#21- April 6, 2008- Finally Something Interesting to Write About

March 29, 2008 -
Sitting in the airport in Delhi with much too much time to kill. It is the now 4:30 in the morning and my flight is not until 6:30, (was actually delayed until 7:30), but I can’t sleep so figured I do something useful.

This will be the last post for this trip, aside from the videos I will post this week from home.

Overweight for first time!! I always have a few KG over the allowed weight but have never been asked to pay for it in the past. This time I wound up paying $70 for my overweight.

And after having a fairly uninteresting trip travel wise, now, my last day, I actually have something interesting to write. I jotted the things down on paper so as not to forget, but will now see how many of them come to mind.

They are basically about the changing face of India. Just as the rest of the world is
changing, so is India. The changes have been very subtle over my last couple of trips, but this trip the move forward seems to be quite drastic…almost as if the country is trying to catch up with the rest of the world over night…to make up for lost time. I know this is inevitable, but I know that each future trip will bring more and more changes, and, aside from the women’s clothing, hopefully at least, India will very soon find itself “caught up”. This of course is superficial at best as the deep seated problems of the country remain….but it is truly overgoing a “face-lift” so that what you see from the outside, is quite amazing. So, below, just a very few of the many things which caught my attention this trip, many of them just now on my way back to Delhi. (I imagine that on my next trip, when I plan to stay in Delhi for awhile, there will be even more things worth commenting on).

The thing I found most outstanding during this entire trip, was the new relative “freedom” I see among Indian couples. It was always an outright taboo for Indians, even married couples, to show any signs of affection in public and in the years I’ve been coming here, except for a couple of Muslim couples, I never saw any Indian couple even touching in public. This trip, I have seen over and over again, couples holding hands, cuddling in rickshaws, husband protectively putting his arm around his wife’s shoulder, and this was not just for very young couples. Also older married couples seemed to have gotten past the long-standing taboo. I even saw unmarried younger people doing this. And this all in the sacred city of Rishikesh. I imagine in the large cities it is already a given and taken for granted.

Since I spent my entire 7 weeks in Rishikesh, and slept through the taxi ride from Delhi to Rishikesh when I first arrived, this evening was the first time I got a glimpse of anything else, and there were many things to see. First of all, lots and lots of more modern cars on the ride. It is now a truly rare sight to see the old faithful Ambassador on the road. Aside from the local Tata cars, Indica, Indigo etc., there are many Suzukis, as well as Chevrolets and others I don’t recall. I even came today in a taxi which was a Chevy 4x4. True luxury for India! But this seems to be the growing trend. For the country’s huge population living in poverty, life remains the same, but for those on the move upward, things are moving forward very quickly.

OK..getting tired of writing…will continue when I get home I guess…

It’s now a week later and I am getting back to this. So, we continue with the changing face of India. I imagine in other places of the world there have been rest stops all along highways for years. Here in Israel it is a new growing trend and it seems at every junction a mini-mall sprouts seemingly overnight. There are so many of them the last few years it is almost comical. Well, I’d never seen anything like this in India, until this last ride back to Delhi, where, starting from about 2 hours outside the city, every few minutes we would pass what is called here a “shopping complex” on the side of the road. Many were already working, and others were being built, but I asked the driver about them and he said now, outside every large city, there are many of them, and they attract shoppers from the city who come to shop in AC comfort and to find all the latest shops all in one place.

And then there is the new approach to the Delhi airport which is just as complex and confusing as the one to the new airport in Tel Aviv. And not only that, you have to pay to get into the airport area..there is a toll booth. 11 rupees!! Even the driver was surprised and he had made this journey recently and it wasn’t yet working!

Once getting INTO Delhi itself, there were also roadworks everywhere. It seems like the whole city is getting a face lift, not just the airport. The airport itself has a new look…real international duty free areas, modern toilets, freezing AC and coffee and sandwich shops offering horrible food at ridiculous prices!

All in all, this trip to India was completely hassle free as I didn’t travel anywhere and stayed put in one lovely place. It was a perfect vacation, and with my newfound freedom from fears, quite pleasant actually. Going home, I asked that all be provided for a perfect and easy flight and also asked that Raphael, who appeared in the first card I chose you may remember several weeks ago, to remove any physical obstacles which may appear along the way. Well, the taxi ride was easy, even though I tried not taking travamin for travel sickness…and I was not sick at any point along the way, even managed to fall asleep in the taxi. I really believe that all the years I suffered with travel sickness in cars, busses, planes etc., was a physical manifestation of my fears of travel…and it seems now I am finally past them.

