Before I begin writing this new post, just wanted to let you know that if you go back to the previous post with the pictures from the Market, I have added some descriptive words...but it will not arrive with Feedblitz again so just go take a look if you are curious as to what the pictures are...
Now, Sunday, February 25th...
Went down to Ram Jula today with a lovely lady named Shakti from Australia who is now basically living in China and India..(One of these days I promise to tell you a little something about all the lovely poeple I am meeting here)...
Shakti wanted to meet Vivek and make an appointment for a consultation with my doctor, so I took her over first to meet them. It was lovely seeing them again after not seeing them for awhile, and of course Deepak was all smiles as well as a big hug which surprised me coming from an Indian man...but as I said, he is very special and full of love, for life, for people, in general. We spoke for awhile, then Shakti made an appointemnt, and then we went shopping back across the bridge. I got 3 nice blouses and 3 pair of trousers and 2 lightweight shawels and now I am set for the next few weeks here. I might even have someone take my picture to show off the clothing, but I really had being photographed...so...
Then I decided to start to explore Laxsman Jula, the other bridge area which is 2 km. upstream but closer to my guesthouse. Two people had recommended a restaurant which is run in an orphanage that is run by an American lady (the website is : www.sayyesnow.org. if anyone is interested in more information. I will check it out myself today as well. At any rate...
it is located down some small path which twists and turns ever downward until finally you wind up in this Utopia kind of hideaway sourrounded by greeen fields, vegetable gardens, flowers, trees, and the building housing the restaurant itself is designed so beautifully...definitely american thinking...so calming a relaxing. Next time I am there I will take some pictures...easier than trying to describe...
It was not easy getting there, but it was worth the effort. I just finished eating the India meal of the day. They have a very small set menu with 2 different specials each day, one Western (today was lasagne) and one Indian. But this was the most delicious and satisfying meal I have eaten ANYWHERE, not just in India, for quite some time. Everything is organic and grown here at the orphanage. The setting and ambience just adds to the taste of the food. I had organic brown rice with perfectly cooked veggies just picked and cooked, and dahl made from mung and chickpeas...perfectly seasoned. And a sidedish of some seasoned yogurt dish with pokora...a vegetable which I think might be Jerusalem Artichoke, but I am not sure...absolutely delicious. I drank "yogi tea" which ended the meal perfectly.
Next time I think I will have a large fresh salad and some home made brown bread and butter.
It is not cheap but worth every rupee. I left satisfied and not just in my stomach, and everything which I am allowed on my diet is perfectly prepared here.
Following this I continued down to the bridge just to explore...walked around for awhile longer, and finally got back to my guesthouse around 4 PM, tired but happy. I had Tulsi tea which I brewed my self in my room with the new glass and electric water heater I bought in Rishikesh the other day, together with some dried fruits, and then took a nap. All in all a lovely day, which finally ended with yoga when I awoke, then a light dinner, hot shower and music and reading until about 10 PM when I went soundly to sleep.
I have been having some very strange and vivid dreams since I did the panchakarma but I basically sleep very soundly and wake refreshed each morning. this morning I did my morning stuff as well as full yoga program and then went to eat a lovely breakfast of porridge with fruit...Delicious and filling...and for a change I am at the internet in the morning instead of the evening.
I am now on my way down to a palm reader...wonder what he will have to say.
That's it for now..
Namaste to all
Jane
This morning (Monday, 26th)I woke
Monday, February 26, 2007
India Journal 2006 #13 Feb 25th-Shopping and Great Restaurant to Recommend
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Pictures from Rishikesh Market-THE COLORS!
I took a rickshaw down to the local Market today with a very sweet girl named Meital, 29 years old, here to get more experience in yoga before beginning classes. She is a yoga instructor but has not been doing it seriously yet...
I won't write about what we saw, just say that it was a wonderful morning, and if we would have found a toilet, we would have stayed longer!...I will let all the pictures tell the story...I've even taken a video so the sounds can be heard, but will not be posting it for awhile...perhaps only after I get home.
Make sure you open the "read more" as there are lots of pics there as well. I haven't even given them titles...I think they are self explanatory...the colors, the colors...one of the things I never get enough of in India.!
If you double click the picture, it will open in a full page view...I am adding some descriptions where necessary:.JPG)
A small vegetable stand with Meital in the picture.JPG)
This is a girl in a courtyard drawing water from a well...right in the center of town..JPG)
Bangles sold in the market and everyplace else you look in India!!.JPG)
Florist Shop...the hanging flowers are used in pujas at temples or along the Ganga!.JPG)
Marigolds are favorite offerings to the gods at the temples or on the Ganga.JPG)
A Sari Shop!
Spice Shop.JPG)
Tailor "shop".JPG)
.JPG)
Just a picture with a glimpse of a small section of the market street!.JPG)
Another section of the street. The brass thing in the foreground is used to "chana masala"...a snack made of chickpeas and sold on the street during the day....
More vegetable stands...
Colors used to throw on people during the upcoming Holi Festival!
Another street view
Typical Indian street scene....cow, motorbike and Tata truck!
MOre clothing shops...
India Journal 2006 - #12 Feb, 23-My Mountain Walk with Bernard
Well, just take a few minutes to go back to yesterday afternoon. Woke up from my nap and decided to do a little exploring before dinner and bought myself some ghee to add to my food instead of butter, some dried fruits for snacks and also found a restaurant nearby that is willing to prepare mung dahl for me (which is the kind I am supposed to eat. and now on to today and the lovely walk. First of all, I did not take a camera, which in one way was great, but
on the other hand, I was unable to video (and get the sound) of things along the way, but I will be going again so next time I will take the camera. Not having the camera is basically an advantage on such a walk as you use more of your own awareness to "photograph " what you see instead of relying on the camera.
So..let's begin the day with brown roll with butter and honey for breakfast...better than porridge anyday!.
then I met Bernard at his guesthouse just up the hill from me...lovely place with great view but I prefer mine at the moment. He turned out to be a lovely walking partner, very respectful of my pace and my need to rest, as well as my need to END the walk when I felt the need to.
Walked through village and up the valley into the hills. We actually walked the whole first 45 minutes along the narrow concrete wall of a water conduit (which I never would have thought to do on my own...I would have taken the main road)which directs water down to the village from the mountains. The sound was meditative (and that is what I want to record next time). People pay money to buy CD's with the sound of burbling brooks and running water with birds in the background etc., and this is exactly what I heard in full force the whole way. It was just wonderful. There were spots where boulders had fallen and created places for the water to pool and ripple down like small rapids on the other side of the path. Walked down to sit for awhile along one of these pools. Birds, and babbling brooks...and the butterflies of every color, yeallow, purple, orange, black, dotted, striped...Hay stacks on trees donkies carrying building materials and all around the wonderful green hills. Fields of wheat and rice almost emerald green in color. Pure Azure blue sky above with little wisps of white cloud here and there. Warmth of the sun mixed with the cool mountain breeze. Heavenly luxury!
Hope I can find my way up here again by myself. I have since met another lady who is looking for a walking partner, so I will try to do it together with her next time.
Next walk promised to me by Bernard is across Laxman Jula, up the mountain and over the ridge to get a view of the Himalayas in the distance....
He says you can continue up the we were going for a couple more hours, but it was enough for me and returned via another village...just lovely. For now just feeling completely blessed and at peace and in complete gratitude for always being provided with exactly what I need at every point of the way.
