Photos explain everything better!
Though here is a some description.... my friends came and met me in Tiru, where we walked around the mtn of Shiva, ate local grub from a place known as dirty corner, and met a wonderful family who took us home for lunch- there we got to play with her daughter, drink chai, eat with our hands off a banana leaf, and be dressed in saris! It was a wonderful experience!
And then the train ride came....
Na it wasen't so bad. Around 17-20 hours in a dirty, hot sleeper class train. It's all part of the experience. And now I am in a beach town with about 15 friends from Sadhana Forest. We can wear bikinis and enjoy the sun. From here I will explore Gokarna town with all its sacredness and eat Organic Choco peanut butter from the Kali Temple.
Say hi to the snow for me :)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Just as I was feelin settled...
A cyclone blew me away to a new town called Tiruvannamalai. It's a popular destination among tourists and Indian pilgrims, a hub for ashrams. Each street has at least 4 "ashrams".
So my plan are still unfolding minute by minute....
and my friends from Sadhana Forest will be meeting me soon.
So my plan are still unfolding minute by minute....
and my friends from Sadhana Forest will be meeting me soon.
PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry's famed French quarter, Auroville included, lay battered by what many locals are beginning to call the 'monster storm.' The most vicious to lash the city in the last three decades, Cyclone Thane has uprooted trees leaving this tourist town looking like a war-zone.
The Aurobindo Ashram in the heart of the town escaped the cyclone fury with devotees carrying out their regular duties. But Auroville, an international township with over 1,000 residents of 40 different nationalities, eight km from Puducherry and falling within Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu, was not lucky.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Oh I suppose its time!
First things first....photos!
This last month has been many things. So many things have happened internally and externally for me that I don't know where to begin. So Ill give the basics for now. Sadhana Forest is a wonderful community of a family of four that is joined by 15-20 long term volunteers (6+months) and anywhere from 20-100 short term volunteers. Crazy, yes. They are rebuilding land in Auroville (an international community outside of Pondicherry, India). This community is vegan and off the grid. We bathe in a mud pool, use our pee to water plants, and our poo to plant trees. My carbon footprint shrunk significantly while staying there. All volunteers are welcomed to offer workshops, so I led yoga and ecstatic dance! And took many amazing barrier breaking workshops from other volunteers. This place is a haven for like minded and incredible individuals- so much that its exhausting. And I didn't realize just how exhausting it was until I left. I am still recovering and its been a couple of days. But now I have an abundance of travel buddies and good friends- actual good friends. It amazing how close you can get to people in such a short time when your heart is open and your living together.
Sadhana Forest day:
615am morning circle- singing and stretching mostly
630 am- work
830am- breakfast
930am- 2nd work
1230-lunch
6-dinner
We often escaped to a local town for coffee and sweets- things not at Sadhana, during the evenings and breaks.
Now I am at a quiet guest house in Auroville. It very mellow. I like it. There is an abundance of cool things to do here- just trying to figure out what is hard. For example- last night I went to an Om choir- people chanting om together. Very powerful. Off to a sacred temple mtn for new years with some new friends and then heading back this way before going to the west coast for some nice beach time (of course with new friends). Sending my love from India!
This last month has been many things. So many things have happened internally and externally for me that I don't know where to begin. So Ill give the basics for now. Sadhana Forest is a wonderful community of a family of four that is joined by 15-20 long term volunteers (6+months) and anywhere from 20-100 short term volunteers. Crazy, yes. They are rebuilding land in Auroville (an international community outside of Pondicherry, India). This community is vegan and off the grid. We bathe in a mud pool, use our pee to water plants, and our poo to plant trees. My carbon footprint shrunk significantly while staying there. All volunteers are welcomed to offer workshops, so I led yoga and ecstatic dance! And took many amazing barrier breaking workshops from other volunteers. This place is a haven for like minded and incredible individuals- so much that its exhausting. And I didn't realize just how exhausting it was until I left. I am still recovering and its been a couple of days. But now I have an abundance of travel buddies and good friends- actual good friends. It amazing how close you can get to people in such a short time when your heart is open and your living together.
