I earned my first rupees!

Hey! I earned my first rupees in India EVER today. Haha! Isn't that fun? Sure, its the equivalent of about $4CAD, but its kind of exciting nonetheless. Isn't it? Don't tell revenue Canada. Hahaha.

This morning I taught yoga to two Spaniards from Madrid. We had a lovely class. They were lovely students. Good breathers. Felt nice to teach again. Teaching yoga holds a special place in my heart. It is such a mind, body, everything experience and teaching this morning totally altered my outlook and my energy field this morning. I realize what a healthy "job" it is for me. Just to show up a few times a week and sit cross legged on the floor and breathe with people, and just the little bit of stretching and moving that I do in the process of teaching a class is so therapeutic for my own health and well being. So fun.

So, Nakul and I are enjoying getting ready for Thailand. He officially "banned" me from the computer last night after I spent probably 10 or 12 hours over the past 2 days online reading and researching where we could go in Thailand. I had given myself a migraine basically because I couldn't pull myself away from the screen flickering images of pale blue water and white sand. I am absolutely hooked and mesmerized by the images I see and by all the information out there. I have been wading through trying to decide the best route for our needs. You know, the challenging part is that... you have to really watch the dates on some of the info out there. Someone might write that an island is this or that and so perfect and pristine... in 2008, and then you can think "great! lets go THERE!", only to continue reading and discover that if you watch the dates of posts, people are getting increasingly disenchanted with that island as it now suffers from extreme over-development, overtaxing of the infrastructure, improper waste disposal systems and noise pollution. So now your idyllic island is over run with tourists AND... well, not fit for consumption.

I make no qualms about being a consumer of islands. Clearly we are, us tourists, us travellers, "consumers". We come to a country, to a place like Thailand, with our currency and we spend and demand amenities and leave our trash behind, then we complain that that island is now "ruined". Who ruined it? We did. We are responsible. I know this. I am aware of this. The fault is not so much that of the local people, they are just making a living off the tourism dollar that is being greedily thrust at them. Who WOULDN'T take advantage of that money being waved in your face.

But there are some islands where tourism has more recently moved in where the local inhabitants are consciously creating the kind of "destination" they want to present to the world. They are thinking about sustainability and balance now, after seeing the senseless destruction of neighboring islands in the name development.
I can't stick my head in the sand about this issue. It became clear to me on my first trip to Thailand about 10 years ago when I saw the resentment and near hatred the Thai people in places like party island Ko Phangan had for the european and american tourists who seemed to show no respect for the local culture or customs. It was sad to see this relationship. Sure, the Thais will take your dollars, your pounds, your Euros, happily, but they don't have to smile while they do it. They do it almost without even acknowledging your existence. They do it with distaste and a smirk of disgust at the beer-swilling, bikini clad crew.


So, the hunt for the perfect island on the Thai Andaman coast consists of trying to balance peace, tranquility, natural beauty, relatively few people and environmentally responsible practices with sufficient amenities (restaurants, massages), cheap beachfront bungalows and some sort of vibe and things to do like... renting a scooter or kayaking and snorkelling.
So that is why I have been glued to my computer for two days, giving myself a headache and painful burning eyes as I excitedly pour over every website on the subject and look into dozens of island possibilities. That is why Nakul has temporarily banned me from the screen. And that is why i have snuck out to an internet cafe today. already i can feel my eyes complaining. its not good. i really should listen to him sometimes. hee hee.

I am excited to travel with Nakul outside of India. What a fun adventure.

so we are having fun getting everything ready. Today we went and got little mini photos taken for his "visa on arrival" in Thailand. Travelling to Thailand will look good on his visa application for Canada. Not only does it show that he has the ability and the means to travel out of India, but it also shows that he will return to India, which is the big concern of countries like Canada, that if they grant a tourist visa, that the person will just stay in Canada and not return. So our job is to prove to them that he has reason to return, work and obligations to return to, and that he has left India already before and returned so... this is all part of the grand plan. (Plus we get 2 weeks on the beach, hee hee) . i am such a sucker for white sand and blue water. This is like a dream come true.
You can tell we are really excited.
Here are some of the places we are considering at the moment: you can "google image" them. koh phi phi, kho lipe, kho tarutao, kho yao noi.
check it out. hee hee.

oh man.
ya.
I did some calculations... and I must be TRULY mad.
After we leave Thailand and fly back to Delhi, 6 hours later my flight then departs Delhi for Beijing, onward to Vancouver.

