Another Day, Another Coconut

As I sit here typing this, the neighbors are fighting and have been for the past few hours.  They took a little break about an hour ago after the fight turned violent.  I can’t understand a thing they are saying, but from what I can gather the wife is the one angry with the husband.  She is screaming at him while he answers her back in a loud, collected voice.  At some point she spat on him and started hitting him and their daughter started screaming trying to stop the fight.  I’m not sure if he hit her back, but he ended up leaving shortly after.  Now he is back and the fight is back on.  The speakers on my computer aren't loud enough to drown out their voices.  Today is a day that I appreciate being single again.  Living in dysfunction for over 5 years I got use to the drama and chaos.  These days my life is drama free and I no longer worry if it’s Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde I’m coming home to.

This afternoon I intended in joining Christian’s class to experience this new teacher he has been raving about.  As luck would have it, I’m going through another bout of stomach issues and everything else that comes along with it.  I finally ate chicken and now I am paying the price for it.  It’s the first source of animal protein I have eaten since leaving for my trip.  Guess I’ll be sticking to the vegetarian diet from now on.

Practice was good this morning.  I’m going to stop writing I woke up tired because that is the case every day.  Saraswathi added a new asana to my practice and it’s only with her assistance that I am able to hold the pose.  I’ll be working on this one for a while.  My Sanskrit and chanting class is now in the mornings and today was a good class also.  For some reason I am a little more focused today and able to pay attention.  With that said it made me think about this mornings’ practice.  I hit a dead brain cell and couldn’t remember the next asana.  Eventually as my brain cells rotated I figured it out. 

Lately there is this new rave about the health benefits of coconuts/coconut juice.  Across the shop from DANC’s shop is a company that makes and distributes coconut juice.  Every time I pick him up I always ask him to bring me a juice.  Well every morning there is a guy that sells fresh coconuts in front of the shala.  There is also a coconut stand down the street.  The company that sells the coconut juice charges about $24.00 for a pack of 12, 11 ounces each.  The coconut guy in front of the shala charges $0.20 for the whole coconut and that includes the coconut meat.  The local coffee shop that serves Italian coffee charges less than a dollar for a large cafe mocha and it tastes better than what the anti-christ of coffee companies sells.  For lunch Christian ordered large café mocha with an extra shot of espresso, a vegetarian wrap and a chocolate chip muffin and spent $4.20.  The American dollar goes a long way here.  It’s insane to think the amount of money I spend on unnecessary and pointless things living in the United States.  With one pair of jeans and a shirt¹, I can pay a month’s worth of rent, one-month tuition to a mediocre yoga school and have some left over for food.  This doesn’t mean I’m not going to waste my money when I get back home, but on concert tickets alone I spend more than the average person.  Sometimes it takes being away and living in different conditions to realize that I have a pretty good life.  I know it’s good, but I still sometimes forget how good it really is.

So where does this leave you the reader and me with the mindless blabbing?  Nowhere, really.  Like I said, I have too much time on my hands and can only read so much on yoga philosophy.  I'm considering taking cooking lessons or someone even suggested sitar.  Cooking Indian food may not be a great idea considering it is currently making me sick.  The sitar on the other hand could be very promising.  If I don't find a job when I get back I will at least have a future on the 3rd Street Promenade.   

1.  I really didn’t buy those jeans.  My sponsor MCat did 

Sunday…

Another LED class this morning. Today I had a hard time getting up and thought twice about practicing. It’s hard for me to go to bed early and I end up not getting enough sleep.

Today, Christian and I went on a little adventure. I got to pick any place that was within reason of the scooter ride and he would in turn drive us. I’m not sure how I convinced him to go with me. Just the other day he told me that he wasn’t interested in the culture and that he doesn’t care about sightseeing. Whatever it was that changed his mind, I’m grateful he wants to go.

The plan was after breakfast we would head to Brindavan Gardens and then check out Mysore Palace and Chamundi Hill late afternoon. Brindavan Gardens was a bit farther than the road signs indicated and the trek took us a little longer than we expected. The ride up there was beautiful and very green and we also found the bird sanctuary, which will be another one of our excursions.

I don’t really have much to say about the garden, which in all honesty I am just too lazy to write about it. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Email me if you want a link to the pics or look on FB.

