The Live Like Water Journey: By Michael Cichon
The Live Like Water Journey:
For many years I have flowed like a river; through gentle peaceful country sides, along city streets and sewers; past boarders and through continents: seeing and feeling every part of the way. With pen and camera I have been recording those special people that I met along the way, people by whom I was touched. I have absorbed them into my memory like a sponge, and like spirits they live within me, coming to visit my consciousness when I least expect it; appearing from time to time as I continue to flow.
Step by step I have been fortunate enough to continue along this journey: recording with Manuel typewriters and black and white film carrying my fragmented writings and shoe boxes of negatives; never quite experiencing completeness. I imagine it is something a composer may experience when they compose but are unable to hear their compositions performed. I continued to photograph without really ever seeing my images: never being able to share. Because of this many times I questioned my identity. What was I? Who was I? Was I really an artist? A poet? A photographer? And could this be possible if I never published; recognized by society in some way. I felt I needed some kind of confirmation. Well after torturing myself for so long I finally gave up and accepted my true nature. There is no more doubt in my mind. I live like water, creating my own way; a kind of finger painting; boldly smearing colors all over the canvas of life.
Now finally, thanks to word press and this web page I will be able to post some of my work and tell you the tall tea tales and share the Live Like Water Journey. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to share, and so here begins the tale of a journey of an organic Tea House built with sticks, stones and lots of love. Many have helped carry the load along the way, and so it, and our tea family continue to grow and prosper.I thank you all for your interest. You are all patrons of the arts, because it is your support, and love our our teas that allows us to continue to Live Like Water; creating and sharing this special journey with you our clients and tea friends.
• Our Tea Room History
Late in the last century, I arrived in British Columbia: from the port city of Pusan, South Korea to the airport of Vancouver with my back pack filled with green tea and traditional Korean tea sets. That was the beginning of my new life and the concept of a traveling tearoom. Where ever I went I shared my knowledge and love of tea; teaching and sharing my passion with those around me. Before I found I place to live I moved into the back packer’s hostel, unpacked my tea set and began steeping tea. It was interesting how such a small tea set and tiny leaves could bring together so many people. Within a short while people gathered around and got to know one another: tea broke the barriers of isolation and seeped into all of our lives. After awhile I found a place to live on east 11th Ave and it is there that I, and later, my Korean brother, Jin Keun established the first Live Like Water Tearoom. Over the years our tearoom has taken on many forms and has flowed with the current to many locations, including the beautiful Sunshine Coast,British Columbia and Chinatown, Vancouver.