When I came back, quite hot, I decided the time was ripe for my first bowl of muesli, curd and fruit, and since I was told to no longer eat this for breakfast, why not for lunch? The fruit included strawberries, pomegranates, bananas, papaya, mango and pineapple, and raisins and nuts.
The rest of the day I rested, read, spoke with some more lovely people (one day I will have to write about the amazing variety of people I am meeting here...much different than those I meet in McLeod...more "normal" people from all over the world.
I will end here and try to get another post off with my visit today to the Market in downtown Rishikesh...let's see if we can manage it...
Namaste
Jane
Friday, February 23, 2007
My Room in Rishikesh at Bhandari Swiss Cottage
Just thought you might like to see where I am living. It is every so comfortable and I have lots of places to sit outside, both shady and sunny, all surrounded by trees with mountains all around. And of course the swing outside...I'll have to photograph it another day....I really hate using the camera these days but I know it will be nice to see these pictures afterwards.
So enjoy my room...You are welcome to come visit! There is room for 2!!
Namaste
Jane
February 22, 2007-The First Channeling this Trip
This will be a separate post re: a channeling I received, so if you are interested in this kind of stuff, be my guest. If not, just move on to the next post which is full of intersting and fun things.
I went to sleep as usual after my lovely day as described in the previous 2 posts, but awoke to the sound of the wind howling furiously in the forest trees surrounding my room, and the ticking of my clock . When I saw it was 5 AM and I was awake, I felt the need to meditate, which I did. This followed thoughts before falling asleep as well as dreams of myself always being different from the travelers I meet. In McLeod, I am one of the few people who spend any length of time there who is not either an aspiring or already practicing Buddhist. Now I find in Rishikesh that I am
the only person I've met so far who is not either looking for the perfect Yoga teacher, the Swami who will bring them enlightenment, the perfect Ayurveda doctor or the ultimate massage. Everyone seems to be searching for something...on some kind of pilgrimage...where is the best puja on the Ganga, the best Thali, the best mountain trail, the most beautiful temple. I find no need for any of these things and began to wonder if something is wrong with me. am I just too lazy to bother?
Or is it something deeper...and then I woke up to meditate and my guides came to me really loud and clear for the first time in many many months and the following was said:
You are neither practicing Buddhist in Dharamsala nor yoga student in Rishikesh. You are not a seeker. Others are seeking. YOU KNOW. Relax into that KNOWING. JUST BE.
Your only quest is inward. Everything you need is already there. The place is unimportant...it is just a means for you to easily access what is already KNOWN to you.
Relax into it. Let it flow.
You are blessed...We love You.
India Journal 2006 #11 Feb 21- Part II
I'll continue from where I left off yesterday...
I then decided to continue up one road into Laxman Jula but up above the bridge and just stroll....elections today so all is closed but it was quite pleasant but it is HOT. and there was no shade. And I'm dressed too warm...anyway, I'll be smarter next walk. Everything was closed but I got a feel of the road. Lots of shops, internet, restaurants, guesthouses, Ayurveda doctor if needed and yoga courses by the dozen. and then 15 minutes down the road I came across a really lovely guesthouse with a fabulous garden. Very pleasant, clean roooms, 24 hour hot water, private balcony, restuarant with lovely view and I think I may just move next week. (In the end I doubt I will...I'm too comfortable where I am...today (a couple of days later) I saw another lovely room but also have no energy to bother moving)...but these are all good places to remember for future use. I am very bad at moving around. Anyway, just a few pictures from my walk...nothing special...just sites along the road...
anyway, stopped at the local bookstore where I had a 130 rupee credit for 2 books I had returned after reading them, and found two new books:
Paulo Coelho, "Like the Flowing River, Thoughts and Reflections" which someone recommended the other day and "The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes" which Ab della spoke about over 2 years ago. It is by a Tibetan author who use Sherlock Holmes pronouncement then when all thought he had been killed in Switzerland, he actually spent 2 years in Lhasa Tibet as well as India...will see where that story takes me...should be interesting.
and I am now sitting in another nearby restaurant in a garden shaded by trees drinking an apple juice. Could life be more wonderful?
I really think I will stay here until I get too hot...lots of opportunities to explore, lovely places to sit and nice people.
Will continue a new post as the following day brought interesting developments and will write a special post about them. I must try and catch up with myself as today is already Friday and much has happened since the above...Will do my best and see how long I can manage here...vacation vacation, but the more I vacation, the more I have to write!!!
Namaste
Jane
Thursday, February 22, 2007
India Journal 2006 #11 Feb 21- Election Day and Vacation Day for Me
12:30 PM My first real vacation day and it is lovely so far.
Slept well. Did my full yoga program and meditation this morning..leisurely breakfast althought I am getting really tired of this porridge each morning!
Then decided to start exploring. Went up the nearest path . Just lovely...birdcalls and butterfiles, quiet and my own footsteps... I am starting a list of descriptions of birds I see which I will post at a future date...
But after about 15 minutes I came to a bunch of boulders blocking the path and saw no other way of going so decided
I would not attempt that today. 
So came back...very peaceful as you can see from the pictures...Some little girls stopped me for a picture which I took 
but then they wanted "payment"...became quite agressive and the little Hindi I bothered to learn finally came in handy. I had no small coins except for one 2 rupee coin which I gave to the oldest and tried to explain it was for all three to no avail. The two little ones wouldn't leave me alone...
Finally asked them in Hindi What there name was which stunned them for a minute. But then they told me so I was able to tell them , also in Hindi...enough, go away, I have nothing using their names which seemed to make more of an impression and finally I "escaped".
while up on the trail I saw a site which I hadn't seen since Dharamkot...grass being hung up to dry for fodder on trees...wonderful idea!
Well, I have lots more to write about this day, as well as today which is the next day, but I've had it. I will continue tomorrow.
And just to keep you in suspense, another exciting thing which happened today is that I HAVE A DATE FOR TOMORROW!
Stay tuned....more to come
Namaste
Aurveda Panchakarma Treatments #13-14 FINISHED!
It's over and I will SUMMARIZE THE RESULTS to date...what will happen in the future waits to be seen but I am confident that I will feel well for quite a long time...even up to a year and then I will come again!
Treatment #13 - I'm glad it's the last one before the final cleansing and consultation with the doctor who will explain how to slowly go back to regular eating habits and answer lots of other questions I have. Vivek said I can have chapati today!!! (It was DELICIOUS but could barely finish it!). Tomorrow I have the day off as it is local State election day, and then my final treatment..
Treatment #14 and Summary of results
I just had the greatest facial of my life! And done by a man to boot! This was the final surprise of my last treatment which eneded with my eyes, ears and nose being cleaned with various drops and massage after my final full massage and steam (which I didn't have since it wasn't working...turned out later there was no gas in the gas balloon!- but I had a nice hot "bath" instead...I would have preferred the steam...really enjoyed those). And then this wonderful facial.
the doctor then spoke to me and explained how to slowly return to my regular diet (as he originally gave me) and if I want to "cheat" every so often,
it is OK. I like this about him! He is not fanatic and this is what I believe also. Wee need to feed our soul as well as our stomach and sometimes a good cup of coffee, or pasta or piece of cake or whatever is needed. For now it is still liquid kind of diet, mung dahl (explored today and found a couple of restaurants near my guesthouse that are willing to prepare this for me) and veggie soup and porridge and perhaps a chapati. But I don't yet have much of an appetite so I am fine. I lost 3 kilo but it is different than when you simply loose weight. all the "yucky" stuff in the middle is gone! Like I was 10 years ago...wonder how long that will stay that way?
