Real Posting
So I am really about a month behind in getting this posted….slacker. The truth is that with a family in India getting to an internet café is just not the easiest thing to do. However we have a new system going now thanx to the free WiFi at the Southern Star hotel swimming pool. Now, I can type up my stuff whenever and upload when we hit the pool.
The week in Singapore was not that exciting, but it was a good transition to the holiday….I do not travel well, generally….so the down time was good. And visiting our friends was a wonderful perk. Singapore itself is sort of sterile and prissy or something. It is too clean, and then are just too many shopping malls…..it seems as if that is the only thing people do there. Now I actually like to shop, but it goes to entirely new level here….many moons away….it is as if that is ALL there is to do.
While in Singapore we tried to book a night in Bangalore….we were due to arrive at about 11pm….so getting the hotel sorted seemed crucial, especially so with two wee ones needing to get to bed…..Bangalore is a reasonable city so surely we would be able to find something a few days in advance…..not so….we must have called 20 different places….and some even every few hours to see about any cancellations….there was not a spare room in the ENTIRE city….or so we were told.
Good start off in India….no hotel, and it is Opening Night. But when we arrived we found a place through one of the tourist spots in the “International� airport and we were whisked away. The spot was okay…had a TV even….but nothing to rave about…and the drive to and from the airport…or whatever you want to call the thing they do here in moving vehicles….eye-opening.
The first thing Huxley did when we got into our room was look under the bed to see about any snakes that might be hanging around…..and then he asked…�Where are all the snakes, mum?�
In the morning we wandered outside…having no idea where we were we did not venture too far away from the hotel….but did go for a walk….India. Much more than expected….or perhaps I should say….how could you begin to expect it. It is like its own living, breathing thing. Every corner, crevice, nook with a pair of eyes looking back at you….eyes with hearts and souls…people that look after them and some that have no one…all ages. It made me instantly feel so insignificant….like none of us really matter…..we are all just here to get through it…or perhaps not…and whatever happens is not necessarily good or bad. It was a strange feeling.
We headed to Goa in the late morning…although in the end the plane was delayed like 2 hours…so we did not get into our hotel in Anjuna until nearly 9pm. Travel in Inida is not efficient…the thing is just how inefficient it is…now I am not meaning to complain about all this…because these sorts of surprised are actually cruelly enjoyable…like how could it be this way…the people here must go mad…and yet everyone seems so peaceful, content.
The retreat was a great was to get started on this trip. We had a luxury stay really at our hotel….The Hotel Bougainvillea (where the Purple Valley Drop-in Centre is)….it were Wonderful…and that will definitely be out landing spot again next trip in to Goa. The place was just gorgeous…simple and elegant…wild and very comfortable. The garden was an adventure for the boys, with “secret paths� to the pool. We had breakfast outside….I would go to the retreat centre early (either at 5:45 or 6:45 depending on the day) for practice and then head back to meet the boys and Craig for a late breakie…then off for a couple hours at the pool….then whatever…sometimes the beach or a walk…or heading off in a cab for an excursion. We visited Panjim, Mapusa, and Old Goa and a Spice Planatation in Ponde. It was incredibly relaxing. Some days were more packed than others…all were terrific. The food was fabulous. The beaches (Vagator, Little Vagator, Anjuna, Calangute) were all lovely…the red glowing sun melting into the sea at dusk…disappearing….it is a sight…a highlight of pollution, if there can be one.
The yoga was really special. It was intimate and calm….abit on the cool side…but that did not seem to matter, as the location more than made up for that…a lovely shala with candles in each window and the scent of incense mixed with the smell of recent burn off…the smells are wild.
Sharath has us doing 4 led primary classes in the first week and two Mysore style, and then in the second week, 3 led and two Mysore….The first day or two I found it hard to focus…thinking most of the time… “what the hell am I doing here?� But this faded and my practice took on its own form again, although different than at home in my usual surroundings….but this was okay. They were some really amazing other practitioners there…well I should say that of everyone…the group seemed to have a nice vibe on the mat and off….cruisey, calm…the way it should be…all different levels moving together and apart. There were 6 conferences held, but I only made it to 2, cuz of family things happening…but they were really good. Sharath led some chants and then told us about them, opened the floor to questions and then closed with chanting the asanas and a few others. On one walk up from the shala to the main house at the retreat centre after conference watching H and C and his daughter running off in 3 different directions…Sharath said with a grin…. “Running around after babies, seventh series.�
The time in Goa was a gem, not just because of the yoga, but for all of us…and I think in our own ways. Huxley and Conrad had a lovely time exploring what was within their reach and their ability to understand, and Craig and I were able to do the same.