I did the math, the Thailand to Delhi flight is 11 hours including our plane change in Bangkok. The Delhi to Vancouver part is 21 hours including a wait time in Beijing airport. Add in 6 hours wait in Delhi and i will be officially in transit in airports or airplanes for about 38 hours straight! I must have lost my mind. Anyways. There are reasons that I had to do it that way. There was really no other option. So, i guess i just suck it up and get comfortable. I am gonna be a zombie by the time i get home. 38 hours travel. hahaha. That is hilarious!

To be honest, lately, I have been feeling so comfortable and so at home here, at last. I feel like all my rough edges have been sanded off with a diamond file and now i am a smooth river rock.

I have been really enjoying the puzzled expressions still of the people who come to our house inquiring about a room, or massage or yoga or what have you. The sight of a white woman, in an Indian home, totally at home, washing dishes, cooking, eating, living... well, it just seem to boggle them.

Yesterday I was at my ashram for a yoga class and I met up with my teacher's brother Parmoud. He told me to go upstairs and see his wife whom I met on my first time to India. So I did. I went up and saw her. We chatted. She asked me how long I had been in India and where I was staying, because she hadn't seen me at the ashram. So I told her I was staying with a family down by the bridge. Mmmm, she said, then after a few minutes she asked "what family?". I said I am staying with my boyfriend and his family in their house. Hmmmm, again, I can see the wheels turning for her as she looks at me. "He's Indian?" she says, "your boyfriend?". "Yes" I reply. Kind of giggling mischieviously to myself. I can't help it. I can see her trying to put this all together in her mind and its just not adding up for her. How could I be LIVING with my Indian boyfriend's family? How?
You see, it is common for a couple to live together in the man's families house. That is tradition here. But only after they are married. After marriage the woman comes and moves into the husband's family home. Usually. That is the way it has been done for ... ever. So that part is not the mind-boggler. But that we are not married, that we are UN-married, and doing this, living with his family, is a very UNusual thing. Very. In India, very unusual.
I thank my lucky stars every day. Nakul's family is SO supportive of us and open minded, it is a small miracle I give thanks for everyday, that they are so loving and supportive. Without that, none of this could or would have been possible. They have really shown their true colours.
So anyhow, I left my teacher's brother wife still trying to figure that one out and went down to yoga class.

I am just having fun with that. Might as well, right?
Its like... with the two spanish students this morning. Everyone is very curious about what I am doing, how long I am staying in India and all that. It is so unusual.

I feel that from my extended time living with people here that their unself-conscious ways are rubbing off on me. Everyone seems so at ease and comfortable in their own skins. And generous. I cannot even begin to describe the selflessness and thoughtfulness that I encounter every day here. Everyone shares everything openly and easily. There is no "mine" and "yours", i mean, there IS, but its not so... strictly defined, you know? Like... I might come home and find Manu wearing my house flip flops around the house. No problem. Someone needs a sweater? Just borrow one from someone else. Whatever people have, they will share it. Things are just things. Not possessions to be possessive about. Things are not meant to be accumulated and hoarded. They are just things.

Never will you meet a people more generous and warm hearted in the whole world. Always thinking about how their actions will make others feel. Always conscientious of making other feel happy and not left out. Just ask my mom. You can never outdo and Indian in generosity. If you give him 10 rupees, he will give you a hundred in return. So I am learning to share too. Its wonderful. It feels wonderful to let go of what you have or what you want for the happiness and pleasure of others. hee hee.