back in beijing. black and white for change















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Three weeks into my Panchakarma retreat

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I am currently three weeks into my Panchakarma retreat. It feels like I have entered level four of a captivating video game. The anticipation (or dread) of the impending final stage of my detox journey,   known as the infamous ‘vasti’-(often referred to as “the mother of all panchakarma procedures”), looms overhead. Last week, I underwent the ‘nasya’ treatment, that is cleanse of your nasal passages and detoxification of the head and neck. This procedure came with a challenging condition : no hair washing allowed. For a full seven days, my hair remained unwashed, gradually becoming so greasy that catching a glimpse of it in the mirror turned into a test of endurance! Fortunately, the ‘nasya’ experience had a silver lining, as it was coupled with herbal steam bath and ‘kizhi’ treatment—a pounding massage with heated herbal pouches infused with medicinal oils. These fragrant sachets worked their magic on my body, providing a perfect blend of invigoration and relaxation. ‘Kizhi’...
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What moving across the continent taught me

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I could wrap this post up with one word: being ruthless with your possessions pays off. Literally. Although it's not that simple nor straightforward. Let's start from the very beginning. Just over fifteen years ago, I moved to London (perhaps it’s worth mentioning that at the time, I didn’t know I was moving to London, but that’s a story for another day). The plane was boarding at Luton Airport, and I had only a 70-litre rucksack and a small cabin-sized backpack with me. My starter kit to begin a new life in a new country (although at the time the plan was to have a six-month 'workation' in order to get an actual vacation in Southeast Asia). Time flew, and as I was settling in, various household and decorative items just drifted towards me, such as blue cushions that I still happen to have ( ! ), because they never lost their bounciness, then a mid-century coffee table (still got it!) and even a photograph of an old man that I found in my then-home (then a squat; previ...
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A vida na estrada: Portugal

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Estou em Portugal. I'm in Portugal. After fake Interrail voyages in Spain, swimming naked in Barcelona and sleeping on the rooftop in Huelva, I finally got to Lisbon. I love to revisit cities I have been once before, as I always look forward to catch changes in cityscape, to recognise places I am familiar with and to check whether I am gonna get lost in streets labyrinth. My first visit in Lisbon was in Feb 2010 and I had told myself then "I wish I could come back here during summer". So there you go, I unplannedly arrived here. Speaking about "unplanning", well, I hadn't plan holidays this summer but situation in London made me taking holiday break and without slightest idea where to travel I took a train from Lille and got to Barcelona. Staying with friends, hanging out till dawn and catching sun rays were all I needed after dusty and rainy atmosphere in London. My stay in Barcelona extended to nearly two weeks and there was time to set out further South...
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