Tomorrow, the Ashram life starts!

Hello everyone,

this is possibly the last time that I acces the internet this year – how exciting! As you know, I will spend some time in an Ashram, starting tomorrow, and of course there is no mobile phone, no television, no hi-fi, no onion, no garlic and no internet

Anyway, I am really excited, and after travelling for two weeks I also feel ready for some real relaxation. I have arrived in Kerala today, in the capital with the incredible name of Thiruvananthapuram ( no, I can’t write this witout checking the lonely planet…) and as much as I loved the last two weeks, I really had enough of bus journeys – especially the six-hour ones with six-hour Bollywood films on full blast! The Ashram lies in the middle of the forest, up in the mountains and is surely the most non-Bollywood place that you can find in Kerala…

Where have I been so far?

My diary is getting fuller and fuller – there are so many stories I could tell! Every day in India is different and truly amazing, so where shall I start? So far my highlights were seeing the carvings in Mamallapuram, cycling from Pondicherry to Auroville, dipping into the Indian Ocean, visiting India’s biggest temple in Madurai  and last but not least having lots and lots of Indian food

Two happy kitchen ladies

Talking about eating, there was one very funny situation I had in a cheap vegetarian eaterie opposite the temple in Madurai. It nicely illustrates the way most Indians react to me as well I was the only european person in that place and therefore provided entertainment for all the other guests! One of the guys spoke English and informed everyone in the restaurant about my name, age, martial status, country of origin, job and salary, while the two ladies from the kitchen closely watched me eat their food – with lots of happy head-wiggles, of course! It was hilarious Throughout this trip I am truly surprised by my own patience…but there is a good reason:

The Indian people

I know this sounds cheesy but I really have to say it: the Indians are so lovely and really make my trip a very special one! Yes, they stare and give wrong directions sometimes but most of the times they are just sweet and reeeeeeeally curious. So I find myself answering the same questions patiently over and over again. While in Brazil I would have used my best favela-Portuguese to tell people to bugger off, here I don’t mind talking to complete strangers about my life. Maybe it’s because I feel that there is a genuine interest and no hidden agenda behind the questions. And I can’t blame them, because I am just as interested in them as well! I flew around half of the world only to see them and their country – how much more cuious can you be?

My message for the end of the year…

Now, dear friends, this feels very weird but I have to say it: Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Take care, have a fabulous time and speak to you all in January. I’ll hopefully be very zen-ed out and able to tie my legs around my head while walking on two fingers

I really miss you all and send you lots of love!

Oh and before  forget, here are some first photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=65778&l=8ce43&id=710021486

Enjoy!