I've been in a town called Pushkar for the last week and a half. This town is in the Northwest desert region of India; the state is called Rajasthan. I have been hanging with three awesome friends during my time here (Natahna and Danny from Prince George, and my friend Aruna from Switzerland).
Pushkar has been a completely different experience for me than any other so far. Many of the foreigners seem to come here for business and leisure (mad shopping). The locals seem to be taking advantage of the foreigners, and the foreigners are either fighting the locals to stop heckling them or trying to get a sweet deal on an item of clothing, etc. And meanwhile no one is really communicating all that well due to language/cultural barriers.
As for me when I got here I found myself spinning around in shopping land trying to see what I can buy and eat. In the midst of it all I was dealing with a lot of guilt and worry about being a consumer. And I've never really been one to want to sit around too much and just consume. This is quite the contrast to the previous 3 months I spent practicing and studying yoga up north. That lifestyle seemed to help me to feel more balanced all round.
And on top of everything this is supposed to be a 'holy town'. Yet I have not had any experience of holiness thus far. The first day we got here Natahna and I were forced to take a 'holy' flower for the 'holy' lake. When we got there the men were shouting at us to throw the flower in the lake and give them money for blessing us. Needless to say our experience here got off to a rather unpleasant start.
This is quite a shock to me as it is the first experience I have had in India (minus the madness of Delhi) that seems to be poverished on a spiritual level due to a fixation on money. I just don't like to be a part of the whole thing which is why I am feeling a bit of guilt. With all this it isn't surprising to me that one of those nicely dressed women who stand on the corner and beg found her way into my purse when I was passing by and stole my cell phone. Theft is something I haven't come any where near to in this country until I got here.
I am really glad to have had this experience though. I have learned so much about myself and have experienced many new insights about what I want to do and how I want to live when I return home. I leave for Rishikesh again on Sunday where I will continue my yoga studies for 3 and a half weeks. After that I will do a 10 day silent Vipassana meditation retreat. Then I will just have a week before I head on home!!
In a few hours I will be going on an overnight camel safari!!!!! These camels are huge! I'm so excited. So I best be off to prepare for that adventure. I will add some pictures another time.
Lots of love to all
:D
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Beautiful Gauchar
This was a tree outside the temple. It looks like a woman.
This boy sang us hindi music while the other girls cooked us the most delicious food.
Anand's sister and mother.
We went to a temple one evening.
On the rooftop where I was staying.
Shopping with Anand and his mother at the local market. The tree in the background is considered holy in this country.
Friday, February 13, 2009
A small mountain village named Gauchar and a few funny stories
I just returned from an amazing trip.
I took a bus with my Indian friend Anand to a very small mountain town about 6 hours east of Rishikesh called Gauchar. The bus ride was a little scary as it swirved in and around the cliffsides along the Ganga river. It was great travelling with a local who took care of all the business matters though. I did not see a single foreigner over the entire trip. So although this trip was amazing, it wasn't without it's elements of discomfort.
We went to this town because Anand's mother and sister live their as his sister is an english teacher and has been posted to that location. Upon our arrival Anand asked me to touch his mothers' foot with my right hand as a sign that I acknowledge that she is my teacher and will be teaching me over my stay. My hope was that she would teach me how to cook Indian food because I love it so much and I want to make it in Canada!
I don't know where to start in describing the impact this woman had on me. I can truly say that my life will forever be changed. Any choice of words to describe this woman and our encounters together would just be limiting.
I was so happy to have an opportunity to have an inside view of the Indian culture. Aside from the fact that I stuck out like a very sore thumb anywhere I went, I had a glimpse of what it would be like to live there and be an Indian. I spent 3 days cooking, relaxing and adventuring around before it was time to leave. The place that I was staying was just beautiful. It was surrounded by mountains on every side and had a rooftop patio where I could just hang out and spend time meditating, doing yoga, reading, and observing all the life around. I could see everything that was going on in the town below: children playing, mothers' cleaning or doing laundry or just relaxing, animals milling about, men playing card games, etc. And on the side of the mainstreet I could see the hustle and bustle of the marketplace. Up high no one noticed me and I could just blend in to the surroundings and enjoy the mountain setting.