I will also slowly get back to a full yoga program but the lovely program Deepak gave me will remain with me always...first as a full program in itself, and then later, according to how I feel, as a warm-up to further yoga practice. Of course my pranayama and meditation stay the same as always...I am quite pleased.
Aside: I started getting a rash on my back several days ago and figured it was from the oil or the detox and since I don't like to complain, didn't say anything figuring it would be gone quickly. But it kept getting worse and today I asked Vivek. With a twinkle in his eye he said he was surprised that I hadn't said anything until now! He was waiting for this. Says many people get this rash on their face (aren't I the lucky one) but some also on the back and it is toxins coming out and may take up to a week to disappear on its own...and try not to scratch it!!
Doc also said that my 2-3 liters of water a day is fine...even more in summer. but definitely no yogurt in the morning. If I don't want porridge then either herbal tea and bread and butter, or fruit is OK. And that I asked about dairy products and my keeping away for over 12 years now - as I was convinced from reading that it was part of the cause of my arthritis and of course mucous and sinus problems. He says I MUST go back to dairy products and he is the 3rd ayurveda doctor to tell me this. Samll amolunts of cheese are fine and BOILED milk once a day is very important for MY body type. Funny...all those years I never missed giving up meat...but cheese was always difficult for me. And then I was also told to stay away from salt a year ago by an oesteopath who also said it caused arthritis...I've always loved salty food and this has been very hard for me. But now it seems salty is one of the tastes that are important in a Vatta (my body type) diet. So, we must ALWAYS listen to our bodies ...they are very wise!
He also prescribed a detox supplement taken in capsule form which he wants me to take on a regular basis. He says it will help keep my body cleansed...and if I do overindulge at times, I will know right away as I will get pain in my hip...this is a sign that the detox is working and this is where I will feel it. So I will get these also to bring home with me.
Other than that, the whole thing is quite amazing. I feel soooooooooo good. And with the original cold and rainy weather and then the sudden switch to warm and dry, I should have been suffering constantly since I arrived here. I have not had a pain (except for my neck and shoulder while sitting at this damn computer) since the 3rd day of treatment. It was worth every penny...and inconvenience...and unpleasantry to have this done and look forward to next year when I will do it again. I highly recomment it to anyone...
Namaste
Jane
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Reading List
Just thought you might be interested in seeing what I am reading, so on the sidebar I have put up a reading list. You can see that I have been quite busy with my reading. I have already finished 4 books and am now actually reading 2 at the same time....if you are interested in recommendations or just in any book in particular, let me know....So far, every book has been a gem, each in its own right. This is a particular blessed luxury for me as always in India, as I simply love to read but never spend more than a short time doing it during my "normal" life. Here I spend HOURS a day reading, and loving every moment of it.
Tomorrow, more about my "vacation" today...and more pictures...no more time today
Namaste
Jane
The Magic of Books
I finished reading a book by Ruskin Bond, one of my very favorite Indian writer's, which was written fairly recently called: "Scenes from a Writer's Life- A Memoir" and it is simply entries from his private journal from his childhood up to age 21. Fascinating, but that is not the point of this post. On the very last page, I read the following which was taken from a letter he had written to his father who had died many years before, when he was 10 years old...I have taken the liberty of editing one small portion, and have posted it as well on the blog in
Memory of my Father
"Love is undying; of that I feel certain. I mean deep, abiding cherishing love. The love that gives protection even as you, my guardian angel, gave me protection [all those many years] - and continue to give this very day...A Love beyond Death-a love that makes Lfe alive!"
This just said it so beautifully I had to share it with you all. I read this just after my Father, who passed away just 4 months ago, came to watch me do Yoga the other day!!! I realized afterwards that it was 4 months ago to the day, that we had buried him.....
Nothing else to say....
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
India Journal 2006 #10- February 20, 2007-Quick Post
I will be posting a regular post about the treatments in a couple of days to give a final sum up....but today was an interesting day.
First of all, I saw how easy it is to upload pictures from the camera memory card and the first batch you have seen in the previous 2 posts. I will try and be more professional now and include a nice picture with most of the posts.
Today was pleasant...met a friend on the way home from the treatment...a nice gentleman from Germany who I have had dinner with a couple of times and enjoyed his company. Walking back to the guesthouse today,
we talked some more, and knowing how much I enjoy walking the forest, and understanding that I am still in a more or less resting period, he has offered to take me walking as soon as I feel ready and show me the lovely paths he has discovered...he's been to Rishikesh in the past as well. He says he will walk slowly and come back whenever I say stop...so seems like a good deal and I am excited about finally completing my treatments and beginning to enjoy the place and the lovely countryside it has to offer.
He also knows some small quiet restaurants which he has offered to show me and I've accepted his offers and will look for him in a few days when I feel up to it.
The weather is getting warmer with each day and now have my windows open to let in the warm mountain air.
Remember I mentioned the apples I purchased? Well, I didn't mention that they were quite expensive (30 rupees apiece) but I didn't care at the time. Only today I noticed the label on one of them: "Product of the USA...Washington's Finest", which would help to explain the price. But they are delicious and very good for me now on this diet.
Today I get to eat my first Chapati!!! With my dahl this evening...I'm soooooooo excited!
Well, I'll end here...it has been very exciting for me to get the pictures up here and would love to hear from you about how they come out...
Namaste
Jane
Pictures #2 First Try to Upload
Now that I know how easy this is, I will try to include more pictures with the posts themselves.
For now, just enjoy these as they are....
The above and the following are views of Ram Jula, the newer smaller bridge which I cross each day to get to my treatments
The following should have been in my first post where I described the lovely gardens outside the restaurant we stopped at on the way to Rishikesh from Delhi.
Pictures #1-First Try at Uploading
Well, now that I know how easy this is, I will try to include pictures with the posts themselves....but for now, just enjoy these with the description of each...
This is a picture of the 3 wonderful people who have been caring for me for the past 2 weeks. Deepak on the left, fabulous massage therapist and yogi all in one, in addition to being sooooooo funny and full of life. Next is Babita, the 16 year girl who does massages and does the cooking as well...And on the right is Vivke, the one in charge who also does treatments, is a Reiki master and Naturopath, and in general an highly interesting person to talk to.
This is a view overlooking the Ganges which I took the first day I was here.
And here are two views of Ram Jula, the newer and smaller of the two bridges and the one I cross each day after coming down the mountain.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Ayurveda Panchakarma Treatments #10-12-I FEEL GREAT!!!
Well, treatment #10 was similar to yesterday with even more emphasis on lower and outer extremities...and this seems to progress from day to day....I feel as if the toxins are being squeezed, wrung, grinded and stripped out of me in every possible way. I am eating almost nothing and very weak, my head is lite, a slight headachy feeling (read further to see the vast imporvement in this situation), but I spoke to Vivek about it and he says he was already expecting this reaction several days ago and is not surprised or worried at all. Says it may last until a couple of days AFTER the whole treatment and then my appetite will return as will a renewed energy level.
I have to take his word for it and I found
some apples for sale today and bought them to keep as a snack in the room. It helped to settle my stomach this afternoon so I didn't feel as quesy as yesterday.
Treatment #11 - Unpleasant still but once I got home I was actually feeling very well, contrary to the past few days. All of a sudden, despite the small amount of food I am eating, I am no longer hungry and quite energized. The weather has also turned fabulous....clear clean air, glorious sunshine...slight breeze...just perfect.
