So as promised we were up early an Raj took the three of us out for a magical mystery tour through North Mumbai. Kiki, Pam and I piled into the back of Raj's car, while his wife and son took the passenger seat. The morning traffic was starting to build, even though it was still early cars were veering wildly left to right to get through honking horns loudly as they went. We passed through a toll which Raj told us meant we were leaving the city...technically. We were taken into the 'countryside' which although still built up did not have the same feel of people living in each others pockets that the rest of Mumbai had. Sticking with tradition I was starting to drift off to sleep gripping tightly to the door handle so as ... read more

The Chennai Egmore Express arrived in Ernakulam Junction at about 4.45am. Weary and slightly dehydrated I dragged my bag off the train and walked down the platform. My sunburn still hadn't settled and my bag felt heavy as it rubbed my shoulders. I found a bakery halfway down the platform and couldn't resist. I was in the mood for more of the sweets that I had tasted in Varanasi with Julie and Diane, but settled for two slices of cream cake and two small chocolate almond balls. It tasted heavenly, the cream tasted exactly like cream cheese topping you'd get on a carrot cake and the chocolate balls as though they were laced with rum - it was much needed after my train journey. I decided not to leave the station just yet as the thought ... read more

So after a rather heavy, alcohol fuelled Thursday evening, yesterday was a total write off as far as meaningful activity goes. Needless to say I was in no fit state to do any yoga other than lying down on the yoga mat! Today was entirely different. With a blood alcohol level of zero and a reasonable nights sleep (mainly because I was reluctant to turn the ceiling fan on so as not to wake David up, and visa versa) I got up to go running along the beach. David had got up to do yoga with Carrie again, so we both headed down to the beach. It was just starting to heat up, but bearable enough to do so some exercise. Kerala is one of the south most regions of India and as such very hot ... read more

Today's routine, needless to say, was much the same as yesterday and I very much doubt it will change until I leave. This mornings Satsang was in the temple rather than the lake and I was less full of beans than yesterday. Yoga was good and breakfast was very welcome, although I avoided the rice and bread as much as I could to avoid the food baby which had often developed after previous meals. From here on in my karma yoga was sweeping the dorm area and emptying the bins. India doesn't have brooms as we know them in England, more a collection of reeds, set at an angle and tied together at one end. I has wondered last night if I would be able to do a week of this routine, as it felt like ... read more

The wake up bell sounded at 5.20am and as I lay there contemplating what I'd let myself in for, a creepy disembodied voice said 'Om. Time to get up'. The voice belonged to one of the teachers with plenty of sleep under my belt I was showered and ready for our silent walk to the lakeside for morning Satsang. The ashram visitors made their way to the lake in almost silence, snaking their way down the paths. We all meditated as the sun rose over the hill tops and it was glorious! We returned to the ashram and had a very welcome cup of chi tea. I was surprised at my lack of grumpiness seeing as I hadn't been fed, but it seemed quite natural and normal not to have eaten. Next was the first yoga ... read more

I was going to make it to the ashram at Neyyardam today, come what may. I headed back to the Kyvalya for breakfast and had scrambled eggs and puttu. Puttu is freshly grated coconut and a soft mashed rice mix that is rolled into a an inch and a half think roll, and from what I could taste steamed. It was quite dry and without the coconut would have been rather tasteless, but it was a welcome change from my staple train diet of biscuits! After booking my three night stay in Mumbai I went back to the hotel to get my things together and make my way to the bus station. Today felt less hurried than yesterday as I was closer to my goal. It was safe to say that Lucky had been half right ... read more

I was up, showered and out of the door by 9am today. I was massively conscious of the time it would take to travel from Kochi to Trivandrum and wanted to get to the yoga ashram before it got dark.Tag's owners neighbour was a tuc tuc man and Rafi took me from Tag to the ferry port. He, like many others I had met, had been born, raised and still lived in his hometown. He took me on a small sightseeing tour on the way to the ferry. Fort Kochi was a beautiful, idyllic place and I was sad to leave without having chance to explore. Perhaps I'd go back after some time in the Ashram. The ferry ride was twenty five minutes and was very serene. Most of the locals on the ferry with me ... read more

Today has been very uneventful. Having got up at 8ish and had a workout on the TRX I went downstairs for breakfast. I was now the only person staying at the hotel that wasn't with any of the wedding parties and as such caused much confusion when I asked for breakfast. I was seated in the restaurant all on my own and offered toast, coffee and possibly the best omelet of the trip. I did feel rather silly being in a huge restaurant with one light on as a man cam round to spray the curtains with some sort of pesticide thing strapped to his back. After I had checked out and stored my bag till later, I went out to meet Vanesh, as he was going to help me book my onward trip from Kochi ... read more

After a solid nights sleep on the train (a real treat) I arrived in Delhi near enough on time. This was pleasantly unexpected after my last train ride being delayed by such a long time. I called Hapi at Bridge the World Tours just to confirm my pick up and drop off at the airport. He told me to make my way to the main gate and a driver would be there in five minutes. After some confusion as to which side the main gate was, I crossed back over the tracks towards the main gate, where to my surprise the friendly face of Mama was waiting for me with a huge cheesy grin on his face! He asked how I was and I asked if he had enjoyed his time with his family. It felt ... read more

With four hours sleep under my belt I got showered and ready to meet the girls for our sunrise boat trip along the Ganges. It was 5.30am as the girls and our driver pulled up outside the OK. Every time I had been awake at this time, the various cities I'd been to in India were quiet - no horns, no hubbub - but Varanasi was different. As we made our way to the Ghats the main street was filled with throngs of people, cars and tuc tuc's all making their way there too! We got on our tour boat with our guide and headed up stream. The Ghats were just as busy as they had been last night,. Hundreds of people all sat in boats or on the shore waiting for sunrise. As it began ... read more