Woke up early to be picked up at 6 which actually turned out to be closer to 6:30. Having hardly slept the night before terrified that the activist would be picking me up on a motorbike or scooter. I sat listening on the stair as Trivandrum slowly became awake. The birds slowly started singing as soon as dawn broke, chiming in with the distant honking of rickshaws.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
4 am
At night, I often lie awake in the early morning hours, my body haunted by past lunchtimes. Under the whirl of the fan my hair scatters across my shoulders like scurrying animals and I pass hours drifting in and out of fitful slumber. The heat of the day soaked heavily into the evening air. Sometimes on the hottest days my body scatters rashes where it contacts each other and I lie through the night vulnerably with arms and legs spread widely on top of my sheets.
This is often when nothing can silence my thoughts. My body tired from hours of twisting and walking. My normal lullabies unappealing in the quiet early hours. Instead I lie in heat and silence thinking about monks and worshippers. Chanting their prayers and lighting incense. I think about that powerful devotion that pulls them from slumber.
I lie tangled in thoughts of you until the goosebumps rise on my body.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
This is often when nothing can silence my thoughts. My body tired from hours of twisting and walking. My normal lullabies unappealing in the quiet early hours. Instead I lie in heat and silence thinking about monks and worshippers. Chanting their prayers and lighting incense. I think about that powerful devotion that pulls them from slumber.
I lie tangled in thoughts of you until the goosebumps rise on my body.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Jan 31, 2011
So faced with doubt and fear I'm getting ready to leave the safety I've settled around. In the face of uncertainty I feel restless, pacing my routes over and over in my head. Always knowing on some level that I'll never feel ready. Feeling free and broken in the same exhalation, this too is how I feel when I'm in love.
It's been a relatively quiet week in India. I wrote my final exams, taught an hour long course and am now a yoga teacher. I celebrated by buying a 2 dollar teal shirt at the Big Bazaar and chocolate fudge-type cookies for my "family".
Before leaving the yoga center I was able to check out the neighboring "farm". I can't lie and say that it wasn't depressing. I found it sad to see a flock of ducks grazing garbage bags with no water for them to bathe in. I can say that the owners do really seem to love their animals. Here under the guava tree I was able to squeeze a little goat.
I was also fortunate enough to see laundry hung neatly at a traffic circle. I also learned that when women have their periods here they are only allowed to stay in one room and are not allowed to socialize. Interesting. They also do not have tampons here and the girls got a real kick out of seeing them. I never knew tampons were so interesting, the things I take for granted.
I was able to hang with beautiful Manju, who taught me how to cook one day! It was so nice having girl time. I saw her wedding saree and her wedding video, her jewelry and met her mother in-law. Customary for mother in-laws to live with one of her sons. It was pretty surreal to be chatting away with Manju and being offered juice and tea and virtually ignoring the poor lady. Manju and the mother in- law both seemed shocked when I offered to get her a drink and offered her some snacks.
Manju and I had a wonderful day cooking, mostly I watched and then ate. I find it interesting that Indian women do not use cutting boards, they cut everything by hand with this little finger protector so as to not lose a finger.
I also love Manju's spice rack.
This was our lunch that Manju whipped up in no time and the smells were pretty unreal!
The girls also took me to a palace which was pretty cool. It was a shame though because everything is just displayed, I touched weapons, furniture, bowls that were all relics. It was a far cry from Canadian museums where there is special temperatures, lights and guards to preserve the integrity of these fantastic old pieces. I thought of my friend Katie all day and wondered what she would think.
That being said us girls clowned around and had some fun. We made jokes about the "boob boards" which were like small oars with wooden breasts attached. These boob boards were a replicate of your breasts and you offered them to the Gods for bigger or smaller, or whatever your boob affliction may have been! I guess I'll have to get my boob board built when I get home and finally see about those C cups!
I played with the traditional dancers and made the girls join in.
I was also very honored to be invited to my friend Vishnu's house to meet his family. It was a two bedroom house with a wood stove and a huge woodshop out back. Vishnu's father is a carpenter. I have never seen more beautiful furniture in my life. Each piece hand carved with intricate designs and they all match. They were breathtaking. I was so humbled to meet his beautiful mom Oosha and she made us a fantastic supper and treated me like family! She gave me some of her bracelets and put a bindhi on my third eye (between the eyebrows is a chakra called ajna). I loved being at their house and being part of the family! I only wished that Oosha could have sat with me but because of her period she had to stay in the other room.
I've also collected my yoga stuff to send home and spent the evening sewing them into cloth bags! Yup, put them in a box and then sew them up into cloth and address them. I guess this prevents theft.