The flight was lovely…I even had two seats to myself. Even managed to sleep on the plane which I have NEVER done before, despite delays in both Delhi and Amman and even upon landing in Tel Aviv…I was relaxed and happy the entire way. Never felt stressed or uptight. Quite lovely.

And that’s about it. I am now home..been home for a week already, and it’s almost as if I never left. I am going dancing tonight for 3rd time since getting back…have been to visit all my children, traveling to them by car…even went to see a friend on the way home. Putting together new workshops and sharing groups, working on new energy exercises and pranayama as suggested by Dudi, and look forward to a lovely 6 months at home before going back to India in October.

Namaste for the last time this trip. Hope you’ve enjoyed the videos I uploaded, even though they are very small and the quality is not really good. Sorry about that…don’t know any other way of doing it.

See you all in October. I will now get back to posting on the Mindfulness Journal, which I got away from some time ago and have many interesting things to already write about.

Jane

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India Journal 2006 - #66 - May 28-29...Feelings of Peace and Wellbeing and some pics of my room

Monday

Even more snow fell during the storm yesterday which raged until well into the nite. But this morning dawned crisp and sunny. You can feel the soft, lovely, cool breeze of mountain air and so far the sky is a brilliant blue with just a few wisps of clouds. Let's see what the day brings! The hawks are circling seemingly aimlessly and lazily in the currents, but every once in a while one will dive and swoop down on what apparently is breakfast. (The day brought dark, threatening clouds, again, by 1 in the afternoon, and it is now close to 3 and FREEEZING again...no one, but no one can believe the weather....I am back in my winter clothes including my warm shawel and it is the end of May...normally the hottest time of the year here.

And now, 7 PM, the sky is clear again. The sunset reflecting off the snow peaks, the lower foothills luch and green, all holding the promise of a lovely day tomorrow.

Personally, I am feeling very much at peace for the first time since I left Rishikesh. I have also begun to imagine my homecoming and I see it as also very calm and tranquil with quiet time for my loved ones and friends. Although I truly wish I was staying here longer, and perhaps going back to Rishikesh for while, I know that will also be happening before the end of the year, and the months at home will bring only further harmony and balance into my life. and this is the source of my wellbeing right now.

Just bought flowers for my room. beautiful day lilies . Still closed. Then I realized that I've never taken pictures of this room...so, here are a few with some explanations

note the night table and lamp, which means I don't have to get out of bed to turn off the light at night when I finish reading...this is a first for me in India!!





see "read more" for the rest....






This is my closet, above


Above some flowers I bought...will shoot again when they open


This has become my sofa, my treatment table, and even my table for eating if I cover it with a tablecloth!!


and below my bathroom....not the large hot water heater!!



Below some pics of the room...






Table and chairs...mostly my corner for makeup and hair as there is a mirror on the opposite wall, but when I have company, the chairs can be moved over into the other side of the room and it is quite nice.


Tuesday

New view from Nick's...Hawks are so sloce on the current I could reach out and touch them as they soar past. Below, the amazing view of a building site with the women laborers as usual. Four women dressed in lovely sairs (one red, one daffodil yellow, one bright orange and one turquoise) walking as elegantly as if they were taking an evening stroll. Working as human bulldozers. A house is being build and the foundation of 4 rooms laid out in concret squares, which have to be filled in first with dirt and then overlaid with rocks and gravel. Normally, I would picture a bulldozer with large shuffle scooping up a load of dirt from the hillside and then dumping it in the center of each square and men spreading it evenly to cover the foundation.

Here, the women worked in pairs. One digging dirt out of the side of the hillside with a hoe and filling msall baskets with it, and then helping the second one to lift it on her head and then carry it herself over to the foundation and dump it. Each "dump" barely makes a dent in the area to be filled and I watched for 1/2 hour. I imagine it took them the whole day to fill in this the area in this manner....and they were not walking with the baskets on their heads over a regular path, but up a hillside and over all the rubble of the building site, never missing a step or seeming to falter...graceful is the only way I can describe it.

Now that I am feeling better, and have the CHOICE of doing nothing, I REALLY feel like I am finally on vacation, and 2 weeks is all too short!

Namaste
Jane

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India Journal 2006-#63 May 22,-23- Somewhere Over the Rainbow...and the Elephant

The pictures here do not do justice to what the afternoon brought today, but if you use your imagination, you will feel the blessing I felt when this rainbow appeared.

I was sitting out on the balcony with a new lady who just checked in, and a storm started to blow up so we back into our rooms. As I got into my room, I saw the sun was out on the other side of the sky and figured there had to be a rainbow, so go tmy camera and went back out, to find the lady there as well, figuring the same thing as me.

