Where am I?

"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom is courage." -Gilbert Murray
October 5-7th

Feeling both free and courageous right now. After such a crazy journey, I may have been happy with anywhere I landed. But I do feel especially happy to have found myself here and with a couple days to settle in before the yoga start on Monday morning at 5:30 a.m. (ack! How will I ever get used to waking up that early?)

Where am I? 

Goa is interesting. Having lived in Europe, one of the first things I notice apart from the smell is the European architecture and cultural clues everywhere. It seems to be a matriarchal culture. I don't have much to base that on yet, but I feel it, I recognize a place where, like Italy,  the Mom is the center of the universe. There aren't many men around. Or maybe I should say, I only see young men out and about. Teenage boys worshiped by their mothers, but not many grown men. 

Goa was a Portuguese Colony until it became an independent state and part of India in 1961.  That's not really that long ago. Here are some visuals to back this up and a little glimpse of my new home. 

My building. The arches remind me of my old SF marina apt. I have 2 balconies and a roof terrace which rocks! Note the portuguese colonial feel.

Living Room in all it's glory. This is the cozy couch my guests can sleep on (j/k).

Tiny, tiny kitchen. But plenty of room to make tea, which is all I really need. Plus I found peanut butter and powdered soup. I'm really tearing shit up with my new elec. kettle.

I think this stray is applying for Penny's position. It guarded my door all night. Very quiet and sweet.

Bedroom. Real simple, but I like it. I'm just so happy to sleep stretched out right now. By the way, not to get too personal but my apt is $10 a night, cheaper per month and I'm a 1 min. walk from the ocean. (sorry, I'm bragging)


Ok, that's it for now. I'm so happy to be here. But, honestly,  I am worried about practice without the props I brought to modify the things I can't do. Oh well..India must want me to know I can live without them...? Thanks for listening. I find myself facebooking a lot to feel connected to friends and family and  the world outside this tiny little beach paradise. 

Porous with travel fever - India calling me on my shit (already?)

"I'm porous with travel fever but still so glad to be on my own". - Joni Mitchel --Hejera

India is calling me on my shit! I am an over-packer and I guess India is going to show me I don't need all that stuff. I still don't have my bags and I wonder if I ever will????Here's how the 60 + hour journey to India went: 

Notes from the road... 

• 9/30/09 Flew to NYC, both bags were overweight but not as expensive as I feared. 
• 9/30/09 Leaving penny was like ripping my guts out. All is well though, on the road. As Pattabhi Jois would say, "Why fearing? All is coming!" 
• 10/1/09  Flight to Mumbai was cancelled waited in world's longest line to reschedule. Off to rough start! 
• 10/1/09 Lost both overweight bags already, they didn't make it to the counter in time for my new flight. Had to make tough call and take new flight anyway.
• 10/1/09 On kuwait air now headed for Mumbai again from JFK... 
•  10/2/09 OMG 60 hours in and it continues... Sat in plane on runway for four hours waiting for weather to clear. They finally just let us off. No idea if /when I'll ever make it to goa. Running out of steam, becoming narcoleptic. Gave away only clothes I had when they made me check my carry on bag. Down to no bags and iPhone is out of batery (me too). 
•  10/2/09 3 full days later, I arrive. Thank god penny wasn't with me. So this is india. It has been tremendously dysfunctional and frustrating but you know I met so many kind faces along the way, people who tried to help me and take care of me.. India may not work very well but the people are wonderful.
•  10/3/09 Slept flat on a bed for a few hours. A little jet lagged and hungry but doing fine 

10/4/09 My apt in goa, it's not much but I'm really comfortable here so far. Kind of reminds me of Europe in little ways--light switches, tiny kitchen,fans. Check out my super cozy couch :-)

10/05/09 I need a penny mule. I don't think I can live w/o her. Cried 3 times today about her. Pathetic. Landlord said I could have a dog no problem. Ouch. 

I mean, come on, isn't she cute???