My last day tomorrow will be spent at the post office, scouting out the bus stop, stopping by the yoga center, packing and hanging with the crew. I leave for Kanyakumari Tuesday morning, about 2 hours South and it is the very tip of India. Then I'll start the very long climb North...lots of adventure awaits me. I feel so lucky to be here with these truly beautiful people.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
It's been a relatively quiet week in India. I wrote my final exams, taught an hour long course and am now a yoga teacher. I celebrated by buying a 2 dollar teal shirt at the Big Bazaar and chocolate fudge-type cookies for my "family".
Before leaving the yoga center I was able to check out the neighboring "farm". I can't lie and say that it wasn't depressing. I found it sad to see a flock of ducks grazing garbage bags with no water for them to bathe in. I can say that the owners do really seem to love their animals. Here under the guava tree I was able to squeeze a little goat.
I was also fortunate enough to see laundry hung neatly at a traffic circle. I also learned that when women have their periods here they are only allowed to stay in one room and are not allowed to socialize. Interesting. They also do not have tampons here and the girls got a real kick out of seeing them. I never knew tampons were so interesting, the things I take for granted.
I was able to hang with beautiful Manju, who taught me how to cook one day! It was so nice having girl time. I saw her wedding saree and her wedding video, her jewelry and met her mother in-law. Customary for mother in-laws to live with one of her sons. It was pretty surreal to be chatting away with Manju and being offered juice and tea and virtually ignoring the poor lady. Manju and the mother in- law both seemed shocked when I offered to get her a drink and offered her some snacks.
Manju and I had a wonderful day cooking, mostly I watched and then ate. I find it interesting that Indian women do not use cutting boards, they cut everything by hand with this little finger protector so as to not lose a finger.
I also love Manju's spice rack.
This was our lunch that Manju whipped up in no time and the smells were pretty unreal!
The girls also took me to a palace which was pretty cool. It was a shame though because everything is just displayed, I touched weapons, furniture, bowls that were all relics. It was a far cry from Canadian museums where there is special temperatures, lights and guards to preserve the integrity of these fantastic old pieces. I thought of my friend Katie all day and wondered what she would think.
That being said us girls clowned around and had some fun. We made jokes about the "boob boards" which were like small oars with wooden breasts attached. These boob boards were a replicate of your breasts and you offered them to the Gods for bigger or smaller, or whatever your boob affliction may have been! I guess I'll have to get my boob board built when I get home and finally see about those C cups!
I played with the traditional dancers and made the girls join in.
I was also very honored to be invited to my friend Vishnu's house to meet his family. It was a two bedroom house with a wood stove and a huge woodshop out back. Vishnu's father is a carpenter. I have never seen more beautiful furniture in my life. Each piece hand carved with intricate designs and they all match. They were breathtaking. I was so humbled to meet his beautiful mom Oosha and she made us a fantastic supper and treated me like family! She gave me some of her bracelets and put a bindhi on my third eye (between the eyebrows is a chakra called ajna). I loved being at their house and being part of the family! I only wished that Oosha could have sat with me but because of her period she had to stay in the other room.
I've also collected my yoga stuff to send home and spent the evening sewing them into cloth bags! Yup, put them in a box and then sew them up into cloth and address them. I guess this prevents theft.
My last day tomorrow will be spent at the post office, scouting out the bus stop, stopping by the yoga center, packing and hanging with the crew. I leave for Kanyakumari Tuesday morning, about 2 hours South and it is the very tip of India. Then I'll start the very long climb North...lots of adventure awaits me. I feel so lucky to be here with these truly beautiful people.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Week 4- just the start
I'm starting to think about my next location, thinking of climbing the west coast to Periyar to see tigers and elephants in the wild. There is also an elephant sanctuary with baby elephants you can wash and feed for a fee. It's quite a way away and at the base of the Ghats (mountain range). In between me and the elephants are beaches, 2 ashrams and some backwater places which sounds like a river network with lots and lots of birds and river dolphins!
For those of you looking at maps my course will look something like this: Trivandrum-Varkala-Kollam-Alleppey-Kottayam-Periyar.
After that I'll be heading through some serious yoga places, Mysore and Pune, on my way to Chennai. This is all subject to change.
This week started with a pretty lazy Saturday preparing for my exams, chanting, practical class, theory and history and biology and physiology. Nursing my darkening foot I spent Saturday close to home, doing laundry and then out for a quick lunch. Venturing down an unknown road brought me face to face with a Baskin Robbins! Weird. Still no McDonalds though so that's good.
Sunday was up early and off to Shamala's house for breakfast. After a lovely breakfast of putta we talked about boys, marriage, yoga and bracelets. She is 56 and has two girls, one in the UK and one in Dubai. Her husband Sham was there too watching Home Alone (in English with English subtitles). Shamala is a fellow yoga student at Santhi Yoga and a self admitting, "yoga-nut". I will really miss her.
