Beginning of Journal 2003- My Second Trip to India
July 18th
Hi All,
NO, I am not in India yet. But have decided to begin this journal now before I leave (have actually been contemplating it for a while already). Please remember, this is my PERSONAL journal but I am happy to share it with you.
I have been preparing of course for some time, but definitely not as long or as intensely as for my first trip. It has been much more fun and much less worrisome than the first trip. I am obviously no longer afraid of the unknown, and yet on the other hand, knowing many of the things to expect can be just as frightening. But funny thing is, they are not. I am so excited and my head is basically "in India" already...The heat no longer bothers me here, I am taking things very slowly and relaxed, not doing anything in a hurry or under tension, and it is a wonderful feeling.
I've already done my trial packing a couple of times and think I've got in finalized now. My bag is a full 6 kilo lighter than the first time I went and there are actually things in it which are not really necessary, but there was room, so I put them in.
My tentative (very tentative as is everything surrounding a trip to India) itinerary is as follows:
Flying into Mumbai on Thursday- I am leaving Israel at 8 AM and arrive India time 6:40 in the evening. I then have a connecting flight to Chennai at 3:50 in the morning, so have quite a long wait in the terminal. Hopefully my friend Milan will come around after work and we will go out for a nice dinner...haven't seen him since my last trip and really looking forward to meeting him again. We’ve been in contact all this time and he has helped some of my friends, including Shlomit when the last minute she had to arrive alone in Mumbai.
I will then arrive early in the morning on Friday in Chennai and be met by my friend Ravin who lives there with his parents. They have already asked me what I want for breakfast and at 10 AM their massage lady is coming to give me a massage before I shower and fall into bed! I will be staying at their house for at least 2 weeks, maybe longer depending on how I feel there, how hot it is, etc. and planning to have clothing sewed, eyeglasses made, go to their family ayurveda doctor and get diagnosed and hopefully treated for various problems (this will require at least a two week stay at their house as the treatment is daily including massages and various medications etc-but comparing it to the prices here in Israel, and the expertise level, it is a fantastic bargain and really looking forward to it)...and also hope to visit the yoga center founded by Desikachar which is the type of yoga I have been doing for years, and it is only a couple of blocks away from his house. Hopefully there I will find a private teacher who will check what I currently do and put together a program suited personally to my needs. I also hope to visit the famous dance center there...many many things to do...would also like to hang around the kitchen and get some tips on Indian cooking.
From there, I will be going together with Ravin up to Kodai where I hope to stay for quite some time to relax. He can only stay a few days as his father needs dialysis and he basically takes him 2x a week, but I really am looking forward to finally being alone and enjoying things. It is a hill station, up in the mountains, hopefully will remind me of McLeod,- the weather there is 10-20 degrees so I will finally get away from the heat I have been suffering in for the past couple of months!! I will also be going to a Zen Meditation Center for a full program for about 10 days (it is near Kodai)...program is from 5:30 AM until 9 in the evening, includes all sessions, studies, training, lectures, food, private room with bathroom-all for 200 rupees (20 shekel) a day!! I will also visit the International School there where I was actually accepted as a staff member if I want to work there starting in January 2004...so will check it out!
From there I am heading off to Kerala, and will stay for as long as I feel like it. I will be in Varkala which is a beach area I understand and hopefully will do a Backwater Boat trip and wind up in Cochin...
From there on, I have several options and of course have no idea what I will do until I get to that point.
1. I can take the 48 hour train ride up to Delhi and from there continue back to Mcleod and visit my friends there and simply enjoy as I did last trip, OR, as a new friend named Sandeep has so convincingly suggested, go to Shimla which is also up in the mountains and enjoy myself there for some time.
2. I can go back to Chennai, spend some more time with Ravin and his family and relax and then continue to travel around Tamil Nadu...this depends very much on the weather...I seek the mountains as I do not do well in heat.
3. My other option is to go from Chennai back to DElhi and then again up North to Mcleod or Shimla to end my trip.
So...many things are still open, and you will know, along with me, what is happening as it happens.
This whole trip is an adventure from the beginning and I imagine many wonderful and interesting and surprising things will happen along the journey, both the outward journey and the "inward" journey. One thing is for sure, I will not be the same person I am today at the end of the trip.
So, that's it for #1. The fun has already begun for me...enjoy together with me!
