Alto Paraiso

The rainbow had faded from the rain streaked sky, and our friends voices had faded from the waiting room but we were still waiting for our flight to Brasilia to be called. Two hours after the scheduled departure time we were informed that our plane, coming from Buenos Aires couldn’t take off because of a cyclone, a phenomena that had NEVER happened in that area, ever.

We were hastily redirected to Sao Paulo. After much arm twisting and waiting around we got the airline officials to call dear Myriangela who had been waiting in the Brasilia airport to whisk us to a TV interview. That appointment was impossible to fulfill but we did manage to arrive in time for our evening meeting with the local Tara Dancers. It was a joyous gathering. This group of lovely women had been working with Myriangela for a year and their excitement and dedication helped us recover from our traveling ordeal. Clarice, our translator, had just contacted Myriangela the night before asking if she could come to the event. Myriangela’s other translator had cancelled, we were all thrilled with the serendipity.

We spent a lovely Mother’s Day morning collecting email blessing cards from our wonderful friends all over the world. Late afternoon Myriangela drove us to Alto Paraiso. Nirka welcomed us into her beautiful, hand crafted home. The table was waiting with a delicious dinner. We settled into her chalet in the back and then headed to the Lotus room where Nirka has been leading a Tara Dance practice weekly for two years. We had been so sad that she could not attend the Tara retreat in Porto Alegre but responsibilities with her adorable son Kevin and her work made it difficult. So we decided we had to come to her.

We were blessed with a leisurely morning before being joined by a group of dancers to bless Myriangela’s retreat land. The land she has been tending is nestled in some hills near the Garden of Maitreya. Led by visions and dedication she has been cultivating this little piece of paradise, for a number of years. We enjoyed every corner of the land, tossing blessing rice into the river and the pond, praying that she be able to fulfill her vision of developing it as a place of healing and retreat.

It was hard to say goodbye to Nirka but we had to head back to Braslia to fulfill the postponed TV interview. We were welcomed through the locked gate into sculptured gardens bordering a large lake. The building was modern, sheets of glass, filled with light and good cheer. Clarice had gotten off work to translate. The program is based on inter-religious ideals and will be broadcast all over Brazil. The studio camera person was an engaging young woman who was delighted when I turned my camera on her.

Paulo the interviewer was fascinated with our work and asked endless questions. We had to persuade him to get the cameras rolling as we still had some miles to cover. Our goal that evening was Abadiânia, the village of João de Deus, John of God.

To view photos that accompany this story go to:
http://homepage.mac.com/prematara/Brazil*2004/PhotoAlbum25.html

Last year we visited Alto Paraiso and Brasilia. The story about last year's Alto Paraiso adventure can be found at
http://www.taradhatu.org/ROAD/BR2003/AltoParaiso.html
The story about Brasilia can be found at
http://www.taradhatu.org/ROAD/BR2003/Brasilia.html

For the accompanying photos go to http://photo.epson.com on the left side you will find an option listed as View Albums Enter this email identifier travelinglight21@yahoo.com
9 Alto Paraiso
12 Brasilia Tour

Enjoy!!!