Many lovely things are happening to me and my days are filled with joy and a feeling of wellbeing. But I don't seem to have the need to write, so just thought I would share a few more pics with you from my daily walk yesterday. The "mean" cow is my favorite of the day. It was actually a bull and stared at me from afar with a look in his eyes that I wanted to capture. But when I took out my camera and began focusing on him, he started coming towards me at a fairly quick pace with the same look in his eyes...so I snapped and left as quickly as possible. Can you see the look in his eyes as well?
The rest of the pics are just scenes of the day...gas delivery, people in the small ram jhula market, and the always present statues of gods and goddesses...
Enjoy
Namaste
Jane 
Friday, February 29, 2008
#10- Just a Few More Pics -Feb 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
JUST SOME PICS
A post of pictures from the lovely walk I described in my previous post. You can see a new luxury apartment complex,a statue of Shiva at the entrance to the apartment complex, a fancy summer home some rich person built along the Ganga, donkies, ladies carrying home the wood for fuel and of course lovely views of the Ganga from a perspective I hadn't had yet. A couple of road signs and a REALLY interesting tree! 
Enjoy
#9-Feb 27,2008 Boring Life if you have to just read about it....
I think the blog posts this trip are basically pretty boring for others to read, but I find my days so full and exciting, and have a wonderful sense of wellbeing I haven’t had in a long time. Part of this I know probably has to do with my recent attempt to wean myself from HRT (which I’ve been using for about 15 years and never been happy about…but have never had luck in the past getting off it). This time I decided to try using ayurveda herbal replacements in one last attempt to get these chemicals out of my body, but after trying for almost 3 months, and every day seemingly worse than the day before, and I won’t go into the gruesome details here, I finally decided to get back on my hormones. And within 2 days I was feeling like my old happy, contented self, and in just 5 days, all other symptoms have disappeared. Now you may ask what made me make the final decision to give up trying…well, like most everything else in my life, I ask for guidance and direction from my Guides and the answer always comes…if I listen! This time I received the answer in a dream where I saw myself with my old happy spirit back and wished I could go back to that “self”…and the next morning I was out walking, and stopped into one of the book shops to browse, and the first book that my hand landed on was “Ayurveda for Women”, by Robert Svoboda, one of the foremost ayurveda doctors in the world today. I starting skimming through it and the page that opened was HRT and ayurveda!!! I quickly read over his description of how, in many cases, herbal remedies can reduce most symptoms and help women lead a normal life…however, there are certain cases where HE does not recommend giving up HRT…he says there are certain women who really must have these hormones replaced artificially in order stay in good health. He does not recommend it for “keeping young” etc…only where true health issues are present…and the biggest health issue he feels should be helped with HRT is osteoporosis…in cases of osteoporosis, he ALWAYS recommends his patients use HRT as they are not simply trying to get rid of hot flashes or have younger looking skin etc. And this is MY issue… So I was given a definite “go ahead” to going back on hormones without feeling guilty, and know that this has added to my feelings of contentment and wellbeing which have been missing for some months now. The change is tangible. I am happy that I gave this a fair try, but am also happy that I am now back to the “real” me! I have begun writing a post about the people I have met on this trip, and it will be quite long when finished…I may post it in sections, but for now will write before posting it. Today I had a lovely walk as you can see from some of the photos and the very short video. The sound of silence is a rare commodity in India, and walking up this road following the Ganga up into the hills was a real thrill for me this morning.
The weather is getting hotter by the day, and soon I won’t be able to take these long walks I imagine, but for now, it is invigorating and I feel uplifted when I am out in nature like this. On the way back, I decided to really go all the way with lunch, and had a veggie burger on roll, salad and chips! Now I know this doesn’t sound like anything terrible, but the burger was made with potatoes, a definite no-no for me, I am not supposed to eat cold salad, and then of course the chips!!! But it was soooooooooooo delicious, and I Rekiied the food before eating it, as I usually do, but with extra added blessings for good health, did some Reiki after eating, and so far am feeling no side effects other than joy at having eaten it! And to end it off, I stopped off to buy something sweet and found a box of homemade choclates that a local mamaji makes, and bought a box. Haven’t tried them yet, but will this evening….Yesterday evening a nice guy I met did a shamanic healing on me and got rid of the last remnants of a slight dry cough which seemed to persist in the evening hours when the weather changed, and today he surprised me with a visit and asked for a Reiki Healing in exchange…which I happily did…helping him get rid of some deep seated pain, sadness and grief over a recent incident in his life. And then the evening proceeded to move along and we went together for dinner at Mamaji’s, came back to the room with our chai’s and ate chocolate which was DEEEEEEEEEEELICIOUS!. Yesterday, after lunch, I took a Rishshaw down into the market because I really needed sandals and couldn’t get what I wanted in my size up here where I did last year. The main road into town is closed for roadwork so the rickshaws (and every other type of vehicle) must use the back alleyways to get into the market in town…these alleys are barely wide enough for 2 rickshaws to pass each other, with gulleys along both sides of the road which an unwary driver could easily fall into….and now these alleyways are being used not only by rickshaws and motorbikes, but by huge 4x4 vehicles filled to overflowing with tourists…navigating a rickshaw past one of these was an amazing experience…even the Indians, who are nonchalant about this kind of stuff, applauded the driver when we got past not one, not two, but THREE of these vehicles without mishap and eventually got into town. I immediately found sandals, and then went exploring. Bought nail polish (have to do my toenails if I want to wear sandals…did a pedicure last night)…and then went down to the puja ghat and to my great joy found the public toilets. I always have a problem with needing a toilet and so every one I found is a real blessing. It means next time I go into town I don’t have to hurry home! Well, I’ll end this here and see about getting it posted today or tomorrow. Remember, if a post contains a video you must view it in the blog to be able to open the video…like the party one I sent several days ago.
