Is there a country, a city or a town you've been to that changed you forever?
India was it for me. On arrival in New Delhi, my senses accosted from every angle, I was compelled to go with its helter-skelter. I returned home with a clearer sense of purpose, less inhibited than ever before and prepared to host my first solo exhibition ‘Indian Heart Way’.
Indian Heart Way: a collection of 8 paintings, depicting a journey through India via the heart of the journey-maker.
Sunrise over the Ganga, Varanasi
The exhibition was a huge success, art buyers and guests marvelled at the sense of place and time and even smells the paintings evoked for those who had travelled in India. Most sought after was Ganga Dreaming. That little boat on the Holy River aroused much curiosity.
It captures a memory of days spent sailing on the Ganga in a little row boat, camping along its banks in nights full of peace and magic. Quiet days too, occasionally passing groups of colourfully clothed country folk doing their washing along the shore. Kingfishers and dolphin-like creatures appeared to us, while ever-present was the hazy fog that is typical at that time of year.
Night time, equally enchanting, as my ears attuned to the haunting howls of jackals roaming nearby hills and the comforting regularity of tabla drums from a distant camp, as if in worship of the starry heaven above.
After three days we sailed into Varanasi ‘City Of Light’, in time for new year's eve celebrations. Memories I hold dear forever.
Ganga Dreaming, now available as a limited edition giclee print, enshrines these memories in the ripples of the water, the bright sails of the river boat and the curiosity of its destination.
The perfect gift of serenity and wonder for loved ones or a lovely addition to your living room, yoga retreat or workspace.
Together we can change our world - Access Hack Challenge - Inspirefest 2019
Each of us has the power to influence positive change in our society and this is true regardless of age, gender or ability. I want more people to realise their true potential and power, which is why I must tell you about what happened at this year’s Inspirefest (2019).
During this amazing event, full of inspirational speakers, innovators and creative thinkers, attendees were invited to take part in a Mini Hack Access challenge. I registered to take part along with 19 other attendees. The competition was facilitated by Hack Access Dublin in partnership with experience-design agency Solvers, with special guests Joanne O’Riordan, advocate and journalist; and Noel Joyce, head of design at Hax in China.
The theme of the challenge was accessibility and the intention was to raise awareness of the problems faced everyday by people of different abilities. I found myself in a team of four other bright-minded individuals including Ricardo Murdillo, Peter Pudaite and 11 year old blogger Ciara of Ciara’s Journey and her mum Melanie.
Our team was set the challenge of train travel.
People who use wheel-chairs are currently required to give 24 hours notice to Irish Rail before they can take a train journey. Our team had to come up with a solution that could alleviate this restriction and inconvenience.
I've taken part in one or two community think-tanks in the past but this was different. We were provided with templates to assist in the process of problem-solving and design-thinking and our friends from Solvers and Hack Access were on stand-by to guide us.
We started by putting ourselves in the shoes of wheel-chair users, to consider the challenges they face when they want to travel by train. Because of the amazing speakers at Inspirefest we were more aware that people who use wheelchairs may face additional accessibility issues, for example, some may have no arms or some may be blind.
Imagine a person who uses a wheel-chair being invited to speak at a prestigious event at short notice (where they also in line to receive an award) and not being able to get there because of a restriction that requires 24 hour notice to the railway company.
Passionate about creating a solution to make this person's journey a lot simpler, affording them their independence, flexibility and dignity, our group were soon buzzing with ideas. Mad ideas are essential to the process of design thinking and problem-solving, as the lead us to the core of the solution. Many mad ideas later we had the basis of an idea that we thought could help our user.
Hack Access Challenge Inspirefest
We envisaged a robotic navigational platform that could be accessed at a designated area in a train station, similar to the set-up of Dublin Bikes. A leap card or voice-command could be used to activate and mount the robotic platform by wheelchair. Once activated this way, the platform would have the details of our user's destination and send instructions for a corresponding robotic platform to be in place to on arrival the travellers next destination.
Our navigational platform stole from the existing technology of Tesla’s self-driving cars. Since Tesla’s technology has been deemed safe for road use, it should be no different to have a self-driving device in a train station. Our user could be taken safely to the point where they could access the train by means of an automated ramp extending from the navigational platform to the train, at a section of the train where they would have the most comfort for their journey.
