a little slice of slow down

The morning started early, with sun salutations followed by a lovely yoga practice in my room. Aaaahhh.. There is nothing quite like doing yoga in India.

A friend and I decided we were going to spend Tuesday afternoon walking from one side of the city of Mysore to the other side and up 1000 steps to the top of sacred Chamundi Hill.

We met for breakfast and we were on the road by 11:30. We meandered our way to the city, through the city, stopping when we felt the urge, for a coconut to drink, to take photos, to talk to people, to rest.

I was looking for the subtle. Walking is one of those magnificent ways of slowing life down and observing. We did not have a schedule, just a destination. We enjoyed the journey so much, talking of life and the meaning of it while wandering in the deepest sense of the word.

I’d have to say, it was inspiring, walking by all the magical things you see in India…A spider spinning an intricate web, women carrying buckets on their heads, cows in the street, monkeys running about. A little slice of slow down, was just what I needed.

We made it to the top of the 1000 stairs up to Chamundi Hill around 4:00, drank another coconut and somehow hitched a ride all the way home…

It was inspiring, beautiful and a lovely way to spend a Tuesday afternoon.

Inspiration gap

Uh oh..It’s very strange, but somehow, I am not feeling inspired, here in India.

Steven and I had a talk a few months back about artistic inspiration and for me it comes from a few sources. One of them for me is travel

The excitement of new experiences and adventures uplifts my being into a space where I suddenly begin to create. This trip may be too familiar for me. I mean, I love it, don’t get me wrong. I love India and it’s people, but somehow, maybe I’m not having my normal emotional pull because, once again, I find myself in a familiar place, with familiar people, having familiar experiences.

I have been sitting in my room tonight thinking. Man, I just haven’t been blogging and usually being in India inspires me with so much material I don’t even know what to do with it.

Tomorrow, I know I shall have material. I am going on a long pilgrimage type walk with my girlfriend. We hope to walk from Gokulam, where we live in Mysore all the way up to Chamundi Hill, many miles away. It is going to be epic. And I am going to try to take photos of funny and unique things you only see in India.

So, wish us luck! I shall be back to let you know if we made it and how it went and hopefully full of stories and photos too.

Yesterday, I went to Bangalore to see the Dalai Lama and it was so amazing and wonderful to be in his presence and hear what he had to say for a couple of hours (from row 11 nonetheless)

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BEADED JEWELRY

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so much suffering...

Melancholy day.. A lot of thinking, about all the suffering in this world, and how very fortunate I am. So very fortunate.

I sat with Kumar, my goldsmith teacher, tonight and we talked a bit about how the price of vegetables has quadrupled in the last year. I asked him how people are getting by and he told me, many people are not getting by.

It echoes what is going on around the rest of the world, but here it seems so much more raw... the reality is in your face, all the time. The struggle of the people here is huge. I'm talking about people who make maybe $3-5 a day working hard 12 hour days. How are they supposed to even buy food when the cost has gone up so much. Kumar told me the price of 1kg of onions was 10rupees (about $0.25) last year. Now it is 50rupees per kg that is over $1 just for onions. Imagine making $3 a day and trying to feed your family. So, difficult.

Anyway, that is what I thought about, a lot... And how very fortunate I am...

piece of ass

I was walking down the road, as I do all the time, especially while in India. I walk and walk and walk and love looking at life as I go by. Yesterday, I was walking to visit a friend and suddenly, I was hit from behind.

3 young men were riding very very fast on their motorcycle (yes 3) and whack, one of them hit me in the ass and it hurt so bad. I just kept walking, what else was I going to do? Luckily, I was not hurt badly, just a sore butt and a bit shocked. A friend of mine just happened to be on a motorbike right behind them and he saw what happened and stopped and very kindly gave me a ride to where I was going.

I'm not writing this to make anyone look bad or to freak anyone out or turn them off to India. I'm writing it because, it is a good story. It's also a sad story. I feel so bad for these young men. Why would they want to do this? Why do they think this is ok? Unfortunately, these sorts of things are not uncommon in India. I told myself the first time I came, I was not going to let these sorts of things turn me off from this amazing place and I have not. I have dealt with it differently depending on the circumstances. In this case they were going too fast and I was too shocked to even react.

I'm still in love with India, just feeling a little sore today.. or should I say sour?

a little slice of magic.

It's a magical place. India. Even after years and years and even after looking around and seeing strange things and thinking they are normal and even after all the difficulties it entails to get here and be here and even after all the emotional energy exuded and the abundance of creativity I feel while here. Still the magic persists, it pervades me. I LOVE IT HERE! Even during the illnesses and the frustrating moments and anything else that may come up.

Yesterday was spent relaxing and chatting with old and new friends at the river. A tranquil and gorgeous place. A beautiful countryside home full of art and artists. Although, as a rule, I typically don't swim in rivers in India, I did yesterday and it was fun to manipulate the current, climb out and sit on the warm rocks and sit in the swirling jacuzzi like pools. aaaahh...

The evening brought me to Kumar's shop. We sat, he, his wife, his son and I and talked about life and jewelry and gifts from America. We discussed the new pieces we will be making and we drew pictures and estimated gold weight. We designed and talked. It's one of my very favorite things to do in this world.. Sit with Kumar and 'make' jewelry... Oh, I am blessed...

May you all have shanti (peace) in your hearts.. one of my favorite Kumar quotes.

Veg. or non-veg

Looking for a room. ‘You know sanjay, the rickshaw driver? He is finding people rooms.’ While sitting at the cocounut stand, I called Sanjay, who just happened to be sitting in his rickshaw, kitty corner from the coconut stand.

I arrived in Mysore early early this morning after a very long journey. I’m now staying at an old hotel in the city, but decided my first day’s mission is to find a flat to rent. I’m exhausted at the moment. It’s 1:10 pm and I haven’t slept in days, and am a bit dehydrated, but am totally determined to find a flat in the next two days. You see, not only do I study goldsmithing here, I also study yoga. Mysore is a sort of yoga mecca and students from all over the world come here to study. January and February is the busy time and it can be difficult to find a place, but it’s always worked in the past, so I know it will work again.

Sanjay came over to the coconut stand and got to work, calling this person and that person. I hopped in his rickshaw and first looked at a dingy little room… um no thank you.. then he asked ‘Madam, what would you like?”

I said, ‘One bedroom in a small house with a small kitchen and internet if available.’

‘ Yes. Yes madam. Do you want veg or non-veg house?”

We then tried a couple more places, but none were going to work.

At that point I realized, I had just been asked my first ‘only in India’ question. A little smile appeared on my face and I no longer cared if I found a room today.

I wrote this post a few days ago and have since found a lovely little room with nice light..