Namaste Jane
Sunday, February 24, 2008
#8 Feb 24, 2008 -Message from an Angel
OK…so, what’s happening? Why am I not writing? Because I simply don’t feel like it. I see things during the day which draw my attention, but it is not in the form of needing to report or “tell about”, but more in the way of mindfulness…being….being with and in the moment completely. I don’t even have the need to take my camera out as I thought I would, and take some videos. It is a very liberating feeling, I have to tell you. But I have been walking every day, each day in a different direction, and have so far discovered a restaurant in whatever area I happen to be when lunch time comes around, which will serve me good healthy food, and so I allow myself to eat whatever I feel like for my evening meal. Tonight I am going to Mamaji for Thali for the first time since I’ve arrived. My appetite is back and I am really hungry during the day. I have a snack in the afternoon as well, but so far, at least according to what my jeans are telling me, I have not gained any weight so far…I am feeling really good. Today I was out too long in the sun and fearing no toilet, did not drink enough, so have a slight headache, but nothing terrible. I also found, so far, 2 very clean public toilets during my walks which is good to know about.
I DID “redo” my room today and it is still small but feels a lot more homelike and I am happier now coming back into its energies…this also gives me a good feeling.
I am beginning to write some posts for my Mindfulness Journal which I hope will be ready over the next few days, but again, nothing because I “have to”…only because I
“feel like”. It is quite pleasant for me. We generally have so many things we “must” do that we don’t get around to the important things…to just “being”.
So, why am I writing at all today? To tell you about the first message I received…and it was so subtle, that I did not realize it was a message until a day later, and have not had the time to write about it since then.
While I was still not feeling entirely myself, and still a little despondent, and also feeling guilty about not “doing” anything with the short time I have here, I asked for clarity, direction, guidance before going to sleep one night, as I often do when I need insights and understanding.
Next day, I found a lovely e-mail from a wonderful friend I met last year in India, as response to my post #4. And after reading it once, and then once again, I realized that this lovely man was the angel sent to deliver the message this time. So I will copy most of the e-mail he sent, and just tell you that what he wrote was exactly what I needed to hear and was obviously a direct reply to my request the evening before at bedtime:
Thanks for the latest update. Pleased to have your news.
I totally empathize with your sense of a need to scale back a bit on
your "output" generally. I've been through the same introspective
analysis too. I regularly feel the need to interface with the greater
world and also my closer friends in a more interactive and
comprehensive way. Personally, though, I also know that I need more
time to ponder where I'm at and where to focus my energy next. I've
neglected some of my self-development - I need to spend a lot more
time just in contemplation and meditation - the problem for me is
getting focussed. . . . but it is difficult for people like ourselves to disengage or trim back our wider involvement in things. It is not a "cop out" or "reduced energy with age thing" but a maturity "thing" (for want of a better word ). I feel I need to evolve a bit to my own next level and that my "busy-ness" is just an excuse to put off my own inner development. I'm working on it anyway.
. . . You get lots of R&R and let the rest of the world stumble along a
bit. YOU are valuable too and deserve some downtime.
Hugs,
I am leaving it anonymous, but will just say that this person was just as surprised to find out he was an angel as I was. I LOVE the way things work!!!
Namaste
Jane
Friday, February 22, 2008
#7 - Feb 22, 2008- The Israeli Riddle and the Urge to Write
I’m sitting here for the first time since I arrived with the urge, or need, to narrate. I will do my best to give words to the day, in which nothing exciting happened and yet I am excited all the same.