Reshma met me at Spencer's after breakfast for juice and shopping. I love spending time with her. She told me that the juice guy, should never touch me. That he tries because he thinks all white women are item girls (this is either strippers or hookers) and I must be firm, make a face and leave. I'm not looking forward to using this. I may just avoid my juice place and bring my grape, pineapple, mango addiction elsewhere.
Now I'm at home, procrastinating so I don't have to study. I'm hoarse from chanting, tired from shopping and of course am craving juice! Sore foot elevated with a fridge full of morning leftovers and mangos I'm quietly observing the bald eagle perched high above me.
Our daily opening prayer.
Ashatho ma sat gamaya
Thamasoma jyortir gamaya
Mrityorma amritham gamaya
Om Santhi Santhi Santhi
Oh lord, lead me from untruth to truth, lead me from darkness to light, from death to immortality. Om peace, peace, peace.
Good night.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
For those of you looking at maps my course will look something like this: Trivandrum-Varkala-Kollam-Alleppey-Kottayam-Periyar.
After that I'll be heading through some serious yoga places, Mysore and Pune, on my way to Chennai. This is all subject to change.
This week started with a pretty lazy Saturday preparing for my exams, chanting, practical class, theory and history and biology and physiology. Nursing my darkening foot I spent Saturday close to home, doing laundry and then out for a quick lunch. Venturing down an unknown road brought me face to face with a Baskin Robbins! Weird. Still no McDonalds though so that's good.
Sunday was up early and off to Shamala's house for breakfast. After a lovely breakfast of putta we talked about boys, marriage, yoga and bracelets. She is 56 and has two girls, one in the UK and one in Dubai. Her husband Sham was there too watching Home Alone (in English with English subtitles). Shamala is a fellow yoga student at Santhi Yoga and a self admitting, "yoga-nut". I will really miss her.
Reshma met me at Spencer's after breakfast for juice and shopping. I love spending time with her. She told me that the juice guy, should never touch me. That he tries because he thinks all white women are item girls (this is either strippers or hookers) and I must be firm, make a face and leave. I'm not looking forward to using this. I may just avoid my juice place and bring my grape, pineapple, mango addiction elsewhere.
Now I'm at home, procrastinating so I don't have to study. I'm hoarse from chanting, tired from shopping and of course am craving juice! Sore foot elevated with a fridge full of morning leftovers and mangos I'm quietly observing the bald eagle perched high above me.
Our daily opening prayer.
Ashatho ma sat gamaya
Thamasoma jyortir gamaya
Mrityorma amritham gamaya
Om Santhi Santhi Santhi
Oh lord, lead me from untruth to truth, lead me from darkness to light, from death to immortality. Om peace, peace, peace.
Good night.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Week 3-Umma, Elephants and Scorpion
It's hard to imagine that I arrived in India almost a month ago. My voice laced with tears arriving at my current home. The first day afraid of the new sounds, smells, people and even water.
Battling through vast empires of emptiness, anxiously awaiting for an appropriate time to go to sleep so I could cry. Slowly, barely perceptible, even to me, the emptiness recedes. I am cognizant that some new facets have emerged in my character and am holding fast to old favorites. Every day I seem to overcome a previous fear and everyday my confidence grows just a little bit more.
I started off this week hitting up the biggest market in Trivandrum, Chalai. I arrived at the peak of the day, sweltering hot and packed with people. I really believe that the whole of Kerala's 3.6 billion people were all at the market! It was dizzying. There were people banging drums, selling flowers, incense, rice, every kind of fruit and vegetable, nuts and spices, textiles, shoes, purses and cosmetics. Sometimes all in one store! it seemed like everyone selling something noticed me, "Hey foreigner, check out my (insert anything here)! " I ended up fleeing the main drag of the market and getting lost among the smaller, quieter shops. It sure was an interesting experience, the first of many this week.
The following morning I woke up early 530 to get ready to go and check out one of India's highly revered Saints who goes by the moniker Amma (meaning Mother). Varshad and his mother picked me up and we headed to do puja (elaborate rituals and silent prayers) before meeting Amma.
We were seated in front of a plastic chair with a banana leaf. On this leaf were; a pot of oil and a wick, a ball of turmeric, an incense stick, a small bowl of something oily and a three leafed plant. Nervously I watched the puja unfold and tried to play along:)
It began with lighting the wick from the candles at the front of the alter. It was actually a very beautiful thing to witness as thousands of people lit their wicks and passed on the fire to their neighbours, all the while chanting Sandskrit verses. Then we all lit our incense and circled it three times around our faces. Then my favorite part, my instructions were, "build a snake out of the turmeric"! I began rolling the yellow ball and an elderly lady took it from my hands and said, "no,no snake" impatiently. She showed me her snake and pointed at my pathetic yellow serpent and said "bad". I proceeded to make a "snake" which was more like a bowl with a flat (cobra like?) back. Then while chanting we dipped the leaf (3 leaved one) in the oil and dripped it on the "snake". My snake promptly collapsed, to which my snake building guide just shook her head and continued chanting. Then we all got up to walk to the Siva Temple where they throw water on you and you get to throw your oily, shabbily made "snake" at the statue of Siva. It was a pretty good way to spend a morning.
