Sunday, April 17, 2011

TAKE ME HIGHER

Walking around the temple all the way to the top, ringing bells and breathing in the mountain air, the higher you climb the more peaceful it becomes. There's something so meditative about walking with the locals in their daily ritual. Shanti Shanti!

The pilgrimage. 

 Everybody loves somebody.

Beauty in her eyes.

I was told to drink the Ganges water which I politely poured onto my face instead, after numerous lurking parasites I'm find joy in each day not spent hovering over a basin.
A bindified ceremony never loses it's touch.

So Shanti. 

Gita Bhavan is dedicated as a Museum for puranic and mythological awareness of the common public, enclosing many paintings and statues of characters from Hindu Mythology. 
The paintings include the renowned Gita Sandesh depicting Lord Krishna and the great Pandava Warrior Arjuna in a Chariot in the Kurukshetra War field. 
A little blessing to share this walk with the locals!

Wearing vintage floral camisole from Surry Hills, peasant skirt, leather vest, fringed bag and satin scarf all from Pushkar.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

BUBBA LOVE

Today's wanderings included having a stray puppy follow us home on the way to the pool lighting up faces wherever she goes!
We named her bubba, a true bubba with no particular place to call home but finds home wherever she roams! 
Like any typical princess, she was bathed, robed, laid to rest and delivered food and water to bed.
It pays to be this cute. 

We visited local school Ramana's Garden where you can volunteer to teach kids or help out at the cafe on season and assist daily chores including washing clothes in the ganges. There are around 50 kids living on site with more from surrounding areas coming each day to learn.
This little guy Shenky became my instant best friend, wanting me to return for his 9th birthday in September so we could have a party together.
It's moments and smiles like these that will bring me back!

Wearing leather vest from Pushkar, leopard print pants from Bondi, Crystal Weave Neckpiece available at Navajo Girl.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

YOGIFIED. SPIRITUALIZED.


SWAMI UMESH YOGI MY YOGA AND REIKI MASTER. 
I MET HIM MEDITATING ON THE ROOFTOP OF HIS YOGA SHALA IN LAXMAN JUHLA, RISHIKESH. TRYING TO FIND A YOGA TEACHER IN RISHIKESH IS BAMBOOZLING. THERE ARE JUST SO MANY. BUT FROM MOMENT OF MEETING I KNEW HE WAS THE ONE! AN EX LAWYER, UMESH FIRST BEGAN STUDYING YOGA IN '82. BY 1999 HE THREW IN HIS CLEAN CUT HAIRDO AND SUIT TO DEVOTE HIMSELF ENTIRELY TO HIS PRACTICE. 
HE FIRST TAUGHT AT THE MAHARISHI MAHESH ASHRAM MADE FAMOUS BY THE BEATLES, WHERE THEY ATTENDED TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION AND STAYED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WRITING MUSIC. HE THEN MOVED TO SRI SANT SEVA ASHRAM TO CONTINUE HIS TEACHINGS.
HE TRAVELS THROUGHOUT EUROPE LECTURING AND ATTENDING SEMINARS ON YOGA AND TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION.  
UMESH CONDUCTS ONE MONTH INTENSIVE YOGA TEACHER TRAINING COURSES INCLUDING MEDITATION AND PHILOSOPHY AT SRI RAM ASHRAM, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF LAXMAN JHULA BRIDGE. 

Wearing vintage crotchet vest from Surry Hills Sydney, white pants from Anunda Resort, netted scarf and belt from Pushkar, Hand made Turquoise ring, Sabre Sunglasses.

FLYING TO THE BEAT OF THE DRUMS

LEARNING TO PLAY THE TABLA WAS NOT QUITE AS EASY AS IT LOOKS!
FEMININE FINGERS UNFORTUNATELY DON'T DO MUCH JUSTICE FOR THE SOUND...


A LITTLE MORE DOWN MY ALLEY, BEING TAUGHT HOW TO COOK IN A LOCALS HOME WAS A COOL EXPERIENCE. I LEARNT HOW TO MAKE VEGETARIAN CURRY AND DAHL! YUM. 
SPICE HEAVEN.
 GETTING MY BOLLY ON BIG TIME.

THE COWS. THEY GO EVERYWHERE. RUMOUR HAS IS THEY CAN'T CLIMB DOWN STAIRS WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THIS GUY HAS BEEN ON THIS TERRACE FOR SOME TIME.

Monday, April 4, 2011

LEOPARD LADIES

TODAY WE ARRIVED AT SNOW LEOPARD ADVENTURE CAMP A SECLUDED SANDY BEACH ON THE RIVER GANGES. A STUNNING RIVERSIDE RETREAT WHERE YOU LITERALLY BANISH ALL FOR THE SAKE OF CAMPING. GAS LANTERN LIGHTS, ON SITE CATERING, RAFTING ADVENTURES AND OUTDOOR SHOWERING FACILITIES OVERLOOKING THE MAGESTIC MOUNTAINS CREATES A COMPLETE OUTDOOR CAMPING EXPERIENCE. OUR GUIDE HAS LIVED HERE FOR 15 YEARS AND SEEN MANY CHANGES. SOME TIME AGO LEOPARDS USED TO LAP AT THE WATER'S EDGE, SINCE BUILDING THE CAMPSITES THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES HAVE RETREATED FURTHER UP THE MOUNTAINS. MONKEYS BATHING AND MOUNTAIN GOATS SWIMMING ARE ALL THAT'S LEFT OF WILDLIFE VISITINGS.
THE RAPIDS IN MOTION CREATES A CONTINUOUS SOOTHING SOUND, EVERY MOMENT FEELS LIKE MEDITATION! THE STARS SHINE BRIGHTER, THE ORBS IN THE SKY ARE ELECTRIC AND SLEEPING SO CLOSE TO NATURE SOOTHES THE SOUL... CAMPING HAS NEVER BEEN SO LUSH!

FIRST DIP INTO THE GANGES. FREEEEEZING!!

NUMBINGLY FRESH, INVIGORATING AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! A SWIM IN THE GANGES FEELS LIKE BEING BAPTISED. THE FACT THIS RIVER SYMBOLIZES BIRTH AND DEATH TRANSFORMS IT INTO A HOLY EXPERIENCE. ALTHOUGH WE WERE SLIGHTLY UNHOLY IN OUR SWIM, BANISHING THE LIFE JACKETS TO GET THE FULL BATHING EXPERIENCE!

Lisa wearing Jungle Jane Singlet and Crystal Weave Neckpieces available from Navajo Girl.