And as we stood there, quite disappointed that there was no rainbow, all of a sudden, it began to appear. Slowly and faintly at first, but as the rain and wind picked up, the colors became more alive and vibrant, and it actually began in the valley floor and spread all the way around to the trees behind us. I could not capture the whole scene, and the camera does NO justice whatsoever to the brilliance of the colors. And I've never really seen a rainbow which begins on the ground and 1/3 of it is on "land" before ascending into the heavens. It became more and more colorful and brilliant as we watched, for over 15 minutes, and then, although I doubt you can see it in the last picture, a second rainbow appeared, very faint but definitely there, above the first. So, for all the terrible weather we've been experiencing here, this was a true blessing and quite impressive. God's gifts to us are with us at every moment, but sometimes he has the need to do something spectacular to remind us!!






I Went to the Ayurveda doctor in the morning as I was feeling so bad it was becoming depressing, my third day with fever and weakness, headcold etc. He gave me something and lo and behold, I slept like a baby last night without 3 pillows to prop me up, nose dry, no cough and no fever. Too bad I didn't check him out 3 days ago!

I am still quite weak today and sure it will be a few more days, but there is a vast imporvement, in my spirits as well! He told me to continue to take the meds for three full days AFTER I'm feeling completely better. I will bring some of this stuff home with me as well.

The weather I'm sure is part of the problem, as many people are sick now...sun in the morning, stormy in the evening, and today is VERY dry and VERY hot.

I know this journal has become quite boring, but I find that I no longer have the need to WRITE about what I see here all the time...that should not be construed to mean that I take all the beauty around me for granted!! Far from it! I sit here and count my blessings many times each day and thank God often for allowing me to be here once again. But the need to describe each thing as it happens, or as I see it unfold before me, seems to no longer be a pressing need as it once was.

So, for those who still need to read these descriptive posts, simply go to my other India Journal (you can find the link on the sidebar) and check out the descriptive posts from McLeod and you will see either for the first time, or once again, the miraculous things which one finds here and the miracles that Nature and God can achieve just by being with them here in the mountains.

AND JUST TO KEEP THINGS INTERESTING ANYWAY...

While sitting on the balcony and looking across the valley to the road on the other side of the mountain, I saw an elephant coming down Bhagsu Road. At first I thought I was dreaming as I've never seen an elephant here in town before, but I followed it down the road and sure enough, it was an elephant, with loads of children running after it down the road.

If I had felt OK, I would have gone down and over to Bhagsu road to see it as it arrived in town, but you will have to take my word for it, there definitely was an elephant here yesterday!

Namaste
Jane

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India Journal 2006-#60-May 14th....the Blessing of Silence

After 45 minutes of walking UP ltierally, I've come to a place where nothing exists except the forest.



As luck would have it, my camera, which I remembered to bring, is out of batteries and even the spares are dead! So I've pulled up some pictures from my trip here in 2003, but they will give you some feeling as to what I am writing about in this post. They are from the same area, but not the exact spot. This time I was even further into the dense forest, but of course no pics to show for it.



It is SOOOOOOOOOOO quiet...no cicadas, which is strange, and no birds singing. there is almost a vacuum where no sound exists, but which is pierced every few minutes by the cry of a crow, the call of a solitary bird or the shriek of a falcon. there are NO people here, not even a sign of people. Can see neither McLeod on one side nor Dharamkot on the other. Just heard a distant mooing from a cow down in the village...I am not the first person



to find this place as there are tattered prayer flags strung from a few trees. All I see are the pines soaring straight up, majestically reaching for the sun which does not penetrate down to the forest floor through the thick covering of trees. They soar 30-40 meters high ( I think...not good at this kind of measuring) but the pics above will give you some idea.

Complete oneness with Nature and with God. Just saw a weasel ! The silence is almost deafening. As if it is penetrating and pounding within me. So, on to some meditation and get this off to you later today or tomorrow.

Well, that idea didn't work. Even though I have put on insect repellent, am wearing shoes, socks and jeans, and a shirt covered with a shawl, the mosquitoes have found me...perhaps so few people come here they are in need of a feast! Whatever, I felt the bites through all those layers and finally had to give up the idea of peaceful meditation, and will just sit and enjoy the silence...meditative in itself.

Well, sat there for about 1 hour and on the way down I saw an "ancient" shepherd, could have been 60 or 100...no way to tell, urging his goats down the sheer steep slope fo the mountain and he followed them as spritely as though he was one of them. Gave me a big smile, namaste and wave.

and just as I was happy about the fact that Anil didn't follow me this time, as he always used to (he knew where I was going since he'd asked), as I got back to the tea house, he was waiting and said "Where did you go, I went looking for you!". He assumed I'd take the long (but easier) road up and didn't imagine I'd go up the steep mountain path so he didn't find me when he went looking. So looks like I still have a problem. I made it clear to him that I am busy almost every day and go to sleep at 8:30. Hopefully this will keep him up in Dharamkot.

