From Tokyo to Croatia,Hval island, It was the longest flight I've ever had,but it was worth doing.
Even though I had caused much trouble to get to the island, the hosts Evening-san & Stipe-San welcomed to me with lovely smile.
The terrible earthquake and Tsunami hit East ern Japan and we have been still experiencing aftershocks and lots of problem like the radiation.
Then I have started thinking about making the most of my life and what is the best quality of live. Somehow I reached their website and decided to go there.
Their small house was simple, but cozy,clean and comfortable.
I found my dream garden there, it was the greatest moment to take a nap in the hammock while hearing bees which was visiting wild lavender for nectar, and the smell was great.
The courese I took provided only Morning Yoga, but Evening-san led to me a new world.
After the class, I felt very energetic and also completly calm at the same time.
Her help and advise was not too much, but very accurate.
Stipe san prepared amazing great organic meals. I loved the fresh vegitalian meals and his taste.
They took me the amazing secret place which is like tourists never reach by themselves.
I was able to have much enough time to explore the island, to read a book from cover to cover on the beach and ofcoure to swim in the beautiful Adrian sea.
Everything was the great moment and I learned what is the quality of life.
Lavenders and some herbs from their own garden still remind me of the beatiful moment at my house in Tokyo.

I have spent 2 weeks at Suncokret in Dol on Hvar, Croatia and discovered myself on a great way. I did the Lifepath Workshop and explored my life/person on a different way as I did so far. Evening, who is the yoga teacher and workshop leader, is very dedicated to her work and took the needed time and even more to discuss with me all the questions I had being able to find a way through the seminar. She took care of me as I got sick there and asked me to call her if I need something.

The place where the retreat is located is calm and full of good energy. Early in the mornings - I am not an early morning person at all - a 2 hrs yoga session took place. The morning class was usually on the terrace of the retreat buildings and the evening class (1 hr) somewhere in the nature or abandoned places. I did not have much yoga experiences and selected Suncokret mostly because of the workshop but the exercises and meditations were very well explained and I enjoyed them. The selected yoga places are picturesque and just beautiful.

Stipe, who prepared the great vegatarian food and was the driver to the different towns on the island, had as well always a helping hand. I usually love to eat meat but the vegetarian food varied and was delicious.

I spend the most days with Evening because of the workshop or on the beach reading, writing or just swimming in the cristal clear water. The beaches we have been shown were not crowded and clean.

I can recommend this retreat to everybody who wants to gain some energy, to center, practise some yoga, meditate and just enjoy a calm location. The hosts are very hospitably, helpful and very nice people.

In freezing norway we have lived through the coldest, wettest and most terrible summer ever. Looking through my fb pictures from last summer, at the Suncokret retreat, memories cam back...
I was a single mum, stressed, loaded in work, housekeeping, school meetings and charity work in my community, close to burnout. Then i found this haven on earth! I found what i was looking for, and what i needed - a quiet room of my own!. I came to this lovely monastery- like place, simply made fore meditation and contemplation, and meet some lovely and caring people. Close to the nature, the pets and to my own mind, i finally was able to let loads of stress and worries go. I woke up to beautiful music, and after the morning yoga i was served healthy and organic breakfast.
Afterwords Stipe and Evening (the owners) took us to all the beautiful places on Hvar, (whom i would not have found my self). It was fantastic to relax on the beach, swim in the clear blue sea and to have a coffee and a small meal at a taverna. For The afternoon yoga session we were taken to places not many tourist have excess to. Back at the retreat the dinner was ready. I stayed for 2 weeks and the menu was never repeated! it was tasty and delicious, there and then i converted to be a vegetarian! Fore these to weeks i did`t have to think about what, and when to et, where and with whom i would go, what to do and and how to do it.
I felt soaked in luxury for 14 days! A room of my own.

Having not much yoga experience this was perfect as Evening, the teacher was able to tailor the classes to match our abilities not only that but she gave great insight into the true and pure meaning of yoga inspiring me to further my yoga practices and continue my journey :) Stipe, the cook and driver prepared absolutely delicious food picked fresh from their own garden, truly organic and took us each day to a new town to explore! This is the perfect place to get back in touch with nature and yourself and really calm the body, mind and soul! I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to experience the authentic Croatia and begin their own inward journey. Thank you Evening and Stipe for a pure and beautiful experience :)