Goodbye for now India - You have taught me so much....

Returning to Delhi, after my restful time in Rishikesh, I realized after one month in India I felt relatively comfortable here. Delhi served as sort of a home base for making trips around Northern India. The chaotic city is best described to the senses as some of the most wonderful and worst smells of your life, alive to the eyes with accidents waiting to happen as motorists play chicken with each other in the over crowded streets shared with walking crowds of pedestrians. Upon first arrival, once again, I was overtaken by the yellow haze of smog and pollution, inescapable in this city, at the same time amazed at the beauty of these foreign exotic women sitting side saddle effortlessly on the back of motorbikes; their bright sari’s flying in the breeze and their golden bangles and jewels from head to toe glittering.

I was told when I came to India not to try to understand everything about the culture here. As many of you know me, this was hard because my thirst for knowledge is great in this respect. I took this advice and just tried to experience everything as it came. There is just so much unwestern-like behavior here; so foreign and what some may even call strange. For example many children have black eyeliner around their eyes. I could not understand this when I came here; it definitely looked strange to me. But now after having a bit more of an understanding of the Hindu culture and religion this is perfectly understandable and even normal. In case you are wondering, the Hindu’s paint the eyes of their children because they believe in doing so evil spirits will be scared away from the child; to keep the child safe. Hindus are very auspicious in nature; they do believe that this earthly life is cyclical and invoked through reincarnation. The Hindu social structure is based on Castes and it is believed that by living a life of good karma and fore filling positive moral obligations that one will be reborn into a higher Caste in the next life. Interesting right? Thought provoking….

There are some things that I will never understand and those of you whom have been to India will have a chuckle at these. Why are there so many electric switches in one room that do absolutely nothing? It is almost as if one was not working so they left it there, rather than fix it and installed new ones. Speaking of electricity I have seen some really unsafe electric wires; no wonder why the power is out so often here!! Another one is the mysterious Indian head bobble; does it mean yes or no…. I guess we’ll never know!! Maybe it means both!! Another one - Why is it that Holy cows in the street like to feast on cardboard? I have seen them eating cardboard over vegetables sitting next to them as an option…. strange. One more: why do Indians that go sight seeing always ask me to be in their pictures? Then they all take turns having their pictures taken with this blonde curly haired westerner…funny.

Well, this blog must come to end, as I am now back in Holland and I must admit am feeling quite cozy with all my missed western amenities like cappuccinos, clean toilets and hot water minus a bucket. Everything is so easily available here and I realize that we are so quick to take it for all for granted. This trip has made me appreciate it more that ever - I am so gratefully thankful for everything that I have and will do everything in my power to remain in this mind frame!!

Through this trip I have released so much about the world around me, the people living and traveling in it and about myself. I discovered newfound passions in my life that I never knew I had within me; valuable pieces that my life lacked before that are now alive. One is teaching others, especially children, it’s rewarding and fun!! Another is practicing yoga, meditation and living a life of spirituality. One last found treasure is my new love for writing and being able to share these experiences with others whom have not made the trip physically…. and better yet inspire them to travel because regardless of career, university education and material positions these experiences are the most valuable and life changing in one’s life journey.

Being able to experience these adventures ignites my life and the writing feeds the fire to keep these dreams alive forever. I hope you have enjoyed living my dream with me!!

I will leave you with an instruction from Buddha to inspire you: ‘Do not believe anything because it has always been believed or because the majority believe it. What you have fully comprehended and experienced yourself; only that believe. You do not have to become a monk to accomplish self-realization. Let the world be your monastery.’

So, let the world be your monastery and may your travels bless you with the wisdom of experiencing miracles of life first hand with an open heart and mind.

Last days in Rishikesh - Serious yoga and meditation practice

I am spending my last days in Rishikesh studying Yoga and Meditation at an Ashram.

Here I am attending both morning and evening sessions of asanas (focus on yoga poses and mediation) as well as lectures on both the health and spiritual aspects of the practice and the poses.

I am starting to fit in around here with my head shawl and bindi accessories!!

PS. Did I metion that I have fallen in love with this place?!!

Chandrabaga Rishikesh - My Shanti Palace

Many people are drawn to Rishikesh in hopes of finding transcendence in their lives spiritually. Some come seeking enlightenment through the practice of Yoga and or Meditation. Hindu Pilgrims come from all over India to take a sin cleaning 'good karma' dip into the Ganga River whilst offering punja prayers into the holy sacred waters.

