First time I saw ...

A donkey in Mysore. And isn't it such a cutie? It does not look like it belongs to anyone. It just sits on a street. This is normal in Mysore.

Lots of animals walk around the city everywhere, they all seem homeless. But they are not. They always belong somewhere somehow. Even the street dogs. They may wonder around all day long along the streets. But at night, they always have a neighbourhood to go to. My neighbourhood's dogs fiercely defend their territory. Any strangers, or dogs or cows or goats or horses that are passing would be barked on till they are out of sight. And the people in each's own neighbourhood usually feed the dogs in the neighbourhood. Amazingly, no matter where they have wondered to during the day, these animals always get back to where they belong at night.

So really there is no such thing as homeless animals in Mysore.

I have to cover it up ....

I am so used to covering up my shoulders now. I would feel naked if I don't. This morning, just before I ran down the street to catch the Palak woman for some Sa Po,I had to cover them up real quick with a bath towel. It looked so funny that H took a photo of me.

And when I looked the photo later, it cracked me up. The photo is definitely one of a kind: a Chinesewoman in pijama pants, shouders covered with bath towel, buying sa po next to a Indian woman wearing saree.

M started to talk about Osho ...

I am growing on this English conversation now. Today, just barely one month, M has been talking about Osho's book the last two day. He had never heard about Osho. I mentioned it to him during one of our conversation. He got an Osho book the next day. I never read this one, Awareness. It was one of the most interesting conversation as he tried to make me understand him, and I did. Osho book is a daily topic for M. Talk about progress. Tomorrow, our topic is actually going to be of of the sutras....

I felt such joy in today's class. They can now talk about a variety of topics, and they feel so comfortable doing it. In a way, they are teaching me too.....

A cow came for breakfast this morning ...

During this morning's English conversation, I simply looked up, and there it was, a big cow.

I was amazed how quietly it sneaked in through the big gate, which was not wide open. It got in, and just stood there. It sort of waiting for us, to give him breakfast. It looked humongous inside than when it was outside.

Rainbow and I shushed it slowly out of the gate.

Sunday out and about ....

Feeling tired of the Gokulam eat outs, Latifa and I decided to hit the city, and met at the Shree Guru.

I was there quite early, and found the best table of the house, all the way in the back corner with nice view and next to a back door with a nice breeze. About 10 minutes or so, a busboy came and put a sight of Reserve on my table, and then he left. Later, a waiter came and told me the table was reserved. I told him no reserve sign when I sat down. He left, wobbling his head. Then, a manager came and repeat what the waiter said. I repeated what I told the waiter. He left, wobbling his head. A different manager came. He repeated the same thing, so did I. He again left, wobbling his head. Finally, Latifa came. And this time the waiter came back, and we ordered. All were happy.

Dejavu. Exactly the same thing happened in Southern Star once. I am sure it will happen again.

Shree Guru's menu is very similar to Green Leaf's. The restaurant is much cleaner and nicer than Green Leaf. The dishes we ordered were hit and missed. The dal palak was the best I ever had in Mysore. You can also sit in the AC room in the front building. The menu is the same, with 5rps extra on every order. It is quieter, but no view. Most of people there had Thalhi. We were the only foreigners on that day.

Both stuffed after the eating, we walked across street to this very nice old hotel. We wanted to check out the restaurant for next time. I love the yellow wall color contrasted with the dark wood beams, quite colonial. And the eating area is quite pleasant, it offered both veg and non veg. Next time, for sure.

After that we decided to do some shopping at the Mega More, which is a 10 minute walk. And the two of us kill more than an hour in front of a pile of shawls. Let me tell you, shawls are so dangerous. We had so much fun. They are cheap, 99 rps each. I mean, for 99 rps, we had such fun for more than an hour, in an AC stor. All about process. Who cares what we are going to do with these shawls afterward.

A very tied, but fun Sunday.

kalsa ... kalsa ...

