Saturday, August 7, 2010
Western Indulgence
Well...let me give you Judi's version of our Western indulgence. Check out coconutbayresort.com I think is the website, or Google "Coconut Bay Kovalam." It is incredible. Almost as nice as the Marriott in Kuaii, Hawaii, but better. OUr room has an incredible view of the Arabian Sea. We sleep with our windows open at night to hear the ocean. Jo-JO has a little six yr old German girl to play with who is actually Indian, but adopted by German parents. She speaks hardly any English, but kids seem to be able to communicate regardless of verbal language. They are laughing and having fun together.
Most of the people visiting the resort are German. THere are a few Swiss, too. We are the only Americans. It is top of the line. The food is incredible, anything from Kerala/ Southern Indian food to Tandoori cooking, and a few Chinese and Western selections. THe fresh fruit and fruit juice is amazing. And did I mention Ayurvedic massage? Steve failed to disclose that I signed him up for a "rejuvination"massage, which I thought meant a hand and foot massage. Actually, it meant that the massage therapist used hands and feet on Steve! But, he was very relaxed afterwards nevertheless. I had a massage this afternoon -- warm massage oil. It was awesome. I feel so relaxed I could melt into the beach chair.
And, hot showers, clean surroundings, yoga, a library, and gift shop. I of course have already been shopping at the local hawker's stores on the beach. That's all for now. I am excited and sad to fly home tomorrow. It has been an incredible journey.
Ciao! Jude, Steve and Jo-Jo
Most of the people visiting the resort are German. THere are a few Swiss, too. We are the only Americans. It is top of the line. The food is incredible, anything from Kerala/ Southern Indian food to Tandoori cooking, and a few Chinese and Western selections. THe fresh fruit and fruit juice is amazing. And did I mention Ayurvedic massage? Steve failed to disclose that I signed him up for a "rejuvination"massage, which I thought meant a hand and foot massage. Actually, it meant that the massage therapist used hands and feet on Steve! But, he was very relaxed afterwards nevertheless. I had a massage this afternoon -- warm massage oil. It was awesome. I feel so relaxed I could melt into the beach chair.
And, hot showers, clean surroundings, yoga, a library, and gift shop. I of course have already been shopping at the local hawker's stores on the beach. That's all for now. I am excited and sad to fly home tomorrow. It has been an incredible journey.
Ciao! Jude, Steve and Jo-Jo
Friday, August 6, 2010
Leaving the Ashram
Our taxi ride (part 2 taxi ride) to Kovalam from the Ashram was bitter sweet as we really enjoyed the stay but are happy to be moving on. It's about 2.5 hours travel time in a taxi which can be a tough ride but we were lucky enough to negotiate and get an air conditioned SUV that has proven to be very comfortable. This means we were all able to fall asleep for some time during the ride.
We have never been to this resort in K0valam before and weren't for sure what we were getting ourselves into. The website photos and descriptions can be quit deceiving at times. When we arrived it was far better than we could have hoped for.
We will be staying here a couple days then off to the airport for our trip home.
OUr experience is hard to explain as nothing profound happened at anyone time. It was a combination of things which can only be experienced by staying for an extended period of time that have left an impact on us. The travel, tropical climate, living conditions, spiritual practices, people from all over the world, and especially AMMA who started this ashram are a few of the things we experienced at different times for different lengths of time that have been a apart of our adventure. Jolena adjusted and did great on this trip, she was bitten by spiders and mosquito's, scarred by a huge toad that jumped at her, screamed when a giant cockroach ran in front of her, had an eagle swoop down and take food from her plate, was terrified when a crab on the beach ran across her foot, was hit by waves, eat strange food, slept on floors and cots, took cold bucket showers, was butted in the butt by a calf at the ashram, played with kids who don't speak English, sang spiritual songs in the temple, swam in some pretty cool swimming pools, hiked in the coconut groves, and more. She kept a daily diary which is full of pictures she drew of her experience. Who knows what she got out of the trip, it will be interesting to see what she remembers.
Judi has been an amazing travel partner and we have really gotten along well during this adventure. Everything great about our relationship surfaced during this trip along with everything frustrating. The important thing was that we talked about it all when it surfaced which made it possible to really enjoy our trip and grow together as partners.
More later..... Steve
We have never been to this resort in K0valam before and weren't for sure what we were getting ourselves into. The website photos and descriptions can be quit deceiving at times. When we arrived it was far better than we could have hoped for.
We will be staying here a couple days then off to the airport for our trip home.
OUr experience is hard to explain as nothing profound happened at anyone time. It was a combination of things which can only be experienced by staying for an extended period of time that have left an impact on us. The travel, tropical climate, living conditions, spiritual practices, people from all over the world, and especially AMMA who started this ashram are a few of the things we experienced at different times for different lengths of time that have been a apart of our adventure. Jolena adjusted and did great on this trip, she was bitten by spiders and mosquito's, scarred by a huge toad that jumped at her, screamed when a giant cockroach ran in front of her, had an eagle swoop down and take food from her plate, was terrified when a crab on the beach ran across her foot, was hit by waves, eat strange food, slept on floors and cots, took cold bucket showers, was butted in the butt by a calf at the ashram, played with kids who don't speak English, sang spiritual songs in the temple, swam in some pretty cool swimming pools, hiked in the coconut groves, and more. She kept a daily diary which is full of pictures she drew of her experience. Who knows what she got out of the trip, it will be interesting to see what she remembers.