In the afternoon we headed in to town to find this bookstore that supposedly had a huge selection of yoga books. The traffic and the air quality in this part of town is horrendous. There isn’t much breathing room between riders, cars and buses and I worry about someone snatching my bag. We found the bookstore and it was closed. Our next stop was the palace and that plan didn’t work out either. The streets were so crowded and there were so many people that we ditched the idea and headed up to Chamundi Hill.

Chamundi Hill is about a thousand feet above from the city. The further away we got from town the cleaner the air and fewer people. Throughout the ride there are signs posted that plastic bag weren’t allowed up on the hill. I thought this was cool and strange at the same time. It’s India.. We can’t get people in the United States to stop using plastic bags and here is this country that is considered third world concerned about the environment.

The top of Chamundi Hill was not what I imagined. The streets are lined with various vendors selling chotskies and the best part of all are the monkeys! There are lots of monkeys hanging around and playing amongst themselves. There are also cows or bulls or whatever they are defecating everywhere. I know they are sacred and all, but do they really have to defecate every where? Where is the poop police when you need them?

We walked around the temple and saw that there was an entrance leading inside. Shoes weren’t allowed inside so we had to leave them with shoe valets. The shoe valet is about a 100 feet from the temple entrance and that was far enough for me to be walking barefoot to think twice about going in. As I was standing there debating this guy walking barefoot steps in the biggest pile of poop. He looked down for second to see what he stepped on and kept on walking. If that were me, I would have been crying and screaming for the CDC. I eventually got over it and made it inside.  Christian was making fun of me as I walked carefully on the side of my foot not wanting to completely step down. I don’t even remember what we saw inside. Cameras weren’t allowed and the only thing I remember are these guys holding some tray with a flame around it asking for donations. I don’t think that was worth taking my shoes off for and risking stepping on poop, but the outside of the temple is beautiful.

Lessons learned:
1. Taking B Complex #1 to prevent mosquito bites doesn't work
2. Before getting a massage, research the type of massage
3. When traveling overseas, bring lots of snacks
4. If the water is murky do not drink it. Regardless if it’s in a water jug
5. When disgusted in public it is best to not make a funny face

My First Ayurvedic Massage

**If Rainbow were here she would of been laughing at me… Yep, definitely cracking up…**

My first Ayurvedic massage experience is a bit of a shock. I was ganged massaged and feel slightly violated and good at the same time. Unlike many massages I’ve had before I had to completely strip in front of these two women that gave me the treatment. A piece of twine was then tied around my waist with a paper cloth inbetween my legs. It gets better..

The first part of the treatment I had to sit on this stool as one of the ladies poured oil and rubbed my head. That wouldn’t have been so bad except for the fact that I was naked and while the lady worked the other one was just watching. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I’m a bit of a freak and I don’t deny it. Even my 7-year-old nephew says so. The next part of the massage I was able to move to the table lying face up. Got more oil rubbed on me and kept counting the minutes when I would be able to turn over. Not sure how an Ayurvedic massage is conducted in the United States, but for some reason I don’t think it is the same here. My chest and stomach were included in the massage and living with someone that was a masseuse I know that is somewhat forbidden territory. Well at least the chest part. When I say chest, I mean everything. Not just my pectoral muscles. I mean the WHOLE chest area, center included. The massage was a relaxation massage and with all the touching going on I don’t know how that was possible. Several times the masseuse kept reminding me to relax and in my head I kept trying to go into my happy place. My eyes were closed, but I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. I didn’t sign up for this “special” treatment. I just wanted to have my shoulders and neck worked on. The moment finally came when I was able to turn over and that wasn’t any better as far as my comfort level went. My butt got a lot of love and attention and slapped a few times here and there. While one lady was working my neck, the other one was digging into my calf. After the massage I went into a steam box and in there I was able to really relax.  When I got out of the steam box both of the ladies were waiting to wipe me down.  As I was standing there getting my wipe down one of them began to ask me about Michael Jackson.  I was polite and tried to answer her questions as best as I could, but at that point I just wanted to put my clothes back on.  

Overall the massage was great. My neck doesn’t hurt as bad and my shoulders have loosened up a bit. The doctor suggested that I sign up for a 7-21 day treatment that includes herbs, detox, etc. I’m highly considering the treatment and with time maybe I can get over some of the insecurities I have. It is India and everyone kept telling me that it would be a life changing experience. Ha!

