A Weekend in Vienna
In between my stay in Slovakia and heading off to Greece, I stopped over in Vienna for a quick weekend trip and was blessed enough to stay with my friend Sophia, who I met at a Tibetan Buddhist Center in December. Our friend Angelika was also able to join us and we got to spend a nice afternoon hanging out in a local Viennese coffee shop before strolling around Vienna to marvel at its historical and architectural sites. The city center is beautiful - there are plenty of churc
The Most Profound Workaway Experience at a Tibetan Buddhist Center in Austria
While all of our Workaway experiences so far have been amazing, our experience at Gomde was a truly unique treasure for many reasons. We were so enchanted by this magical place that we came back to volunteer again - and brought my mom and her partner with us to help as well! I have always been fascinated by the philosophies of the East, including Buddhism. After reading several books related to Buddhist philosophy, including one my favorites by the Dalai Lama (The Universe in
GALLERY: Salzburg Christmas Market
Salzburg is truly one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. The atmosphere of the Christmas markets makes it even more magical, with Christmas lights and tens filled with delicious treats and drinks. Locals and visitors hang out around the tents and soak in the atmosphere over a cup of gluhwein (mulled wine) or adult punch with a handful of roasted almonds or fresh chocolates. You can see more pictures of Salzburg from our first trip in June 2019 here. #Austria #S
Winter Wonderland Walk in Austria
Our two week Workaway in southern Austria in the middle of November was truly a blessing. We stayed in the small town of Millstatt with a wonderful couple from England, helping to look after their two sweet cats while they were visiting England. As Christmas season approached, we were excited to check out the local traditions and festivities. Our hosts told us about an Advent Walk nearby. Only about a 30 minute drive from the house, in a ski resort town called Katschberg, we
Celebrating the Cows Coming Home
A beautiful tradition takes place every fall in many Alpine villages across Europe. Around the end of August and beginning of September, the cattle that feed high up on the Alpine pastures during the summer start coming back down to the valleys for the winter. Right before they depart their pastures high up in the Alps, the cows are adorned with elaborate wreaths and headdress full of colorful flowers and ribbons. As they make their way through the village in a parade, the cl
Magical Mornings: Alpine Awakenings
Mornings have always been my favorite time of day – the whole world awakening from their deep slumber, the sun coming back to shine its rays on everything, the morning dew sparkling with love, the cool fresh air, the possibilities that lie ahead… How much more gorgeous could mornings get than these views? Heaven has never been closer than living right here on this planet of green and blue.
Abundance is simply the awareness that all we need to exist is already around us
and
GALLERY: Hallstatt - The Most Famous Austrian Village
No wonder that the word has spread like wildfire about this cozy little Austrian village nestled in the heart of Salzburger land, about an hour and a half south of Salzburg. It's got it all - typical Austrian charm, a deep blue lake, tall mountains that surround it from all sides, and even a salt mine cave up on a hill that overlooks the valley below and be reached by a steep ride on the cable car. Hallstatt is so picturesque that they even built a copy of it in China..so don
A First-timer's Paragliding Experience: Why Run When You Can Fly?
"What if I fall? Oh but my darling what if you fly?" It was one of those things that's been on my bucket list for years, yet whenever we were in a location that would be ideal for it, I always found some excuse for not going through with it. However after finally mustering up the courage and deciding that it's worth the cost, I can only say that my first time flying high above the Alps was so amazing that I am hooked and look forward to experiencing more tandem flights in the
From Sunrise to Summit: Hiking Up Kitzbüheler Horn
During our Workaway in Austria, we were lucky enough to be stay in the village of Sankt Johann in a house right on the ski slope of the Kitzbüheler Horn, a mountain that rises up to 1,996 meters (6,548 ft) above sea level. Although we walked up the steep hill to the house many times and I made myself intimately familiar with the bottom part of the mountain through my frequent short morning runs or afternoon hikes, nothing was as fulfilling as hiking up from the bottom of this
GALLERY: Austrian Alps' Awesomeness
Rugged and wild mountain peaks, fields of vibrant Alpine flowers, streams of fresh water from the glaciers, sounds of cowbells, steep climbs up winding paths, and eerie yet divine silence near the summits. The Austrian Alps present awe and magnificence at every turn.
Here is a collection of some of my favorite shots from my countless hikes through the area near Sankt Johann. A gorgeous hike near Wilder Kaiser (from Sankt Johann): Hikes from Sankt Johann up to the cable car s