Judi has been an amazing travel partner and we have really gotten along well during this adventure. Everything great about our relationship surfaced during this trip along with everything frustrating. The important thing was that we talked about it all when it surfaced which made it possible to really enjoy our trip and grow together as partners.
More later..... Steve
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Last Day At Amritapuri
Well, we sadly leave the ashram tomorrow. We have met friends from all over the world: Donatella and Luke from Italy; Miriam and Marie from France; the Indian dairy farmer Shamunga; our rickshaw driver Santhos; the German family, the Americans, Canadians, Finish, Danish, Belgians, and many others. We have so many offers to stay with people when we visit Europe. Very open, very kind people.
We are going to Kovallam, which is a seaside resort area south of Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). We are going to live it up for four days like typical American tourists at our seaside villa before coming home Monday. It's been an incredible experience.
Jolena and Steve are at the swimming pool right now for the last time, and I was doing our laundry in a bucket in the room. THank God for travel size Tide from Target. We leave the ashram filled with lots of joy shared from all of the great people here. I have to do dishes one last time today,and Steve has trained Charlie from Manhattan to take over his job su[pervising the breakfast line, so will work with him one more day tomorrow before we leave.
We have a three hour taxi ride to Kovallam. I'm grateful for my mp3 player, because the honking will be obnoxious again.
Ciao! Love, Jude, Steve and Jo-Jo
We are going to Kovallam, which is a seaside resort area south of Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). We are going to live it up for four days like typical American tourists at our seaside villa before coming home Monday. It's been an incredible experience.
Jolena and Steve are at the swimming pool right now for the last time, and I was doing our laundry in a bucket in the room. THank God for travel size Tide from Target. We leave the ashram filled with lots of joy shared from all of the great people here. I have to do dishes one last time today,and Steve has trained Charlie from Manhattan to take over his job su[pervising the breakfast line, so will work with him one more day tomorrow before we leave.
We have a three hour taxi ride to Kovallam. I'm grateful for my mp3 player, because the honking will be obnoxious again.
Ciao! Love, Jude, Steve and Jo-Jo
Thursday, July 29, 2010
4th Week I think...
Well, I think it's our fourth week we are wrapping up. We have one more week at the Ashram, then head south for beachtime and then fly home. It has been a wonderful experience.
Steve is in charge of the breakfast workers every morning and the line. They must have figured out he was once a captain in the Marines...not sure. They have now opened a coffee bar at the Ashram at breakfast. I am in java heaven. Had a cafe au lait today. Jolena eats French Toast every single morning. She never seems to tire of it. Oh, and now we have had hard boiled eggs, too, which she loves.
I've been going to yoga almost every day. There is a class for women at 4:30 pm daily. The teacher is a woman from the Netherlands who used to be a principal on the European opera circuit 20 yrs ago, so I feel she is a kindred spirit. It is Iyengar style - and reminds me of our teacher Mark Watson, at home. The class goes for 1 1/2 hrs. I had to take two days off from being so worn out from class. I also take Jo to the Ashram swimming pool almost every day.
Here are some pictures from the Ochira Temple in the village of Kyamakalum. I'm sure I spelled that wrong. The language here in Kerala is Mayalam, which I think is harder to pronounce even than Hindi. Anyhoo, there is a picture of a worshipper at the temple, and then one of me and Jo looking totally like Western tourists.
Finally we got mobile internet access for our p.c., and it's our last week. We are selling our time to a woman who just arrived from Canada when we leave. If we ever come again, at least we now know how everything works.
Oh, did I mention we have a gecko in our room? Even nice hotels have geckos in the room. Last night he was in the bathroom which kind of freaked me out a bit. They are good to have, because they keep the bugs and especially mosquitoes at bay, but I think some good bug spray would do the trick just as well. So, we are co-habitating with amphibians. I think he/she is an amphibian, but it's been a long time since biology class in college.
Steve is in charge of the breakfast workers every morning and the line. They must have figured out he was once a captain in the Marines...not sure. They have now opened a coffee bar at the Ashram at breakfast. I am in java heaven. Had a cafe au lait today. Jolena eats French Toast every single morning. She never seems to tire of it. Oh, and now we have had hard boiled eggs, too, which she loves.
I've been going to yoga almost every day. There is a class for women at 4:30 pm daily. The teacher is a woman from the Netherlands who used to be a principal on the European opera circuit 20 yrs ago, so I feel she is a kindred spirit. It is Iyengar style - and reminds me of our teacher Mark Watson, at home. The class goes for 1 1/2 hrs. I had to take two days off from being so worn out from class. I also take Jo to the Ashram swimming pool almost every day.
Here are some pictures from the Ochira Temple in the village of Kyamakalum. I'm sure I spelled that wrong. The language here in Kerala is Mayalam, which I think is harder to pronounce even than Hindi. Anyhoo, there is a picture of a worshipper at the temple, and then one of me and Jo looking totally like Western tourists.
Finally we got mobile internet access for our p.c., and it's our last week. We are selling our time to a woman who just arrived from Canada when we leave. If we ever come again, at least we now know how everything works.
Oh, did I mention we have a gecko in our room? Even nice hotels have geckos in the room. Last night he was in the bathroom which kind of freaked me out a bit. They are good to have, because they keep the bugs and especially mosquitoes at bay, but I think some good bug spray would do the trick just as well. So, we are co-habitating with amphibians. I think he/she is an amphibian, but it's been a long time since biology class in college.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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