Conscious Consumerism: Notecards

Emails are clearly a quick and easy way of staying in touch but nothing quite like receiving snail mail. I bought these beautiful handmade blank notecards in Thailand and I thought I'd share them here. They come in bright, vibrant colors with a variety of prints. Part of the proceeds go to The Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation that offers Breast Cancer education, screening and treatment to underprivileged women in Thailand. Buying these cards also supports traditional Thai handicraft and fair trade employment for women. The paper is this beautiful, thick, environmentally safe Thai mulberry paper. Free international shipping with code R312. Click here to buy.

The Road is Life

Snapped this airplane pic yesterday while laying by the beach, and thought this quote fit perfectly. I'm heading home to Germany today. Excited/Nervous/Happy/Sad. Thailand is so beautiful. I had a wonderful time spending the last month+ here. I hope to be back one day!

Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright

A pic from a couple weeks ago when I played with some baby tigers in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It made me think back to fourth grade when we had to memorize the following poem by William Blake: 

Tiger Tiger, Burning bright

In the forests of the night

What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies 

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire, 

What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art 

Could twist the sinnews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat

What dread hand, what dread feet?

What the hammer, what the chain

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil, what dread grasp

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

And when the stars threw down their spears

And watered heaven with their tears,

Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, Tiger burning bright,

In the forests of the night

What immortal hand or eye

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

 (Wow, can't believe I just typed it from memory!)

Where Have You Found Complete Peace?

This picture was taken in Chedi Luong in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is a Buddhist temple, and I stumbled upon it after getting lost exploring the town. There were about 20 monks up front, with one monk speaking. The giant room felt warm, safe, and smelled of incense. I sat on the floor, toward the back, snapped this picture, and then soaked it all in. I felt complete stillness and peace. Tell me, have you experienced this profound sense of peace? Where?