Now I am back in Pondi at the same internet cafe. I am here to update.
Yesterday after I left the internet cafe, I went to a very sweet shop and cafe called Kasha Ki Aasha. It is women owned and operated. I had a dosa pizza. It didn't taste like pizza but I wanted something Indian-ish that didn't have curry.
After sitting there for a while, I started speaking to a group of American guys sitting nearby. When I upload the video and get a photo from them, I will upload the images. Anyway, it was fun talking to them. Turns out they grew up in Chicago and two of the guys are studying to become priests at a divinity school in Kerala. The third guy worked for Lehman and now does NGO business stuff here. Their families are orginally from India so it was interesting gaining their perspectives on India and religion in India. It is always nice to speak to people and find so many similarities in cultural values and religious issues.
I returned by tuk-tuk. My friend Arpita called me. She moved to a cheaper guest house. Unfortunately, someone tried to break into her suitcases. Fortunately she has them locked up. Unfortunately, while trying to pick the locks, they are now jammed. Her decision is to keep the locks jammed and go shopping. I don't know if the plan worked to her financial benefit but we had fun shopping today.
We went back to Fabindia. I bought a couple more Kurtas because my other ones are smelly and I don't feel like washing them in this rainy weather. When I get to Goa, it will be dry and sunny and I will hand wash all my Indian stuff. We got silly and bought matching earrings -- also not financially smart. But when I convert the rupees to dollars, it seems okay, right??? Ten bucks...
I took Arpita back to Kasha Ki Aasha and tonight we will see a movie in Auroville about Laughing Clubs. Arpita and I talked about women in India. She said that about 70 percent of Indian women are beaten by their husbands. There are villages near her home that have no daughters (ie female babies are killed by boiling them in milk). I truly hope that more international pressure can change some of these horrible injusticies.
Tomorrow I will take a 3 hour meditation class and then we will hire a taxi to take us to a temple about 2 hours away in Chidambaram. The story behind the temple is basically a "dance-off" between Shiva and Krishna. Arpita will take photos. I will take video and will upload soon.
Love from Pondi -Noa
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Aurobindo in a day
I am staying at a guest house that is part of Auroville. It is a strange city of about 2000 people, many from France and Germany, and many Indians. They all follow the teachings of Sri Auribindo and his follower, a French woman who passed away in the 70's, whom they call The Mother. In many depictions of the two of them, it kinda looks like Jesus and Mary or something similar.
Separate, (and I learned that people are touchy about this) is the Sri Auribindo Ashram which is located in the center of Pondicherry. The city of Pondi, as it is commonly referred, is about 15 minutes drive from Auroville.
The city of Pondicherry has two parts. There is the Indian part, that looks a little shitty and run down, partly due to the fact that is was damaged during the tsunami. And there is the French part which is much nicer. The French part is still motorbike filled and crazy but it has some cute shops and quiet gardens.
I made a new friend yesterday who is also staying at the same guest house as me. Her name is Arpita and it is her first time travelling alone. She is from the central part of India. Her sense of local culture, her confidence on the motorbike and my general sense of being made for a very good combination.
After I took a tour of Auroville and it'sholy site-- this central golf ball structure that holds dirt from 140 different countries, we rode to Sri Auribindo Ashram. I bought a couple books from the ashram library. The space itself is pretty small. There isn't a place to sit or learn. People leave their shoes outside and bow/meditate before a bed of flowers. Then that's it.
We then went for lunch and checked out other hotel options. I like where I am staying but there are zero activities on site. If I stayed closer to town I could easier grab a tuk-tuk/3 wheeler or walk to civilization. Another option is to stay here for the weekend and go to Chennai a day early and see some temples. I have to leave from Chennai which is a 3 hour drive from here anyway on November 3. My flight is at 9am. Anyway, sorry I am thinking as I am typing.
Back to the activities of yesterday. We walked along the beach,visited an Ayurveda hospital. I didn't have a treatment done but the place seemed pretty legit.
I bought toe rings. My friend Arpita told me about all the signs to show that a woman is married. Toe rings - matching, one on the same toe on both feet is part of the deal. Arpita took photos. She will e-mail them to me.
We then had tea/coffee at Le Cafe on the beach in Pondi and then made it back to our guest house for a shower and dinner.
The rains came down again last night but it has been dry all day. There was a tremendous boom with every stroke of lightening. I think it is the most impressive thunder that I have ever experienced.
