunset on a rainy day, a gift

A few minutes before. Can you see the lightning? Enlarge if you can’t.

Most of the permanent residents at Lama are well-balanced people. Meet Joe, Megan and Pema below:

Pema is the youngest resident.

Megan and Pema

Bobby was the “watch” (resident in charge), almost always a beaming smile.

Some of the helpers and “stewards”, however, were heavily laden with ego, unable to smile. I even saw a few hateful looks directed at my book (I left a copy at the library anyway). But that is understandable because the reason they are there is to find presence and balance. Besides, religion is such an easy prey for the ego. Do you think the Christ would be sitting at the Vatican if he was here today? And wasn’t Hui Neng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddism, pursued by fellow monks with intent to kill? They hated his humble origins and envied his awakening. If you walk into the most remote monastery in Tibet, I bet you’ll find the monster with three thousand heads* lurking in the shadows: the world of form is its reign. Beware!

Buildings in Lama are made to withstand harsh winters.

The Dome

Dome’s roof

Sunset from the Dome

Inside, facing entrance

My friend Seth working in the vegetable garden. He was the “watch” when I left.

Helping Lama! It took me about five days (6 hours a day) to clear these steps of weeds and dirt so the rocks could breathe. A good workout! 

Somebody’s camp in the woods. You must walk around making noise to scare the bears away.

The spring is sealed to protect the water. At the moment the water level was low.

Jill was doing a hermitage.

A shrine by the spring

Kirsten and Randy

Eli and Adam

 May the road rise with you!

On my last day I read this poem, from Kabir. He always goes to the gist of the matter.

“Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat.

My shoulder is against yours.

you will not find me in the stupas, not in Indian shrine

rooms, nor in synagogues, nor in cathedrals:

not in masses, nor kirtans, not in legs winding

around your own neck, nor in eating nothing but

vegetables.

When you really look for me, you will see me instantly –

you will find me in the tiniest house of time.

Kabir says: Students, tell me, what is God?

He is the breath inside the breath.”

More about Kabir at: http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/K/Kabir/

http://www.boloji.com/kabir/intro.htm

More about Lama: Lama Foundation: Spiritual Community, Retreat Center & Mystery …

*PS Toltecs refer to the ego as a monster with three thousand heads. It is the best definition I have ever come across, for as you cut one head off, there is another one staring at you and ready to swallow you whole.

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My Last Days in Taos, NM | The Walking Dead | The Hondo River | The Abominable Snowmansion

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Rio

The John Dunn House Shops

I like John Dunn House shops in Taos. It has lots of trees and friendly people. On my last day promoting my book however, I had to move due to someone’s complaint. And looking for shade, I landed in front of quite a hostile lady who also seemed to consider me a threat. She refused to acknowledge my presence or answer my salute. And I must confess that I didn’t ask anyone, but I bet all these threatened people are banking with the big banks: the real threat. (Move your money now.) A Central Bank’s Scheme 

These banks are the ones really stealing their business (they have already stolen the country–the debtor is a slave to the lender). These banks are the real threat, not a few people who are selling, or playing their music, on the sidelines.

Ah! but the media is so good at programming people. So well-programmed our citizens are that they march to their death like zombies, unaware the enemy is eating their entrails and using them as cannon fodder. The economy can only be fixed by eliminating the thieves. Taking it on people who are trying to make a living but can’t pay rent just shows a lack of vision, a lack of caring.

And the occupy movement (occupy wall street — the people aware) are refusing to accept the fact that criminals are controlling the government. They refuse to acknowledge o v e r w h e l m i n g  e v i d e n c e that 9/11 was an inside job. (AE 9/11 Truth) It is not  a matter of reform; we need to clean house. If you are cleaning an infected wound, it has to be cleaned thoroughly. Otherwise the infection will return. And we have an infected government. It stinks.

But the main problem is the lack of caring, the walking dead, the unconscious, the ones who turn a blind eye; they help the tyrants. Our revolution should be a revolution of consciousness. We need to start caring.

