Patnem Beach has some Pretty Awesome Yoga
It was supposed to just be a drop in class when we visited Swami Shiva Nand Jee’s class on Patnem Beach. We followed the painted fabric yoga signs to a tranquil hut behind Mountain Palms Restaurant. Three and a half bamboo thatched walls enclose a yoga studio. Large beach mats lay over the sand with rows of yoga mats facing centre. Many people are intimidated by the photos of our instructor pasted on the walls. His body is contorted in all directions. Legs over his head, postures where he is shaped like a pretzel. He’s not going to make us do that is he?
Arrival at Patnem Beach in Goa
It is 5:00 am when we stepped off the train in Goa. The morning is still dark and nobody is around. We seem to be the only people getting off at this stop. The beach is deserted. So we pull up a chair at one of the empty beach bars and wait in the dark., dogs are sleeping at our feet and we look out towards the sunrise to see large mounds in the sand. Are those cows we see? Yes, the cows own the beach in the morning and they are sleeping along with everyone else. It is calm and tranquil.
The Great India Rail Seat Switcheroo
It happens regularly, but foreigners would never notice. For every overnight train trip, payoff and bribes happen with a flurry. You see, the trains in India are always over booked and many times you won’t get the seat that you want or sometimes even what you paid for. In 3AC for example, the berths on one side of the train have six beds and six seats. If you are one of the unlucky people sitting on the other side with three seats and two beds, you are in trouble. Two people on the lower berths will not be sleeping tonight! That side of the train should have 3 and 3, but it only has 2 beds for three people.
India Rail, Train Travel Tips and Tricks
Train travel in India can be intimidating for a fist timer. It can be confusing and overwhelming, but once you figure it all out, it isn’t so bad at all. The easiest way to book the train is online at http://www.irctc.co.in/ Make sure to have a printer handy to print out your ticket. However a trip to the train station is always an adventure. The first thing that you will need to know about train travel in India the class system.
For overnight bookings you will definitely want to be comfortable, here is some information to clear up some of your questions.
Top 5 Memorable Massages in the World
Yesterday we had our first massage in India. It was a memorable experience and you can read about it here. We had the full body Ayurvedic Massage will therapeudic oils. I am sure that we will be having more as we go through our travels. It made us think about the other memorable massages that we have had on our past travels. We love getting a massage, it is a luxury that we cannot afford to have regularly at home, so we take advantage of it wherever we go. Some experiences have been better than others and some stand our in our memories better than others. Here is a list of our Top 5 most memorable massages
The Beautiful Backwaters of India – Video
Enjoy this video of our Backwater Houseboat tour in Kerala India. For 24 hours we had our own private boat, chef and tour of the Backwaters of Aleppey. Nothing gives you a first hand view of travel like a video.
Ayurvedic Massage and Indian Bath in Alleppey
I learned how to shower like a true Indian today. How you ask? Because I had a woman bathe me!
It all started when we arrived at Palmy Lake Resort after our houseboat tour. Once we settled into our spacious bamboo bungalow, Marcy the owner asked us if we would be interested in a massage.
Dave and I love massages, but it seemed way too early in our trip to have a massage. We normally treat ourselves to one after we have been suffering for some time.
Travel and Dealing with the Little Things.
It never fails. Dave and I never have smooth travels. Everyone else seems to hop on busses and trains with ease, catch their taxis without fail and be on their way in an instant. Not us. Now I am not complaining, our problems are always very trivial and everything always seems to work out, but we tend to get there the hard way. Here is a list of what went wrong on our first excursion in India and then how they rectified themselves.
Our Houseboat Backwater Tour of Alleppey
We had read that the backwater tour was a must when visiting Kerala. According to The Lonely Planet It may be one of the most expensive things that you do in India, but it is well worth it. So naturally, we booked a houseboat and splurged on a cruise the backwater canals and tributaries of Alleppey. The boat was exactly what you would want for an exotic Asian Cruise adventure.
Begging in India
Dave and I have a hard and fast rule when traveling. We never give money to beggars. We feel that it only contributes to a begging society and that giving money to people perpetuates the problem. If tourists keep giving people money just because they ask, how will they ever have the ambition to try to make a better life for themselves? However, how can a person not give to a man that is crawling on the ground because his legs are paralyzed, or give to an old man with a deformed foot limping through the streets? We didn’t give to either of these men when they asked and I regret my actions. I stuck to my rule, but felt that it was the wrong decision.
We Are Back in the Travel Saddle Baby
On the first day upon arrival in India I awoke to have a cold shower. The room was dense with humidity that the ceiling fan was trying desperately to cut through. As I turned on the tiny drizzle from the shower the ants on the walls scurried to safety. We even were given a bar of soap and two towels to our surprise, but we had to use our own toilet paper. A scoop and a bucket were supplied to rinse we assume. At least I hope it was because I couldn’t make the shower work. So I filled the bucket with water from the tap and used that scoop to pour the cold deluge over my head and body. The water ran to a drain beside the toilet and the entire bathroom was soaked. I hadn’t been this happy in months!
Chill out in Varkala, India
If anyone is worried about the craziness of India or just doesn’t want to start of their vacation with a hassle. We highly recommend flying directly to Trivandrum and catching a pre-paid Embassador cab to Varkala. The trip from Trivandrum Airport to Varkala is about and hour and it cost us 1000 Rupees which is $20 US dollars. We are staying at Skylark Guest house and find it a great value.
Our Top Adventures in Asia
In Six Days we will be in India. While it is drawing closer with every minute, it doesn’t even feel like in less than we week we will be on the other side of the world. We may be starting in India, but we have a lot of countries on our itinerary and we can’t wait to visit all of these destinations. So we want to share with all of you the adventures that we are most looking forward to in our upcoming travels. Will Dave be wrestling in Mongolia or will we find ourselves taking part in a Pilgrimage…Most Likely. We just can’t wait to get this adventure started!
I Can’t Believe We Are Going to India
I can’t believe we are going to India. In our minds, you haven’t truly traveled until you have gone to India. All the real hard core backpackers go there for a tough, character building, frustrating and yet enlightening travel.
Ranthambore national Preserve India, A Tigers Haven
Despite my years watching nature shows on tigers and living in a football town where no animal bests the “Tiger,” nothing prepared me for my experiences seeing two tigers in the wild at Ranthambore National Preserve in Sawai Madhopur, India. Visiting a wildlife reserve is one of the easiest ways that a traveler can contribute to a destination having a very high impact. By supporting wildlife sanctuaries, local people can learn that they can make money out of protecting their wildlife rather than destroying it, your money goes directly to helping the wildlife and you can easily inform the world about the plight of the endangered animals and what you can do.
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