Maybe It Was...

I’m home after 6 weeks in India. What an experience. A wonderful, yet sometimes challenging experience. 28 days of the unknown where there were plenty of moments I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it through. Maybe it was the was the quiet, serene feel. Maybe it was my mantra to Just Be. Maybe it was the curiosity of the locals/kids walking by. Maybe it was playing with the dr’s kids. Maybe it was the daily singing practices. Maybe it was the young staff boys making me laugh daily. Maybe it was the lotus pond (the frog jumping, the butterfly flying carefree). Maybe it was a saying that a friend of mine said a while back “Sometimes you have to step deeper into darkness to find the lasting light.” Whatever it was, I came out of it stronger in so many ways. I got and will continue to reap from the benefits of my time in the Ayurvedic hospital. As my friend wrote when he and his wife went to the same place last year “Ayurveda is very effective to heal but not a quick fix.” What a great way to explain it!

Every morning I would sit by the lotus pond and listen to music. I would pick a song a day which I will share with you later on in this post.

First, I would like to have my friends to share their favorite quote from a song with me. You can leave a comment here or on my facebook page. Please provide the name of the song and the artist.

28 days of song quotes:

Song Lyrics

Day 1 – “I don’t know for certain how I’ll live my life.” Natalie Merchant – Beloved Wife

Day 2 – “If wishes were changes I’d dry all these tears.” Nanci Griffith – If Wishes Were Changes

Day 3 – “If one truth leads to another then isn’t there one I can’t uncover. Well, there is a one I will not discover…my time, my turn to discover.” Beth Orton – Feel To Believe

Day 4 – “Friends to mourn me none…bound to leave this dark behind.” Guy Clark – Rex’s Blues

Day 5 – “It’s all relative even if you don’t understand. Well, it’s all understood especially when you don’t understand and it’s all just because even if we don’t understand and it’s all just believed.” Jack Johnson – It’s All Understood

Day 6 – “It’s the chemical weapon for the war that’s raging on inside.” John Mayer – Belief

Day 7 – “I have chose the long road that leads to God knows. I can’t get an ocean that’s deep enough for my day.” The Frames – Fitzcaraldo

Day 8 – “Learning to love yourself…wind up finding for yourself all the strengths you have inside of you.” Jason Mraz – Song For A Friend

Day 9 – “Feel like you’ve been here before cause you’ve been here before.” Andrew Bird – Sovay

Day 10 – "Well, I left my happy home to see what I could find out. I left my folk and friends with the aim to clear my mind out. Well I hit the rowdy road and many kinds I met there, many stories told me of the way to get there, ooh. So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out, there's so much left to know, and I'm on the road to find out, ooh. Well in the end I'll know, but on the way I wonder through descending snow, and through the frost and thunder, I listen to the wind come howl, telling me I have to hurry. I listen to the robin's song saying not to worry, ooh. So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out, there's so much left to know, and I'm on the road to findout, ooh. Then I found myself alone, hoping someone would miss me. Thinking about my home, and the last woman to kiss me, kiss me. But some times you have to moan when nothing seems to suit yer, but nevertheless you know you've locked the door towards the future, ooh. So on and on you go, the seconds tick the time out. There's so much left to know, and I'm on the road to findout, ooh. Then I found my head one day when I wasn't even trying, and here I have to say, 'cause there is no case in lying, lying. Yes the answer lies within, so why not take a look now, kick out the devil's sin, pick up, pick up a good book now, ooh. Yes the answer lies within, so why not take a look now kick out the devil's sin, and pick up, pick up a good book now, ooh." Cat Stevens – On The Road To Find Out

Day 11 – “Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm. Come in she said I give you Shelter From The Strom.” Bob Dylan – Shelter From The Strom

Day 12 – “How I wish I could surrender my soul…run far, far away, find comfort in pain, all pleasures the same…hides my true shape.” James Blunt – Tears & Rain

Day 13 – “When the shit falls all you want to do is run away and hide all by yourself.” The Swell Season – When You’re Minds Made Up

