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 [View Full Entry]

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…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 [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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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, [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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I'd heard a bit about India, the busy streets, the beeping horns, the poverty and the indifferent attitude to men wandering the streets holding hands just cos they feel like it. I guess I felt pretty prepared for Mumbai.. My days there were pretty relaxed.. In a rushed not at all relaxed kind of way :) I figured I go against the norm & settle myself in slowly so I got taxi from the airport and it was pretty good in my 'Cool Cab' with a funky yellow roof and lack of wing mirrors- why bother? They never use them! [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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