Same evening: Did yoga for the first time in several days and it was EASY! My whole body feels loose and lubricated...I find myself moving as I usually do when getting up from a chair or from lying down, moving slowly and with caution in anticipation of sudden, momentary stiffness and pain. To my great surprise, there is no resistance or pain anywhere! I had gotten so used to this wary moving about it surprises me each time I move so effortlessly!
I was looking to get relief from hip pain...never even thought of the general effect this would have on my body. Never even realized how much I had become accustomed to thea lessening of flexibilty in my whole body and the need to move carefully. It is quite amazing how this has all changed!
This morning, before going for treatment #12, I did Udiyana Bandha for the first time in many days (a type of yoga breathing technique which sucks in the whole abdominal region bringing the front of the body inwards, upwards and back towards the spine-you may have seen pictures of yogis doing this)...it is a wonderful massage for all the internal organs and I generally do it each morning first thing. I always get a very good concave inward pull of the abdomen, but today, my stomach seem to touch my back! It was quite extraordinary...I've really had every bit of "stuff" which is not supposed to be in there scooped out and I am really, truly clean. I've also lost lots of weight, don't know how much yet, but it is a very pleasant feeling.
Treatment #12 was again similar, but the enema was not quite as traumatic as I am pretty much emptied out already...tomorrow is the last one.
I am feeling sooooooooooo wonderful....so energized....so light....and of course not only pain free but stiffness free...my joints seem to have been lubricated and no longer "squeak"!!!
Another extra added attraction...the skin of my face is flawless. All those little blemishes on the chin and roughness around the nose etc....my face is just smooth as a baby's.
So,,,will end here...two more days to go.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
India Journal 2006 #9 Feb. 16-18 Just Thoughts on the Banks of the Ganges
The truth of the matter is, there is nothing very interesting or exciting to write so far, as most of this trip up until now is taken up with the treatments, which you get to read about in separate posts.
But there are a few things which I've jotted down in my notebook which you might, or might not, find interesting, so I'll post them quickly here today. The treatments are in full swing, quite difficult and tiring, but almost over. After that, I will begin my real explorations of Rishikesh and hope to have something a little more interesting to write.
INDIAN TIME ZONE: Have you ever wondered, like I have, why India has a time zone which includes a 1/2 hour?? Like it is now 3 1/2 hours ahead of Israel. Where in the world does the 1/2 hour come from? There is no such thing as a half a time zone. I've been asking this question for years now and have never received a answer until this week when someone finally explained it. It is a purely political thing
and a decision made by government, much the same as we decide to have Daylight Savings Time...it seems India decided they want to be AHEAD OF PAKISTAN (!) so moved the time up by 1/2 an hour!! And that's the answer!!!
Sunday, Feb. 18th, 11 AM
Sitting on the banks of the Holy Ganga. I arrived as usual for my treatment to find the place closed. Only Babita, the young girl who does massages and also cooks the meals was the only one there and she doesn't have a key. She asked immediately if I would call Vivek on my phone, assuming that I have my mobile with me...when I said I didn't she was quite amazed.
So, I found a nice bench to sit on and enjoy the view until the rest of the guys get here. Today would have been a good day for me to have the camera with me...maybe I'll just start carrying it around...The river is crystal clear with a perfect refelction of everything on the shore. The trees, the buildings, the colorful sites along the banks....
People are doing laundry, cows roaming, birds singing, chanting on the loudspeakers of some record shop across the bridge or perhaps a temple or ashram...don't know. Babita just came to tell me "5 minutes" but that's the only phrase she knows in Enlgish to indicate "Please wait patiently"...so it could be 5 minutes or 30 mintues....I really don't care...the weather is just perfect and I am content just sitting here, mindfully enjoying the moment.
I'm still trying to figure out the allure of Rishikesh. Perhaps next week when I do more exploring I'll figure it out. But is is definitely a town built around 2 things. The Holy Ganga, puja's, temples, yoga, etc. and of course, in the wake of these things, tourism. But it seems to be a different tourism than Dharamsala...the whole town seems less "active"...less busy then Dharamsala...more relaxed and layed back. I could be wrong...perhpas the "religious" nature of the town...don't know. I really find myself enjoying the quiet energies here.
The town is also very spread out, not all concentrated in a couple of small alleylike streets....and so not crowded and confining like McLeod. There are 2 banks to the river and 2 bridges spanning it...about 2 km. apart. and by each bridge is a small center...a smaller one by Ram Jula (the newer, smaller bridge), and a larger one reaching up the side of the mountain by Laxman Jula (the famous bridge everyone sees in pictures of Rishikesh). This means there is an enormous amount of area to wonder around so people are not confined in one small central place. In McLeod, I can only get away from the crowds by going up in the mountains. Here, I can walk wherever I want and not be surrounded constantly by people....very pleasant.
Perhaps it's the reverence for this Holy River which adds quiet dignity to the town as well as the desire to keep it clean....
I'll close for today...
Namaste to all
Jane
Friday, February 16, 2007
Ayurveda Panchakarma Treatments #8-9 Down to the Nitty Gritty
I woke the morning of the 15th quite energiezed, with the sun shining, and walked down to my treatment after doing my regular "morning stuff", including some pranayama/meditation/yoga, hot shower, porridge. Today they will begin the internal cleansing regimen and not really looking forward to it.
Treatment #8 - consisted again of a full body massage but the character of the massages has changed I have noted. While each massage is a full body massage, the first week's main emphasis was on the trunk portion of the body, the massages have now moved their emphasis to the extremities. Makes sense if you think of it as cleansing is something which must begin deep within and gradually work its way out....
Following the always lovely massage
I had a full steam box bath but with different herbs than the ones last week. I really enjoy these. And then of course the internal detox began. I will spare you the details, but I had my first enema and will just say that it is not easy. Not because it is terrible unpleasant as I had expected it to be, but it is just completely debilitating energy wise, and also kills the appetite. I could barely eat anything for lunch afterwards, and walking home was difficult. The rest of the next few days I was advised to eat as much of a liquid diet as possible, meaning plain dahl, soups, herbal teas etc., and lots of ghee or melted butter for lubrication. Well, I didn't feel like eating anything at all and had some tea and went to sleep.
In the evening I was a little hungry so had a bowl of plain vegetable soup, and after a short while, simply went to sleep early and slept a full 12 hours.
Treatment #9 - Again, a lovely massage with further emphasis on the extremities and face area, full steam and then an enema. I spoke to Vivek who explained the process and the reasoning behind it. Each day different herbs are used, sometimes with water, sometimes with oil, and each consecutive treatment does further cleaning. He compared the intestine to a pipe which, after years of use gets blocked, even if we eat perfectly and think all is well. The first enema removes the easy stuff, and yesterday was definitely easier than today. Afterwards, what remains in the pipe is the accumulation of years of debris which becomes stuck to the walls like rust on the walls of the pipe, and literally must be "scraped off" a little at a time until everything is removed. This is the purpose of the repeated enemas...
All I can tell you is, it is going to be a horror of 5 more days. This is difficult. I am tired, weak and have no appetite, still have to go back and forth each day, but I must tell you that I have absolutely no pain anywhere in my body for some days now and so it is definitely working. what Vivek further explained, is that most people stop the treatment after the pleasant part and then results are limited in time because the body is still filled with debris. It is this second stage which is supposed to guarantee long lasting results from the panchakarma. Even a year or more. But this of course is something we will have to wait to find out about.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
India Journal 2006 #8 Feb. 14th 2007- Took a Day Off from Treatments!