The one other note….Goa is great for shopping…jewelry, clothing, other hand made things….excellent….once you learn how to bargain it can even be cheap!
After two weeks in Goa….we headed to Mysore….another leg of the trip, another “holiday house� for the boys to get to know (or maybe a few). We left our hotel at 1pm and hit the Green Hotel at midnight…again another very long day travelling….it really is remarkable how long it can take to get from one place to another.
We awoke and had breakfast (Sunday) out on the lawn at the green Hotel….I felt like I should have been wearing whites, sipping a mimosa, and playing croquet… The organic market started up at 10am…and a number of yoga people turned up…from Goa, as well as from home…and Road to Mysore chap introduced himself….which was really cool…. It was a delight to finally connect as we have been swapping emails and comments here and there for quite awhile now…. And how lucky it has been been to have someone so patient to address all the questions that a new person to Mysore, and in this case family, has.
I went in and registered at the shala at about 5pm that day….meeting Gurugi for the first time, sitting in his humble office…not knowing what to say really other than “would it be okay for me to practice with you?� Conrad followed me in, and Gurugi smiled….shortly after that Huxley can running into me…and at this point, Gurugi chuckled and said “Two?�….he then snuck out a few bits of chocolate for each of them with eyes filled with delight….they happily ran off, found the squirt water bottles and ran around the shala squirting each other like little maniacs.
First Practice: Gurugi told me to start at 6:30am, so I decided to arrive shortly after six to wait in line and watch…but when I arrived there was no line…hmmm…soon someone came in and when the “One More� call came I waved them ahead….thinking I would be the last one to join for the day, wondering where is everyone….another person arrived and again I said they should go before me….finally I got the courage to go in myself…even though it was still only about 6:15….and got started. So my first landing spot was in the last row by the far wall, where there is no cotton rug underneath…really it did not matter too much as I have two mats. Not only do I have two mats but they are extra wide…..this has certainly drawn attention to me…but what can I do…these are my mats.
The practice felt good…nothing unusual. Primary series followed by backbends. Saraswati assisted me in chakra bandhasana…strong lady! Wow.
Following practice Craig and I took the kids to the ABC Montessouri Academy Pre-school for a little look and chat with the teachers. Sharath as well as a few other students with children recommended it. They were happy to take Huxley and Conrad for the weekday mornings…9:30 to 12:30. We stayed just alittle while, it seemed like a good place for them to go and play for alittle while each day…and also good for Craig and I have to have some time to ourselves. In addition we found a house to live in for our time in Mysore….so that is quite a bit for just landing here. Some things happen so quickly here, while others take so long….or maybe just do not happen at all.
3rd Practice…what do I say, Mysore.
#1 I walked into the shala this morning at 6am and my glasses immediately fogged up so I could not see a thing…Sharath was also talking to me and pointing to where I should go with my mat….but could I see?….no….I could not help but just laugh. He also said that I could start to come for the 5am start because of my children. This is very helpful because it means that I can practice and be back at home just when they are waking and having breakfast. This is the good thing about it…the not so good thing is waking up at 4:15am….maybe you get used to that?
#2 From the front of the room came the words…. “Don’t break the floor.�…and then a wave of laughter from everyone….it was quite memorable…and added a lovely lift to my own practice…like ya know this is supposed to be fun…lighten up! There are maybe 80 or so students, quite a scene really, (majority white) sweating and grunting, nearly naked, turning themselves inside and out before the sun even wakes…all practicing at different levels in a small Indian neighbourhood in Mysore…it is wacky.
I do feel at home here.
Just Finished my second week at the shala…and the New Year has started (Jan 2nd). Another person from my shala at home has arrived. It is great to have a little kiwi community here. We had a led primary class at 5am this morning, and I watched part of the led second series. It is a treat to watch such practitioners…to see the movements, the asanas, the transitions so sleek and elegant. That is one room full of inspirations.
We spent yesterday (New Year's day) at the Lalita Mahal Palace….we were the only ones at the pool just about all day…it was so strange. The kids were able to run around like little madmen….they did laps around the tennis court….Huxley swam for the first time on his own with the blow up wings….I was so proud of him….the day held clouds in the sky which cut the intense sun down so that we could stand it. The pool was refreshing….the conversation stimulating. Fantastic day….one of those that will stay in the memory always.
Lots of new people arrived over the weekend so both the early and later slots are rather full. the shala is closing for about 6 days on wed so we are thinking of going away for a little family adventure....maybe Ooty, maybe Coorg....not sure.
Practice this morning was really nice and smooth...I like having the sunrise during the rest at the end....a true waking up feeling and then a slow walk back to the home...