I often yelled in our house. Sometimes louder than the sound of this neighbourhood. Yesterday, I did so to H. Very very loud. I wanted to be heard. What happened?

This happened.

Our owner Ama, who gets headache from our fights sometimes, came all the way up to our balcony. I stayed in the bedroom. H went out to the balcony. They both sat down. And owner Ama started lecturing. Somehow H was in a good mood to entertain her. H listened. And he understood a lot more kannada than me. The lecture lasted for more than half hour. I was impressed by H's patience.

I was in the kitchen downstairs when they finished and came down. Then owner Ama gave me a 5 minute lecture, which I did not understand and ignored. Then she left. Then H told me this. Of all the complains, one thing made him angry. She said to him, kalsa, kalsa, kalsa. Not sure if I got the sound right, but H said she told H to kick me out or get me out of the house.

No judgement there. This is the habit of women here. You yell at your man, you get kicked out. I have seen this happened right in this neighbourhood.

Later, our servant Ama came to do the washing after the power returned. She had a bl00z on her head. She had a fight with her husband, who hit her. But Ama said we fight a lot more than they did. This upset me more than the owner Ama. I mean, Ama works so hard to support the family, yet her husband hits her. That is just fucking unfair. The sad thing is it is just so normal to Ama. It does not bother her the least. It just is the way here.

Life goes on no matter what. And the only way one can enjoy India is to accept it first.

I marinated the first and second series ...

I have done the second series four days in a roll. And the last two days, I mixed the first and second together. And it felt great.

The first two days I did second with full vinyasa. Those were hard and raw. So the third day, I did primary half way and moved into second up till Pincha. During the second, I would throw in Kurmarsana before the LBH. I would also do some warm up before Kapo. Yes, I am back into working on the kapo again. Before closing, instead of back bend and drop backs, I would do three Kapos, then into closing poses. Today, I again did the same routine. Still loved it.

This is the first time in a long long while that I want more of second series. So I let it. From now on, it will be four days of second series, and first day and last day primary. A new program for myself. On the days of second series, I only want to work on kapo, no drop back or back bends. That would ask too much of my body. On primary days, back bend and drop backs for sure. Love self practice. Love tailoring practice to my body.

I have been off kapo the whole summer while in California. This is the first month back at it again. I found a new entry and new warm up for it. Keeping the shoulder square and relax down is the trick for me at the moment. As soon as I put my prayer hands on my forehead, I start to drop the shoulder blades and relax. This instantly gives me room for the upper chest to open a bit more.

I am actually looking forward to do the kapo now. Nice stuff.

I had a dream ....

This afternoon in my nap. In the this day dream, Ama came to clean. I was really happy.

This morning, I came home from the English conversation, and found out Ama eela. Owner Ama said she was coming nalei. I got the house key and went upstairs, and started my practice.

I had to wash some plates in order to cook my lunch after my practice. When H came back from class, I loaded him with nagging. Then H left for more classes.

What to do? Nap.

Napping is my best way of releasing my stress and escape to la la land. Woke up from my yummy nap, and opened the door, there was Ama, on the balcony, basking in the glorious afternoon sun, already finished cleaning downstairs.

Day dreaming does come true in Mysore.

The English Conversations....

It has been nearly a month since my English conversation with the two yoga students from Japan.

This new routine has made my days here so packed all of a sudden. Now I am used to it. Like any conversation, it is a two way thing. It has been quite an interesting experience. Our topics mostly are about Mysore, Japanese culture and of course yoga also. This is the first time that I get to know the Japanese mindset up close. It certainly is very very Japanese. Very nice students.

I would do it again.

So much fun on a moon day ....

It felt just like coming home at Sandhia's. Latifa and I walked in the quiet house and sat at our favourite seat.

I was starving.

And then the food came. It tasted exactly the same as the last time I ate here. And that was four months ago. From the very first month, I realized I had missed Sandhia's food so much. It always amazes me how each time she can keep her cooking so consistently tasty. Practice, Practice, and Sandhia has a lot of mileage on her cooking.