We were asked to return the next day at the same time, to refine our idea and prepare a presentation to pitch before an audience during a break-out session at Inspirefest. Four teams pitched their solutions to different access challenges, a winner was announced at the end. My team couldn’t make it on Day 2, so it was up to me to follow through on our goal. Imagine the excitement when it was announced that our team's idea was the winning one.
— Caroline Cunningham (@artofsinging) May 17, 2019
I was invited onto the main stage of the Bord Gais theatre, where Eamon Doyle CTO of Solvers announced our idea to an audience of 3,000 people. It was with great pride that I accepted the prize on behalf of my dynamic team.
Hack Access Challenge Inspirefest
Solvers works on a concept attributed to Albert Einstein that says you will spend an hour solving a problem: 59 minutes defining and figuring out the problem, and one minute actually solving it. This hack was an hour of condensed problem-solving and Albert Einstein was bang-on.
Solvers CEO Kirk Donohoe announced that their company will help us to bring our idea further along. My friends from Able Hour on Twitter to took part in the discussions to help refine the practicalities of our proposed solution to the issue of 24 hour notice prior to train travel.
We were a team of diverse individuals of different backgrounds, gender and age who had never met before and yet we brought our individuality and creative thinking together to solve an every-day problem for members of our society. Together we CAN make our world a better place for all.
Thanks to Darragh Doyle and the team at Inspirefest for the invitation to attend this fantastic event as a blogger. Events like Inspirefest (Future Human) are ideal for meeting like minded people and being inspired by stories of innovation and achievement.
I'm dedicated to helping people who want to achieve their own goals and bring meaning to their lives. This often requires a process of identifying and acknowledging the obstacles and creating paths to success. Because of my journey of transformation I'm experienced at navigating those challenges and the mind traps can throw your off your track. Consider my online course and personal coaching service to help you achieve your goals or get inspiration by joining Authentic Path Explorers.
During the summer of 2018, Portugal’s Algarve experienced two heat waves and a fire on the mountain of Monchique. It was one of the biggest fires in the area in fifteen years. It started on a Friday, 3rd of August.
I first realised there was something wrong when I came out the supermarket and saw the large plume of black smoke in the sky. I was staying in a caravan at the time. I wanted to experience life in the Algarve as I had a curiosity about relocating there. When I asked my neighbours about the fire, they told me there was nothing to fear, it was a regular occurrence and even though the fire was only thirty minutes drive away, we were in no danger.
The heat was intense in the days before and during the fire, reaching up to 37 degrees in the coastal town of Portimao, whereas temperatures inland reached 45 degrees. Humidity was low and the earth was dry. Strong winds swept the fire further along the mountain.
On the second day the heat was so intense it felt as if the nearby bushes were on fire. Initially I went about my business the same as everyone else. Tourists in the coastal towns continued to enjoy their holidays. By the third day, ashes were falling from the sky and there was news of more evacuations in the Monchique region. I joined on-line groups that were keeping people informed of what was happening and I checked regularly with my neighbours for additional news; they always said the same thing: ‘we are safe here.’
The fire continued and people in the locality donated money to buy food for the fire-fighters and the people displaced from their homes. More fire-fighters came to the area, with more resources to fight the fire. Eventually they had to go the ocean with their planes to get water to put out the fire.
I was disturbed from my sleep during the early hours of Tuesday morning (2a.m. August 7th). There was a lot of smoke in the air. I was scared. I went outside to look around. There was no sign of a fire nearby and everyone was still in their beds. I had no car, just a bicycle. I felt foolish about waking people up in the case of a false alarm. I spent the night trying to search the internet for new information on the fire. I didn’t sleep. I was exhausted the next day and emotional too. I can only imagine the effects the fire had on those who were much closer to it. By breakfast time I found out that the fire had moved closer in the night as the wind had changed direction. Still my neighbours said ‘don’t worry, we are safe.’
To a certain extent I knew they were right and the civic defence system was very efficient in assessing risk and organising timely evacuations. However, I felt my concern was still valid, we were in a rural area and it only took one mindless act to set off a new fire, as one example, I found a cigarette butt on the ground near my gate a few weeks later.
