healthy-living – Jennie Olson Six

#24hrTripper Victoria, BC Canada

The details: This trip was 24 hours exactly ferry to island and back. We had the ‘luck of the ferries’ on our side and we had such a great time. If you want some tips and tricks on how to make the most of your 24 hours in Victoria keep reading!

Get there: BC Ferry Trip from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. Make a reservation to hold a spot for you and you purchase your ticket once you arrive but get there no later than 30 minutes prior to departure. TIP: We showed up early and WE GOT ON EARLY! You can also take a ferry from the WA but some only run once daily. We arrived in Swartz Bay and drove about 25 minutes to Victoria.

Stay: Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza. This is close to everything. You can basically walk to Chinatown, Inner Harbor, Parliament Buildings, museums, shopping, dining. It’s a perfect spot. The restaurant next door Ruby’s has great food and good gluten free options. Tip: Ask the hotel if there’s a possibility to keep your car there after you check out so you can have extra time for site-seeing. More than likely, if there isn’t some big event happening, they’ll say yes. Check out time was 12 noon here so we checked out early, they kept our bag and car and we went off!

See: Chinatown and the famous Fan Tan Alley with its little shops, even a little Italian bakery called La Tana.

Inner Harbor: Continue on down Wharf Street to the water to see the famous Parliament Buildings and their green tops, statues and grounds. Walk over to the monument in honor of Mackenzie–Papineau Battalion and see the time capsule and beautiful water sculpture. Tip: If you’re there during the week take the free 35 minute tour offered to see the Buildings!

Miniature World: You can’t miss the Empress hotel and around the corner is the most intricate display of tiny recreations of history. Perfect for youngsters and those that appreciate the time that went into these models being built.

Government Street: Continuing walking back towards Chinatown and see all the shops and souvenirs you can possibly collect. Stop at Bastion Square.

Pickup the car and head to:

Beacon Hill Park: Famous for a tree planted by Winston Churchill, this beautiful park has a petting zoo, peacocks roam freely and so many beautiful walkways and ponds to spend a few hours in if you have it. TIP: From Beacon Park take Dallas Road and just keep going and you’re on the scenic drive around the coast. We drove through some really beautiful neighborhoods and stopped to look across at Washington State, because you are that close!

Tea at Abkhazi Gardens: Created by the Georgian Prince and Princess Abkhazi, this lovely garden is run by donation and has a lovely tea room. TIP: Make a reservation ahead of time. They offer a gluten-free tea that is delicious! After your tea make your way through the garden and discover its hidden delights.

Head back for the ferry (show up early and they’ll get you on) and enjoy seeing the water and perhaps wildlife. And that’s your 24 hour trip!

#24hrtripper #24hourtripper #bcferries #victoriabc #victoriacanada #canada #visitbc #abkhazigardens #hightea #beaconhillpark #governmentstreet #fantanalley #parliamentbuildings #glutenfreedining #glutenfreetravelling

simple sexy food part i

As my husband can attest, I can come up with some really delicious things to eat. When I was a vegetarian, I ate so many salads that I almost never eat raw vegetables anymore. And they don’t always make things so sexy later. But this recipe incorporates raw and cooked, so things are a little more, yummy…

This recipe is simple, easy and all of the ingredients can be purchased at Trader Joes. If you follow this recipe, it makes about 4 servings and they run about 450 calories each. Yeah.

Sexy Veggie Wraps

1/2 package Firm High Protein Tofu cut into strips

Brown Rice Tortillas

3 TBSP Peanut Butter

1-2 tsp of Chili Sauce depending on how hot you like it

Red Bell Pepper

1/2 Red Onion

2 Tbps Olive Oil

Sprouts

Lettuce

Avocado

Sauce: Take the peanut butter and chili sauce mix together. Add more or less chili depending on how spicy you want it. Set it aside.

Heat olive oil in pan. Saute chopped Red Bell Pepper and Onion, you can add salt if you want, saute until soft then place strips of tofu in and begin to brown in pan. Once they’re almost done take them off heat. Heat up the Brown Rice Tortillas, they work better warm and when almost finished, spread your sauce mixture on the tortilla in the middle. Add the sauteed vegetables, 1/4 of the avocado, lettuce and sprouts. Wrap, and enjoy.

Hawaii Yoga Retreat 2013

The Inner Yoga – a journey on the Big Island of Hawaii
September 2nd through 7th 2013 – 6 days, 5 nights, all meals and yoga included.

Early morning and late afternoon yoga and meditation practices, with opportunities for creative and independent exploration during the day or evening. Most meals are vegetarian, organic local tropical fruits and vegetables, with a fish option. Option for participants to pack lunch for day outings. Starts with dinner on Monday 9/02 ending with lunch on 9/07/2013

An opportunity to deepen your own understanding and practice of yoga and meditation, while allowing space for reflection and personal renewal.

Investment – includes all meals, accommodations and yoga classes.
Lodge double shared bath = $1145 (shared room and shared bath)
Lodge double private bath = $1275 (shared room with private bath for that room)
Lodge single shared bath = $1325 (private room and shared bath)
Lodge single private bath = $1525 (private room and private bath)

Airfare not included. Secure your spot with a $300 deposit, balance due August 15th, 2013.
Take $50 off if you submit your deposit by June 15th 2013! Please email six.jennie at gmail.com to secure your spot as space is limited and will fill up quickly.

About Kalani: Kalani is located 45 minutes from Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. Away from the tourist hustle and bustle, it’s 120 acres of lush Hawaiian nature gives visitors the experience of the real Hawaii. Use of the pools, sauna, jacuzzi, volleyball courts and a Hula Basics class is included in your package. Kalani will also package your lunch for you to go for your outings if you decide to venture to nearby snorkeling and surf spots, or volcano national parks. There are massage and other healing modalities offered at Kalani that you can purchase from them.

About your Facilitators:

Arturo Galvez, E-RYT 500 is a Master Yoga Teacher, teaching Hatha Yoga for over 30 years. A student of Master Teachers Indra Devi and BKS Iyengar. Founder of the Yoga program at the University of California San Diego & now heading the University’s 2 year Yoga teacher training program, he presents conferences and leads specialized workshops as well as teaching credit courses in the Philosophy and History of Yoga.

Jennie Olson Six, E-RYT 200, has been teaching for six years and studying for the past 3 years under Arturo Galvez. She is a mentor teacher for the Yoga teacher training program at the University of California San Diego and teaches yoga at universities, gyms and privately. She has led workshops and assisted other teachers in workshops, conferences and retreats.

Details:

Transportation to and from Hilo Airport can be arranged directly with Kalani ($65 per person one way $45 per person if more than one person) or if interested in sharing a car rental, this page will be used as a posting board for other participants to ride share.

Volcano National Park is approximately a half hour driving time away from Kalani and costs $10 per car to enter, $5 per person.

There is a public transportation bus system, very limited and a slow but inexpensive option.

Retreat will begin at 5pm Monday, September 2nd, with a tour of the grounds and dinner at 6pm.

There is nearby beaches, hiking trails, swimming in a naturally heated lava pond, snorkeling and surf spots. Some may opt to group up and drive, others are sometimes within walking distance. Arturo has visited Kalani several times and can provide further details.