Is it my imagination or is Feb 14th Valetine's Day? Isn't it funny what useless information our brains drag up once in awhile??
Well, back to yesterday evening. I got a small heater for my room from the guesthouse, then spent a couple of hours chatting over chai with other travelers. Lovely couple from Umbria, Italy. He's originally British but has been living in Italy for about 10 years teaching English. Lovely couple together 8 years, married for 4, deeply spiritual via intense yoga practice. REally pleasant company.
then to my room, with heat, and it was quite lovely. Chopin, a good book and off to sleep. Decided when I went to sleep that the next day, today, I would "take rest" as suggested by Vivek. I think I need
a day or 2 off. I've actually been up and out early every day since I arrived and the days are long. It's been rainy and cold, so figured some time off might help my cold.
Woke up this morning to SUN!! Turned on the heater, ordered breakfast in my room, real hot shower, dressed in some clothes I hadn't worn yet, brought all the other stuff into the laundry (and I've already picked them up, beautifully clean and folder and smelly lovely, for only 6 rupee per item!).
the clouds are already rolling in-it is only 11 AM or so, but I am up the roof of the guesthouse soaking in whatever bit of sun I still can. The view up here is lovely. The mountain in front of me is dark velvety green and nestled in a curve off to the left are clusters of neat houses rising up from the river into the mountain side. The hills seem to blend into one antoehr and sweep up and down in small peaks. The further range on the right is misty where the clouds are coming in (think it is west)and the range on the left is bright with sunlight reflecting off the few spaces of bare rock showing between the green of the forest.
This whole High Banks area is an enclave unto itself, with may guesthouses to choose from. Above the din and bussle of the town below, offering a true atmosphere of mountain retreat.. Fresh air, birds, flowers, grass, trees all around, completely surrounded by mountains with the river below. To think that I've been lucky enough to arrive in this place, and have the luxry of staying here as long as I choose....God's blessings are abundant and His Universe and its workings miraculous.
I find the Indians here in Rishikesh, extremely friendly...not because they want to sell you something or "get" something from you, but just because they are people living in a lovely, relatively peaceful place, with strong positive energies which can only effect all who are here in a good way. They seem to be happy, relaxed, the place is also so clean. Tehy are possessed of a great sense of pride in the special spirituality of their town. Despite the fact that there is much charletanism here obviously, but there is also much REAL and TRUE sense of higher energies here as well.
You just have to sit quietly and absorb them!
There is no liquor of any kind available here and it is supposedly completely vegetarian but I've seen chicken on a couple of menus. There also doesnt' seem to be as much widespread drug use here-at least not out in the open as it is so prevalent in Dharamsala. I guess people do their smoking in private here.
So, I will enjoy the rest of my first vacation day abefore getting back to the "work" of panchakarma tomorrow.
Napped for awhile...now out for lunch. sopme of you may be surprised that I have not spoken of my meals-but truth be told, I've been eating well and nothing spectacular to speak of. When there is, I will let you know. Now it is just plain porridge with melted butter for breakfast (or brown bread toast), and masala chai and hot ginger honey. Lunch is whatever I get at the clinic and dinner usually vegetable soup with brown bread toast (if I didn't have it in the morning). My appetie is not great anyway and the couple of treats I tried were nothing to "write home about".
I am now sitting on the terrace of a restaurant waiting for lunch and the sun is still stubbornly holding its own against the very theatening dark grey rain clouds looming over the mountain tops. so, hopefully I will have sun through lunch.
The rest of the day went by quietly...with lots of resting and reading and it is now evening and I am feeling definitely better than yesterday.
Will continue tomorrow and hope the treatments go well and the weather stays normal.
Namaste
Ayurveda Panchakarma Treatments #4-7 Sum Up of Results to Date
Treatment #4-Deepak did this treatment and it was superb. Amazing hands, perfect touch. Full body not herbal bundles. First they are heated a tapped all over and then he uses them to massage my alternating between his hands and the bundles...heaven! I could use one of these everyday of my life! Then I had an oil drip on my forehead plus a head massage. It is actually amazingly relaxing to my surprise. Then a "sponge" bath while still on the table. Lunch and then home in the rain head full of oil. But I had plenty of hot water and it washed out easily.
Treatment #5- Same wonderful herbal bundle massage with Deepak again and then local steam. Particular careon back but just pure luxury all over. Again lunch and then home.
Treatment #6 - Vivek did this treatment and he has a much lighter touch, seems to use his hands differently, but when I asked he said each person is expert in certain types of massages for certain results which are expected from that particular technique and that is why they change as necessary and as presribed by the doctor. Not just by chance, but with purpose and forethought. Full body massage again but differnt emphasis and particular work on lower back where I mentioned I have some new pain. He says that and my head cold are part of the detox process and the doctor will see me tomorrow anyway.
following the massage, hot towels all over my body and then the forehead drip again.
Today, kitcheri for lunch...supposed to be good when you are sick with colds and flu. Mixture of rice, mung bean dalh and cumin seeds cooked togehter with seasoning.
I also keep forgetting to mention the Papad which is a crispy round thing, looks like shmura matzo...made from mung bean dahl flour and seasoned with balck pepper. Good for colds and digestion and it ends each meal, sort of like dessert.
Treatment #7 - The day dawned terribly cold, windy and rainy but decided to go anyway, as I wanted finish up my first week and meet the doctor. I had a very mild body massage with Vivek as well as hot bundles on my lower back and shoulder neck area which is always stiff. Quite pleasant. Before the massage however, they promised to teach me how to flush out my nostrils pouring water into one and having it come out the other. I had tried that once years ago and all the water ended up in my forward...or down my throat...it was terrible and I was a little hesitant, but they first explained it to me, then did it themselves so I could see, and to my great surprise, I did it and it was easy and brought immediate relief even though one side was completely stopped up. They recommend it every morning when one has a cold a twice a week on a regular basis. I bought a little spouted plastic container to do it with.
Then the doctor came. He was quite pleased with my progress,,,said my pulse was much stronger and balanced, and then presribed further medication for my cold as well as the next weeks treatments.
These will include a massage still every day but afterwards, something to drink and then internal cleansing done with enema...I am REALLY looking forward to that you can be sure! And then a very lite meal each day of soup only for the duration.
Impression of results so far: As the weather has been very cold, raining windy and damp, I would have expected my hip to be bothering me continually, or least paining once in awhile. To my great surprise, from the second day, I have had no pain, not even twinges, at all. So for now, I can only say that something has happened. And I mentioned the immediate solution to my frozen shoulder already. Now we will see how long through the year the results continue....I am taking herbal medication every day, actually the same thing Rumalaya that I have been using for the past two years on the advice of an Indian pharmacist, but now the doctor has recommended Ramalaya Forte for at least the next 5 months. Then to stop and see what happens.
All in all so far, I am quite pleased. I took a break today as I mention in my regular post, and will be back tomorrow to begin my second week.
Namaste and good health to all
Jane
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
India Journal 2006 #7 Feb 12-13 Talk About the Weather!
Well, I'd rather not talk about the weather. What a disappointment. But first let's go back to yesterday and finish up the nice stuff, and then we can talk about the weather for a minute or two.
Monday, Feb 12th, 6 PM
I am now in my room after a very busy day. I've checked the weather on the internet (you can do the same if you want to know what the weather is like here...Google "Dehradun weather" and the first site on the page will be "wunderground. There you can see the weather for 5 days and know what I'm going through.