I had heard about a school in Portimao that had been set up as a volunteer centre. People were helping to prepare food to sustain the fire-fighters. I simply had to go there, it was a solidarity thing. I cycled to the school and inside the door I was directed to an office. When I opened the door everyone in the office was looking in my direction waiting for me to say something. In my best attempt at speaking Portuguese I said, ‘I am here to help.’
A lovely woman by the name of Paula Teixeira took me by the hand and brought me to the area where people were packing boxes with food. She handed me a coloured marker and told me that I could add some positive messages to the boxes. By now I was crying and couldn’t stop. A lady beside me said, ‘we have all had these same emotions.’
The majority of volunteers were from the local community of Portimao and a few were from other European countries like Germany, Spain and Italy. People worked in shifts, some volunteered at night after they had finished their day job. I met one young girl from Lisbon who happened to be on holidays in the area with her family.
Ana Costa was in charge of co-ordinating part of the operation. Her calm throughout was tremendous and the organisation of the group was impressive. It was important to establish the numbers to be catered for and to know if supplies were sufficient. If more supplies were needed the call was put out to the public and miraculously additional provisions arrived to the centre.
"We waited for news of the receding flames each time the trucks came to collect the food."
I helped by counting pieces of fruit, making sandwiches or putting lunch snacks into bags and I helped to pack the boxes and sign the outside with warm-hearted messages to keep the morale high. Hot meals were prepared by a kitchen team. In the last days of the fire there were 1,500 to be fed. We waited intently for news of the receding flames each time the trucks came to collect the food.
On Saturday August 11th, we received the news that the fire was extinguished. There was a lot of excitement that day. A box was selected to be reserved for the last meals to be sent to the mountain. It was decided that we would all sign our names to that box and write our messages of thanks for the unrelenting efforts that had been made to extinguish the fire, which had lasted for nine days.
Amazingly, no human lives were lost as a direct result of the fire, this was a huge achievement. Some people lost their homes or were temporarily displaced. According to the Algarve Daily News, 27,000 hectares were destroyed.
I am honoured to have served amongst the people of Portimao during the fire on the mountain in the summer of 2018.
We all cheered as the last box of food was packed and loaded on the truck. Afterwards a representative of the fire crew gathered us for a group photo and said some words of commendation and gratitude that had many people in tears. It was a huge relief and great accomplishment for everyone who was involved. I felt proud and humbled to be a part of the volunteer effort, it was the least I could do. I made friendships there which made the remainder of my stay more enjoyable and rewarding. Standing in solidarity with the people of Portimao and Serra de Monchique was by far the best experience of my time in the Algarve that summer.
The Monchique region is prone to fire. Usually these fires are contained very quickly and there is very little impact to tourists holidaying by the coast. There are always lessons to be learned from these events. In the days following the fire, I read about the suggestions being put forward by various groups and individuals. Many pointed to the flammable eucalyptus trees that are harvested for the paper-making industry and there were areas identified that needed improved access for fire-fighters.
I’m sure every group involved in fighting this fire on the mountain have had time to reflect on improvements that can be made. You don’t get time to think in those situations, you must act quickly, so having a framework for a plan of action is vital.
I am honoured to have served amongst the people of Portimao during the fire on the mountain in the summer of 2018. I am especially thankful to those who put their lives at risk to save the lives of others. Muito obrigada.
Are you someone who is searching for purpose and meaning in life? Are you curious about the opportunities and adventures that could unfold if you dared to step out of your comfort zone? Do you know what holds you back?
This story gives you a window into my journey along the Authentic Path which calls for developing confidence, trust and calling on the courage and the innate gifts we possess. What steps are you willing to take to bring more of your authenticity into the light for the benefit the world? You can start today by signing up here for more Authentic Path inspiration and offers.
I first heard of 'E-Go Rider' electric scooter during my Algarve Network Tour in April 2018, a week spent reaching out to the local business community. I had fallen in love with this stunning part of Portugal on my first visit and there there the dream began. I wanted to find a way to live there and continue my work doing stuff I love.
Thanks to that network tour & the people who connected with me, I returned to the Algarve for 2 months during the summer of 2018 with a caravan for my accommodation and the possibility of the use of an electric scooter for my mode of transport.
