Lyn Fuchs's Blog, page 17

Smooth Getaway Postcard From Paris

I’ve been to Paris several times and even lived there for a brief period. Yet, my first trip was the experience I remember most. There’s something about a little drizzle on a cloudy Parisian November day. A slight chill in the air nipping at your warm sweater is made bearable when soaking up the French magic by the cup full. 

I was 25 years old, sitting alone in a cafe along the Champs-Élysées after a packed day of playing tourist. With my chair facing toward the street alongside hun...

ForeWord Says Fresh Wind Doesn't Blow

The respected ForeWord Reviews has just weighed in with their take on my newest book Fresh Wind & Strange Fire. If you haven't obtained your copy yet, I hope you will after reading this thoughtful evaluation of the work.

An American in Mexico takes the risks necessary to truly immerse himself into Mexican life and culture. To say Lyn Fuchs is an American writing about visiting Mexico would be an oversimplification. Fuchs, professor and writer-in-residence at the University of Papaloapan,...

Wandering Mystic Meditation From Goa India

On my “bucket list” of things I want to do before I die, sky–diving is at the top, right next to speaking at a TED conference. When I ponder why I want to jump off a plane deliberately, what comes to mind is the desire to experience a cocktail of feelings mingling fear with faith and excitement.

Today, as I began to meditate, my thoughts were rampant about work, challenges, opportunities and all that. Yet, in the whirlwind, I caught a feeling of surrender. I realised that I no longer pray for...

Primal Wilderness Rambling From Nigeria

The truck, with about fifteen large men in the back, came whirling out of the chaotic roundabout and smashed into the back of our car, shunting us forward with rending and metallic noise. We pulled onto the side of the road. The truck stopped and all the occupants surrounded us at speed. One of them, with what I took to be odd logic, shouted out, "You crashed into us man! You will have to pay!" At the wheel of our car, Blessed tried to engage first gear and pump the accelerator to get us out...

Primal Wilderness Rambling From Cumberland Trail

My father loves to explore. He works as an environmental consultant, bushwhacking through the woods in search of endangered plants. Plus, he doesn't stop after work hours. Even during our family’s beach vacations, he looks at coastal plain grasses with all the enthusiasm of a teenage boy peering at bikini babes.

I hiked with him last year on the existing segments of Tennessee’s still-unfinished Cumberland Trail. The CT runs North to South along Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau. Don’t let the wor...

Spice Girl Caravan To Indonesia

When conversing about Indonesia, all I used to think of was their never-ending societal telenovela or the increasing number of legal and undercover immigrants swarming Malaysia year by year. Indonesia's hard knock life has compelled many of the younger generation to places like Malaysia and Singapore in search of a better life - or at least better pay. For a long time, I was unaware that Indonesia really does have a lot to offer.

Apart from great Indonesian singers who have made it into my loc...

Smooth Getaway Postcard From Clonmacnoise Ireland

Walking inside the tumbled chapel walls and seeing birds nesting in the silent bell towers, it's hard to believe this was once one of Europe's great universities. Yet, Ireland's Clonmacnoise, quiet now but for the rustling of the nearby River Shannon, was the home of 3000 scholars at a time when Ireland stood as a beacon of learning amidst Europe's Dark Ages. While a trip to the Emerald Isle offers much in the way of fun - singing, dancing, shopping and pub hopping - a visit to...

Wandering Mystic Meditation From North Korea

Contrary to what most people expect, it was easy to get into North Korea. However, I did start to worry that it might not be so easy to leave. Our group leader had visited a few times before and was confident the penalty for transgressions would be deportation rather than incarceration. He emphasized this didn’t mean no serious consequences, but that the repercussions would be for our local guides rather than us.
Our two North Korean guides, Mr. Kim and Mr. Lim, joined our group as s...

Primal Wilderness Rambling From El Salvador

As I scooped beans to my mouth, there was this horrifying rumble. The ground shook and the baby cried. Fear fell across my wife's face. I jumped up and grabbed them both in my arms.

A wall smashed to the ground. "We've got to get out," I yelled. We crawled from the house as the other three walls crumbled and the roof crashed down.

Outside, the village was panicked: babies squalled, women screamed, dogs barked, men yelled and chickens flapped around. Hot clouds spurted from the mountain top to...

Wandering Mystic Meditation From Germany

I’m alone on the bluff above the magnificent Fulda Cathedral. I’m no ghoul – at least, I don’t think I am. Still, I can’t take my eyes off the large slab of gray slate that’s bolted to the sandstone blocks of Saint Michael’s chapel. It’s quite the experience. Rows upon rows of skulls are carved in stone – large skulls, smaller skulls, adolescent, child and infant. The skulls are carved in relief, with such gentle detail that I think I can distinguish between male and female. On the far right,...