Livin' It Up Hippie Style

 

SHAWNA - CEO of Let Live Travel

Where to begin...hmm. I guess there's no better place to start than from this exact moment. Let me paint a picture...

 

Looking up from my computer, my eyes are spoiled with the view of luscious green forest, brightly colored buildings scattered on an endless roll of mountains, and two chillin' goats. The only sounds circling me are the birds' soothing choir (seriously, I think even the birds are calm here), a soft wind, "Namaste"s, and an occasional echoing laughter. The temperature is surprisingly perfect, currently having no extremes of scorching heat or frozen feet. A moment of thanks to Mr. Sun for providing me with a satisfying dose of good ol' vitamin D. And don't let me forget the food that completes this scene! This cook has created the most phenomenal dal (beans with a mixture of spices) - who knew beans could taste like the heavens?! Honestly, the blend of spices they've got going on with these black-eyed peas not only makes for a healthy lunch, but creates a tantalizing glory-mix that I can't seem to get enough of.

 

My view

 

It's really quite powerful- this setting and its result on your mind. Surrounded by beauty and being immersed in a slower pace of life, you have no choice but to take a deep breath, soak up the splendor and say "Thank you!" (or in the case of Eland, Mei and I - "Is this real life!?"). Peace, gratitude and joy continue to nestle deeper and deeper into my heart everyday. During the 6 weeks I've spent in India, I have seen, experienced and learnt more than I could possibly imagine soaking up over the course of many months back home. Beware friends and family, I may return to Canada wiser than intended ;).

 

I started my Indian journey in February, and in a very epic manner (if I do say so myself). Firstly, I did the most ridiculous of all things and travelled for 46 hours, alone, from Edmonton, Canada to Khajuraho, India. Anyone who is reading this - please learn from my mistake. Do not attempt this. No. Never. Spend the extra, oh, $150 to get a more direct flight. When you can't sleep on planes, have 5 flights, unnecessarily long lay-overs, no companion and 4 time changes - confusion, exhaustion, loneliness and ultimately a pathetic amount of weeping is bound to result. However, it does make for a good laugh and head-shake when you think back on it later.

 

My final destination, Khajuraho, was where I stayed for an entire month as I attended a yoga teacher training course in an ashram. Without exaggeration, that month triggered a snowball-effect of change within me, that is bound to never halt. In addition to learning loads of bad-ass new yoga concepts and body contortions, I was exposed to new perspectives on all the essential topics of life: health, love, purpose, happiness, peace, attachments, ego, ethics, soul, interconnectivity...the list goes on. And as goes with all intense learning, the more I learnt, the more questions I had. And the more questions I had, the more I craved to keep discovering. All the teachings were challenging my belief system and forcing me to contemplate those things you wish to ignore. Yet, the more I confronted these topics and came to understand the teachings, the more I realized how nicely they fit together with and complemented my former beliefs and values. To go into detail would make this blog entry endlessly, painfully long, so instead I will let specifics arise naturally in my following entries.

Weird body contortions :)

 

After my time at the ashram, I ventured with 4 incredible new friends (and fellow new yoga teachers! Whew!) to Varanasi. Holy catfish Batman. I am in love. Varanasi, a stark contrast to Dharamasala where I am currently hangin' out, is India on steroids. Vibrant colors, intense smells of spices and incense (and being truthful, cow poo as well), spiritual and cultural rituals at every hour, the incessant sound of tuk-tuk horns, and people, people, people! In the bizarre paradoxical world we live in, the intensity and hecticness of this place forces you to mentally slow down and relax in order to take it all in. (It's one of those things you've just gotta experience to understand.) And when you find this balance, you will inevitably fall in love with this city. The streets lining the Ganges are an exciting maze of narrow alleys, filled with vendors selling all sorts of goods to satisfy any of your senses, from chai to gold bangles to harmonicas. The Ganges itself is always full of activity - boat rides, local swimmers and bathers, floating candles sent out as prayers and for good karma, spiritual ceremonies, and the burning of dead bodies. Everything they do here has a philosophical, cultural or spiritual reasoning behind it, and the locals are more than happy to explain it all to you if only you ask. In my opinion, this city has captured true beauty and full-on life at it's finest. My main advice to anyone who visits Varanasi is to watch out for smeared piles of cow/goat poo. I learnt the hard way that they are incredibly easy to slip on and fall in. Yum yum!
 

The Ganges at night.

 

Okay, I need to wrap this bad-boy up. Turbo speed - after Varanasi I peaced out to England and France to spend some seriously fun and funny family time (these adventures would need a whole other blog). After 3 weeks in Europe, I returned to India to meet up with Eland and Mei, and make my dream company turn into a reality.

 

Until next time, folks! And don't forget to go "like" the Let Live Travel Inc. facebook page ;) - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Let-Live-Travel-Inc/179647395507061.

 Shanti! Xoxo


P.S. - Ali K., and any other grammar-crazies, I apologize for the run-on sentences. I just get so excited, okay!?
P.P.S. - My lunch, which consisted of 2 large helpings of dal, rice, freshly made watermelon juice, and coffee, cost me around $3 (including a generous tip). I love you, India. And so does my wallet.

　 

Goodbye from myself and Jeremiah the Goat!