Just informing you that I've arrived well in Leh. It was a very beautiful but pretty tough, bumpy ride. Lots of people got sick (badly --> massive headaches and breathing problems) but I was just fine... At one of the passes (+/-5000m) I was a bit too excited and I ran about 10 meters which resulted in getting somewhat weak and dizzy but after having realised that that wasn't a good idea... I went through the other pass, Tanglang La Pass (5359m), as if I was stood at sea level. I'm amazed and very happy that I didn't experience any discomforts up there.
I'm still here with the group of people from the Yoga Course (1 Irish lady, 3 UK people and 1 Canadian whose actually living in Brussels) and... Tonight we've booked a 7 day trek up here. We'll be leaving on Sunday. It'll be a less busy, pretty similar trek as the Markha Valley one. But slightly shorter and... This trek is organised in the way that we can always get back down, at any point in time (which isn't the case with the Markha Valley one and therefore more safe). We've been recommended the trekking agency by one of the Yoga people. And I must say that the guy who runs the place is very friendly and professional. I'm even going to do a home stay with him. It's common here in Ladakh and I guess one can compare it with a B&B in Europe. You just rent a spare room at one of the Ladakhi's homes. It's supposed to be pretty basic but... I'm up for it. Think it's better than staying in a hotel.
I'll be back with an update ASAP... Namaste!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Manali - Himachal Pradesh - India
A quick hello to inform you that I arrived well in Manali and... That there's a new batch of pictures on picasa... Leaving tomorrow to Leh, will be arriving on Thursday evening. Now need to go to bed. Bye bye...
http://picasaweb.google.com/sarademeyer/IndiaAugustYogGangaPeriod
http://picasaweb.google.com/sarademeyer/IndiaAugustYogGangaPeriod
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Old Rajpur - Uttarakhand - India (4)
Yo yo yo...
This is my last post in Old Rajpur, we just had a good-bye lunch at the Chanchani's house. It was very nice and even moving in a way. Some people have been traveling for quite a while together and so this was a more permanent good bye for them as for me... (therefor moving them to tears) It is a good-bye to a lot of the people but I'm not at all sad. I will continue this journey with some people of the course. And than for others, I'm pretty sure I'll see them again in some point in life. Quite some people of the group live in UK and so... It'll be possible to meet up in the Peak some day. Others live slightly further away but... I'm very aware that the world can be such a small place. Especially when it comes to randomly meeting up with people when you do have the same interest. Than for an other few people of the group, I've established a really close friendship so in that case... I might be randomly meeting up with them at some point, and that will be so cool. But there is little doubt in my mind that I will see these people again at some point in life. The one person that I definitely want to see again is Tutti (Fernanda Neubauer - the Brazilian girl - living in Florida). And then there's also Carl (born in Germany but living in San Fransisco). He's really into yoga - hiking - biking, he's great fun and... I'd love to have a project with him one day. Since both these people are living in the US, I might just have to go there on my next trip. Ha ha... Don't know yet but I'm definitely positive that a trip to the 'US of A' is added on my 'still to visit places'-list.
Some people might still know that once, back in the days, I've declared I would never in my whole life put a step onto that continent but... Luckily I'm somewhat older now and with the maturing I've become somewhat less prejudice. Thank God for that... This can only be a good thing.
So, the plan for the next few days... Taking a taxi to Manali and then a Jeep to Leh. That plan hasn't changed yet (although there's a small chance there will be a small alteration in plan - this is still India - but than I'll inform you all about that later). I'll probably be arriving in Leh on Friday. So it's perfectly fine if you don't hear from me in the next few days... I promise to catch up with you all from the moment I get there.
For those who have my cell-phone number --> this won't be working in Leh!! So I won't be reachable until I have a new SIM-card. But again, I'll keep you posted. Bye bye...
This is my last post in Old Rajpur, we just had a good-bye lunch at the Chanchani's house. It was very nice and even moving in a way. Some people have been traveling for quite a while together and so this was a more permanent good bye for them as for me... (therefor moving them to tears) It is a good-bye to a lot of the people but I'm not at all sad. I will continue this journey with some people of the course. And than for others, I'm pretty sure I'll see them again in some point in life. Quite some people of the group live in UK and so... It'll be possible to meet up in the Peak some day. Others live slightly further away but... I'm very aware that the world can be such a small place. Especially when it comes to randomly meeting up with people when you do have the same interest. Than for an other few people of the group, I've established a really close friendship so in that case... I might be randomly meeting up with them at some point, and that will be so cool. But there is little doubt in my mind that I will see these people again at some point in life. The one person that I definitely want to see again is Tutti (Fernanda Neubauer - the Brazilian girl - living in Florida). And then there's also Carl (born in Germany but living in San Fransisco). He's really into yoga - hiking - biking, he's great fun and... I'd love to have a project with him one day. Since both these people are living in the US, I might just have to go there on my next trip. Ha ha... Don't know yet but I'm definitely positive that a trip to the 'US of A' is added on my 'still to visit places'-list.