Woke up this morning to a hazy sky, but the truth is, this weather might not be great for photographing, but it is perfect for walking, and this what I find myself doing now…walking….
Had my regular breakfast, took a nice hot shower, had my room cleaned and then headed out with a couple of “errands” in mind and then just the thought of meandering around. I found a little hole-in-the-wall chemist shop no bigger than my bathroom,
and I have placed an order with him for all the meds I usually buy up in Dharamsala. I thought I would have to go search in the market for a “real” chemist shop, but this guy was so excited to get my order…and says he can get everything for me by Sunday. I probably will be spending more in one day than he makes in a week, or perhaps more – but for me and my family it is a big savings and certainly easy enough to do while in India.
Then I continued walking down towards Laxman Jhula and passed by the Divine Resort where Vivek has his new center. Went in to check it out. The hotel is quite impressive and the rooms really nice, and if anyone would ever want a “real” hotel, rather than Swiss Cottage, in a good location, I would recommend it. The center Vivek is so proud of is nothing to speak of, but certainly not any worse than all the other places here.
And then down to Lakman Jhula, a stop off in a book shop to browse, cross over the bridge and thought to try out a new restaurant I had seen yesterday advertising ahurveda kitcheri which is the best thing for my recuperation. I went upstairs in the Jaipur Inn to discover a lovely and pleasant roof top restaurant, beautifully clean, lovely toilet, overlooking the bridge and the Ganga. And to my surprise, I was served absolutely delicious Chai (I overdosed on caffeine today, having a cup of real south Indian filter coffee later on in the day!) and a lovely serving of kitcheri and curd. Quite delicious and just the thing. And that is where I was sitting when the urge to write over took me. But I did not sit down to write then and there, and decided to just get my mindfulness going and write later when I came back to my room, which is what I am doing now.
While sitting quietly on the roof, enjoying the atmosphere, all of a sudden noise, and I mean NOISE…not the standard street noise, was heard coming from the bridge area. I went to look, along with the Indians up on the roof…it was a political demonstration…apparently this is election season in Utrerakand…first a guy was shooing everyone off the bridge and not allowing any new people to enter the bridge from either side. And then, the motorcycles began, each with 2 or 3 riders carrying flags, beeping their horns, and singing some campaign slogan apparently. And this went on, and on, and on…all the time people patiently waiting to cross the bridge from either side…tourists trying to get ON the bridge and being pushed back….and it went on, and on, and on….once over the bridge, starting to move up the main street, until there was nothing but a stream of motorcycles from one side of the bridge to the other and moving up towards Ram Jhula…and from across the bridge there seemed no end to the procession in site. It took a good 20 minutes for all these cycles to cross over and regular traffic to resume on the bridge, but the noise from below continued for another long while.
I had finished eating by this time, and decided to just sit and relax for awhile, when an American couple came up and we began talking. Seems they are staying at the Swiss as well after just arriving in Rishikesh. We had a really interesting conversation for about 45 minutes when we decided to part company until later in the evening back at Swiss Cottage.
I came to an interesting insight around that time. Seems last year, I never really discovered rishikesh. Frist I did my panchakarma, then I recuperated, then began meeting people and spending lots of time with others, and then I began working etc., etc., so that I had very very little time alone. Now, being completely alone, feeling good, and with perfect weather, I am exploring and checking out new places and finding a whole new side to the adventure of Rishikesh. It is almost like being here for the first time, only better, because I am comfortable with the place. Following the restaurant, I again walked up to Ram Jhula along the Ganga, when all of a sudden someone comes up to me and says “Jane, is that really you?” It was the guy Bernard I met last year who I went hiking with a couple of times and then seemed to disappear into thin air. He wrote once but that was it. His girlfriend back in Germany had dumped him meaning when he left India he had no home to go back to. I was quite surprised to see him and even more surprised that he remembered me, and my name. Seems he has now been in Rishikesh for 7 weeks, but since he left India last year, he has been moving around. He spent the summer hiking in the Italian Alps, and then spent months in Nepal, mostly around Pokara, and as mentioned, arrived back here to stay at a fancy ashram about 2 months ago. Says he will come visit me at Swiss, but I doubt I’ll see him again. Continued my walk and decided to try out a health food restaurant I noticed yesterday tucked in behind the taxi stand in Ram Jhula…and had a lovely snack of really really good home made apple pie made with whole wheat flour crust and, as mentioned, a cup of coffee. Had an interesting discussion with the owner (I will definitely be going back there to eat, they have a fantastic menu with brown organic rice, veggies, steamed etc., whole wheat pasta lots of stuff. And it is a little closer than Welcome Center and also has a nice sitting area up on the roof.)
