taj mahal, asharam life, and the beach!

Hello!  After I wrote last, we have been quite busy and have had some extremely varied experiences!  We left the camel festival and then spent one night in Agra.  We woke up early and saw the taj mahal at sunrise (it was not $100, thank goodness, Rishi, only about $10).  It was lovely and magical.  I will eventually attach a couple pictures.  Carma also treated us to a nice dinner at a luxury hotel near the taj, we felt like princesses!  After that, we spent one night in Delhi and then took a train up to Rishikesh for the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Swami Rama leaving his body.  From home I had made arrangements to stay at Swami Veda's ashram, which is nearby and affiliated with Swami Rama.  Although we expected simple shared accommodations, we were delighted to be given our own little suite in the ashram.  We really liked ashram life there!  Everyone was so peaceful and kind, we made many friends from all over the world.  We were welcomed into all ashram activities, yoga, meditation, and classes on breathing and yoga philosophy.  And the conference was awesome.  I learned so much.  It addressed many of the advancements Swami Rama and his hospital have made in terms of integrating east/west medicine and body, mind, and spirit.  I knew some things about him before I came, but I must say, I was really IN AWE of all that he did and taught, and the way his life and spirit continue on in the works and words of his followers.   I learned a lot about yoga science and about so many aspects of yoga beyond just postures.  It was a wonderful introduction to some of what I came to India to really explore, such as all aspects of yogic science and way of life, and also to see what is happening in India in terms of integrating natural/holistic and allopathic medicine.  The ashram and the teachings of Swami Rama gave me more than I could have hoped for. He was such an amazing man, and I look forward to continuing to study him.  I think also I will have the opportunity to return to the ashram in a couple weeks when I am traveling up that way after Carma heads home.  It will be nice to be back there and to see familiar, kind, loving faces.

We are in Goa now, down in the south west on the coast.  We found  some cheap airfare and flew here yesterday.  Goa is a beach paradise.  The beach is beautiful, there are lots of resorts and nice bars and restaurants, palm trees everywhere.  (Anna, this is the coconut paradise you have been picturing me in!  I will have a pina colada for you!) Goa used to be a Portugese colony, and so has many churches and lots of catholic influence.  All of the taxis and buses we ride here now have pictures of Mary and Jesus in the front, rather than Krishna and Shiva, very interesting.  Speaking of buses, we took local buses around today, and were smashed into very close quarters with the locals.  It is really amazing how many people they try to fit on one bus!  We explored some churches in the old part of town, visiting one church that holds the intact body of St Francis Xavier.  He is still in pretty good shape after all these years!

Carma and I have 5 more days together and then she leaves me.  :(  We have had a great time together and I will miss her.  I am so thankful to have been with here these first weeks.  And after that, I am excited to travel with another friend Teresa for 4 days.   We will go together to a tiger reserve and also to Varanasi, a sacred city where many Hindu people go to spend their last days and die by the Ganges.  I think it will be fascinating and strange, it is a very different culture of death here.

I miss you all.  On Thanksgiving, I will certainly be feeling thankful to be alive, thankful to be here following my dreams, and thankful for everyone at home who I love and who are sending me love and energy and support.  Thank you.  Enjoy the holiday and have some turkey for me!