Joy’s Tales from Thailand 2020

Tales of Tanzania #2

Hello again, friends. Some of the kids at Zeru Zeru refused to go home to their families for Christmas vacation and instead waited six days, through political strife, and floods, and communication and mechanical breakdowns, for Mama Joy to arrive. I received a rousing reception when I finally did, escorted by two of Sister Helena’s friends, on the bus. We all did yoga first, by request. Then I pulled out my craft supplies and suggested that we make name tags…The children were quite innovative, more than I’ve ever seen in the Third...

Holiday Greetings!

Dear friends of Sister Helena and Zeru Zeru Simama Sasa. I send you greetings from a soggy and happy Christmas holiday time in Lamadhi. You don’t know me yet. My name is Mama Joy, and I am quite blessed to be spending three months with these beautiful “children of God” at the center. Sister Helena asked me to send you holiday greetings, as she has neither the time nor the solar capacity to use her computer to do it herself. I have come to Mwanza on the bus this morning, for this express purpose of writing to you (and also to send greetings to...

Tales of Tanzania #1

Habari asubuhi, marafiki zango? or How are you this morning, my friends? These photos (click to see larger view) are from the Saanana National Park, a small island reserve where I think I hiked every trail, on Sunday, and stumbled into long-horned ibex, some zebras, a marmot-looking rodent (who is most closely related to an elephant, I’m told), phosphorescent red-bluepink iguanas, and many epic rock formations.       The iguanas were constantly leaping in my path, and then gone in a flash, when I went to take a photo. The...

Tales of Tanzania – Saanana Island

Hello, beloveds….. It was the birds who “invited” me to Saanana Island…which just became a national park last year. While I was eating supper by the lake last night, I was enchanted by the birds flying overhead: ibis, storks, cormorants, eagles, kites, swifts, kingfishers. On the walk home, I noticed that I was near a National Park. So I took a motorboat, and paid my park fee…. The Park ranger guy in charge spontaneously decided I was a Tanzanian national, for the private boat fee, (though I told him otherwise), and greatly...

Tales of Tanzania – arriving

Hello, beloveds….. Ahhh, it’s been a rather long day…about 40 hours worth, I think (but then my thinking may be a bit hazy) and I’m still feeling wonderful. I did get quite a bit more sleep than ever before on the three plane rides. The flights were great…. On the first one, I sat next to a young Saudi named Abdul, who studies business in D.C.. He is quite excited to bring his Turkish fiancee to Wattle Hollow this spring or summer. I taught him some pointers from Buddhist eating meditation and he absolutely LOVED it. He seemed to...

Main Hall

The Main Hall is one of the original buildings at Wattle Hollow and contains the kitchen and a large room for meditation, yoga, and group classes or gatherings. The buildingalso houses the first two cob spaces which were created below the main lodge in 2000-2001, Earth Mother Room and Throne Room. Main Hall - fall scene Main Hall exterior This view of main Hall is from the direction of the pond. Main Hall exterior - view from pond View from Deck of Main Hall - sunrise Main Hall Main Hall - yoga class Group savanasa in Main Hall Main Hall -...

Cob Castle

Cob Castle (a Meditation Hall and offering lodging space) is made with half-rock and half adobe walls, with three separate pods and three turrets with clerestory windows. ..Stain-glass windows, all quite charming, albeit a work in progress….explore slideshow –

More Cob Castle

In addition to the main living room/meditation hall, Cob Castle includes a Kitchen, Bathroom, Ferocious Mother room, and Virgin of Guadalupe room …explore slideshow –

Teacher’s Cabin

The Teacher’s Cabin is snuggled in a bamboo arbor, near the hot tub and shower house, and has an adjoining screen porch and an 8′ boardwalk to the composter toilet….explore slideshow –

Sea World

Creation of Sea World began 2010-2011 and has continued to evolve both inside and outside…explore Slideshow including details of Living Room, Fish Room and Turtle Room.

Lotus Kuti (Meditation Hut)

The Lotus Kuti is a meditation hut available for use by retreatants….Explore slideshow, click Read More

Crystal Palace

Actually a Meditation Hall located on the Peace Path that sometimes doubles as a sleeping space (two twin beds) when we expect a full house for workshops.

The Crystal Palace has a large tile mandala, a 14′ copper pyramid hanging overhead, and the walls are made of wood and lexanne…explore slideshow –