Mt Everest ‘Think Big’ Trek 2010

  
“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”
Edmund Hillary

Next month I am off on what will be one of the biggest life changing experiences I may ever have!  

I’m hoping to completely overhaul my mind, the way I see life and business, develop my creativity, create new opportunities and contacts plus become even more passionate about all aspects of my business, my clients businesses and the importance of a balanced life style. 

I am now appealing to my valued clients for support and sponsorship of my huge task being the climb to Base Camp Mt Everest, a 21 day hike in what I would consider quite exceptionally different conditions to what I am accustomed to. 

If you would like to sponsor my trek any support would be most graciously appreciated …. Please click here for more interesting information about the trek and see how you can help and promote your business.

Gokyo Lakes Associate Sponsors

$ 250 – $ 900 (to date)

       www.jobsmart.net.au                      www.accountingnorth.com.au
          more info here                                         more info here

Now you know why I have been doing so much walking of late!

I went to Supre yesterday and bought $30 worth of tops and they kindly gave me a bag … I then when to the chemist and bought $67 worth of products and they kindly put them in a bag …. I then went to BCF (Boating Camping Fishing Hervey Bay) and brought over $200 worth of hiking goods and they asked me if I would like to buy a bag for $ONE DOLLAR (WTF); I said, “No Thanks” with a smile and scooped all this into my arms and walked out.

Now I can understand carrying one one or two things home with no bag or if you spend under $20 lol …. also working in closedly with printers I know those bags would probably cost them no more an 10 – 30 cents each when ordered in their big bulk runs … Talk about Tight + all the advertising they are missing out on!!!!!! Priceless!

Perhaps they could supply boxes like Bunnings does?

How funny …. Thanks but No Thanks BCF, I think I’ll stick to buying my hiking gear from Kathmandu and Mountain Designs as they always kindly give me a bag to carry my purchases.

Well this was a little gem I climbed on the weekend. Wild Horse Mountain is not far South of Maroochydore near the Glass House Mountains. The 360 degree view was absolutely amazing and well worth the short but steep climb! (top 9 photos)

Wild Horse Mountain lookout track (123m) – 1.4km return (Allow 1 hour) Class 3
The lookout is in Beerburrum State Forest, east of the Bruce Highway. Turn off at the Mobil Service Station and drive along Johnston Rd to the lookout. Named after the brumbies (wild horses) that once lived there, Wild Horse Mountain offers a paved track to the lookout from the carpark. Enjoy 360-degree views of Pumicestone Passage, coastal plains, the Glass House Mountains and forestry plantations from the sheltered fire tower platform.

The following day I climbed Cooroora Mountain at Pomona again. This is a fun but hard climb, you feel like you have had a great workout afterwards! This time is wasn’t poring rain … (bottom 6 photos)

This popular mountain walk that rises to 439m is a steep and difficult. Every July the Pomona King of the Mountain challenge takes place and the record is about 20 minutes to the top and back. Allow two hours and that will still be some effort on this steep climb with some loose stones.

On Sunday I ran in the first ever Cane to Coral fun run with some friends.

I came in 3mins under my projected time which surprised me as there were a few long hills and the heat was extraordinary! The temperature in Bundaberg on Sunday was 26.6°C during the day and we were running in the direct sun, no shade nor not much breeze for my 1:27min run. This heat is quite unusual for the middle of winter!

The race was very popular with over 2,000 entrants and was extremely well run and organised. Thank you to all the sponsors (myself included) organisers and volunteers! Especially Neil and Anita! Can’t wait for next years!

This event is organised by cane2coral incorporated with the help and support of many volunteers and sponsors to raise money and awareness for ‘The QLD Cancer Council’ and ‘Bundaberg Surf Life Saving Club.

Now here’s an interesting FOUR hour walk I did last weekend!

The first hour was spent crossing the mud flats at Gatakers and Eli Creek. The waterproof boots had to be removed here as the water was up past the top to our shins. Thongs were also needed for the crustaceans on the sea bed.

We had another water crossing a couple of hours into the walk and ran through this one which was about 10cm deep and our hiking boots kept our feet perfectly dry!

After four hours we finally reached Goody’s Restaurant; it was like a mirage on the horizon. Emma & I enjoyed a couple of beers and a good laugh before being picked up by a friend from Hervey Bay!

This walk is a must do and on low tide only! I can’t wait to do it again!

I’m officially back in the country after an Awesome cruise on the Pacific Dawn. Cruising from Brisbane we stopped at Noumea, Lifou and Vanuatu.

