Sunday January 20th

One Fine Sunday in India

Mahabaleshwar sits approx. 4500 ft above sea level. We took a Sunday and drove about 3 hours to check it out!!! There is a series of lookouts and we did have some amazing vista's. Lots of people out and driving around.

Another Vista!!! Its much cooler up here and the air is much cleaner. Monkeys hang around and eat the carrots that you can purchase from the vegetable man.

Kates Point, Mahabaleshwar India

Beautiful Carrots individually bundled for sale to feed the monkeys.

This region is also famous for Strawberries, people drive in from the surrounding areas to take them back home or make jams and candies.

Krishna Temple, supposedly built on the legendary site of the Panchganga, or source of five rivers, flowing from this spot all the way to the Bay of Bengal about 850 miles away.

The locals come here on Sundays and bring the waters home, or use them for blessings.

Mahatma Ghandi and his wife. This museum is where him and his wife along with his secretary were imprisoned. His wife and his secretary died during their imprisonment.

Here lies the ashes of Mahatma Ghandi

January 16th Scenes from Around Pune

Hello All,
I know its been a while since I have updates this blog - but We have been working hard over here.

Below are Guriji's sandals. He leaves them on the steps to the Yoga studio, its a nice way to know if he is practicing. He usually does daily at around 9 or so.

These are some street scenes in front of of the Institute. The fruit seller is always around after class, its amazing how beautiful the vegetables, and fruit are. The hard part is finding it in the local restaurants? We just can't figure out where it goes, or for that matter how the disguise it!!!

Chatushringi Temple, 108 steps to the top. The local people come here to make offerings, and we also witnessed a blessing of a brand new car.

Flowers for Offering

Steps up to the Temple

Children at the Temple eating their lunch and waiting to have their picture taken. The children love it and then can't wait to see the images in the camera. Very exciting!!!

These four girls in particular wanted us to spend the entire afternoon taking their picture.

Two Days of Classes

Its been a couple of days now and to say that classes here are interesting is an understatement. I've had a class with Prashant and another with Gita. Prashant is the Philosopher and Gita the technician. There are about 80 or more in each class, with a whole lot of scurrying around. People take your mats, props and your blankets as soon as you turn around. We are just trying to lay low and not get yelled at for making an obvious (to them) blunder. We do see Guriji at least once a day - its hard to know what to you say or even how to say it - most of the students do bow and kiss his feet each time. I just stand there kinda dumbfounded and star struck. I'm sure that my words will come. WE do have some time each day to take a few hours at the pool. The food is good and I even had some pasta at the restaurant downstairs. Driving here is scary!!! Its amazing if people make it to their 18th birthday with out some kind of crash.... .at least it all happens in slow motion and they don't really drive fast, just on the wrong side of the road very close to the person in front of them honking madly. We wear masks to ride around because the smog is very bad. I'm sure soon we will make it out to a temple or two - right now we are happy to just be in class.

Arrived in Pune

Hello All,
We have all arrived here in Pune, and have received our schedule of classes from the Institute. We actually saw Guruji practicing in class this morning, I was shocked to see him coming up the stairs to the studio. He simply took off his top and proceed to headstand. Mary and I had to change accommodations, I guess you can take the girls out of the city but you can't take the city our of some of the girls. We needed a little nicer shower and a decent restaurant. So we are now at the Deacon Rendevous. We will take a rickshaw to class (our first one) tomorrow at 7A.
Can't wait!!! New Years Eve will be a quiet one for us this year!

Arrived Here in MUMBAI

Hello All, I've arrived here in Mumbai safe and sound. Anxiously awaiting Amey, Jen and Abbeys arrival then we are off to KareHealth the Aryuvedic retreat. The flight was actually not that bad since it was broken up in to 3 5-6 hour flights. It was snowing in Frankfurt - but nice and warm here.

Mary Drumm

Hey Guys we need to make Mary a part of this too........!

Thanks Amey

Thank you Amey!! This will be fun.