Anyway, took a footpath down to Bhagsu, a new way I'd never gone before, pleasant and easy, and am now at Gypsey King and have ordered KITCHERI which I have been looking for since I left Rishikesh!!

Slowly things are falling into place and before you know it, I am home and will have to start AGAIN putting my life together in a new place.

But days like these are a true blessing and will try to have as many as possible before I leave here in a month.

Namaste
Jane

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India Journal 2006- #56- May 5-8 Best Laid Plans...and Catching-Up Musings

Tuesday, May 8th...



Decided yesterday to take a couple of days off from my regular working schedule so that I could do some walking and exploring up the mountain and in Dharamkot and Bhagsu. I will be writing about this day, from the storm in the morning to the lovely walk later on...but first want to catch up with the past couple of days. So let's go back, I'll fill in details and some musings over the past couple of days, and if this part bores you, just skip down to where I start writing about today's adventure and interesting discoveries, including some pictures.

Saturday...
Went to the Astrologer today, and have sent a detailed report to those I thought might be interested. If you did not get this report, and would be interested in this very interesting session, just let me know. I won't go into any details here, but I was quite pleased with the session which gave me much validation and understanding of the past few years, the coming few years, as well as reasons for lots of things which have happened throughout my life....as well as a very good explanation of WHY the configuration of the Planets at our birth does actually have some influence on our life.

Sunday, May 5

Busy days...felling very good although after another session with Dhondup and pretty much relief from my back, it became apparent to him that the weather, with it's rain almost every day and quick changes from wet to dry and hot to chilly...as well as my not eating properly are what's causing this pain to persist.

But my days are very busy at any rate...on the move all day...no need for afternoon naps these days...Up at 6 AM and asleep by 9 most evenings. I have been working each day, tomorrow TWO sessions in one day. a Reiki Master herself is coming back for her third session...


Am seeing friends, going to the movies when something good is playing at a good time, but as my mornings and early afternoons are taken up by work, I have had no time to get back up the mountain since I went a couple of weeks ago, even though I am feeling energetic enough to do it. The days go by quickly and pleasantly however, and will soon be time to come home! Just 5 more weeks.....

I've been here over 3 weeks and am feeling quite at home but the expereince is very different than my other sogourns in McLeod. As I mentioned previously, I've had the feeling for years now that after my last trip I would "never come back". and that is proving itself true. I've come as a different person and this is a different place for me with a different purpose in my life. and that's OK.

Much of what the astrologer said has also changed my expectations (I know, I should never HAVE any expectations), and perspectives about my time here and I now know that the remaing time I have here will go by too quicly.

And before I know it, I will be home, finishing up my "negative" period and beginning my cleansing period. Wherever the next few months will take me, I am sure it will be interesting!

I really wish I had a laptop here as late at night I've had urges to write and would have done so on a computer, but no urge to do it by hand....

Made up signs today as well just to advertise a little. They look quite nice but will be putting up very few...want some business, but not too much.

Found a place to eat as well...yellow dahl, just cooked perfectly...great chapati and hopefully this will help with my eating problems. They didn't have change of 500 rupees in the place when I went to pay, so said just to come around whenever I can to pay!! can you imagine walking out of a restaurant anywhere at home without paying???? (Aside: I was a little disturbed as this simple meal cost me 90 (!) rupees and today, Tuesday, on my walk back through Bhagsu, found an even better place and a whole thali with brown rice, fresh vegetables, cooked veggies, and delicious dahl and curd only cost 45 rupees...I will definitely be coming back up here to eat at least every couple of days)

Monday

Had 2 sessions today, both very deep and now both of these women have asked to continue but more in the form of counseling and coaching than Reiki...seems the series of Reiki treatments has "moved" something in them and they now feel the need to explore these feelings more deeply...and this is precisely how I like to work with people... They also want a pranayama/meditation workshop as they would like, each, a personal kind of practice which they could continue to do easily once they get home. I feel so GOOD doing this. I used to feel tense and apprehensive when people were coming to me, and now, I just flow with it. Do a meditation to connect and then really "let go and let God" and it all flows. Very lovely feeling and much satisfaction.

Then my freind Ruth came to say good-bye. She's back to Australia via Delhi tonight.

Then, at 6 in the evening, decided to go out for some fresh air. Sat on the roof for awhile and then took a short walk and now will have a lite snack and off to bed early. Took the day off tomorrow and will take a walk finally yup to see how I feel. Perhaps see Akhilesh.