And this brings us to the question of the relative absence of Israelis in India. Since I arrived here, even at the airport, then in the taxi, then here at Swiss and other places I’ve visited, the big topic of conversation is what has happened to the Israeli tourist trade here. It seems to have dwindled to a trickle, in relative terms. The theory (and I say theory as I have no way of knowing if it is true or not, although every Indian I speak to tells the exact same story…so somewhere along the line there must either be truth in it or very good propaganda by the INDIAN government to explain the loss of income from the lack of Isrealies). So, the theory is, that the ISRAELI government has asked the INDIAN government to not give so many visas to Israelis, and then to only give 3 month visas, because they need the Israelis in the country to fight and also don’t want the young Israelis here using drugs and coming up all screwed up! I don’t know if this is true, but every person I speak to is complaining of a BIG loss of business without the Israelis…clothing shops, restaurants, internet places…everywhere. There definitely is a conspicuous void of Israelis in the restaurants, shops, guesthouses and roaming the streets. It could be they are simply else where, but the stories from the Indians seem to say they are simply not here at all. The other tourists I’ve spoken too even mentioned that they were told they would be inundated with Israelis wherever they went in India, and so far they have seen very few…so there does seem to be some truth to the whole thing.
I finally came back to my room, walking up this time instead of taking a rickshaw, and feeling energies I haven’t felt in a long time. Oh, almost forgot…can’t get away from it. I bought some stuff. I don’t need anything, but I saw a couple of really different kinds of blouses and a new style pants I wanted to try, and couldn’t resist. Hope I will get use out of them when I get home.
So I am now back in my room. Actually out on the roof, using my laptop, which is actually on my LAP at the moment…waiting for a phone call from my Mother as usual on Friday…feeling energized, invigorated, and so very content. And now the thought of being here for only another month is quite difficult, but I will make the most of each day and know it will be good to get home as well. I will have work waiting for me…I will try to arrange workshops while here so that I can get right back to work..and I know that this short special time here will seem like a dream in a very short time.
Namaste
Jane
Thursday, February 21, 2008
#6..Feb 21, 2008 - assuming the #5 with the video uploaded earlier….
Well, things are starting to fall into a pattern, and I see now why I can never stay less than 3 weeks in any place if I’m really to get a feel for it. For the last 3 days I’ve been out walking, and yesterday I took the scenic road down all the way to Welcome Center where they have really good, homemade, made as you order it, Ayurveda cooking. As good as what I cook and enjoy at home. And I was not disappointed. So, decided to go there every day for lunch, which means I get two wholesome meals in a day as breakfast is my regular soaked overnight dried fruits and almonds mixed with porridge. That leaves me the fun of doing what I want in the evening and the rest of the day without feeling too guilty, and still being able to feel like I’m on vacation.
Today I decided, the weather being lovely, to take the full walk around. All in all it is about 4 km. I imagine but not quite sure as it is just so pleasant you don’t feel the distance. I walked down to Laxman Jula, crossed over the bridge and then headed up to Ram Jula, which I know is 2.5 km along the Ganga. The walk was beautiful and I felt alive and invigorated with a sense of wellbeing I haven’t felt in a long time. I felt so blessed I found tears welling up in my eyes. (By the way, I am now sitting outdoors, at 6 PM, listening to classical music, enjoying the air on the roof here, and of course enjoying my laptop).
Just before Ram Jula, I came to vivek’s center, the place I did my panchakarma last year, and he was there, so we sat and chatted for about an hour, I noted some definite improvements in the center. I mentioned that the Ganga seemed very low this year and he explained that is because there has been a late winter, and the snows haven't begun melting yet. Once they do, the river will fill up as I remember it. And then continued on my way, back across the Ganga via Ram Jula and again over to Welcome Center, where I had another lovely lunch.
Came back, played around with the video I took last night of the party, which I hope I’ll be able to upload to my blog without too much trouble. You are invited to listen to it just to hear the music…there is not much to see…
And then Amir, the guy in charge here, came to say hello and we had an interesting, and pleasant talk for another while…he was quite excited seeing the videos I took and asked if he could use my camera to take pictures of his work here to send back to his family in Nepal…of course I agreed…I will burn them to a CD for him afterwards. He also looked at pictures of my family and his face was alive with pleasure…he is young, about 25 I think, but you can see he misses his family. He was completely taken in by the kids, with comments about all of them, and even did a fairly good job of figuring out who the brothers and sisters were…and then he saw the pic of my girls, and Mom, and he couldn’t stop commenting. But the biggest reactions were for the men in the family…all struck his fancy…and he said Yaniv looks much much younger, and of course handsomer, without his rastot. But the final comment was for Shai…he took one look at him, asked who he was, and said “He is dangerous” He should be in the movies…the girls better watch out”. I told him he has a girlfriend and he said that SHE better keep him under lock and key…he is too gorgeous.
