How we spend time with my parents :)

I wanted to do so many activities with my parents in bhopal, even though we had less time than expected, we managed to accomplish all of them. Except the parts where I could eat, sleep, walk with them, just live a lazy day like we used to as a family. Well, you don't get it all, some times you get better deals when you bargain for less.

Meditation sessions : My dad found us a guy who would sit with us for meditation. All of us tried heartful meditation with this awesome volunteer. This was a new experience, practicing syncing energies with my family and it was wonderful. I felt this calmness, tranquility passing through our souls. With every meditation session, it was better. The ambience of his house, birds chirping outside, the stillness of moments. I think that is what you need. Meditation has so many stages, first stage is always beautiful like you see a new blooming flower.

Gayatri temple : This temple is like our family temple. Actually, we did go for some pooja  which was nice too. I grew up listening to mantras, performing yagnas with my mother. For me, sitting in a sunderkand or ramayan or listening to bhajans is like reliving childhood, I deeply enjoy it. So back to gayatri temple, we saw their yoga class, meditation room, healthy cows, super healthy juices, accupressure walk. It was like someone bundled all your favorite things in one place and made it. I saw a newly born calf barely walking aah this one is like a recorded video in mind.

Meditation lesson: My dad gave us some information on meditation. All that he has extracted from books and his own practice. It was huge of him to share it. Hmm its also not about information or knowledge, its more like someone's effort of improving your life that counts.

Bhaang : My bhaang thandai birthday was epic. Sitting with more people and having conversations was something I never imagined going with bhaang but it was aah truly the best trip in months as in high trip not trip trip. My dad opened up, shared some of his stories like how osho addressed him in school, my mom made jokes like she always does, my sis well I think she didn't let it in but it was fun. How my mom literally brought her mortal pestel to make it authentic how my dad went out and stacked up all our favorite foods ohh life surprises you. I never wanted to cut cake but even that moment was special, yoga cake aahh sometimes I wonder what if I could just meet them once in a month and hang out but nah going back India is not going to work anymore, luxuries of life have spoiled me. I choose this wonderful silent beautiful place.

Birla temple : We like temples I guess. Birla temple had so many religious quotes written all over but we never read them. First time, we stopped, read, tried to understand. Temples should always be near nature. So much peace resonates in those structures. If your house is like a temple, imagine how much it will help in meditation. Tried some yoga poses with my sister. Its awesome when you have like minded people around. So you don't hang out just because they are family but because there is so much to learn while having fun.

Poha jalebi : This also wasn't planned. I had my own reservations against eating outside but it was awesome. Again, a little bit of yoga discussion, a lazy dog, piping hot jalebis and poha and more conversations. I don't really know how it could be better.

Yoga : Okay so every college session, i gained weight and every vacation, my mom made me do yoga to lose that weight. In fact before I stepped out of home, she got me for 4 months and I turned into this lean person. She will always be my first yoga teacher, whatever flexibility lies with me is all her doing. Whatever no care attitude lies in me is because of my dad, the  power to say okk its done what can we do about it lets move on is one of the sentences that was repeated so many times in my home.
So finally I got to show my yoga practice. To which they said, this should not be shared just experienced, we love that you are doing great, it makes us proud but stop putting your pics out there hehe.

My mom drove car : So I knew my mom learned how to ride a bicycle just recently. Then one day we go off to a ground and scared me is contemplating how to run back to avoid getting behind car wheel and boom my mom starts driving like a pro. Whaaaat she's got that will and determination. It blew my mind.

Walks on dam: Well it wasn't walks, just one walk but it is always good. The sunrise, they see how I am walking, how much weight I should lose from where, hmm i don't mind when they advise, it just shows they care. accepting implementing good parts of it is in my hands.Then there are my dad's friends we stop and chat with .  Walks and talks and then we all start racing, then there is this temple where we stop, take my favorite prasad nariyal chironji aha and then there is another temple with a cow dog idling around. I love that there are so many stray animals fed happily by people. They get freedom, people get little affection.

Long sessions on being strong : And we had these super long sessions on how its time for me to get stronger, more independent. How i have to stop being lazy putting off my work on others, take up my responsibilities and just be more social but unattached. Hehe this one is like a full post material.

