free from work - SURAT, GUJARAT.
Oh what a amazing experience. Thank you to every single person who shared some fun moments with me during these days.
carneval show at indian wedding - SURAT, GUJARAT.
- Part two from my show job I did in Surat, Gujarat for two days with some lovely people.
It was a MAD and fun place to be at. Didn't plan to be in that kind of situation while traveling in India.
dance show job - SURAT, GUJARAT.
- So I got this job opportunity in Mumbai. A agency that hires people in the show and entertinement business for shows and events. My friend Helena was one of the dancers but they needed one more so I thought, why not try something new?
We ended up doing a carneval show on a rich mans wedding inforont of houndreds of people.
And belive me, this was a crazy huge Indina wedding. It was like in a movie. Just a crazy and fun experience and a good way to earn some money while traveling.
andheri west, chai & ricksaws - MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA.
- Rickshaw rides, street life, chai hubs & temple visit on a warm sunday.
Bombay, a city where there's always something crazy happening.
food night market - MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA.
- Everyday in Mumbai was exciting. Just to be around Dani again, meet Tahir and her lovely flatmate Helena. To explore new places, try new things and start to pick up some Hindi words.
Here's a few photos from when Daniella and Tahir took me to a food night market on the coastline of Mumbai.
This city sure got it's own kind of street food.
beach slum, elephanta island & reunion - MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA.
- One of the top things on my list was to visit one of my best friends how's working in Bombay.
After not having seen her for a long time it was great to reconnect again. And it was all so weird that nothing felt unnatural when we were sitting together in the back of the cab, driving pass the big city life and slums, up to her neighbourhood.
Like it wasn't a big dela that we're meeting up first time this year in India.
Last year we worked for a bit together on the coast in Sweden after not being there for almost two yeast, and the other time before that was when we separated in Australia 2013 before she flew home.
Last year we worked for a bit together on the coast in Sweden after not being there for almost two yeast, and the other time before that was when we separated in Australia 2013 before she flew home.
I guess I got used to see friends at all kinds of corners in the world and it's not making a way too big impression of it anymore. Oh nomad life.. ;)
rocky town - HAMPI, KARNATAKA.
- A beautiful place out in nowhere is Hampi. Me and Arya walked around for hours and hour, enjoying it all.
During two mornings I climbed up the monkey temple to see the sunrise with the company of monks and monkeys.
orphanage yoga, palace & night train - MYSORE, KARNATAKA.
- I had the most amazing private ashtanga yoga class, kids yoga and just a great time in general in Mysore. When it was time for new adventures I took my new indian friend Arya with me on the night train to Hampi. Before bedtime a indian family shared their dinner with me.
Nandi & namasté to all you beautiful people! Except the old man who was grabbing my but at the market..! But don't worry. I gave him a lesson... ;)
cs, orphanages & yoga - MYSORE, KARNATAKA.
- After the tea gardens in Kerala, me and my friend went different directions.
I wanted to spend more time deeper in to the indian culture and yoga. So I ended up taking a night bus to the ashtanga capital, Mysore in Karnataka.
As I arrived I had organized a couchsurfing place at some french students apartment. And just a few minutes later I already got opportunity to teach kids yoga in a couple of orphanages in Mysore! One for girls and one for boys. What a amazing time we all had!
trekking around the tea - MUNNAR, KERALA.
- We spent two nights up in the cool hills of Munnar. Views I'll never forget...
tea garden trekking - MUNNAR, KERALA.
- After a crazy and mad bus ride up the mountains we finally reached Munnar. Stunning views, beautiful nature, lovely friends, funny locals and heaps of tea wherever you go (out of the city).
peaceful & fully alive city - FORT KOCHI, KERALA.
Fort Kochi for the second time, but only as a stop-over before heading up to the green mountains and hills of tea...
wander in the town of backwaters - ALLEPPEY, KERALA.