Some people might still know that once, back in the days, I've declared I would never in my whole life put a step onto that continent but... Luckily I'm somewhat older now and with the maturing I've become somewhat less prejudice. Thank God for that... This can only be a good thing.
So, the plan for the next few days... Taking a taxi to Manali and then a Jeep to Leh. That plan hasn't changed yet (although there's a small chance there will be a small alteration in plan - this is still India - but than I'll inform you all about that later). I'll probably be arriving in Leh on Friday. So it's perfectly fine if you don't hear from me in the next few days... I promise to catch up with you all from the moment I get there.
For those who have my cell-phone number --> this won't be working in Leh!! So I won't be reachable until I have a new SIM-card. But again, I'll keep you posted. Bye bye...
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Old Rajpur - Uttarakhand - India (3)
Hello people,
I'm back! I know it's been quite a while but with the heavy rainfall of the last couple of days Internet places just seem to shut down due to very frequent power cuts. And we were actually promised to have Internet access in the house on the day we arrived but... The course is coming to an end slowly and even though there is a modem in place, Internet connection is not possible. Let's hope there will be some Internet-installation-action in the next week. Although obviously this is not a necessity, merely very practical and luxurious.
Anyway, I am very pleased to inform you all that the weather was absolutely beautiful on the day we were supposed to be hiking to Mussorrie and so... I did my first amazing beautiful mini trek in India. This is such a nice stunning country. Or at least what I've seen about it so far... I am completely bewitched by its beauty. And I can't wait to do some more treks in the area. Starting tomorrow, if the weather allows us to go of course. We're having 3 days off and I'm going to Rishikesh for 2 days with some people from the course. There seem to be some very nice temples in the area so I'm hoping to get a glimpse of them soon.
On top, I have found 4 more people who want to go to Ladakh after the course so... We have arranged a taxi drive to Manali on the 18th - will stay there to sort out jeep drive to Leh, have planned to leaving there as soon as possible (just because these other people don't have a lot of time). Afterwards I still have all the time in the world to come back down South - slowly, slowly... And submerge myself deeper in the wonderful green and lush valleys of the North. Looking forward to it... Just loving it!
For the rest everything is excellent and I'm still having great sensations of gratitude and psychedness to be here. Will keep you all posted.
I'm back! I know it's been quite a while but with the heavy rainfall of the last couple of days Internet places just seem to shut down due to very frequent power cuts. And we were actually promised to have Internet access in the house on the day we arrived but... The course is coming to an end slowly and even though there is a modem in place, Internet connection is not possible. Let's hope there will be some Internet-installation-action in the next week. Although obviously this is not a necessity, merely very practical and luxurious.
Anyway, I am very pleased to inform you all that the weather was absolutely beautiful on the day we were supposed to be hiking to Mussorrie and so... I did my first amazing beautiful mini trek in India. This is such a nice stunning country. Or at least what I've seen about it so far... I am completely bewitched by its beauty. And I can't wait to do some more treks in the area. Starting tomorrow, if the weather allows us to go of course. We're having 3 days off and I'm going to Rishikesh for 2 days with some people from the course. There seem to be some very nice temples in the area so I'm hoping to get a glimpse of them soon.
On top, I have found 4 more people who want to go to Ladakh after the course so... We have arranged a taxi drive to Manali on the 18th - will stay there to sort out jeep drive to Leh, have planned to leaving there as soon as possible (just because these other people don't have a lot of time). Afterwards I still have all the time in the world to come back down South - slowly, slowly... And submerge myself deeper in the wonderful green and lush valleys of the North. Looking forward to it... Just loving it!
For the rest everything is excellent and I'm still having great sensations of gratitude and psychedness to be here. Will keep you all posted.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Old Rajpur - Uttarakhand - India (2)
Hallo, nu een keertje in het nederlands!
Nog steeds in dit kleine dorpje aan de rand van Dehra Dun. En ik heb het nog steeds naar mijn zin... Alleen jammer, het is hier behoorlijk nat! Het regent hier bijna alle dagen. En 't is hier blijkbaar de ergste moesson in jaren. Desalniettemin, we houden ons bezig met als standaard accessoire een paraplu in de hand. Als we dan toch eens door een hevige bui worden verrast duurt het wel dagen tot onze kleren opnieuw droog zijn. Tenzij de wolken een paar uur achterwege blijven, dan is er de stralende zon omringt door een prachtige blauwe hemel. En dan zijn de kleren droog 'in no time'... Echt grappig soms, vanzodra de zon schijnt begin iedereen kleren te wassen.
