so many firsts!!

It's been a while since I've last written a blog, I don't think I've had a dull moment since. I haven't been to any more fires but I've been doing a lot of work cutting trails and helipads at Okanse Lake which is the location of a prescribed burn that Red Lake is doing sometime in September. It is a lot of work, the whole place is blow down and the part I was working on recently is shin deep water. It's great experience on the saw. One of the nights there I saw the Northern Lights for the first time ever. I don't think they were that spectacular but I thought they were AMAZING!!! They were green and really bright, I loved it. Then on my days off we drove to Steinbach in Manitoba and went SKYDIVING!!!! We flew to 11 000 feet, it was so crazy. I bought the video of me and it was hilarious. I had a minor freak out, I'm not sure what happened but I know that I was not in control of my limbs or my brain. It was so cool- as soon as I did it I wanted to do it again. I love adrenalin.

THEN, I went fishing yesterday and I caught a 35 inch northern (pike)! I couldn't believe it, I screamed so loud when it surfaced, I was not expecting it to be that big. It put up such a good fight, took me about 5 minutes to get it into the boat. Good thing I had people there, my friend helped me get it into the boat- he picked it up by the gills and brought him in. Northerns are slimy and uggggllly and scary!! It kind of scares me seeing such a big fish in a lake, makes me not want to swim in there anymore.

Now I'm back at work. All the crew members are gone so it's just crew bosses and crew leaders. It's really quiet around the bunks with everyone gone. I think there's 6 people left here, and then a bunch left who don't live at the bunks. There were 10 fires in the North West Region yesterday so I'm hoping to get on a fire before my contract is over. Hope everyone is enjoying the last few days of summer- the leaves are already turning and it definetly feels like fall up here. <3

Red 39

Red 39 Been back from Red 39 for a couple days. It was a human caused fire, there was a contractor crew doing logging and one of their machines started the fire. We weren’t the first crew on the fire, we were called in 2 days later to hit 3 spot fires off the main fire. The fire was originally small but it had a sudden wind shift and was now 65 hectares. We were just coming off 2 days off and I was in the shower at 9am when I heard someone knocking on the door- it was my crew leader saying we had to be at base right now because we were going to Red 39. Within the hour we were on the chopper heading to the fire. One of my favorite parts of the job is the unpredictability. The first 3 days of the fire were good- after we hit the spot fires spot fires we had to put in a line to stop the fire from jumping a creek into some standing trees. We were working around an area of new regen trees which burn really easily. One night at 10pm we saw trees torching (on fire from bottom to top) which is unusual so late at night. Unfortunately the 3rd night we got 60+ mm of rain which put an end to the fire behaviour pretttty quickly.

We were on the fire with 4 other Red Lake crews and we were all camped together which was fun. One night I was awoken at 630am to what sounded like something stepping on my tent, and then grunting. I somehow convinced myself it wasn’t a bear, and went back to sleep. I was telling my crew leader about it in the morning, and then the other Red Lake crews came over to see if our dining tent had been ripped apart by a bear as well. It hadn’t, but it proved that it had been a bear that trampled my tent. We all went on the line that day and the bear came back during the day and mauled all of our dining tents and garbage bags. The overhead of the fire thought it’d be a good idea to switch campsites to avoid anymore bear problems. Our new camp was wicked, right on a lake that we could swim/ wash in after work. Of course, the bear found us a few days later. I don’t know what he found so interesting about me but he showed up at my tent again one night at midnight. I woke up my crew leader who had the chainsaw in the fly of his tent and we started it up and chased him away. One of the other guys we were camping with had an air (bear) horn that he fired off a couple times and we didn’t see the bear for the rest of the time. My crew ended up being the last crew on the fire so we were there for 13 days. I got to do AGA scanning one morning which meant flying the whole fire looking through heat sensor binoculars looking for hot spots. They do it for bigger fires to make sure there aren’t any hidden smokes/ hot spots. My crew leader did the main part of it but I got to look as well- it was difficult to tell the difference between actual hotspots and rocks that had absorbed heat from the day. We went at 530am before the sun was up to minimize the possibility of the AGA showing daytime heat, but it was still hard to tell the difference. When we got back from the fire we went to Okanse again and cut a helipad for the prescribed burn that I was talking about last time. It was a lot of work but I always like getting experience on the saw. I just had 2 days off which was much needed after 19 days of work. When we were at Okanse we got A LOT of rain which has knocked down our hazard again. Looks like we’ll be slow for a while, but you never know when it’ll pick up again. I’ve added some pictures of our fire/ my crew.

My crew- me, AJ (crew member), and Jack (crew leader). They're amazing!

AJ and I built this bench- our first attempt.. worked out pretty well. Having a back rest in the bush is AMAZING!!
<3

Okanse Lake

Hey Friends!! I promise I'm still here, I haven't written a post in ages. I was fortunate to make it home for my birthday and Canada day- spent most of my time in Restoule (my cottage) and I've been back in Red Lake for about 10 days. I had a great week, spent a few days in Bak Lake which I love because it's on a beautiful lake, accommodations are great, you can go fishing and swimming after work! Doesn't get much better. Then we came back to Red Lake to get ready for a trip to Okanse Lake. They've been working on a prescribed burn there for a couple years. I love it- I find what they're doing so interesting. There is a huge section that was hit by a tornado a few years ago and it's all blow down now. The point of the prescribed burn is see how blow down weathers, and eventually, how it burns. Currently there is limited information on how fire behaves in certain indicies in blow down fuel which makes it risky to be fighting a fire in it. They have one plot where they've been doing measurements of the height of blow down every year to see the changes. The other plots are going to be burnt at different indicies to see how the fire behaves. Our job this trip was to continue escape routes/ ATV trails throughout the plots. We couldn't have picked hotter days- it was 35 degrees celsius everyday, cutting in blow down for 3 days. I love chainsawing so it was amazing but WOWWWW it was hot. We got a lot done despite the heat but there is still a lot of cutting to be done. Depending on the fire season we'll be back for more cutting. I was talking to one of the managers who we were working with and I mentioned I would love to work during the actual burn- hopefully doing ignition. They expect the burn to take place sometime in September- they have a weather station and are monitoring the indicies to find the perfect time. My fourth crew member left last Sunday because he got his dream job as a nurse educator. Our crew is currently working as a 3-man crew until someone else gets hired. I've been on days off for 2 days and I've missed 2 very eventful days. We've gotten 8 fires in the last 2 days, a few that have substantial size. I'm hoping to get sent out tomorrow when I get back to work. Days off were really nice though- spent a lot of time at the beach- windsurfing! Looking forward to the rest of the summer- it's been going SO fast!

