Karen has kept me busy with yoga, and socializing with her friends. The weight I had lost in Rishkesh has crept back up with all the good food in Goa. And all the beer I have been drinking, yummy! I discovered a Danish beer called Tuborg. It's cheap, good and cold!
Today we lounged around the beach in Morgim. It seems the area has slowed down a little with all of the Russian and India tourists. We had lunch at La Plague, a wonderful French restaurant. Since we had been on the beach, neither of us had much rupees and we scrounged to pay the bill. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough to leave a tip! My budget is a bit out of line with all the expensive dinners, but thankfully I haven't had to pay a hotel bill. Although, had I been paying for a hotel, my stay would have been only a few days instead of a month.
My highlight has been to see Prem Joshua & Band at an outdoor venue!
Google his name, my link doesn't work. The evening was lovely and the moon almost full. The music, world infusion. Prem Joshua played the sitar, flute, and saxophone. He had an electric guitar player, a drummer who played contemporary as well as the India tabla drums. There was a keyboard artist and an Indian singer. Her voice was divine! They also had a dancer in various costumes who did improv contemporary with a bit of a classic Indian and Asian style. All of this for about $10!
Another highlight is my friend from Delhi returned to see me. He took me on an over night trip to the south of Goa. I loved the beaches in that area because they were massive, the sand so white, the water smooth and silky and there was very few people! We walked the beach at night and the full moon was our flash light. It was very romantic, and the fool I am, really enjoyed this! We had a nice dinner and wonderful relaxing lunch. He of course loves my massages. I think this keeps him coming back for more of me!
I also saw the Aussie again. He went away for a few days to tour another part of India. He is nice to me. But frankly I got a bit bored with him and sexually he was too intense and demanding for me and where I want to be right now. He took me to a nice dinner, and I just wanted to relax and visit afterwards and he just pounced on me like a tom cat. Unlike my older Delhi friend who is a true gentleman, and my companion. We talk about everything and visit for hours! I feel like the 50-year old virgin! My one year of traveling has brought little romance. I guess I am looking more for a companion than a quick roll in the hay.
My friend is trying to get me to start a massage business here in Goa. I am giving it some thought. I know I could do well here, but it is a matter of staying low profile enough or getting the correct working/business papers which could be difficult and problematic to obtain.
I now only have 2-full days left in India and I'm sad!
Showing posts with label India travel blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India travel blog. Show all posts
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Friday, November 25, 2011
Tushita Experience
The 8-day retreat on Buddhism was an awesome experience, as all of my travels through India have been. The silence part was easier than expected. We did get to meet in daily 1-hour discussion groups to talk about various aspects of Buddhism, and we could ask the teacher questions. Our teacher, an American who moved to India 40-years ago as a hippie. He never left! He learned Buddhism, became a monk, left the monkhood to get married, and now is divorced. Quite an interesting fellow! He was always kidding about sex, drugs and rock & roll. It was interesting to hear his personal stories about the Dalai Lama, before he won the Nobel Peace Prize. So even though I did not get to hear the Dalai Lama speak, I still have satisfied. This was one "to do" thing on my long bucket list!
We had 38-people in the class (a small one for Tushita)from ll over the world and ages 18-70 years old! I was impressed with the young ones who were part of a youth group on a gap year between high school and college.
I did not understand all the profoundness of Buddhism,and they talked a lot about suffering. I think mostly it's about suffering in your own mind. But I do feel connected about the "compassion" to others aspect of it. Emptiness is form, form is emptiness". It took me a few days to figure out what that was all about. Everything in life is interdependent and impermanent.
We were all given jobs around the monastery. My job was to ring the "gong" in 5-places, 3-times each around the monastery. Starting at 6 am for a wake-up call and then the other two times were for class sessions. I had fun with it, gonged with a smile, enthusiasm, and took my job seriously! I really tried to make the gong sound pretty. Several people came up to me the last day of class when we could talk and thanked me for waking them up every morning!
I left with a better impression, appreciation and understanding of the Tibetans and their plight. We got to meet a pretty famous lama and oracle. He talked to our small group during our discussion time. We also had a re-incarnated llama toddler staying with us. He would see me and say "ding, ding"! The nuns were a bit talkative around the toddler and the staff apologized as it is suppose to be silent there for everyone. Lama means teacher. Dalai means "ocean of wisdom". Our timing was also during a special Buddhist holiday so I attended one of their ceremonies in the gompa, a temple. I didn't understand a dam So I left and thought, I'll watch it from the outside looking in. Shortly after I left, everybody got a bag of goodies, with food. I wanted to go back in and grab a bag, as dinner was pretty minimal that night. But I thought it would be pretty rude to do so, so I went to bed hungry! n thing and it was too loud and intense for me with all the chanting. I'm glad I went for the experience though.