I checked because I wanted to know if I could give in my winter clothes to the laundry, but I won't be able to do that until at least Saturday. I am wearing ALL of my clothes, and have taken to changing the UNDER piece of clothing since I cannot give them into the wash. But at least they keep me warm. This internet place is nice...it is heated!
My cold is not worse but not good either. Yesterday evening asked the guy in the kitchen to chop up an onion and cover it with honey
and of course he asked what I was going to do with it. When I told him I was going to eat the juice to clear up my cold...he thought that was hysterical and called all the guys over to tell them about the crazy old lady....but they gave it to me and it helped.
Tuesday, Feb 13, 6 PM
I slept well last night and woke up to pouring rain....worse than yesterday and much colder and seriously considered not going to day. It is like Jerusalem...about 10 degrees and windy...really not pleasant! But the doctor was supposed to see me and Vivek said he would also teach me how to put water up one nostril and out the other to clear up my cold and figured that would be good to know. I am also taking my Traumil and have bought Tulasi, which is Ayurveda stuff for immune system and hopefully, once the sun comes out this will simply pass over.
So, I got dressed warm, including my hat (later in the day I finally bought a raincoat which I will use for the next couple of days because even with an umbrella, crossing the bridge you get soaked from the wind driving the rain across at an angle) and took a rickshaw down. When I arrived, Vivek said he had sent me a message on the phone (which I keep closed) that if I wanted to "take rest today" I could as the weather was so bad. But I was happy I went. The power was on the whole time today, so the heater was working and I had my massage, plus really learnt how to do the wsater thing and it helped and also met with the doctor who was very pleased with my progress and presecibed the treatment for the next week. I will write more details when I get around to doing the treatment post.
So I am glad I went, and then stayed hoping the rain would stop and spoke to Vivek who is also very interesting, but finally had no choice and left in pouring rain. Got to the other side, got my rickshaw and got back to the hotel restaurant which was packed with all the other people also looking for a warm place to sit. The rooms are really cold (although mine is not as cold as some I've seen), and so sat and had a couple of glassed of ginger honey tea and finally went to my room.
I don't feel sick or anything, but the running nose is an annoyance and didn't feel like sleeping right away. Listened to music and played cards and finally went to sleep. I am meeting some very interesting people here as well...from Italy, Switzerland, Germany and of course Israelis, and it is not unpleasant to hang around the restaurants in the area here to pass the time when you can't be outdoors.
I am enjoying myself as much as possible under the circumstances, but have nothing exciting to write actually. I've even taken to doing the needlepoint I took with me the last minute (haven't done one of these since I was pregnant with Sahi 26 years ago) but it also passes the time while I'm listening to music.
I've already finished my first book and am into the second...a luxury I don't have time for at home. Basically the day goes by very gently...just would be perfect if it wasn't raining and I could get more use out of the swing outside my room. But if EVERYTHING was perfect when I arrived here, perhaps it would be too much of a shock to my system. This way, at least I get used to the perfect "good life" one step at a time.
So, I will close for now...go off for dinner, and then back to my room where I will turn on the heater, heat of the room, take a hot shower, and climb into my warm bed.
I LOVE to get letters by the way!!!!
Namaste to all
Jane
Monday, February 12, 2007
India Journal 2006 #6 Feb 9-12, 2007
Well, back to catching up where we left off yesterday...hope this will bring me up to date and then it will be easier to continue. Today is Monday to the best of my knowledge...hope not to loose any more days along the way. So we go back to Shabbat, the day I got caught in the rain on the way home. But walking down the road to Ram Jula, the water of the Ganges was an amazing aquamarine, brilliant, clear color. I had to stop and just look at it for awhile on my way down. It rained all day AND all night and the locals say it should have rained like this in December and beginning of January, certainly not now...and they are all surprised by the weather. It did not rain all winter and just started raining now. Sounds like home...but it is really cold and windy and rainy and hopefully it will clear up soon. (Today, Monday, was actually quite nice all day...even saw the sun and sat out for awhile...hope each day gets better and better).
At any rate, I used the shared rickshaw which runs up and down the road between
Ram Jula and Laxman Jula and you just get on any one that has a free seat for 5 rupees. It takes me up the road and then I have another few minute climb up to the "High Banks" area I am living it. Not bad. I actually prefer walking the whole way but the rain was terrible and I've also been advised to do as little walking while doing the treatments, and rest as much as possible. I have taken to wearing my Crocs which I threw in the last minute and they are super comfrotable and since the roads here are good and even cleaner than any place else I've seen so far in India (except for Chennai), I am enjoying wearing them instead of my usual closed sneakers. Also easier when I have to keep taking them on and off in different places. Rishikes as a whole is really clean, and except for the stuff the cows leave (and there are an enormous amount of cows here...more than I've seen anywhere else), there is no dirt on the road whatsoever. so much cleaner than Dharamsala!
On the way home after my 4th treatment, which I will describe in a "treatment post", I stopped to buy shampoo and it took lots of hot water and plenty of shampoo to get my hair back to normal...it was the first treatment with the oil dripping on the forhead business...you can just imagine!
I had asked earlier in the week if it was possible to take walks in the forest and I was laughed out by the people at the guesthouse. They told me it is dangerous to go into the JUNGLE and I thought they meant for reasons of being robbed or attacked by men or something. They said no..."wild animals"!! Well, I didn't know what animals they were talking about but this morning, while looking out at the view across the river from my terrace, I saw on the path below, two enormous wild boar coming down the "jungle" path. so, I know for sure that they are in there and that is enough reason for me to not venture out there alone. But then I was told there are panthers and black bears as well! I spoke to the people at the clinic and they said yes, of course, the panthers even come down into town and the people who cautioned me about roaming the streets late at night are right. The area I am staying is pretty much IN the "jungle" and the animals still roam there. So, for now, I will have to find other places to walk around...but that will all wait until I finish all my treatments.
Sunday was also raining and chilly and almost didn't go down to my treatment, but in the end I went and coming back was already a little warmer and even had tea in an outdoor cafe which I tried for the first time. I had left my room in the morning wearing just about every piece of clothing I took with me. tites under my jeans, 2 pair of sox and my woolen booties on top of them. Thermal undershirt and 2 shirts, and light sweater, by sweatshirt and then my fleece jacket on top. and on the way down I bought a woolen hat to wear. And on top of it all, my shawel. Walking across the bridge was so windy, and quite scarey as it kind of swayed in the wind!
Just to comment about the treatments in general...my frozen shoulder is completely gone after only 2 treatments where it normally takes a few MONTHS to go away...even using acupuncture, osteopathy and complete rest. I've never taken the cortisone shots or pills the doc recommends and basically it seems that it doesn't go away until the inflammation dies down. And here, it was gone in 2 days!. My hip also seems to be fine even though it is so chilly and damp and all the walking I am doing, much of it up hills and steps.
Had a really fun time with Deepak today, one of the therapists as well as my yoga instructor, after his fabulous massage. While eating lunch, which consisted solely of chapati and squash like vegetable, we began talking about culture, language, etc. and I added a few more words in Hindi to my list. Trouble is, when I try to use them, people talk to me in English...like in Israel...if you sound like you don't really know Hebrew, everyone will answer you in English. They thought it was quite funny when I mentioned I learnt a little Hindi by watching Zee TV and when I told the young girl, 16 years old, who cooks and helps out there that I watch Jaab Love Hua and Kasamse, she burst out laughing!!! So now I can say things like "see you tomorrow", "see you later", "little bit", happy, cold, rain and "what is your name", "how are you", "have a nice day", thank you, in addition to the words I had already learned from the TV.