When Amma came out I heard some people sobbing, I am assuming out of pleasure but it sure didn't sound fun. She came out and sang (beautifully) while the members of her congregation banged drums gently. It was all a very lovely experience.
Amma is known here as the hugging saint because she gives out darshans (blessings) in the forms of hugs. I lined up with thousands of people to get a hug from this mysterious lady. The process was a little disjointed, I was in the woman's line and I literally had an elderly Indian woman rest her crossed arms on my bum! It was the closest I have ever been to a stranger and I was not happy. However, trying to live everyday by, When in Rome.., off I went to the front of the line, elderly woman in tow. They (the cult, I'll explain later) wash your face as you pass between Amma's people (all white foreigners, dressed head to toe in white) on both sides. The check your hair for clips, wipe your face repeatedly and ask you your language. They also direct you to not hug her, just let her hug you. I won't lie, it was kind if creepy. I was trying not to be cynical and was even trying to sublimate my awkwardness with humor, apparently the Cult doesn't find me funny either. So I'm pushed at Amma when it's my turn and she hugs me and says something in my ear (I'm not supposed to repeat this as it's bad luck, couldn't even if I wanted to as I am sure it was in Malaylam). No sooner than I'm ripped from Amma's grasp the cult yells stage and push me towards the stage. Apparently, this is a HUGE honor and so I sit without direction or purpose on the stage. I try to talk with some of the cult and ask them what I should do on the stage the answer, always without inflection or eye contact, try to get close to Amma. Ummmm ok, I just hugged a stranger, threw a snake at a statue I think I'm done. I told the cult thank you but I'm leaving my spot for someone who will really appreciate it.
I'm supposed to go and stay at Amma's Ashram and am truthfully a little put off from the whole experience. I'm still unsure if it's the cynic in me showing, my lack of faith in Saints or my inability to grasp people's blind devotion to one person, that isn't themselves. Stay tuned.
My week at yoga was great. I am able to do scorpion unassisted, you should google it. I fell out of it on Thursday and smashed my left foot. I don't think it's broken but it sure is sore. I also taught my first class, 45 minutes and did really well. I'm proud of myself.
My weeks highlight was that on Friday morning I saw an elephant! The man was walking him like a dog down the street! I zoomed past him in the rickshaw elated and screaming elephant! The yoga people have told me I am elephant crazy! It was so beautiful and her pretty face was speckled with pink spots, divine!
I also rescued a massive slug from the bathroom and a cockroach the size of a mouse from my room. I can't wait to see what this week brings!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Battling through vast empires of emptiness, anxiously awaiting for an appropriate time to go to sleep so I could cry. Slowly, barely perceptible, even to me, the emptiness recedes. I am cognizant that some new facets have emerged in my character and am holding fast to old favorites. Every day I seem to overcome a previous fear and everyday my confidence grows just a little bit more.
I started off this week hitting up the biggest market in Trivandrum, Chalai. I arrived at the peak of the day, sweltering hot and packed with people. I really believe that the whole of Kerala's 3.6 billion people were all at the market! It was dizzying. There were people banging drums, selling flowers, incense, rice, every kind of fruit and vegetable, nuts and spices, textiles, shoes, purses and cosmetics. Sometimes all in one store! it seemed like everyone selling something noticed me, "Hey foreigner, check out my (insert anything here)! " I ended up fleeing the main drag of the market and getting lost among the smaller, quieter shops. It sure was an interesting experience, the first of many this week.
The following morning I woke up early 530 to get ready to go and check out one of India's highly revered Saints who goes by the moniker Amma (meaning Mother). Varshad and his mother picked me up and we headed to do puja (elaborate rituals and silent prayers) before meeting Amma.