And believe me, 9/11 was just the tip of the iceberg; the 1% have big plans. And to those who think that they can trust such people and do business as usual, I wish the very best . . . I really wish them luck.

It is interesting. Let’s see what the future brings.

My campsite by the Rio Hondo

The Rio Hondo

The Abominable Snowmansion Hostel at Arroyo Seco, a few miles from Taos.

The Abominable Snowmansion Hostel

I stayed at this hostel 12 years ago, so I left them a copy of The eye of the Dragon.

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New Mexico | Santa Fe and Taos | The Rio Grande

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Rio

Dancing at the square in Santa Fe

Roark playing the harp.  His Home Page.

The Harp House, Roark’s  House

The Harp House again, Santa Fe, NM

And again

People with awareness; I left them a brochure about: AE 9/11 Truth. Everybody is getting to know.

Song and Dance

Kimm Hollis and The Eye of the Dragon

On the road to Taos: The Rio Grande  The river will reach the ocean and disappear.

Stuck amid rocks

Taos, New Mexico

Cat Hale in Taos (At John Dunn House shops, close to the square)

Rachel: Flamenco Dancer

Rachel, Emma and Robert (Flamenco/Jazz Guitarist)

Emma is also a dancer

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Second Mesa | Hopi Nation | Traditions | Chocolat

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Rio

The Road to second Mesa

It took me a while to find my friend’s house, and he wasn’t there. But I found his family. His wife remembered me after so many years, and we talked for a while. I could tell that I had interrupted her preparations (an important celebration was due the following week; the Kachinas were going to be send back to the mountains) so I told her not to mind me if she needed to go back to work.

Her son stayed chatting with me; he was sculpting a Kachina doll. Nobody was sure when my friend would return so I wondered what to do, and where to stay if I stayed overnight. He suggested to stay overnight at the campground, next to the cultural center, so I would be able to see his father in the morning, before 8 am. He should be home then. I decided to stay. I left them a copy of my book and went sightseeing:

The Campground, next to the Cultural Center

Again: The Road to Second Mesa

A View from the Mesa

When I was on my way to Second Mesa a prairie dog was standing on the road resembling a scrubby tuft of grass. He didn’t move until it was too late for me to realize what the tuft of grass was, and he died under my right wheels. When I was crossing the road to take some of these pictures, I almost made the same mistake the prairie dog had made. I saw the car just in time to stop on my tracks, and I thought that the only difference between that prairie dog and me was that it wasn’t my turn yet. When my turn comes, I will join him. Life is just a process; there is no birth and death.

Next morning before 8 am, I went to find my friend. Apparently he was in another house, his son-in-law told me.  He guided me there and left me to my own devices. As I approached the house, one of my friend’s daughters came out to do something. She didn’t answer my greeting, so I asked for my friend. She was plain rude then; she told me cuttingly that he was still in Flagstaff, and they didn’t have time for visitors. I excused myself. As I was leaving, I asked her to tell him that I had said hello. “I will tell him,” she said dryly.

The movie Chocolat came to mind, with Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche. It is a movie about how traditions can dehumanize us and kill our spirit: A town plagued by domestic violence, neglect and just plain boredom is transformed by a magical woman.

“At the center of CHOCOLAT is a woman charged with special powers: Vianne Rocher, a mysterious outsider who arrives in the French village of Lansquenet to open a chocolaterie featuring luscious candies that can, in addition to tantalizing the tongue, cure lost hopes and awaken unexpected emotions.” This is a movie I can recommend. 

Chocolat : Movie Review 

I went back to take a picture of this quaint little store

But I found this young employee outside (he allowed me the picture), unable to get in because the owners neglected to inform him that they would be visiting a neighboring village for their traditional dances, and would open late. And I don’t mean to say that we should neglect our traditions, but maybe we all need to get a direct, stronger connection with Spirit, and forget about most of the pomp and bell-ringing. We might get to be more considerate with our fellow human beings then. What do you think?

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