DauntlessNumpty

It occurs to me that I haven’t really written anything about my original time in Nasik & Trimbak. Basically I did yoga and a short course in Ayurveda. It was great. There were lots of wonderfully great people. We had great chats, learnt great things and did great things. On our days off we also did great things. I went to lots of temples and saw bathing places, not just our showers, and the Godavari River. I may write more later, there is just so much to write. I gained a certificate, or three, which say I am qualified to teach yoga, to real people, not just myself, all I gotta do is find some real people to teach. Anyway, Maryline and I, save spending 5 extra rupees than it should’ve cost, being indifferent to being ... read more

Actually I lied, please forgive me, you do speak on the 10th afternoon, it’s called a shock absorber so you are ready to go out into the world and communicate with people. You would laugh at this concept I know, but even I, and it seems I than quite a few chatty others, even I, who we all know likes to talk, didn’t want to speak. I really didn’t want to speak. I suppose I was quite happy narrating every action to myself. It is not part of Vipassana to narrate each action, that is something my wonderful mind decided to do all by itself. If you wonder what I mean by narrating it’s kinda like what I am writing now.. Except I wasn’t writing, you’re not allowed to read or write, or listen to music, ... read more

On the train from Goa I found my place and a hiccupping girl helped me put my bag on my bunk. She mumbled something I didn’t quite understand about my bag and proceeded to sit opposite me, continue hiccupping and smirking at herself for hiccupping. We became great friends. I’ve since asked her what she mumbled about my bag, and she did tell me, but I’ve forgotten. Once she got over her hiccups we chatted and chatted and she decided she would try and come to do the vipassana I was heading to do in Igatpuri. She told me she had wanted to do one anyway, so we decided to try and get her on the course. We got on so well and chatted so much it seemed only logical that she should join me ... read more

One of Goas most idyllic beaches, home to friendly dogs and cows chilling by the lifeguard tower at sunset, kind of like floozy girls on the beaches in Cornwall. Low season. Not much happening. Taxi drivers thinking up all they can for means of conversation on the, at least 6 ties a day, walk to and from the beach, consisting of ‘Taxi?’ ‘No thank you’ ‘Maybe tomorrow..’ If they hoped I’d get the message and bugger off by the 6th day, I’d hoped they’d get the message and bugger off asking by the 7th. Neither of us did. In any case, I got the bus. Whilst I was there, however, as well as walking the 20m to and from the beach each day- thorough exercise I think- I also eat great food, drank some yellow water ... read more

After our escapades around Aurangabad, Jon and I returned to Mumbai. Ok, Jon went to Mumbai and I returned to Mumbai. Whichever, it was together. I know I hadn’t been particularly fond of Mumbai but I wanted to do a Vipassana in Igatpuri (which I shall write about later) and needed to hang around somewhere close, but cheap, and I wasn’t sure where. Which is not why I went to Mumbai, as it’s not cheap, but it’s a place to decide where to go next. Anyways, Jon needed to spend a couple of days there to pickup a new passport and exit visa as I had previously, before we met, manifested that he should lose them. It. They were in the same place. His passport, he lost it. So, we went to mumbai and, once again, ... read more

…We actually went to visit these before Ajanta so I have no idea why I have written the blog the other way round. Perhaps, you may think, it is my advice to visit Ajanta first, and then Ellora. If you thought that you would be wrong, in fact, it is my advice to visit Ajanta second, not in the order this blog is written. Ellora was nice. We had a nice bus ride there and then it proceeded to rain when we arrived. A lot. It was ok though, we, and two new American friends, took shelter under a big tree whilst the thunder was crashing through the sky, and the lightening was.. crashing.. or something.. through the sky.. to the ground.. wherever. We stood there for a minute and then, on remembering Jon was actually ... read more

The amazing and alluring Ajanta Caves (75*40’N, 20*30’E) (no idea what that means) are famous for their murals which are the finest surviving examples of Indian art, particularly painting, and I must say a hell of a lot ore enticing than anything I saw in the Museum of Modern Art in Mumbai. These caves were excavated in horse-shoe shaped band of rock scarp, home to lots of lovely squirrels, nearly 76m in height overlooking a narrow stream, which consisted of a dry bed at the time of our visit, known as Waghora, with a very impressive waterfall at one end that actually showed shallow traces of water left in pools. The location of this valley provided a calm and serene environment for the Buddhist monks who retreated at these secluded places during the rainy season, and ... read more

Nasik is a really friendly place, so is Trimbuk (where the ashram is actually situated).. it's no suprise I want to stay longer. The yoga course is finishing in a couple of days, and the plan is to stay for the ayurveda and then volunteer for a while. Editing the Yoga books. Hmm.. my literary skills are pretty non-existent (can't pull the wool over ur eyes can i?!) But at least it'll be a slight improvement. Or at least it should be, I am english.. There's a lot to help with, whatever it may be. Since uploading my pics on here I've taken a zillion more.. more hindi parties, singing, dancing, temples, baths and more people throwing their children at me for photos (ah, filmed the cutest 5yr old singing mantras at last nights party..sooo ... read more