If Blah Only Meant Something

Not much going on today. The shala is closed and there is no practice. I woke up at 4 as if I had practice and eventually fell back asleep. I thought I was dreaming when I heard someone knocking on my door and it was Christian waking me up for breakfast. By then it was 9:45 and I felt like I wasted half of my day sleeping. Since the shala is closed today, so is Santosha, the local breakfast place that I have been eating at all week. On Saturday Joseph makes breakfast for the guests and he made the best fruit salad I've ever had with flax seed dressing. I ate a little too much though and got a stomach ache. That isn't really saying much considering since I've been here my stomach hurts after every meal.

Christian who has become my adventure mate is feeling under the weather today so we are staying in. At first I wasn't so keen on staying in today, but as it turns out, I'm not feeling all that well either. My neck is all screwed up and I'm in a lot of pain. Top that with a pounding headache and a stomach ache and I’ve become a fine mess. The weather isn’t helping matters either. The skies are gray and there is no sight of the sun. I made an appointment to get an ayurvedic massage this afternoon that might help my situation out. Until then I’m going to do nothing but lie here and watch the day go by.

Scooter Getaway

Day 4 of practice. Yet another day waking up tired. LED class this morning and I literally got my butt kicked. My shoulders hurt, my legs and hips were sore and my body wouldn't warm up fast enough. Tomorrow will be a much needed rest day. The shala is closed every Saturday and I'm looking forward to staying up past 9 pm tonight and sleeping in past 4:00 am. These days it's really the little things that make my day.

Earlier this afternoon, Christian and I rode into the city to find a bookstore. After purchasing our books we ventured over to the marketplace to look at the vegetable and fruit stands. As I was walking into the entrance I feel this tug on my pant leg and as I continue to walk the tugging is continuing. I look down and there is this little girl following me around asking for money. I had such an averse reaction that I think it kind of scared her a little bit. Last night Christian and I were watching an episode of "South Park" titled "Night of the Living Homeless". It's about homeless people invading South Park asking for change in a zombie-like manner. The homeless live on change, almost like food. Regardless how much change you give them they ask for more change. Let me make it clear that I'm not comparing the poverty in India to a "South Park" episode. I'm merely stating that it was ironic to see that particular episode and experience something similar the following day.

I shook my head and the little girl eventually went away. Took two steps and there was a hand in my face asking for the same thing. Took another few steps toward the banana stand and now there is mother with her two children following me around. At this point the adventure to the marketplace wasn't fun anymore. I couldn't stand being there and wanted to leave. As we were getting on a scooter another mother with her two children approached us and she had her kid stand right at the back of the scooter making it impossible for me to get on. Christian moved forward and I could not have jumped on the back of that scooter any faster. I've read and heard about people begging in India, but I wasn't quite prepared for what I saw today. The poverty here is worse than the Philippines and I thought that was bad. Too see the elderly and such young children beg breaks my heart. My reason for darting out of the marketplace is not that I'm disgusted with these people. I can't stand to see people living that way and even if I gave them all the money in my pocket the problem would still be there. Giving money to one person also causes the domino effect. If I give one person change, they would multiply like gremlins.

Riding back to Gokulam made me realize that this area is somewhat surrounded by a bubble. The houses here are huge, it doesn't smell as bad and for the most part I can walk around and be safe.

Just In Case You Didn't Think You Were Dumb Enough

Woke up tired this morning. Not that is any different from the past few mornings. You know you are waking up too early when the dog that usually barks at you all day as your passing is too tired to even acknowledge your presence. Haven't died from jet lag yet, but my stomach isn't happy. I'm still waking up in the middle of the night, but now I'm able to go back to sleep. I still worry about not getting up on time to be at the shala by 4:45. With time, I hope my body acclimates to the schedule.

So far things are going okay. A little too slow for me. Usually after practice, I get breakfast, head back to the house, go on the internet and read about yoga. I'm starting to experience cabin fever and that is not a good place for me. I'll start getting home sick and will start questioning my decision to be here. Yesterday I was so bored that I was taking pictures of my banana. It wasn't just a regular banana though. It was a red banana and they are short and thick. I even named it which I won't share cause it's inappropriate and the best part is that my flatmate busted me taking pictures. Boredom and I don't work well together. I start thinking too much and do stupid things.



Joseph is getting me a scooter today, so I'm hoping things will change for me being more mobile. I'm a little hesitant with the scooter, but excited at the same time. The drivers here don't follow any set of rules and the majority of the riders do not wear helmets. The Indian law is that the driver of the motorcycle or scooter has to wear a helmet, but not the passenger and in most cases passengers. I've seen up to 3 people on a motorcycle and somehow it doesn't seem very safe.

