Road To Mysore

Yesterday was a much needed rest day. I still woke up at 6AM because it's my nature. I'm a morning person. Had breakfast, checked my mail and just hung out. It was a nice slow morning.

We later had lunch from 1PM to 4PM. I don't remember the last time I had lunch that long. It was a strange lunch because there we so many sections to it. I had a late breakfast so I wasn't very hungry. Lunch was at the Green Leaf and started with Sara, Vivian, Rema and I. Simon was there so we joined him. Sara and I started with soup, special naan and rice, Rema started with desert and Vivian had a thali and palak paneer. I wasn't planning on eating so much but since there was a lot of food I started trying everybody's food. Here in Mysore, we share each others food and nothing goes to waste. An hour later, Vincent arrives and join us. He had a thali and help finish the food that was already there. I think we were all full when Vincent suggested that we have desert. When it comes to desert, it's not difficult to convince Rema, Sara & I(I think we should all form sugarholic anonymous). Greenleaf has the best sundaes so chosing what to order always takes forever. By 3:30PM Rhonda and Kerri arrives and joines us. Rhonda was there to meet Vincent for some scooter lessons. She's planning on getting one. Lunch officially ended at 4PM. I never knew lunch could take so long.

After lunch we all went our seperate ways. Rema and Sara came with me to get my mobile phone. We went to 2 different carriers and when I settled on which phone to get the girl told us to wait 20 minutes because someone is bringing it over. In India, 20 minutes could mean 30 minutes or 2 hours. We decided to hangout for 30 minutes at the Cafe Day which is right above the Green Leaf restaurant. The Green Leaf, Cafe Day and the Reliance Webworld(internet) are all in the same building in Kalidasa Road(20 minutes from the shala walking) and is a major yoga student hangout area. I think Cafe Day has very good coffee and pastries. Reliance Webworld has one of fastest internet connections and has airconditioning too(a luxury and rare in Mysore). When we went back to the mobile phone place, the phone was still not there. She told me there was a lot of traffic. Mysore is not that big so I couldn't figured out why it would take so long. I was asked her if it was coming from Bangalore(sarcasm). She was so sweet and just smiled. We waited another 30 minutes before the phone finally arrived. After all was said and done, it cost me 4,600 ruppees($100) for a mobile phone with 900 minutes, good for 2 months and it took two hours to get my phone. Whether you like it or not, India teaches you how to slow down and be patient(not one of my better virtues).

The other day, I bought the ayurvedic oil for my knee. I showed it to Sharath and he said it was the wrong oil. I had to go back and get the right one. I finally got it but was too tired to place any on my knee last night. My knee is not bothering me as much anymore and it feels better but they recommend that you use it daily.

This morning's led class was at 5AM. I first woke up at 3:30AM and since it was still early I decided to just lay in bed. I later woke up at 4:40AM and by then I was freaking out. I rushed to the shala and got there a little past 5 and missed the first Surya Namascara A. The room was pacted so I ended up practicing in the waiting room with 6 other people. My mind was not really in the practice this morning. I was just going through the motions. I hate getting to class late because I need the time to ground myself before I start practice. My practice today wasn't great. It was just one of those days where my mind wasn't there. I expect days like those so it didn't bother me.

After breakfast we went to the Green Hotel for the farmers market. We got there around 10:40AM. We found out that organic market opens exactly at 10AM and by 10:15 the good stuff is already gone...oh well. I guess we'll come earlier next time. I still got some raw honey, mango preserves and some whole grain and sprouted bread. The bread and mango preserve looked so good that we ate it there. It's hard to find good bread here. It's mostly naan, chapati and roti.