Cutting at Okanse Lake

Making a plan of attack

Red 26

I'm back from Red 26- it was a 2 hectare fire about 15 miles north of Bak Lake started by lightning. We got dispatched on Wednesday to a smoke report near Sandy Lake (northern fly in native reserve). As soon as we lifted off we saw 2 smoke columns- neither of them had been called in yet. We did fire reports for both of them- Red 26 (2 ha) 1 km hose lay to the fire through a swap, Red 27 (15 ha) 1 km hose lay to the fire up a rock cliff and then continued up to Sandy Lake. Red 28 was 20 hectares but it wasn't in a zone that we action so it was called a BOB (being observed) fire. By the next day it was 120 ha so now they have started putting crews on it. By then we'd been flying for an hour and a half so we had to set down in Sandy Lake to refuel and then we were instructed to go back to Red 26 as a second crew in. The hose lay to the fire was through a swamp where you had to hop from pile of mud to pile of mud- if you misjudged you sunk up to your hips in sludgy swamp water. New meaning to the word 'soaker'. The black flies were relentless- and we saw a bear twice when we were up at the fire but luckily he stayed away from our campsite. By the time I had gotten to the fire (after cutting helipads) it had been killed by the water bombers so there wasn't much left. We got pulled off Sunday morning- good thing because we got about 40 mm of rain last night. Glad I wasn't in the bush for that!

A is Bak Lake, B is Sandy Lake

Refueling H-36 in Sandy Lake My crew member's knee brace came today!!! That means he can join us and we're a full crew- good if there are any out of district/ province dispatches. With all the rain we're pretty sunk for fires for a while- the far north may still have decent numbers though. Missing everyone- I hear it's beautiful down south. <3

McKenzie Island!

Just had 2 days off, spent them on McKenzie Island!! After a week of rain/ snow/ freezing temperatures and windddd, we got 2 BEAUTIFUL days! Gorgeous. My crew leader lives out there- it's an island about across from Cochenour. There's a person ferry that goes to and from the island. You can get cars there on the winter roads, other wise it's boat access only. 125 people live on the island, there aren't any stores or businesses there. Real estate is really expensive in Red Lake because of the mines, but the island is a little more affordable. There are a bunch of fire people who live on the island and boat to work every day. I got to shoot a gun for the first time!! It was so cool :D I asked what kind it was 5 times but I still don't remember.. I know it was a shotgun- a 12 gauge. My first time I hit 3 targets in 3 shots- a natural. It had pretty good kick back and it was LOUD. We also went fishing- I bought my fishing license. A guy on my crew caught a walleye but I didn't catch anything. Then we went back to my crew leaders house and had an amaaazing BBQ dinner. I even tried a deer burger- my crew leader shot the deer in the winter. Everyone talks about how good game meat is and one of the main reasons I don't eat meat is because the animals are kept in little cages and aren't treated well while they're living. Game seems a lot more humane so I figured I'd try it out. I'm glad I tried it because it's been about 10 years since I've eaten meat and maybe I'd changed my mind. Nope- I'm not missing out on anything great... it tasted alright but I didn't like the texture. I'm good with my veggie burgers :) We had a campfire at night and played darts- I can't aim darts like I can aim guns apparently though, got beat quite badly. I'm hoping the weather stays like this and we dry out... crews are starting to come back from out East so hopefully we're out next!

Crew member and crew leader playing darts.

Brewski, crew leader's dog <3

Red 18

Had my first fire of the season on Wednesday- Friday! We got dispatched at 230 in the afternoon on Wednesday, from the air it looked pretty good- my crew leader scouted it as 0.1 hectares with a 1000ft pumping distance (from water to the fire) and even commented "the walk doesn't look to bad". Wroonngggg. Ended up being 3000ft through alder bushes and swamp haha. It took us a bit to get hose to the fire and I got to see some decent fire behavior! Trees torching off which I love the sound of! Once we got the fire wrapped it was easy going. We stayed 2 nights in the bush (swamp).. I had a really good time. Got to do a lot of cutting and more experience on the saw which is always a good thing. It was a lightning fire- from the day before. Our indicies were really high but we just got POURED on today!! Think that'll put us back in low hazard for a while. I've got 4 days off- thinking about going to Kenora or Winnipeg for a night or two... don't know what to do with myself for 4 days! Hoping we bounce back to high indicies quickly!

All trained up!

I've spent the last 2 weeks in classrooms, various courses. The first week was my S200 course (crew boss course) at Vedette Lake which is Fort Frances' forward attack base. It felt weird to be back there, but it's a beautiful spot for the course. We were in the sauna every night and I made it in the lake twice. (It was freeeezing). I got to see a lot of the people I have met on fires for the past 2 summers, which was nice to catch up. I really enjoyed the course as well. We went more in depth with indicies, what they mean and what they predict. More about the weather and how to read weather maps, and how to tell whats going on with the weather from looking at clouds and the wind. We also learned how to read and use a GPS (as a crew boss I carry one now), how to convert basemaps and block numbers to eastings and northings. I learned about that stuff last year with my crew leader but it was a good reminder. We also talked about our responsibilities on the fireline and on an initial attack. Crew boss is responsible mostly for nozzling the initial line and ensuring the crew members know where the escape routes and safety zones are. After the S200 I went to Dryden for Occupational Health and Safety Supervisor course... since I'm a crew boss I'm considered a supervisor so I took this course to find out all the things I could potentially be liable for. It was only a day but it felt like I was there forever. I didn't enjoy that course as much, SO boring. It's pretty hard to make Health and Safety an interesting presentation. Then Thursday and Friday of this week I was doing Standard First Aid re certification on base. That was a little better than the Occupational Health and Safety course but not by much. I'm so glad to be done with all the classroom learning. Next week we're at the forward attack base Monday to Friday. It's called Bak Lake- I haven't been there yet but I've heard it's nice. We had a bit of rain last week but our indicies are slowly climbing so maybe we'll be dispatched to a fire from there. Usually that's where they cover alerts for the Far North regions- Pikangikum, Sandy Lake, Deer Lake etc. We've had 9 fires so far, mostly in Pikangikum a few weeks ago there were about 7 in a weekend- all human caused. I've got the weekend off and it's beautiful out!! I did laundry and some errands today and might be going golfing tomorrow. Tonight is the wedding social for one of our techs and everyone on base (and probably in town) is going. I'm looking forward to that, should be a good time. Happy early mothers day to the best mom and grandma in the world! <3 Love you both. And to all the other mothers out there. You're amazing.

