Arrived on a full moon...

Ciao!

As some of you know I will spend all of September in Chennai (Tamil Nadu, India), to study at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, a yoga centre established by T.K.V. Desikachar. Here is a little extract from their website which I think well encapsulates the spirit of the centre:

From children to pregnant women, from stressed out corporate executives to people in pain, thousands have sought the portals of Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram over the years. No two people have been taught identically. In keeping with Patanjali's philosophy, the KYM has played a significant role in popularizing yoga as a holistic science that stems from a well founded theoretical basis, rather than as mere exercises for physical fitness. The focus of all activities at the KYM is that anyone who wants to can practice yoga, that is specifically suited to his or her needs, and experience its multiple benefits.

The program begins on Monday and is called "The Heart of Yoga", the same title as Desikachar's wonderful book. It's my first time learning in India under a continuous program and I look forward to a full immersion of theory, practice, meditation, chanting and pranayama. 

I am also excited to be back in Chennai. I landed early this morning (4am) and was immediately brought back to my memories of 2009 by the mixed scent of incense and plastic burning, the sight of jasmine in women's hair, the rhythmic honking of trucks, rickshaws, motorcycles and cars, and the humid, polluted heat that welcomed me when I stepped out of the airport. I smiled for most of my ride to the guest house. 

I am staying in a lovely Bed and Breakfast called Footprint B&B. It consists of 3 separate apartments, each with a shared living room, kitchen and dining area. This means a lot of privacy and a great set up for a long stay - I will be able to cook and store food! I have taken some relatively interesting but not particularly beautiful pictures of the space, mostly for the joy of my family and close friends. Here they are:

 Bedroom (with AC and fan!)

 Lovely bathroom with shower (to be pictured to the right).

 Sitting area and dining room outside my door. Kitchen door behind the dining table.

Partial view of the living room and apartment entrance.

Not only is Footprint lovely on the inside. It also stands on a quiet road just off a bustling area of town, so that  the rooms are quiet and yet I am within walking distance of some great stores (including Anokhi - a shout out to Lena for first introducing me to this lovely store and organisation!) Here is an image of the street just outside the guest house:

So many beautiful trees! Here is another that caught my attention on a short walk today:

With all these tress come a plethora of  birds! On my first neighbourhood walk this morning I was hit in the back of the head (and stunned!) by a crow. Not sure if it meant to bump into me -- could it be it wasn't looking where it was going? Or maybe it was protecting some eggs? Mmmmmhhhh... David said it was likely a "Welcome Back" hit and run. It was funny. There's also a wonderful bird that sings a long whistle that goes up in pitch. I remember it from my last time here but have no idea what it's called - anyone? I sometimes mistake it for a man whistling at me on the street, but so far no one has been so Italian in their ways.

My B&B is also located next to one of the most upscale neighbourhoods of Chennai. I followed a little gang of three men who seemed to be taking their daily exercise walk around that neighbourhood. I found the area peaceful, lush and beautiful, although the high walls and heavy gates encircling some of the properties made for a sharp contrast with the people sleeping in the streets that I had glimpsed earlier today.

Three men walking.

I also found this interestingly perched young man on the walk - he smiled at me but did not let go of the rail.

On my way home I stopped at a Amma Nana Convenience Store to pick up some nuts and fruit. I took this shot of their selection of pulses - while it's a rather sad looking display, it's one of the most wonderful sights I could imagine: Dal paradise! (David, imagine what you could do with this?)

I am now back in my room. I have unpacked, set up my speakers and computer, created my first blog entry, and feel ready to sleep (although jet lag might keep me up a few more hours). Tomorrow morning I will see an Ayurvedic doctor who was highly recommended by my temporary next door neighbour Ana (who was also studying at KYM for the past 2 weeks and is on her way to the airport to return to Miami as I write this). I am curious about the visit and look forward to meeting the doctor with the hope that I may find a way to rebalance my system after almost 2 weeks of antibiotics. (For those of you who have not been in touch with me recently, I am particularly interested in the doctor's perspective on the effects of the antibiotics I have had to take for 2 weeks for Lyme disease - a bacterial blood infection I unexpectedly contracted from a tick while in Sicily in August.)

In the next month I will use this blog to share images, stories and thoughts about my stay in Chennai. Please feel free to comment or get in touch with me by email if you have any thoughts.

Wishing you all well,
B