The Dawn Of The Year Of The Rabbit

The dramatic sunrise over the hills surrounding Kuala Lumpur has broken into a hazy morning light. The grips of jetlag are clenched pretty tightly and yet I have fared much better than I expected considering how far the flight here pushed me into a kaleidoscope of M.S. pain. Elizabeth's home is on the 36th floor of a beautiful condo building in a development that looks more like a tropical resort than a year-round residence. I still can't believe I'm here. Besides going to the pool for some exercise, I have just been recovering from the trip and enjoying the company of my dear friend. Her mantra is "easy breezy".

Last night was the eve of Chinese New Year. We sat on Elizabeth's terrace watching bursts of fireworks sprouting up all around the neighborhoods in the valley and the surrounding hills. Elizabeth has an incredible view. She is not directly in the center of the city, which is great because the views of the city skyline, with it's twinkling Petronas towers is breathtaking. We saw red paper lateens taking flight like fiery spirits floating higher and higher into the night sky. I am so immensely fortunate that I could watch from a vantage point where I could enjoy a taste of the festivities without being amidst the fray. Kuala Lumpur is multicultural made up of Chinese, Indian and Malay people. From what I've seen everyone gets excited for the Chinese New Year and celebrates whatever race they are. Today we will go get the red paper lanterns, tangerines and 'ang pow', the money-filled red envelopes given to children as a token for wishes of prosperity. Elizabeth has invited friends over tomorrow night for a New Year celebration. I am looking forward to meeting some of the people I've been hearing so much about. It will be a virtual U.N. From what I understand there will be people including Malay, American, Scottish, Spanish and Chinese. I'll be in heaven with a palette of people and cultures. The New Year celebration lasts several days and I hope that I will be able to see a dragon and some revelers up close and personal over that time. It would be a shame to not have a closer view. In the end, what I've seen already was incredible.

I will have to post my own pictures at a later time since I don't have the cable to upload the pictures to my computer. If Elizabeth doesn't have one I'll go buy a new cable in a few days.

It seems apropos that I visit begins with the spectacular celebration of Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year). The celebrations reflect the excitement I feel personally at this bold move of mine to take stock, regroup and regain my footing. As far as my health, it's been weird. Not the worst, but I keep hitting these proverbial walls and when I hit, I hit 'em hard! I am taking my time and trying not to be hard on myself to just let my body do what it has to do and support it. Worry equals stress and stress equals exacerbation. Not a good equation. Without my daily stressors surrounding me, and yes I have to say honestly suffocating me, I am taking the opportunity to begin to get some balance. It's going to be a long road to get where I would feel comfortable being, but I know now this is the place for me to do it. I have the love and support of my friend, the beauty of my surroundings, and a setting that is not the rat race I've arrived from. I have to really make an effort not to get carried away with desires to do too much. I have a whole list. Go to the market and sketch people, swim laps everyday, get my home yoga practice to be more consistent, take a batik class, take a Malay language class, see some of the smaller 'Kampungs' (villages) surrounding KL, etc, etc. I am good at winding myself up with all kinds of ambitions when I have a little energy. It's a tricky trait to have. On the one hand it's good to be motivated and not just curl up and give up. But to not cause self-imposed anxiety over expectations of everything I want to do will only lead to disappointment and that evil thing called stress. inside my head is a constant streaming pep talk from me to myself. Right now the message is "one baby step at a time". I've been having some awesome pain. I know what I have to do to at least try to help myself in as natural way as possible (meds are great but carry their own price). So, because I am a good girl, I will take one baby step after another towards my yoga mat and give my body as gentle a practice as it needs.

Peace.

NOTE: I did I nice slow heart opening yoga practice while listening to celebratory bangs and clangs of drums and boom, crackle and pops jumped up from the neighborhood below. Ahhhh.

Chinese New Year in Malaysia, 2011 Year of the Rabbit (I was born in year of the rabbit)