We were seated in front of a plastic chair with a banana leaf. On this leaf were; a pot of oil and a wick, a ball of turmeric, an incense stick, a small bowl of something oily and a three leafed plant. Nervously I watched the puja unfold and tried to play along:)
It began with lighting the wick from the candles at the front of the alter. It was actually a very beautiful thing to witness as thousands of people lit their wicks and passed on the fire to their neighbours, all the while chanting Sandskrit verses. Then we all lit our incense and circled it three times around our faces. Then my favorite part, my instructions were, "build a snake out of the turmeric"! I began rolling the yellow ball and an elderly lady took it from my hands and said, "no,no snake" impatiently. She showed me her snake and pointed at my pathetic yellow serpent and said "bad". I proceeded to make a "snake" which was more like a bowl with a flat (cobra like?) back. Then while chanting we dipped the leaf (3 leaved one) in the oil and dripped it on the "snake". My snake promptly collapsed, to which my snake building guide just shook her head and continued chanting. Then we all got up to walk to the Siva Temple where they throw water on you and you get to throw your oily, shabbily made "snake" at the statue of Siva. It was a pretty good way to spend a morning.
When Amma came out I heard some people sobbing, I am assuming out of pleasure but it sure didn't sound fun. She came out and sang (beautifully) while the members of her congregation banged drums gently. It was all a very lovely experience.
Amma is known here as the hugging saint because she gives out darshans (blessings) in the forms of hugs. I lined up with thousands of people to get a hug from this mysterious lady. The process was a little disjointed, I was in the woman's line and I literally had an elderly Indian woman rest her crossed arms on my bum! It was the closest I have ever been to a stranger and I was not happy. However, trying to live everyday by, When in Rome.., off I went to the front of the line, elderly woman in tow. They (the cult, I'll explain later) wash your face as you pass between Amma's people (all white foreigners, dressed head to toe in white) on both sides. The check your hair for clips, wipe your face repeatedly and ask you your language. They also direct you to not hug her, just let her hug you. I won't lie, it was kind if creepy. I was trying not to be cynical and was even trying to sublimate my awkwardness with humor, apparently the Cult doesn't find me funny either. So I'm pushed at Amma when it's my turn and she hugs me and says something in my ear (I'm not supposed to repeat this as it's bad luck, couldn't even if I wanted to as I am sure it was in Malaylam). No sooner than I'm ripped from Amma's grasp the cult yells stage and push me towards the stage. Apparently, this is a HUGE honor and so I sit without direction or purpose on the stage. I try to talk with some of the cult and ask them what I should do on the stage the answer, always without inflection or eye contact, try to get close to Amma. Ummmm ok, I just hugged a stranger, threw a snake at a statue I think I'm done. I told the cult thank you but I'm leaving my spot for someone who will really appreciate it.
I'm supposed to go and stay at Amma's Ashram and am truthfully a little put off from the whole experience. I'm still unsure if it's the cynic in me showing, my lack of faith in Saints or my inability to grasp people's blind devotion to one person, that isn't themselves. Stay tuned.
My week at yoga was great. I am able to do scorpion unassisted, you should google it. I fell out of it on Thursday and smashed my left foot. I don't think it's broken but it sure is sore. I also taught my first class, 45 minutes and did really well. I'm proud of myself.
My weeks highlight was that on Friday morning I saw an elephant! The man was walking him like a dog down the street! I zoomed past him in the rickshaw elated and screaming elephant! The yoga people have told me I am elephant crazy! It was so beautiful and her pretty face was speckled with pink spots, divine!
I also rescued a massive slug from the bathroom and a cockroach the size of a mouse from my room. I can't wait to see what this week brings!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Missing browndog
I'm aching for something familiar. Anything. I know I am incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity but it feels like a weight pushing down on my chest sometimes.
I knew that I'd have some tough nights ahead of me. I wish I could just fall asleep with my face buried in brown.
I am remembering parts about myself. Like getting to know an old friend over again. Remembering who I was before it was all turned upside down me. Before my coping methods began to fail me.
In my practice, my philosophy master said that in this life we are battling our karmic actions from a previous life. The only thing we can do when we struggle and suffer is to try to be a better person than our suffering. To love no matter who or what it is. Love it because it's a part of you, you are the only person who can change it for your next life.
But for just the next few minutes I want to just cry. Wish and ache for a little bit of strength to just sit in this moment and know that there is some greater purpose for my suffering.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I knew that I'd have some tough nights ahead of me. I wish I could just fall asleep with my face buried in brown.
I am remembering parts about myself. Like getting to know an old friend over again. Remembering who I was before it was all turned upside down me. Before my coping methods began to fail me.
In my practice, my philosophy master said that in this life we are battling our karmic actions from a previous life. The only thing we can do when we struggle and suffer is to try to be a better person than our suffering. To love no matter who or what it is. Love it because it's a part of you, you are the only person who can change it for your next life.
But for just the next few minutes I want to just cry. Wish and ache for a little bit of strength to just sit in this moment and know that there is some greater purpose for my suffering.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Week 2 done
I can't believe that I'll be starting my third week here. It seems like I just arrived. The Russian, affectionately known as KGB, is leaving tomorrow and I think it's good for him. I'm a little sad because we often eat together and now I'll be on my own for supper. Tonight I ate alone, with no armor just sat and watched the busy street. It was challenging for me. I figure I'll be eating alone a lot in the coming months so I may as well learn to love it. I don't yet.
