Building a Retreat Center on the Sacred River

Last summer my good friend and business associate, Washington Gibaja Tapia, a native Quechua
man with amazing intellect, talent, compassion and vision, asked if myself and my husband, Paul,
would like to partner with him to build a retreat center on the Sacred River, Urubamba, very near
the village of Ollantaytambo. Wow~what a privilege, what a statement of trust and commitment to use my sacred gift of Cultural Integration!
There are people in this world who have the ability to hold a vision of the finished project and by simply holding that vision steadfast and taking action steps, however small, "make it happen"!
I would have to say that all three of us in this partnership have that ability and so it is at this time
being built on this sacred and beautiful place on earth.
This is only the beginning.....out of this project will come funding for scholarships and community health and education of the Quechua communities surrounding Ollataytambo.
Paul and I are humbled by the opportunity Washington Gibaja Tapia has offered us; to welcome us into his family and his community as friends and partners. A true manifestation of cooperation and community building that we treasure.

Journeying and Cultural Integration

It was at a Sacred Gifts workshop last summer that I discovered the things that have "driven" me, and that my passions, so to speak, are actually considered Sacred Gifts! Wow! What a liberating idea!
All my life I have had wanderlust, a gypsy soul, vagabond spirit. Once I remortgaged my house just to take four months off to wander in India and Nepal with no particular objective other than to "experience" was laid before me on my path. And it was magical. Sure, there were difficult situations to deal with, a couple "Delhi-Belly" moments, some discomfort and at times no comfort at all. Tears, smiles, laughter, wonder and enlightening moments come and go, passing like a breeze flowing by me, when I travel.
This is not a vacation, this is not a holiday, this is not really even travel as most people define it. It is a Journey. Journeying in this way, for the sheer magic and mystery of the experience, the tender moments of connection with other people who live on the other side of the world, sometimes not even speaking the same verbal language. But always, speaking from the heart, there is connection. These connections and experiences define my life. And as I move forward with Red Lotus Tours I hope to show others how life-changing this type of journey can be. It gives me goose-bumps just to think about how deeply people change from these experiences.
Namaste. Diana

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. I'll be posting monthly, and more often when I'm traveling. So be sure to stay tuned for updates and photos from exotic locales.