Signing off from Pondi. Love -Noa
Separate, (and I learned that people are touchy about this) is the Sri Auribindo Ashram which is located in the center of Pondicherry. The city of Pondi, as it is commonly referred, is about 15 minutes drive from Auroville.
The city of Pondicherry has two parts. There is the Indian part, that looks a little shitty and run down, partly due to the fact that is was damaged during the tsunami. And there is the French part which is much nicer. The French part is still motorbike filled and crazy but it has some cute shops and quiet gardens.
I made a new friend yesterday who is also staying at the same guest house as me. Her name is Arpita and it is her first time travelling alone. She is from the central part of India. Her sense of local culture, her confidence on the motorbike and my general sense of being made for a very good combination.
After I took a tour of Auroville and it'sholy site-- this central golf ball structure that holds dirt from 140 different countries, we rode to Sri Auribindo Ashram. I bought a couple books from the ashram library. The space itself is pretty small. There isn't a place to sit or learn. People leave their shoes outside and bow/meditate before a bed of flowers. Then that's it.
We then went for lunch and checked out other hotel options. I like where I am staying but there are zero activities on site. If I stayed closer to town I could easier grab a tuk-tuk/3 wheeler or walk to civilization. Another option is to stay here for the weekend and go to Chennai a day early and see some temples. I have to leave from Chennai which is a 3 hour drive from here anyway on November 3. My flight is at 9am. Anyway, sorry I am thinking as I am typing.
Back to the activities of yesterday. We walked along the beach,visited an Ayurveda hospital. I didn't have a treatment done but the place seemed pretty legit.
I bought toe rings. My friend Arpita told me about all the signs to show that a woman is married. Toe rings - matching, one on the same toe on both feet is part of the deal. Arpita took photos. She will e-mail them to me.
We then had tea/coffee at Le Cafe on the beach in Pondi and then made it back to our guest house for a shower and dinner.
The rains came down again last night but it has been dry all day. There was a tremendous boom with every stroke of lightening. I think it is the most impressive thunder that I have ever experienced.
Signing off from Pondi. Love -Noa
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Quiet Healing Centre
I arrived safely at Quiet Beach. The rain started last night. Right now it is barely drizzling. I am waiting for my taxi to take me to Auroville. I will get acquainted to the village, have a little lunch and find out some activities that I can do over the next few days.
I will get some lunch and return to my cute space here/ Taxi here. will update more later.
I will get some lunch and return to my cute space here/ Taxi here. will update more later.
Goodbye Sri Lanka
I had a great time in Sri Lanka. It is not the most beautiful country but there are definitely beautiful parts. The tea plantations are really gorgeous as are the mountains. I didn't have time to see the beach towns (where Julia lives) but I will be on the east and west coast of India so I will have plenty of beach time over the next two weeks.
I uploaded a few videos onto youtube. I think everyone will get a kick out out of the "How to make elephant dung paper" video. Right now I am using the free internet station at the airport, so going between windows on this computer would probably be difficult.
It was great spending time with Julia. Unfortunately she now is on another six hour journey back into the hills for work.
When I arrive in Chennai, hopefully there will be a driver waiting to take me down to Pondi, as Pondicherry is commonly referred.
I am very happy that the weather has held up so far. No rain except for some sprinkles in the mountains. How is the weather in SF? It usually gets so cold around this time of year. Here I am dripping sweat even when there is "air-conditioning". I suppose this is good for getting rid of toxins, but it also makes for a very stinky journey.
Will update more later. Friends, feel free to reply to any of my posts. -Noa
I uploaded a few videos onto youtube. I think everyone will get a kick out out of the "How to make elephant dung paper" video. Right now I am using the free internet station at the airport, so going between windows on this computer would probably be difficult.
It was great spending time with Julia. Unfortunately she now is on another six hour journey back into the hills for work.
When I arrive in Chennai, hopefully there will be a driver waiting to take me down to Pondi, as Pondicherry is commonly referred.
I am very happy that the weather has held up so far. No rain except for some sprinkles in the mountains. How is the weather in SF? It usually gets so cold around this time of year. Here I am dripping sweat even when there is "air-conditioning". I suppose this is good for getting rid of toxins, but it also makes for a very stinky journey.
Will update more later. Friends, feel free to reply to any of my posts. -Noa
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
back from knuckles
Julia and I arrived safely back from Knuckles Mountain Range. It was beautiful. We ended up meeting a friend of Julia's boss' father who happened to own a house in knuckles. The place is vacant and he has servants living there and tending to the place. It was a nice villa hidden away between tea plantations and forests. The servant, Yoca, took us on a hike yesterday. We saw water buffalo hanging out.
