Blogs from Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, Asia - page 8

Delhi Belly, Rishikesh Smelly Robert and I arrived into Delhi in the late evening, taking a rikshaw from the train station to the Pahar Ganj area. Popular with tourists (frequently of the dreadlocked, smelly variety), Pahar Ganj contains Main Bazaar, a long street composed of handicraft stores, silver merchants, hotels, bars and café/restaurants. The quality and level of rip-off varies greatly. Many places have the same old stock, cheap tack and overpriced. There are a few gems in there though, upmarket stores with clean premises and quality goods. Two German girls (Anna and Lena) we had met in Goa had a room in hotel Satyam, right on Main Bazaar. Robert and I took a room there also. After an unpacking, and a wash, and a sleep, we headed out to see some of the city with ... read more

Another relaxing day today. Chilled and chatted for most of the day and went to another yoga class in the afternoon. This one seemed much less strenuous. After yoga i went with Sarah, Rachel, Steve, Lyn and Ilona to a small resturant on the other side of the Ganges called The little Buddha. The food was great but as rachel had warned it took FOREVER to come. Luckily we were in no rush but there was a good 3 hour gap between arriving and leaving although this was good as it gave us all time to talk. We headed back to the hotel and i went off to bed. Getting to sleep took a long time however. At one point i have just started to properly drop off when i moved mt hand onto my chest ... read more

Had an absolutely brilliant day today, definitely the best since i got to India. Started early, intending to meet the others for yoga at 8.30am. I arrived a few minutes late and went in to find the instructor and 3 people (only one of which i knew) lying on the floor with bricks on their stomachs. I joined in, got myself a brick (it was made of weighted plastic) and laid on the floor for a few minutes. Now i always thought yoga was supposed to be a relaxing experience, but im not so sure. Invigorating maybe, a good start to the morning yes but i seemed to miss the relaxation part, though i seemed to be the only one. The instructor seemed to know what he was doing and was very supportive, as we were ... read more

der Gedanke kam spontan und ganz schnell war ich beim Friseur. Wollte ich schon immer mal ausprobieren und ausserdem gehoert das zur spirituellen Praxis (Reduzierung des Egos, Reduzierung aller weltlichen Anhaftungen.) Ausserdem noch zwei wichtige Motti, die zu meinem Yogalehrerleben nun dazu gehoeren. Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate and Realize und Health is wealth, Peace of mind is happiness and yoga shows the way. Ausserdem kamen mir die letzten Tage noch so viele Dinge in den Kopf, die ich gerne mit Euch teilen wuerde, aber das mache ich dann lieber in persoenlichen Gespraechen als im Blog. Die Zeit hier oeffnet einem schon ganz schoen die Augen und zeigt einem den Weg in die Zukunft, das Ziel unseres irdischen Lebens.... Aber das ist alles so schwer in Worte zu fassen. Also Euch allen alles Gute und bis ... read more

Ashram Life I spent the following week at Phool Chaati ashram, 5km north of Lakhsman Jhula in Rishakesh. An ashram is a sort of live in temple where people can stay to worship, or to learn. Ashrams offer many topics of study, ranging from yoga and meditation to tantric sex. At Phool Chaati I was studying a 7 day beginners course in yoga and meditation. The ashram was set out of town, away from the road down by the banks of the Ganga. Surrounded by lush forest the place was utterly serene. Silence was observed from evening meal until after lunch the following day and there was no noise from outside as we were so secluded. Bright blue birds of paradise nested in the trees outside the gates and the ashram had 4 dogs, including an ... read more