Why then did I come here? Was I searching for something from the outside in hopes of curing some ailment from within me?

I realize that you can not seek from the outside the answers that you must seek from within you. You can use tools to help you unlock these truths by learning and more importantly practicing Yoga and Mediation.

For the past 5 days I have focused on this practice by surrounding myself with beautiful knowledgeable people in a truly 'Shanti' or peaceful place. I wake every morning at 6am and practice yoga from my rooftop of my 'Shanti Palace' guided by my private teacher. I spend the day talking with those around me to learn about Hinduism, Yoga and Mediation. At sundown, I return to my rooftop alone to practice what I learned in the morning. I sit on my rooftop amongst the pink sky as the sun contemplates it's slumber. I hear the wind in the trees and the children flying their kites below me. I surrender to my sun salutations and be thankful for my life and the people around me; I am so lucky.... if there is a God she or he is inside me and all around me in these moments.

Yesterday I took my first dip in the Ganga....I will never forget this...I can not write the words to describe it either.

India is a magical place and Rishikesh is the beating heart for spirituality seekers. This place is peaceful and here my mind is restful.

Pushcar Camel Festival - Rajasthan

I have spent the last 4 days witnessing one of India's largest and most colorful livestock and religious festivals in Pushcar. Thousands of people from rural India flock here for the fair where around 50,000 camels are sold, decorated, shaved and raced.

It is definitely a rare sight when the Indians spruce up their camels with fur, bright flowers, earrings, bells and mirrored adornments hoping to get the best sale or at least attract a tourist into having a camel ride in the dunes. Yes, of course I had a ride a top of the camel!

The religious activities consist of devotees that take a dip in the holy lake in the city center. It is quite the sight to see all the people in their colorful clothing wading into the lake to take a little religious dip into the waters.

India - First impressions in the land of blessings and curses

I arrived in Delhi 10 days ago and have since visited Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur. My first impression was the immediate impact of the endless energy constantly around me due to the sheer amount of people.....In Delhi alone the population is 13 million which you can seriously feel as you attempt to walk down the streets. By far, this place is the most chaotic that I have ever encountered....madness!! Just walking across the street you are met with all or some of the following combinations in mass quantities: hagglers, touts, poverty stricken men women and children, people of all castes adorning strikingly colorful clothing from all walks of life, tractors, horses and buggies, pigs, goats, loads of holy cows, tractors, rickshaws, elephants, dogs.....India is shocking, in your face, loud, drastic and just indescribably different. Traveling here is a great challenge but definitely comes with it's rewards.

Being a traveler here you are both blessed and cursed. In my experience thus far the learning curve is steep and not as easy as the other countries in which I have visited. Everything seems to have a complex process not easily understood by the foreign traveler yet; making perfectly good sense to an Indian native!! For example, buying a train ticket is a huge undertaking and the first time I tried I was running back and forth between different windows, getting sent here and there, being told different directions by various people. Indian time seems to be on a different clock; majority of trains are delayed more than an hour, you feel like you are always rushing to go somewhere to wait again. Some times the train you are on just halts for more than an hour unplanned leaving you to wonder when you will finally actually reach your destination. As a traveler you are cursed in being a tourist which leaves you victim to a spider web of scams and rip offs. This makes you consciously always on your guard and a bit skeptical. Most of the time the things you go to buy cost a fraction of the price you are quoted making bargaining essential!! Sometimes you are looking for a guest house and someone will tell you it burned down or is full just so they can receive commission if you go to their chosen guest house.

On the other hand, traveling in India is a blessing; one of the most rewarding experience in my life thus far. India has so much to offer to those willing to receive it. You learn so much about yourself and about a culture so drastically un western like and different from your own by being submerged in it. It is not an easy task; you are tired, frustrated and seem to always be fighting the process in which you don't understand yet you just go with it. You get past all the people staring at you all the time by understanding they are just as curious about you as you are about them - everywhere I go I feel, no joke, all eyes staring at me....it is such a strange feeling. You build a wall around yourself after the 20th child is following you barefoot down the street begging you for money (tugging at your shirt. You learn how to laugh when once again you are brought somewhere you did not ask to go to.... I have had many bizarre experiences making me chuckle; Indians coming up to me in places like the Taj Mahal and other tourist sites asking for a picture with me. It is so funny that they would like to have a picture with some Western tourist!!