Day 14 – “On the line boys, on the line boys, drill your holes and stand in line. Feels like I’m dying when Mining For Gold.” Cowboy Junkies – Mining For Gold

Day 15 – “He runs wishing he could fly only to trip at the sound of goodbye.” Crosby, Stills & Nash – Helplessly Hoping

Day 16 – “A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature. Don’t judge yourself too harsh my love for someday you might find you’re soul in danger.” Neil Young – Natural Beauty

Day 17 – “Hold me closer tiny dancer…you had a busy day today.” Elton John – Tiny Dancer

Day 18 – “Hold on hold onto to yourself for this is gonna hurt like hell. Hold on hold onto to yourself you know that only time will tell. What is it in me that refuses to believe this isn’t easier then the real thing.” Sarah Mclachlan – Hold On

Day 19 – “Let go, so let go what are you waiting for…it’s alright cause there’s beauty in the breakdown.” Frou Frou – Let Go

Day 20 – “Faith has been broken, tears must be cried…wild horses couldn’t drag me away, wild, wild horses, we’ll ride them someday.” Rolling Stones – Wild Horses

Day 21 – “Have you no pity this thing I do I do not deny it…oh if I had the strength to I would leave you up to your own devices.” Dave Matthews Band—The Dreaming Tree

Day 22 – “Stuck in a hard place on a rock I can’t face it.” Blue Foundation – Stuck In A Hard Place

Day 23 – “So what happens when the heart just stops and you stop believing. When the heart gives up but the body goes on living, a hollow in my chest, answer in the dust and noone out there to trust.” The Frames – What Happens When The Heart Just Stops

Day 24 – “Let there be songs to fill the air…ripple in still water…if I knew the way I would take you home.” Grateful Dead – Ripple

Day 25 – “Just give me one thing that I can hold onto to believe in this living is just a hard way to go.” Bonnie Raitt/John Prine – Angels From Montgomery

Day 26 – “In this world there’s a whole lot of pain…it’s hard enough life to be living…why walk when you can fly…a soul for a compass and a heart for a pair of wings.” Mary Chapin Carpenter – Why Walk When You Can Fly

Day 27 -- "Kicking me down I got to get up...I’ve got to get stronger And I won’t give up the fight...Make me wanna scream." Michael Jackson -- Scream
Day 28 -- "I'm counting my sheep and each one that passes is another dream to ashes and they all fall down. And as I lay me down tonight, I close my eyes, what a beautiful sight." Jason Mraz -- Sleeping To Dream

"And in the end The love you take Is equal to the love you make." The Beatles -- The End

Until the next adventure.

at home

You know when you meet someone for the first time and it can be uncomfortable for the first few moments? Then after those few moments, things are surprisingly comfortable. That is how I feel here. I arrived in a foreign country, with new faces, feeling quite alone. Three weeks later, I feel right at home. Comfortable to the point of not wanting to go out and face the real world. Face reality. Face being responsible. Why would I want to leave when my meals are prepared for me, I get treatments daily, and I get to relax in the sun. No worries in the world except for the pain (emotinal and/or physical) I may be experiencing at any given moment. I know what you all must be thinking. Has something happened to Shannon? We didn't think the word relax was in her vocabulary ;) Don't worry, I am still the same crazy (slightly a little more boring) Shannon!!
I recommend that everyone take 10 minutes out of their day to sit or lay in the sun listening to the sounds of around you. Believe me, it will feel great.
I am glad I brought origami supplies to occupy some time. Plus, the dr's children (esp. the boy) love learning how to make different things with paper.
I will be back in Good Ol' Salt Lake in a little over a week.

Song Quote: "I feel home, and that's just what I feel." I Feel Home -- O.A.R.

