Showing posts with label Pokhara. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pokhara. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
BOOM.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Old Lady.
I've always been told that I was an old lady living in a young body. But this year my travel habits have definitely become a bit more 'old lady', erring on the side of quiet and comfort instead of indulging in the young, hip backpacker scene. So instead of paying 200-300 Nepali rupees ($3usd) a night for a dorm style room with a shared bathroom, I'm staying at the Little Tibetan Guest House, where my room is 650nrs a night (about $7). My room is huge, I have a big beautiful bathroom with hot water, I have a table and sitting room inside and outside (on my patio), and I even have a closet to hang my clothes. There is wifi, towels, and toilet paper. How luxurious! But my favorite of all is that it's set in the most beautiful fauna in a quiet courtyard, which reminds me of the "secret garden". And the youngest person that stays here, aside from me, is in their late 40s- with most of the guests in their 60s. Yep, this is my kind of place. I feel like a stubborn old grandma at the moment...coming from India, this scene is a bit of a culture shock. In India there is no meat, no alcohol, and certainly NO SHORTS OR TANK TOPS. There is also very little public display of affection, and it is a modest place in general. Arriving here was a rude re-introduction to the "west". Yesterday, the Hindu festival of Holi, and girls were walking around in short shorts and tank tops with their tatty's hanging out. I was in shock. People were roaming the streets with beers in their hands and "getting amongst it". Maybe if I hadn't just come from rishikesh then I would look a this is a different light. But I *did* come from Rishikesh, and this isn't my scene, so I found that yesterday I was really struggling. And I have felt the pressure to trek here, because I'm in the most beautiful trekking capital in the world, but really- I could give a shit about trekking! It's never about where I am, or what I'm doing- the importance is on who I'm sharing that with. And if I can't share the Himalayans with the people that I love, well- I think I'll pass. So, Nepal - it's just not my vibration right now. At another time it will be, but I found myself yesterday super anxious, sad and discontent...three emotions that I refuse to purchase and allow in my life. The solution: get the hell outta here. I've had a beautiful time, and now it's time to go. I'm going to do a short day hike, buy some Nepali goodies, and maybe even raft my way back to Kathmandu- but I'm Sri Lanka bound in the next week. My motto: "when in doubt, don't think about it, surf about it". I think my time in the water is log overdue. Namaste my friends!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Rhythm.
Obviously I have yet to find my rhythm. And I've discovered that the rhythm only comes once I've figured out my purpose. So: what's my purpose? This is the dilemma. In Sri Lanka it was "surf", in India it was "yoga". Everywhere there has been prayer, food, and community. But now I'm just not sure what the hell I'm doing, what I want to achieve or even internally what it is that needs some attention. What I do know is that Pokhara has it all: whether you want to party your face off, pray until the cows come home, or climb to the top of Mount Everest. So maybe instead of having a "plan" I just go with it and do a bit of everything. It'll be challenging because I find comfort in a routine, but maybe my routine will just have to be where I have my meals. After covering most of Lakeside, Pokhara on foot yesterday I have sussed out the restaurant situation. (I know that it seems crazy that this is my first move once I arrive in a town, but even though I love travel, I love family even more so this is my one "familiar" bit that makes me feel at home). I walked in and checked out the menu at a million places, but more than that I was feeling out the energy. I decided upon a little hole in the wall for most of my meals- it's run by a super sweet Nepali family, the menu is 1/4 the price of all the touristy places in town, there are terrible Hindi films blasting through the television and it's dancing that borderline between clean and dirty that I love. I also found a spot that charges 40rs for momos (that's ALL they sell), which is 100rs cheaper than what they charge in town and even 20rs cheaper than my cheap local place. And now I found my morning chai spot. It's right on the lake, and it found me as I was strolling through the rising sun. I (literally) bumped into the cutest little old round Nepali lady as I was walking along the path parallel the river. She had her sari on, her bindi, all her bangles, and she looked up to me with the largest, most delightful toothless smile, her eyes twinkling with a bit of magic. So we walked hand in hand, and I pretty much followed her into her home. Her son has a little restaurant on the lake so here I sit, sipping my chai. Mama (that's what we will call her for now) pleased me as she did the morning prayer- burning incense around me, mumbling a prayer, touching my head and then putting some orange and red powder in my hair and on my hairline. And so my adventures in Nepal begin...
Travel Day.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Local Eats Love.
Local Eats Love.
I don't eat at local places because they are super cheap...you can get fancy meals for a small price here in Asia. But I love the local places because that's where you encounter the heart of a community. And it's where you can taste the flavor of the country for just a few rupees. Once I find my spot, I tend to stick to it...for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My whole approach to travel has changed really in this direction. In the past I thought that to see, experience and understand a country that I had to travel to every inch of it; to eat at many different restaurants, and to do do do. Now, I pick two places, eat at one restaurant and I just "be be be" instead of "do do do". So my trips now consist of lots of sitting and sipping tea, talking with locals, and just walking around one town instead of 10. I spend a lot less time on public transport, and a lot less time packing and unpacking my bag. It's only my third day now at Chhorten Restaurant, but already I'm getting familiar smiles and "namastes" from the locals who frequent this spot for their chai and rotis, and even the stern owner finally gave me a smile today.
At Chhorten I have had the spring rolls, the momos (dumplings) thepthuk (deeeelicious fresh homemade noodles that are huge, served in a thick salty spicy broth with vegetables), noodles, Tibetan breakfast (2 roti, channa curry and Tibetan tea, which is made with buttermilk), and today I had the Nepali breakfast (scrambled egg, roti, channa curry and Nepali chai, which is just black tea with milk). Oh yeah, and I've had lots and lots and lots of tea here throughout the day. The total I've spent on all of these meals: about $10usd.