I think this is even the most challenging blog entry I have had to write due to that fact that India is just indescribable. You have to experience it yourself; see it, smell it, feel it all around you in order to understand what it's all about. India is the ultimate challenge with great rewards.....what a colorful country...submerge yourself in India!!....Next stop Pushkar to see a camel festival!!

PS. The food is THE BEST here and no I have not been sick from like many warned me that I would. I also took cooking lessons so I can prepare from home!!

Million Star Hotel, Halong Bay, North Vietnam

Upon arrival to the Island of Cat Ba, I found myself part of a very international group of 5 other backpackers representing France, Ireland, Spain, Israel and last but not least the US of A. After spending the first day touring the enchanted island by motorbike we decided to charter a local boat for a few days.

The boat that we chose was called ‘Bien Moi’, owned by a 27 year old named Loung and his beautiful smiling wife whom cooked the best food I experienced in all of Vietnam and all from the tiny nook in the back of the boat.

For two glorious days we took in Halong Bay’s crystal green waters witnessing endless limestone rock protrusions reaching straight for the heavens. Together we explored with Kayaks the pristine waters, caves, deserted beaches with not even a single tourist in sight. The place was magical enabling us embrace all that it had to offer; savoring every moment, taking in the details and knowing we were in paradise.

We camped on ‘Monkey Island’ under the stars; the sand as our bed with nothing but the lullabies of the waves tempting us to slumber. Before sleep we swam in the psychedelic waters with glowing phosphorescent plankton. What they actually are is microscopic plankton, that when disturbed give off a bright greenish glow. Any sort of movement in the water cascades a florescent glowing green trail in its wake; it was almost unreal! As I swam, the neon green glow swirled around me with every stroke flowing around me.

Sleeping on the beach, beneath the million stars sparkling above, some falling, some twinkling was by far the strongest memories captured while in Vietnam. At 5:30 we awoke and watched the sunrise from our kayaks

Travel by night train to Ninh Binh - Vietnam

After sopping up to my knees in the flooded streets of Hue I took the infamous train ride all the way to Ninh Binh. The ride turned out to be an unforgettable experience consisting of one crazy night whilst the train chugs from South to North Vietnam (Hue to Ninh Binh) for 11 hours straight. Nihn Binh is located in the southern gateway of the Red River Delta about 90 Kilometers from Hanoi, North Vietnam.

I shared the train car bunk with 2 Vietnamese men and one other traveler from Ireland. You should have seen the faces on the two Vietnamese guys when the two white westerners showed up with a bottle of red wine and our I Pod speakers; it was priceless....

After checking out the different classes you could chose from I was thankful I went for the more expensive option in 1st class. 3rd class was offering seats jammed packed with lively passengers whom all seemed to be consuming some pretty potent food; leftovers strewn on the floor. 2nd class were six man sleeper cars; passengers packed in like sardines. Ours was perfectly cozy sleeping four. Well, as cozy as it could be I suppose.

After many glasses of Dalat red wine we ended up dancing to the I pod speakers in the train corridor to Fat Boy Slim's 'I have to praise you.' We even had some of the train staff dancing with us. In the morning at 6 am they were still joking and laughing about the night before.

Upon arrival in Ninh Binh I arranged a boat ride lasting for two hours at Tam Coc. It was so peaceful to sit on the boat with the driver rowing rhythmically with her feet. The scenery was blessed with surreal limestone rocks protruding into the sky, lush green forrest; we even went inside caves. Towards the end of the two hours something unexpected happened. The boat driver whispered "shhhh" and we veered away from where all the other tour boats were headed. We docked the boat on a small cove that housed a tiny wooden hut at the waterside.

I was invited here for tea and fresh fruit; gigantic grapefruit and bananas freshly picked from the trees before my eyes. I came to understand that were were at the boat drivers brother's house and that this was not part of the normal tourist route; what a treat.

Sitting there, giggling, lost in translation and completely in awe about how nice it was to be there in this quiet little cozy hut with these more than kind people. After about an hour I was ushered back to the boat...what a memorable time it was even as the rain began to fall sending mirrored pool droplets cascading over the still water......