Hello and welcome to my blog on my travels to India. My trip will be from January 7th until May 27th 2008. I will try and keep updated posts on where I am and what I am doing as well as pictures when I get the opertunity to upload them. I hope you enjoy reading this forum, as it will be a fun way of documentation for my self and hopefuly a good story for you to read.

So I am here at the Singaproe air port waiting for my flight to Vancouver. It's been a crazy last few day's, and I am defently ready to be comming home. I don't know why but getting home seems to been quite a pickle so far. Every thing that can go wrong seem's to go wrong to the point of it all being rediculus. Its almost like I dont actually want to come home.

Even this morning getting to the air port prove to be a task of testing my nerves. I went to catch the bus to the airport and could not find the bus stop that I had located to day's before. It took me awhile before I found another stoped that seemed to have the same bus stop buy it, but what do'ya know. I got on and it was going the wrong direction. I stayed on the bus thinking that it would be going around the loop in no time and as I nerviosly watched my clock and the time get closer to my departure time I was getting pretty anxiuose. I dident think traveling would be so nerve racking!

Any way's. I am pretty much home free now. I am looking forward to the ferry bout ride... and even ferry food! It will be nice to be back on the west coast.

So as it's all comming to a close, I want to sum it all up some how - but I dont think I can. It's been far to big to sum up. It's kind of like trying to present life in a sentence. Not to easy. But it's been very good. I have enjoyed my travel. They have beeen both fun, exiting, and at times very intence. I am glad I came on this jurney alone. It gave me an opertunity to think and ponder many things, I cant say I figured it all out but some things seem to make more sence now then they did 6 months ago.

Howdy all!

So I'm in the process of rapping things up here in India, it's been quite the trip, I kid you not. Lot of interesting things have happened and of course I have met many of interesting people on my why.

So I stayed in Rishikesh for about a week, and I loved it. It was really laid back, and all around very beautiful... you should go. After Rishikesh I headed on up to Ganga Tree (where I am right now) to see the source of the Ganges. And let me tell you the source is wild! The river up here is very energetic, and completely wild. Its just coming out of the mountains and you can tell its on a mission. I was going to walk up to the glacier that forms the wild waves but due to a sour stomach and limits on time I have decided to leave that for next trip (oh yes I am sure I will be back).

So tomorrow morning I start my two day epic bus journey back down to Delhi. I am not even going to try and fathom how many hours there will be on a bus, all's I know is I'll be suffering from a mighty tired bottom by the time I roll in to the capital. Delhi Òtake 2Ó should be good though, I will have about five day's to rap things up and get ready for my journey home. I am really looking forward to seeing my family and friends.

My initial taste of Hardware was not such a nice one. Apparently it is high season here, and as I took a stroll around town I realized that hotel room rates have been severely jacked up. It's probably the most expensive prices I have seen since I have been to India. Usually there is a budget hotel lurking around every corner, but not here. It took me about two hours to finally find and decently priced room, and it was still pushing it for what I got.

So I blitzed Agra, spending less the 24 houer's there and now I'm doing the same with Delhi. I checked my flight ticket at the air port and it's all good so this mornign I will hop on a bus to Hardawara. It should be about a 6 houer bus ride - peice of cake.

Here are some pictures of the Taj.

I'm in Agra right now. Its pretty laid back here, despite being one of the most popular tourest destinations in India, do to the fact that it bares home to the world famiouse Taj Mahall. I will go visit the masterpeice tomorow morning, I hop to be there when it opens at 5:00 am in the morning. Hopefully its not raining like it is right now.

After this I will head up to Deli for a breif confermation of my flight ticket and then of to the hill's for the last leg of my jurney - Rishekesh and Hardwar, and in to the mountains to the source of the Ganges.

The stay another day syndrome strikes again!!!

So I was going to depart from Varanasi today but things changed and it might be a few more days before I hit the road again. I met up with some people today and where going to jam tomorrow, so as they say here in Varanasi, "why not".

