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
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
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
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
Friday, February 24, 2012
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
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
Thursday, February 23, 2012
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
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
Saturday, February 18, 2012
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.
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.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
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
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
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
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 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
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