Day 2 of practice and had a so-so day of practice. I was able to get into a few more poses that I usually can't hold, but my breathing was not right. I feel like I'm not inhaling correctly and keep holding my breath when I transition. It makes it harder for me to concentrate and my focus shifts. I'm still excited to see how my practice will evolve being here.

The shala also offers Sanskrit and chanting classes that are held every Wednesday, Friday and maybe Monday. Last night was the first class and I'm sad to say that I was the only student. I thought there would be more people, but I was it. The private lesson and special attention is great, but the teacher is solely focused on me. I'm forced to pay attention and it doesn't allow my mind to wander like the frequent flier that it is. Being in the class I feel like I'm in ESL or some sort of remedial class. Let's just say I need Sanskrit for dumber than dummies and won't even bother with the chanting part.

song of the day: "Mr. Gaunt Pt 1000" Soap&Skin

One Cookie Spoils the Bunch

After lunch yesterday Christian and I went to a shop and got some cookies. The cookies looked really tasty and I was excited to have a nice little treat. Well this morning after practice I was starving and the first thing I saw were the cookies. I don't normally have cookies for breakfast, but what the heck. I'm in India and know one will know. I took a little bite and tasted something funny, but kept eating thinking my taste buds were off. After eating the whole cookie I still couldn't figure out the special ingredient and the funny taste in my mouth just got worse. From there I decided that the cookie just sucked ass!

just cause it looks good, doesn't mean it tastes good

First Day of Practice

Yesterday I registered with the shala and was given a 5 am start time. When I got back to the house, I was filling Joseph (host) in on the details and he said that the shala clock is 15 minutes early so that would mean my start time would then be 4:45. There have been numerous occasions that I have gotten up that early and it was to drive down south to San Onofre to surf or surf PV cove. If I can get up that early to surf, then I have no reason not to get up at 4:45 to practice. It's just six days out of the week though.

This morning was my first day of practice and I was really nervous. I've heard so many different opinions about the shala and was expecting the worse. I arrived on time which I lost sleep worrying about being late and was fine. I remembered all the asanas I was suppose to and even got to do one more pose that I don't usually include in my regular practice. I received help when I asked for it and would say it was great way to start my day.



this is what my daily walk to the shala or to town looks like (taken in front of house)

song of the day: "Daniel" Bat for Lashes

Poughkeepsie

Had a memory lapse in the shower and accidentally drank water. Usually this wouldn't concern me and I'm sure it's no big deal, but now all I can think about is the scene in "Sex and the City" where Charlotte does a Poughkeepsie in her pants....

Is It Possible To Die From Jet Lag?

My whole sleep schedule is all screwed up. My first night in Mysore and I fell asleep around 6 pm. Woke up at 1 am and couldn't go back to sleep till 3:30 am. Slept for a few hours and woke up at 6 am. The funny thing is that I would wake up hungry and eat trail mix in my sleep. I would roll over and a peanut would be stuck to my cheek. I never eat in my room or in my bed and with this trip I'm breaking all of my rules.

There are only three people staying in the house that I'm renting a room from and one of them is the host. It's a little lonely and Christian, my flatmate from Austria talks just as much as I do so needless to say, it's quiet in this part of the house. Christian was kind enough to show me where to get breakfast and other useful places that will be useful for the duration of my trip. Breakfast is the only real food I have eaten since Singapore, hence eating trail mix in my sleep.

Yesterday when I arrived, Joseph (host) took me around town on his motorcycle to show me some stuff and that was pretty useless. Everything was a blurr and I didn't retain anything, but getting to and from the shala. It seemed like we were going around in circles and everything looked the same. Riding on the back of the motorcycle was pretty fun though. I've come to the conclusion that this is something I really enjoy. During the summer I would ask sMelza to run her errands on her scooter so I can be in the back. At times I would create errands for her to run just to stay out longer. Sometimes it wouldn't work, but it was always worth trying.

I haven't started my practice yet. As a matter of fact, it has been a week since I've practice Ashtanga. My last week home was just so crazy and my focus was elsewhere. I was going to try to practice this morning, but that wasn't going to happen with the delirium I'm suffering from. This afternoon I'll register with the shala and go from there.


on the way to Mysore

song of the day: "By Picadilly Station I Sat Down and Wept"