I also got a chance to visit the site of Buddha's first sermon, which was a bunch of monastery's and some old ruins of Gopas and the like. There was also a cutting of the tree in which Buddha was enlightened under growing there, that was pretty cool - actually to tell you the truth it was pretty hot... I am constantly sweating these days due to the scorching heat and I'm chugging water like there's no tomorrow.

20 day's before I get on that plan home bound.
Shazam!

It is getting so hot now that its hard to sleep at night, and its only going to get hotter as the day's go on. I will have to be careful not to get heat exhaustion.

The up side is that its also leechy and mango season so its dirt cheep to buy loads of awesome fruit.

Varanasi. It's kind of like an old twisted kingdom, that fell out of some dust fantasy book on an old man's shelf.
It's charming. Made up of convoluted back ally's that seem to go on forever, and take you to a new place every time.

So I started reading "A Search In Secret India" today by Paul Brunton, and so far it's an amazing book. It's a true story about one man's travels through India in search of great yogi's. The story starts off with him meeting a Egyptian magician who uses spirits in the inner worlds to do miraculous feats such as mind reading, and the lot.

It's kind of funny that I started reading this book today for last night I had a strange incident that I could not tell if it was real or not, but had a certain feeling of the presence of a spirit. I sort of came out of a dream state last night about 2:00 am in the morning, to this intense feeling that there was something in the room, yet my body and eye's where paralyzed. Kind of like when your in a dream and something bad is happening but your body can not move. I was conscious, yet still in-between waking reality and dreaming. I was a bit scared, but not overly frightened. I remember trying with all my might to jump out of bed and confront whatever was there with turning on the light but my body would not move an inch despite my best efforts. I finally took to chanting "Aum Namasivya" and "Jia Ganasha" for protection, yet I could not say it out loud, as hard as I tried it only resounded in my mind. Within a minute, my body gained control, and I was able to jump out of bed, and turn on the light. I am not sure if this was real or a dream, but it felt pretty strong, and it kind of shook me up.

I met a man early on in my trip who could not stay in Varanasi more then a day for he said it was far to intense for him. And it's true, it is pretty intense at times. I went down to the burning Ghats today and you see people in the flesh getting cremated. It's a world away from what I know in North America. You would scarcely ever see a dead person in all your life in are society. And yet, it felt quite natural. It's true the cremation ground felt like a temple, and there was a scintillating energy that was noticeably perceived as you walked through the Ghat.

And lastly, I am enjoying this town on a shoe-string budget. My bank account is empty at the moment, which is actually and nice change. I am able to live simply at the moment with just the basics. I will probably be here for another 4 days or so, then move on back up to the Himalayas on the Indian side for the remaining days of my adventure.

I got back in to Katmandu today after quote an adventure. A 16 day trek through the Himalayas, followed by a two day white water rafting expedition with some friends I met along the way. All of it was really out of this world, it was like nothing I have ever done before. The magnificence of the mountains and the thrill of a changing forest every day was unparalleled.

Next stop Varanasi. One more month in India. I will be checking out the mountains and the sacred places around the Indian Himalayas.

*Journal Entry*

- The rain forest I have been through in the last few day's are both beautiful and enchanting. I'm glad I decided to walk to Pokara.

*Journal Entry*

- I saw the Superconsciousmind.
it's it.
It's the other world or reality that I have been wanting to be in.
- Waling today is very hard, due to the hills and partying the night before.

*Journal Entry*

- 21 years of living is quite a feet.
- I feel Content
- Went to hot springs via. Tractor = bumpy ride (no suspension)
- Birthday party was awesome

*Journal Entry*

- Today's been a hard day in all respects.
- 21 tomorrow
- Went and Did Ganga Sadhana, it was nice to be there again.

*Journal Entry*

-It's Freaking Cold!
-Getting close to the pass now. There is a wonderful crew of people that I will do the pass with.

*Journal Entry*

- This landscape is remarkable. You really don't get it until you've been there.

