Happy Holidays from Thailand

Emily and I have thoroughly enjoyed our 2 weeks together. We spent a week south India, in Chennai and Mamallapurram, then the past week in Chiang Mai and Pai, northern Thailand. We're both really enjoying the warm weather, food, and great company. It's so nice to have someone to talk to and relate to, both about home and about this journey. I'm so grateful my beautiful cousin could join me here! Tomorrow we fly to Koh Phangan and I start my yoga teacher training program on Monday. Thereafter I'll be in classes 6 days a week for the next 3 months. I'm expecting some friends to visit from various parts of Asia and Seattle. The next few days will be relaxing on the beach and house-hunting for a nice 2bdr furnished bungalow.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! May 2011 bring you peace and happiness!

On Being Alone

The only way to start looking within is to be alone. The first few weeks I was alone on this trip were, comparitively very different than these past few days. There were a few days in Shillong that bordered on lonely when I wasn't teaching or visiting villages. At the Sivananda Ashram, there were definitely some lonely days. I was intentionally not meeting people because I wanted to stay in that quiet space, focused inward instead of outward. The last few days, though, have been wonderful. Even though I'm in a big city which is never quiet and the other hotel guests the past few days did not observe any quiet hours, I've really enjoyed the silence and peace that have pervaded Chennai for me. Finding inward quiet can completely change physical and mental reactions, thoughts, and the subjective basis for 'reality.'

That said, Emily gets here in a few short hours and I'm sure we'll be talking ceaselessly for the next 3 weeks! Then my program starts just after New Year's and I'll have some int'l visitors at my beach house, making for lots of social time. I've enjoyed these few days exploring Chennai, eating masala dosai, pongal, sambar idli, and oh-so-good South Indian coffee and chai. I went to a few museums and memorials, walked by the beach, and have had more than a few stares, akward pointing/laughing moments, inquisitive smiles, and kind handshakes. I get to share this all with Emily who will remind me, I'm sure, just how crazy India is. It's easy to forget that when you spend so much time here. She certainly reminded me of that in Korea!

The last few days in India...this time

I left Rishikesh Dec. 5th. It was harder than I expected to say goodbye to new friends. The Kriya Yoga course was a serious self-study and the 8 participants got very close over our 15 days together. After 2 days of travel (taxi, overnight train, day in Delhi, 2 planes, and taxi) I arrived in Wayanad in the northern mountains of Kerala. A Jeju friend recommended I stay with Saji, a beautiful yoga teacher, and his yoga teacher training group. The training is held at a Catholic convent/spiritual retreat center in between some very small villages and surrounded by trees, hills, and friendly villagers. I participated in the 6-9am yoga class, then had the rest of the day for personal retreat in the quiet of Wayanad. It was hard to believe I was still in India, it was so quiet! When I wasn't receiving Ayurveda treatments, I was meditating, journaling, and getting to know the international program participants. Saji and the nuns at the retreat center were very gracious hosts, the food was yummy, and my 5 days in Kerala passed in bliss. Oh, and the weather was absolutely perfect. But once again it was time to move on, this time to Tamil Nadu, the adjacent south Indian state to the east. So Sunday I packed my bag - which is getting heavier every place I go - and took another taxi, bus and overnight train to Chennai. I'll be here for 2 more days before meeting my cousin, Emily, at the airport Thursday night. Chennai is a busy Indian city, as I expected it to be, but the people are extremely friendly and I'm enjoying a little alone time and exploration. Plus it's the first time in 2 months that I've had to find my own meals! Emily and I have a week in Tamil, then off to Thailand to start the next part of my journey. I've actually spent very little time alone since I started this trip on August 26th, and that trend will continue with some good friends coming to stay with me in Koh Phangan throughout my 3 months there.

There is no way to describe this trip in a blog. I know the little bits and pieces I'm writing here and there are just a tiny percentage of the actual experience. Plus I'm not so diligent on picture uploading. I'm planning to start a book in the next 6 months of so about these years of travel but until then you'll have to put the pieces together yourself or ask me about specifics if you're interested. Thanks for reading!