The evening calls of the birds has just begun…it sounds like they are arguing over who gets to sleep where tonight…what a racket!!
Anyway, I am now just writing this up to let you know that my days have found their even keel, with my morning time well spent and worthwhile, and the rest of my day spent just being. I often think that it seems strange to have to come all the way to India to do this, but I just can’t seem to manage it at home. And it is something I feel I need to get back into myself and move forward. Exactly where this trip will take me, I still don’t know, but I am finally beginning to enjoy each step of the journey once again.
Just a quick observation. Considering how sick I was just last week, and howquickly and easily I recovered, I know that the relative healthy state of my body following my recent panchakarma, the combination of antibiotics for a quick jump-start for 3 days and the ayurvedic meds I wastaking, and most important, the 2 hours of daily Reiki I did tomyslef...alll worked together in beautiful harmony. Which is as it should be. Reiki is wonderful on its own but is a perfect compliment to all other forms of medical treatment as well.
Love to all
Jane
#5 Feb 20, 2008 – PARTY TIME!!
Well, I’m in my room now and there is a “cocktail” party going on in the yard next door…(day before the real wedding party)…if I didn’t know what it was, I would think someone was shooting a Bollywood dance movie sequence live downstairs. I will try and record the sound with the video, but have no idea if it will come out. It sounds lovely….If I wasn’t so lazy, I would get dressed and go downstairs, but it is 10 at night and am just as happy listening to the sounds from my room. This is just me. People think I’m strange, but I just don’t have any need to be IN the party…just enjoying it from here is enough for me. This will be my first attempt at posting a video directly from India. The second half of the video is with the window open so the sound is even “better”. Enjoy…or not…for me it is just for fun. If this works, I will begin sending interesting vidoes off every so often to give you a more "live" feel of the place.
If you are viewing this through your e-mail subscription, you will have to go directly to the blog to actually view the video by clicking on it.
Monday, February 18, 2008
#4 - Feb.18, 2008 No Muse
Hi All
I’m sending this off not because there is anything really interesting to write, or because I have a deep need to write…well, perhaps that IS interesting. I actually have no desire to put anything down “on paper” and for me that is a big change. I’ve felt like this for the past couple of months, even at home, but figured once I got to new places, the muse would find me again, but so far, nothing.
So just to keep you up to date and let you know that all is well, I will zip this off. I went out and about today…
the weather was hazy which was perfect for a longer walk, and there was even some drizzle on the way back. I did not even take the camera as I knew the clarity would not be good enough for any video to come out. But I went all the way down to Laxsman Jula, had a lovely lunch at the German bakery, bought a couple of books and slowly made my way back up, expecting to find it difficult, but am now easily and happily back in my room…which is dreary without the lovely sunshine. I made an appointment for a massage tomorrow, the first of many I hope, have decided not to go to Mussoorie for several reasons, and for now, just hang around and relax. I need further perspectives re: the coming 6 weeks, what I am meant to achieve here, where this trip is meant to take me, and I need to be at peace with each day to gain any clarity. Hopefully, the coming days will shed some new light on the rest of the trip here. I feel at loose ends so am not looking much past the moment…which is as it should be…am doing my best to be mindful, have met some interesting people here – different from the type of tourists I’ve met in the past in India, and it is refreshing to say the least. The town is pretty much empty, of Westerners and Indians both…the Ganga is much lower than I remember it last year. And that’s about it!
And just for those of you who were following my saga BEFORE I left, exactly 2 weeks after it was stolen, my handbag was found yesterday. I received an e-mail from someone living near my house, saying she found it thrown in among some bushes. What shape it is in I do not know, and if anything is missing, I also don’t know, but my daughter will be retrieving it for me today. So, what’s the lesson? Obviously, don’t worry. Take things as they come…don’t draw conclusions from things which seem obvious to you, but probably have much deeper meaning lurking around. I cannot for the life of me figure out why it went missing in the first place, and now why it has turned up, but I am really happy as I really like not only the handbag, but the small change purses inside as well which I have had for some years now after buying them in McLeodganj. I was considering going all the way up there just to replace them!
OK…don’t know when I will be back here again. Don’t worry about me. I am pleased that I don’t even feel like being at the computer, even though it is right in the room with me. I will do my best to answer your individual mails, but it may take longer than usual as well.