My New Mantra

Photos to come

It was sad having to part with my sister last Thursday. As I sat in the taxi as it weaved through traffic, it came to me that I am now on my own in the middle of nowhere India about to put my life/health into the hands of complete strangers (only a few email exchanges). What a slightly nerveracking feeling. Part of me wanted to just stay in the taxi have it go anywhere but the clinic.
Upon arrival at the Ayurvedic clinic, I was greeted by Dr. Sathya and other friendly faces. That put me at ease.
Once I was in my room, I was left with no real instruction. I looked around at my smallish room, small twin bed, desk, not knowing what I should do be doing. Should I wait for them to come tell me my next course of action?, Should I go explore?, Should I, Should I, Should I...maybe I should just be.
It is nice to be in a place away from the hustle and bustle of crowded India. No horns, no traffic, no people (or very few). Where the comfort of the birds chirping is somehow soothing and comforting. I take for granted the benefits of just being. As I was sitting the other day thinking to myself and worrying if this is where I should be and what I should be doing, I came to the conclusion that I needed not worry about that and learn to just be. So my new mantra is: just be
It is amazing how you can sit or be in the same place day after day and yet see different things. Like one of the attendees climbing a coconut tree and picking coconuts, one attendee mowing the lawn, a new bug, a lizard crawling around.
The other night I sitting outside about to go in when I looked up at the clear sky and saw the moon. I decided to stop, look up and take it in. I had nowhere to be so why not.

Song Quote: "What might have been lost - Don't bother me" Bon Iver -- The Wolves (Act I And II)

Bobble Heads

Photos To Come

Day 7

After our 15 hour sojourn on the train, we arrived survived in Ernakulum. We jumped right on a ferry to the historical town of Fort Cochi and were lucky enough to book a room for 3 nights at the first place we tried.

After a well deserved shower, we went to eat our best meal to date or maybe it was the fact that we were so hungry that anything would of tasted good.

We spent the afternoon walking around, exploring Fort Cochi. A couple of highlights were walking along the pier watching the locals enjoy the beach, and the cantilevered Chinese Fishing nets. These enormous, spiderlike contraptions require at least 4 people to operate. Modern fishing techniques are making these less profitable.

One thing we noticed about the people down south is that they have a sort of head bobble (like those bobble head dolls) when they talk. Check out what Wikipedia has to say about the head bobble: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_bobble

Day 8

Today was a tour through the Kerala Backwaters. Got to see fisherman, men collecting mud for construction, women making rope for rugs, and see colorful homes of those that live in the backwaters. Part of the tour was seeing an old factory that used to make vitamins. We also learned about some plants that are good for curing all sorts of ailments. While being paddled in a small canoe through the narrow canals, it reminded me of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me.

Day 9

A short ferry ride, a longer bus ride, ending with a short walk took us to Cherai Beach. Not the nicest beach but a beach nonetheless where we enjoyed a couple of hours of relaxing.

That night we came to find out that our dinner spot for the past 2 night, Dal Roti (Mighty Mite haven) was closed on Tuesdays. Disappointed at first with having to branch out, we ended up enjoying a very delicious seafood meal for about $12 for both of us.

Day 10

One last short train journey to the next to last destination in India for me. Today I take one last taxi ride to where I will be for the next 28 days. 28 days of the unknown, 28 days of self reflection, 28 days to sit, 28 days to heal, 28 day to find my voice.

Song Quote:"Fantasy Man you are always one step ahead of me. Well I never heard the warning. I haven't got things right. Yet the sun came out this morning and filled my room with light." Fantasy Man -- The Swell Season

Goaga Yoga

Cathedral in Old Goa
Spice and Teas at Friday Market in Mapusa
Entrance to Brahmani Yoga in Anjuna
My feet, the pool

Day 5

A good friend of a friend of my sister’s runs the yoga studio that is located right next door to our hotel. She was teaching a class this morning and always nice to start the morning with a good morning practice. I love how she started the class with having everyone pick a word out of a basket and that was your word to focus on during your practice…words such as patience, trust, core, etc. My word was playful. The teacher made that easy by making the class playful in a way. However, it is always nice not take yourself too seriously when it comes to yoga.

That afternoon, we took a rickshaw to Mapusa to the Friday Market. Vegetables in piles making rainbows of colors…red tomatoes, red chilies, green beans, purple onions, potatoes, etc., etc. Spices and teas were also a big thing. Piled high and smelling good.