Coming back to Rishikesh, I took an all night sleeper train. A lady from Quebec came with me as she was a bit frightened to take a train alone her first time in India. I slept okay, but 1st Class was not available, so it was jammed packed and dirty and we got tons of stares.
So I am back in Rishikesh and taking another class. This is my favorite thus far! It is a one month long yoga program. More later......... I'm starving!
We had 38-people in the class (a small one for Tushita)from ll over the world and ages 18-70 years old! I was impressed with the young ones who were part of a youth group on a gap year between high school and college.
I did not understand all the profoundness of Buddhism,and they talked a lot about suffering. I think mostly it's about suffering in your own mind. But I do feel connected about the "compassion" to others aspect of it. Emptiness is form, form is emptiness". It took me a few days to figure out what that was all about. Everything in life is interdependent and impermanent.
We were all given jobs around the monastery. My job was to ring the "gong" in 5-places, 3-times each around the monastery. Starting at 6 am for a wake-up call and then the other two times were for class sessions. I had fun with it, gonged with a smile, enthusiasm, and took my job seriously! I really tried to make the gong sound pretty. Several people came up to me the last day of class when we could talk and thanked me for waking them up every morning!
I left with a better impression, appreciation and understanding of the Tibetans and their plight. We got to meet a pretty famous lama and oracle. He talked to our small group during our discussion time. We also had a re-incarnated llama toddler staying with us. He would see me and say "ding, ding"! The nuns were a bit talkative around the toddler and the staff apologized as it is suppose to be silent there for everyone. Lama means teacher. Dalai means "ocean of wisdom". Our timing was also during a special Buddhist holiday so I attended one of their ceremonies in the gompa, a temple. I didn't understand a dam So I left and thought, I'll watch it from the outside looking in. Shortly after I left, everybody got a bag of goodies, with food. I wanted to go back in and grab a bag, as dinner was pretty minimal that night. But I thought it would be pretty rude to do so, so I went to bed hungry! n thing and it was too loud and intense for me with all the chanting. I'm glad I went for the experience though.
Coming back to Rishikesh, I took an all night sleeper train. A lady from Quebec came with me as she was a bit frightened to take a train alone her first time in India. I slept okay, but 1st Class was not available, so it was jammed packed and dirty and we got tons of stares.
So I am back in Rishikesh and taking another class. This is my favorite thus far! It is a one month long yoga program. More later......... I'm starving!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Bigtime Splurge
I splurged the last few days and have stayed at one of the top spa destination resorts in the world. I had always wanted to stay at Ananda of the Himalayas. I have totally blown my budget for the month and will now live like a pauper the next 10-days. I had a couple of nice spa treatment including a Tibetan Ku Nye Massage, using warmed tiny salt bolstices. An Ayurveda Heart Chakra opener using hot oil poured into a wheat gram reservoir on the chest. I should feel loved now! Hehe I also enjoyed a Kudalini Back Massage complete with a full body scrub using essential oils of black pepper, ginger and cardamom. The kundalini is an esoteric form of energy located at the base of the spine. One she is awakened…………..look out!
I had a lovely room overlooking the town of Rishikesh and the Ganges River! I enjoyed two long baths in an oversized tub. This is only my second bath in India. Usually I use a 5-gallon bucket and a dipper cup to get cleaned.
What I liked he best is everyone is given white pajamas, a long cotton kurta top and matching pants. So there is no pretension, everyone looks the same. Nice to wear your PJ’s to dinner! I’ve gotten a little sick due to the rich food, a bit of alcohol and strong coffee. I had an egg sandwich three mornings in a row. I miss my eggs but am still remaining vegetarian other than eggs and cheese.
An American lady I met at my 21-day class came up and spent the day with me before she was off by train to Delhi then a flight to Goa. I’ll see here there in a few weeks. She has lived in India for 40-years.
Checking out later today and staying at a very cheap guest house. What a difference a day makes!
I had a lovely room overlooking the town of Rishikesh and the Ganges River! I enjoyed two long baths in an oversized tub. This is only my second bath in India. Usually I use a 5-gallon bucket and a dipper cup to get cleaned.
What I liked he best is everyone is given white pajamas, a long cotton kurta top and matching pants. So there is no pretension, everyone looks the same. Nice to wear your PJ’s to dinner! I’ve gotten a little sick due to the rich food, a bit of alcohol and strong coffee. I had an egg sandwich three mornings in a row. I miss my eggs but am still remaining vegetarian other than eggs and cheese.