And that brings us up to date...and it is now Tuesday!

So, back to the Best Laid Plans...

Thought to visit Akhilesh, see the Ayurveda Doctor, walk around the "new" dharamkot, etc. Pictures below show first the old, quiet Dharamkot, as does the picture at the beginning of the post,


and then a few pictures of the

NEW SPRAWL covering the mountain slopes:







Well, I woke up at 6 as usual, and everything seemed normal. Now it is 7:45 and it has turned so dark, I thought night had returned! And yes, you guessed it, it is pouring rain and quite windy and cold. Out with the warm clothing again. And just yesterday was really warm...seems every time the weather warms up here, it rains to cool things down. It is REALLY dreary...Oh my, thundering as well. Perhaps in a few hours it will all be over and I'll go walking anyway.

10:30 AM.... The storm is still raging and getting worse. The winds are not howling, they are roaring, like a train pulling into a station. And things are blowing and crashing down in the street. There is a terrible draft in the room. Would hate to be here in the winter. I am wearing my warm clothes, have my heavy shawl around me and then have a blanket covering me while I listen to music and read. Luckily, during my walk yesterday evening I bought a couple of new books...so at least I have something to read. Wonder how long my IPOD will work without recharging, as of course, there is no power. The sun will be most appreciated when it finally shines.

2 PM

Well, it finally let up and a brilliant sun came out. I went up to Dharamkot, had a quick visit with Anil and gave him some business cards to give to people (which means he now knows where to find me...nope I didn't make a mistake, although I made it very plain to him that I am not interested)...and then walked through the "new", downtown Dharamkot....I was amazed. It is a whole new place as you can see from the above pictures...Where there was just restaurant, there are now one after the other...see the pic below and the interesting name of one of the local places (it is transliterated Hebrew and the name means "easy drugs"!!!)



And the entire slope is filled with new buildings. Things are still hauled around by women in the same way however...



Remember in one of my stories from 2 years ago I mentioned the monstrosity that Chabad was building on the slope and how ugly and out of place it was? Well, it is still an ugly, out-of-place monstrosity and still unfinished, and looks like it never will be! Chabad seems to have taken over a modest building in the "center" of town...

The town is spread out now down towards Bhagsu and bhagsu has spread UP the slopes. It is all quite upsetting! And then I finally met akhilesh after an unsuccessful meeting with the local Ayurveda Doc...

We sat talking for awhile and he began telling me that something has happened to his feeling about this place...something about the energy being different...couldn't put his finger on it, but I knew exactly what he was trying to describe and told him so. Things he will never come back here again, even though he has been doing this for soooooooooo many years. When I told him these were my exact feelings, he was relieved and said he really thought something had happened to HIM. Bhagsu and Sharamkot are swarming with Israelis...at least 90%...there has been much violence over the past couple of months, even a knifing last week he said...and he feels that this is no longer the spiritual, perfect, tranquile energy retreat is was until now. So we both felt better knowing that both of us felt the same change...He says he no longer has any friends here as the only people remaining are those interested only in making money...all the really spiritual ones have checked out!!

And then, after the nice lunch I mentioned above at Gypsy King in Bhagsu...I walked back home, feeling very energized and alive. It was a wonderful morning/afternoon in the end....and will end with the following sign in one of the shops on the way down from Bhagsu...just for fun

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India Journal 2006-#53-Monsoon Rain on May Day! and a Great Meal with Pictures!!

May 1...3:30 PM
Sitting my room...it's been raining for about 1 hour now...but it's as if someone up there forgot the date! It is REAL monsoon rain. Heavy, noisy, almost like a curtain of water propelled by the wind. Pounding relentlessly on the window, on the sidewalk, drowning out all other sounds. It is a s dark as dusk outside, there is thunder and lightening. The picture doesn't really capture the feeling of the power of Nature and the surprising changes it throws our way when we least expect it. Trees are blowing back and forth as if dancing but not sure of the steps and of which way to move and bend. I wish I could somehow capture the power of these forces and post them to you!

The streets are empty and the water is flowing down in riverlets...I wonder how long this will continue. Supposed to meet friends for dinner but that's almost two hours away. It will probably be over by then.

Aside: And speaking of friends for dinner...have I mentioned that my social life here is jumping? I must keep a diary with dates and places to keep track. and a meal hardly goes by without meeting some old acquaintence or new fascinating person to get to know. I will be so bored at home with my non-existent social life in Raanana!!! It is a whirlwind of social activity which I never experience at home.

I am reminded of my monsoon days here and being stuck in Kailwood for days on end sometimes...But I'm sure this will let up soon.