Hi All,
NO, I am not in India yet. But have decided to begin this journal now before I leave (have actually been contemplating it for a while already). Please remember, this is my PERSONAL journal but I am happy to share it with you.
I have been preparing of course for some time, but definitely not as long or as intensely as for my first trip. It has been much more fun and much less worrisome than the first trip. I am obviously no longer afraid of the unknown, and yet on the other hand, knowing many of the things to expect can be just as frightening. But funny thing is, they are not. I am so excited and my head is basically "in India" already...The heat no longer bothers me here, I am taking things very slowly and relaxed, not doing anything in a hurry or under tension, and it is a wonderful feeling.
I've already done my trial packing a couple of times and think I've got in finalized now. My bag is a full 6 kilo lighter than the first time I went and there are actually things in it which are not really necessary, but there was room, so I put them in.
My tentative (very tentative as is everything surrounding a trip to India) itinerary is as follows:
Flying into Mumbai on Thursday- I am leaving Israel at 8 AM and arrive India time 6:40 in the evening. I then have a connecting flight to Chennai at 3:50 in the morning, so have quite a long wait in the terminal. Hopefully my friend Milan will come around after work and we will go out for a nice dinner...haven't seen him since my last trip and really looking forward to meeting him again. We’ve been in contact all this time and he has helped some of my friends, including Shlomit when the last minute she had to arrive alone in Mumbai.
I will then arrive early in the morning on Friday in Chennai and be met by my friend Ravin who lives there with his parents. They have already asked me what I want for breakfast and at 10 AM their massage lady is coming to give me a massage before I shower and fall into bed! I will be staying at their house for at least 2 weeks, maybe longer depending on how I feel there, how hot it is, etc. and planning to have clothing sewed, eyeglasses made, go to their family ayurveda doctor and get diagnosed and hopefully treated for various problems (this will require at least a two week stay at their house as the treatment is daily including massages and various medications etc-but comparing it to the prices here in Israel, and the expertise level, it is a fantastic bargain and really looking forward to it)...and also hope to visit the yoga center founded by Desikachar which is the type of yoga I have been doing for years, and it is only a couple of blocks away from his house. Hopefully there I will find a private teacher who will check what I currently do and put together a program suited personally to my needs. I also hope to visit the famous dance center there...many many things to do...would also like to hang around the kitchen and get some tips on Indian cooking.
From there, I will be going together with Ravin up to Kodai where I hope to stay for quite some time to relax. He can only stay a few days as his father needs dialysis and he basically takes him 2x a week, but I really am looking forward to finally being alone and enjoying things. It is a hill station, up in the mountains, hopefully will remind me of McLeod,- the weather there is 10-20 degrees so I will finally get away from the heat I have been suffering in for the past couple of months!! I will also be going to a Zen Meditation Center for a full program for about 10 days (it is near Kodai)...program is from 5:30 AM until 9 in the evening, includes all sessions, studies, training, lectures, food, private room with bathroom-all for 200 rupees (20 shekel) a day!! I will also visit the International School there where I was actually accepted as a staff member if I want to work there starting in January 2004...so will check it out!
From there I am heading off to Kerala, and will stay for as long as I feel like it. I will be in Varkala which is a beach area I understand and hopefully will do a Backwater Boat trip and wind up in Cochin...
From there on, I have several options and of course have no idea what I will do until I get to that point.
1. I can take the 48 hour train ride up to Delhi and from there continue back to Mcleod and visit my friends there and simply enjoy as I did last trip, OR, as a new friend named Sandeep has so convincingly suggested, go to Shimla which is also up in the mountains and enjoy myself there for some time.
2. I can go back to Chennai, spend some more time with Ravin and his family and relax and then continue to travel around Tamil Nadu...this depends very much on the weather...I seek the mountains as I do not do well in heat.
3. My other option is to go from Chennai back to DElhi and then again up North to Mcleod or Shimla to end my trip.
So...many things are still open, and you will know, along with me, what is happening as it happens.
This whole trip is an adventure from the beginning and I imagine many wonderful and interesting and surprising things will happen along the journey, both the outward journey and the "inward" journey. One thing is for sure, I will not be the same person I am today at the end of the trip.
So, that's it for #1. The fun has already begun for me...enjoy together with me!
posted by Jane @ 7:18 PM
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