An American lady I met at my 21-day class came up and spent the day with me before she was off by train to Delhi then a flight to Goa. I’ll see here there in a few weeks. She has lived in India for 40-years.
Checking out later today and staying at a very cheap guest house. What a difference a day makes!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Rishikesh, famous for the Beatles
I spent five exciting days in Delhi. Well on the most part it was exciting. I did take a few days to recover from the jetlag. My friend Mash, an Indian I have known since 2005 met me in Delhi. We had met each other in Nepal on my around the world trip. I saw him again in 2007 in Kerala and we have stayed in contact via Skype frequently. We had initially planned to take a train to Rishikesh, but took had his private car instead. It was a colorful 7-hours to get here. I was amazed with the number of high rise apartment buildings under construction outside of Delhi. I noticed hundreds of projects. It reminded me of Dubai back in 2008.
Rishikesh is considered the Gateway to the Himalayas and the yoga capital of the world. You can’t even get an egg here. So gone are the days of bacon and eggs for breakfast. I am becoming a vegetarian quickly. I stayed at one hotel, which was not up to my standards. I could have lived with the room, but the Ayurveda Spa treatments were not good and in a clean enough environment for my tastes. So I moved to the lovely Great Ganga Hotel. It’s a moderate hotel, but the service and attitude of the guest is superb. I had arranged to get 7-days of spa treatments. Another last hoorah before I enter the ashram. I’ve been here and have gone through all the treatments. A combination of Ayurveda and Western spa stuff. On the most part, it was very nice and the price was extremely reasonable. She only burned me with hot oil twice! Hehe. I loved being pampered and feeling like a princess. The Turkish Hammam was great and just about every inch of me got cleaned, scrubbed and massaged. I’m treated like a VIP here. Not sure if it is because my friend Mash, who is in the travel biz, or because I am here so long and am getting so many spa treatments. The staff calls me the Spa Doctor!
The hotel asked if I could write them feedback on my treatments and experience. So….. in my anal ways I give them a full 5-page typed report. I would like to get in the International Spa Consulting business someday, so maybe this is a start for me. I think they are interested, but their budget is lacking at this time because of the world economy.
Even here at this moderate hotel, the electricity and cable goes out frequently. And we haven’t even had rain in a couple of days. When it does rain the thunder is deafening! It’s loud, scary and exciting!
Rishikesh is famous because the Beatles were here in the 60’s. I think their album White Lightening was inspired by their stay here. They also learned transcendental meditation, which I hope to learn. One of Mash’s clients, an American living in India for 9-years is part of this group who teaches this form of meditation. Google transcendental meditation and you’ll see a lot of info in it.
I have stayed in my room a lot because of the heat and humidity and some rain. Every time I go out I turn into a hot sweaty mess. I lived in the desert of Colorado and New Mexico for the last 25-years, so it will take me some time to adjust to the humidity.
I met a young professional girl from Vancouver of Vietnamese heritage. She has traveled for 3-weeks alone through India and was very lonely. We had breakfast, a yoga class and dinner together before she left town. We had the Nazi Yoga instructor from Japan who nearly knocked me off my feet by correcting ones of my poses.
Every time I take a walk I have to dodge all sorts of people, animals and vehicles. And have to remember to look the opposite way of how I know! Yes the British had a huge influence here. Everyone stares at me; I swear it is not my imagination. But it is in a friendly way if you smile back at them. The dogs seem happier here than in Guatemala. I am pleasantly surprised. There seems to be fewer beggars here than I remember from my past travels to India. People touch me just because I look different, I guess. Many say Namaste, hold their hands in prayer form and bow.
I love to walk along the Ganges River, they call it Ganga! I get dizzy watching the flow. It is dangerously swift. The religious pilgrimages’ here are fascinating. The music during prayer time is mesmerizing as I hear it echoing from across the river. The tide is unusually high today. Some of the steps leading down to the river are flooded. The water is extra muddy. I haven’t seen much rubbish or any dead bodies floating in the river, yet.
The monkeys have been aggressive. At first I was fascinated with them, but now I am a tad afraid. My spa attendant was attacked by two of them while leaving work and had to get 5-shots. A monkey jumped on the Vietnamese ladies back while we were putting on our shoes after yoga. She screamed, and the monkey jumped down and looked so surprised.
