At last, India..

Our last days were spent amidst the Tibetan enclave of Mcleodganj, near Dhramasala. Eating delicious food, sushi! and wandering through the forests of giant Rhododendrons and wild Ganja plants.
We spent a bit of time in the upper Kullu valley in a little town called Vashist, which I renamed Vashits; after contracting a nice double-hitter of mild giardia and a parasite.. I have never spent that much time on a toilet in my life...
India;
India has been a huge mix of extremes.
Everything and way more than you have imagined.
She contains and opens her arms to everything and everyone. All races, religions and forms! Mixing everything up into a delicious brew of chaos and order.
Stinky, pungent, musical, polluted, serene, poor, and smiling.
Only a few words to conjure up an image of life's experiences here.
It is so busy here with a over a thousand million people etching out some way of life. Creating almost every imaginable idea. The birthplace of so much.
The only way that this many different people can live together is with a smile.
A little bit of unconditional love in their hearts; too balance out all the Chaos and extreme poverty.
A land of immense potential. Rich in everything, including poverty.
It is a country that can be visited many many times and still there is something to learn. Traveling inter provincially means whole new languages, cultures and customs. Learning some of the little intricacies that make up a "normal" day.
Again one of the greatest lessons is how much we may or may not take for granted in our homeland.
Breathing clean air.
Drinking clean water.
It is such a joy to watch the chaos of the street here. 4 lanes of traffic in 2, with rickshaws, cars buses, trucks and of course the holy cow chewing his holy cud oblivious to it all in the middle.
A normal day in the life of India.
Continuously astounded and humbled.
Travelling this life.
Jupiter

Back to the Himalayas..

At the Taj Mahal on Lonna's birthday



It really is impressive..



The oh so holy Ganges. Haridwar, Uttar Pradesh



The view from our balcony. Parvati Valley, Himachel Pradesh



Mountain kids at 2200m!. Parvati Valley, Himachel Pradesh

A few pics from the south..

Fixing the Coconut twine nets. Varkala, Kerala



Have you seen Lonnas famous elephant impression? Varkala, Kerala



Holi festival or paint and water fight all across the country! Sivananda center, Kerala



One of the silent sunrise walks at the Sivananda Ashram. Kerala



Sunrise, Sadhu and curious kids. Sivananda Ashram, Kerala



Picking tea at 1600m. Munnar, Kerala



School kids, Kerala



Fisherman using Coconut twine nets! Varkala, Kerala



A beauty on a beach. Varkala, Kerala



Fishing everyday. Varkala, Kerala

comments..

If you care to leave comments, I think it is possible now.
I will post more pics when I can!
J

Up to the Himalayas

After a super nice (super nice in the fact that it was only 4hrs not 48hrs on the train!) flight from the southern tip of India back to Delhi. We checked out the spectacular Taj Mahal for Lonna's birthday. Yes it really is as amazing as it is supposed to be. Built out of love for a queen who died giving birth to her 14th child, I think.
From New Delhi we wound our way up into the huge foothills of the Himalayas. A week in Rishikesh to swim in the partially clear Ganges. Dodging the constant barrage of Sadhus and cows in the "yoga capital of the world."
We left the amazing train system behind as the major form of transportation in the mountains is scary bus.
We have found a little gem of a place in the Parvati valley, called Kasol. Beautiful crisp mountain air, clean flowing rivers, hot springs, glaciated peaks and nice big trees!
Enjoying the leisurely walks and good food in the spring like temperatures in the Himalayas.
Jupiter

Ashram experienced?

I guess travelling through India isn't complete without an "ashram experience."
Waking up at 5:30am to sit in silent meditation and then satsung (chanting and singing) to start your day might not be every ones cup of tea, but it actually is pretty good. Watching a new day rise and awaken with clear mindfulness and sharp awareness, enjoying the space that is.
Almost two weeks we stuck to the strict schedule of meditation, 2-2hr yoga classes, some yogic philosophy and delicious simple vegetarian system cleaning food.
It felt great after the third day. Getting used to the early mornings and noticing significant progress in flexibility and stillness. Our mid days were spent chatting with people from all around the world and swimming in yet another crocodile infested lake.
It was a little bit church like, coming from someone who has never been, but all round it was a positive experience that I would recommend to anyone interested in a "yoga vacation."
Peace and space

Hampi..

