Hello everyone, how many is everyone? I have no idea. Well I have something exciting to write about this time. We went on another adventure/ journey. We went to Ecuador for a week and it was amazing. I will give as much detail as I can about the trip from start to finish but well have to leave some more personal things out.

We left Kitchener on the 15th at about 12 noon. We took the bus to Toronto, then to Ontario and then to Montreal. We had booked our flight from Montreal about a month before we got to Kitchener cause we had still been planning on living in Montreal. The bus rides took a total of 12 hours to get to Montreal. When we got to Montreal we got dropped off at the airport at about 1:30am and had to wait till 6:30am for our flight to Miami. This would have been ok if there were some comfy chairs or benches to lay on but there wasn't. The best we found were hard marble-looking benches which could have been mistaken for coffee tables. While we were there I also drank the first cup of coffee since about 2001. After our 3 hour flight to Miami we had a 6 hour stop over. Then we had about a 3 hour flight into Quito, Ecuador, which took us to about 9:30pm. So we had been traveling for about 32 to 33 hours straight, yes we were pretty tired. When we were coming in to land it was so awesome cause Quito is right in the mountians. It was night-time so the city lights were on. I think Fort McMurray looks beautiful at night when you are driving down Beaconhill, but that doesn't even compare to what Quito looks like at night. There are about 2 million people in Quito so there are so many lights, and they follow the sides of mountains and go over hills; they looked like a blanket of lights drapped over the hills.

The hotel we stayed at was a Radisson, and it was probably the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in. When we got to our room there were 2 desserts waiting for us.



I have never had that happen before. The only down fall of the rooms was that the 2 beds were twin beds, so sleeping was quite cramped. The next morning we got picked up at the hotel by 2 buses and we were off to the hacienda.



The bus ride was close to 2 hours long. The scenery was amazing, so many hills and mountains. The roads were winding all through the mountain range. Even the rock faces were amazing. They were so different in the way the rock layers seemed to twist into one another. I can't fully explain the beauty of Ecuador so I won't even try, but we did take a lot of pictures. When our main computer gets here we will have many pics to put up since this computer doesn't seem to want to.



Now the reason for the trip to Ecuador wasn't for the beautiful scenery, it was actually for a ceremony. A Shaman type ceremony. We were there for 4 nights and we did 3 nights of a very special plant medicine. I'm not going to say what it was but it refills the DMT levels in the brain. I'm not saying what it was cause I feel that I shouldn't. I will tell you the purpose of it though. The plant medicine we took can do many things such as heal you physically, and show you Celestial worlds and hell worlds. What it mainly does is show you your inner worlds and your inner lights and darknesses. It shows you your shadow self and shadow traits. There are so many levels to this process. For example, we all have demons inside of us, on us and around us. Yes demons/negative energies do exsist and they do affect us at all times. While on the medicine you purge and when you do you are actually purging dark energies out of your body. When you purge it feels like there is a lot of substance coming out when actually there isn't much coming out at all, it is mainly energy. It helps to clean the demons from your insides. I guess I will say what it is that we did so you can do some research on this stuff. I fully believe that most people can get a lot out of taking it. But don't take it on your own. It's best to take it with people that know what they are doing and that have proccessed their shadows. That part is most important. Ayahuasca is a very powerful medicine and teacher and should only be done with experienced people. Aya can take you to places that you may not be able to understand and the energies that are flying around the room can be very powerful. I'll finish with saying that it helped me out a lot with what it taught me and the lessons will continue for many months. I am so grateful for what I have learned from that experince and will do my very best to better myself and to proccess my darkness so that it will not be in control of me, but rather that I will be in control of it.



Besides the ceremonies the people and the place were so wonderful and beautiful. The people that come to these ceremonies are very brave, as it takes a lot of bravery to really look at yourself. To not lie to yourself but to admit that, yes I am dark and I do have these bad traits, and I am willing to see them for what they are and to face them-head on and to work on myself and come out on top no matter what it takes, is really the desired end result. So Aya isn't about getting high, it's about learning and self-realization.





Anyways the trip was amazing and I would recommened it to all.

The trip back was about the same as the way there, other then the fact that we stayed at a hostel in Montreal. We got back to Kitchener on Monday the 23rd, and we were happy to be home. The trip was very tiring. One last thing to mention about the ceremonies was that you couldn't eat or drink 4 hours before and the ceremony lasted from 7pm to 2am. You could eatafterwards, but you usually didn't feel like it. There was breakfast served every morning but we never made it to breakfast so we repeatedly fasted for 24 hours, only eating once per day.

Hope you enjoyed this post. I won't be reading it over for mistakes so I'm sure there will be a lot.