My friend Vishnu was here yesterday. He is 19 and a very sweet and gentle soul. He was telling me about all the hazing (called ragging here) that goes on at his College. He has been pushed in mud puddles and the other day they were all punched in the genitals. I was so upset by this, I guess I expect more from 20 year olds, especially in such a gentle society. The idea that someone could hurt this precious kid makes me so upset. Ragging here is illegal but he is unable to do anything about it because the beatings will get worse. I'm really hoping that karma will act quickly in this case.
I met another Indian guy today. A long haired, earring wearing guy wearing a shirt that said "Activist". I liked him immediately. There is a very special woman here tomorrow, her name is Umma (mother) and she is a living Saint. She is known as the hugging Saint and she has an Ashram here in Trivandrum. So the activist and his Mother and I are going to check it out. It is a VERY special opportunity for me and I'm really looking forward to seeing her.
I took a few pictures of my rickshaw rides to my yoga center. Sorry they aren't the best but keep in mind I'm trying not to die while I take these and trying not to drop my phone.
Don't you just love that the child has no helmet! I don't even want to tell you that they are going the wrong way in traffic.
This is how most of the ladies ride. It would be rude to straddle the bike. I think I'd be white knuckling his waist but as you can see she isn't even holding on. I don't know how she can be so relaxed.
This is a little river that I go over everyday. I'm guessing when I head a little further North into the backwaters I'll see lots more of this kind of thing. I think it's pretty lovely.
The other thing I learnt in the last few weeks was that people that own cows wash them every day. I often see them gleaming and grazing in the sun. I love that they have baths everyday.
I've also been trying to think of gone recipes that I can make for my friends. This is doubly challenging because most places don't have ovens, including my home stay. I was excited to make Rice Crispy squares until I realized Indian people have no idea what marshmallows are. There is a very limited supply of foreign food. I can only think of garlic mash potatoes and egg salad (possibly without mayo). I made Haystacks thanks to Andrea and they turned out pretty well. Any ideas will be well received.
Hope you are all healthy, and happy. I miss you all. I'm less lonely today as I found a fantastic bookstore!
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
My friend Vishnu was here yesterday. He is 19 and a very sweet and gentle soul. He was telling me about all the hazing (called ragging here) that goes on at his College. He has been pushed in mud puddles and the other day they were all punched in the genitals. I was so upset by this, I guess I expect more from 20 year olds, especially in such a gentle society. The idea that someone could hurt this precious kid makes me so upset. Ragging here is illegal but he is unable to do anything about it because the beatings will get worse. I'm really hoping that karma will act quickly in this case.
I met another Indian guy today. A long haired, earring wearing guy wearing a shirt that said "Activist". I liked him immediately. There is a very special woman here tomorrow, her name is Umma (mother) and she is a living Saint. She is known as the hugging Saint and she has an Ashram here in Trivandrum. So the activist and his Mother and I are going to check it out. It is a VERY special opportunity for me and I'm really looking forward to seeing her.
I took a few pictures of my rickshaw rides to my yoga center. Sorry they aren't the best but keep in mind I'm trying not to die while I take these and trying not to drop my phone.
Don't you just love that the child has no helmet! I don't even want to tell you that they are going the wrong way in traffic.
This is how most of the ladies ride. It would be rude to straddle the bike. I think I'd be white knuckling his waist but as you can see she isn't even holding on. I don't know how she can be so relaxed.
This is a little river that I go over everyday. I'm guessing when I head a little further North into the backwaters I'll see lots more of this kind of thing. I think it's pretty lovely.
The other thing I learnt in the last few weeks was that people that own cows wash them every day. I often see them gleaming and grazing in the sun. I love that they have baths everyday.
I've also been trying to think of gone recipes that I can make for my friends. This is doubly challenging because most places don't have ovens, including my home stay. I was excited to make Rice Crispy squares until I realized Indian people have no idea what marshmallows are. There is a very limited supply of foreign food. I can only think of garlic mash potatoes and egg salad (possibly without mayo). I made Haystacks thanks to Andrea and they turned out pretty well. Any ideas will be well received.
Hope you are all healthy, and happy. I miss you all. I'm less lonely today as I found a fantastic bookstore!
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Observations
Observations about Kerala.
1. Indian people shake their head when talking and for the 1st week I couldn't understand why they were agreeing with me and disagreeing with me.
2. They honk the horn incessantly.
3. My life flashes before my eyes everytime I'm crossing a road or in a rickshaw. It's very normal to pass anywhere, on either side of the road.