My goodness! It is getting worse! Hammering at the windows now, the thunder just a second away...it is even darker and I can no longer even see the outlines of the distant peaks...everything is a grey mist in the distance.




But, despite the stomach problem, the back problem, and now again a little stomach activity (seems that everyone has been saying the same thing...it's as if there is something in the air here which you pick up-perhaps the open sewage flowing combined with the warmer weather? Can't be healthy for you!)....But with all the recent changes in weather, including today...the past week was very dry and now this rain, my hip is fine and I know, and am thankful each day, for what the Pancha Karma has done for me!!

4 PM...WOW!! Now it is hailing!! 3,4,5 thunder clpas one after the other and of course now the power is off as well. but I have anice candle.

Well, the mist seems to be finally lifting now from the far peaks so perhaps the owrst is now on us and will be over soon. The wind seems to have died down and the thunder continues but is growing more distant. An end seems in sight!

4:30. All clear over the peaks now although the thunder and lightening has gotten closer again. But I'm sure this is the tail end. No more wind now, only soft rain, although still persistent.

In the end, it was over just in time to go out for dinner. I didn't have my camera and wished I had, as a whole group of people, many from Rishikesh, got together for Sushi and we spent a lovely 3 hours of great fun together! Such interesting topics of conversation and such pleasant international company. I am feeling, as always, truly blessed!

Wednesday, May 2nd

Today I went for my treatment with Dhondup, the Tibetan Western trained physiotherapist who I met many years ago here. He has found the perfect way of combining modern techniques with the ancient and proven medicine of Tibet. He did not just treat my lower back pain, but, as with all ancient forms of medicine, treated me holistically. First, when I came in, he said "You don't look well!". He knows me so I guess he could see something. So he took my pulse (the Tibetan system also uses pulse for diagnosis) and found my energy levels at a bare minimum and both my stomach and liver problematic. So he put together a combo of Tibetan Massage, modern physiotherapy techniques, hot herbal bundles and even a Tibetan singing bowl to treat not only my back, but my general condition and get all things back into harmony. My weakness is caused by the liver problem (but he doesn't know what caused the liver problem)...He remembered me very well it seems and I was quite surprised. He has such a thriving practice here but remembered I stay at Kailwood and that I had sent him many clients... I am now a few hours after the treatment and my lower back seems to be a little looser, and although he wanted to give me another session tomorrow, he does not have room until Sunday, when I have an appointment. He asked me to rest for the next few days yet, not because of my back, but because of my weakened state, so will do my best not to do too much walking...but I am really bored already.

Today went down to this fabulous restaurant I already wrote about, and then had the very long, very very steep walk back up, but it was worth it. You can see from the pictures, not only some lovely people I met for lunch today, some the same as last night, but also the lovely dishes we ate. And of course the restaurant itself. The pictures do not do justice to this very special corner of luxury in the middle of nowhere! It is still raining today by the way, but on and off, and thought to see a movie later, but nothing good playing. So will just eat dinner and have an early night.













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The Monkey in one of the previous pics comes to visit me sometimes outside my window!

Tomorrow I have a Reiki treatment. As I mentioned, I had decided I wanted to go back to work and no sooner did I decide, than this request for a treatment came along....

That's about it for today
Namaste
Jane

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India Journal 2006 #49- April 24-25 Just a Couple of Days -and Important Lesson

Monday Night, April 23rd....
Had dinner with Yana, the lady I mentioned from Slovenia (who fell and broke her wrist)....From a discussion of the spiritual energy shift around the world, to the closer to home world of men, ex husbands, and sons....we seem to be the same. As if we have known each other all our lives and are just sitting over cofee or lunch as if we do it every week. Quite amazing. I've also been meeting women this trip, all around my age, all with ONLY sons (in contrast to previous trips where I seemed to be surrounded continually by young kids looking for a "Mother")...Little by little I am finding out that Shai, my own son, and only son after 5 daughters, is no different than all these other perfectly normal sons of other women in his non-communication, laci of letter writing and phone calling, but that he misses me and needs me just as much as my daughters do. It has been an eye-opening lesson for me and will have to rethink alot of my relationship and attitude toward Shai. It has been a prfound lesson for me...especially as my distance from him has been growing over the years and it has been particularly disturbing to me recently. I hope it is not too late to change things.