My love to all
Namaste
Jane
Sunday, February 17, 2008
#3-Feb 17, 2008-PERSPECTIVE IS ALL
Just like the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) seems to be an enormous body of water, stretching out forever, with no end in sight when seen from up close, so our own trials and tribulations in life can seem overwhelmingly difficult, unending etc.when seen from our own small perspective. If we could just see the greater picture for a brief moment, we would realize how trivial and insignificant these events truly are in the greater scheme of life, just as my friend in the following story was completely surprised by her new perspective of the Kinneret when seen in its entirety from the heights.
This lesson begins a couple of months ago when I was visiting a friend in the Golan Heights and those few days in the Golan gave me a lesson in perspective not to be easily forgotten and which follows me here to Rishikesh where I now sit and write.
My friend and I had gone up a mountain ridge to get a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee, and do some walking. It was a brilliant sunny day and from the heights we could look out and see the Kinneret stretched out in front of us in all it’s glory. Asking my friend what was directly across from our ridge view, suggesting it was the city of Tiberias, her immediate reply was “No way, Tiberias is much further to the South…this is just the “top” part of the Kinneret…it goes much further off to the South and that’s where tiberias would be”.
Well, I wasn’t quite sure as it DID seem likely to me that we were seeing Tiberias, but left the discussion until later when we could ask someone.
As we walked further up the ridge, and began to look down from a higher perch, all of a sudden, the full panoramic view of the Kinneret was revealed to us, from South end to North end (only the small Norther tip is shown in the above photo) and of course, the city directly across WAS Tiberias. But what astounded my friend, deeply upset her bearings, was the fact that HER Kinneret was so SMALL! Unimpressive even. Certainly not the “big deal” she had always envisioned it being.
She was quite disturbed by the feeling and could not release her discomfort at her discovery of this new perspective she had seen and continued to express her amazement at how seeing something from a new perspective can change the entire way you always imagined something to be.
Later on, it became clear to me that this was an important lesson for all of us to remember.
We see our lives from close up, seeing one very small section of the full picture, and we put great stock in how we understand what we see. Each small segment of our existence takes on intense importance and meaning disproportionate to its true actual significance in the overall scheme of our lives. We tend to create dramas based on these small incidences and to project them into the future imagining ramifications which could be catastrophic, terrifying and frightening . We can never see the full picture of our lives , can never view the Kinneret in its full glory from the heights as it were, but if we could, we would see how very trivial most of the little, up close scenes we see actually are. When we realize that from the perspective of the heights, everything seems small and simple…not overwhelming and enormous. The Kinneret is beautiful when see in all its glory, and although it may loose some of the impact it has on us when see from up close, its TRUE magnificence is revealed only with the proper perspective.
If we can use this idea of perspective to get us through the small difficult periods of our lives, knowing that the full picture is glorious and simple and pleasurable and surprisingly breathtaking, than the difficult days would be so much easier for us to get through. They are after all just a very small portion of the whole, but they are all that we can see from up close. And then the part we don’t see seems overwhelming at times. When these days come, imagine yourself up on the ridge seeing the whole picture in all its simplicity and beauty.
And why is this here on the India Journal? I realize now that it was a lesson directed at me to help me find my way through these difficult days at the beginning of my journey in India. Being sick and miserable, it was very easy for me to fall back into old patterns , forgetting that the panoramic view of my time here in India is something I cannot see, but if I change my perspective, and relax into each day as it comes, the glory of the full picture will reveal itself to me by the end of the trip. And it will be no less surprisingly beautiful than seeing the whole Kinneret from the heights for the first time.
I am working on it, but I must admit it is not easy. Each time I feel the weakness return, and the need for sleep overcome me, I tend to become despondent…Remembering the Kinneret Perspective has been a powerful lesson and reminder for me to allow all things to flow, be open to accept them as they come and know all is for my Higher Good, even though I can never see the full picture.
So, although not an easy beginning, I joyfully look forward to each new day and whatever surprises it may bring.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
#2- Feb. 14, 2008 Being Sick….Being Doctored…another interesting experience!
Wednesday, February 13th
Well, I guess sooner or later it had to happen seeing as how I’ve already been to India many times and always been healthy, except for the occasional slight cough and cold due to changes in climate etc.
But this time I’ve really gone all the way. From all the symptoms, it would appear that I have pneumonia (I haven’t had pneumonia in over 15 years, and that was also the last time I’ve taken antibiotics). I already thought about this possibility yesterday when I found myself with a fever of almost 40 ! I never get fever at all, and a fever this high really worried me. Together with the loss of appetite, complete exhaustion, wanting to sleep all day and wet cough in my chest, it adds up. But I wanted to give it another day (probably should have already gone to the doc today) and see what happened. This evening my fever is still raging, although I was fine until about 2 in the afternoon.
