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  Kerala, India
Thursday, April 29, 2010

        On April 17th I flew from Bangkok, Thailand to Cochin, India. I was sad to leave Thailand but really excited to get to India. When I was flying into India (over Mumbi) I got a sudden rush of anxiety and realized I AM IN INDIA!!! When I got off the plane in Cochin (southern India) there was suppose to be a taxi waiting for me from the Ashram. Of course there was no taxi when I got there. After a few phone calls and a 4 hour taxi ride, I made it to Amrithapuri in Kerala, Amma's Ashram. I arrived at night and was completely exhausted so I checked in and went to sleep.
    The daily routine at the Ashram starts at 5 AM with Archana or chanting 1000 names of the Divine Mother. After this chai is served. From 6:30 to 7:30 you are requested to meditate. I chose to meditate on the beach so I could hear the waves crashing and soak in the morning rays. At 9 breakfast was served. You would get a metal plate from the high stack of plates then walk down the food line and get served and assortment of foods. The meals were good but mostly the same thing every meal every day. Indians eat with their fingers of the right hand. I learned quickly but at first it felt so wrong. Throughout the day you are suppose to do seva or Karma yoga. My karma yoga was cleaning the cooks dishes after dinner. Lunch was served around 1 and dinner was served at 8. Amma has an amazing swimming pool that I took advantage of everyday. Men and women are separated for most things here at the Ashram. Women must cover their shoulders and legs so I was forced to purchase new clothes when I got there. Amma wasn't at the Ashram when I was there so after a few days I decided to head to Varkala and hang out on the beach.

    I took a rickshaw to Varkala with a few friends I met at the Ashram. I checked into a nice guest house (rs 200 = $5) and spent most of my time at the beach. It's slow season now so a lot of the shops were closed and there weren't a lot of people. It was nice to be able to relax and chill out in this beach town where you can wear western clothes and not feel too out of place. After a few days I decided to head to the Sivananda Ashram for yoga.

    From Varkala I took a 2 hour rickshaw ride to Neyyardam. I checked myself into the Ashram. The daily schedule here is a bit more intense than the last Ashram. The first bell rings at 5:20 AM. Morning Satsang (chants) and meditation start at 6 and goes until 7:30. Then chai is served followed by a 2 hour yoga class. Throughout the day you are asked to do karma yoga.There is a lecture hour followed by another 2 hour yoga class. Dinner is served at 6. In the evening we gathered for another round of Satsang and meditation and lights were required to be off by 10:30 PM. I stayed for 5 days then decided to leave the Ashram and go on a backwaters tour on a house boat with with some girls I met at the Ashram.

    Before I tell you about the boat tour let me tell you about a day trip I went on with a group from the Ashram. We took a bus to Kanyakmari, the southern most tip of India where the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal meet. This was a very special place to visit and I even got to soak my feet in the water! We toured around and visited lots of temples, saw waterfalls, swam in the ocean and ate yummy food!

    On Tuesday me and a few girls from the Ashram rented a houseboat in Kollom and went on an over night tour through the backwaters of Kerala. The houseboat had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathroom, a kitchen (for our hired cook), and a big lounging area. The backwaters are so beautiful! Small and large channels that weave inland through the beautiful small villages. In some areas we got to ride on a canoe and float through the villages. Everything is so green and lush from all the rain. Whenever other boats would go by full of Indians they would wave and get so excited to see westerners! The children especially love us. It is kinda weird but the children always ask what your name is and if they can have a pen? Everything about the boat was so much fun and the food was amazing (see my facebook page to see pictures of the food). At night there was a wonderful rain storm. Luckily we were under cover on the boat. We had a fantastic dinner and stayed up playing games and soaked in the peaceful evening.

...back to Varkala...

    I am happy to say that I am doing really well and staying healthy! I am meeting a lot of nice people from all over the world. I have 1 more month in India and I look forward to each and everyday. I miss and love you all!

Namaste,
Sallie

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Kanyakmari

backwaters of Kerala

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