I ate, I ate and I ate. I could not pause even a second. That was how good the food was. Her cook book is finally coming out on May 2010. But one can read her cook book into pieces, and I am sure it still can not turn out the way it is done at her house. Something about that little kitchen, something about those lovely Indian women sitting together, chatting, and making food. Those are the ingredients that make the cooking so one of a kind. And one really has to eat at this old house to see how awesom it is.

With all the increase in the price in almost everything in Mysore, Sandhia still charges just 100 rps only.

After the food, Latifa and I and P had one of the best conversations. One from Sweden, one from New York city, and one from China-Us-Canada, a rare combination. We are all here in Mysore for many many times. Mysore has made it click for us three. Such good laughs about India. And it just happens that P and H know each other too. What to do? I invite both Latifa and P to our house Sat for dinner.

After that, Latifa and I were in this shopping mood. So we ended up in FabIndia. We were there, and there indeed for more than an hour. We touched the fabric. We both love touching fabric. She got a dress, and I fell in love with a blue fabric which I will have it made into the fisherman's pants. Should be cool. More shopping happened in the Big Barzar next to Fabindia. I got some plates on sale. Happy about it. When Ama does no show days, we can never enough plates.

Tired. Tired. Tired. We hopped on an auto. Then the police stopped it. He took the license away from the driver. We were like, what? Is he going to give you back? Why? Driver said, no uniform. 100 rps fine. Poor driver. Latifa got off right near Tina's Cafe for dinner, and I headed straight home. I paid the drier 10 rps more. Such heavy fine for him.

What a day!!!

When I opened the door....

I saw H on the bedroom floor, practicing. A big smile came to my face. Self practice, H? On a moon day? Wow!

Later, he told me. He missed me. He felt like practicing.

Very sweet to hear it.

My breakfast ...

Happy to be back here and have my Mysore breakfast again.

The homemade curd ...

The banana ...

The sweet papaya ...

Sitting at the balcony ...

Looking at the coconut tree...

Listening to the sound of morning Mysore ...

Weekend breakfast has become so precious since the start of the English conversation during the week. And today, Sunday, is the same. It rained last night. It felt cool this morning. No Sunshine today. But it didn't matter. It is breakfast at my balcony. The best.

Casino Park

Latifa and I walked to lunch at the Casino Park on Kalidasa Road today.

This was the second time I was there for the Non-Veg Thalhi. It used to be 80 rps, now it is 100 rps. They also serve Veg Thalhi, and Fish Thalhi.

The Casino Park just did a reno on its front, and the sittings are much better than before, but the noise level is still very bad if not more than before. Saturday is not a good day to come here, too packed. The Non-Veg Thalhi is, I think, the best around Gokulam. It has three kinds of chicken. We asked to sub the Mutton for butter Chicken, which was super delicious. The drum stick got a very gentle flavour, yet tasty and tender, but mine was slightly undone, a pity. The Gee rice was super yum, perfectly cooked with nice Bosmatic rice. But the coin parotha was something else. It was my all time favourite, no doubt the best in town, very similar to the Chinese one. This Thalhi was very big, mine left unfinished, and I felt way too stuffed. It actually is a good deal for its price.

Over all, it was a delicious lunch. But somehow, the two of us talked a lot during eating, must be the noise around us, we felt our talking would make it less noisy. Next time we would come back during the week days.

My day off ... TGIF.

After one week's pouring rain, the heat is back. Just love Friday, my day off practice, my last day of the week's English.

So far, I have been able to survive the routine. Starting this month, I have added one day of Second series in my routine. So Two days primary, two days second, and two days primary to finish the week. One small difference is now I actually sweat more on Second series practice days now. I think it is the full Vinyasa.