(Jun.6/10: I just got around to editing this one and adding a few pictures...hopefully there'll be even fewer mistakes now! -Tara)



Martial Arts
Self Defense
Joe Self Defense
The Self Defense Company
Canadian Wing Chun Fellowship

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with all of you. Well we are now moved into our new apartment. It's kind of weird having our own place again, and nice as well. It has been 6 months now since we had our own place. It's pretty weird to think about what we did the last few months, very surreal. A big part of the reason for our trip was so we could learn to appreciate the little things in life. For example a home, which it has done/ Our place is not that great but it feels like a beautiful castle. It's like going from a trailer to a mansion, but ours was from a tent/hotel to a 2-bedroom apartment.

I must recommend this type of journey we went on to everyone. It doesn't have to be biking 2300km but it should be something that you have always wanted to do but never thought it was possible. A lot of the time we don't believe doing crazy things are possible because the people around us make us feel like we should do what they are doing, because its safer. We can't blame those closest to us because it's not their fault. If we allow them to convince us, then we are actually to blame. Let's look at me, I left a good job and a nice house to walk then bike half way across Canada, just because I wanted to do something outside of the blah-blah day-to-day. Now I am training in Wing Chun 3 days a week and Jeet Kune Do once a week,and working part-time. Compared to the money I was making before, this doesn't compare, but what I have been able to experience and what I get to do on a daily basis is worth more than money. I'm sure I'm not explaining it very well but I just know that I have never been happier and never felt stronger.

By stronger I do not just mean physical, it is also mentally and spiritually. We are so much more capable to deal with stress and our confidence in ourselves has sky-rocketed. We don't need other's acceptance like we once did. Sure we still appreciate it but now we are happy just knowing that we have the power to do exactly what we want because in our souls we are free. Well, at least as free as we have ever felt. It's like the first day of summer holidays but everyday, all day. You might not realize it but many people are affraid of freedom. I know it sounds weird but you might be one of those people without realizing it. If you want to know if you are or not, just think about leaving your job and your home right now to go do whatever it is that you want to do and then just let the free unhindered life that's coming your way to unfold. Sounds good to me, how does it feel to you?

I guess I'll talk a little bit about our training. It is going quite well, our Sifu says we are picking things up faster then most. This might sound like bragging but things like this have always come easy to me. I didn't do very well in school except for Phys Ed so I know what it is that I am good at. When I was young and in school I felt that I couldn't keep up, not because I was stupid but because I had no interest. My talents were of a physical nature and I didn't have an outlet that people saw as a way to make money or get a job. Well I guess there was hockey and baseball but I didn't have enough interest. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wish there was a different way to go through school then the one way that there is. If your not extremely smart or gifted then you just have to go through the school system the way it is given. Think about how much better school could be if you actually got to pick what you wanted to learn, even if you changed your mind 3 times a year. I would have kept learning about dinosaurs and outerspace, gym class would have been twice a day. Just from that which would have been my first choices I would have grown so much quicker and wider. Once a child knows it is their choice, their interest and ability to learn sky-rockets. Then studying and homework would be a plessure instead of a chore. I will stop with one more thing, think of all the people without a good education and then think what they could have been had they been able to make the decision in the beginning. I know for a fact that we all had those kids in our class that goofed off and would rather skip class then show up. Why did they do this? They did this because they were stronger then the rest of us, they didn't want to conform they just wanted the chance to express themselves fully but they couldn't because there wasn't anywhere for them to do that. Now they have shitty jobs and are looked down on by others that decided that I want a good job so I will do what is expected of me. I'm not putting these people down for doing well in school but why not look at the other people in this world that were missed and show them a little bit of love and appreciation. Whoops went a little off topic there.

Just what we have learned in one month amazes me. My skill level is much higher and my understanding of martial arts has done the same. It is so cool to learn how the structures of the Wing Chun movements can be so powerful, deceivingly powerful. You really don't need to be that strong to defeat a stronger opponent. The art of Wing Chun is said to be created by a women. I believe this because it is so practical and because of its yin nature. You don't face force with force, and even the punching works opposite to most arts. You pull back more then anything with one arm creating a great deal of outward force with the other. I am writing a lot of notes so soon I will be able to explain what it is that I am learning much better. It sure is fun though, I sure enjoy the training but of course am looking forward to being really good at the art. Also I am not just learning it to know it, I am learning it so I can someday teach it. I figure if I can teach the arts I love, then I will have the time to train the rest of my life instead of wasting my time working at a job that takes me away from what I love.

I hope this blog has not become boring. I will get better at writing my thoughts down so be patient, and your comments are appreciated too.





Martial Arts
Self Defense
Joe Self Defense
The Self Defense Company

I just wanted to mention that we found a place to live. It is a 2 bedroom basement suite and it is walking distance from the Club. It isn't a beautiful place but it is a good price and the location is perfect. The other place we wanted didn't work out but we can see that place from the place we got, so that works for us.

