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Girls Getaway to Nova Scotia & Royal Buddhist Wedding

By Casey Wohl

Imagine attending a wedding comparable to that of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. That is what I experienced in June 2006 when I attended the wedding of Sakyong Mipham Mukpo, the North American leader of Buddhism, and Semo Tseyang Ripa, the Princess of Katmandu.

The three-day festival, dubbed the Blossoming of the Sun, took place in Halifax, Nova Scotia where the happy couple now resides. The festival, which hosted more than 1,500 people, was complete with an opening Lhasang ceremony at the Halifax Citadel National Historical Site, an evening of Tango dancing at a local restaurant, a pop concert, and the wedding ceremony and reception.

Although I’m not a Buddhist, my mother’s college roommate Donna, lives in Halifax and practices Buddhism. Donna invited my mother and I, as well as their other college roommate Roslyn to attend the festivities. Donna is a very passionate person, and her passion and enthusiasm for Buddhist customs and beliefs made the experience and this trip one that I will never forget. Passion is so important to both teaching and learning, and I felt like a sponge trying to soak up as much of Donna’s knowledge of this religion as I could.

To be exposed to this ancient religion and these customs was very enlightening. We often forget there are so many religions throughout the world, and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to experience some of the Buddhist ways. The wedding created a unique bond between two families that originated in the same place, but had drifted to different continents over the years. The groom’s father left India to pursue his religious beliefs in North America. He originally settled in Boulder, Colorado, and then moved the North American Buddhist movement to Halifax, Nova Scotia. While his travels were vast and his end destination was unknown, his journey produced a son who was following in his father’s legacy.

During our trip, I noticed another bond being rekindled. That was the bond of girlfriends that I witnessed between my mother and her college roommates. Each one of them was in a different stage in her life, each experiencing some of the trials and tribulations that life has to offer.

Donna had recently lost her sister in a tragic fire. In an effort to help her cope with her loss, we visited the site of the fire. We watched as Donna walked through the remains of what used to be her sister’s beloved home describing to us what had happened that dreadful night and how her dear sister had perished. Donna had a child later in life and was finding solace in watching her daughter, a college student, begin to spread her wings.

Roslyn was in the stage of life where your parents become your children. Having never married, Roslyn was the live-in caretaker for both of her parents, as age had taken its toll on their health, as well as much of their independence. She had one son, and I could tell she felt as though she was missing out by not having a daughter like my mom and Donna.

My mom also had her joys and sorrows. With her three children grown and getting married, she embarked on a new career that was keeping her busy and challenged. She had lost her father the year before and was spending more time with her mother to ensure she was enjoying a wonderful quality of life.

As the four of us sat in Donna’s living room in our pajamas by the fire each night, I couldn’t help but notice the many stages of life one goes through and how important it is to have people you care about to share your experiences with. These three women had all taken very different journeys in their lives; one even lived in another country. However, when they all got together it was as if they still lived together and talked to each other every day. I look forward to the day when my girlfriends and I have these opportunities to re-connect and bond later in life.

This experience, and my memories of that wonderful trip, continues to remind me that life is not about the destination, but the journey. When you are passionate about the journey and those who accompany you, it makes the trip that much sweeter. Your life’s’ journey and those who surround you become your legacy. Make sure your passion for life never fades

Casey Wohl is passionate about two things: her girlfriends and traveling the world. By combining these two loves, Wohl has created a unique and helpful resource for women worldwide in latest book, Girls Getaway Guide to Orlando: Leave Your Baggage At Home. An author and award-winning public relations practitioner, Wohl has been featured on national, state and local television, radio, newspapers and magazines during her time with the Florida citrus industry. She attended Rollins College in Winter Park, just outside Orlando, and earned a master’s degree from the University of Florida. Born and raised in Central Florida, Wohl has traveled to 18 foreign countries and has organized girls’ getaways to nearly 20 different cities. For more information about Wohl, her book or to sign up for her monthly E-newsletter, visit www.CaseyWohl.com. Casey is a featured writer in Passionate for Life's Travel department.

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