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Published: August 14th 2015
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Settled in for a 10 day intensive course with OM Yoga. Didn't want to hang around Mcleod Ganj too long. It's in a nice setting and is an interesting town but really busy and noisy. I could potentially live in Mcleod and do drop in classes but met Reeta, the wife of the couple who run OM yoga, on my 1st day in Mcleod at the OM yoga studio, she tells me their Ashram is 2km away near Daal lake. It sounds nice. So I book in for a yoga class the next morning at the studio in Mcleod with the intention of signing up for a course at the Ashram.
I sleep in. Weirdly knackered all yesterday and obviously the morning in question. Maybe the altitude? It's at 6,800 ft, quick reference Ben Nevis summit 4,400 ft. Maybe a bit of jet-lag? Only 5 and half hours difference though and flight was overnight so effect should be reduced...? Anyhoo get to the studio late. I'm so embarrassed. Here's this keen young sprightly yoga enthusiast flown half the world to pursue his interest and on the very 1st morning he (being me) approaches the studio hall bleary eyed, probably scruffed
up hair as I was rushing, head lowered in shame, but is greeted by a big smile. I've already paid, maybe that had something to do with it. 'Where were you? Class finished.' 'Really sorry. No alarm. My phone is not working.' The latter is true. I cancelled my contract before flying out. The former is not, I had specifically switched on my watch's alarm. I must have slept right threw it. It was a white lie, a small one, don't judge. It is now 10.30. 'You do 10 day course?' Phew I haven't totally cocked it up, wait no, money is probably an overriding factor. Whatever. Let's do this. 'Yes please.' 'You must be here by 12'.
I rush out with renewed vigour. I see the hotel manager on my way to the room. 'I'm gonna check out now.' 'Ok you pay for 2 nights though.' It was said with bazaar-esk coolness. I knew it was coming. I had booked 2 nights online. The hotel is mostly empty though. It's a mute point. Worth £6 and I'm not a haggler. 'Yea no problem', 'really??', hmmm maybe I should have haggled. I pack quickly. Back into the foyer...empty. I wait. And wait. And wait. Maybe I should have said I was in a rush? Or maybe not overly-expectant for someone to be manning the desk? Even the dude who doesn't speak English. Not ideal but he'd do. But no one. Eventually I check out. Headed up to the studio, the lady is literally on her way out. As in had I waited any longer in the foyer she would have been gone, I haven't even paid her yet!! 'Hello, come on we're going.' Yea I can see that. We stop at every cash point en route, none of them work. Good start. 'I can do it online' I say as sincerely as possible. 'Ok no problem' I can't suss out if she's suspicious or not. She did once stand next to me while I tried getting cash out. I think she was making sure i wasn't doing it wrong. Either way she thinks I'm at least fairly inept or she's suspicious.
The taxi stops. She starts to get out. I'm looking around. I see a food store of some description and a building under construction, or has it been bombed? Do the terrorists come this far South? How far is Kash...uhuhmmm. She doesn't remember my name. The driver and she are waiting. Trying not to look despondent, "think happy face", I collect my stuff and follow on. Past the 'building', thank Krishna, to a...precipice? It's so steep you only see the slope as you near the edge. And for about 200m we follow a narrow tarmac track, jungle all around, to the Ashram.
I get setup in my room. What type of yoga is it? I simply do not have the heart to ask. Not sure a sports vest and technical shorts is the meditation look. I'm dressed to lunge not OM! In any case I am about to redeem any misgivings with cold hard cash. As long as the transfer works. Maybe if the bank won't let me get cash out they also won't let me transfer? A bead of sweat forms and I can feel a trickle of panic. I get my new fancy Samsung tablet, and get underway; Wi-fi setup, online security card at the ready, their bank details by my side...the job is nearly done. A victorious adrenaline is bubbling. 'Ok now we eat!' In my moment of glory. If i leave it now i'm pretty sure it will sign me out. Or I risk being rude. I doggedly persist with a most humble apology. It's done. The initial euphoria though drowned by 3 pairs of eyes staring up at me from a cross legged position on a carpet. But I show her with an air of triumph. She barely glances. No way she saw the screen. 'Ok good, now you poor and me rich, now we eat.' And she laughs.
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