- Me and my polish friend Marta took of to Alleppey, where you'll find the backwaters. Stayed there for a night to wander around, meet up with some of my friends and enjoy good food.
leaving the beach & loved ones - VARKALA, KERALA.
- Saying bye to the beaches of Varkala, my café & yoga jobs and my beautiful mum. Packing my 60L backpack and leave for new adventures with my polish friend I met on the beach and at the ashram.
faces of the arabic coastline - VARKALA CLIFF, KERALA.
- The time I spent on Varkala Cliff while working there got me so many beautiful and warm hearted friends. North Indians, south Indians, international, all kind of. Home to cross paths with them again. And some of them I've already crossing paths more than ones!
simple life filled with freedom - VARKALA, KERALA.
- Train rides, sunsets, beaches and temples.
ashram life - SHIVANANDA ASHRAM, KERALA.
For you guys who don't know what th heck I'm talking about.. Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Hindu cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction.
So while exploring Kerala with mum, we decided to visit one of the biggest ashrams and most known in south India as much as worldwide.
In the end we ended up spending less time than planned. There's so many different ashrams in India & outside of it too. So to just find the "right kind of" ashram for you is as hard at to find the right yoga teacher training if not ever harder. Shivananda was not our style but we're still grateful for trying it out.
Let me know if someone of you guys been to any ashrams before!
yoga in the morning & jam session at night - VARKALA, KERALA.
- Happyland was the first place I went for yoga at in India, the first place I got a job and started teaching yoga in India. It was also the place I met new friends, played drums in the night, gazing at the ocean before and after morning meditation, looking up at the sky filled with stars lighting up my gypsy eyes and making life long memories.
greeting the sea side - VARKALA, KERALA.
- Varkala beachcliff. The magazines says: quiet and peacefull beach.
If you compare with Goa, sure, anything is peacefull then. Even Mumbai! But compare to all the beaches I've been to in west India and around Kerala. The are much better.
But It was a good start on our trip to see how the tourist side looks like. And we still got close to the locals, avoiding being sorrunded by too many tourists.
There's heaps of restaurants at the cliff, markets for shopping and some yoga places.
50-60 rupees with a ricksaw from the local beach and you'll be in Varkala city. The city is like any other place in India. You'll cover your shoulders and knees. Avoid also too tight clothing. But at Varkala Beachcliff you can go loco and be in a bikini on the beach, wearing western style summer clothes ect. But be prepared that there will be (almost everyday) teen boys and old men walking on the beach spearing at you, taking photos, even without asking, spend the half day watching you or if you're a bit unlucky as I got one day, you might see someone jurking off while overlooking you and the other halfnaked foirgners.
The photos above from the beach at taking just after sunrise or sunset. So there will be much more people there depending on season.
Varkala, or any other place in Kerala is the best in the WORLD when it comes to Ayuverdic treatments. So get ready for that!
UPDATE:
A local friend of my just told me that his families restaurant, the tibetan market and 12 other places burned down last friday! No one got hurt! But I'm still so sorry for all the peoples loss. No homes, food, money or buisness... Sending them love and light. x
You can read more about it HERE.
A local friend of my just told me that his families restaurant, the tibetan market and 12 other places burned down last friday! No one got hurt! But I'm still so sorry for all the peoples loss. No homes, food, money or buisness... Sending them love and light. x
You can read more about it HERE.
train down south - KERALA.
- Traveling with trains is the biggest MUST DO while traveling around India. If you go only to north Goa for somephsycadelic parties and turisty shopping and feeling hard core taking the local bus to the airport instead of a ricksaw or eaven a fancy car, then I have to say that you haven't done India. You've been enjoying yourself alot in the more turistiest part of India. You've been to Goa, but you have'nt been to India.
Trains trough India is beautiful, magical, mad, crazy, and it will teach you more about India than a 400 dollar turist trip or any daily guided tours.
Buy the cheapest ticket at the railway staton (if you can manage it) or go spend a few extra bucks at a travel agency and then spend a few hours at the low class train with the locals.