After a few days I was ready to make my way back to Rishikesh although I had to travel alone this time. Traveling alone as a foreign woman in this country can be quite annoying. At one stop I went out to go to find a bathroom. The 'bathroom' was situated directly outside the door of the bus. It was a cement wall about 4 feet high for me to squat behind while everyone on the bus watches me from the neck up. And just when you think it couldn't get worse some random guy came in and tried to pee with me. I was so discusted and immediately ran out of there. Sometimes the men in this country can really get the better of me.
When I arrived in Rishikesh I found myself in the beginning stages of a two day intense thunderstorm. It was awesome! My roommate Natahna and I just spent the day relaxing and enjoying the rain. And after the showers the sun came out in the most magical way. Since then we have been on top of the world enjoying what this town has to offer before we go on our way to the desert next week.
A quick story about what happened to me the other day: I was chilling on a patio enjoying the Ganga and the sun. I set down my sunglasses beside me. Suddenly a monkey approached. I ignored him and he may not have appreciated this because immediately he ran over snatched my favorite sunglasses and ran away. And those were my favorite sunglasses so I went after the monkey slowly, asking if he could maybe give them back. He began threatening me by bending the sides of the glasses and attempting to break them. I was like "no monkey, please don't...I love those glasses". Then he began trying to put them on his face which I had to admit was hilarious. Finally he decided they weren't worth his time so he chucked them on the ground. Natahna said I should try and scare the monkey off at this point so I went for it. I began shouting at the monkey and immediately he began charging at me trying to attack me with the most evil eyes and frightening teeth. I was so freaked out! But then he stopped, slowly walked off, and I got my glasses back. From now on I think I will take it a little easier around the monkey's.
Right after that incident Natahna and I went to the yummiest and most beautiful cafe. When we walked in the door she told the cashier her name and the guy beside her said "wow, that's my daughter's name too and I have never met another with the same". Natahna agreed to that in amazement and asked what the girl's birthday was. She told the man that her birthday was July 27th. The guy was shocked and said "no way, that's my birthday too". And in the distance the man sitting at a table by the window said "who's July 27th, that's my birthday too". All four of us were laughing our faces off. We found ourselves in a room with 5 people and 3 with the same birthday. Anyways, I just added that little story to let all know that things are getting funny and sychronistic around here. I think it's a good time to head to the desert; which I'm planning to do on Tuesday with Natahna. We are off to Rajasthan (for some camel rides and such) and from there will make our way east to Varanasi. From there I have plans to head up north to the beautiful Dharmsala (home of the Dalai Lama). Then I am planning to make my way back this way for some more yoga training with my teacher.
So that's the scoop on me for now. I am sending lots of love and wishing everyone well.
I took a bus with my Indian friend Anand to a very small mountain town about 6 hours east of Rishikesh called Gauchar. The bus ride was a little scary as it swirved in and around the cliffsides along the Ganga river. It was great travelling with a local who took care of all the business matters though. I did not see a single foreigner over the entire trip. So although this trip was amazing, it wasn't without it's elements of discomfort.
We went to this town because Anand's mother and sister live their as his sister is an english teacher and has been posted to that location. Upon our arrival Anand asked me to touch his mothers' foot with my right hand as a sign that I acknowledge that she is my teacher and will be teaching me over my stay. My hope was that she would teach me how to cook Indian food because I love it so much and I want to make it in Canada!
I don't know where to start in describing the impact this woman had on me. I can truly say that my life will forever be changed. Any choice of words to describe this woman and our encounters together would just be limiting.
