speaking of Changes...

Huge Changes in my life have occured...
stay tuned and I WILL fill you in soon.....
Namaste~~~~~~

just a trip to the grocery store...and look what I find...or rather What Found Me

I just went to Safeway to get some things for dinner this evening..and some milk for Chai...

as my husband and I approached the checkout stand..my eyes went across the aisle to the magazines...

I saw a Yoga magazine and thought to myself, the last thing I need is another Yoga magazine. But Something told me to go over and pick this magazine up.....

and as I have learned in my life..to Listen to that voice, I did just that.

I walked over and I picked it up..and I opened it up...and I almost fell over. I ALMOST FELL OVER...because...because there on that page was a photo of Swamiji and the children of Karunya Mane in India!!!!! Yes!! I could not believe my eyes and I almost began to cry..right there in the aisle of Safeway with that magazine in my hands.

I just left India..and Swamiji and those children..and there they were, right there in my hands in the store near my home.

These things happen to me. They happen all of the time. I have no idea why I was so surprised. It was just like the place that I love and those beautiful children and the peace-filled Guru whom I had sat in that very same cave in the photo with...was letting me know that they are all still with me. Even though I am across the world now, and so far away from that place that I love and hold so near and dear to my heart...was right here with me still.....

My Magical Life...yes, I will be back India and Swamiji and all the children of Karunya Mane..I will be back.

Shiva Cafe

there is an amazing place to go to in Mc Cleod Ganj...it is up above it actually. You have to climb..a very tall hill and it can be dangerous. You really have to watch your every step on the way up and down. It's called "The Shiva Cafe" and if you make it up there...you just may not want to leave...

you can either sit inside...

or outside. You can see forever and it is so quiet and still that it almost makes you cry....

They have a stone house for lease..and it goes for 90.00 per month. Tempting...but everything is brought up by Donkeys because it is so steep...

and heading back down, you wish you could stay just a little bit longer...The Peace...

well deserved...

we are finally back in the states...but my head and body are still not REALLY here, yet.
It was a long and arduous journey getting back here to be perfectly honest. But as with everything, there are obstacles that must be worked through. And worked through they were indeed!
I can't say that I am ecstatic about the airlines that we chose this year...so far we have tried all but about 3. But I will say, that in the end..persistence prevailed as you can see in the photo above. Sometimes it pays to be a hard head. This time it paid Big Time. The Italian came out in me this year..at the airport in Bangalore...and many people were witness to it. Did I care? Not really. What I did care about was that my comfort and my husbands were top priority, as we were both extremely sick. They played hardball, and I played even harder..and when we arrived in Hong Kong, we had those bad boys waiting for us at the transfer desk....and I will honestly admit, that after having flown Business Class..I am doubting very sincerely weather I can go back to economy ever again.
Now, if my bank account would only co-operate!!

from Dharamsala to The Capitol...

a street in Mc Cleod Ganj....

a little eating joint in Mc Cleod Ganj...we passed.

wow..do they ever love their cakes here in India....

our last meal in Dharamsala...Vegie Momos and Chai!

and since Cathay decided to cancel our flight..without giving us any notice..they put us up in the fanciest 4 star hotel I have ever stayed in while in India...wood floors, a Comfortable bed, hot water 24 hours, plasma 42" flat screen TV, a massage chair IN our room, oh..I could go on and on, but the fact of the matter is this. If you aren't able to leave when planned..then this place has got to be the next best thing! They put us up in the "Club Room" at 250.00 US per night. No arguments here...

seriously though..this was NOT comfortable...at least not for me! But R loved it!! Look at him! I practically had to pry him out of the thing!!

there is a Gym here...and a beautiful swimming pool with thick, padded lounge chairs...guess where I'm headed????

Art Day with the children of Karunya Mane...

I am sure that the children are going to be putting the 70 pounds of Art Supplies that were so graciously donated by my friends and readers of this blog to good use! We were not able to give them directly to the children as that is not allowed...but I know that they are going to have the time of their lives with it all when they have art days!!

We were however allowed to give them the painting that my dear friend painted for them and their eyes "lit" up with Joy and Happiness when they saw it!! Also..we were able to hand out the cards that the children in Colorado at a private school made for them..thanks to Kristi my fellow blogger! They each held up their hand as I read off their names and they were SO excited! I SO wish I could have taken some photos of that!!!! They are making cards for each of the children who made them cards and they will be sent directly to them in Colorado.

It was a joy full day for the children of Karunya Mane..but it could not equal the joy felt in the hearts of my husband and I...

delhi..when oh when...

I can't understand..it happened 5 years ago when we landed here. Then of course, as India never dissapoints...some things just never change do they? But I sure do wish they would! Just some...

But first, a word of advise for those of you who use and book flights through "Make My Trip"...DON'T! As they Royally ~~~scewed~~~ us yesterday. Yeah. It wasn't fun. But it taught us a few lessons as these things tend to do. Lessons. Even when you aren't in the mood to learn them. There they are.
They were suppossed to deliver us "paper" tickets for our flight out of Chennai to Delhi. Did they? No.
So, when we approached the check in kiosk and handed them our email confirmation, they looked at us like we were from another planet.

Long story short. We had to pay for the flight Again.
Yeah.
But we made it to Delhi after circling in the air for 30 mins. At 1am.
Yep.
It happened 5 years ago...
and again last night.
Seems as though it wasn't because of fog though.
The runway was just too congested...so we were #16 in the line-up order to land.
Thank God I have no fear of flying.
But this pilot practically gave all of us whiplash when he put the plane down. He actually slammed on his brakes SO hard we all made some sort of noise when it happened.
I contained myself and just said "Geezus"

One thing I will never get used to here in India is when a foreigner walks by me in the airport (while I am typing this actually) and has "booty shorts" on and her cheeks are hanging out....OMG! Girl, what ARE you thinking????????
No wonder the Indian guys think those thought when they see us white girls. BUT, I would NEVER wear those...out in public that is!!

So, we are waiting for our Kingfisher flight to Dharamsala. It leaves in about 45 and then we will be in the clear mountain air at our most favorite hotel in India. The Chonner House.
We always stay in the room right next door to Richard Geres room. But I don't expect him to be there this year. He was 2 years ago though. He took the whole hotel though that year as he brought a few friends with him. So the day he checked in, we checked out.
It might be interesting to sit and have a Chai with the guy though!

Om Mani Padme Hum~ (photos to come..sorry though, none of the girl who walked by ;0)