Tuesday...bright and early...my friend Ruth arrived from Rishikesh around 7:30, we went down for breakfast together and then found out that she has a problem with her airline ticket,

being told that she must arrive in Delhi by the 28th to pick it up or they will not hold it for her as she has made a change. Her flight date is not until the 9th of May. She was quite upset. Someone recommended a couple of agents to her in town and I agreed to take her, knowing from my own past experience that they would not be able to help her. I knew a place that could help her, as they did me several years ago, but we began with the ones she wanted to try. Well, of course they said there was nothing they could do and then we walked down to the place I remember that Abedellah originally sent me to when I needed to make changes with RJA and they worked it out so that my ticket was sent up here to McLeod. Took her there, a the same lovely professional girl was still working there, and when Ruth explained her problem, she immediately said it would be not problem and in two days her ticket would arrive here. The thing is, this company is just a branch of a big agency in Delhi and they have a courier going up and back each day, so he simply takes the passport copy, money for the change etc. to the airline office in Delhi and picks up the ticket and brings it back 2 days later. Needless to say she was thrilled.

Then she wanted to change rooms and so I offered to take her up to Kailwood to see what was available. And sure enough there is a room for her for a few days and on Friday she will move into the room I originally wanted but didn't get (which for me is better as it will be too warm there), but she needs it only for about 2 weeks and she will be fine. So it is within her budget, and of course the place is always nice...so with tickets and room taken care of, we took a short tour of town and then we went to rest for awhile before going down to Jogibarra village to meet Abdellah for lunch at cafe "boom boom"....In the end she did come as she was exhausted, and I went by myself.

I cannot really describe this newly opened restaurant, opened and run by an Australian lady...it is down out of town..getting there down the hill is easy...it is on the way down to the library...getting back up the hill is really really difficult...but worth it for the place. Forget about the food, which is served so beautifully, on real china plates, with each table set with cutlery and LINEN napkin on a small bread plate...complimentary boiled filtered water is served in a pitcher on the table with beautiful glass goblets, . The food, whatever is ordered, is served beautifully with fresh salad decoratively laid out on the plate, garlic bread, sauces etc., in lovely little matching dishes....very delicious etc....but the DECOR of the place is something I will have to take a picture of to show you. And of course it looks over a view which in itself is worth going down there for. We had a lovely meal, and I walked down to a friend's house further down the valley where we spent 3 hours just talking and finally made the long haul back up. And just as I was getting back and thinking of calling Ruth for a lite dinner, I saw her coming out...we went together for a very light dinner...I just had a fruit salad and carrot juice...and she met Sara, the French lady I mentioned. We had a lovely evening and made plans to go the next morning to Dharamkot...and that brings us to today!

Wednesday

Well, basically "just another day". We had an early breakfast, I helped ruth move up to Kailwood, we met Sara and at 9:15 were already on our way up to Dharamkot. For me, having done this so many times, and still feeling the magic each time I do it...I found it an extraordinary blessing to be able to share it with these two women, who felt the same overwhelming feeling of gratitude and blessing each time I find myself up on this mountain. They fell in love with everything they saw and heard and felt, just like me, and it was a beautiful walk multiplied in its beauty by being with these other 2 women. We have planned our next outing for Dal Lake and Naddi and coming home via TCV through the mountain also.

I went by to my room after a quick lunch and slept for a couple of hours. Even before getting back to the room, although the morning was beautifully sunny and sparkling clear blue skies, it had already gotten dark and windy. WHen I woke up it was really cold and dark outside. The changes here are unbelievable.

I've come to realize that a good pace here for me is two days of walking and one day in town, so tomorrow I will look for walking shoes and perhaps get my new mala made. Friday we are planning to do the Kora (the walk around the Temple) and then Ruth and I will go down to Boom Boom again to share the joy of eating there.

I really love the comfort of my room. thoughts of home crop up every once in awhile and I squelched them quickly and keep them out of my head as much as possible. My days here are too short and precious to waste on thinking about things that I have no control over and can't change in any way...

Here and now is all there is!
Namaste
Jane

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India Journal 2006 #40 April 8th-Coming Down to the Rishikesh Finish Line

Shiva Temple





Well, tomorrow is my last day here. It will be very hard to leave this place for many reasons, and leaving the lovely people I've met here is one of them. I've had such a wonderful group of friends here from the day I arrived, and it is really like leaving family. We've become very close and have been mutually helping each other go through many different things. Happy times, sad times, confusing times, chaning times...it has been quite an amazing 2 months here and it is not easy to think I leaving in one more day.

I am leaving for Delhi on Tuesday. If I didn't have to go shopping in Delhi, I would go straight to Dharamsala, but as hot as it is now in Delhi, about 40 degrees, it will still be better now than in June when I come through again to go home. I need to by beads for my daughters, incense for the family and myself, some sandals for another daughter and maybe even myself, and of

course my own clothing for the next couple of years. I will be travelling with Ilse and she will take me to some nice places she knows in Connaught place which I don't know of, and the next day I will take her to Khan Market which she has never been too. We have to get there by Rickshaw which will be really hot, but once there, both places have AC shops and eating places so it should be OK. And I will do my shopping in Paharganj in the evenings , and my room is AC with TV, so I guess I will survive. I still have no train ticket to Pathankot as even 3 weeks ago the trains were full, but I will most probably be able to get a Tourist Quota ticket but must do that in person in the Train Station in Delhi, so that will be my first order of business there on Wednesday morning.

