Islands

How does one go about choosing the path
Does the path have life
A heart, a soul, a meaning
Ask yourself this
Better, ask the path this
If an omen arrives, you give thanks
But a gut feeling is not sufficient
Comfort is not key
Out of your comfort zone is a place of growth
Pick up your roots and go
Climbing the mountain is hard and strenuous
But the top is more than an experience
And a bad experience isn't even the wrong path
In fact, what is a bad experience
If you suffer on that path you have learned a great deal
So if isn't considered negative, your happy or content, or both
Your friend has left your path
More room for a new friend to cross
Your lover has left your path
Now there is more space to walk
Walk, walk, and walk all over this marvelous place
Enjoy the journey

Posted by Matthew Kroeninger at 03:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I am very delighted to be spending time at this glorious place. It is very peaceful. I begin practice on Sunday, I am very eager and excited. This is a new study for me. And after my time here, I plan to continue. I just finished readings by Lama Thubten Yeshe. Brilliant writings. I will continue another reading, then start readings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Who I met today. The experience still brings a wide smile to my face. I missed his teachings unfortunatly, but to greet him was at very least, amazing. He now travels to Aussi to continue his teachings. I can't even begin to describe his importance to the culture. At the center I work in the gardens, clean, pick fruit, meditate, read, eat lentils, and just relax. It is very enjoyable, at the same time I find it difficult to focus (or to know) my mind. It is a struggle. More so it is a process. Even after a couple days here I have learned a great deal about myself. I have to go now, I love you all very much. Peace, love, and balance. Matty

Posted by Matthew Kroeninger at 07:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Loose yourself in the moment. While driving through the Southern Alps the sun set beautiful colors as Harry Hood was tuning my ear.I became still. This moment was at least, epic. I felt very good about hood. The following day we geared up and went to Mt. Cook N.P. The sunset was again casting a spell on my pupils. Our plan was to hike 5,000 ft. up to the Mueller Hut. I was expecting the weather to hold, instead the cold alpine terrain and extreme winds shot down our ambition to clinb. So back to the sunny east coast. i wanted to let go. So I shaved my head and headed to the beach - got naked and ran into an ice cold ocean on a windy, cloudy afternoon. It was amazing. We then returned to the North I. I personally needed to arrive on a new farm.(eco-community) I will arrive tomorrow. Then ten days at the Mahamudra Buddhist Centre. For a wide range of yoga, meditation, and self-healing courses. located in Colville (Coromandel Range) Then off to Piha Beach for a week of surf and hopefully sun. That's the plan for me.

If my heart can become pure and simple like that of a child, I think there probaly can be no greater happiness than this.

Peace, Love, and Balance within - Matty -

Posted by Matthew Kroeninger at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Well friends, today at 1:30 the Zealand-I geo group jumped the nevis bungy. It is the 4th largest in the world. 440 feet. It was intence. We all sood strong, and jumped swiftly. Tomorrow we hike the routeburn track. Lookin' good! Peace, Love and bungy Balance. Matty

Posted by Matthew Kroeninger at 01:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Well friends, i have been having an interesting time here. Highlights include sea kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park, beautiful west coast beaches, a quick hike in Papora National Park, a typhoon in Arthur's Pass National Park, and today I awoke at 7:30, and did yoga on the beach. Just me and the sun. Our geo group is departing from each other, which I believe is crucially nessesary. After I spent 11 days with them, great times, but we all need self discovery. I look foward to it. I'm in Christchurch at the moment, and after I write this, I'm hitching south. I will be working on a farm in the Otago region. I look foward to settle down and paint, read, meditate, and cook in a kitchen. Oh yeah! Here is another quick Zen thought. Peace, Love, and Balance - Matty

When moved to complain about others, remember that karma is endless and it's loving that leads to love

Posted by Matthew Kroeninger at 11:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yes, yes back on the net. Wow! what a feeling. After I hike in the Mtns., and a lovely surf on the east coast, I'm feeling quite limber. I am sitting in Wellington at the moment and I have to say that this is a nice city. The style is close to S.F. So yeah, tomorrow we take the pherry to the south island for more rugged mtn adventures. So I will send my love to all on top of New Zealand. Keep the balance, and bless you all. - Matty

Posted by Matthew Kroeninger at 11:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.