Captain Neil Turnbull looked after us and the weather was very nice with only a couple of rough days, though it did take me a couple of days to get over my sea legs on return.

The food was delicious and as per usual I totally over ate!!!
There will be a lot of hardcore exercise going on this week and some sort of soup diet!!!

Once again another fun cruise with P & O.

Saturday night I attended the Tibetan Earthquake Benefit concert organised by my friend Kirsty Chenery at the Z Pac Theatre, Zepher St. Hervey Bay.

The evening started with a viewing of: ‘The Sun Behind the Clouds …..Tibet’s struggle for freedom’ Movie. This movie was excellent, clearly portraying the current and ongoing dilemma Tibetans and His Holiness the Dalai Lama face in trying to see a middle path so that Tibetans can live in their own country (currently overtaken by the Chinese), keeping their customs alive and the practice of Buddhism.
This was a special preview as the movie is not officially released till October so we very blessed to be given this viewing.

We then enjoyed some food as many brought along a plate to share.

Following our break we had a great live performance from Alena of some of her original songs. Alena is a student at our local Buddhist Sanctuary and this was her first ever live performance – The Oddiyana Dharma Sanctuary.
The theatre was also decorated beautifully with pray flags by Alena earlier in the day.

This was followed by an exciting performance by the very talented special guests Tenzin Choegyal and Tibet2Timbuk2.

Their music ranged from relaxing, to mesmerising, to captivating to upbeat I want to dance songs!  
Most of their songs are either written about birds, lakes or mountains!
They were very amusing making us laugh.

Tibet2Timbuk2 has an eclectic repertoire including group arrangements of Tenzin’s Tibetan songs, Marcello’s English songs, collaborative songs and instrumentals and even classical tabla solo.  The overall sound is full and organic, with all three musicians sharing bass, percussion, harmony and melody roles to create a solid yet easy groove.

All up over $3,000 was raised on this very successful and enlightening night!
Awesome job, Kirst xox and all who participated, helped and attended!
There was alot of love in the room!

Sunday morning was so gorgeous at 6am I went for a 3:20min, 15km walk from Enzo’s at Scarness to Gataker’s Bay Boat Ramp and back with a couple of friends along our beautiful foreshore. The weather was perfect and I hadn’t walked around this way since I was a child so there were a lot of fun memories plus I’d forgotten just how beautiful our foreshore is.

When walking on the sand I said to my friend, “Holy Cr#p check out the size of that dogs paw print!!” who was then kind enough to point out to me it was actually a kangaroo foot print …

We made it to the summit of Gataker’s Bay hill which would be approximately 20m above sea level! (For experienced climbers only ha ha lol)

Today we ‘Raced the Rattler’ in Gympie, being an 18.5km foot race against the famous ‘Valley Rattler’ Steam Train.

The train departed Gympie Station for Dagun at 8.00 am with the first 300 runners and the race back to the station began at 9.30am.
There was just over 400 runners in total.
The first runners crossed the finish line shortly after 10.30 am.

We were told the course was a little hilly but I think that was the biggest understatement of the year. The whole course was nonstop HILLS OMG!!!

What a fantastic challenge. We all had an awesome time with some very fast run times!

The countryside was beautiful with some trail running also on the course.

We enjoyed a lovely BBQ in the park afterwards before coming home.

Omg it was pretty cold this morning on the Fraser Coast and the temperature was only 8°C/22°C. (Unlike many I really feel the cold)

I’m glad none of my clients dropped in for an unexpected visit!

My cold weather uniform reminded me of an amusing commercial I had seen ….

Not long now and I’m off trekking around Fraser Island for the 3^rd time on Saturday 17th July 2010.

The Fraser Island Challenge is a fun walk / run across picturesque World Heritage listed Fraser Island QLD in One Day to raise Money in the name of Australian Cancer Charities.

Unique in that participants can choose their cancer related charity to raise donations for AND it is the first event of it’s size run in a QLD National Park.

From the beautiful Kingfisher Bay Resort & Village to the beach front resort at Eurong 100 competitors follow a course on established tracks (25km) with an extension option for elite competitors around the lake Wabby circuit (total 50km)…. Click here to find out more or register in the event.

Competitors in this event independently raise funds for their preferred Cancer Charity using a custom donation tracker on the event web site, with 100% of donations going directly to the selected charity

Please show your support and sponsor me …

proceeds go to the Queensland Cancer Council.

Friday night I went to see Patrizio Buanne live in Concert at the Convention Centre in Brisbane. What a thoroughly enjoyable performance. Patrizio’s voice is so strong and sounds like it has come from the heavens!
Add to that his moves, charisma, sex appeal plus 14 piece orchestra and you are in for one very sexy, professional, amusing and entertaining performance.