*Journal Entry*

- Tiered and Sore My head.
- Trekked with two ladies I met today. Jasmine (Canadian) and Lizzy (UK). Nice trekking with them.
- I Will paint tomorrow.

*Journal Entry*

- Before it's all said and done I would like to bring mom Hiking in the Himalayas
- My Body's is sore and tired
- Meditating on Himalaya Mountain tops is quite possibly the best place in the world.
- I might be experiencing signs of altitude sickness.
- Walked through fields of wild marijuana today. Here weed is actually a weed.

*Journal Entry*

- On My Way To The Anaperna Trek. I am Glad I am Going alone.
- I love being at small Hotels Run By Families. There's so much love, and the food's great

New deal yall'

So one thing lead to another and I am heading off on a trek in Nepal, and I have also extended my trip by almost a month. I have seen some pictures of the trek, and it looks out of this world. It's called the Anaperna trek and its right up close to Everest. It's really cool because I will be able to get out in to the countryside and see the locals and all that. I will post the pictures of the trek when I get back in about 17 days.

The pictures below where taken on the road from Darjeeling to Katmandu. This was one of the most beautiful stretches of road I have been on during the trip. Its very interesting for when you enter Nepal it feels like your in Mexico or South America. Then as you start to rise up in to the mountains it starts to feel like your in the Andes, or in Peru. I was really surprised how different it was to India. I was not expecting such a shift.

So I got to the Bhutanese border and I was denied!

They said a looked funny, and that funny looking people where not aloud....

Ok, it wasent like that, really. Apparently rules changed and they wont let you cross the border with out a visa now. That's a bummer. You have to pay 200 dollars a day to visit. But it's all good. I am just going to head for Nepal now. I have a 20 hour bus ride coming my way, so that should be a blast as usual.

Still the Bhutanese excursion was not completely in vain. I was able to see glow bugs for the first time in my life on the bus ride last night, and it was just as awesome as I thought it would be. Stuff like that really blows your mind, it's hard to believe its actually real, and its on this planet. Its pretty heart warming really.

Fo' real ya'll,
got to catch my bus....

Still in Darajeeling. I might leave today... maybe.

What can I say, its chillin man. I went and saw a local rock band play in the pub lastnight they where pretty on it. All covers but they had em down good (bunch of old clasic rock tunes). Its pretty interesting how musical people seem to be here in Darajeeling, expeshely the younger generation. I am constantly hearing garage bands going at it. The other day on a walk there was a group of teens sitting around playing guitar and singing. I was pretty empressed when they busted out some Pink Floyd.

And now here is my humble kick at the musical can. This number's called "Wash Bucket Blues"

Wash Bucket Blues

One month to go. It seems like so little time, and yet its still about 1/4 of the hole sha'bang.

I swear once you settle down in a place more then a few days it becomes very hard to leave. You get in to the rhythm of that specific town and you start feeling right at home. You find the best places to eat, the best chai cafe's, and the best internet lounges ( believe it or not a good internet shack can be hard to find in India - it feels like your on dial up). And once all these things come together why leave? Believe me, it can be mighty tuff to hit the road again once you have found a place to stay.

So. Next in the order of operations. Heading down to the cross-roads. I will leave Darjeeling tomorrow, and get down to another town where ill make an on the spot decision as to if I should go see a bit of Bhutan, or head strait through in to Nepal on my way to Varanasi. I think I might flip a coin when I get there. The thing is I am running a bit short on time and the extra excursion to Bhutan's border would take another 3 or 4 days.

And here's some more snap

Darjeeling has been quite a trip so far. It's a beautiful city perched at what seems to be the top of the world. People here are kind and relaxed, which is a nice change from the more intense cities I have been to.

I can't help thinking about how cool it would be to own a guest house up in the hill's here and maybe an attached tea plantation. Its definitely some where I could see myself settling down. Also starting a business would be a lot cheaper here then other parts of the world.

What next? That be the question.