And I have been going to Vivian's almost daily. Vivian finally decides on a house for her new B&B cafe, a few houses up from the Shala. The Shala will be closed from Nov 18th to the 6th of Dec, then in Dec 20th again. Good timing for her move. Her new cafe should be all set for the up coming crowds in Jan (more than 300 apps so far) when Sharath returns to teaching. Shiva and Moti are most likely to up the rps for houses. December is always nice in Gokulam. This time, even November is going to be quiet. How nice.

Finally this coming moon day Monday, Latifa and I have a date. We are going to Sandhia's house for lunch, and a walk around the lake after that. I am quite looking forward to it. I miss Sandhia's food, a lot.

We signed ....

Our house contract with our owner Ama, for another 11 months. How time flys. It has been a year already since we moved in this brand new house last year.

Despite the fact that the house is small, that it is basic, that it is in a noisy neighbourhood, that we had so many up and downs with the owner Ama, I have become used to it.

As it was getting dark today, I sat on the balcony by myself. It has become dried again after no rain all night and all day today. I watched the traffic going by on the distant road, I felt quite content. This balcony has made me fall in love with the house all over again.

The owner Ama and us have learned how to live together. Me and H's fights gave our owner Ama countless headaches. We have built up a trust for each other. Nothing, absolutely nothing, ever got stolen from our place so far. At times, we would even go out without locking the doors. Around dinner time, owner Ama and her daughters and the neighbourhood women always sit at the door steps. I mean, who can get pass them to get in? Last summer with the kids, two cell phones were stolen from the place we rented in the other side of Gokulam. Here, we have a great comfort. This neighbourhood is super noisy, yet super safe at the same time. These people are so real here, lively. It is one of those not-so-rich and not-so-poor kind of neighboughhood. It fits us like old comfort shoes. And the location is simply unbeatable. It is such a steal to find this house.

And the truth is, this house has slowly and gently inched its way into my heart, as my home in Mysore.

It is ok again ...

Ama showed up yesterday.

Kitchen is functioning again.

The laundry was done.

House is clean.

We had fresh chapati.

The sun came out this morning.

It did not rain last night.

H fixed the balcony top.

H has practiced with me three times in a roll.

H is loving it.

It made his gym workout a smooth sailing.

I got an adjust from H in Supta Vajrasana.

I could not remember the last time I did.

It was heavenly.

The days alwasy become ok one way or the other.

A bad start for the day ...

Yesterday, Ama again did not show up. And no call from her either. Something just stays the same in India no matter what.

Starting midnight last night, the sky must have been broken. It dumped so much rain, really pouring non stop till this morning. Niro, niro, too much niro everywhere.

So much water gathered that it broke the balcony top.... Miss that little of sunshine yesterday morning.

Yay!!! The Sun came out ...

The sun , the glorious sun came back this morning. Mysore was soaked with rain for the last few days ... everything felt wet, wet and more wet. It reminded me the summer days right before I left Mysore in July.

Seeing the sun light, I hurried out of bed, busy myself with the heavy and dreadfully wet laundry, putting them out one by one. Also, I put our my dry, but actually felt wet, blanket to soak some of this lovely sunshine. And I am not alone. The whole Gokulam is hanging out the laundry at this time ... I am sure.

And no doubt the rain will come again this evening if we are lucky, likely it comes earlier than that.

A rainy Sunday ...

It never rained like this in Mysore during November. It started raining around 5 pm yesterday, and lasted most of the day today. It really put us in the sleep mode this morning. We did not get out of bed till after 9 am.

After a late breakfast, the rain eased a bit and I took the chance to go out for a walk. And where else, but the Ramakrishna temple. Today, I indulged myself, I let my thoughts come, I let myself stay, no hurry. This place just put me at such comfort each time. Later on, H came to pick me up, and sat with me for a while, and took a picture of me. H told me he nearly fell asleep while he sat. Not bad at all.

Home we went, and time for practice. H decided to join me. A very very sweaty practice for both of us. H tagged along through the whole primary. And it was the first time he didn't ask for adjustment (which I ignored anyway when he did ask). He told me it was the best practice he had. Nice to hear. It was a deep practice for me too, felt quite drained afterwards.