Also received my Indian phone number after providing them with a copy of my passport, visa, proof of address and picture.
Today I woke up with a cold again and my lower back is paining me terribly...something I never suffer from. So I complained to Vivek who said this is good...all part of the detoxification....and to rest as much as possible....he worked alot on my back and tomorrow I see the doctor to find out what the rest of the sessions will be.
So will end here...more tomorrow now that I am caught up.
Namaste
Sunday, February 11, 2007
India Journal 2006 #5 Feb. 6-9-My New Home in Lovely Rishikesh
Well, I will make this short, just to let you know where I spent the first two days and then see if I can get caught up. We were taken by taxi to an Ashram (I hopefully will write a little more about Shantam, the guy I met at the airport who spent the first couple of days with me, but only when I have the inclination), and this was Ashram in its extreme I imagine. I'm sure there are some places which are quite pleasant, but this certainly wasn't one of them. First of all, no one there spoke one word of English which also prooved to be very problematic. It was quite isolated which could h ave been nice, but there was NO hot water whatsoever, the bed was board hard and did bad things to my back, and the food, well, the food. It was standard Indian food but with no flavor as they use no salt, no garlic, no spices of any kind I could taste. Just chapati, dahl and rice, which is fine if it has some flavor, and in the morning some horrible cooked grain also with no flavor. and of course we sat on the floor to eat, which is also OK, but on the cold, damp hard floor with not even a sheet to sit on. The room was also dark as they had no lights and only one tiny candle
so that you could not even see what you were eating. And NO spoon at all for either of us and the dahl was liquid...in short...not pleasant and certainly not satisfying. In addition, meals were at certain times and if you missed them, you are out of luck. And of course we were expected to wash our own dishes, which basically is also OK, but for all the above luxury we were expected to pay 400 rupees per day for the room and another 200 rupees a day for the food!!!
So on the morning of the second day both of us met after my meeting with the doctor and found our way up to Bhandari (New) Swiss Cottage and picked our rooms after much deliberation. I have a very nice room at the very end of the guesthouse so it is completely quiet and surrounded by foliage. And, wonder of wonders, there is a swing right outside my room, just like the one I always had in my own garden and have missed for the last 2 years in my city home. and no one ever seems to want to use it except me! Either listening to the birds, or reading, or using my IPod to hear lovely music...it is a true treat and blessing. Wonderful shower with pressure and I can heat the water any time I want any time of the day and it is BOILING hot! I've set up the room very comfortably and even have plenty of floorspace to do my yoga etc. And all this for only 250 rupees a day!!
So now to the morning of the 6th after sleeping not very soundly but actually starting my needlepoint which I bought to take with me at the last minute. It was really a good idea for relaxing when you don't even feel like reading. Put on some nice music and drifted away. And then morning finally came and vivek, the guy in charge of the place I am doing the treatments came to pick me up and take me to the appointment with the doctor.
And, to my great surprise, we were doing this on his motorbike. Thank goodness for my experience in 2003 when I spent 5 weeks on Ravin's motorbike in Chennai. He took me on a quick tour of Rishikesh to get me orientated and that was a good idea for me later on in the day, and then we went to meet the doctor. You can read about that in the posts re: my treatments which I am keeping separate.
I am not sure of the day but I think I am now talking about Thursday....The place I am doing the treatments was also a good choice in the end. It is small and austere, very basic but also very clean and VERY personal . I get 100% full attention from everyone and this pampering is a true luxury for me.
My cold and cough are just about a thing of the past as is that strange pain I had the last couple of days in my scalp running down to my neck etc. But that disappeared miraculously the second I found myself on the plane to Delhi....
Slept beautifully and had a nice hot hower this morning and my first of 2 daily doses of 3 TAB of melted butter with my porridge this morning. Walked down to the treatment center. It is very similar to walking down from Bhagsu... Mountain rising up on one side and falling off down the other, but not Pine forest like in Dharamsala. It is the type of foliage Ruskin bond describes in his books, but not sure what the trees are. Perhpas spruce and some maple? Don't know but still wonderfully green and embracing. And of course monkeys everywhere, but here also the beautiful white ones (lemurs?) are also found in addition to the aggressive Rhesus.And the birds...so many birds singing, outside my room, while walking, everywhere...
The big difference is of course that once the mountain slopes all the way down, it reaches the Ganges and this is lovely. The color of the water changes each day, but it is clean and clear and quite lovely. I am surprised by the beauty of it, and it is very low this time of the year. And of course when you finish the walk down you arrive at one of the two bridges, Ram Jula and Laxman Jula...Laxman being the original built in 1939 I believe and Ram Jula built fairly recently further downstream where there was previously only a ferry. They are both very crowded at all times and even motorcycles go across them and they vibrate. You really have to get used to the feeling.
I did lots of walking after my treatment taking the very long way around home through Laxman Jula...I had started on the far side of Ram Jula...I know this means nothing to most of you but I had to walk along the bank from one bridge to the other, and then going up Laxman Jula after getting back to the other side of the Ganges and up to town is all uphill, with lots of steps...and then my guesthouse is even further up hill...quite a climb. But I enjoyed it and hope once my treatments are over and I am not expected to rest alot, I will do lots more of this. I was even told there is a waterfall up in the forest so eventually hope to get there as well.
OK, I will end here and finish catching up tomorrow... I actually lost a whole day as someone came up to me while I was eating dinner and "Shabbat Shalom" and I said "What do you mena? today is Thursday!!" The only way he could convince me that it really was Friday was to ask all the other people in the restaurant what day it was!! So now I just have to write about Shabbat and today, Sunday, but will do that next time.
The next post will contain little impressions etc., as well.
Namaste for now
Jane
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Journal 2006 #4 Feb. 4-5-Flight and Arrival
I am sitting comfortably at an Internet Cafe just outside my guesthouse and it is a chilly rainy day so what better time to do my best to catch up on this whole week. I have simply not had the urge to write at all, contrary to my previous journeys, but know that I will hate myself at a later date if I don't at least get the bare impressions down here. So let's quickly take a step back in time to last Sunday, Feb. 4th, 2007 when I left home for the airport to fly to India for the 4th time.
Just a quick aside: Leaving home this time was difficult. Everyone kept asking me if I'm excited and I never got to a point of excitement. (Actually, the excitement, which brought me to tears, was felt just as we landed in Delhi)... it's almost as if I am watching myself do all this. Very strange feeling.
Leaving my Mother was particularly difficult-but leaving my grandchildren was also hard as they are all grown up (most of them) and "real" people now...and of course my kids! I've spent more time with them the past while and of course Shlomit is living WITH me now and even Aviva the past 3 weeks. I will particularly miss Shlomit I think...and it is really difficult for me leaving my Mother all alone, but I guess in time I will come to terms with all of this.
The whole trip this time was surreal. I had a very weird feeling from the time I arrived at the airport...as if I was watching a movie of myself doing this and I myself am not really present. The only way I can think of to describe the journey is by using the Kabbalistic term "kfitzat Derech"...a leap in space so to speak...a technique used by Holy men, Kabbalists, certain Chasidic sages etc., to instantaneously get from place and time to another distant place and time. One minute I was sitting in the VIP lounge with my son-in-law Shmulik at Ben Gurion airport, and the next minute I was sitting in a taxi with Shatntam on my way to Rishikesh!