I have about one month left at the moment, and 4 cities to see. Sounds pretty good, but there is still that sense of being rushed that is creeping in. No worry's though, whatever I don't see this time I will just have to see next time.

Since last post it feels like I have been to the end of the world and back!

I Spent two days in Krishnagerie at Cambridge school with Pavy’s family. I had a great time, it was nice to rest and have a few home cooked meals after life on the road. Sanath Kumar ( Pavy’s Dad, and head master of the school) wanted me to have a discussion with the teachers of the school to discus “East meets West”. I felt like an ambassador from Canada. We talked about various issues, from education to health care, infrastructure and even the new age of consumerism. It was a dynamic discussion, and helped distil many thought that had been circulating in my head since I have been in India. We discussed so many things in are 2 hour meeting, and all came away inspired by the sharing of knowledge.

After this short but very sweet visit, I have continued on my journey and seen many wonderful things including one of the most amazing structure my eyes have ever seen. A few Kilometers out side of Valor in Tamil Nadu there is a golden temple. Newly built yet it is already very vibrant. The grounds are stunning, and spotless ( a rare site in India) and at night the hole temple is lit up and shines like a spectacle from a fairy tale. Its truly amazing. Seeing it shine instantly mesmerizes you in it’s beauty.

Onward! The next few weeks will be jam packed with traveling and seeing places. I will be on the road almost every day, visiting temples and cities at a mile-a-minute. I am looking forward to this and to what awaits - there is surely a surprise around every corner here in India.

Holly molly bat man, where did February Go!

Its like someone snapped there fingers, said a little magical spell, and a hole month was dreamt away. How refreshing. Now its time to get back to business!

So here's the down-low. I am heading back to you know where (Bangalore), the city that seems to call me back every time I try to leave. It's like a good friend who engages you in some wonderfully deep conversation every time you make for the door. I am glad to go back, for I am intrigued to see what it say's this time.

I will be visiting the ashram of Swami Nithyananda for Maha Shiva Ratri. I have been looking forward to this day for the last month. It is an all night festival where devotees sing and chant in reverence to lord Shiva. It is on a auspicious day when there is no moon in the sky. The symbology of the night is that of keeping a vigil once a year in return for Shiva watching over you every other night of the year. I went to a Shiva Ratri festival last year at the Saltspring yoga center and it was most wonderful (you should go if you're able to make it to saltspring this year!). The festival will be taking place on the night of March 6th, so I will be hopping on a 16 hour bus ride tomorrow to make it there on time. Wahoo, 16 hours of luxury A/C sleeper bus coming my way, and amazingly I'm still exited... imagine that!

I have had a most wonderful accidental visit it in Travandrum. I have completed my Uvic application for visual arts and I will post my art work here for all to see ( this is a rare opportunity - just ask my family and they'll tell you I have a unusually consistent track record of hiding my artwork.) So enjoy, tell me what you think. You think I'll make it in to the program? Time will tell.

Yes, in time every thing will be told. But if you wait for it, you'll surly miss the step in-between. all the best aubrey

Today I started working on my application for the Uvic visual arts program. I have to turn out 10 pieces by March 8th. So will see how it goes over the next few days, I will post my work for you all to look at.

I found a nice little flat for 100 RS a night, which is about 2.70$ a night. This is about the cheapest you can get in India, unless you are willing to live in awful conditions. I will probably hand here for the next few days and just turn out artwork and study some of my reading material I have picked up along the way.

Alright, so here's the scoop. Yes I made it out of Bangalore and I set off for the Murugan pilgrimage (a famous pilgrimage where one visits 6 holy temples or house's of the Shiva's son Murugan), but Murugan had other plans in store for me!