I Love Red Lake

So I've been here for almost 2 weeks now... and I LOVE it here. The people are great, it's a very different vibe than the last 2 summers in Fort. The town is beautiful, and there seems to be a force field for bad weather. These huge systems are coming straight towards up and then they just divide and completely miss Red Lake. While Southern Ontario and even lots of Northern Ontario have been getting snow, rain and hail we've been sunshine and beautiful weather! Last week I also go promoted to a crew boss.. so now I have a new crew. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a crew boss but I accepted. Since the turn over rate is higher here, people move up the crew system a lot faster so a 3rd year crew boss (like me) isn't uncommon. I went out chainsawing for my first time this last summer... I was nervous at first getting back at it but it came back to me pretty quick. We've also been doing some pump set ups, trying to remember everything I've learned the last 2 years. We've got about 1/2 the crews here, and the rest will be filtering in next week. The bunks have been do-able but I imagine it's going to get pretty hectic when everyone gets here. I go to the SP-200 course next Monday until Saturday. It's the crew you have to take to become a crew boss. I'm really looking forward to it, it'll be a lot of good learning about fire behavior and how to scout fires. It's at Vedette Lake FAB (forward attack base) which is in Fort Frances- not a bad place to spend a week. We've got 10 people going from Red Lake, a good group of people. I might head into Fort for a night to say hi to everyone. We haven't had any fires yet but Kenora has had about 25 and Fort and Dryden have had a few. The indicies (dryness of the trees/ ground) are really high for this time of year and receptive to lightning. At this rate we're in for another summer like last year but it's always so hard to know. We could have a whole bunch of rain and end up getting no fires all summer- you never know!! Hope all the snow and crazy weather has stopped at home. <3

Red Lake- Day 1

Well, I made the drive! It went faster than I thought surprisingly. Took me about 24 hours driving time.
Its COLD up here, much colder than home. Although today it got sunny and nice out during the day.
The bunkhouses are about what I expected. My room is tiny; 2 beds, 2 little nightstands and 1 cupboard. I share a bathroom with 3 others (when others get here). There's only 1 other girl here right now (warehouse girl) but she's in another pod. There's ONE kitchen for all of us.. About 35 people- mostly guys. I can only imagine what it'll look like in a month. Hopefully its a really busy summer and I'm not here very often! Then there's a TV/pool/shuffleboard/foozeball/cards/game room (wicked!) which I'm sure will be rowdy soon enough.
My crew seems good so far!! My crew leader has been a fire tech for the last few years but was missing action on the fire line so he's back- that means he'll have a lot of knowledge and hopefully get us some sweet gigs on fires! My crew boss I met 2 years ago in BC and I worked with his brother. He's really laid back and fun so I was pumped when I heard I was on his crew. And then the other crew member is from sioux lookout, its his 2nd year working fire.
Today was my first day. We wheeled barrels of gas around "the boneyard" (a yard with a bunch of stuff in it). It feels good to be back at work, no easing in, just straight into manual labour. :)
The base is right on the lake it is GORGEOUS!! Can't wait for it to get warm!
I got a tour of Red Lake- its actually bigger than I was expecting. I told that someone today and they laughed- its really not big so what was I expecting?! Population is 4500.. About half of fort frances. A lot of the population are miners, there's a huge gold mine up here. Since miners make a lot of money, it apparently makes rental houses really expensive. Pretty standard pricing compared to Southern Ontario but for the North its expensive.
After work today I went with all the guys from the bunks to play road hockey! It was awesome. They've got a great paved court in Balmertown. (Which is about 5km away- has a few other restaurants/ stores).
Looking forward to the rest of the week- hover exit training tomorrow!
(Heard it was beautiful at home today- hope everyone enjoyed the heat!)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho... back to work

I've been home for about a week, and in another week I'm back off to Northern Ontario for my job. I'm doing forest fire fighting again, but I'm going to be based in Red Lake this summer instead of Fort Frances. I was looking for a change of scenery and I've heard a lot of good things about Red. My buddy from Fort Frances also got hired there so we'll be sharing a room in the bunkhouses. Red Lake, unlike Fort, has bunkhouses were all the fire rangers live for the summer. I've got my fingers crossed for a summer like last so I won't actually be spending much time on base!

I'm not looking forward to the drive... it's SO long, it always seems like I'm never going to make it. But once you're there it's so worth it, can't wait to be back.

The fire season is already in full swing, Kenora has already had 13 fires! (Red Lake is still at 0 haha) but it's early so you never know what's going to happen.



<3

SURPRISE!!

Back home in Canada, came home a week early for a bunch of different reasons.
Got to surprise Kayla for her birthday which was awesome :)

My last days in India were amazing, I just relaxed on the beach, did a fun Acro yoga workshop. It's like partner yoga- one person is a base and one person flies.. you've gotta be really strong to pull off some of the crazy stuff they do, this was a pretty basic class.

My journey home was loooooong, but so glad to be home! I've posted pictures on facebook and will tell anyone who wants to listen alllllll about my adventures. <3 <3

breakfast- most important meal!

Happy Birthday Dixon!!

Breakfast is the time for great ideas around here!! I woke up early, practiced yoga on the beach and went for a run which was nice (it seemed extra hot though). My friend Brianna and I were eating and chatting about what to do today and a woman from the course invited us to Paradise Beach in Maharastra (state north of Goa). It was 5 of us; Paul from Europe, Francine from Quebec, Ashley from Mumbai and then Brianna from California. We took Vespa scooters (which I've been debating about for a month), and it was SO fun!! They needed one more driver and I was nominated. (How hard can it be right?!) At first driving was really scary, but I got the hang of it. Turning was the sketchiest- did a little accidental off roading at one point but it was all good. We drove for about an hour and a half, and took a little ferry. We went to a little secluded beach where we RODE a CAMEL!! His name was Tyson. The guys who owned him live 150km east of there and walk to the beach every season. It takes them 5 days- they walk on the camels during the day and sleep at night. The tourist season is almost over because monsoons are starting soon so they'll be heading out end of March.
India has been blowing my mind the last few days- so many fun things. I wonder what tomorrows breakfast will bring!
Missing you all <3

Graduation!

I'm officially a yoga teacher!! Can't believe it, I think it'll take a lot of practice until I really consider myself one.
Yesterday instead of yoga we got surprised with a sunrise dolphin boat ride! It was really nice, and we saw tons of dolphins. We were in big wooden boats with 100 year old 9.9 horsepower motors. We all went out for dinner last night as a big goodbye.. Some people left today, lots of people are hanging around Mandrem or going other places in India.
Today was my first day of freedom, my friend Jillian and I were talking at breakfast this morning and decided we wanted to do something cool today... So we walked to Arambol (north of here) and went paragliding!! It was really fun. I thought it was gonna be a huge adrenalin rush but it was really relaxed, like meditation in the air.
It's nice being free to do whatever we want after having so much structure for a month. Might head to a spice plantation tomorrow, or go for a hike.
Missing you all!! <3