It’s my last night to be bad…………I smuggled a bottle of vodka here. It is forbidden to sell alcohol in Rishikesh. I’m having a couple of Vodka and tonics in my room! My friend Mash came to visit me. It’s a tradition for us. I brought a bottle of duty free Absolut Vodka in Nepal and we drank a few V&T’s in the room when we first met. He’s pretty healthy and only has vodka with me. I’ll worry about being healthy tomorrow when I am off to the ashram. I’ll have no internet or TV and will be living a simple and basic life. Gawd, I hope I have hot water and get a room to my self. I bought some of the traditional hippie clothing, so I should fit right in now. Maybe I won’t get so many stares. Nah, it’s the fair skin and blond hair.
Rishikesh is considered the Gateway to the Himalayas and the yoga capital of the world. You can’t even get an egg here. So gone are the days of bacon and eggs for breakfast. I am becoming a vegetarian quickly. I stayed at one hotel, which was not up to my standards. I could have lived with the room, but the Ayurveda Spa treatments were not good and in a clean enough environment for my tastes. So I moved to the lovely Great Ganga Hotel. It’s a moderate hotel, but the service and attitude of the guest is superb. I had arranged to get 7-days of spa treatments. Another last hoorah before I enter the ashram. I’ve been here and have gone through all the treatments. A combination of Ayurveda and Western spa stuff. On the most part, it was very nice and the price was extremely reasonable. She only burned me with hot oil twice! Hehe. I loved being pampered and feeling like a princess. The Turkish Hammam was great and just about every inch of me got cleaned, scrubbed and massaged. I’m treated like a VIP here. Not sure if it is because my friend Mash, who is in the travel biz, or because I am here so long and am getting so many spa treatments. The staff calls me the Spa Doctor!
The hotel asked if I could write them feedback on my treatments and experience. So….. in my anal ways I give them a full 5-page typed report. I would like to get in the International Spa Consulting business someday, so maybe this is a start for me. I think they are interested, but their budget is lacking at this time because of the world economy.
Even here at this moderate hotel, the electricity and cable goes out frequently. And we haven’t even had rain in a couple of days. When it does rain the thunder is deafening! It’s loud, scary and exciting!
Rishikesh is famous because the Beatles were here in the 60’s. I think their album White Lightening was inspired by their stay here. They also learned transcendental meditation, which I hope to learn. One of Mash’s clients, an American living in India for 9-years is part of this group who teaches this form of meditation. Google transcendental meditation and you’ll see a lot of info in it.
I have stayed in my room a lot because of the heat and humidity and some rain. Every time I go out I turn into a hot sweaty mess. I lived in the desert of Colorado and New Mexico for the last 25-years, so it will take me some time to adjust to the humidity.
I met a young professional girl from Vancouver of Vietnamese heritage. She has traveled for 3-weeks alone through India and was very lonely. We had breakfast, a yoga class and dinner together before she left town. We had the Nazi Yoga instructor from Japan who nearly knocked me off my feet by correcting ones of my poses.
Every time I take a walk I have to dodge all sorts of people, animals and vehicles. And have to remember to look the opposite way of how I know! Yes the British had a huge influence here. Everyone stares at me; I swear it is not my imagination. But it is in a friendly way if you smile back at them. The dogs seem happier here than in Guatemala. I am pleasantly surprised. There seems to be fewer beggars here than I remember from my past travels to India. People touch me just because I look different, I guess. Many say Namaste, hold their hands in prayer form and bow.
I love to walk along the Ganges River, they call it Ganga! I get dizzy watching the flow. It is dangerously swift. The religious pilgrimages’ here are fascinating. The music during prayer time is mesmerizing as I hear it echoing from across the river. The tide is unusually high today. Some of the steps leading down to the river are flooded. The water is extra muddy. I haven’t seen much rubbish or any dead bodies floating in the river, yet.
The monkeys have been aggressive. At first I was fascinated with them, but now I am a tad afraid. My spa attendant was attacked by two of them while leaving work and had to get 5-shots. A monkey jumped on the Vietnamese ladies back while we were putting on our shoes after yoga. She screamed, and the monkey jumped down and looked so surprised.
It’s my last night to be bad…………I smuggled a bottle of vodka here. It is forbidden to sell alcohol in Rishikesh. I’m having a couple of Vodka and tonics in my room! My friend Mash came to visit me. It’s a tradition for us. I brought a bottle of duty free Absolut Vodka in Nepal and we drank a few V&T’s in the room when we first met. He’s pretty healthy and only has vodka with me. I’ll worry about being healthy tomorrow when I am off to the ashram. I’ll have no internet or TV and will be living a simple and basic life. Gawd, I hope I have hot water and get a room to my self. I bought some of the traditional hippie clothing, so I should fit right in now. Maybe I won’t get so many stares. Nah, it’s the fair skin and blond hair.
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