I made it successfully to the town of Tirupparanundram where the first temple abides, and had wonderful darshan. Thinking that I would make good on time, I started to make my journey to Tirichendur - or at least I tried. You see there is a bit of a language in India. True, most people speak a little English, and some quite well. Yet there is still a large proportion who do not have a complete grasp of the language. This is where my journey took a bit of a detour. It was a all night bus ride, also consisting of a stop over, and some how on the way I ended up getting on a bus bound for Trivandrum rather then Tiruchendur - notice the slight similarities in the words. So I get to what I thought was the right city, and ask people for directions to the temple, and no one seems to know how to get there. At this point I must admit I was getting a little frustrated, I could not believe that people did not know where the biggest temple in town was, and I was getting late for the early morning puja. After asking about ten people, I came across a lady who spoke good English. She enlightened me to the fact that I was in the wrong town. At this point I was kind of spinning in circles, amazed at the mix up. I stared to make plans to go to the write city, but as a checked my e-mail I noticed there was a message from my school (University of Victoria) informing me of a application deadline that was coming up - a month earlier then I thought it was supposed to be. So I decided to stay in Trivandrum, and finish up my application. I conceder this Murugans will as the hole detour happened so smoothly. I will probably stay here for another few days, finish of my application and visit a recommended healer here (which I had been planning to visit after the pilgrimage) and then I will start the pilgrimage again.

Once again, my dear India, you teach when life takes its twists and turns, and you think its all wrong - you have to go with the flow. Flow with the river of life, and you will make it to your destination. True, it might not be the way you intended or planed out, but it will always be the right way.

Still In Bangalore!!!

Now its getting kind of funny. Every time I go to leave Bangalore, something good comes up, and I just cant say no to staying. It's what I call, "the just another day syndrome". A two day visit made its way in to a week and a half, but I am very glad I had the chance to settle down here and experience it completely. It has been a very good visit.

Yesterday I went to a all day Puja and Homma fire ceremony, which was really great and very powerful. I met a very nice family through a friend of mine in Canada (thanks Simone!) and they invited me to this special function that lasted from 10:00am to around 8:30 pm. It was out of this world (seriously), they where particularly auspicious ceremonies that where done and are said to bestow the seekers prayers and wishes.

Next stop Madurai. I will be taking an all night sleeper bus (aka: hotel on wheels) at 10:00pm, and will arrive some time in the morning. This is a very nice way to travel in India, for you dream away the many hours of travel and are completely oblivious to the terrifying driving conditions - lest you get woken in the middle of the night to a loud horn or the bus screeching to a halt.

Here are some snaps. (most are of me and the Sanath family)

Since my last post I have come a long way. I have been to beautiful beaches, met wonderful people and sat with some of the most renowned swami's of modern day Hinduism.

Things are going well. I have started to live one day at a time. Every one I talked to pre-trip who told me not to make solid plans and not to get uptight about my itinerary has been correct. India gives you a journey, there is no way you are in command. This is a pretty all right feeling, being guided by whatever comes your way.

I have been in Bangalore for about 5 days now. A lot longer then I had been planning. Some things kept me here, so I'm a little held up... still no in the traditional sense. The longer I stay the more things unfold. For example, today I will be visiting with a friend of a friends mom and dad (who I have not met, nor know at all) yet they have been kind enough to take me out for the day to see some of the sites around the city ( which despite my extended visit I still have not seen).

After I leave Bangalore ( if it lets me leave) I will be heading down south to visit some more temples. For Siva raterie (a big Hindu festival honoring god Siva) I will probably head back to... you guesed it, Bangalore! There is a well known swami here who is hosting a all night event for this holy festival.

So this is things lately. There calm and steady, and coming together very nicely.

I think I might be getting a mandolin today, and if so you can expect to hear more music on this page.

Well well well,

Off to a new month already.

I am now on my own in these vastly beutiful country. It is quite a thill to be able to make a decision at the drop of a hat and see it come true almost as fast. This is the thrill of traveling that you do not get when your at home. This is a joy and a study, for I am able to get out of the daily ritual and push the boundries of what is possible.

I have made my way up the west coast of India on a train, which took two days. It was a very fine train ride indeed, and luckly for me time seemed to morph in to a different state where two days seemd as if one dream too awake to the following day. I am now in the city of Pune, and here I will be for a day or two as a gt ready to embark on a three day pilgramage to see 8 Ganasha temples. This is a traditional pilgramage that many Hindu's take and is symbolic of new beggingings and the start of a jurney. After I have finished the pilgramage will go back down to the city of Banglore and meet up with the Swami's I traveld with during inner search.

