Blogs from Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, Asia - page 12

Viimeksi, kun puhuin kehityksesta ja siita kuinka lannesta omaksutaan vain "paheellisia" asioita ja sellaista, mika ei mielestani alkuunkaan toimi intialaisessa kulttuurissa, jai mainitsematta eras hyva esimerkki. Hyvin asiaa valoittava esimerkki on "western toilet" vastaan "indian toilet". Tosi monessa paikassa nakee lantisen mallisia vessoja ponttoineen, joita intialaiset eivat osaa kayttaa. Mielestani tanne tahan hygienitasoon ja naihin kayttajamaariin sopii yleiseksi vessaksi paljon paremmin reikavessa. Se on huomattavasti helpompi pitaa puhtaana ja koska siina kyykkiessa ei tarvitse koskea mihinkaan, se levittaa varmasti vahemman bakteereja. Joistain syysta monissa muka moderneissa kaupungeissa vain halutaan omaksua lannesta kaikki mahdollinen. Se johtaa vessojen kohdalla siihen mita eilenkin nain: vessassa oli uusi hieno pontto, mutta joku oli hajoittanut lattiaviemarin kaakelilaat... read more

Aurovalley Ashram, Rishidwar, March 22, 2009 It’s my last day (for now) at Aurovalley Ashram and I am sitting on the marble terrace in front of my room listening to John Lennon on my iPod singing “imagine there’s no heaven,” and I can’t because I have found it. Parrots are flying in the trees in front of me, one of the beautiful young Indian women who lives and works here just hugged me and told me I have a big heart, cows are grazing in the nearby field, the butterflies are dancing among the flowers in the meadow, an assortment of different birdsongs fill the air, the scent of jasmine wafts by on the breeze, the sun is shining and there is absolutely nothing for me to do but smile and write. I feel content and ... read more

Ananda Prakash Yoga Ashram, Rishkesh Ashram life is not for everyone, but it sure suits me. I love the quiet focus on introspection, increasing awareness and various other healthy pursuits. The people are kind and thoughtful, the food is delicious and healthy, there’s lots of time to just BE and of course there’s yoga! At Ananda Prakash Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh the day starts at 6 a.m., before the sun rises, in the beautiful third floor yoga hall with a yoga class led by Yogi Vishvketu (Vishva). The room is graced with large picture windows that frame an unbelievable view of the sun coming up from behind the foothills of the Himalayas. It’s an incredible way to start the day. This ashram is new, just two years old, and started by my friends and teachers Vishva ... read more

We left Pushkar on Sunday at 7 pm by Taxi. We arrived in Rishikesh at our Hotel 3:30 pm the next day. Long train ride and lots of traffic. We are both feeling drained and tired. We expected Rishikesh to be something other then what it is. Neither of us really like it here so far and might leave early. Its busy and hectic here and a undercurrent of what we feel as hostile energy. Its the first place we have seen many spaced out and drugged Indians and Westerners. Annya feels downright nervous being here. From the pictures you can see that it is a beautiful place. We will explore more and video more. Hopefully we will be able to see the Himalaya mountains from a point not to far from here. That I am ... read more

New Age. Sounds pretty good, you’ve got to admit. A damn site better than old age, at any rate. Two words, just six letters, promising to banish all past woes and conjure thoughts of inspiration, the dawn of a fresh era, as if everything gone before was fallacy soon to be cast out, summoning in a new epoch of understanding. The truth is, unfortunately, that anything with New in the title is not to be trusted. They all sound so enticing at first, everything just peachy, but before long the taste turns bad and you can’t fathom how you were ever sucked in: the New Romantics, New Man, New Labour, New Kids on the Block. All fresh-faced inspirations in their time, only to turn into washed-out has-beens faster than Simon Le Bon could capsize his next ... read more