Today, Sunday, I went with Ainat, Ilse and Shakti to the Shiva Temple up in the mountains. It was an absolutely beautiful ride up there and reminded me of how much I love the mountains.










It was interesting to see the temple, but I don't really get too excited about this stuff. Seeing the people is always more interesting to me and the people here are all so JOYFUL in their worship. Below is a picture of the offerings people buy to leave in the temple...



Shakti also did some photo shooting and here you can see her interacting with the people she photographs...







but the day was very hot, the driver was a maniac, the roads bad, and I was out in the sun much too much for me, and really not feeling well now....will rest up the rest of today and tomorrow as well. Just have to pack. Nothing much else to do. The pictures for this post I will add later, so you can go back and check it out in a couple of days. Some of the views are really fabulous.

We also tried out a new restaurant today and now that I know where it is, I look forward to eating there often upon my return. La Bella View it is called and they have both wonderful Italian, and Israeli food. And regular other stuff as well. On the Ganga, beautiful view, very clean and pleasantly cool when most places are atrociously hot these days, so much so that they kill your appetite completely.

Well, I'll close this for now. I may not write again for some time because if it is very hot in Delhi, I won't be able to sit at the internet. So I MIGHT not write again until I get to McLeod, so don't worry if there is nothing new here for awhile. Will try to get the pics on tomorrow, and then I will be lucky if I find broadband internet as nice as here when I get to Dharamsala.

Namaste
Jane

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Indian Journal 2006 #35-Aarti Puja Rishikesh Ghat

This afternoon Ilse and I decided to go for a walk, as it is now only really possible to be out after 4. But after 4 it is quite lovely, with warm weather but beautiful breezes. We spent hours walking and basically were on our way to the Shiva Puja in Swargashram (across Ram Jula). This puja, like the one in Hardiwar, takes place everyday of the year. But that is the only thing they have in common. I will do my best to describe this puja, using photographs as well, but the real "seeing" of this puja involves "hearing" as well, and so I've taken several short videos with sound, but will only be able to post them when I get home.

As I said, the only thing in common the two pujas have are that they are performed each day at 6 PM.

But beginning with the statue of Shiva,


which you remember in Hardiwar was over 30 meters high and surrounded by a fence...untouchable and hardly inviting to the average person...very pretentious. As was everything else about the puja...commercial, crowded, and not something I would ever want to go see again. Nothing really sacred or holy about the entire affair in general.

And then, beginning with the Shiva statue at the Rishikesh ghat, to the entire ceremony, the first word which came to mind was unpretentious. And honest, and "everyman's". You can see how lovely and peaceful the shiva statue is here, and more "human" size, and certainly touchable. People were sitting ON the statue.

Instead of thousands upon thousands of people, there were a few hundred. All dressed in new clean clothing and truly there for the ceremony (which is what puja means). The gathering was quiet and respectful...no frolicking in the Ganga, picnicking etc.
The closest thing I can compare it to, in its sincerity and sheer jubilence of worshipping spirit, would be a Black American Church with everyone singing Gospel along with the Church choir. And if you have that picture in mind, you will understanding how moving and lovely this puja truly was.




The Church choir was a group of young boys, all studying to be Hindu priets someone told me, but I am not sure, dressed in lovely yellow remnants with the white signs of Shiva worship painted on their forheads.
They lead the chanting and everyone present joined in with handclapping, swaying, raising of arms as if to say "Halleluja", smiles of joy on most faces, and spiritual concentration on the others.
The ceremony ended when little plates which had wicks to light on them from the central fire were passed around from hand to hand so that each person present could get a blessing directly from Shiva.
And each person took it in hand, made circular motions with the plate and gently passed it on to another person so that everyone present eventually got a plate of fire (including us!). I really wish the videos were available to you now.

I would gladly come back here again just to enjoy the moving music and chanting as well as the glowing faces of those who are truly "with" their god in the moment of prayer and worship.

And just as quietly as everyone converged for the puja, once it was over they dispersed just as quietly back home....quite lovely and inspiring. I hope the pictures do some justice to the experience.

And just to end a perfect evening, we had a lovely view of Rishikesh at night while having a snack of Naan for dinner before heading back to our rooms, inspired, happy and at peace.



Namaste
Jane
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