4. They have a pizza joint but on their pizzas you have hot chillis, paneer and tandoori spices. And it's very good.
5. Women are really, really respected here. But apparently foreigners are fair game to harass because we are slutty.
6. Their "aquarium show" is like my pet store. Also the biggest stall at the aquarium was selling deep fried fish to snack on, interesting.
7. They feed crows a meal a year because they believe it's their ancestors returning to them.
8. Crows, neighbours dogs and cats wake me every morning.
9. They get very uncomfortable when people ask, "where are all the cobras?"
10. My yoga master/ philosophy teacher rides a unicorn motorcycle and loves jingle bells. He actually recorded me singing it so he could practice it later. He threatens me by asking, "Do you know Silent Night?"
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
1. Indian people shake their head when talking and for the 1st week I couldn't understand why they were agreeing with me and disagreeing with me.
2. They honk the horn incessantly.
3. My life flashes before my eyes everytime I'm crossing a road or in a rickshaw. It's very normal to pass anywhere, on either side of the road.
4. They have a pizza joint but on their pizzas you have hot chillis, paneer and tandoori spices. And it's very good.
5. Women are really, really respected here. But apparently foreigners are fair game to harass because we are slutty.
6. Their "aquarium show" is like my pet store. Also the biggest stall at the aquarium was selling deep fried fish to snack on, interesting.
7. They feed crows a meal a year because they believe it's their ancestors returning to them.
8. Crows, neighbours dogs and cats wake me every morning.
9. They get very uncomfortable when people ask, "where are all the cobras?"
10. My yoga master/ philosophy teacher rides a unicorn motorcycle and loves jingle bells. He actually recorded me singing it so he could practice it later. He threatens me by asking, "Do you know Silent Night?"
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Week 1 Santhi Yoga
I started out the week eager to dive into Indian Philosophy and challenging poses and Santhi Yoga did not disappoint.
The rickshaw ride on the way to the studio was one of the scariest drives if my life. The Indian people here don't stay on one side of the street, they honk as warning and the rest is left up to their swerving abilities. It certainly was not how I was hoping to start out my inner journey. However as the week ventured on I became accustomed to near death misses with pedestrians, rickshaws, chickens and motorcycles.
Once we arrived I was ushered inside and blessed with traditional saffron on my third eye. It was all pretty fantastic. Then we sat down to sing some prayers to Ganesh and Patanjali to lead us from darkness to lightness. Then I was told that I would need to sing a prayer in Sankrit. I'm not sure how familiar you are with this "language of the Gods" but you try singing this in front of people you don't know:
Ya Brachmaachyuta Shankara Prabhritibhihi
There are 5 verses and we sang 3 songs ALONE. That was tough but now I look forward to singing. They don't mind that I butcher their songs they just want me to sing. It's a nice feeling.
Then out to the studio we go.
Outside space where we sit and talk Chakras, Karma and Love. I really feel so lucky to be here with these teachers. They are so humble and interested in Canada. They love having me and have invited me to their houses, bring me foods I should try and offer to escort me to beaches, ashrams, zoos.
The food at the yoga center is also mind blowing. I took this without the rice because it looked so pretty.
I'm off to bed, yoga tomorrow and want to make sure I'm ready for action.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
The rickshaw ride on the way to the studio was one of the scariest drives if my life. The Indian people here don't stay on one side of the street, they honk as warning and the rest is left up to their swerving abilities. It certainly was not how I was hoping to start out my inner journey. However as the week ventured on I became accustomed to near death misses with pedestrians, rickshaws, chickens and motorcycles.
Once we arrived I was ushered inside and blessed with traditional saffron on my third eye. It was all pretty fantastic. Then we sat down to sing some prayers to Ganesh and Patanjali to lead us from darkness to lightness. Then I was told that I would need to sing a prayer in Sankrit. I'm not sure how familiar you are with this "language of the Gods" but you try singing this in front of people you don't know:
Ya Brachmaachyuta Shankara Prabhritibhihi
There are 5 verses and we sang 3 songs ALONE. That was tough but now I look forward to singing. They don't mind that I butcher their songs they just want me to sing. It's a nice feeling.
Then out to the studio we go.
Outside space where we sit and talk Chakras, Karma and Love. I really feel so lucky to be here with these teachers. They are so humble and interested in Canada. They love having me and have invited me to their houses, bring me foods I should try and offer to escort me to beaches, ashrams, zoos.
The food at the yoga center is also mind blowing. I took this without the rice because it looked so pretty.
