Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Round and round

It has been months since my last post. Even though I began writing couple of times, I could not bring it to an end.... Then I gave up. Obviously I was not feeling it.

Mysore journey came to an end. It was a very nice one this time. I enjoyed the practice, and the beautiful people, beautiful friends very much. We cooked together a lot and ventured into things I have not done before. I made some life long friends, friends with whom my paths will cross again and again. Studying with Sharath was awesome again... It was a very special trip this time.

I left Mysore feeling all gloomy and sappy, leaving behind all that. I came to Bangkok which had a totally different vibe. Calmer, cleaner, and easier in many ways... It felt like a big shopping mall/food court since there are so many shopping malls in that city and the streets are full of food vendors. The coconuts in Thailand are delicious, nowhere I tasted coconuts like that and they put them on ice so it is cool coconut water, such luxury ha! The food, especially the green curry is the yummiest and all the fruit shakes. One can safely buy fruits off the street, ready to eat, peeled and cut for you. I felt like it was safe and nothing happened to my belly.

After four days in BKK, I went to Koh Phangan where I was suppose to stay a month. After the flight to Koh Samui, it was a boat and the sea was rough, and I was sea sick pretty soon so I threw myself over my bags on the floor and shut my eyes until the end of the journey. After we arrived to Koh Phangan, I was suppose to take another little boat to the beach I was trying to reach but the boat man wanted to charge me and this other man who was going there much more because of the rough sea. We walked to the other end where they had boats as well and from that side we could leave. Again the rough sea and I was paralyzed :p. Luckily the man who was in the same boat with me helped me with my bags, he took them out and I threw myself out. The boat man did not want to go to the next beach where I was suppose to go, but the man who was helping me offered to help me with carrying my bag and finding the way since I had no clue where I was and where I was suppose to be heading. I went to the first guest house my friend advised me but they were booked for the month so I went to the other guest house and they had bungalows for a month, so I took the spacious, nice bungalow they showed me. The nature is so beautiful in Koh Phangan and the way everything else is also. There are no cars or bikes. It is like a tropical bliss. However, the storm began and stayed for a week... I did not know anyone, then I met few others... There was a Matthew Sweeney workshop going on but he was not taking anyone from the middle, but he was doing Sunday workshop to which I could go and I did. In the morning, it was his lion sequence and in the afternoon it was working on inversions. I think I like his teaching style. He have good advices for which point one could be stuck with a pose and how to work on it. This was the second time I met him, the first time was in London for a 2 hour workshop... Maybe one day I do a month long studying with him...

Well, after a week of storm, feeling kind of stuck and lonely, I called my friend, Senol who was in Sri Lanka and decided to travel where he was. Just like that I made new travel plans and I got to Sri Lanka. Now this is my last week here. We stayed in this place where there is an old timer Ashtanga teacher teaching Mysore classes. She is a very sweet lady.

Counting days to India... I will go back to Thailand next Wednesday. After two weeks in Thailand and some travelling, and getting a new Indian visa, I will be heading back to India for Goa! I have to say no place like India. Thailand with its cleanliness and good food and nonchaotic ways, Sri Lanka with clean, beautiful beaches and ocean cannot measure up to India. India with its potential of overwhelming one and with it chaos, dirt, rudeness of people from time to time, is still the most real, most juicy, honest, friendly and from unexpected corners so kind. There are lots of things in my head but most importantly I am looking forward to Goa, to R&M, their teaching and all of it...