Getting ready for wedding: When my parents came for wedding, I didn't have a lot of time for them. Whenever we met, we had tea which is my fav drink, my mom saw me dancing having fun, my dad took pictures of me and mom, my mom went with me to parlour, parlour lady had backpain so we somehow convinced her to guide and my mom would drape the saree. These little moments of coordination and simplicity are the base of my life. I don't know its just all perfect setting for me. I got some shopping time with my sister too.

I feel like this was the trip that made our bond stronger in a karmic sense with less attachment. Now all my mom talks about is bk shivani.  We discuss her videos, my sister practices meditation, life moved in right direction for all of us.

We were all born flawless. Lets get back to that naive simple quality.

Thanks

NAMASTE

India trip part 9: Flying back home :)

If it was some place where you could just cancel a train and extend vacation, we would to it but on the other end stood our home, our sweet sweet home we love way too much.

This is how Koh samui said bye well it was nature but still why not feel good about coincidences that happen around you.

Full rainbow emerged with mild rains and perfect weather. There are so many different airport regulations everywhere, you can put laptops in bags or in checkin or not in checkin. Just see airport rules. Well, luckily we put portable charger in suitcase, they took us in a separate bus, it was all so quick and friendly. They didn't make us feel like we did a mistake like some of the major airlines might do. I love koh samui for this simplicity in execution of touristy mistakes. And of course rainbow rainbow.

So our flight was from koh samui to shanghai to lax to seattle. We opted for indian food and guess what on flight from koh samui to shanghai, we got the best indian food ever in  a flight. Perfectly made with kheer. Hehe better than most of the indian restaurants serve. Huh what a perfect ending. China Eastern airlines again made me happy, silence food clean washroom. I even synced my sleep with seattle time so I could just be without jetlag.

As soon as we reached los angeles, we couldn't wait to be home. And voila home sweet home. There is nothing better than waking up in my own bed, using my own kitchen, going back to my yoga studio where teachers know my progress and best of all there is no one to mess with our moods here. We are free.

This is our kingdom. We rule.

My Vikasa koh samui experience : India trip part 8 Thailand

Now comes the best stop of the journey, the one we purposely ventured into. Other parts were just stages of a game to get to this perfect zone.

Finally, we entered our room with aching bodies and hearts. Have you noticed someone can put you in the most beautiful place you will ever see and your mind won't let you snap out of something stupid that won't matter in days? Some kind of switch that turns off and makes you believe all you need to think about is the past that is literally past.

After two days, we were back in our own skin. Vikasa vikasa, this resort gave us new goals in life. We saw group of teachers undergoing yoga training. They got geeta mahabharat lessons from experienced people. They had access to good food all day. They stayed in these beautiful beach huts. There were so many things I loved about this experience.

Yoga yoga yoga, how yoga is taught makes it peaceful or athletic. Yoga is all about breathing, practicing in peace. In our hot yoga rooms, we just run through it. Ohh and who wouldn't want to be near those chirping birds and falling waves. It was magical like someone put yoga in perspective and designed a sanctuary around it. Some of the poses that I didn't even attempt in class , I just sailed through in Vikasa. Shavasana was given importance finally. We practiced together, it was amazing. He's getting so much stronger and flexible, only competition I can adore :)

Food omg food. Imagine a vegan place where they serve healthiest yummiest food. We were in awe of their menu, even their cocktails were interesting fruity combinations. We didn't have to go anywhere outside for lunch dinner. It was a dream buffet. Everything that is nourishing was served. Smoothies, chia jars aah filled our brains with so many ideas we could bring home and add to our home menu.  Food by the ocean. Ohh, I should add them to our home menu.

Then of course chill. We chilled most of the day, read books, took naps, sat around beaches, meditated aah from that time meditation has been a tough cookie to crack. More on that in next post.

Dogs in koh samui are super friendly. There is this yogi dog henry in vikasa, he comes for yoga classes and just sits patiently like he's meditating. Everyone loves Henry. Some dogs hang out around shops and they are so cuddly, they don't pounce or get too excited, they are just there if you want to feel good hanging out.