In Palolem, Goa



Crocodile infested swimming lake, Hampi



Hampi Temples



Hampi



Rice, rocks and moon, Hampi

Enjoying Hampi..

One of the festivals in Hampi



Lonna cranking



View of a few of the millions of boulders in Hampi



Monkies at the monkey temple



Full moon, February



Sunset Yoga, Hampi



Hay ride and monkies jumping!



Indian ferry, Hampi



Bouldering in Hampi

Sweating in the south..

Watching the sun set over the Arabian Sea munching on fresh Barracuda and Tiger prawns listening to cafe del mar.
Life in the little south western town of Varkala.
We are here for a couple of weeks of down time after travelling through the highest tea plantation in the world, Munnar.
Enjoying the crisp cool nights at 1600m.
A respite from the Keralan lowlands infested with mosquitoes from the numerous canals and backwaters that create a unique life in costal Kerala.
A night of sleepless mosquito biting hell where I swear I looked over in the middle of the night and saw Lonna levitating from the thousands of mosquito's piercing her skin. She was deep asleep, only to wake in horror at the hundreds of red swollen bites covering her body!
Our last weeks in Hampi were spent scaling the super sharp, steep, and spectacular boulder problems strewn across the arid landscape of the ancient Vijnayagar kingdom.
With a few days cycling to the refreshing lake where Lonna dodged the "crocodiles" and other days checking out the funky gravity defying formations of the boulders while wandering amidst temples.
Hampi is a great place to get happily lost in the unique atmosphere that balances between amazing geological granite formations and old culturally rich temples.
Eventually we will make our way further south, deeper into the searing heat, to enjoy some peaceful time of yoga and meditation at the Sivananda center in southern Kerala.
Jupiter

A handful of pics from Hampi..

Planting rice, Hampi



Beggar, Karnataka




Happy in Hampi!?!



Main temple, Hampi




Street scene, Hampi

Pics from Diu with Greg, Christie, and Lonna

Typical Betel nut juice spit..



Feeling free on the train


Travelling through the state of Karnataka




Greg and I in the sea of school kids, Diu



Beautiful market scene, Diu



One of the many spectacular sunsets, Diu




Good times...




A couple of cuties!!




Beer anyone?!




First days, Delhi

Onwards in India..

These past holidays have been full of travel, festives and a little family..
It was super great to spend the Christmas and new years day with Anja and her Ben.
We lounged on the semi-tranquil beaches of Palolem, Goa and celebrated Christmas with a delicious fresh grilled Red Snapper and many cold Kingfisher beers and some duty free Gin.. ahh what better way to spend the sun drenched days of Christmas?
After a relatively short 12hr train journey on my birthday night up to the "glittery" city of Mumbai. We celebrated an Indian/Russian wedding of a friend of Anjas in a shortened version of an Indian wedding; only one full day!! The whole process was pretty cool with all the traditions and the food was spectacular but no booze!!
Anja fell ill on New Years Eve, so Ben and I whooped it up in an all inclusive bar called Polly Esters! Checking out all the upper middle class Indians shaking their booties and learning the hard way about some of the indian customs, like no single men on the dance floor?!?
Anja and Ben flew home and I trained it up to cold Delhi to meet Lonna at the airport, helping her with her lost luggage.
Air Canada sucks!!!
Our first days together were lost in room service, jetlag and a few sights around Delhi.
Again onto the train and eventually a bus that brought us to the little Portuguese city of Diu, on the southern tip of the province of Gujarat to meet up with Greg and Christie.
They were on their last days after a month of kayaking and adventures in the northern areas near Rishikesh, paddling, among others the mighty head waters of the Ganges...
The four of us soaked up the sun and shared stories from all the different adventures and experiences that India gives. Relating experiences from an incredible book called Shantaram, which is a must read for everyone, especially those traveling in India.. On the same quality status as Pappillon.
From here Lonna and I are on our way to Hampi, which is famous in the climbing world for its bouldering and 3000yr old temples.
Peace to all
Jupiter