home stretch

Whew. Its been quite the week! I taught my 45 minute class this morning and wrote my anatomy exam this afternoon.
I was the 2nd last person to teach which was definitely not in my favor. I've been listening to/ doing other peoples classes all week, getting psyched out and burnt out. My 20 minute class I taught last week went really well- I was nervous for the first minute or so but then I got in the zone and it was all good. For my 45 minute class I was nervous the WHOLE time!! It was a good thing I had to queue inhales and exhales for the class because it reminded me to breath too. I think I was more nervous because I'm so tired and I had so much time to over think it. It went well though and I got good feedback.
The only negative thing they had to say was that it was 5 minutes too short! I had to take out a section of flow in the middle of the class because I was going to be over time, and then didn't add enough in to compensate- if I had been calmer I could have freestyled another pose or 2 in the end but my brain was exploding haha. But if that's all the negative they had to say then its all good. Feels good to have that out of the way.
The exam was fine. I knew it wasn't going to be anything crazy. It was all fairly basic and it was all related to yoga so it was easy to think about practical applications. Of course there were a few weird ones.. "What happens to the digestive system when you breath properly?" I answered.. "It works properly?" Haha.. I think they were looking for something more along the lines of, it is massaged by the diaphragm, but maybe they'll take pity and give me half marks for effort. Other than that question though I feel good about it.
Now we've got a few more sessions- yoga therapy, adjustments.. And a graduation ceremony (haha) and a few more yoga classes (of course) then we're done! The time has flown, the course seemed like it went so fast- but on the other hand if I think about the first day I got to India it seems like MONTHS ago! Always seems like that when I travel.
Northern Ontario is getting temps in the mid/ high 20s and already have people working at some of the bases!! I feel so fortunate to have a job to go back to when I get home. About 80% of the people here have quit their jobs to come to this course- in search of something else in their life.. Everyone here seems to be in major transition- from school to work or work to something else. I've enjoyed getting to know all the people- a lot of characters for sure. People from all backgrounds, all walks of life, everyone with their different story.
Missing everyone, can't wait to see you all! <3

determination and business skills

Everywhere you go in india someone is trying to sell you something.. A coconut, a taxi ride, some prayer beads, a sarong, a massage, some yoga... The determination of these people is insane! We walk to the beach everyday and without fail 3 or 4 people ask "yes madam, taxi?" they see us everyday, they know we're going to the beach but still they ask. And on the way home from the beach.. Majority of the walk is on a sand trail where cars can't even fit so I don't know what they would even do if we said we wanted a taxi. And the sellers on the beach.. Everyday. "Yes madam, look something? Cheap price for you" The other day I was jogging on the beach- headphones in, rocking out, and a bead seller steps in my way and tries to sell me some prayer beads.. 1) is it not obvious that I'm doing something.. Maybe don't want to be disturbed 2) where do you think I keep my money when I jog?

Turns out the sellers on the beach aren't bothered if you don't have money on you.. They just say "Pay me later" they even let you take what you've bought with a promise that you'll return later (or tomorrow) to pay them.. Same with restaurants and little stores. A lot of trust in people!

One of my favorite business techniques I saw last week. My friend was buying 2 dresses, at first the guy wanted 1500 for both (which as usual is crazy overpriced) so eventually she bargained it down to 600.. Much to the dismay of the shopkeeper. As we were leaving he says "come back again, but next time more expensive, no good price"... Greaaaaaat. Ill definitely be back for some haggling and over priced clothing.

This same guy (he was quite the character) was a typical indian salesperson. They say "good quality" and "same same" all the time. Everything is good quality and if you're looking at 2 different things.. don't worry- they're same same.
There were tags on the dresses my friend bought. They had a size and a color on them- but they didn't match what they were attached to. A size 16 was same same as a size 8.. And a grey was same same as pink. Haha.
Indian antics actually entertain me now, I'm going to miss them.

On our day off the other night we had an amaaaazing dinner!! By Goan standards it was expensive- we each got an appetizer, 2 cocktails, a fish entree and a dessert for 1000 rupees ($20 cad). And its amazing food. I had silver fish with a sweet potato puree and a salsa on top. Goan seafood is so delicious. We also found a place in a town up the beach that has REAL coffee!! And ice cubes!! It wasn't like home but it tasted better than anything I've ever tasted just because its so rare.
One more week of training and then heading south Goa with some friends from training (I think).
Missing you all <3

Snow?!

It's a little cooler today but it's been soo hot and humid the last few days. The air is so saturated with humidity.. In the morning you can hear the trees/ air dripping- its not rain it's just the most heavy condensation. An Indian lady we were talking to on the beach the other day called it SNOW!! It's crazy how they make sense of the weather with unknown words. Haha.. Clearly she has never experienced real snow! All of my clothes and my bed are damp all the time.. It's gross lol. The temperature is actually stable it's the humidiy making it seem much hotter.
More of the same this week.. Yoga yoga yoga! We're preparing for our 45 minute classes and anatomy exam which are next week. I'm feeling pretty good about both- I'll work on them tmrw on day off.
Last night we did the WEIRDEST thing... It's called contact dancing. I don't even know how to explain it. Picture a whole room of people dancing/ moving to "music" but everyone is interacting with each other... I mostly spectated bcuz it was a little out there for me (and most people...)
I don't have much more to report.. My life seems consumed with yoga, anatomy, philosophy and weird dancing haha. Day off tomorrow!! Maybe some more stories for you after.
Missing everyone. (and Happy St Patricks Day!!! No one here is celebrating haha but I will in my mind)
<3

Teaching!

Another week has come and gone! The second week went way faster than the first. We did a lot of philosophy and anatomy. It's good that I've learned a lot about the body in school.. I can't imagine not having learned it before not to mention the people who don't have English as their first language. 
We've started teaching 20 minute classes.. Yesterday was interesting.. When English isn't your first language it's obviously harder to teach so some of the classes drag.
We do 2 hours of self practice in the morning before breakfast which is really cool- shows how much we're learning that we can go for 2 hours. Then we teach each other for another 2 hours. Holding all the poses for 5x longer than usual while the teachers stumble/ look for the English words. 
I taught today.. I was a little nervous- at the beginning it seemed like my tongue was too big for my mouth and my mouth was parched.. And i sweat more in my own class from nerves than doing the other classes haha. But after a minute or two it was fine. I feel like it came pretty naturally.
Next week we start teaching 45 minute classes! 20 minutes was a good starting point but it went by so fast and you couldn't really incorporate everything you wanted to.
Im about to go for a run on the beach (shoes on this time!! My calves were sore for days after my shoeless run) one of the dogs from Ashiyana is gonna run with me he's soo cute, he's colored like a rotweiler but smaller. It's nice to run in the day because there aren't any wild dogs around... Just lots of people- some of which are pretty wild too haha.
Everyone here talks about how they don't want to go back to "real life" but I'm excited to haha. It's amaaazing here but I feel like I'm living in a little plastic bubble. A plastic bubble of paradise though which is why they don't want t leave I guess.
We have an afternoon off tomorrow- goof to another market I think :)
Missing everyone <3

Happy Holi

Holi is a big Indian festival marking the beginning of harvest of all the crops, festivities started last but Holi started today! We went to a big Indian market on our afternoon off in Anjuna which was really cool. Big, busy and dusty but SO much fun stuff to look at/ buy. They've got everything!! Clothes, bags, shoes, jewelry, statues, hammocks, spices, tea... Etc. Etc. I really enjoyed it. I think im getting better at haggling the prices down- although by the end I get a little less cheap bcuz I'm so tired.