I was thinking that another thing that I can write about in the next couple of months is the stuff that I forgot to mention when we were traveling. For example when we were in Katepwa beach Tara got shit on by a bird. I thought it was hilarious and I'm sure you are enjoying the image yourself.

Sorry for not writing in a while but we don't have internet where we are staying, and when we do get to a place with internet Tara usually has alot to do and by the time she is done I don't feel like doing anything with the computer. I am actually quite surprised with myself as far how much writing I have done on this blog. I didn't really like writing before, probably because I related it to school and I did not like school. Well I did like recess, lunch, physed and talking when I wan't supposed to.

Anyways this past week has been great. We went to all the classes plus one 3 hour private lesson. Wing Chun is so awesome and we are learning alot. Like I said before Sifu Chuck is great. He really knows his stuff and he teaches it so well. He gives you all the secrets, which is greatly appreciated. There are so many little things that increases your power, balance and stability. This is truely an art that you can spend a life time mastering. The main difference between the Self Defense that we teach and any art certainly is the time needed to become effective in it. I love martial arts though and that is why I train so much. Like The Self Defense company says "Minimal Training, Maximum Effect."

On to other things we've been up to. We have been looking for an apartment for 2 weeks now and we still don't have a place. We do have a place that we want but there are 2 other couples that might get it. It is so perfect, it is a one bedroom for $700 a month and it is within walking distance from the Club. By the way the club is called Heritage Martial Arts. Oh and my Sifu's web page is www.kwwingchun.com, if you want to check it out. It has been quite stressful trying to find a place. We don't have a vehicle as I'm sure you have realized this by now, so this makes it a bit harder to go see places. Basically we take buses and ride our bikes to all the places. Mainly we try to stick to the area that we are training at but have looked at other parts of the city.

This weekend we went to the club for JKD training. It turned into a Kali session but it was cool. We did some stick forms, knife disarms, and some empty hand. Every second weekend Sifu teaches Jeet Kune Do, so we will try to make it to as many as possible. My Sifu is also in the proccess of making instructional videos for Wing Chun if anyone is interested. The Wing Chun he teaches is from the Yip Man, Moy Yat line. The other thing we did this weekend was go to Yuk Yuk's. The main act was hilarious, his name is Andy Boorke. He was very dirty, he reminded us of Joe Rogan but different material obviously.

I hope that what I am going to be writing about in the next few months will still be interesting since we are no longer traveling. Well atleast not till June. I will keep writing and because we will have a place I will probably write more about what is on my mind at not so much about what exciting things were doing, because mainly we will be training. I will ask my Sifu if it is okay to go into more detail about the training we are receiving so that I can teach you somethings. Actually I will probably tell you more stuff about self defense anyways but hopefully I can add some Wing Chun to the mix.

Talk to you again soon.

Martial Arts
Self Defense
Joe Self Defense
The Self Defense Company

Just yesterday me and Tara finished 3 days of Wing Chun training. We did about 8 hours each day, so you could say we are pretty frigin sore now. Our Sifu is amazing! He knows his stuff so well, and he is a really really great guy. He has already done so much for us outside of teaching. I could go on all day giving praise to him. I am just so glad that we found him. As of right now we have decided to stay in Kitchener instead of going to Montreal because of Sifu. I have tried getting a hold of other Wing Chun teachers in Montreal but no one has responded. That doesn't give me a very good feeling so I can't see why I would want to go train with them.

I guess I forgot to mention my Sifu's name, his name is Chuck O'Neill. Another good thing about getting to train with him is that I will also get to learn Jeet Kune Do, Kali stick work and a wide range of other things. He has also done alot of body guarding, for example his was a body guard for Chuck Liddel.

We don't start training again till Tuesday night and I already miss it. We will be doing all the evening classes and one 3 hour private lesson for the next 3 weeks, and there will be 2 Jeet Kune Do classes on 2 Saturdays. I'm so happy to have found this place and my new Sifu. Another thing that we might get to do this month is go to Toronto to train with Sifu Chuck's Sifu.

I will add one last thing. Tara did a very good job training, she picked up on the teachings well and she never gave up the whole time. What a trooper she keeps impressing me and I am so glad she was there with me and I hope she sticks with it. I'm pretty sure she well, probably not to the extent that I will but still she will learn alot more in the next 6 months.

Staying here is still a maybe, were 97% sure were staying.

Self Defense
Martial Arts
Joe Self Defense
The Self Defense Company

I just have to write. I have been noticing on tv something that most have seen but most may not have realized. I noticed that on NFL there is alot of pink. What does pink mean. It meens love. It is a celestial colour that means love. Guess what the powers of control want it to mean? They want it to mean cancer. I will say that yes we want to cure cancer but what is actually happening is that we are actually supporting breast cancer. What we should be supporting when it somes to this stuff is the breasts, boobs, tits, what ever you want to call it.

