pooped!

It is only Tuesday and boy am I pooped. I had a few really great days of practice but today whew! Oh well, I am already seeing changes in my practice even though Mari D is still a pain. Am in the process of getting a new apartment. I think today I might have something lined up. Need to go check later today. I is nice to be here for so long because it really gives me time to enjoy and not stress about getting everything done in 1 month. 3 months is probably the perfect amount of time.

The electricity thing is still a bit of a pain in the booty but you get used to it. My landlords still have not fixed my shower. I have been getting hot water from my housemate's bathroom and bathing with that. It works but I would prefer a shower. Only 10 more days at this apartment. My roommate is great though and I really like the apartment even with the shower not working. Anyway, still have to move because other's are moving in on the 31st.

I went and bought some fabric to have some things made. Turns out cotton and Linen are cheaper at home. Silk is cheaper and I did buy some lovely scarves for cheap. I guess you just have to know what to buy here.

I am still looking for a chipati thing for the stove. I ran out of money yesterday so had to come home and didn't get all that I was looking for. I only carry a little bit of money with me as I don't want to get it stolen. I have figured it out really well. I have a little coin purse that holds small bills, coins and my keys. That can be kept in my pocket. Then I carry another bag, starting out empty, just to put shopping in. It works out well because if someone were to take the bigger bag then nothing would be lost. I was carrying my phone around and then one girl got her bag stolen. That was the end of that. My phone is my life and if it got stolen I would be upset. So I just leave it at home. I don't use it much anyway. It comes in handy to order water, call the landlord, get in touch with friends, etc. And then I learned something from the Indian ladies. They always put a wad of bigger bills in their bra. Very clever and if I am going somewhere where I need more money that is where I put the money.

The things you learn and do are such an adventure but I find that if you just ask and watch the locals you can learn a tremendous amount.

Ciao for now,
Samantha

Guruji's 93rd Birthday Celebration

Today was a great day. I woke up and got to sleep in a bit because it is a moon day. Had a nice breakfast then started to get ready for the party for Guruji. I went out yesterday and got something simple but appropriate for the occasion.

I got dressed and then went to buy some flowers for my hair. I picked out what I wanted and behind me was a guy that looked just like John Scott. Now, for all of those non yogis out there he is one of the main guys in the Ashtanga world. Everyone buys either his book or David Swenson's book to study. I have his book and HAVE studied it in detail. So he said,"Hi, what is your name"? I said "Samantha, and you"? He of course said " I'm John" (because it was him). I turned into a starstruck teenager. I am so silly. I kind of stammered and said that I was happy to meet him. Then walked off. Not that he was expecting anything different because these top shelf yogis are so humble. I was just totally thrilled.

I walked back to my apartment with a huge smile on my face. It was cool to have such a simple encounter like that.

So then we went to Guruji's gala. It was spectacular. I was a little underdressed but it was wonderful to see all the amazing saris there. You can see some photos at

http://picasaweb.google.com/fionaanew.

I also paid my respects to Guruji and got a nice photo with Sherath. We had a great lunch, I am totally stuffed right now. Even had a less silly conversation with John Scott and his wife. It was a lovely afternoon. One that I will not forget anytime soon.

Yours from Gokulum, India,
Samantha

That's Awesome!

Can I just say India rocks! I just bought 2 avocados, an amazingly delicious and perfectly ripe mango, that I have already eaten, bananas and a packet of dried dates for only $1. Can you believe it? It simply made my day. OK, so it was 50 Rupies so $1.10. It is certainly going to be hard to go back to NY prices after these three months. Maybe I can convince Jeff to move here. Happy Yoga land I am in!

I hope everyone is having as great a day as I am!

pictures

So I just updated and moved some stuff around on Picasa. I think I have most of the US trip up and all of europe, except I ran out of room on fionaanew. Here are the 2 sites. Some motorcycling stuff in on fionalists.