Everyone here has been really concerned and wanted to take me to the doctor yesterday…but now I went down to Amir, the guy in charge who always takes good care of me, and asked about going to the doctor tomorrow. He was very relieved as he has been watching me for 3 days and seeing me get worse each day. So arrangements have been made. Tomorrow the Manager will take me to the local Western Hospital in town. He will first call and make an appointment for me so I won’t have to wait on line at the clinic, and he will personally escort me and stay with me to make sure I am properly cared for. I have escorted other people to hospitals in India before over the years, including a good friend who was really sick in dharamsala, but I have never been to one myself . Well, that’s not completely true. I was in a hospital in Chennai when I burnt my leg on the exhaust pipe of a bike…but that was different.
I imagine the doctor will know what to give me and that over the next couple of days I should start feeling better. But antibiotics are not friendly to me and they in themselves really exhaust me. I hope it won’t be long before I can get out and about and begin feeling like I am in Rishikesh. Even to go down and get a phone card so people can call me, and the few things I need in my room, has so far been impossible.
But knowing I am well cared for here gives me a good feeling, in spite of the frustration of using up so many days of a too short stay in India.
Anyone out there who can send me Reiki (which I’ve been doing tons of to myself and I imagine that is the reason I am not in any true discomfort….just exhausted….), it would be greatly appreciated.
Perhaps this is a lesson for me in TRULY accepting all things that come along and believing they are all for my Higher Good. It is not always easy, and I guess being tested every once in awhile is in order.
PS: having the laptop here is fantastic. I would not be able to do this writing, including the private letters I answered today, if I had to sit in the internet café. This way I just go
down for 10-15 minutes and zap them off later or the next day. I can also play games, watch movies and it makes being sick easier I must say.
Thursday, Feb. 14th…Valentine’s Day
Well, I’ll continue this post before sending it off as I’ve been to the doctor and back, and, as is everything else in India, this too was an experience.
First of all, it was decided that the Manager would take me down by bike and we headed off to the hospital clinic where he had previously made an appointment for me. The main road to Rishikesh was blocked today for roadworks, so we drove all around the back roads until we got into town. Interesting to see all the lovely houses and when I mentioned this, he said “yes, nice houses but no nice roads”…which was true enough. Negotiating the potholes and bumps was not easy, and me trying to hold on to the back of the seat with one hand while keeping a scarf covering my face with the other hand, and trying not to fall off, was not easy. But I figured 10-15 minutes of this was not so bad. We got to the clinic, and too our great surprise, the doctor was not there. He was called back to the hospital for emergency surgery. So, off to find another doctor. The next clinic was open but the doctor had not yet arrived, and the third one, had a doctor there but it would be a 3 hour wait! By this point, I was on the verge of fainting and finally, the Manager asked if it was OK for him to take me to HIS family doctor. When I asked him why he didn’t do that in the beginning, he said he felt I would be more comfortable in a regular hospital clinic instead of with a local family doctor. Well, we finally got to his doctor, who runs a lovely, clean clinic. He went in, and 2 minutes later calls me into the examining room, the doctor talks to me for a minute and then excuses himself, together with me, leaving 10 other patients to wait. He took me into a back examining room which was private, not like all the others being checked with everyone else looking on. It was an x-ray room actually. He asked what was wrong, did a thorough checkup, including the Ayurveda checks of tongue and pulse, but said in my condition I would need antibiotics as well as ayurveda herbs. Sounded good and thorough to me. No pneumonia, but very bad congestion in both lungs. I was given antibiotics, cough syrup, something for the fever and another to loosen up the congestion.
I was also given very specific instructions about what to eat and what not to eat…which was fine since I have no appetite anyway. All in all, a pleasant visit, and the whole thing cost me 25 shekel including the medications!!
So now, I imagine, in a day or so I will begin feeling better, but being out and about already lifted my spirits, driving all through my favorite places in Rishikesh, see everything again, and knowing that soon enough I will be out walking, has made me feel a little less down in general. And at least the weather is sunny. I am sitting outside on my roof writing this now and the warm sun on my back and the fresh air, are just wonderful. On the way back I even asked him to stop at an Airtel place, so I now also have a local number which makes me feel better already.
So I will end this here and hopefully get it posted today.
Be well!!!!
Love
Jane
Monday, February 11, 2008
#1 2008 - February 11th- BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!
BRRRRR!!!!!
Just when I was sure there would be nothing much new to write about on my journal blog, Indian again comes up with something new!
First of all, I am sitting in my room, quite tired but not aable to sleep, after a lovely 5 ½ hour ride from Delhi to Rishikesh. The room I had last year was in some ways nicer than this one, but this room has other advantages and for now I am happy with where I am.