Ik hoop echter dat het morgen een beetje droog blijft. Morgen hebben we onze eerste dag vrij. En we kunnen te voet naar Mussoorie, door de bergen!!! Zou een 4 tal uren duren. Zou echt fantastisch zijn! Ik hoop dat het lukt. Duimen jullie mee?
Ik zal de rustdag echt wel kunnen gebruiken. De laatste 6 dagen heb ik tussen de 2,5 en de 5 uur op de mat gestaan en... Ai ai ai, wat ben ik stijf. Ik heb het gevoel dat mijn spieren amper kunnen recupereren.
Daarnaast ben ik wel een beetje verrast door de spiritualiteit die hier zo sterk in het dagelijkse leven verweven zit. Ook in de yoga cursus gaat het er heel erg spiritueel aan toe. Heb er toch even aan moeten wennen. Gelukkig sta ik voor alles open en kan ik me vrij gemakkelijk aan deze situatie aanpassen. Voor elke les wordt er gebeden voor Patangali en... Het gaat om veel meer dan alleen maar asana en pranayama oefeningen (Ashtanga Yoga: Yama · Niyama · Asana · Pranayama · Pratyahara · Dharana · Dhyana · Samadhi). Ja ja, yoga is een religie en een filosofie. Ik kan er echt niet om heen... Onze leraar hecht er dan ook echt super veel belang aan. Elke dag opnieuw wordt het in onze hoofden gepompt. Maar geen nood, ik haal er alleen uit wat ik zelf belangrijk vind. En zo is het met elk geloof, weet je... Er zijn amper zaken waar je je niet in kan vinden, het lijkt allemaal logisch en het zet je aan het denken. Ik vind het echt wel boeiend en interessant.
Ik hou jullie op de hoogte lieverds...
And next time I'll be writing in English again!
Nog steeds in dit kleine dorpje aan de rand van Dehra Dun. En ik heb het nog steeds naar mijn zin... Alleen jammer, het is hier behoorlijk nat! Het regent hier bijna alle dagen. En 't is hier blijkbaar de ergste moesson in jaren. Desalniettemin, we houden ons bezig met als standaard accessoire een paraplu in de hand. Als we dan toch eens door een hevige bui worden verrast duurt het wel dagen tot onze kleren opnieuw droog zijn. Tenzij de wolken een paar uur achterwege blijven, dan is er de stralende zon omringt door een prachtige blauwe hemel. En dan zijn de kleren droog 'in no time'... Echt grappig soms, vanzodra de zon schijnt begin iedereen kleren te wassen.
Ik hoop echter dat het morgen een beetje droog blijft. Morgen hebben we onze eerste dag vrij. En we kunnen te voet naar Mussoorie, door de bergen!!! Zou een 4 tal uren duren. Zou echt fantastisch zijn! Ik hoop dat het lukt. Duimen jullie mee?
Ik zal de rustdag echt wel kunnen gebruiken. De laatste 6 dagen heb ik tussen de 2,5 en de 5 uur op de mat gestaan en... Ai ai ai, wat ben ik stijf. Ik heb het gevoel dat mijn spieren amper kunnen recupereren.
Daarnaast ben ik wel een beetje verrast door de spiritualiteit die hier zo sterk in het dagelijkse leven verweven zit. Ook in de yoga cursus gaat het er heel erg spiritueel aan toe. Heb er toch even aan moeten wennen. Gelukkig sta ik voor alles open en kan ik me vrij gemakkelijk aan deze situatie aanpassen. Voor elke les wordt er gebeden voor Patangali en... Het gaat om veel meer dan alleen maar asana en pranayama oefeningen (Ashtanga Yoga: Yama · Niyama · Asana · Pranayama · Pratyahara · Dharana · Dhyana · Samadhi). Ja ja, yoga is een religie en een filosofie. Ik kan er echt niet om heen... Onze leraar hecht er dan ook echt super veel belang aan. Elke dag opnieuw wordt het in onze hoofden gepompt. Maar geen nood, ik haal er alleen uit wat ik zelf belangrijk vind. En zo is het met elk geloof, weet je... Er zijn amper zaken waar je je niet in kan vinden, het lijkt allemaal logisch en het zet je aan het denken. Ik vind het echt wel boeiend en interessant.
Ik hou jullie op de hoogte lieverds...
And next time I'll be writing in English again!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