I just had to buy his latest album but unfortunately unlike when I went to his concert in 2007, Patrizio didn’t do a signing after his concert.

Patrizio Buanne spent his childhood between his hometown in Naples, Italy and Vienna, Austria, due to his parent’s restaurant business.

This multi-cultural upbringing sparked in Patrizio an early passion for languages, and by the age of 17 he already spoke fluent Italian, German, English, French and Spanish. It seemed obvious for both Patrizio and his parents for him to become an interpreter, and after graduation from school he went on to study Slavic languages at University and today he can add fluent Polish to his language tool kit. But whilst his aptitude for languages is admirable, a much greater gift, apparent even from the age of 4, was emerging – his gift to be able to sing and entertain people….

But what quality separates Patrizio from other great artists? Is it the natural grace of his voice, the “rugged” good looks, or the confident, casual, respectful attention that he gives to his audience? Or is it just the basic trust he evokes in people?

…..Click here to learn more.

A little disappointed I didn’t get a close up encounter with Patrizio this time, I was pleasantly surprised on my return flight home from Brisbane to see the all time Australian Legend Jimmy Barnes was on my flight.  

Not being one to miss an opportunity I had my photo snapped with My Cold Chisel Hero at the Brisbane Airport!!!

This weekend it was off to Noosa for my first Half Marathon.

Saturday after picking my friend Emma up from the airport we decided on an impromptu climb up Mt Coolum. The sign says experienced climbers only – 2hr return, well we must be elite athletes to do it in 40mins in our thongs! In hindsight we probably shouldn’t have risked an injury before our big run on Sunday morning.

We did it! Our first ever official half marathon, 21km without stopping!

We had a gorgeous day, leaving from Lions Park at Hastings St to Tewantin and back then a repeat of this.  Race map here.
Emma came in just under 2hrs and I was just over. Official time; Jeanette & Emma.
It was great to see the variety in ages, sizes and fitness levels all trying their hardest and encouraging each other on. This year our name was on our race number so spectators were cheering our names out loud as we ran past.
We burnt 1300 calories each during the run.

“When you change the way you look at something, what you are looking at will change.” – Deepak Chopra

Last night I went to listen to Deepak Chopra at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). What an intelligent, amusing and insightful man with a profound understanding of the universe. (Deepak Chopra is one of Oprah’s spiritual mentors)

Here are a few things I learned:
-       Our body’s our subconscious mind
-       The mind is in all cells of the body not the brain
-       Your body is in your mind which is a larger field of consciousness
-       The human body is not a structure it’s a process
-       In one year all atoms in our body are replaced – therefore the Deepac talking to me was not the same Deepac who visited Australia a year ago
-       The physical body is the recycling of earth, water and air
-       Our experience of the world is based on vibration
-       All thoughts are either choices or interpretations of past or future
-       Why can’t you be found in your body? Because you are not there, you are not in it. The body is in you.
-       Everything is a vibration.
-       Void is infinite possibilities, immeasurable potential

-       The Science of happiness; find happiness first then you will have happiness in relationships, finance, health etc. … don’t look for these things to make you happy.

-       Happiness Formula; H = S + C + V
Happiness equals Self Point in the brain plus Conditions of Living plus Voluntary Actions.

SELF POINT is determined in childhood; the first 3 year of our life. This is 50% of our happiness experience. You can change your self point through meditation.
CONDITION OF LIVING is what’s happening around you. 10%
VOLUNTARY ACTIONS, what we do every day. 40%

-       Are our choices for ourselves or do they make others happy?
-       Love is the ultimate truth. Love is God. Love awakens the soul.
-       There is no difference between you and the whole of the universe
-       The world is as we are
-       Have all the time in the world!

-       Our brain:
Right Hemisphere – works in the present moment, right here, right now. Looks, tastes, smells, sounds and feels.
Left Hemisphere – works in the past and future. Thinks in language, ongoing brain chatter.

-       Short daily MEDITATION (start with 10mins)

1. Put your attention to the heart and say to yourself, “Who am I?”and see what comes up, if you drift away just come back to the question, “Who am I?”. Now ask yourself ‘What do I want?”
2. Gratitude – Now be thankful for all the good in your life
3. Now repeat, ‘I AM” to yourself for as long as you like (10 mins minimum)
   Put your attention on your body, feeling each body part, cell and atom to be light, white and sparkling

-       TOTAL WELL BEING

1. SOCIAL; our moods, emotions, energy and information is contagious!
2. PHYSICAL; sleep, yoga, exercise
3. COMMUNITY; Share a cause
4. CAREER; Use your strengths
5. FINANCIAL: Don’t buy things to impress people. Spend money on experience & happy memories. The more you give the more you have.

