Raining and thundering here too today. Well today is the day Clare and I leave for China. Have been practising the singing, but still can't reach the high notes - I shall rely on Clare. Your adventure sounds simply wonderful and mind expanding. I hope ours is too! Love Mima
Jenny
And you think he is joking!!!!! Well tonight's the night when we are to give william some indication as to whether we want to go for it or not!! Class still seems very divided or undecided - whatever-
You must try and see if you can get a word off one of the indian gurus on your travels. Could be worth a fortune to you! Do hope the rain has stopped and you are enjoying your time in Goa. Keep us posted. Love Jenny
Steve
Hi Roshi
Well it's so cold I've used all the Logs....started on the furniture! All is well in Meadowbanks No 2! I have been currupted by your Ice cream snickers! Any way go girl ! sounds like it's all you were hoping for and more! Steve XX
Cousin Fiona
Hi Roisin!
Sounds like you're having a grand time! Good for you! Thanks for the message you sent to Mum and Dad. Mum hadn't done much in the way of emailing (despite all our hard work the other week!) but when she heard that there was a message from you it spurred her into action! Your good influence has travelled half way round the world!
Diann
Hi
Met anyone interesting in Goa!!
We have had a few showers here as well, but not to that extent, I am glad you still got to eat breakfast first. How are you getting on with the food in general? Do the children speak any English? Hows the washing of clothes going? Taken any pictures yet? No more questions. Now its been 2 weeks its dawning on me, how long you are going to be away for, Dave has gone to the pub, and I didn;t have you to phone for a chat. Its going to be a long 3 months. Take care of yourself. Love Diann
Hi again. today is Wednesday and we are now in Goa at Colva beach where we will doing our voluntary work. We arrived about 3.00am this morning after travelling for 11 hours on an train. We each had a bunk to sleep on which were 3 high, I slept on the middle one. We met some interesting people on the way and one young engineering student, who hearing our music (via mp3's) asked if he could load some onto his laptop. I gave him some of my tracks and in return he loaded some indian music onto my mp3 for me (think Jake will like that). We are still gettimg the tail end of the monsoon and this morning we all woke up to our rooms flooded, inside and out, so our first task (after breakfast) has been to slop out the rooms - well this is India. There's a queue waiting for the pc so I'd better go now - rain has stopped - will check in in a couple of days - and hopefully will learn to use my journal properlep. Love to all back in the UK - and keep the mesages coming - Thanks Roisin xxxx
Alex J
Hi Rosh,
It was great to hear how you are getting on. What a fabulous experience! I am very envious and I wish I could have been your travel partner after all. Imagine all those new muscles you will have after carrying that heavy backpack all those miles. I reckon you can put them to good use..eh!?!
Diann & Dave
Hi
Dave's pleased I am at last making use of this broadband, I came up here to write a letter but using this is much easier, Hope you are still in one piece and enjoying it all. Please look after yourself, and don't do anything I wouldn't do. Love Diann
Jenny
Hi Roisin, amazing how this statravel works, have to be careful wot I say though! how much did you pay for your AHUM-OOPs! How many wild parties has Steve had! Joking aside so glad you are having so many experiences in such a short time- you have now definitely moved on out of your comfort zone!! We miss you in class, and your name is mentioned often. Enjoy. will keep in touch . Love Jenny
Diann And Dave
Hi
Great to hear from you at last. it sounds as though you are having a great "holiday". Hope we get to see the pictures at some time. Its Sunday afternoon here, we have been to the pub for lunch, after we finished a very interesting walk around Alresford, guided by a naturalist who lives locally, so we were given lots of interesting info about the birds & trees etc, It rained on several occasions, but it was great. We are enjoying a cuppa at the moment before I start doing some paperwork for work Yuk, Hope the next few days are good for you Rosh, try and get to a internet cafe again as I am missing you already. Take care Love Diann and Dave.
Hi Everyone - yes I'm here and I'm safe - thanks for all your messages, it was so lovely to sign on and hear from you all.
Well, this is my first chance to use an internet cafe - life has just been amazing since I arrived, I've had so many incredible experiences already that I won't have time to tell you about them all in detail so I'll try and just filter the main points and fill out the detail when I get to Goa and have more time.
The flight was great and on arrival at Mumbai the airport was very organised and luckily I found my rep waiting. There were 4 others being picked up at the same time so I wasn't alone. We all felt a little aprehensive! After checking into the hotel, and meeting others, we hired 2 cabs and went off to tour Mumbai - overall impression - roads crowded and driving manic, horns blaring - lots of slums and shanti houses on side of road. Visited the Gateway to India and other sites. - too much detail !!!!
over the next few days we visited some local villages (mud houses with corregated roofs) and had lunch and dinner with a local family sat on mats on the floor eating with our fingers and scooping up food with indian bread - food was good, lots of rice and lentil dishes and very sweet tea, slightly perfumed. We also visited a local school and joined in a ceremony at local temple (basically a concrete room ) taking part in chanting and clapping.
Following day we went treking in the mountains - wonderful views - first half was easey second half tough as mostly uphill - but I made it!(c 4hrs). Stayed with another local family that night, all of us sleeping together in one room (4 guys 14 girls!!!) in sleeping bags on concrete floor - not much sleep! oh also teked up another part of mountain before dinner to do some absaillong (not me!!! I went to the top for the view - that was adventure enough). Next day, we trekked higher up - very hard going (3 opted out) but was worth it for the incredible views. Stopped for lunch at a temple by a waterfall (alll took off boots and soaked feet) and laterv filled up our water bottles from same!! actually, best water I've tasted. I sat on my own and meditated in the temple listening to the sounds of the mountain - it was very peaceful and very spiritual and I could have stayed there all day.
Todat we spent the day at the Ashram, fantastic - had yoga from 7-8am then I asked for a private session to lern the chant 'AUM' - when the yoga instructor chanted it was incredible - too incredible for words - he explained how the sound comes from the bones (sacrum at base of spine) and not the voice box, we also had yoga from 4-5pm and did an incredible deep relaxation. I also found time to visit the resident holy man (just like the Dali Lama) and sat and philosophised with him for a couple of hours after which I had a full body massage at the Ayurvedic centre. All in all - so far - I have had so many new experiences, some that I can't adequately put into words - it's so fantastic.
We now have another 2 days at the Ashram 9though we are staying in a hotel nearby overnight) before moving to Goa on Tuesday where we'll be staying for 3 weeks and I'll have easier access to the internet. I also had my first ride in a TUT TUT today - fun.
Well guys - I'm loving it so far and the group are great, there are 16 of us, German, Sweedish, Aussie, Russian, Welsh and Uk. Speak to you soon - Lots of Love Rosh xxxx
Diann & Dave
Hi
I thought if I didn't log on yesterday, there would have been a message, but sadly that ploy hasn't worked. We are both full of colds(from Samantha no doubt), Dave has job interview on Wednesday as the Trust has got to lose 181 posts, and the oven has broken down, so all in all not a good couple of days. Love to you where ever you are.