8.1.2008

Last few days in Kovalam

I've been thinking a lot about writing in the past few days but somehow found myself busy and always away from my laptop when I wanted to write my observations.

It seems that the town is getting less busy, although it is still possible to see the package tour people, with big bear guts, tatooes, cigarette in their mouths and lobster colour. I just keep thinking how insane I would go if I had to spend 2 weeks in this place doing absolutely nothing.

Lino is lino as usual, we had a nice long walk on the beach last week.I had a lot to talk to him about but with the delay of catching him on the beach for maybe 7-10days all my questions had disappeared so it was a nice walk talking about just this and that. He has given me some advice about the year ahead, how to stay grounded and calm throughout my travels, and how to make the most out of it. I just love the stories he tells, whilst I think where is this story heading, there somehow is always a point to it. He has been very concerned and rather pissed off with the number of his students getting sick this year. A lot of digestion problems which he says to drink 2 litres of water and stick 3 fingers in your throat to bring it all out. His solution to constipation is a pose called "kagasana" transtales to "s***-asana" in italian which is practically about how to squat in the toilet (indian style ofcourse to help bowels work), and a cure for headache is to drink a glass of water and sleep! He has been giving this advice in every pranayama class we have had, and when we had our walk on the beach he did say that most people avoid his advice about eating meat/fish, lying in the sun too much and get sick, and when it gets to that shage he simply laughs because there is so much he can do.

I too had my share of sickness, after vomiting a dodgy pizza my digestion started to play up, not being able to get things through my stomach and through my ass for that matter. The conversation topic amongst my friends for a few days were about farting and s***ting, exchange of tips, exchange of fibre powders and finally when I had the movement long desired for (literally running into a friend's room to use her toilet) everyone was releaved. How interesting that we take on so much of other's problems??

Then the next challenge was the practice, getting up for 5am start. That simply should not be allowed. I have to put out my yoga clothes and everything i may need the night before so that in such sleepy mode I won't accidentally forget to put on yogapants. And with such enthusiasm to continue with my vipassana meditation I put my alarm clock for 3.30am and manage to hit the snooze button until 4.30am. Best meditation right now is the sleep, because I am a zombie so early in the morning.

Walk to the shala is always an experience also, especially 2 days ago when we had a power cut and the whole town was pitch black. The stars looked absolutely amazing but looking up and walking at the same time in kovalam is always a dangeroud act as there are many potholes or ditches you may fall into. That morning there was also a loud female scream, which later turned out to belong to Lisa who was grabbed by a drunken f***ed up Indian man on the way to the shala.

Then practice is beautiful with such calmness and stillness in the air, even the mosquitos arent awake to circle around yogis legs, then the pracyer from the mosque begins. I'm a muslim and lived in a country long enough to hear the most amazing prayer calls (ezan) 5 times a day for years, but this imam sounds like a chicken being strangled, it is hidious and so unpleasant. As far as I know it should be part of the imam training that all hoca's are taught how to do ezan in tune, infact there is even a subtle distinction in every ezan for the morning, lunch time and evening that one can notice.

Then the hindu temple begins, and that is pretty soothing because it is a recording of chants, played very loudly. I sometimes wonder whether that is in despite of all these religious activities that there seem to be a correlation in the timing of the prayer calls. One I havent heard is the church bells yet but I guess 5am might a bit too early for that matter.

So days just go past with the yoga, little sleep after, breakfast, some reading, some socialising, some massages...All in all very pleasant!