Catching up....

I know that I said I would get back to our experience at the ashram--which was better than expected. Let's be honest...it wasn't clean or fancy or extremely zen....BUT....we did have some cool experiences there. Amma, who is the guru, is only in the ashram for a few months out of the year and happened to be there while we were there....we got to hear her teach on the beach and then did receive one of her famous hugs- since she has hugged over 30 million people!! We also got to spend about 1.5 hours singing with her followers....which really meant Ang and I people-watching since the music was not in English.  She has done some pretty amazing things in the world- donating lots of money- building schools- helping with hunger all over the world including the US- and although I was not 'moved' by my hug from Amma....there are many people who are and it was fun to hear their stories and ask why they are living there.

When you get in line to hug her you are shoved around- ask what language you speak- ask to wipe off your face- and moved into the line. A woman told me I couldn't hold my bag- and took it off my shoulder- then pushed me toward my hug with Amma. She nuzzled my head into our armpit and said a prayer- handed us a small candy sachtel and we were off.

When we arrived we got checked in and were sent to our room- on our way to our room- we saw the a hive of buzzing bees working away near our window. Look at that hive!! Yikes!!

There were many of these beehives on the 14 story building we stayed in!

As mentioned, Ang did have to carry her own mattress to the room in the Ashram- and then (God bless her!) she slept on the floor! I owe her big time- because at least I had a bed.

Being a trooper on the floor.

The entire Ashram experience was good- and I'm glad we did it. Although later that day we met two American girls who told us that there was a transportation/everything strike the next day and we would be stuck in the Ashram....that is when pure panic set in.

Neither of us liked it well enough to stay another day...so, we immediately tried to figure out ways to leave. No taxis were running- and the train station was 15 km away. We were told that if someone were to drive a tourist- other drivers would throw bricks at them- and break windows. However, somehow we were convinced by the American girls the next morning to do a 'shared auto' that essentially is a taxi without signs on it.

We made it to the train station- where the trains were running. When we got off the train- we were met by 20 rickshaw drivers saying they couldn't drive us anywhere. My question being...then why in the heck are you standing at the train station?!! But what we have found in India is that if you stand around enough or ask enough people- you can eventually get what you need/want. So we stood there. And eventually a rickshaw driver said he would take us to our hotel- go figure. At the end of our ride he said "see-worth the risk"....I guess so, but I spent most of the time with my backpack poised in shield like position to block any bricks that may have come flying.

Here is a picture of some of the protesters during the strike.

Here we are crossing the train station with our new friends.

After we got to our hotel- we found out that most restaurants are also closed due to the strike. Okay...not most, all of them. The owner of our restaurant said that he knew of a restaurant that is always open. We met up with a few people from our hotel and decided to walk for 40 minutes to the restaurant- what else were we going to do? Ang and I had resorted to eating our highly coveted Cliff Bars....but decided to go along for the adventure. When we got there the restaurant was closed!

But as mentioned earlier...wait around enough and you will get what you want/need. Our new Israeli friend said he would be practicing "Passive Resistance" similar to Gandhi and immediately took off his shoes and sat down. Ang and I stared at him and laughed....and he told us we were not committed enough. Yep...you are right- I'm not committed to sitting outside a closed restaurant until they open! However, commitment is the key in India. He sat and we waited for 5 minutes....soon about 15 Indians were shuffling around and a woman invited us into the restaurant...and we had a delicious dinner! Ang and I were both shocked at the outcome...I guess Gandhi knew what he was doing!

Here is the official "Sit in".

Here we are enjoying some music- later in the evening with the few people staying in our hotel.

After the strike was over and we had spent one night in Allepey- we headed off for a night on a house boat in the backwaters of India. It was a nice relaxing evening with not much to report- the waters were calm- it didn't rain much and we played a fun game with our Indian hosts.

Here is a picture of the houseboats we stayed on- it was a very neat experience and we even got to see the Indian Rowing Team during their morning practice!!

We are now in Kochi- as reported earlier (home of the massage). This is the first time since Chennai we have stayed somewhere for 3 nights! We spent the day seeing all of the sites...a Dutch Palace, museum, churches....and getting our picture taken by a bunch of young kids as I helped the local fishermen pull in their nets. Well...they asked me to...what was I supposed to do?!!

We are leaving Kochi tomorrow for Munnar- the tea fields- which is supposedly beautiful!