I'm off to bed, yoga tomorrow and want to make sure I'm ready for action.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Kovalam and East Fort
Vishnu came to get me at 10 so just enough time for yoga and tea and we were off. We walked about a kilometer on MG Blvd to East Fort which I learned was a Hindu temple built by the last king of India. It has huge white walls and inside there is a large pond and two temples. Sadly, they are restoring the main temple so it was covered. There are lots of temples here for so many Gods. There is even a mouse/rat temple because Ganesh rode a mouse as transportation! In this temple rats rule and the priest even makes food for the rats. I told Vishnu that I would not like to see this temple. He, without even a moments hesitation said, "you are very right, only Hindus can enter this temple".
Mental note, I am not funny in India.
Off on the Kovalam bus we go. We snaked around to the outer edge of the city on the 1st class bus which is the same as a nice bus in Canada. Actually much nicer than buses in Canada because Indians are very polite. On the ride out I saw lots of poverty. Thatch huts and goats, chickens, dogs and the odd cat. It's like most other third world Countries I've been in so far. Makes me very grateful to have clean water, food everyday and a clean place to sleep.
We arrived at the beach and I'm in instant heaven. Long beaches with blotches of black sand surrounded by palm trees. Vishnu was so excited to show me the light house, I didn't want to disappoint him by telling him that I've seen lots of lighthouses.
I swam and Vishnu hung with my passport and camera. Lots of Indian men talk to me. I hate all the attention but was well warned that they like foreign women. Vishnu is such a little sweetie and gets very protective. Vishnu was actually a very protective God in Hindu culture so he is just living up to his namesake. I usually feel okay with just ignoring them or moving away. After a wonderful day I'm exhausted and off to get some Indian food. No idea what Vishnu ordered for me but it was outstanding. Coconut, vegetable curry of some kind. I bought Vishnu his supper and his bus ticket and with our bus tickets, papaya juices in Kovalam, supper in Trivandrum for both of us was about 6 dollars. Yoga starts tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Mental note, I am not funny in India.
Off on the Kovalam bus we go. We snaked around to the outer edge of the city on the 1st class bus which is the same as a nice bus in Canada. Actually much nicer than buses in Canada because Indians are very polite. On the ride out I saw lots of poverty. Thatch huts and goats, chickens, dogs and the odd cat. It's like most other third world Countries I've been in so far. Makes me very grateful to have clean water, food everyday and a clean place to sleep.
We arrived at the beach and I'm in instant heaven. Long beaches with blotches of black sand surrounded by palm trees. Vishnu was so excited to show me the light house, I didn't want to disappoint him by telling him that I've seen lots of lighthouses.
I swam and Vishnu hung with my passport and camera. Lots of Indian men talk to me. I hate all the attention but was well warned that they like foreign women. Vishnu is such a little sweetie and gets very protective. Vishnu was actually a very protective God in Hindu culture so he is just living up to his namesake. I usually feel okay with just ignoring them or moving away. After a wonderful day I'm exhausted and off to get some Indian food. No idea what Vishnu ordered for me but it was outstanding. Coconut, vegetable curry of some kind. I bought Vishnu his supper and his bus ticket and with our bus tickets, papaya juices in Kovalam, supper in Trivandrum for both of us was about 6 dollars. Yoga starts tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Russian tour
I was awake early, 430 local time and read my book with the hopes of drifting back to sleep. Eventually the sounds of India pulled me from my bed and I sat and had tea with "Ghandi Guy". He owns the home-stay where I am staying. He is an American builder, English teacher and all round nice guy. After 2 teas with Ghandi (He calls himself Ghandi guy, I actually don't know any other name for him), my new handsome Russian friend showed me the ropes at lunch. Damon is the kind of man who emits this wonderful positive energy. The waiter where we had lunch gave him his address and insisted on this photo.
We laughed the whole way through veggie rice. After we said good-bye to our waiter we roamed the streets drinking 100% pure pineapple juices, grape juices and chai tea. Damon speaks to everyone and follows his heart for every decision he makes. He is here for another month and is a teacher training student at Santhi Yoga along with me.
We walked through carpet shops, into schools, was shown rooms at hotels all because of Damon's easy going way. I think we will be great friends.
Did I mention he was on a mission to see Santa:) His next mission is to head to Varkala Beach to see wild dolphins. I'm looking forward to the day when his heart tells him it's dolphin time.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
We laughed the whole way through veggie rice. After we said good-bye to our waiter we roamed the streets drinking 100% pure pineapple juices, grape juices and chai tea. Damon speaks to everyone and follows his heart for every decision he makes. He is here for another month and is a teacher training student at Santhi Yoga along with me.
We walked through carpet shops, into schools, was shown rooms at hotels all because of Damon's easy going way. I think we will be great friends.
Did I mention he was on a mission to see Santa:) His next mission is to head to Varkala Beach to see wild dolphins. I'm looking forward to the day when his heart tells him it's dolphin time.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Trivandrum
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)