I now wish I had organised some practice prior to my trip, as I was not used to this type of vehicle and I didn’t ‘take-off’ in a confident manner. I was kindly given instead, a state of the art bicycle by one of the 'Ego-Rider' team, for the duration of my 2 month stay.
Ego Rider is the brand name of a particular type of electric scooter, being imported from Asia by the owners of this operation in Portugal's Algarve. They test and prepare the electric scooter for the market and provide any necessary maintenance.
Their electric scooter is very ‘green’ in the environmental sense as it uses only electric power, costing very little to charge them (within 4 to 5 hours) and giving an average range of 40 to 60km. They come in many colours, red, black, white, orange, blue, yellow and green. There are also a few different models with different price ranges (up to €1, 375 at time of writing in summer of 2018).
The EGo-Riders are fitted with security alarm, mirrors and gears. Some have suspension in the front and back and others in front only. There is even a two seater model. They weigh on average 80kg and can be limited to speeds of 25km per hour or a maximum of 50km per hour.
The speed is significant, as the owners explained that in Portugal (at time of writing), electric scooters that were limited to 25km per hour, falling under the same category as bicycle. An electronic vehicle which travels any faster than 25km per hour is required to be registered in the same manner as a motorcycle and must adhere to the same safety regulations with regards to wearing of a helmet.
The Real Story is This
This article is very popular but currently not sponsored. Apart from giving you some details about electric scooters in the Algarve in 2018, it is really a story about successful networking. It's part of a wider story which I tell in order to show that no matter where we're at in our journey through life there is always a way to initiate change, to reach for happiness and success. I call that process the Authentic Path and I use my life stories and expertise to help people on that path. Work with me to achieve your goals & dreams. Check out my books, on-line courses and coaching options below or sign up to become an Authentic Path Explorer.
Algarve Vacations or Algarve Living? Ask Michele Wolters
Have you ever thought about living in the Algarve? Or do you prefer Algarve vacations? Very often, the Algarve has enticed holiday-makers to make this place their home or even a home away from home.
Michele Wolters can certainly vouch for that. She first started visiting the Algarve in 1988 after her parents decided to live there. In 2002, she finally decided to leave her homeland of Holland in favour of the sunny Algarve coast. The following year she set up her property rental business (Algarve Housing).
“What I like about the Algarve is that it’s a different world here, a more relaxed, outdoors lifestyle, with mild climate and beautiful natural surroundings. It’s also not too far away from my family and friends in Holland, the country where I was born”
Michelle Wolters, Owner of Algarve Housing
I met Michele during my Algarve network tour in April 2018. We had never met previously but we had a lively and interesting conversation and Michele was keen to help me further by introducing me to her friends and business network. This facilitated my return to Algarve during July and August 2018.
Here we have an opportunity to find out more about the Algarve from the perspective of someone who has a lot of knowledge and experience of living here.
Michele’s first language is Dutch and she also speaks English, I wondered how she found Portuguese language:
"Portuguese can be a difficult language to learn to speak along with the grammar and pronunciation. With the growth of tourism in the last twenty years, more and more Portuguese people speak English but not so much with the older generation. Along the coast, in the tourist bars and restaurants, most are speaking English but if you go more inland you will find that it is harder without an understanding of the Portuguese language."
I asked Michele what advice she would give to others who are curious about coming to the Algarve to live or to start a business?
‘Better to come on a holiday and book a nice villa with me’, was Michelle’s witty reply. She also had this to add, ‘It’s not so easy to make a living here as the cost of living can be expensive, you might not expect this if you are only visiting on vacations. If you are planning to live in the Algarve, make sure you spend a winter here as houses are not well-insulated and usually do not have central heating. And then we have the very hot summers, so you need to find out if this is for you before making a big commitment.
Curious about the places Algarve residents like to visit, I asked Michelle to tell us her favourite spots:
"My work keeps me very busy, so when I am not working, I prefer the less crowded beaches like the ones on the West Coast such as Carrapateira and Bordeira, I also love the beaches of Monte Clerigo and Aljezur and the Islands in the East such as Armona, Culatra and Farol. My favourite town is Olhao it is so authentic and full of character."