Massages aaah massages, long painful massages. It was the first time so when she came with those knuckles and knees, god I just breathed through. It feels kind of royal laying out by the ocean getting massages. It kind of broke my body consciousness too. Ohh amazing amazing amazing. All the tiredness from wedding, heat, mental chaos dissolved in it.

Above all, people in thailand are always ready to help. They are polite, courteous to be around. Its not a touristy vibe you get.

Somehow being in a place surrounded by people who are doing what you might eventually do gives a lot of courage to be on the path. A place like this widens your horizon of living. Live more fully. Be more happy. Break your biological identity. Its time to turn into your own and shine.

Beautiful silent places do help with yoga, peace, meditation. I hope one day one of these places becomes my future home.

When you plan a trip like this, go in relaxed state otherwise some time might go in bringing yourself back to normal and then going to happier version of yourself. In fact why not turn our home into this yoga sanctuary, my own vacation home. Hmm, gotta work on that.

Thanks,


NAMASTE

India trip part 7: Flying to koh Samui

Let me give you a gist of what all we did to reach koh samui. We survived almost 6 flights, 3 train journeys, a confused tense week, hot indian wedding and emotional goodbyes of why we didn't stay more. Life wasn't done playing with us.

So our train to delhi gets late. We wait 3 hours on station.  Okk no issues we have taken a lot of buffer to wait for the flight to bangkok. Finally we are on flight and all the heat, food, water, tiredness hits at the same time. Food poisoning attacks with all the fatigue, dizziness, pukey symptoms. You are on flight, the final one you really wanted to be on. Well, pranks tests were still on for us. I know I can always say it was our doing and there were lessons but god , prank, tests sound like we won something. :)

Who invented this check in check out system? Your flight reaches early, you are sick, tired and your room is not ready. Thankfully, the resort that we stayed in was pretty fantabulous. Right by the ocean, all the vegan healthy menus full of yummy options and of course yoga retreat. Best thing about staying in a yoga retreat, you see fit inspirational people all around. It boosted our spirits.

Yay next day started with a yoga class. One of those perfect days that make you feel like you are getting your normal life back. It felt so normal staying there in resort in koh samui, it was like we could have extended vacation by a month.

Never go for a beautiful place when you have already spent most of your energy in india. Plan separately or go before the india trip. Or just stay a lot.

More on my love for koh samui and vikasa resort in next post. I am kind of dull today.


Thanks

My India Trip part 6: Saying goodbyes

Saying goodbyes was going to be pretty easy this time. If you ever go to a a wedding, stay next day and don't tell anyone. Rest full day, start in the night. I repeat never start trip just after pulling a full nighter in the wedding and even if you start, don't eat wedding food packed for guests if you have a sensitive stomach. 

There is this tradition, bidaai where everyone gives bride all the good wishes and cries. Hehe we kind of left around that, so we got bidaai. I think people respect and love my father-in-law a lot. Both of them have helped people in all the ways they could. Their karmic account chart is way higher on gains. Because of my father-in-law, we get love too. And my husband I guess. I am not that good. 

So a lot of nice relatives came, bride came, how do you respond when others cry? My throat gets choked up, my face changes and all I want to do is wail louder and louder. So to avoid the situation where you are not supposed to cry being a little distant relative, weird me starts cracking silly jokes. Real silly. In my mind, the constant thought was you get to be in thailand, party yay. Hehe all the troubles are rewarding you. Thats how you condition not to be attention seeker. If only I knew how to express naturally smiling not being guilty or ashamed of crying.

We run to hotel, I meet my parents one last time, we have trains to catch so we all run to station. Final 20 minutes before their train comes, this time I am not sad and I always cried on inside or outside. Its kind of like you have spaced yourself from that emotion. My mother tells me do better yoga, focus on being spiritual, my dad does the same some train talk and tells me to be happy, peaceful and we are sorted. We laugh over the whole trip ordeal and they are on the train. It was cool.

Somehow its never that sorted with my in-laws. I don't know, have you ever gone to see girl for some relative. You instantly know who's the most important VIP person here, the would be bridegroom then his parents come then you come. Hehe that is what a daughter-in-law is. Tertiary citizen. First comes father-in-law then your husband and siblings, then you come. Its natural. My mom would do the same. If there was a rule, you have to throw one family member down right this instant or you all die, hehe lets throw her ;) Run people, I don't know that family. 

