I found peace in the mountains of West Virginia

Palace of Gold

Location: New Vrindaban, WV.
Travel date: August 20-22, 2011.
Rating: ★★★★★.

I know this doesn't apply to everyone but traveling is my therapy. It's even better when the destination is as amazingly peaceful as the unincorporated town of New Vrindaban, West Virginia (population of 352, according to the 2010 Census) - a remote community of incredible spiritually in-tune people, outside of Wheeling, WV.

That's a mighty random location for a Floridian-by-way-of-Brazil to visit, you might say - I was privileged to spend a couple of days in this sanctuary to celebrate the wedding of two of my favorite people in the world, my oldest and best friend - my brother - and his beautiful new bride.

No cell reception, no loud choppers, ambulances, cop cars or obnoxious drivers. No shoes (barefoot wedding!) no stress. Just bliss. It was the most genuine and touching wedding I've ever been to. Enjoy! (I can't even tell you how much I did!)

Hello Lotus

Wedding Preparations: A group effort, we all pitched in! No extravagance there - just the simplicity of celebrating life.The venue: The beautiful and eco-friendly family home on top of a gorgeous hill. The flowers: Hand-picked from the nearest lotus-flower pond. The dress: designed and made by the bride. The hair: an amazing creation of her sister.

THE TOWN: New Vrindaban, a replica of Vrindaban India, is a community of devotees of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which belongs to the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition, a devotional tradition based on the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. It has been a place of pilgrimage for thousands of visitors each year.

zooming in...

Lotus pond

We stayed at the the Guest Lodge, located across from the Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Candra's Temple - a beautiful building with activities scheduled throughout the day, day after day. Meditations, chanting, communal meals. It was great! Also, to my complete happiness, a gigantic elephant sculpture awaited for my hug :)

One day, the real one!

Lastly, we visited the Palace of Gold - The weather was completely overcast, so my pictures don't do it ANY justice!

Gardens and mountains

Cow and peacock details

This was an experience unlike any other. I found complete peace of mind and quietude, even if only for a weekend before returning to chaos. And that, to me, was priceless.

Peace and Love, LC