Yesterday I left beautiful, warm Sri Lanka. I just have to accept that I am back to winter. I like winter, but it was very comfortable with tropical temperature. My voyage has been great. So many memories, and I am also very happy to have reunited with friends in both Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
I have had holiday from writing and that has been good. I will try to remember what I have experienced and I will write about all impressions. So, just a few words tonight.
It is soon the end of December and darkness is turning to more brighter days. At least, the calendar tells me that. The 21th of December. I have made a big change in my life. I have started to have tea instead of coffee. I like coffee a lot, but for me, tea is a little bit healthier.
“Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage”
I have traveled some in my life, and one of the best memories are tea plantations in Malaysia. They are so beautiful. And it is amazing that a country can have such climate zones very close. Very warm and humid climate, and then, up in the mountains, much cooler temperature where the tea grows.
Tea is a little like wine. The quality of the leaves depends on e.g. the earth and how high up in the mountains they grow. What kind of leaves are harvested. How the leaves are dried et cetera. Black or green tea. Tea has been a beverage during many centuries, and even more; in China 5000 years ago, used as medicine and also in business. If you had problems with your stomach you had one kind of tea. Headache, another type of tea.
After starting to have tea instead of coffee, my blood pressure has lowered. In the beginning I had huge abstinens accompanied with headache. However, I miss coffee. Soon I will see tea plantations again. And I will also learn something new. How rice is grown in Sapa, in northern Vietnam.
I really like to make my own bread, cinnamon rolls, cakes, cookies etc. It is a hobby. I know the ingredients, I do not follow the recipes to 100% since it is a way to allow creativity to inspire. Good for your health. That is for sure.
I have had a lazy day today. Walk with my sweetie. We passed by the church to lit a candle. I was going to have mother to church tomorrow since it is advent, but there is no church service. I like the December songs a lot. Listened to beautiful “Douce nuit” today.
These days I read about confucianism, hinduism and buddhism. Just to broaden my views. To have knowledge about various religions is a way of showing respect, I think. I have become very interested in something called “Puja”. I don´t know why, but it is a beautiful religious ritual. So, I just had a calm day today.
I am rather excited after yesterday. So much snow! I went to the countryside because I help my parents with various things and I also like to be outdoors with my sweeties. There is no longer any buses to where they live. I don´t know what kind of messages local politicians give because this is clear: you should not live in the countryside but move to cities.
There was so much snow. However, no skiing this weekend, probably next weekend if it is a little colder. I don´t like to go skiing if the snow gets stuck under your skis. But, I got very good exercise. Running in snow! I actually learnt that once at “Gärdet” in Stockholm several years ago. I would never have though of doing that, but it is possible and gives a lot of exercise. It is also good for training balance. In addition, I did some walking with sweetie. She just loves being outdoors. This time she hunted some deers, barking.