More on thailand on my  next post. 

Thanks

My India trip Part 5 : Wedding fun ;)

Indian weddings can cheer anyone up. They are the epitome of community relations. Its like a buffet of people you get to choose from, you can hang out with anyone, you can even spend just 5 perfect conversation minutes with a lot and move on with your life. Loads of activities to pick on, loads of food choices for the foodies, for shoppers this is a fest, for organizers this is the event, for kids well their whole life every moment is fun.

The best part of wedding has to be all the bollywood dancing I get to do. Okay, no one is raised to be a dancer unless you are trained or really enthusiastic about it. So when someone is trying to pull you to dance floor, just loosen up and throw those wild moves you do when no one is watching. Honestly, the only people who see you dancing are the ones who didn't have guts to join the dance so who cares what they think. Hehe I got a little mean there but start with that till you enjoy the liberating feeling of funky moves.

So yeah dancing is super fun, it helps with bonding, avoiding unwanted work like patrolling that room full of locker jewelry and scientifically it creates some kind of happiness hormone in you. There is something about a song in your language that just triggers legs, shoulders to follow rhythm.

Then of course if you are in a good wedding, food is the ultimate killer. All those different stalls of all your favorite cuisines in one makes me hungry. My sister's wedding had awesome caterers from haryana. These people know how to eat. It was like you stay fit for this kind of stuff.

Next one for me was you escape boredom. Imagine spending a week with just 2 couples who are literally so old they are your parents still fighting over your custody. After 2 days, all the love in the world fades and you realize gosh these people are ancient, all they do is work or make you do work. Aaah wedding helped me escape these corridors of still silent nothings. Fun people, conversations, kids, new rituals are way better than that hellhole of retirement living or worse meeting their friends.

Hmm other reason is you get to observe people, their characters, stories, what made them this way. Why this aunt is so confused or why this kid is so grown up? If you want to study human psychology, start with an indian wedding.

Photos photos photos, this is the only event where you take like a zillion pics. If you forget, there are other people or professionals taking care of it. Who cares what bride wears, like literally no one does. Everyone just knows they have to look good.

Last one for me was to build up my image. Over years, people don't really know you, they only guess what you are about. By just offering water, tea, snacks made by others or touching feet, you are suddenly in their wishes. Hehe its damn easy to please a crowd in wedding. Act smart, be conscious. You will win.

Everyone is seeking peace, we are all selfish

What do you really really want from life? You can have a waterfront house, audi for a car, maids to even wake you up but if you are devoid of peace, its all in vain. Your audi is in traffic, you suffer. Why are situations or people around me not acting the way I want them to? Why can't my parents understand my fitness, my lifestyle, my decisions?

Hmmm because they are not puppets. What you generate is in your mind, anger misery envy every single emotion is manufactured in that factory. People do fuel it sometimes but how we take it is all in our control.

In a way, we are all too selfish. If something gives us peace, happiness we would rather have it even if the same thing creates turbulence in other people's lives. Again, how they take it is in their control too.

I did the same. I still do it in the name of introvert syndrome.  Some place that made me uncomfortable was strictly avoided, people who bored me were constantly ignored, situations where I felt trapped were not even given the ground to grow.  End result was I missed out on great deal of life and amazing people bonding skills.

Peace is not a lamp you hold and avoid storms so nothing touches it. Its the kind of  modern age LED light that glows as long as you are charged. Soul starts discharging as soon as we give up and start whining, complaining instead of just living it through.

Life will not stop happening. We were sent here to live it fully, absorb the teachings, lessons it has in it. Hmm lets avoid this certain person, she gossiped about me. Try being really nice to them, once you start, first 5 minutes will be crazy hard then it will be a smooth ride. She might even take you for a good actor but thats her way of life. What you get out of that is what life intended for you to pick on. In the end, after talking to everyone, you will either find inspiring people or lost souls looking for directions. We are all lost anyways.

In one of my recent experiences, when all around me every person was in an unstable state, it kind of hit me, every single person consoled me in the way so the outcome will be more peaceful for their future existence. That again is from my perspective, the situation hit others worse than me, it wasn't fair to even try to gain attention.  Hehe see so when your mother says have a kid, its more for her than for you. We are wired to find peace. We try to manipulate people to fulfill our unfulfilled desires, dreams.

