THE DAY BEFORE SILENCE

14 December 2025

Cold Nights, Warm Hearts & Quiet Alignment 

Last night taught me one very important thing:

Nepal winter is not joking. 😂

Despite the heater in the room, it was so cold it caught me completely off guard. Maybe i’m a different breed 🤣…the chill lingered anyway; deep, sharp and unapologetic. 

I layered up, slipped into warm socks, fixed heating plasters onto my aching back and knees and crawled under the thick white comforter that smelled surprisingly lovely. (Still wondering what they use as it felt like a hug). 

Midway through the night, I reached for my gloves… and Cinto’s shawl : now officially promoted to ear warmer. Bless her kind soul for that gift was divinely timed. 😊

“How am I going to survive this cold during Vipassana?” 

That thought crossed my mind more than once.

But maybe this is part of it, to learn, to sit with discomfort instead of fighting it.

I fell asleep with Spotify playing softly and woke up around 4am, after about four hours of sleep. It was even colder than before.

Hot coffee helped. So did another round of reorganizing my bags, slowly separating what I’ll take to the centre and what I’ll leave behind at Hotel Lakhey.

This place continues to surprise me with its generosity. They’ve kindly offered to store my extra bag at no charge until I return on 25/12!! and yes, I’ll be staying here again. Their hospitality has made this transition feel safe and supported.

After sending messages to friends, students and my cousins, I took a hot shower, got dressed and headed down for breakfast. 

Sitting in the lounge this morning, I realised something quietly profound:

I feel calm.

Grounded.

At ease.

There’s a softness in how I’m seeing people here; strangers included. I feel affection without reason. Familiarity without history.

Maybe I was Nepalese in a past life? 😄

Even the two big stray dogs I crossed paths with yesterday kept their distance; unlike back home where dogs seem much more curious. Confirmation accepted. 😂

While having breakfast, Arbin from the front desk came over to introduce himself and suggest some tours I could do after Vipassana. As we spoke, yoga naturally came up and that’s when another moment of synchronicity unfolded.

A sweet girl from China, gently spoke up, apologizing for eavesdropping. 

She heard me mention Vipassana and yoga and suddenly we were exchanging stories like old friends. 

She’s here learning sound healing, has done a non-silent Vipassana before and wants to do the silent one next time. She even recommended a yoga studio nearby ‘YogConnection’, which I’ll visit after the retreat. Yayy!! 🧘🏻‍♀️

We both connected instantly.

Another reminder: when you’re aligned, the right people find you.

In a few hours, I’ll leave Hotel Lakhey and head to the city council, where Vipassana transport will take us to Dhamma Shringar, Muhan Pokhari.

From there, the silence begins.

For now, I’m sitting with gratitude.

For warmth found in unexpected places.

For kindness offered freely.

For the quiet knowing that I’m exactly where I need to be.

HELLO, NEW HORIZONS

 13 December 2025

Touching Down in Nepal - and my imagination of Nepal 😂

This was written on board the plane - mostly my imagination on how it would be on landing in Nepal!  

Soon… very soon, my feet will touch the soil of Nepal.

I can almost feel the cold air brushing against my face, carrying the unfamiliar scents of a city I’ve never been to. The streets, the mountains, the energy of this place, hmm…all waiting to greet me, to shake up my senses, to nudge me out of familiar rhythms and into the new.

I imagine stepping off the plane, stretching cramped limbs and spotting the driver holding a card. A small, reassuring presence in a vast, unknown space. 

From there, the ride to the hotel, the streets alive with color, motion and the sound of daily life will be my first taste of Nepal’s rhythm.

At the hotel, I’ll check in, place my bags down and let myself breathe. Maybe wander the streets nearby, taking it all in ie the first steps of my adventure, small but charged with meaning. 

The city will be my welcome and I will meet it with wide eyes, open heart and layers of warm clothing because… winter. 😅❄️

Even before this moment happens, I feel it: the thrill, the quiet excitement, the gentle trembling of stepping into the unknown. This is it, the first chapter of a journey I’ve longed for, the beginning of ten days of silence, reflection, and surrender.

Nepal, I’m ready.❤️

THE THRESHOLD OF ADVENTURE

13 December 2025

Gate 4, Bagels and the Flight Ahead 

Zero sleep. Early morning Grab. Heart racing, bags packed and spirit wide awake.

The ride to the airport was… thrilling. The driver was fast, yet safe and his stories made the ride unforgettable. 

He spoke of his wife - that she was a rare gem, “one in a million.” Listening to his admiration and joy warmed my heart in a way that made the early wake-up worth it. May they be happy, truly. ❤️

Check-in went smoothly. 30kg of baggage, all accounted for and handled by the MAS staff who was polite and calm; a little reassurance before stepping into the unknown.

And here I am now: right in front of Gate 4, munching on a Dunkin’ bagel with double cheese, taking in the energy of the airport and waiting for boarding. I tried the lounge, but it was packed, so no early pre-flight “cheers” today 😇😂.

Excitement, nerves and anticipation swirl together in this quiet pre-flight moment. My body is stiff, my eyes heavy and my mind buzzing, but my heart is ready.

Hopefully, the plane ride will gift me a few winks of sleep and by the time I open my eyes again, I’ll be touching down in Nepal; ready for the cold, the streets, the mountains, and the first steps of silence. 

Here begins the adventure! 

A Heart Full, A Bag Full and I’m Predicting Zero Hours of Sleep!

The Day Before Nepal 

Today felt like the universe threw every emotion, every blessing and every tiny unexpected moment into one single day; a kind of gentle chaos that only happens right before a big journey.

It began in the morning with my last yoga class before Nepal.