Islanders! Remember: Every day is a good day.

Peace, Love, and Balance - Matty -

Posted by Matthew Kroeninger at 05:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I'm currently relaxing in eco-paridise. It intails a self - sustaining organic farm 25 km west of KohuKohu in the mountains. I have so much room to hike I don't know which way to explore. I arrived on Monday (NZ) after a wild hitching experience. On my way to the farm I was convinced by a local named Shona Mason to stay a night in Bailys Beach, her home town. A beautiful place on the west coast. Waves were 6 meters high, a death trap for surfers. I guess I should wait till the waves return to one meter. After staying at Beau's house who is also a friendly local, I then hitched with a fellow named Pete. We stopped in the beautiful Waipoua Forest. There I witnessed the Kauri Tree. To the Maori people this is the most spiritual tree. I was eager to hop on a trail, and when we did we bowed to "God of the Forest". This is the biggest Kauri in NZ. The tree's volume is 245 meters. I then convinced Pete to drive me close enough to my destination (KohuKohu). Arriving at the farm was amazing. The bush reminds me of the Amazon. I usually work 4 to 6 hrs a day. So far I dug a water irregation trench, lots of weeding, picking vegetables, and I have already prepared 3 meals for the eco - family. There is usable rain water, a suana, composting toilets, meditation/yoga lodge(whale lodge), 2 dogs, 3 ponds, and 4 gardens. Yeh, pretty intense. I have my own caravan to stay in with a beautiful view of the forest. There are three other wwoofer's here. Two females, and a german guy arrived today. I asked him for some chocolate.-just kidding- Yep, I'm eating healthy, and being very productive. Feeling pretty damn good. I will then probaly travel to the SW to surf, or possibly start vipassana meditation. We shall see. Sending love around the world to you all, along with peace and balance.

Posted by Matthew Kroeninger at 01:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Hello friends, family, islanders, and internet guru's. It's your 'ol pal Matty here checking in from Auckland, NZ. After a 32 hr train ride, and a frightning and strenuous stay in gorgeous Inglewood California, then a 12 hr flight across the pacific, I am feeling free. As we aproached the landing area, I was listening to an epic version of 2001 played by "the" band we call Phish. It jolted the landing, and I was ready to start my journey. I have now been in NZ for exactly 24 hours, and I feel confident and comfortable. Chris and I ran into Daniel on the street and then proceeded to cover the town. Auckland is a beautiful city. We experienced a taste of the night life, and already have a hand full of stories and solid connections. Last night I met the biggest music producer in Auckland. And tomorrow we will check out the studio. Also, we met a kind lad that is letting us stay with him in Wellington. He wants to join us when we surf in the southwest(north island). I also have a connection to use surf gear. We are currently in the process of getting our Zealandmobile, and things are looking good. Bungee jumping is rapidly aproaching, and I start my Vipassana meditation in two weeks. I love this land, my feet love this land, I feel very inspired and lifted. I am ready to travel the country. A couple more days in the city, and then the beaches, mountains, and the natural treasures will rise me to this joyous occasion. I love you all very much, and talk to ya'll soon. Peace, love, and balance - Matty

Posted by Matthew Kroeninger at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Well fellow islanders, two weeks remain before a cultural shock. Yes, I have goosebumps too. I just want to take this opportunity to express my love and respect for all of our island community. Sally and Jin, thank you soooooo much for all the time and effort that was put into our glorious program. Another thing I want to bring up is the community yoga sessions. They take place all over Olympia, but the one I like is the yoga studio on 4th ave. It is located directly after the TIME gas station. It is $5.00 per session, Sat. and Sun. starting at 5:15pm, and all are welcome. *Also, my friend Gracy teaches yoga at evergreen for free! She is a wonderful instructor. This takes place on Sun. at 6:00, in the center of the lecture hall building. The reason I bring this up is that yoga is a great meditation to do on the beach, and even if you are a beginner there is an easy set of poses to practice and memorize. Hope to see ya'll there. Lovin' you guys.

Posted by Matthew Kroeninger at 01:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)