The minute we walked in there was an Indian woman who started talking to us. Where are you from, what are you names?, are you married? Come see my shop. She followed us around for at least a half hour wanting us to come and see her shop. After unsuccessfully getting rid of her by ignoring her, we decided to take a walk to see her “shop.” It was a blanket with jewelry on it. Oh, the efforts she went to get us there and all for nothing. Now she can move onto to her next mighty mite victim.

After the market we took a bus to Old Goa which from the 16^th to 18^th centuries was the ‘Rome Of The East.’ Old Goa and many other parts of India have a lot of Catholic churches which is kind of a contradiction if you think about it.

Our first night upon arrival in Anjuna we ate at a place by a natural smoothie shop. The next morning we enjoyed a yummy smoothie. After Old Goa we went back to the smoothie shop. The owner was there and started talking to us and telling us his story. Turns out he is an ex pat/fugitive. He is from Virginia and kidnapped his son and came to India. Together they opened the smoothie shop. His ex found him and took the boy. This guy was in India jail for a month and a half.

Day 6

One more open self yoga practice. Starting to like this self-practice or maybe it is just being in India that is making me feel that way. It could be a combination of starting to enjoy and being in a foreign country.

After 4 crowded bus transfers, we had made our way south to where we wanted to try to get a train to Ernakulum in South Kerala. They have this system where you get on a waiting list and check back in a few hours. With time to spare, we headed to the beach to enjoy a couple of hours lounging with a nice, cool, refreshing lassi (more or less a fruit smoothie but more milkly).

Once arriving back at the train station we checked on our waiting list status only to find we had moved down the waiting list but not enough to secure ourselves a seat. Being the rough tough woman that we are, we decided to get on the train without a seat and hope to find a couple of empty one’s for the long journey. We were lucky enough to sit in an empty spot and have the gentlemen whose sleeper was above tell us we could have the sleeper. Not the most ideal situation but at least we had a spot to kind of lay our heads.

Song: "Standing on a darkened stage, stumbling through the lines. Others have excuses, but I have my reasons why." Reasons Why -- Nickel Creek

Chai Chai Chai

Self portrait on the train






Day 3
Early morning wake up call to catch 6:55 am train to Goa. Long day on the train with some pretty scenery once we got out of the Mumbai area. Amazing how much trash and how dirty it was there and around the area even as we were traveling away from Mumbai.
The trains are not any cleaner then the streets of the city. The worker boys on the train were cute and would walk up and down the train cars yelling Chai Chai Chai, Coffee and some inaudible stuff in Hindi. Every once in a while, we would go through a tunnel and hear in the darkness helpless cries, taunting, or hopes of scaring the passengers on the train.
Met a couple of Mighty Mites (as my sister likes to call them)/Westerners within minutes of boarding the train. One was from New York and one was from England.
Loved Goa upon exiting the train. Seems a tad less hectic then Mumbai. Once we found a place to stay, we took a peaceful walk to the rocky beach with an outlook to the water. We walked by a bar that was playing music. Hippies doing a little dancing and drinking.
Day 4
Early morning yoga practice at a local studio. It was open self guided which is something I usually have a hard time doing. However, this morning I decided to focus on my breath and see where my practice took me. Besides loosing my breath halfway through practice (not from overexerting but from not paying as much attention to it as I intended) it turned out to be a very nice practice. We moved hotels since last night we ended up in one more a hostel type place in a house. Our taxi driver recommended it and we had nowhere else to stay we thought it's only for one night.
Spent the afternoon lounging around the pool at our hotel…Hotel Bougainvillea –Grandpa’s Inn. Great place with very friendly staff. Highly recommend.