Twelve beautiful souls joined me.

They moved with me, breathed with me and unknowingly helped me anchor myself before stepping into ten days of silence.

Some messaged after class to wish me well and each message felt like a tiny lantern lighting my path forward.

Gifts of Protection, Warmth and Hope

I thought I was done packing, but the universe had other plans. 😅

My students came bearing gifts, each one so thoughtful, I felt my heart stretch in gratitude.

• Cinto gifted me:
• Bebe Sport gloves
• A shawl (which doubles as an ear-warmer - brilliant!)
• Back pain relief heating patches

• Michelle handed me a Young Living essential oil called HOPE; the most perfect name for this journey.

• Glenis added more heating pads, because “You will need them lah.😊

• Massaya (sweet Thai girl) gave me three tiny Buddha figurines and protective prints ‘’to ward off negativity,” she said with such sincerity that it felt like a blessing wrapping itself around me.

These weren’t just gifts. They were love disguised as objects, little pieces of protection from people who crossed my path at the right time.

Chocolate Surprises & My Youngest Student’s Honesty

Before class, I prepared 16 small gift bags filled with Ferrero Rocher.

When I handed them out at the end, everyone smiled!!

And my sweet youngest student, told me during Yin:

“I’m hungry.”

I promised him chocolates after class.

He said “OK” instantly with no hesitation just pure honesty. He got his chocolates in the end… actually, he got extra. 😊

Lunch, Love & Life Admin

After class, I had lunch with Cinto and Michelle at Bayang Café; a most needed short, sweet and grounding.

And then real life continued calling.

Well, some weeks ago, on 24/11 my car, damaged from the accident, needed to be sent to the workshop.They haven’t received the spare parts yet, but at least I left the car there so they can start work the moment parts arrive.

Navigating all this right before travelling… well, it was a lot. But it’s done.

A Visit to Mom

Before I went to the workshop, I made one very important stop.

I drove to my late mother’s house.

I didn’t go in (since my house keys are with my cousins). I just parked outside and sat there in stillness.

I said a prayer.

Asked for her protection.

Asked her to walk with me through this journey, the cold and the silence.

And to bless the upcoming first year prayer to be held in her name.

There was a tenderness 🥹 in that moment; the kind where grief softens into love and love expands into calm.

Exhaustion, Dinner and No Sleep

By the time I reached home from the workshop, I was exhausted in every layer ie mentally, physically and emotionally.

And it’s pouring now; heavy rain, almost like snow……but tropical edition. 🤣. Heavy rain before a big journey always feels symbolic right? ….like the universe doing a cleansing wash, clearing my path before I fly? 

Anyways, in an hour, I’m meeting a friend for an early dinner.

And after that…

I’ll finish the last bits of packing and definitely not sleep. 😂🤣😂

Who can sleep before a 5am airport pickup anyway?!

Tomorrow it begins.

Tomorrow I step into the unknown.

Tomorrow I fly.

And tonight… I feel full.

Full of gratitude, full of nerves, full of blessings  and full of life……….

FROM THE MAT TO THE HEART

Yoga has always been more than just a practice for me. It’s a rhythm, a conversation between body and mind and sometimes, a quiet companion in the midst of life’s chaos. 

Every Friday morning, I step onto the mat to teach my Hot Yin Yang class, a blend of slow, passive Yin and active, flowing Yang. 

Half an hour before class starts, the heater is turned on, the lights soft and the mats already set like little islands for each student. Yet, every week, each class feels like a new story waiting to unfold.

I also sub for other teachers in Hatha and Detox Yoga. Each style brings its own flavor. Hatha teaches patience, awareness and alignment, while Detox Yoga challenges the body to release and rejuvenate. The common thread? Presence. Breath. Connection.

I’ve also had the joy of teaching corporate yoga whenever I get lucky and this year, I’ve been fortunate to guide several sessions. Each session as usual is different, yet the thread of presence, breath and mindful movement remains the same. 

Whether in a hot studio with my regulars or in a corporate space, yoga becomes a pause, a moment of connection and a chance to offer care through movement.

What makes these mornings special isn’t just the sequences or the heat of the studio, but the people who show up. 

Students arrive carrying their mornings, their work, their children, their worries and somehow, on the mat, we create a little sanctuary. I think about them as I walk around, stopping by to whisper ‘soften’. It turns into a quiet joy, seeing someone soften into a stretch or noticing their shoulders drop after the first few breaths of meditation.

Yoga, for me, has also been a way to process loss and grief. A week into the beginning of this year, I lost the pillar of my life. I’ve felt the absence of my mom profoundly. 

She taught me that a home, a space, should always feel welcoming. I carry that wisdom into the studio. Every student, every practice, every moment of attention, it’s all an offering, a quiet homage to the love and lessons she gave me. On the mat, I sometimes feel her presence, a soft reminder that love and guidance never really leave us.

And yes, yoga is fun too. Between the serious stretches and the deep breaths, there’s laughter, unexpected wobbles and the occasional playful challenge, reminding us not to take ourselves too seriously. Life isn’t all perfect poses; it’s finding balance between effort and ease, between surrender and strength.

Beyond the studio, yoga travels with me. Whether I’m on a quiet street in a foreign city or sitting in a meditation center away from home, the breath, the postures, the awareness…they anchor me. Yoga has taught me to meet life fully, to honor what is and to let go of what no longer serves me.

Every class, every sequence, every student, every moment of silence or laughter, it’s part of the journey. And this journey, though shaped by loss, joy, travel and growth, always brings me back to the same place ie my mat, my breath and the deep, enduring connection to life itself.

And that’s my personal journey of yoga, devotion and the quiet power of presence.