After a simple quick lunch, we needed a nap, badly. The best weather for napping. And the best napping happened.

For dinner, we have our usual, califlower. But we did have a sweet ending for this rainy Sunday. We made our ginger lemon tea to go with the apple pies from Barista.

For a rainy Mysore day, this is as good as it gets.

Practice so far ...

Has been uneventful.

It feels great and easy practicing in Mysore again. Somehow the breathing is just right away there waiting for me. I love its sound, and the way it goes through my body, giving me a sense of lightness. It carrys me so much and in so many ways. Really the Mysore breath.

My Jet Lag is done, so my practice is back to 11 am during weekends when I am not doing the English conversation, and during the week it is in the afternoon. I do not like to jam pack my mornings. Mornings are meant to be savored slowly. I like the feeling of my body slowly waking up, coming alive by the hour. Throwing my body into yoga poses in the early dark hours are not for me at the moment. And morning hours are the loveliest in Gokulam. I do not want to miss it.

I am eating very carefully not to lose weight. I am scared to be thin in Mysore. My body can not handle it. I would often feel dizzy if I am too thin in Mysore. Right now it is the cool months, and it is a good time for me to accumulate weight to prepare for the hot months during which my body can not retain any intake of food. And I have to be careful about my practice too. Too much of deep practice and sweating during the hot months are dangerous for me. I would rather lose poses than lose weight during the hot months. Feeling dizzy is no fun, and not good in Mysore.

I have been working with a round figure during the summer in California. It feels so heavy in my practice. It also makes it more difficult to practice, much more challenging. It is good for me though. You do get a lot more stronger working with a heavier body. A great way to build strength. I am probably one of the few Ashtanga people who wants to gain weight. I just feel healthier when I am not thin. For my practice, I still try to keep it around one and a half hour, under two for sure.

Occasionally, H would join me on my Sunday practice, and I would accompany him to go to AJ's afternoon Karma yoga to practice at times. It is all ok so far practice while.

Photo: Doing Grimmly's trick, warm up before drop back. It works wonders. Thanks Grimmly.

I saw it coming ....

Yesterday, I did a solo walk at the lake on the most pleasant afternoon. It has such sweet breeze with beautiful gentle clouds hanging over the lake.

All was very good until I walked into Mysore University, a route I always take to go to the lake. I have always enjoyed the wide and shady roads of Mysore U campus. As I was walking, there were hardly anyone on the road. Two girls students were walking towards me. That was it. We had the whole road to us.

Then, out of nowhere came this furiously fast motor cycles, with two Indian guys on it. They headed straight at me, speeding up with a huge roar. This was not the first time happened to me. So many times these kind of Indian guys do this to try to get my attention before. And this time, I made sure they got what they wanted, my full attention!

I knew just what to do!

I waited, and waited, closer, closer ... and just as they got so close to me, with all my might, I gathered all the saliva I could in my mouth, and I spit it all out at them!!! I knew it worked. I knew it landed on them! Gosh, that felt good. And the two girls students saw it, and burst into laughter.

Me too!!

Ama is BACK!!!!!!!!!!

It was about 4 days after Ama's no show that we hired a new maid. After almost a week with the new maid, I was just starting to feel a bit comfortable with her. Then came the news.

A few days ago while I was at Vivian's, Ama and her daughter came to our house. With her came the story. It was not what we wanted to hear. No one did. It was very heart breaking news. Her oldest son, barely just 30 years old, has expired. A car accident took his life, on Oct 23. That was the day she did not show up.

H told me it was not an easy sight to take. He tried his hardest to hold back tears. Ama looked like someone else, I would not have recognized her if I had seen her that day. When I heard the news, I tried to block it from my mind. And H did not have the heart to tell her we already hired a maid. And Ama told him she would come back after the funeral. And we decided to deal with it when she comes back.

And yesterday was the day Ama came back. And back she came indeed.