So, back to my arrival early this morning in Delhi. After an safe and uneventful journey (I started this trip with a very bad head cold which began 2 days before my flight and has been quite annoying- I used up the roll of toilet paper I brought with me before we even got to Amman! So when I got on the plane in Amman, I went into the bathroom and took all of the tissues they had there. This, after culling a horde of toilet paper in the Amman airport!). By the time we were only 2 hours in the flight to Delhi, I had already used this supply up and had to check out the bathrooms again for a fresh supply)
OK…so we arrived in Delhi only to find a mess of a terminal due to renovations, with signs all over proclaiming “A world-class airport awaits you!”. Well, something was awaiting us and it was a throng of people trying to get out of the airport. When we descended the stairs leading to passport control, people were simply swarming all over the terminal hall, up to the staircase, so that people who came later could not even descend and had to wait ON the staircase. Seems that for the hundreds and hundreds of people waiting to leave the airport, there were only 2 clerks on duty, 2 Indian clerks at that, who were in no hurry to go anywhere. It took 1 ½ hours to get through passport control, something which usually takes 10-15 minutes.
I felt bad for the taxi driver waiting for me but there was nothing I could do. And at least the luggage had all arrived by then and I just had to go and pick up my bag where they were all waiting.
Then I went to the bank to get money changed…waited on line about 15 minutes, only to be told when I got to the window “Sorry Madam, I have no more money left!”… So I went over to Thomas Cook, paid a handsome fee, and changed some money before heading out to my taxi. And sure enough, a nice driver with a “welcome Jane” sign was waiting for me. I apologized for the delay but he didn’t seem phased in the least. And then we headed out into the Delhi COLD. And I mean COLD! It couldn’t have been more than 5 degrees outside, and I was certainly not dressed for it. We finally got to the taxi, and the first thing the driver, named Deshraj, did, was pull out a full size very warm woolen bed blanket from the boot and give it me to cover up in the car. It truly saved my life…I was wrapped in the two shawls I had with me but this was not enough. Together with the blanket, I lay down and feel asleep…I had not managed to sleep at all on the plane which was also freezing. By about 10 in the morning it started to warm up, but the truth is, it is cold here and I will have to buy some kind of warm jacket.
And now to sleep…I am done in but very happy. Will finish this up later on today.
I slept soundly for a couple of hours and will now continue the story of the first day. This driver was superb, one of the best I’ve had in India. The trip was comfortable, not “jerky”, and quite fast as he was an expert in sizing up the situation on the road and passing whenever possible without taking undue risks. The thing I found most interesting thought about the ride, was the new roadworks being done all over India, and the roads from Delhi to Rishikesh are no exception.
First he took me on a new “road” which most people don’t know about which bypasses the main highway for about ½ of the journey. It runs right along the Ganga and is quite lovely. It was basically a strip of asphalt about the width of 1 ½ cars, with “shoulders” on either side of the road made up from bricks laid into the sand. Every time a car came from the other direction, or he had to pass, ONE of the cars had to get partially off the road onto the shoulders. It was fascinating to see this work without arguments or anger, and most of the way I slept anyway. When I woke up he was so proud to show me this new road. And then, when this road ended and we got back on the main thoroughfare, he was even more excited and proud to show me the roadworks in progress to make this two lane highway into a 4 lane “real” highway. Meaning 2 lanes in each direction. By next year it should be done.
When I arrived at Swiss cottage, it was truly a homecoming, and Amir, the guy in charge, handed me a beautiful flower arrangement to my great surprise. Coming home to friends is a wonderful feeling. There was hugging all around, still lots of guys here from last year. I’ve since found the things that were missing in the room and made a small list for Amir and just now, 5 minutes after giving him the list, everything showed up in the room, aside from the heater which is on the way from the Narayana spa resort. (By the time I came down to post this the heater was already working in the room and everything is toasty warm.)
And that is it for today.
As I said, I am tired, not really over my flu symptoms yet, but happy and looking forward to resting for a couple of days and then getting out and about.
I am going to now try posting this directly to the blog at the internet café and I will soon see if “shlepping” the laptop all the way to India was worth the effort. Perhaps tonight I will turn on my heater, get under my 2 quilts and blanket, and watch a movie!
My love
Namaste
Jane
Monday, February 04, 2008
New Rishikesh Market Video
I am trying a new way of uploading videos before I head off to India next week. am now using YouTube. Want to see if the quality is better. If you wouldn't mind taking the time to look at this post, and the one previous and comparing them and letting me know what you think, I'd appreciate it. Want to decide how to post the new videos I plan taking during my upcoming stay in India.
Waiting to hear from you....
Namaste
Jane