Anyways- back to Holi! We were driving home and there was a road block set up so we had to stop and all these hands came in the windows with colored powder and threw/ smeared it all over. It's SO cool!!! It's like human tye dye. When we got back we went to the beach and got Holi-ed again- yellow.
Apparently they celebrate for 16 days- Dancing and drive by powdering haha. We're planning on going out tmrw night (armed with powder)...
On a less cool note.. A girl from my course was running on the beach this morning and she got bit by a wild dog. She was ok, just a little scared. I run every morning and haven't had any problems. Usually if you just yell or raise your arm they go away but our yoga instructor told us to start running with a stick just in case.. Greaaatttt. I'm gonna look like a warrior ready for battle!!
So I'm living in a beach hut, like I said. I like it but I might as well be outside. They're open windows and a foot open over the door (good thing for my mosquito net). I've got a frog who sometimes sits on my light switch.. And ants and spiders etc. Nature overload (Hannah you would HATE it haha). My friend Briana from California lives 2 huts down down and she hates it too. She seems to attract the worst stuff. We share a bathroom with 3 or 4 people and the other day she was going to the bathroom when a "mouse" came flying through the window and landed at her feet. (open windows... No screens). So she comes flying out of the bathroom screaming. The story sounded pretty crazy but I looked in the bathroom and there was a.. Not mouse- a rat!! I'm not too fussed about stuff like that but rats are so gross. And it was big! And dead!
We couldn't figure out how it could fly through the window.. Especially when it was dead. We think the only reasonable explanation is that a bird was carrying it and dropped it... And just coincidently at the exact time/ position/ angle that it came in the window. Poor girl.. What are the chances. Haha.
So except for flying rats and rabid wild dogs... And powder attacks... It's been a pretty standard few days here.
Seriously, India is so weird. One of the weirdest things that has been puzzling me lately is money, and stores. So you buy a water and it costs 25 rupees... You give them 30 and they say "no change?" and you say "no sorry" but what they really meant was "no change." Stores don't have 5 rupee coins or bills to give you change (theres 1 and 2 rupee coins too but good luck finding those).. but yet they still charge prices that require 5s. Their solution is to give you a pack of cookies or gum and call it even. What kind of business is that lol... And that's every little store I've been to. It's like 5 rupees are pennies.. But imagine going to a store and they don't have pennies so they give you a mint or a pretzel instead. Just one of the many things I don't understand about India. Makes me laugh though.

Missing everyone, wishing you were here to celebrate Holi with me!!
Also a very happy 90th birthday to my grandma!!! <3

Massages and time off

It's getting hotttterrrrr!! We're coming into summer/ monsoon season soon and it's so humid. My towel never dries.. Constantly damp. 
On Saturday I got an ayurvedic yoga massage... It was so crazy! I layed on the floor on a mattress and the lady used her hands and feet (she was standing on me) to massage my deep muscles- I'm pretty sure she was massaging my bone marrow it hurt so much. And then she stretched all my muscles and joints... again soo painful. The nice part was at the beginning she used coconut oil and an Indian exfoliant- it made my skin feel so soft!
We had Saturday night and Sunday off. A bunch of us walked to a popular French restaurant called La Plage. The reception guy said it was a nice 10 minute walk... In Goa that means an hour haha. We were giving up hope that it existed but we found it and it was well worth it. Amazing food and a really cool ambience. It was on the beach with cool silk tent areas. I had a cedar salad with tofu for appetizer and an amazing piece of tuna with wasabi mashed potatos and chocolate cake for dessert. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. All that for only $20, which for India standards is insanely expensive but when put into perspective it's really good. 
Sunday we chilled on the beach- I didn't get as burnt this time!! Then me and 2 girls walked to Arambol which is a 45 minute walk north. It's a major hippy town- one of the first hippy settlements in Goa. There was a row of really cool artisans with homemade jewelry and crafts and then all the typical India shops. So much to look at/ browse. We're gonna go back next week and buy a few things.
We're back at it now... Yoga, learning to teach and anatomy... And chanting... Andddd sweating!
Missing everyone. <3
(the Internet situation here is really unpredictable. Ashiyana usually doesn't work so I walk a bit down the beach...)

Chanting and Dancing!

Now that we're almost a week into the course I'm definitely getting tired. We practice yoga for 2 hours in the morning, then have breakfast which is eggs, muesli, fresh fruit and yogurt- and every morning they have a different juice. Today it was lime, mint and it was so good. 
After breakfast we usually have a session learning how to teach (right now we're doing sun salutations). Every sun salutation has 2 planks, 2 pushup type moves and 2 downward dogs... among other things. Since we're learning to teach we just do them over and over and over. SO many!! It's really tiring.
After that we have another session about philosophy or asanas (yoga poses) and then lunch. Lunch is salad, white rice, dal (lentils) and some sort of potato/ veg dish. In the afternoon we usually learn about anatomy (systems in the body and how they're helped with yoga). We have another miscellaneous session- could be about anything. Then dinner which is salad, rice, dal, paneer (Indian cheese) and then a different dish every night. Its vegetarian 85% of the time which is good! After dinner is "Bhakti" time which is usually pretty weird. Bhakti is the limb of yoga that is all about love and devotion to gods/ goddesses and chanting and dancing... Sometimes it's a little cult-like but I participate to get the whole experience. 
There are a lot of things in this course that are taking a while to get used to.. the chanting for sure and then in classes/ sessions we have 36 people and we're randomly paired off and like 5 times a day we give eachother massages. Sounds pretty sweet- and it is- I'm sure we won't be strangers for long but right now it's a bit awkward giving and receiving surprise massages.
If someone came and watched a class they'd probably think we were really strange.. They'd be right.
Today we did partner yoga and stretching, it was really cool. My partner thinks chanting is the most bizarre thing so she couldnt stop laughing.. There's a lot of nervous laughing in every session haha.
I think the first 2 weeks is a lot of theory and the last 2 weeks are more practical.. I'm already on yoga overload so it'll be interesting to see how it goes. 
It's been really windy the last 2 days- lots of kite boarders on the beach. And lots of palm tree branchings falling off the trees. Hope the roof of my hut is sturdy!!
Everyday after lunch we go to the beach for rest period, definitely can't complain about that!
Will update you soon about more chanting and downward dogs!
Miss you all. <3

Yogaaaaa!