"And untill the time comes to take you away, live your heart in every single day"

On the road again, today is a traveling day. It's nice to see the country side as we zoom by off to are next destination. Its raining here right now, its the first time its rained on this trip so far.

I am really starting to slip in to the flow of India. At first it was a little bit of a shock but as the days role by its starting to feel very normal, and almost more comfortable then my home land.

Plans are starting to come together for my solo mission in India, 4 months of free time to discover this new land. I have been thinking about how I want to get around this rather large country, and one idea has been on my mind a lot. This idea is that of traveling by motorbike, I think it would be a very fun and interesting way to travel the country. The other option of course is to take trains and buses, which would be fine, though I would miss out on seeing a lot of the country side close up and personal. Also a motorbike would free me up from having a 30 to 40 pound load on my shoulders all the time. Of course I have to look in to the hole idea more, and decide if its safe enough and affordable. I still have another couple weeks until I am at that point.

All is well on the western front, every one seems to think its ok. I keep on looking for the new fires ablasing, but am satisfied with there long awaited desent.

Wow, I have been in Rameswaram for a day and a half and it feels like a week or more. Time is really different in India, its not only the fact that it feals like you have walked in to a hole new word and era, but your hole conseption of what happens in a day just kind of shifts.

This morning I went to the temple to take part in a ritual where you bath in the 21 well's that are in the temple. The purpose of this is to cleans your self of certain vibrations, or karmas that are binding you in conciosness. It has been done at Ramanathaswamy Temple for the last thousand years or so and its the only place on earth that does somthing like it - truly amazing. It seems like there is some gem just around the corner, waiting to be descovered in india as if it is a real life story book its just that sureal.

It's my last day in Rameswaram, we depart tomorow for Tiruchendur to visite another ancient temple that has managed stand strong through the ages. Im looking forword for what lies ahead, and all the adventures that awate.

Tonight we head for Rameswaram Island. This is a getting out of land that reaches from the tip of south India towards Sri Lanka. I am looking forward to this, my father has told me about it before and it sounds like a very magical place.

I will be taking a all night train from Tiruvannamalai to Rameswaram, and from what I gather this should be a interesting experien ce, for the trains in India are the life blood of transportation with many years of history to back them up.

Tiruvannamalai has been a great experiences. The highlight of the journey was visiting shri Ramana Mahareshies ashram on Arunachaleswar Hill. Sri Ramana Mah reshi was a saint that lived in India who is very well known. I will try and post a picture of him, for there is a good chance that you will recognise his face. The fascinating thing about his very small ashram (two rooms, with very little light - more like a cave) is that they beamed with a intense vibration of bhakti, or love. Being in the small rooms made you simply feel at peace, and you really did not want to leave the presence of the vibration. I might even come back here on my way back to some of the temples I am going to be visiting, it is simply so beautiful.

So that's what's cooking in India, it's a sea of new experience. I cant even start to convey all the things I am going through, each day is about a week of normal living (if not a months worth!) in relation to all the things you experience and imbibe. I cant believe how fortunate I am to be able to be here and come in to contact with all the amazing things this world has to offer.

Off to India I go!

The last 10 days have been a worle wind of exitment and new experianceses. I am now on my way to India and I cant wait, im am pretty exited! First stop will be Chennai, where I will quickly hop on Indias world famouse rail service and head to Tiruvannamalai, where we will be visiting a very famouse temple. (picture) I will be staying here for about 2 days. There are about 11 days left for inner search (travel studie program I am on) and then I will be on my own. I am looking forword to my solo mission, though its going to be quite differeanty then traveling with a group. I have a lot of planning to do in the next week, I will start marking up my map of India with places to go. Ill keep you posted as to what my plans are.