In short, we are all selfish we are all on our own. Create your inner peace tranquility, no one can help you.

NAMASTE

My India trip Part 4 : Detachment lessons

Indian women get married, you are constantly told now they are your parents, now you should respect them like you respect yours. We all try and fail hopelessly, we start blaming the in-laws, situations, restrictions. Sometimes they are valid too. Other times we have to look deeply and introspect for the sake of our peace.

First of all, this is the moment of detachment in a real spiritual way. As an individual, we are going to another family of varied nature of people. When I got married, young me hated the notion so much, anxiousness nervousness bit of envy for my husband's freedom made me resentful. Till my last trip, it didn't seem fair spending half of my days at in-laws after spending 9 months apart from my parents. Just looked impractical illogical.

Some major goofup happened. Everyone was hurt crying complaining. It dawned on me for my parents, project children is over. If they get involved more in my life, its not going to work for them, for me, for this other family I have accepted. The more inclination or attachment for my parents, more we are all going to suffer. Detachment was the only way out.

In that moment sobbing over the unstable state of mind, some internal voice said, you don't belong to anyone, neither your parents nor your husband can help you out. More I complained, more everyone else got aggravated. It was the first time my tears were ignored like they were uncalled for. Imagine being in a dark room wailing hopelessly when no one ever gets to the core of you because essentially no one really can. Its your feeling, you know its time to understand and leave the house. You may visit but you have to say goodbyes properly.

Everytime every trip physically emotionally I couldn't have endured this. Decision was detachment. We will meet when we can, we have had real fun times but perhaps its time to move on. Life is to be happy wherever you are but that is for you to decide. After that, I didn't look back or at least I tried not to. It takes time to practice new decisions. Whenever I tried, I saw turbulence arise around me.

This is not going to mean I don't love them.They are the only people I can truly love at all times. I am just not attached anymore.

With attachment comes anxiety that brings along fear which for sure leads to madness. I was in madness state for a while. You become most uncaring when you are attached. Just identifying with a group of people to exist happily in life is being a fool. I can extract life from everywhere all around me, love all be nice be wonderful to all. Thats how you exist in the truest sense.

 Family is a desperate group of people with the most basic needs, expand beyond that. With attachment, we just grow into these small mafias exercising our will. Don't believe in those fancy things family comes with, your childhood had. You are older wiser. I hope I can act like one from now on. Love will always be there.

Thanks,
 Namaste

My India trip Part 3 :) Birthday Unplanned

I had so many plans for my birthday which kind of was my mistake. We missed a few flights ;), we reached on my birthday morning and everyone's mind was scrambled up in indian heat till then. Worst timing ever. Hehe should have just missed train and stayed in gurgaon was the first thought as I got down from train.

Our mind exaggerates the situation sometimes. It was playing tricks with me, got me all emotional. Well, my husband of course came to rescue. Just relax, sit down and let it flow. Don't react to it.

What also hit me was everyone around me is so simple and normal, I might have escalated it into a tv serial drama. If you start looking at others' pain and confusion, you just want to hug them with all the love and compassion. Attachment is the root of problems. Should we not be attached? My next whole post is dedicated to how I  looked at this. Lets get back to my birthday.

Finally, landed met everyone. All of them just wanted to celebrate my birthday, shower me with gifts. What I wanted to do was whole another thing. Another realization hit me, when we love someone so much, we don't see other's love for us or others' love for them. Ego, anger start ruling the notion of love. Dangerous combination, takes you nowhere but in your self pity guilty state.

Aah by lunch, I was with my parents cutting cake, showing yoga tricks and enjoying my day. We all sat, talked about the whole misunderstandings, pain, confusions and resolved it. Then comes the birthday gift, lot of yoga books and bhaang was the ultimate gift, yes the one you drink on holi.

Bhang brought with it a lot more deep profound talks on contemplating people, situations and accepting things for what they are. Bhang pakora, thandai, rabdi, ras malai aha all delicacies we missed in US were gorged on. The day that started with so many complaints ended up being one of the best birthday parties for me.

This birthday just didn't give me company of my parents, it helped me be my age. That child in me has to take a backseat so the world doesn't look so unfair. Its only when you grow up, you see things as they are, not how you could manipulate them to be.