Take the VOW – for well being!

This experience with Deepak has me on such a high! There is so much to learn and hearing his concepts makes me even more excited about the infinite possibilities in all aspects of my life!!!! I have so many new ideas and concepts to practise and put in place.

What a way to remember all our brave soldiers with a bit of pain ourselves on this Anzac Day, nothing compared to what they endured so that we may enjoy our FREEDOM!

We were up at 4.15am and headed to Mt Glorious in Brisbane. I completed the 25km with Emma in 4:45mins at a fairly steady pace. It was lovely of Ray from Backtrack Adventures to organise the hike (with our friend Chris Rowe) plus come with us. Ray was up at midnight and did the 25km loop in the dark then met us at 6am to do the loop again! (What a Powerhouse!) 

The views were awesome with us trekking in the bush, passing streams and going through rainforest. There were quite a few leeches so take your salt or cigarette lighter on this hike …. none hopped on me fortunately!!!

I also wore my Anzac badge and took up some Australian flags to honour our soldiers as we would miss the Anzac service this year….. what a fantastic hike, I’ll be doing this one again.

Was so much fun!

A big thank you to Enrique for his awesome 2 hour lesson.
We had a fantastic turn out with Zumba enthusiasts of all ages and sizes completing the full two hours!!!

Also thank you to all who attended and sponsored this FUN event! 
I can’t wait for the next one!

Jeanette Maynes wants to shake up the idea of setting a Queensland record with Fraser Coast Zumba enthusiasts.

And if you’re not hooked yet, she says it won’t take long.

The owner of Design House in Hervey Bay and organiser of the popular Salsa Group, has teamed up with dance enthusiast Enrique Salomao for a fun two-hour Zumba 500 workout at the Great Hall, Beach Rd Pialba, this Saturday, April 17.

“We are aiming to get 500 people on Saturday.  But that’s just the start,” she said.

Ms Maynes says Zumba 500 isn’t just for fitness gurus; just about anyone can come along and give it a go, male or female.

“There is no room to feel uncomfortable.  You just go at your own pace. Everyone is too busy getting their own groove on to look at you” she said.

“It’s for all shapes and all ages.  They’re people in their 60s and 70s that come along to Zumba and can certainly keep up.”

“For that whole lesson I’m getting a huge maximum workout. It’s so much fun, and you feel awesome for the rest of the day.”

The party starts with registration at 9.30am at a cost of $15. The event runs from 10am to noon.

Make sure you dress in comfortable and sporty clothing. Children welcome.

To find out more visit www.salsagroup.com.au

On the weekend I went to the Bunya Mountains and enjoyed a relaxing and exercise filled weekend thanks to a very kind invitation from one of my training partners and his wife. We stayed at their beautiful home “Characters”.

On Saturday my friend and I did 8.6km kilometres of hill and rainforest running.
There were wallabies everywhere plus we also feed some parrots!

We also went on a Clydesdale carriage ride into the rainforest and had the yummiest damper and billy tea and sampled roasted bunya nuts. The horses can get up to quite a fast pace, it was very exciting! Please contact Allan Govan on 4668 3115 if you are interest in the horse and carriage ride, you won’t be disappointed.

That evening we enjoyed a delicious 3 course meal at local restaurant Puzzles at Rice’s Log Cabin, ph: 4668 3133. We started with bunya nut bread then I had pumpkin, sweet potato & zucchini soup, chicken for my main, followed by five different desserts on the one plate. The food was absolutely scrumptious and the service friendly and prompt! 

Sunday it was off for a 17km hike through the rainforest to the Wescott Picnic area and back, followed by a huge BBQ lunch back at our gorgeous 3 story accommodation.

We warmly welcome you to our mountain paradise, peacefully nestled adjacent to 1,700ha of subtropical rainforest National Park, where we offer you eco-tourism accommodation and function facilities with the magical Bunya Mountain difference Experience the Bunya Mountains where…Time stops and Paradise begins

To find out more on accommodation at the Bunya Mountains please click here. 

The Bunya’s are the most beautiful place, I had the experience of a life time and I can’t wait to go back!

Monday night it was off with the girls for my second attempt at donating blood. You can read about my first amusing experience here. Both myself and my friend Emma were far more successful donating 440ml each and not doing the full bag of 470ml as the staff cut us short and told us we were too skinny …..Helloooooo I’ll take that as a compliment!