So I went to a festival called ThiaPusham on January 23rd to celibrate the Hindiu god Lord Murugan. It was such a wonderful festival, like nothing I hvae done before. We started at 2:00 am in the morning and headed for the celibration at Batuw Caves. The festival draws around 1 million people every year for the celibrations and to partisipate in what the call "kavitie", otherwise known as pennance. You will see some of my pictures posted that depict some of the types of penince, such as people putting hooks in there back and pulling chariots or having exstensive head dresses and alters mounted on there heads atached with hooks to there skin.

I did partisipate in kavidy, but not at this extream nature. I took what is called milk kavidy wich is a pot of milk that is carried on your head up around 275 stairs to the caves (which where the biggest caves I have ever seen). At the top the milk is pored over the diety's sacred veil as a offering of devotion. I have to say there was some pretty intence fealings and vibrations created fom partacing in the milk cavidy. After I was finished I was "on a cloud" so to speak for a good 2 houers later. I even had a guy come up to me and tell me I was beaming, and he couldent get over how much i looked like Guru Deva.

People seemed to think I looked like a spectical and as a result I was photographed a bunch and even made it in to the maylasian paper. Here's a photo of it.

And here are more photo's for your viewing pleasure

Tomorow I head out from the island oasis of Langkawi Malaysia, I have a had a great time here, its been warm, tropical, and any thing but laid back! Yes, I have been very busy here, but in a good way. The yoga classes that I have been attending have been very valuble, and I have learned a vast amount of insite in the last 3 days.

To give you a better understanding of where I'm at here's a map.



So as you can see I am just a short ways away fom thailand so its pretty tropical, I still cant really beleave I am in a place like this! Its very beautiful, big picture perfict beaches and hot hot sun.

Heres some more pictures.

So I am in the Siem Reap air port right now waiting to depart for Langkawi Island Malaysia where thr group will be staying for around four days. It is here that we will start are yoga classes, and aperently we will be staying at a resort. I have never been to a resort before, so it should be interesting.

Cambodia has been a very good experiance. There where many new places, people, and concepts that I came in to contact with. One thing that was good to be exposed to was the consquences of war. In Canada I have never really been in contact with any thing that resembled war, I have read books and seen pictures but I am not sure if I every really understood it. I still dont feel that I have fully grasped it, yet I did get to see first hand a country that has recently gone through the tragedies of war and there where many lessons to learn.

Today was the second day of inner search and there was no sitting around! We left for our day excursion at the crack of dawn. The first place we went was a river that had 1000 Shiva lingams (traditional Shiva alters) carved in to the river bank. We performed Ganga Sadhana here (a practice where you dispose of meandering thoughts in to the river, and then thank the river by offering a flower) for a nice amount of time, and then carried on to visit another temple.

Tonight we will be going out for a formal dinner, and Sadhaka Dandapani told us there would be a show also, i am not sure what to expect but I am sure it will be great.

I will be in Cambodia for about 2 more days, and then its off to Malaysia to start our yoga classes, I am looking forword to them, it is going to be a time of great learning.

Today was a very lade back day, I think I had two naps... or was it three? Last I checked it as 28 degrees out, so there is not much you can do when it gets this hot expert for, shalacksing? I busted out the guitar today, and finished writing a song I started in the airport. I'm posting the recording I made, it a pretty noisy recording, there's some construction in the back ground but that's all right its now part of the song - also known as found sounds?

Sinner to a saint

these are huge files, sorry if they take forever to load.

Today was a good day, I kept it pretty simple and things just went from there. I walked down town and got some some sandals which where desperately needed. All I had up to this point was mammoth hiking boots (good for hiking - not good for 30¡C weather). So after that and getting a bight to eat I headed down to the buddist temple to start working on a painting of it. I was just getting comfortable when a guy came over and asked me what I was doing, I showed him my work, and we talked a bit. He told me where he came from, and what he was up to in life. And then he walked off and another guy came over, and we talked for about 45 minutes. He was wanting some help with english pronuncations, so I corrected him on his speech, and he was very happy that I helped him out. He said he was heading to the orphanage and asked if I wanted to come, so we scooted off through town and visited with the kids for a bit. I did some magic for them and we played ball for a bit. It was pretty neat, though like most of the city its quite dirty compared to what I am used to. I guess its just a shift in realities. Its good to be aware of other world conditions, it gives some reference to go buy, rather then a one sided view. I would have taken some pictures, but I just did not feel comfortable, they had already been kind enough letting me in to there home.