Sadhana Forest day:
615am morning circle- singing and stretching mostly
630 am- work
830am- breakfast
930am- 2nd work
1230-lunch
6-dinner
We often escaped to a local town for coffee and sweets- things not at Sadhana, during the evenings and breaks.
Now I am at a quiet guest house in Auroville. It very mellow. I like it. There is an abundance of cool things to do here- just trying to figure out what is hard. For example- last night I went to an Om choir- people chanting om together. Very powerful. Off to a sacred temple mtn for new years with some new friends and then heading back this way before going to the west coast for some nice beach time (of course with new friends). Sending my love from India!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
India! Leaving Sadhana Forest
Folks, I have left Sadhana Forest and am now in Auroville. I will head off to an Indian Town this weekend with some new friends! There is so much to write that I don't even know where to begin. SO I am going to wait until I feel inspired. Happy Holidays!
KAli
KAli
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Sadhana
Hello.
I am still at Sadhana Forest, making friends (there are around 80 volunteers right now), eating vegan, and sleeping with the mold (not the best part). Today is the first rainy day. I cant bring myself to focus on writing much because I need time and space to reflect. And I have many decisions to make- like should I stay or go and if I go where should I go to?
Awh choices make life harder sometimes.
Love
I am still at Sadhana Forest, making friends (there are around 80 volunteers right now), eating vegan, and sleeping with the mold (not the best part). Today is the first rainy day. I cant bring myself to focus on writing much because I need time and space to reflect. And I have many decisions to make- like should I stay or go and if I go where should I go to?
Awh choices make life harder sometimes.
Love
Monday, December 12, 2011
Oh internet!
So I am doing really good and want to write a real update. But I just cant gather myself among the people, lack of computers, and electricity to write what I want. Sometime soon I will. Hope you're all well.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Sadhana Forest- an escape from India
I am here!
In the newly planted forest in sourthern india. Sadhana Forest.
We sleep with moist blankets, bathe in a muddy pond, poop in hole which we then turn to compost to plant more trees. By day we work and by night we hang out, play or listen to music. Laugh with new friends. We eat vegan and very well. I have an abundance of papaya, pineapple, coconut, pomegranate, and bananas. I will stay here for a bit. Might explore this weekend to an Indian Full Moon celebration.
On my way here I had a layover in Bahrain, I was 1 of 2 white people. Getting on people were super pushy and the whole flight I was surrounded by people coughing and farting. I kept thinking, "Oh no, what am I doing." Once i left the airport at 5 am in the seatbelt-less, and hornless (very essential in india) old cab I hired to drive me 3 hours south and heard the sporadic loud music bursting out of shacks along the filthy road, i smiled and said to myself, "Now I know why I came..."
And here is am in the almost jungle with many wonderful happy internationals. A sanctuary.
In the newly planted forest in sourthern india. Sadhana Forest.
We sleep with moist blankets, bathe in a muddy pond, poop in hole which we then turn to compost to plant more trees. By day we work and by night we hang out, play or listen to music. Laugh with new friends. We eat vegan and very well. I have an abundance of papaya, pineapple, coconut, pomegranate, and bananas. I will stay here for a bit. Might explore this weekend to an Indian Full Moon celebration.
On my way here I had a layover in Bahrain, I was 1 of 2 white people. Getting on people were super pushy and the whole flight I was surrounded by people coughing and farting. I kept thinking, "Oh no, what am I doing." Once i left the airport at 5 am in the seatbelt-less, and hornless (very essential in india) old cab I hired to drive me 3 hours south and heard the sporadic loud music bursting out of shacks along the filthy road, i smiled and said to myself, "Now I know why I came..."
And here is am in the almost jungle with many wonderful happy internationals. A sanctuary.
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