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Published: March 5th 2006
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Elephant!
Getting a pat on the head from a temple elephant in Kanchipuram. 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 like insect repellant. I can't wait for the shower!
I've learned a lot, met amazing people and was exposed to a whole new approach to healing that is very inspiring. It was a great course, and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to attend -- along with about 30 other people, from 14 countries.
There is so much to know about yoga, but I feel I have grasped a little more. I also feel I know myself better. You learn a lot about yourself in a group situation!
And now I am looking
dancing demonstration
One night during our last week at KYM, we were treated to some beautiful Indian classical dancing. The dancer is also a yoga student. forward to getting back to Delhi, and very glad George Bush is leaving there today. Many Indians were very upset that he laid a wreath on Raj Ghat, the memorial to Gandhi (the place where he was cremated). But others think Gandhi caused a lot of deaths and don't care as much. If India is anything, it is diverse!
I went to see a hit movie at a theatre here in Chennai the other night. It's called Rang de Basanti and it takes place in Delhi. Seeing the sites of New Delhi made me feel so homesick! These days, Delhi feels like home. I am wondering if my future is in India ...
March 6
I am back in Delhi, arrived here late last night (Saturday night). I spent a big part of my last day in Chennai having a spa day. I had a manicure, pedicure, massage and facial at an amazing spa, Oryza. The service and ambience were fantastic, and the essential oils they used were divine. During the massage and facial I went into a kind of trance, and truly, truly relaxed. I felt like I was integrating all the work and all the lessons
a coconut a day ....
Here, Piki, Claire and I are enjoying a refreshing coconut outside the gates of KYM. of the previous month at yoga school. By the end, I felt calmer and clearer than ever before, I think. It turned out to be a great way to finish the course. And I stayed calm all the way to Delhi, even though my flight was an hour late. In fact, I am still very calm.
And very happy to be back here. Delhi is so spacious and so green in comparison to Chennai. The air is light and dry, and the temperature is perfect. About 30 during the day and 23 at night. The roads are wide and in good repair ... it just seems much more civilzed here. I know Chennai has it's charms -- such as great people and a rich cultural life -- but it's not my city. I am definitely a Delhi girl.
In general, I am much more suited to North India. I feel much more at home here. The food agrees with me much more, for example. South Indian food wreaked havoc on my system. Too oily and the spices they use didn't agree with me.
So, I'm glad to be back in Delhi and the north, and glad I
Becky at Amethyst
In our drive to find digestible food, we found some lovely places in Chennai. Amethyst was my favourite -- garden seating, great Greek salad and a fabulous boutique. did the course at KYM. Before leaving, I had one final road trip -- I spent my last Sunday travelling to Kanchipuram, one of the seven holy Hindu cities (and the only one on the south) -- a dusty, unappealing town known for two things. Temples and silk. There really are some interesting temples there -- a beautiful one that dates from the seventh century, dedicated to Lord Shiva, for example. And one dedicated to Vishnu that was very peaceful. I sat by the tank and felt a powerful calming presence.
I also spent an hour or more in a silk house. I saw a demonstration of a silk loom and looked at dozens of saris, but only bought a shawl. It's sky blue raw silk with silver threads. Very lovely.
I now own more shawls and scarves than you can "shake a stick at." I definitely went crazy shopping for clothes, but now I have what I need (and more!). I spent my first day back in Delhi sorting my things. I am going to send some boxes back to Canada, and give some things to charity. I am also starting to plan the second half of
Rosemary on Marina Beach
Rosemary is a yoga teacher in Toronto and a long-time student of TKV Desikachar. my trip. I am at the halfway mark, whcih I can hardly believe. And my birthday is quickly approaching. I am glad I will be spending it here in Delhi.
To close this entry, and the first half of my trip -- including the one month at KYM -- I want to say hello and thank you to anyone and everyone I have met in India over the past three months. I have met so many amazing people and made some new friends. And so many inspired me. The staff and guests at Shinshiva, the teachers and my fellow students at KYM, the people I met on the road, my friends in Delhi and of course Ajay and his family -- they are my foundation, my rock, my touchstone in India. This trip would be entirely different without them.
Thank you everyone! I feel safe, protected, encouraged and inpsired. This trip was a leap of faith, and a leap into the unknown. I really did feel like I was throwing myself off a cliff. I had a lot of anxiety before I left (probably the cause of my chest infection back in December). Who knew that I would
Shiva procession
I was lucky enough to be in Kanchipuram on the eve of "Shiva night" and to see this procession towards the temple. have such a soft landing? That from my first day in India, I have felt embraced. Supported. Guided. Who knew that in a country with some of the world's poorest citizens, I would discover and experience the abundance of the universe?
In a separate entry, I will post "heaps" (as my new Australian friend Linda would say) of pictures from my last couple of days at KYM, inlcuding graduation photos.
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CHRISSY
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half empty or full?
you say that you can't believe that the trip is half way finished and I can't believe that you still have half to go!!!! I remember saying that you would be back before anyone here missed you as time always seems to zip by when you are at home, toiling away at your regular routine... but I have to swallow my words now becasue I miss you a lot and thought that you were at least 3/4's of the way through your journey as I am so excited for your return! I have a student in one of my yoga classes who speaks very fondly of rosemary... she has been attending my class in her absense as she says we share a similar style!!! I feel like Ive met her before (rosemary) but am not sure and you should tell her her studnet speaks highly of her and she is also missed! I cant wait to see you in the summer and am bound and determined to camp every weekend (i mean it). ive opened up my weekends already and am planning my camping agenda so I hope you are on board. it will make for a restful and peaceful intergration back in to toronto, home and all that goes along with these notions i hope! Love You! Christine