So another day goes buy, in the smoky haze of the Cambodian sunset. The city buzzes on, alive with anticipation of the many tomorows.

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photo's

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So im chillen in Siem Reap Cambodia right now, waiting for innersearch to start (the travel studie program that I will be going on from January 15th - Febuary 4th). And like I was worned by my friends mom it is quite an eye openner and a bit of a shock.

I went for a walk today through town and out in to the country side a bit, and it was something else. Streets are crowded, there is lots of garbage and it seems to be an all round different way of living compared to little old Victoria BC Canada. I really enjoyed the country side, it was very beautiful, and the kids there where pretty funny, the seemed to really enjoy my presence walking down the road. There are stands set up everywhere, with the dominant focus of street meet and moped cleaning/fixing stations. This is a moped dominated city hands down, every one and there mother rides a moped. Its kind of funny because you can really tell wich are the "suped up" mopeds, the hotrods of the little wee bikes. You often see a hole family piled on to one bike, like a mini caravan. And as for trafic rules and reg's, there pretty much out the window, people drive like packs of fish, weaving here and there, darting out side there lane and back in again, but at least there not going to fast due to the speed restrictions a mopeds naturally has.

So I have 5 more days till inner-search, and I will just be working on web stuff, music stuff, and fun stuff. Ill keep you posted, and hopefully be getting some pictures up soon (I didn't take any today on my walk, I am still not sure of about where to use it in regards to having it stolen). Send me feed back if you want, love to hear from ya'll.

So here we are, one day before my departure. WOW, so much to do over the last few days, It is complete chaos, and yet I think I am making head way, don’t ask me how. I have never packed for a trip like this, so it’s a bit of a learning curve. For example: I spent 100$ on toiletries, and over the counter drugs (like pepto-bismol, and hand sanitizer) the other day!!! That’s ridiculous! But apparently its all needed.

So tomorrows the big day, and I start this epic adventure with a ferry ride over to the mane land and get to navigate the foreign and mysterious Vancouver transit system. If all goes well and I make it to my plane on time I get to look foreword to a nice relaxing 19 hour plane ride... Hold up &(%(#*!!!! 19 hours!!! You got to be kidding me! Talk about a test of endurance, I would rather run a 20 km marathon any day. But that’s the way it ought’ to be, I aint complaining... well maybe a bit.

So I'll leave ya all with my best of regards, and a smile sent your way, I will miss you all very much over my 5 month quest, but I hope you will tag along for the ride.

So far things are going well in the packing stage of the trip I have 19 days until departure I still do not have my Indian Visa. I have sent my aplication for the third time, for the first two time I made a mistake on the money order (the same mistake twice) its cutting it very very close to the wire here for it is the christmas season and every thing seems to slow down in the mail. I am not woried about this really, I know it will be fine. I have also bought may air tickets, though I have not recieved them yet. And on the same vane of forgetfulness and lack important documents and nesesities I have lost my perscription to my malarie medicine and also some other antibiotics that are needed if i get real ill in the stomach. I have to pay 10$ dollers for the docter to write another perscription.

So you can tell things are going smoothly and all acording to plan.

The one good thing about the posponing of the Visa is that I will be able to stay in India for the maximum possible time if I want. The Visa is only good for 6 months. This gives me the greatest possible opertunity to get to my most earened for goal of getting to mount Kailash in southern Tibet.

This leg of the jurney will take me from January 7th to Febuary 3rd 2008.
I will start in cambodia and end up in south India.

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