We've got an afternoon off today! It's been pretty cool so far, A LOT of information. Yesterday we did philosophy of yoga and some anatomy and physiology. It's cool learning about all this stuff- even if I don't want to teach it's pretty useful.
I was still feeling really sick so the main teacher put me on a coconut water and water only diet for like 30 hours. Starve the sickness out of me I guess. We do 2 hours of yoga in the morning, from 730-930am... by 930 it's already HOT!! Kinda like hot yoga.
The people here are wicked, really diverse from I think over 16 countries. The food (now that I can eat it) is delicious! Lots of fresh fruit and veggies. And deliciousss desert!! I think I've lost weight with all the sickness but the desert might help me get it back.
On Sunday we've got a day off we're going to go to a market. Lots of shopping and eating! I can't wait to try the prawn curry, apparently in Goa it's amazing.
It's realllly hot here- all I ever do is sweat lol. I brought all tshirts and long shorts/ pants. I went a little crazy and cut off a whoolle bunch of sleeves and pants legs hahaha. I couldn't take it anymore, I feel liberated without my sleeves!
My little tiki hut bed is SO hard, it's probably good for my back but I miss my big comfy bed.
I've been officially hired in Red Lake for the summer!! Really excited about that.
Missing you all! Can't wait to see you all <3

Ashiyana Teacher Training

The course started today- mostly introductions and rules and general schedule outline. We have yoga and meditation at 730am for 2 hours, breakfast, sessions throughout the day (philosophy of yoga, anatomy, dance, healing etc), another 2 hr yoga before dinner and thenanother session after dinner. From 9pm to 11am everyday it's silence.. For serenity. It will be interesting!!
We had a Hindu blessing tonight, for new beginnings and prayers to the gods and goddeses for health and well being for the month. It was cool, the Hindu priest talked SO fas!! He blessed us with a red dot btwn our eyebrows and a real flower lei.
The food here is delicious but I'm having a hard time with it because it's so rich and oily and it's very opposite to my usual diet. I try to eat a lot of salad and easier stuff like rice and potatoes. Maybe itll grow on me.
We're not supposed to be on Internet much during training but I have Wed afternoon and all day Sundays off- I'll blog both of those days and maybe other days if I've got something really cool to say haha.
I'm living in a cute beach hut- big bed and a drawer in a straw hut with a little balcOny. I like it a lot.
Miss everyone from hone, cannot wait to see you all!
<3

Mandrem Beach, Goa

It is so beautiful and peaceful here. Wifi in a hammock doesn't get much better! I met a girl in the training with a computer so hopefully will post a few pictures soon. Blogs are way more fun with pictures!

Spent the day on the beach... Got quite burnt- layed out for a few hrs and I'm fairly certain an Indian lady in hampi is laughing bcuz she sold me "sunscreen" 30 SPF apparently- I say not a chance. 
Pretty sure its just hand cream- need to find more.

I'm thinking of trying an experiment of going off anti malarials for a few days bcuz I'm starting to get bad aches and chills and stomach problems. I've heard the pills cause similar side effects as actual malaria so we'll see.
The food here is really delicious!! Hopefully it'll be diff once the course starts but right now it's just 1030am breakfast and 7pm dinner... What kind of schedule is that lol.
Course starts on Sunday- depending how I feel we're gonna try some water sports tomorrow!
Miss everyone a lot- can't wait to seeeee you all! (facebook me updates about your lives- would love to read them)
<3

Yayyyy! I'm in Goa! It's so gorgeous here- apparently it just got like this but hollllyyyy it's SO hot!! I've been aggressively sweating all day. 
My last few days in Hampi were pretty amazing. I got out to a really great climbing spot with some of my new friends. The rock in hampi is realllly grippy (SHARP!!) and a lot of the problems I was working were crimpy and balancy. I lovvveeed it. 
Stayed in Hospet last night and took an 8.5 hr train to Vasco de Gama (Goa). It was a loud, sweaty ride. Without fail when I get on the train always someone in my spot. Before I was more timid but now I just wake them up and tell them to get out. I don't understand the confusion of train seats lol. They're VERY well marked, like 3 times and still ppl are always pointing and talking and motioning and shuffling around. People just can't figure it out. Typical India. 

Then an epic taxi ride to here- Ashiyana. It is gorgeous!! I'm really excited about it. I'm sitting with 3 of the girls who are doing the training as well. They're super cool and I think we'll have lots in common. 

Tomorrow either Mapusa market or may just lay on the beach. I'm so glad this place is nice and the people seem cool. 
It is soooo sweaty. 

<3

Hampi

Hampi is everything I expected and more! It's so nice here... I feel WAY more comfortable here than anywhere else in India. My bed is on the roof of Sharmillas house. I have a mattress and a mosquito net its so airy and nice.
That being said I've spent the last 24 hours feeling verrrry sick. I felt like I did when I had swine flu- major body cramps and chills even though I was sweating. I talked to Sharmilla (the owner/ mama bear to everyone who stays here) she hooked me up with some magic Indian pills and I just slept all day. I think that after a few days of traveling and being so cautious of everything I finally relaxed and it was very hard on my body. After whatever Sharmilla gave me and a good nap I felt a lot better (still not 100%) but I climbed tonight! It was so awesome!! The boulders are amazing and the people are really fun. I don't have the means to upload pics yet but if I get the chance I'll post some. Met a guy from Toronto today and climbed with him. There's so much shopping here- and so cheap! You can haggle everything to like $4.
Might go out and climb tmrw again- I'm hoping I'm over my sickness.
Miss you all, love you.

Wearing my pants backwards.

So I mentioned yesterday that I had bought some wicked harem pants- couldn't have been happier haha. They're so light and breezy, and I've read in a bunch of different places that if you dress in more traditional Indian clothing that people will stare less. Well! I was walking around yesterday morning getting breakfast and exploring before my train came and I noticed everyone was staring at my pants. I thought it was kind of weird but everyone stares at me all the time anyways. Then I was waiting on my platform for the train and this little girl was pointing and laughing at my pants. Then I realized they're probably on backwards. I had seen a girl wearing similar ones and mentally compared them and then concluded that in fact I was wearing my pants backwards. I laughed and smiled at the girl a silently thanked her for not having a filter or to know its not polite to point and laugh. Its not a big deal though- one time I was climbing in Guelph and realized the same thing haha... It happens. Anyways- when I got on the train I hobbled around in the bathroom and flipped them right way around.
I had an 11 hour train ride from Pune to Hubli- sat with 5 older men who had gone to Uni together 30 years ago and they get together every couple years to do a trip around India. I thought that was pretty cool. Then I transfered to a train from Hubli to Hospet. It was supposed to be 3 hours but that slowly turned into 4 hours. Its interesting how the trains always seem to pick me up on time but never drop me off on time.
I was pretty aprehensive about Indian trains, interestingly the part I thought would be the hardest was actually the easiest. Finding your platform and coach is easy- everything is marked! (1 point for India). Finding your stop however, REALLY hard. Especially in the middle of the night. I got to Hospet at 330am last night and if it wasn't for a nice guy I met on train it would have been a lot more difficult. I have written down how many stops it is to where I'm going and every stop I cross it off- (suchhh a tourist) haha. But then sometimes the train stops in the middle of the tracks... Or at a dark station with no people. Then I don't know whether it was an actual stop or just a break lol. Anyways- I'm done with trains until next week and couldn't be happier about it.
I took a lesson from my Mom and decided that since I was arriving in the middle of the night I'd stay at a more upscale hotel. Someone from the hotel had a little sign for me and drove me to the hotel. Good thing because India streets at 330am is not something I'm really looking to experience. The hotel is pretty sweet. I even had a hot showr and continental breakfast this morning- amazing.
I'm heading to Hampi today, really looking forward to getting there and getting settled for a few days. Everyone I've talked to said I'm going to love it.
Will hopefully be able to update everyone when I get to Hampi.
Love you and miss you!
<3

