Ouch. Owowowowowowowowowow! While yoga on the beach in India has a lovely ring to it, the actual activity has left me sore and wishing I never came up with such a bright idea. Well, to be truthful, I am actually very much enjoying the course, aside from the not being able to walk part. The teacher, one venerable Sharat Arora, who studied under B.K.S. Iyengar himself, is both to the point and uncompromising. As he put it on the first day, "I can look at your body and know what it can achieve. If you are not striving for that 100%, then I will know". And he does, trust me, there is no wimping out in this class. I felt very dizzy on the first day and when I was taking a break at the back ... read more

I will pick up from where I left off a few days ago. Last you heard from me I was explaining the "clear and purposeful" feeling at one end of my emotional spectrum. At the other end awaits something much darker. It is not like the freeing darkness that I feel when walking on the beach at night before the moon has caught the light of the sun. This darkness makes me "feel" useless. It makes me feel despair. This side is frustrated by the unending questions without any answers and wants to snub its nose at India and return to the safety of comatose ignorance. Let me tell you why. This is one of many similar, daily situations I experience. Walking along the main street in Arambol a boy comes up to me with his ... read more

Hello all, A significant amount of time has passed since my last entry and although Sarah and I have been busily lazing on the beaches of Goa, distraction has not been the reason for my absence. We have been in Arambol about a week. I say "about" because I don't actually know how long it has been, nor do I particularly care to. Time has suddenly become a very novel concept. The sun rises and sets and that's about all one need know. In this week I have been searching my brain for an appropriate way to describe where I am. In my journal I have played with various literary devices, attacking India from all sides. It is putting up resistance. But it does not lash violently out at me; that would at least give me ... read more

So, it has been a while since I posted but to be honest, we haven't done much! We spent the last few days lazing on the beach, reading books and stopping only to cool off in the sea or have a cool drink. Carlie had a bit of a stomach bug for a couple of days, but luckily she is mostly over that and it only kept her one day from the sand. We have been trying out different cafes along the beach, for breakfast and dinner, and we found one that was playing Bob Marley. I felt like we were in the Caribbean. Yesterday we befriended two new guys. One was a German Dermatologist from Berlin, who told us about an amazing concert on the beach last night. It was northern Indian musicians with a ... read more

Hi Everyone! Time for a bit of catch-up again. Sarah and I made it back to London by bus and said our sad goodbyes to David, Sam and Laurie. With our heavy packs strapped to our backs, we ever so slowly made our way to Heathrow. Forget the glamour of travel at times like these. Sarah and I were simply trying not to turtle. Traversing London during rush hour is tough. We arrived at the airport behind schedule and were welcomed with an hour-long check-in line. By some stroke of good fortune, Sarah and I were in chirpy moods once we arrived at the desk. The clerk engaged us in a bit of banter and then, wait for it.........we got upgraded! I would love to attribute this to our charming personalties and the clerk's instant adoration ... read more

So we finally arrived in Mumbai after a late flight. The good news was that we got upgraded, thanks to just looking like nice people, so we had loads of room and comfy seats the whole way. 8 hours later and we are in Mumbai and everything we have read is right there in front of us. Was crazy taxi ride to the hotel. Long, hot , dusty and constant horns and people trying to sell things. It was a very insane introduction to India. It is lovely and warm here (not to rub it in) and we arrived at the hotel to find it a good pick. Baisic and fairly clean, no complaints. I think I will like India, atleast that I my first impression. I think we are still a bit shell shocked but ... read more

According to the locals, THE thing to do in Cardiff is see Cardiff Castle. The last time I was here, the sole and soul goal was to make it to the Howell's sales. (Howell's being Cardiff's equivalent of London's Harrods.) Upon this return visit, I grew embarrassed at my unabashed consumerism and lack of want for Welsh culture. Cardiff Castle now topped my list of necessary sites of seeing. The locals I speak of are friends of Sarah's, one of who lived in Victoria, BC for a year. They have graciously opened their lush three-bedroom apartment to us for the two nights that we are here. The usual suspects are as follows: Joe, very good friend of Sarah's. Lived in Victoria for a year. Met us at the bus depot when we arrived in Cardiff to ... read more