It's as if, except for a few impressions, the entire flight never took place...I remember this red headed fellow with bright blue eyes on line ith me in Amman asking if anyone was going to Rishikesh and would like to share a taxi with him. So of course I told him I already have a taxi waiting for me and he could share with me. Seems I also got a very fair price as he usually pays on his yearly trips to Rishikesh about $100 (about 4000 rupees) for the journey and the price I was given was 2500 rupees!
So we agreed to find each other at Delhi airport, and then boarded the plane. This was an unusual flight as it was filled first by about 250 pilgrims returned from Haj in Saudi Arabia. Muslim Indians of all ages, male and female, who boarded the plane first and just sat whereever they wanted to. so when the additional passengers, about 50 in number, began to board, there was a holy mess, as everyone's seat was already taken, no one spoke Hindi, and none of these guys spoke English or Arabic and it took alot of doing to get them to move to their proper seat. In the end, who wound up sitting next to me? The red=headed guy I had planned to look for in Delhi! The first of mnay synchronocities which have already presented themselves this past week.
Well, food was served fairly soon and I ate and then drifted in and out of sleep and all of a sudden, we had landed in Delhi!! We landed at 4:45 AM and believe it or not were already in the taxi and leaving the airport at 5:15 after having found our luggage, changed our money and found the driver waiting for us outside.
The ride to Rishikesh was much simpler than I expected it to be. We stopped for breakfast at the Cheetah restaurant...a very modern roadside place with gorgeous surroundings...breakfast and toilet and then the next 3 hours to Rishikesh were over in a blink of the eye. I had thought to take a few minutes of video with my camera but the kamakazi drive was just too bumpy to even try and hold the camera! And I actually managed to sleep a good part of the way.
It was a great idea not stopping in Delhi...and this proved even more so after a week here. This is the first time I am in India with no terrible cough and cold immediately upon arrival lasting for about 3 weeks. I always suspected it was the pollution of Delhi which did that to me, but now I am pretty sure it is so. I am fine with no sign of anything, even though I left home at the tail end of a cold and cough.
The drive was fine and after of 3 hours of pea soup fog the sun finally came out and it is warming up a little, but still was quite chilly.
OK...will end this post and begin a new one so as to keep them readable and not too long. I will post them one by one I guess over the next few days and hopefully all caught up soon.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Ayurveda Panchakarma Treatments #1-3
Feb. 6-9, 2007
I have decided to write separate posts describing my treatments here so that those of you who are interested in that aspect of this trip can simply skip to the categories and easily find only these posts.
So this is the first one and will just very briefly descirbe what these treatments are and then write about the first 3 treatments which I have had so far, in short.
Ayurveda is the ancient Indian medicine, thousands of years old, and I've been involved in certain aspects of it for several years now. If you want more specific information, simply Google it and you will find all you need to read about it.
After doing treatments in the past in India, I have decided to do a full panchakarma treatment here which will take two weeks. in short, it is a general detoxification of the body and then specifically used to treat individual problems. I will be specifically treated for my arthrities which has gotten much worse over the past winter. So, here we go.
The first day I was taken from my Ashram by motorbike (!) to the clinic for my meeting with the doctor. He examined me, using questions, pulse, eyes, tongue and nails to make his diagnosis. He then goes on to prescribe the specifics of the treatments as well as diet changes which he feels necessary, yoga suitable to my condition, pranayama and meditation. After concluding that my basic diet is surprisingly perfect for my body type and condition, and making a few simple suggestions, I was told to return the next day for my first treatment.
The biggest addition to my diet is quite lovely. Three tablespoons of melted butter in my food, twice a day! Or whole wheat toast for breakfast with 3 tablespoons of melted butter if I feel like it instead of porridge.
Other small changes but nothing spectacular, so that at least will not be very difficult for me to continue once I get home. He claimed that pommegranates are very good for me, as is avocado, dried fruits and nuts, hot milk with spices and honey in it (lovely) and other interesting suggestions. I'm quite pleased.
Now, my first treatment was the following morning and consisted of the follwoing:
It was a fabulous full ayurveda massage and then a steam box. The only way I can describe this contraption was to take you back, to those who remember, old TV shows where people were put into these boxes with a towel on their head and then a dial was turned and they were steamed. In on "Lucy" episode, she got stuck in one and it was quite funny. I also think one was used in a James Bond movie to kill someone but whatever.
This was simply a wooden box that I was closed into and then steamed until i began to sweat and then told to massage my body so that the oils would be absorbed thoroughly and my body would get full benefit from them. It also raises circulation to the service further detoxifying...it was really nice. Following that I was told that most people take a cold "bath" (same idea as sauna and then ice water) but in my case they would give me luke warm "bath". Turned out to be one small bucket of cold water to pour over myself and then get dried and dressed. Well, they say this is a very important part of the treatment, so of course I did it.
Then I was given lunch which will be part of the treatemnt each day. Chapati, dahl and rice of course, with melted butter poured over the dahl. Quite delicious actually sitting on the floor with Vivek who is in charge, Deepak the yoga instructor and the sweet massage therapist. Nice end to the first day.
My second treatment was of course the next day and included again a full body massage, then hot herbal bundle massage for specific problematic areas and this was done by the director, Vivek himslef. Then steam box again for longer even than the first day but no bath....just sat there until I sweated so much that all the excess oil dripped off me and then I just towel dried myself very easily. Then up to the roof for a 15 minute sunbathe, and then down to lunch which also included a little hotter food all meant to heat up my body from inside and out. another lovely day.
Third Treatment today consisted of a localized massage concentrating on the hip area, lower back and shoulder neck area followed by the heated herbal bundles again...this time done by TWO people working on me....what luxury1 Then just local steaming of the problematic areas and a very light lunch...no rice today. They jokingly said that each day the food would get less until I was paying for no food! Joking of course, but each day the food is cooked in a way that supplements the treatment of the day.
I also had my first yoga session today and Deepak gave me a full workout which works my entire body but is so gentle and easy on the joints that it is amazing. It was worth coming just for that!
So, I will end this post here and write another after I've done another few treatments.
If you have any questions, either comment here or e-mail and I'll be happy to go into more details for you.
Namaste
Jane
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
India Journal 2006 #3-January 30, 2007-Saab Kuch Milega
Well, as you can see, I did not make it to India in 2006 as originally planned, but I will be leaving this Sunday, February 4th with Royal Jordanian Airlines via Amman and reaching Delhi the following morning. From the airport I will be whisked off by taxi to an Ashram in Rishikesh which has an Ayurveda Clinic. I will spend a few weeks there doing personalized panchakarma treatments for my health in general and my my arthritis in particular and will keep you updated re: the treatments and results.
I then will probably hang around Rishikesh a little longer to explore the area and when I have had enough there, imagine I will head off to Delhi to do some shopping and then up to McLeod for as long as I feel the need.
I am planning to stay in India until June, so much can happen. As they say "Saab Kuch Milega".
This all is happening just a few days after my 60th birthday and the lovely "almost" surprise party my family made for me...
Below a picture of all that I leave behind, and the only thing which makes these trips to India so difficult. 
If not for these amazing, lovely, wonderful people, I would probably never feel the need to leave India for more than a couple of weeks at a time.
So, I will keep you all updated as to all the surprises this new journey holds in store, and hope we enjoy this trip as much as we all enjoyed the previous ones.
The blog gives me the option of labels, so I will be labeling each post, and those that contain lots of details re: food for example, will be labeled "food" so if you do not want to read about what I eat, just don't read those posts!! This will also make it possible to pick and choose what you want to read from the labels on the sidebar.
So enjoy, and write back. I LOVE to get letters while away.
My love to all - Namaste
Jane