What about the Portuguese food? What do you recommend?
"I am a flexitarian, I rarely eat meat, my favourite Portuguese dishes are Cataplana (a fishy stew made in a typical Portuguese copper pan) and Ameijoas (clams with lots of garlic and coriander). Although I do not eat a lot of meat, I love the chicken piripiri!"
What advice do you give to people who are considering choosing property rental for their next Algarve vacations?
"It all depends on what type of vacation the client requires for example, families with young children usually require a different vacation style than a group of young people who like to party until early morning. Some clients prefer a more romantic vacation location. The beauty of the Algarve is that we have it all here!"
What are the advantages of choosing a property rental vacation with Algarve Housing’s Michele Wolters?
"I provide personal contact, plus the properties I rent are all handpicked. I never rent a property without visiting myself. Due to my experience of living and travelling in the Algarve (and Portugal) I know almost every square meter, so I can give the best advice to my clients about Algarve vacations."
Contact Michele Wolters for Algarve vacation rental advice or visit her website for further information about Algarve holiday options.
Like Michelle, I had a curiosity about living near the sea in a sunny location. My network tour of 2018 was a daring move for me but I succeeded in making friends and business connections in a short space of time. Michelle was one of the people I met there who introduced me to her contacts.
This article is part of a wider story which I tell in order to show that no matter where we're at in our journey through life there’s always a way to initiate change, to reach for happiness and success. I call that process the Authentic Path and I use my life stories and expertise to help people on that path. Work with me to achieve your goals & dreams. Check out my books, on-line courses and coaching options below or sign up to receive inspiration and offers.
Do you travel for art and architecture? Here I take you some of the most inspiring buildings which I've had good fortune to visit.
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal with its enduring love story and elaborate Mughal architecture has appeal on many levels. A trip to India would have been incomplete without seeing its magnificence for myself.
Dedicated by Shah Jahan to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, it took 22 years to complete. Its outer walls are adorned with motifs of embedded precious stones such marble, jasper jade and it's symmetry is superb.
Taj Mahal, completed in 1643, is among the Seven Wonders of the World and is the resting place of Mumtaz Mahal and her husband.
My trip to India inspired the collection 'Indian Heartway' of which 'Ganga Dreaming' is a limited edition print available in my online gallery shop.
I arrived in Sydney, Australia in my 20’s armed with a work-travel visa. Straight off the plane, despite jet lag, I made my way on foot to the harbour to see the fabulous Sydney Opera House. It was magnificent to behold from every vantage point.
I never tired of seeing it throughout my stay. It resembled a ‘living creature’ with its modern out-croppings of gleaming white shell shaped roofs making a striking statement against the deep blue sky.
Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, the completed building first opened its doors in 1973. I eventually got a part-time job working in its courtyard restaurant, where I comleted some training as a wine waiter and I even sang a song in its main concert hal
Sagrada Familia
Barcelona, a city with the lasting imprint of an artist who used the entire city as his canvas, I had to see it for myself. Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926) an artist with vision, whoose ‘modern’ style is engraved and sculpted on buildings and in parks throughout the city. The church of Sagrada Familia is the main attraction. I was fascinated to learn that the people of Barcelona were still endeavouring to complete the construction according to plans set out by Gaudi so many years ago.
Blue Mosque, Istanbul
The Blue Mosque
I visited Istanbul in the winter just after the turn of the millennium. The Blue Mosque (1609 – 1616) is listed as one of the top tourist sites there and gets its name due to its numerous blue tiles adorning its interior.
There were not many tourists in the winter. It was quiet when I visited the famous mosque. I left my shoes at the entrance and covered up with a head scarf to honour the custom.
The interior was marvellous with decorative domes, carvings and tiles. It was so quiet and still there, certainly conducive to prayer and humility. The room devoid of furnishing, simply a bare carpeted floor for worshippers to kneel and give homage to a higher power.
Linderhof
King Ludwig Bavaria (1845 – 1886) had four castles in total. The one in Neuschwanstein is said to have inspired Walt Disney's fairytale castle. In the late 1990's, I visited Linderhof, where King Ludwig spent most of his time.