Song Quote: "Mustang horses, champagne glasses, anything frail anything wild. It’s the price of living motion, what's beautiful is broken and grace is just the measure of a fall." Northbound 35 -- Jeffrey Foucault

Hallo Mam…Please Mam…Mam Mam Mam

Gateway of India
One of the carvings in the cave on Elephanta Island
Boats on the harbour
Fruit Sculptures
Post Office

My first impression of Mumbai was that it was pretty clean, quiet, and peaceful with the traditional Indian music. Then I left the airport.

In all seriousness, the smell was the first thing I noticed which was a sort of good familiar smell. Like I had just arrived in Peru. The slightly crazy taxi ride (the taxis here are small and cute) to our (my sister Jessy and I are traveling together for 2 weeks) hotel while watching the city turn from night to day was a warm welcoming to India.

Once settled and rested, out we went to the bazaars. Little did we know that once this city wakes it turns into a zoo. Car horns honking, crazy drivers, rickshaws, bicycles, a mass of people playing leap frog with the cars. One thing I loved was the fact that they honk there horns but don’t really slow down. You have to be quick or else you will become a smashed frog (like in the game leapfrog).

Some highlights of the bazaars…electronics galore, fruit sculptures, spices being harassed in a sense at every opportunity with Hallo Mam, Please Mam…t-shirts, handbags, jeans, trinkets that you just have to have!

We spent the evening watching the sunset and walking along Chowpatty Beach. The beach was filled with kids, a miniature amusement park that had a man powered tidal wave, food booths where we enjoyed a dosa (YUMMY) that cost about $2 for both of us, lights, balloons. Forget about swimming, the water is toxic which is evident by the amount of trash washed upon on shore.

Day 2

The Taj Mahal of India

Thank goodness for a bed (not the most comfortable) in order to get a good night’s sleep. I love the feeling of waking up feeling refreshed after 3 days of very little sleep.

Today was Taj Mahal day or so we thought. When in actuality, the Taj Mahal of Mumbai is just a hotel facing the harbour. Oops for thinking otherwise. I thought it odd that there was only a small blurb on it in the guidebook. Somewhere in the back of my mind I didn’t think that it was located in Mumbai.

Still enjoyed our day by taking a boat ride to Elephanta Island. This island home to a labyrinth of cave temples carved in the basalt rock of the island. The main temple cave is dedicated to Shiva and depicts a three faced Shiva as the destroyer, creator and preserver of the universe. Elephanta Island is also home to monkeys who can be a little aggressive especially if they are tainted. The only encounter I had was one that grabbed at a bag I was carrying and then growled at me.

Before we took the boat ride to Elephanta Island, we people watched at The Gateway of India which sits at the tip of Apollo Bunder in Mumbai and was built to commemorate the 1911 royal visit of King George V.

That evening we enjoyed our most expensive meal. It cost us more then all our meals combined in the past 2 days.

Tomorrow we take a 12-hour train ride to the beach town of Goa.

It’s time to leave this crazy town!!

Song Quote: “Hey, what a beautiful mess this is, it’s like picking up trash…here we are, here we are, we’re still here.” Beautiful Mess – Jason Mraz

First Stop on the Way to My Next Adventure – New York, New York

I guess you could say that I am embarking on some sort of healing, soul finding/searching journey.

No better place than India to accomplish such a thing especially when 4 out of the 6 weeks will be spent at an Ayurvedic hospital. Ayurveda is a traditional medicine. In Sanskrit, the word ayurveda consists of the words āyus, meaning "longevity", and veda, meaning "related to knowledge" or "science".

Before leaving the US for that amount of time, I decided since I have a 10 hour layover (which ended up turning into 14 hours) at JFK that I would take the subway into the city for a few hours.

With no agenda in mind, I decided to just wander and stumble upon whatever. A few of my highlights included Times Square, The David Letterman Studio, Rockefeller Plaza, Greenwich Village, and Washington Square.

Besides being ultra cold, it was fun to see walk the streets feeling the cool, crisp city air, hearing the sounds, and smelling the city.

After an unexpected 4 extra hours in the JFK airport and a quick stop in the Amsterdam airport, I was on my way to Mumbai, India.

Song: “Leave, Leave…free yourself.” Leave—Swell Season