I was so happy to have an opportunity to have an inside view of the Indian culture. Aside from the fact that I stuck out like a very sore thumb anywhere I went, I had a glimpse of what it would be like to live there and be an Indian. I spent 3 days cooking, relaxing and adventuring around before it was time to leave. The place that I was staying was just beautiful. It was surrounded by mountains on every side and had a rooftop patio where I could just hang out and spend time meditating, doing yoga, reading, and observing all the life around. I could see everything that was going on in the town below: children playing, mothers' cleaning or doing laundry or just relaxing, animals milling about, men playing card games, etc. And on the side of the mainstreet I could see the hustle and bustle of the marketplace. Up high no one noticed me and I could just blend in to the surroundings and enjoy the mountain setting.
After a few days I was ready to make my way back to Rishikesh although I had to travel alone this time. Traveling alone as a foreign woman in this country can be quite annoying. At one stop I went out to go to find a bathroom. The 'bathroom' was situated directly outside the door of the bus. It was a cement wall about 4 feet high for me to squat behind while everyone on the bus watches me from the neck up. And just when you think it couldn't get worse some random guy came in and tried to pee with me. I was so discusted and immediately ran out of there. Sometimes the men in this country can really get the better of me.
When I arrived in Rishikesh I found myself in the beginning stages of a two day intense thunderstorm. It was awesome! My roommate Natahna and I just spent the day relaxing and enjoying the rain. And after the showers the sun came out in the most magical way. Since then we have been on top of the world enjoying what this town has to offer before we go on our way to the desert next week.
A quick story about what happened to me the other day: I was chilling on a patio enjoying the Ganga and the sun. I set down my sunglasses beside me. Suddenly a monkey approached. I ignored him and he may not have appreciated this because immediately he ran over snatched my favorite sunglasses and ran away. And those were my favorite sunglasses so I went after the monkey slowly, asking if he could maybe give them back. He began threatening me by bending the sides of the glasses and attempting to break them. I was like "no monkey, please don't...I love those glasses". Then he began trying to put them on his face which I had to admit was hilarious. Finally he decided they weren't worth his time so he chucked them on the ground. Natahna said I should try and scare the monkey off at this point so I went for it. I began shouting at the monkey and immediately he began charging at me trying to attack me with the most evil eyes and frightening teeth. I was so freaked out! But then he stopped, slowly walked off, and I got my glasses back. From now on I think I will take it a little easier around the monkey's.
Right after that incident Natahna and I went to the yummiest and most beautiful cafe. When we walked in the door she told the cashier her name and the guy beside her said "wow, that's my daughter's name too and I have never met another with the same". Natahna agreed to that in amazement and asked what the girl's birthday was. She told the man that her birthday was July 27th. The guy was shocked and said "no way, that's my birthday too". And in the distance the man sitting at a table by the window said "who's July 27th, that's my birthday too". All four of us were laughing our faces off. We found ourselves in a room with 5 people and 3 with the same birthday. Anyways, I just added that little story to let all know that things are getting funny and sychronistic around here. I think it's a good time to head to the desert; which I'm planning to do on Tuesday with Natahna. We are off to Rajasthan (for some camel rides and such) and from there will make our way east to Varanasi. From there I have plans to head up north to the beautiful Dharmsala (home of the Dalai Lama). Then I am planning to make my way back this way for some more yoga training with my teacher.
So that's the scoop on me for now. I am sending lots of love and wishing everyone well.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Adventures, monkey's and nummy bites
This was a poster taped to a local hospital. I thought it was great.
I spent a day riding a motorbike along the Ganga with my friend Anand. It was really beautiful as you could imagine. We stopped just up from here, got some chai's and spent hours hanging out on the Ganga in the sun. It was one of my favourite days so far.
I like to keep Mr. Monkey on guard while I'm gone to keep the monkeys under control. It's funny to see the monkey's reactions when they jump up to my window and see my monkey inside.
Monkeys come to my window every day looking for scraps; or just to see what's going on. I usually pass them a bite of something. But sometimes I flash a mirror in their face for a good laugh. These monkeys are so animated.
Give it up for the Himilayan Health Pancake!!! What a marvelously delicious treat!!!
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