INDIA!

Holy cow... I've arrived in India. I flew into Mumbai yesterday morning. The first thing I saw when I got out of the terminal was a TV playing the news, a bomb had blown up in Delhi on Monday... greaaaaatttt. It was tarrgeted at a diplomats wife. I'm not going to Delhi but still, not the first thing I wanted to see.
I took a cab to the Dadar train station which was pretty fun. They all drive smart car sized cars- my bag and me barely fit in the back seat. There was a seat belt but I couldn't find the thing you click it into so I just held in across me. Driving in India is pretty funny... everyone just weaves in and out and honks their horns. I think one beep means "I'm going to run you over" and two beeps means "I'm going to run this red light." There are traffic lights but we didn't stop at any of them from the airport to the train station. Not sure how that works.
I had almost 6 hours at Dadar train station to wait for my train which was by far the worst part of my day. The first thing I noticed when I got there was that there are people laying and sitting EVERYWHERE. In the middle of the floor, in all the corners, on the sidewalk. So I figured that it'd be cool if I posted up in a corner to wait for my train. I think that maybe only poor people sprawl out on the floor because I got a lot of weird looks (although perhaps that's just because I'm white?). One guy came over and told me that where I was sitting was very dirty and that I should sit somewhere else.. I picked the spot I thought looked the cleanest and I was sitting on a sheet so I just said thanks I was ok. And then another group of guys came over and asked why I was sitting on the ground, I just told them I was waiting for a train. I put my headphones in but wasn't even listening to music and I had my hat on so it was pretty easy to avoid eye contact. If I did look around though 1/2 the people were staring at me. I dont think the hat helped.. no one in India wears hats.
My train finally came and it was a lot easier to find than I had expected. There were signs that directed me to my platform and coach and the train was right on time. I'm hoping that every train station is set up like that. Knowing where to get off is for sure the most challenging, although I lucked out because the people sitting beside me were getting off at the same stop. I sat with some nice older husband and wife couples. There were interested in my trip and I tried to talk with them as best as I could. Everyone speaks English but I hardly understand it. I just do a lot of nodding and smiling.
The train ride wasn't bad, I was exhausttteed- didn't sleep much on the airplane so I'd pretty much been up for 2 days. I got to Pune and found a hotel right across the road from the train station. The location is amazing, it's really cute looking but the rooms are foul. I did not let anything touch the bed sheets (I rolled out my yoga mat and got out my sheet). It was really cheap (650 rupees, which is like 12 CAD) and it had power and running water so it was fine with me. And the door locked and it had a pretty sweet private court yard, I even had a little porch. I felt safe which is the biggest thing.
I walked around Pune, bought an amazing pair of harem pants and got a really delicious vegetarian Indian thali for dinner. I hadn't eaten all day so the spicyness kind of hurt my stomach but it didn't last long. I was in bed by 8pm, exhausted from all the traveling. Had a pretty good sleep and now here I am. There's an internet cafe above the train station. I'm going to get some breakfast and snacks for my 14 hours of trains I have today. By the end of today I hope to be in Hospet. And then tomorrow I'll take a quick bus to Hampi!! I'm hoping that I'll meet other travelers there because so far I haven't met anyone (a nice English girl chatted to me for a minute before she got off the train yesterday). I'm also hoping once I get to Hampi where I'm staying for a week, I'll feel more comfortable- instead of having to navigate trains all day.
Yesterday definetly began terribly... but ended really well! I dont plan on having any more 6 hour waits in train statins so hopefully will not have to experience that again.
I miss everyone, I wish you guys could be here with me.
Love you all <3

I'm a turkey!

I'm not actually a turkey, but I'm in Turkey for a layover. Just hanging out at Starbucks. First flight was alright.. I was so psyched because everyone was seated and the 2 seats beside me were still open and then some lady from 4 rows up asked if she could be moved back into my row. Lame. It was alright though, we took turns curling up on the empty seat. Of course I was surrounded by new borns but they only screamed on take off and landing.
I always find it funny that when you get a vegetarian meal on a flight its not just the meat they take out, they don't give you the good desserts either. The girl beside me had raspberry cheesecake and I got a fruit bowl haha. And for breakfast she got a little plate of cheese and a wicked looking omlette and I got a bowl of celery and some pancakes with weird apple pie filling. I thought about asking for a regular meal but so often they don't have veg meals for me so I figured I better not complain. Ill bring my own dessert next time.
The Istanbul airport seems pretty small.. The gate for my flight isn't even up yet- they put it up an hour before the flight.
I'm pretty tired.. I slept a little on the flight but all my limbs kept falling asleep. I had a really vivid dream that the flight attendants came by for a mid flight snack and I got a muffin.. And then when I woke up I was SO confused about whether or not it was true. Apparently the Malaria pills I'm taking have been known to cause crazy dreams. Maybe its just a coincidence since I started taking them my dreams have been SO vivid and real! Cooooooool.
I'm gonna go check if my gate is posted- they make announcements in English (apparentl) but I can't make out anything they say.
<3

Bye Canada!

The plane starts boarding in 10 minutes. My first flight is to Istanbul, about 10 hours. I have a 2.5 hour layover and then off to Mumbai- about 7 hours. My nerves are calming but I think that's because it doesn't feel real yet.

I wanted to share a poem that I really like- when I read it brings me back down to Earth.

Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy

Will miss you all!!
<3

PLANS PLANS PLANS.

T minus 5 days until I leave!!! I've had SO much on my mind this week... I have my fire pre fit test on Friday that I've been working out for. And I'm writing my GRE on Saturday afternoon.. it's the exam you have to write to go to grad school in the states. I've been trying to study hard but all I can think about is India- everything I have to do, everything I'm going to do, things I need to book or get before I leave.



