Just returned from hiking.

Six magnificent trails, Palm Springs, California.

Standing at Keys Edge in Joshua Tree National Park,

overlooking the San Andreas Fault,

from five thousand feet above.

Adjacent the exhilarating waterfall deep within Tahquitz Canyon,

Amid five hundred foot majestic rock formations at Hidden Valley,

and an encore in Painted Canyon,

Discovering a hidden oasis nestled beneath sixty-foot palm trees,

A nature lover’s dream.

A photographer’s mecca.

Each landscape a window into a world of astounding magnificence.

Traversing 48 kilometres through varying terrains,

modest to steep elevations,

Navigating over and through large rocks and crevices.

Half of this accompanied by my 84 year old father,

a shining example of what 48 years of meditation can do for quality of living!

Awe inspiring!!!

The practice of mindfulness, a true gift at every sense door.

The crispness of the air,

The desert palette brushed with cascading sunlight,

A glorious playground of cactus,

each sculpted and bathed with nature’s perfection.

Silence prevailed.

All experiences etched into my heart.

Walking each step beside my loving, life partner, and husband, David.

A short return,

Back to subzero temperatures,

A couple loads of laundry, and then,

Heading out once again.

Twenty-one hours of cumulative flying time.

Thirty-five degrees Celsius.

Anticipating the priceless gift of dhamma from many of

Thailand’s deeply respected master teachers and monks,

from The Garden of Peace in Sri Racha

to a hidden cave nestled in the lush mountains north of Bangkok.

Returning at the end of March.

Excited to share new experiences and insights.