If anyone is passing through Kathmandu I highly recommend this town, and especially this restaurant. It's entrance is directly across the street from the entrance to the Stupa. In the hours that I've spent here I have not seen one foreigner here, so it's about as authentic as it gets. Local Eats Love ❤
Saturday, March 23, 2013
More Prayer.
Inseparable Oneness.
After getting settled into my hotel I cruised around the Boudha Stupa. It was an emotional afternoon. There's definitely a different energy in the air, which I attribute to the magic of being surrounded by any mountains, but the majesty of the Himalayas is even greater. Then around 4pm it begins. The Nepalese walk around the circle, many times. Some chanting, some doing walking meditations, some are walking and texting, and others are walking hand in hand with their best friend as they gossip about the day (their free hand is holding their mala of course). People are spinning the prayer wheels, which are lined around the stupa. There are also a few large ones which range from being my height to being the size of a small car. They are a part of the meditation, at least that's how I understand. So you walk around, pushing them so they twirl, while chanting Om Mani Padme Hum (which is what's engraved onto them). I don't know if it's the twirling, the chanting, the incense (which is very woodsy and smells like my dad), or just the energy in the air....but it's moving. And so I walk in circles and cry and chant- and that has been all I've done since I've arrived; in the hours that the day moved into darkness, and then for a few hours this morning as the sun rose and the air was crisp. I noticed a heat last night and saw a room full of candles. I shyly made my way over and noticed that it was like a church where you'd light a candle. So I gave my donation to light a candle and on the way in I saw the prayer. The f*ing prayer. So after finally getting a handle over my tears, I began to read...and they began again. In Asia the parents are the highest thing next to Buddha himself. So I lit candles for my mom and dad....in this life and in all their future lives may they be able to experience the pure and perfect inseparable oneness. God Bless.
A Light Offering Prayer By Glorious Atisha Dipamkapa:
May the lamp be equal as vast as the entire billion fold universe.
May the stem(trunk) of the lamp be equal to the King of Mountains Mount .
May the butter be equal to the infinite Ocean.
(Regarding quantity) may there be billions of trillions of lamps in the presence of each and every Buddha.
May the light illuminate the darkness of ignorance of all the sentient beings from the peak of samsara down to the most tortuous hell, whereby they can see directly & clearly all the Buddhas & bodhisattvas of ten directions & their pure lands.
OM VAJRA ALOKE AH HUNG.
EH MA HO, wonderful, marvelous butter lamps. (1 offer these) beautifully exulted clear and luminous lights to the thousands Buddhas of the fortunate on, to all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the infinite pure lands of the ten directions and to all the gurus, deities, dakas, Dakinis, dharma protectors and the assembly of deities of the mandalas.
(Due to the prayer) may my parents and all the sentient beings in this life and in all their future lives, be able to see directly the actual pure lands of the complete and perfect Buddhas and unify with Amitaba Buddha in inseparable oneness.
Due to the power of the truth of the Triple Gem and the assembly of deities of the three roots.
Please bless and may the prayer be swiftly accomplished.
Mountain Time.
Ironic moment: as we are flying into Kathmandu, I'm craning my neck to get a glimpse out the window (im the aisle seat) at the magical Himalayas and the woman who is in the window seat is blind. I don't think it mattered though, because being in their presence is actually a tangible thing, you can feel them.
Aside from knowing that there's lots of hiking, I know absolutely nothing about Nepal. This thought hit me this morning as I was half asleep, waiting to collect my bag at the carousel. I had no plan, no ambition, and (momentarily) no energy. So, I saw a woman that looked like she'd be nice and I asked her where SHE was going. She mentioned a town that I've never heard of, but I just got a good vibe off her, so I asked if she wouldn't mind if I tagged along. And so, here I am, in Boudha. There's a gorgeous stupa here and some cute cafes and shops. Currently my thought is that I'm moving on tomorrow, 6 hours northwest to Pokhara. Boudha is nice, but there's no water around here- and I realize that this is throwing my whole vibration off. In Sri Lanka I was surfing everyday, in Goa there was the Arabian Sea, in Rishikesh I had the Ganga and now....cement, and not the best view of the Himalayas. So, Pokhara is a town built around a picturesque lake, which reflects the Himalayas that are reaching into the clouds. I'm feeling a bit restless after being sick for those few days, so I'm looking forward to getting back to my regular self practice and taking some classes. I might try my hand at Ayurvedic massage. We'll see how it goes. I also might be up for one of the shorter treks. For now, I'm delirious- typing this with eyes half closed as I sip some fresh lemongrass tea. Badabing, I'm in Nepal and life is good.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Graduation Day.
"May the long time sun shine upon you, All love surround you, And the pure pure light within you, guide your way home". I sang it straight through for a half hour, and my heart tripled in size as I sang it out. I was literally bursting with love. After I sang it solo for a bit several people chimed in and as each person came up they were serenaded with this sweet song. Look up Snatam Kaur's version of this...it's so beautiful.
We chanted Aum Gung Ganapataye Namaha for about a half hour as we took turns throwing our intentions into the puja (fire): the intention of getting rid of whatever is standing in our way.
Today I feel powerful and amazing, and so grateful for all of the beautiful memories made, lessons learned, and life-long friendships I have been absorbed into. Love.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Final Flow.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Cancelled Class and CAPPUCCINO.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Flossin' and Pukin'
5:45am : I just stuck this up my nose, threaded it through my mouth, and "flossed" the mucus out. Then I chugged a liter of water, jumped up and down like crazy, stuck my fingers down my throat and threw it back up. Yay for morning kriyas!!
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