I am leaving tonight on an overnight train to Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama, nestled in the Himalayan foothills. I will be there for a month or so, volunteering as an Assistant Art Therapist at Art Refuge, to work with Tibetan refugee children. This past week I have spent relaxing in Delhi, sleeping a lot, dealing with a second bout of TD (Traveller's Diarrhea -- I think I picked up a bug eating the food on the plane from Jodhpur) and enjoying the city. This was the week spring turned to summer. It literally happened overnight. One day it was [View Full Entry]

---

---

After leaving Agra, and the glorious Taj Mahal, I travelled by train to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Rajasthan means "land of kings." It is a desert state, replete with camels, mountain top forts, legendary and living maharajahs, women in colourful saris, labyrinthine bazaars filled with turban-topped sellers of silver, slippers, cloth, and much, much more. This is one of the most touristed areas of India, and for good reason. It is magical. I loved it. Kerala, Delhi and Rajasthan are thus far my favourite places in India. However, my entry to Rajasthan was not magical. I arrived at [View Full Entry]

---

---

I finally made it to Agra, city of the Taj Mahal (pronounced MUH-hel). I left last Monday morning, March 20, at about 5:30 a.m., arriving at New Delhi train station while it was still dark. What a terrible place! And so busy, even at that hour, that I had to get out half a block before the station and walk. But the train was on time and two hours later I was met in Agra by a car and driver. It was the start of my Golden Triangle road trip: Delhi-Agra-Jaipur is India's most travelled tourist route. Originally, I had no [View Full Entry]

---

---

This week I celebrated Holi, one of the biggest festivals in India. It was very exciting! But more about that later ... First ... I ended my last blog by writing about how low and tired I felt. I asked the universe for peace and quiet and relaxation ... and the universe sent me Caryl! Caryl is a Canadian woman working with the Canadian High Commission in Delhi, and living on the Canadian compound. We met a while back, in Trivandrum. We were staying at the same guest house. Anyway, Caryl invited me to stay at her beautiful and spacious house, [View Full Entry]

---

---

I have spent about 7 weeks in Delhi (in total) and I FINALLY made it to Old Delhi! People told me I shouldn't go alone, so I have been trying to get someone to go with me, to no avail. Finally, I decided to go by myself, but I chose to go on Sunday (today) when the main market area, Chandni Chowk, is closed and the area is less busy. It was a good choice. Neither the Red Fort nor Jama Masjid -- two of the main attractions in Old Delhi -- were very busy, by Indian standards. There was a [View Full Entry]

---

---

Yesterday was my birthday -- and International Woman's Day -- and I am so thrilled that I spent it in Delhi and with Ajay's family. I am still having a love affair with this city, especially after five weeks in Chennai. For example, two days ago I decided to hop in a taxi and go to a neighbouring colony, called Hauz Kaus, without really knowing what I would find there. I discovered a large, spacious and beautiful park with a large pond (called a tank), fountains and an interesting market of winding lanes, filled with boutiques. It was somewhat European, and [View Full Entry]

---

---

I took "heaps" of pictures during the last days of school at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM) of many of the amazing students and teachers (and friends!) I met there. This entry is primarily a selection of pics of my fellow students and teachers. On Friday night, March 3, they held a graduation for us, and gave each of us a beautiful pink flower and a certificate. TKV Desikachar introduced the guest of honour -- I didn't get her name. She had been the headmistress of a school for a long time, but she wasn't cold or forbidding! She was warm and [View Full Entry]

---

---

March 3 I am writing this on my lunch break, my last day of school at KYM. They served us a traditional South Indian lunch, on banana leafs, on the floor. It was delicious, though I am still not completely comfortable eating rice with my hand. It has been a wonderful experience, though very tiring. The days are long and packed with information. Plus, it is quite hot here (34 C.),very humid and there is no A/C at KYM. We sit on old mats on the floor, and mosquitos are a constant problem. Everynight I feel hot, sticky dirty and smell [View Full Entry]

---

---

My friend asked me for more information about the yoga I am studying at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM), so I will try and impart some of what I am learning. This is a good day to do it, too, because I am having a fantastic day and feel very calm, centred and clear. It's Saturday and I attended the weekly lecture by KYM founder TKV Desikachar, who then spent about an hour with my group, answering questions. Then I went for an amazing brunch with some group members (inlcuding Torontonians Mo and Tiffany) at Eco Cafe -- muesli, watermelon juice, toast, [View Full Entry]

---

---

Thanks for all of your thoughtful comments on my last entry! This entry is very different. Today is Monday, and I spent Saturday and Sunday -- after attending TKV Desikachar's lecture on Saturday morning -- in Pondicherry. TKV is the foudner of Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM) and he speaks every Saturday morning at 8:15 at the school. Last week he spoke on symbolism (he started the lecture by explaining the symbolism of the KYM logo) and about the student-teacher relationship this week. He is a very engaging speaker and I find the things he says are simple and profound. Plus, he [View Full Entry]

---

---