I was having a rather nice lunch with Vivian at her house. Then, H suddenly showed up. He told me I had to go back to the house. Ama had been waiting and sitting at the house with our owner Ama for a long time. It was obvious, she wanted her job back. At that point, H and I had not decided to take her back or not. The new maid so far did a good job despite the fact she does not do everything I want her to do. She does not wash vegetables, and she wants to have nothing to do with Chapati. On the other hand, Ama does everything we want her to do, but with less quality, and she often does no show with no notice. This really drives us crazy. I am really annoyed by no shows without no notice. Plus, it is not nice to hire the new maid and let her go after barely a week.

What to do.

On arriving at the house, this was the scenes. Ama was listening charmingly to our owner Ama. Owner Ama was giving her a lecture about how bad her cleaning had been. Then H joined in the chat. I briefly said hi and went upstairs. Such headache. A few minutes later, H came back while Ama started her rounds with the neighbours. By now, the whole neighbourhood was waiting to see how this was going to play out.

In about half an hour or so, the new maid would come to clean our house.

What to do.

H and I sat and started to face the issue. H felt comfortable with Ama. I was used to the good feeling that I do not have to worry about no shows by the new maid. I also feel a bit of a guilt that Ama has to work for us at such an old age. Ama had told H she didn't care if we paid her last month's pay. She wanted her job back. It was not the money issue here. Eventually, I gave up. I ate my words. I would hire her back.

It turned out, it didn't matter what we decided anyway. When the new maid showed up, Ama and her started chatting fast, really really fast chatting. Ama was upstair, the new maid was downstairs. It was like Ama was telling the new maid what to do. She was giving her instructions. They knew each other. Or they knew of each other. They both worked several houses in this neighbourhood. They each have their own territories. Our house is Ama's territory. Once Ama is back, the new maid wants to have nothing to do with our house. This is their code of conduct. This is their way, the Mysore way. Don't fight it, accept it. Let it.

H paid the new maid, and she was not a bit upset at all. She was happy to leave. All the time she was cleaning for us, she knew it was not for long. Even if I wanted to keep her, she would not have stayed. No way.

This time we are going to give Ama our number. And she has to call us if she can not make it, otherwise 100 rps is off her pay. Just like before, we are in the honeymoon stage of the maid service. Better enjoy it while it lasts. Ama does everything perfect at the moment, and of course we will pay her last month's pay.

I respect Ama. I admire her strength. She had put on a very tough fight while she was bleeding within her for her son's death. All day she showed no signs of grief. But I felt her holding back her tears. I told her I felt sorry for her loss. She showed me three fingers. Her baby was just 30. We both tried to hold back tears.

Life goes on. Life always does in India.

The nights have been so cool ....

It felt like summer here the last few nights. It dumped buckets at night time ... and everything washed out ... so clean and I love it... the most delicious sleep ...

Just dropping a few lines now before going to Vivian's .... a long post about our maids, or servants or helpers or whatever you call it... is on the way. Drama!

Tea time ... with a bug ...

As I was about to pour the tea last night, a most beautiful and masculine grasshopper stopped me.

It has this very strong built legs, big and stern head, colored in brown with very unique pattern on its wings. It has this majestic air about it, like that of a king. Yet, it just quietly sat on the tea presser. It knew I was watching it, admiring its beauty. It had no wish to hop away. It just waited and see what I was going to do with it. So I actually gave it a tiny tap. It ignored me. I took photo of it with the flash, it liked it a lot and wanted more and more and more .... and I took more and more .... finally I let it hop away into the dark night air outside ....

That was fun.

Women, dog, the park ....

Ya, it is my neighbourhood park, the best park in Gokulam in my opinion.

On days I do not go to Ramakrishna, I come here to sit. A two minute walk from my house. In the mornings, there is always this Indian woman sweeping the park ground, and there is always this dog who loves hanging around me, and following me as I walk back to my house. And then there is me just sitting on the bench.

We three make a good morning picture in my neighbourhood's park.