Kirsty another friend of mine came along too for her first go and went really well with no problems. She even had the Dalai Lama giving her guidance with his autobiography sitting on her lap!

Well done ladies, see you in 3 months time with hopefully some more recruits!

To find out more about the opportunity to donate blood and help others, please click here.

Please enjoy some words from my meditation and spiritual guidance teacher – Choeying Dolma (Resident Teacher| Buddhist Nun). We are very blessed to have Choeying on the Fraser Coast!

I received the news that the cancer in my mouth that I had over twenty years earlier had resurfaced for the second time. After having surgery and another biopsy I was told that the cancer had spread and they recommended I have more surgery along with radiation treatment. 

After surviving the ordeal of treatment for the second time I later found another lump.

Things were not looking good for me being able to enjoy a long life. My partner looked at me with so much love and compassion in his eyes as he asked, “Where would like to go or what you would like to do before you die . . .I will do whatever and go wherever you like? 

I was so touched by his loving kindness and replied, “I am very happy where I am at the moment but I would like to hold the hands of His Holiness the Dalai Lama before I die!” 

I later decided to go to India on a spiritual pilgrimage and become ordained as a Buddhist nun. On my return I had the great fortune of attending the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama while in Sydney. 

I could not believe my luck when I found myself staying in the same hotel as His Holiness and having the good fortune to meet him in the lobby. 

It was the most surreal moment of my life when he greeted me by lovingly placing my hands between his. . . making my dying wish come true.  I was spellbound being in the presence of such a holy man. I was awe struck by the tangible power of his compassion. 

In this profound moment I realised how compassion was SO much more powerful then anger and war. I tasted the possibility of compassion being the solution to all wars and could see clearly how His Holiness can stay resolute in choosing compassion over war with the Chinese Government. I pray the Chinese Government have the good karma to be in his presence to feel this powerful compassion to be able to let go of their fears enough to at least sit down and engage in peace talks with His Holiness.

At the time his hands embraced mine I remember thinking, “Now I truly can die happily!” 

It seems, up until this moment at least I still have the good karma to still be enjoying this precious life I have been given. I couldn’t have had this life in the first place without my parents and I am so grateful to them for giving birth to me. 

Facing death is a true blessing as it helps us to deeply understand how important it is to live and love well. It helps us to see clearly that this precious life can be taken from us without any notice. In fact most deaths are like that. 

 My journey helped me to understand on a very deep level many things that on reflection I only understood intellectually when teaching on impermanence for many years.

I am so grateful for getting cancer as it taught me to not take life for granted.

But it is, “Meditation” that keeps this memory alive in me and shows me ways to enhance my life in ways I never imagined. 

I would like to share with others just a few of the many insights meditation has shown me.

This life [that could be so short] needs to be lived mindfully, in the present moment, in order to be called a well lived life. 

That every moment we are not mindful by dwelling in the past or the future is the very moment we are robbed of truly living our life. 

How we constantly live in the past and the future and miss the present.

How in the present moment there are miracles all around us that we cannot see because we are not there. 

Cancer woke me up to how short and precious this life is and how important it is to not miss it.

Meditation clearly shows me how stress causes dis-ease and how meditation can cure mental and physical illnesses. It helps me to not to forget and lose this great gift I was given of being able to practice being present.  It reminds me how important it is to have peace and calm in my life Meditation has shown me that, “Pain is inevitable – Suffering is optional?” 

I am truly blessed and am ever grateful to my teachers who have so generously shared with me the precious gift of knowing how to meditate in a way that has bought me so much happiness and peace in my life and allowed me to see the many miracles that are all around me if I can just stay in the present moment – If I can just learn to sit and be with myself and dwell in the bliss of simply sitting with myself.

But most of all it reminds me how grateful I am to have such a wonderful tool in my life to help me stay calm, peaceful and free of suffering. 

I am so blessed to be able to share this precious gift with others by facilitating Calm Abiding Meditation Courses and Weekend Retreats at the Oddiyana Dharma Sanctuary

Now my dying wish is… 

“May all beings find the gift of meditation to find true happiness and be free from suffering!” 

Choeying Dolma
(resident teacher) 

For more information on finding peace and calm in your life plus learning meditation please contact Choeying at THE ODDIYANA DHARMA SANCTUARY – 4125 5530 or 0408 257 071.

Or register ONLINE for the next meditation course starting at the end of February:
 www.oddiyanadharmasanctuary.org