This is what I'm expecting... free air conditioning anyways.

Exchanging Canadian dollars for Rupees makes me feel rich (haha), $500 CAD for about 24 000 INR. I like it.
I've reworked my trains so I'm not on a waiting list anymore.. it was making me nervous not knowing for sure that I'd have trains. Also, I've decided on the sleeper class (only class open haha). I've read a lot here's a great blog post; and I think experiencing sleeper class will be one of the highlights.

When I land I'm going Mumabi to Pune (about 3 hours), staying the night in Pune... will give me a chance to regroup after the flight, and will also leave room for delays in my flight. The next day I'm going Pune to Hubli (11 hours) and Hubli to Hospet (3 hours). Depending on how I'm feeling/what Hospet is like I'll either stay in Hospet for the night or take a bus/ auto rickshaw to Hampi. I've got accomodations in Hampi at the Goan Corner that my friend Ashley recommended to me. It's where a lot of the climbers stay so hopefully I'll be able to meet people to climb with.
I'm staying in Hampi for a week and then taking the train to Goa. I arrive in Goa Thursday night and my yoga course starts Saturday afternoon. I think I'll explore South Goa on the Friday but make my way to Ashiyana Goa for Friday night.
My plans for after Yoga are up in the air but I have a rough outline..

Madikeri, Karnataka which has cool trekking and hiking in the rain forest as well as a cool spice market.

Mysore, Karnataka has a biking tour of the city that is of interest to me, as well as another market and a huge silk outlet factory (SCARVEESS!)

Then hopefully down to Kerala; Wayanad, Kochi, Lakshadweep Islands. There are tons of boat tours and cool nature trips. The Lakshadweep Islands look amazing, some are inhibited and some have introduced "eco tourism" where you can stay at the guest houses and explore the island.

From there I'll head back to Mumbai (thinking by plane for the sake of time) and then I'll have my last few days in Mumbai.

See all the fun stuff I want to research that is drawing my attention away from the GRE studying... which I should get back to now.

CAN'T WAIT!!

A little last minute...

HAMPI!!


So in typical Emma fashion I've left booking trains and getting immunizations till the last minute. So far it's working out alright. I have an appointment with a travel clinic on Thursday.. I've been reading and Oonagh sent me a whole bunch of information. As far as I can see I need anti-malaria pills, Dukoral (travelers diarrhea) and typhoid immunization. Hopefully they'll be able to prescribe them for me.. and hopefully insurance covers most (or all) of the costs.

Booking trains was a little ridiculous.. India is 10.5 hours ahead of us (yeah a half an hour.. weird?!) and the train websites aren't open during their nights which are our days. And then one of the trains (Mumbai to Hubli) is currently full so I'm on the waitlist. I'm hopeful though, I went from 14 to 9 already in less than a day. If that doesn't work out I'll have to find another way to get to Hubli. From there I'm going to Hospet and then Hampi. I'm trying to find climbing partners online but from what I've heard it'll be easy to meet people to climb with while I'm there.

I also booked my train from Hospet to Goa on February 23... that gives me about a week in Hampi. Not only for climbing but it has tons of history and great places to see.

I'm getting more excited as my plans become more concrete. When I tell people I'm going to India everyone's got little tips or ideas for me. It's great to hear from people who have been there to learn some insider tips.

New York City

Tomorrow is our last day in NY... we've been all over Manhattan and over to Staten Island. Our first night here we saw Sister Act on Broadway- it was pretty good. They didnt have my favourite song from the movie but it was still goos. During the days we did the 'hop on, hop off' buses that take you around the city. We saw (and walked around) Greenwich Village, SOHO, Times Square. We took the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. We also saw The Lion King on broadway and it was amaaaazing!! The music and dancing was unreal. Last night i went to Manhattan Climbing gym which was also awesome. The location was neat... on a rooftop gym just outside Times Square. Mum and I got facials this morning which was good timing because it was snowing/ raining/ slushy. We checked out Rockafeller Centre and then relaxed this afternoon. We're catching a shuttle to the Newark Airport tmrw morning. Hoping for no weather delays AND hoping they get our luggage on the plane! Been quite the week, done SO much, I'm exhausted.

Baaahstan (Boston)

Got into Boston last night... stood at the carosel for 45 minutes and then we realized that the bags werent going to be coming. There wasnt anybody in the terminal from Porter or anybody who knew anything. A craaaaazy lady in a fur coat was running around yelling at people and people on the phone trying to call Porter... finally some airport lady made a call and found that our bags hadnt made it on our flight and they were put on another flight that would be an hour or more. Should have seen crazy fur coat lady when she heard that... haha. We decided to wait rather than trust the airport to send our luggage to our hotel. We grabbed dinner and then tried to figure out where our bags were. The people we were waiting with were interesting- 2 theatre master students from some college in Boston they described as "the hipster Harvard" and a student in his first yr at Harvard who was very impressive... and then these 2 blonde women who called eachother "giiiirrrrrl" and documented the whole thing on their iphones, and tweeted their pictures for all their friends #somadatporter. I thought for suuuure Ashton Kutcher was gonna come out and tell me i was being Punked. More than 4 hours later we got our bags and took the subway to Cambridge.

Today we walked around, sat in on a tour of campus for a bit. Harvard is gorgeous and has lots of cool history. There are tonnnes of bookstores that we've checked out. Its frreeeeeeziiinng here but its supposed to warm up tmrw. We're heading across the river tmrw to highbury street among other things.

Better get it together if i want to do my masters here- I think competition is preeeettttyyy stiff.

India!

My next adventure is India!! I`ve booked my flights for February 13 and I`ll be coming home April 9. From February 26 to March 25 I`ll be doing a yoga teacher training course at Ashiyana in Goa. The accommodations look AMAZING and I`m so excited for some yoga and meditation in such a beautiful place. The rest of my trip is to be determined. I`m doing research right now trying to decide my best options.
So far places/ things of interest are...
- Hampi (amazing climbing!!)
- Bangalore
- Mysore
- Bijapur
- Mumbai (I fly in and out of Mumbai)
- Goa (obviously spending a lot of time here already but the surrounding areas look gorgeous)
I'm sure I'll find more things of interest as I continue my research and reading.

My thought is that I'll arrive in Mumbai and take a train to Bijapur or Hospet. From there I can get a bus or train to Hampi. The train from Mumbai to Hospet is almost 24 hours... and if it's anything like the sleeper train I took in China it'll be an experience.
So far my attempts to book trains online have been futile... the websites are so confusing it's almost funny. Oonagh has helped me out with a website that she used to book train tickets, she said it's much more straight forward so I'm going to try that.
If the train is anything like the website I'm in for some fun.

VERYYY excited, but definitely a little apprehensive!