To many people in this world are supporting something that needs another kind of support. When you think of the colour pink it is filled with a negetive feeling. Cancer has been cured! The Government wants me and you to believe that we need to give them money to find a cure that has already been found. What a crock of sorry to say shit. I know and now you know. Cancer is a money maker and so many people are dieing from a disease that is cureable. It sickens me and truely upsets me. I hear about people loosing loved ones from cancer and I want to tell them that it didn't have to happen. Who wants to hear that, no one! Please everyone stop supporting cancer and start supporting life. For example, support peace and not anti war, cause there is still war in what you are supporting. Give your feelings to love and acceptance. I have a saying that goes like this "Acceptance is Love Defined."

I know I say things that sound like they are in stone but I feel good about those things. It doesn't mean that I don't want to hear what you have to say but it is my opinion and why not say what I feel. You should say what you feel and not feel bad about it at all. Express yourself over and over and over and over. Why? Why not! Find your own strenghth and never ever feel bad about it. Take a deep breath and say what ever you want to say.

My auntie told me tonight to say what ever I want because people need to hear it and well looks like that is exactly what I am doing:) I love my auntie and that is where I will stop for now. Talk to you again soon.

Self Defense

Martial Arts

Joe Self Defense

The Self Defense Company

The next place we got to was Owen Sound. It is a good sized town and we liked it quite a bit. Not a lot of restaurant chains, most were independent-types we found. We were there for 3 nights and we went to a few nice restaurants and all of them had Guinness! It rained pretty much every day we were there, but we have rain coats so that never stops us from going out. While we were there, we walked everywhere we went so my leg could rest. It's funny, Tara's leg would hurt when she walks and not when she bikes, and mine is the exact opposite.

My leg injury was the cause of riding in too hard of a gear all the time. If I push myself too hard all the time it will eventually hurt me, so take it easy is what I must do. Tara said a funny thing to me about it, "When people hear about us riding bikes halfway across Canada they're not going to ask what gear you were in." Our egos sure are a funny thing.

The original plan was to stay in Owen Sound for 2 days and then continue on, but we got some bad news the morning we were about to leave. We have decided to stay in Kitchener for the month of October, if I didn't already mention that. We had a place set up to stay and when we e-mailed back to confirm it, it had been given away. We were at a loss of what to do, so on the way out of town we stopped at another hotel so we could try and find another place to stay in Kitchener. After about 3 hours of searching we couldn't find anything, until one nice place that previously told us that 2 months was the minimum for rental terms, said yes because we offered to pay more then the asking price. After we had been approved, the lady that gave away the first room e-mailed us back saying we could stay in her rec room. So now we have 2 possibilities. Not as peachy as it sounds though...

Anyways before we left, we got to see Tara's cousin Jason who actually grew up in the area. We haven't seen him since about Christmas time. Then we went on our way south to Mount Forest, which is a small town but a very good feeling town. We went out for dinner to a place called Queen's Bush Bistro. It was awesome; the food was amazing and they had Guinness. We did not expect there to be such a great restaurant in a small town, the guy was a chef not just a cook.

Just so you know, since the second last day at Owen Sound Fall has definitly arrived. It is cold now and raining a lot as well. So we made it to Fergus the next day and we stayed in an Inn. It was pretty cool, our room was called the Victor Kyle. Again they had really good food...and Guinness. The last few days have been awesome for food. The nachos at this place were ridiculous, they were huge. For twelve dollars you get a plate that is about 2 feet long. We didn't get that one, we got a half order for six dollars and we could not finish that.

Before we left in the morning we had to send money to the landlord of the apartment we found. The landlord lives in the UK and we can't see the place untill the money is sent and then HomeTrader gets an email to let them know we can see the place. The transaction isn't complete until we say yes after seeing the place. So we are riding to Kitchener and, on what we figure is our last day of riding, it rains hard the whole way and it is also only 6 degrees out. We didn't make it to Kitchener we made it to Guelph, which is basically connected to Kitchener and we stayed in a hotel for the night. We stayed there because the HomeTrader people hadn't called us yet and we even stayed at our hotel till 2:00pm waiting for a call that we did not receive. We then decided to ride to Cambridge where the rec room is for us to stay. Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo are all very close to each other, so close you could call them the same city. So right now we are in Cambridge staying in the rec room for a couple days awaiting the call for the apartment. It is pretty nice here, there are 2 cats and a dog and 3 other people staying here. It is a full house so we hope the apartment works out. The lady that owns the place is very nice and the animals are great. I haven't even seen the other 2 roommates but I'm sure they're nice too.

I'll let you know how things go with the apartment and tomorrow is my birthday. You probably know it is Alexander Keith's as well, so we will be drinking some Keith's tomorrow; sorry Arthur.

Self Defense
Martial Arts
Joe Self Defense
The Self Defense Company