Designed in the neo-French Rococo style, Linderhop is the smallest of Ludwig's castles, I walked through rooms decorated in gold from ceiling to floor. Even the garden was a marvel, with water flowing towards the castle from every direction to influence the flow of abundance towards its occupant. Such extravagance I had never seen before.
Nearby in the forest, Ludwig had installed an artificial cave with underground lake, on which floated a chariot style golden boat. There was even an electric generator which ensured the cave was magically lit for the King, who liked to float about in his shell boat, listening to arias performed by invited guests.
Art Inspired by Travel
Art keeps the memories alive which is why I've invested my time in painting my travel inspiration. My trip to India in 2010 inspired the collection 'Indian Heartway'., while travels in Portugal inspired the collection 'My Portugal'.
Add some travel inspiration to your home or workspace by exploring my online gallery of paintings and prints. See something you like, get in touch and make it yours.
When art inspires your travel plans to where do you roam? Here are just a few of the places that my art interest has taken me.
London | The Tate Gallery
My favourites of London's many galleries are the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Modern which I visited in 2003,when Olafur Eliasonn’s dazzling sun was on display in the Turbine Hall.
The installation was known as ‘The Weather Project’. When I entered the large open space or the Turbine Hall, people were lying on the floor as if lying in the sunshine in a park. I did the same. At once, I experienced connection with the strangers around me, it felt like being a part of the artwork.
The Jewish Bride | Rembrandt (usage rights granted)
On a flight to Amsterdam in 2013, a passenger informed me of the re-opening of the Riijks Museum which had been clsoed fora long time due to renovations.
For most people Rembrandts ‘The Night Watch’ (1642) was the high point. For me it was his painting ‘The Jewish Bride’ (1667), with its couple so sweetly combined. I was particularly in awe of the real-life sensation of the clothing, as if real threads of red and gold had been woven throughout the paint. It was stunning to behold.
Rome | The Sistine Chapel
Seeing Michael Angelo's work in real life meant he could no longer exist in my head as a mythical figure. I marvelled at his work in the Sistine Chapel created during the years 1508 – 1512, a demonstration of the Italian Renaissance style. Our tour guide explained a lot about that era and the artwork, which depicts scenes from the Old Testament of the Catholic Bible.
"In life we are often challenged by elements of our society. Art also presents these challenges, calling us to expand our view of the world we live in and to make our own determinations."
Caroline Cunningham, Artist
Vienna | Belvedere Palace
The Belvedere Palace, home of the largest collection of Gustav Klimt’s paintings including his famous work ‘The Kiss, and also the place to visit the works of other well known Austrian artists. Here I discovered Egon Schiele (1890 – 1918), who's works were both startling and fascinating to my younger self.
I sensed sadness in his works. Many portrayed raw, contorted and sexual expressions of the human figure. His short life was not without controversy however. In life we are often challenged by elements of our society. Art also presents these challenges and calling us to expand our view of the world we live in and to make our own determinations.
Art and travel have helped to keep my dreams alive. Overall it's a process of staying alive in this mad and chaotic world. There's beauty and intelligence all around us but we miss if we are not attentive. We need art to keep us sane in the here and now and to help on our way to a better place.
Explore my artwork in the interest of feeding your own dreams. You'll find vibrant colours of landscapes, trees, scenes from lands such as India and Portugal. Choose from original paintings in a variety of sizes or a range of prints including some limited editions. For art inspiration and exclusive invites straight to your in-box sign up here.
A Journey in India via the Heart of the Journey Maker
A life changing trip across the north of India, by river-boat, train, public bus, auto-taxi, camel and jeep, birthed my Indian Heart Way paintings collection into reality.
Behold these treasured memories below, many of the originals sold during the exhibition, however, there are still some options for acquiring a piece of Indian Heart Way treasure for yourself.
Since it's creation I had retained Golden Urn for meditation purposes, it has served me well. It's now newly available for purchase, to serve a new owner.
Indian Heart Way prints are an ideal gift for milestone events such as anniversaries, new home celebrations, weddings and more.
Invite the serentity of Ganga Dreaming with a limited edition print or consider more affordable print options of this collection, with Varanasi Cow and Desert Neem.
Explore painting and limited edition options in my online gallery shop or through my print on demand shop via Fine Art America.