I could be blabbering now, when I see this on my 40th birthday , older me will laugh at this trying to be wiser post.

Thanks

Namaste

Aaaah my India trip :) From seattle to Gurgaon Part 1

I was really suspicious of all those airline reviews. We always travel by emirates which I hate. Hmm why, lets see screaming toddler, gossipy indian aunties, people lining up outside washroom and not cleaning after themselves, iodex rubbing grannies, stewards hating themselves for the job.

We were not aware of dates this time so emirates filled up,we decided China Eastern. If you see their reviews, you might just dread the experience.

I loved it. Yes, it was amazing. Whole flight was full of polite silent people.

It was like a different civilization. Aaah we had a full school trip of students on flight and none of them made noise. When they wanted to use washroom, they used themselves. They ate themselves. No fuss, no tantrums. Hell, they groomed themselves, took care of their bags. One kid sat next to us and she was better than any adults on emirates. Perfect setup. Pin drop silence.

There were no inter seat talks. Even one year olds were comfortable. We couldn't order food in advance but it worked out well. We are good with salads, fruits, peanuts. Green tea was the tea. It actually was the best option. Seats were as comfortable and spacious as other airlines. The air hostesses just had some problem with english but they were not arrogant. They tried to understand as much as possible.

Washrooms were super clean, people were careful and polite. No one stood up for bags, they waited till the person in front seat got out. They closed windows when asked to. The kind of discipline and peace this flight had won us over. Their flight instruction videos were entertaining. I swear first time in life, if something happened I would have known how to inflate that safety jacket. In the end, there were some awesome stretching videos to recover from flight while sitting on your seat. Their entertainment section had enough movies, tv shows to help us doze off. Some of the chinese movies were heart touching. No I didn't cry or may be I did. They even brought water at regular intervals to keep people hydrated.

The only downside is we have to go all the way to lax to catch this flight.

If you are a peaceful considerate person who can be silent for 20 hours while enjoying salads, this is for you. Smile smile, rude stares might get you banished psychologically.

 If you like to talk to people in flight or want indian food and english understanding staff, don't take this one. It might frustrate you and others.

Aaaah my India trip :) From gurgaon to bhopal Part 2

Well the more you prepare, you are given tougher set of questions. Something like this happened in our recent trip to India. We were all fired up, meditated, listened to all those sadhguru bk shivani. With full on confidence, as we stepped in, god decided to prank us like in the funniest ways we couldn't have imagined. Life is a real prankster, all of us just try to imitate in the silliest human ways.


It was the best journey, it took us ahead in life, it just wasn't lenient with us this time. Hmm plan was to get a layover, catch a flight from gurgaon to bhopal. We cancelled train tickets for this. As my sister was getting her ticket checked up on the gate, she says pull out yours. Hehe I was like you booked our ticket. And then the moment of realization, no one booked our tickets. I presumed she got our tickets, she presumed we got ours. The same moment could have been nastier, meaner. Ohh but what can you really do if not laugh at this situation. It was really hysterical as we stepped into our brother-in-law's car again and burst out in laughter. Our stomachs hurt literally our jawlines were pulled apart.

Aaah finished night off with awesome dinner. This time when we got up in morning, we were pretty serious about catching this flight. All set, started on time, waited in queue hehe again missed flight by 5 minutes. We might have lost some 15 minutes on a wrong turn. Gates closed sir and you have luggage. Ohh how much we pleaded but nah. Well, this time we lost cash too. Again, prank huh we will take it, took some selfies, texted people who thought we were trying to surprise.

Called my bro-in-law, he was superb at handling this. While the radio played " Mayoos na ho dost aise hota hai " we looked for more places to eat. Made our own food, ate slept and again set out to catch train this time. See how you get broke.

Full determination god, 4 hours before train. we reached station 2 hours before time. What to do, again we decided why not see India gate. Sometimes you don't plan a thing and every moment just goes by in rhythm. Other days you plan and there is not even an ounce of fun. Hung out there, started in time hehe again missed a turn.

Don't worry, this time we got the train. Texted everyone, finally on board to bhopal.

More drama in next post.

Thanks,
Namaste