Here are the URLs. Just go and look if I am making no sense.

http://picasaweb.google.com/fionaanew
http://picasaweb.google.com/fionalists

Saturdays

I am sitting here in Mysore, in the middle of a monsoon rain shower having a lovely rooibus, caramel tea and reading some old email. I have been very nostalgic today reading the first mails Jeff and I exchanged. Wow, I am so lucky. My life is in such a different place now. To be able to pursue those things that bring you joy. It is a gift.

Not much else to say today.

day 2 in Gokulum

The power situation is a bit of a pain in the ass. It goes off and on all day long. Power surges galore. I just have to remember to unplug my computer as much as possible so it doesn't fry my cable. Lynn, a friend that I know from Yoga Thailand, said that is what happened to hers. So I will be careful. Unfortunately, that means I can't really hang out on the computer much. I will have to figure something out.

This morning was the first shower I got to take because there was no hot water. The hot water heater is a mystery to me as I think it is solar. There is a big solar panel on the roof. The power in the bathroom goes off and on separately from the rest of the house. All of these things are very strange. ???? This is India, I guess. These are things one gets used to. I just wish I could figure out why.

Otherwise, things are going well. The apartment is nice and comfortable. I found a sheet yesterday and had an awesome night's sleep. Which is a bit of a surprise but I am just going with it. Hopefully tonight will be just as good. However, often the second night is worse because some of the fatigue has worn off and you are not so tired.

Yoga practice was good today. I am a bit out of practice. I still bound on one side in Mari D but I got stopped there because he only saw me attempting my bad side. Damn! Oh well, I should get it back this week. I am not that far off and Fridays and Sundays are led so one doesn't get as much time to work into the pose. You have to stay with everyone else. Monday is the first Mysore practice so I am looking forward to that. I think I will practice independently tomorrow as there are no classes traditionally on Saturdays because a) I have been a lazy butt for a while now and b) I think that would help open up some of the blockages (acquiring Mari D) I have right now.

Thats all for now,
Samantha

In Mysore

Hello Everyone,

Well, have finally made it to India. I am embarking on a 3 month journey to further develop in yoga. I can honestly say that this year has been the most spectacular and changing period of my life. I think back to last May when I first went to Yoga Thailand, a hollow shell of a person just hoping to die. I was miserable. However, with the guidance of whomever is watching over me I found Yoga Thailand and the people there; Paul, Jutima, Neil, Tiwariji, Jessica, Lynn and Sara all have been so supportive and helpful on this journey.

My life has truly been renewed and I feel so blessed to have weathered the storm and to be able to be living life so fully again.

I am also blessed that Jeff came into my life. He is a jewel of a man and I am so lucky to have found him and for us to have found each other. We just completed a 3 month journey all over the world. 2 months were spent touring the US on our motorcycles and then the final month seeing a lot of Germany, some of Switzerland and a bit of Italy. In fact, Jeff proposed to me at the top of Passo Dello Stelvio in Italy on June 25th. I said yes. Unfortunately his proposal was just in time for me to venture off into the strange new lands of southern India, leaving him behind for 3 whole months. OOOPS! Well, this is part of my continued growth with yoga hopefully starting to teach at some point. He is a kind, loving and very special man to put up with me leaving for so long. I love him more for it.

I must run out and do some errands now. I arrived in Bangalor (Bangaluru) this morning at 4:00 AM. I was greeted by a pre arranged driver and my bag arrived just fine. I was worried as Mysore is a 3 hour drive from the new airport in Bangalor and if my bag had been lost it would have been problematic. I also was not totally sure where I was going to live. My friend had arranged that I take over her space in a flat while she is doing Vipassana. However, I did not have the address. So I just hoped for the best and, in fact, all worked out well. Life just works that way sometimes.

Now I am getting settled in will go and get a SIM card for my phone, some sheets, go check in at the shala and just get aquainted with Mysore.

As always, an adventure to be had.

I hope to hear from all of you soon.

Namaste,
Samantha