I of course walked ahead of Julia and Yoca and went way past the house. BUT I saw wild MONKEYS! They were big.
The day before we went to an elephant orphanage. I will upload some video from the elephant orphanage tomorrow.
Here is one video. I love how serious he is about making elephant dung paper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0AQmILd-k0
Tonight Julia and I will have a nice meal here in Colombo. Doing laundry at her boyfriend's apt now.
Lots of love to you all. -Noa
I of course walked ahead of Julia and Yoca and went way past the house. BUT I saw wild MONKEYS! They were big.
The day before we went to an elephant orphanage. I will upload some video from the elephant orphanage tomorrow.
Here is one video. I love how serious he is about making elephant dung paper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0AQmILd-k0
Tonight Julia and I will have a nice meal here in Colombo. Doing laundry at her boyfriend's apt now.
Lots of love to you all. -Noa
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Sri Lanka
I arrived safely in Sri Lanka. My friend Julia met me at the airport in Colombo. We stayed at a very nice guest house last night. We are using her camera so we will upload photos later.
I have a few videos. One is from our ride in the 3-wheeler (tuk-tuk) last night. Another is from this morning at the guest house. I finally had a good night's sleep! My congestion is much more manageable. We have another video introducing you to a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast called Stringhoppers. And then there is a video of us on the bus. There is a front row 'reserved for clergy', a second row 'reserved for disabled' and a third row 'reserved for pregnant women'. Interesting.
We had dinner last night at a place called The Cricket Club Cafe.
Right now we are at a cafe and will be going to another restaurant, Barefoot Cafe, for the film screening The Age of Stupid about climate change.
Tomorrow we will head towards Kandy and Knuckles Range.
I have a few videos. One is from our ride in the 3-wheeler (tuk-tuk) last night. Another is from this morning at the guest house. I finally had a good night's sleep! My congestion is much more manageable. We have another video introducing you to a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast called Stringhoppers. And then there is a video of us on the bus. There is a front row 'reserved for clergy', a second row 'reserved for disabled' and a third row 'reserved for pregnant women'. Interesting.
We had dinner last night at a place called The Cricket Club Cafe.
Right now we are at a cafe and will be going to another restaurant, Barefoot Cafe, for the film screening The Age of Stupid about climate change.
Tomorrow we will head towards Kandy and Knuckles Range.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
more day 1 updates
From the synagogue here in Mumbai.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGTRPJIeDWM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDjjo7Hs0SM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGTRPJIeDWM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDjjo7Hs0SM
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
DAY 1 in Mumbai
I arrived to the hotel last night at 3am. Still congested from before. I walked around for about 40 minutes this morning. Couldn't find anything that resembled a cafe for breakfast so I walked back to the hotel.
I saw that some people order room service to their room. The food comes from somewhere outside. I don't know if it's intentional but I have no toilet paper. Good thing I brought back-up.
I also forgot my camera which totally blows. I am trying to figure out how to upload the video I took this morning.
Basically I am in that typical dreamlike state that one feels when one only slept 3 hours and is hopped up on sudafed.
Will update more later. Tomorrow I fly to Sri Lanka. Julia will show me the ropes.
Here is the video from today. Hope it works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0pvKZgwEKk
This is when I was in my room recovering from my morning walk. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbLJGrXUsR0
I saw that some people order room service to their room. The food comes from somewhere outside. I don't know if it's intentional but I have no toilet paper. Good thing I brought back-up.
I also forgot my camera which totally blows. I am trying to figure out how to upload the video I took this morning.
Basically I am in that typical dreamlike state that one feels when one only slept 3 hours and is hopped up on sudafed.
Will update more later. Tomorrow I fly to Sri Lanka. Julia will show me the ropes.
Here is the video from today. Hope it works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0pvKZgwEKk
This is when I was in my room recovering from my morning walk. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbLJGrXUsR0
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Quiet Healing Center
Received an e-mail confirmation from Quiet Healing Center, a guesthouse at Sri Auribindo Ashram in Pondicherry. It included the following note about dinner. Love it.
Thanks for your confirmation , we expect you any time from 7 pm onwards.
Dinner is served at 7 pm , Do you want us to keep some for you or would you rather stop on the way here to eat ?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Karuna Trust
Today I received an update as to what is going on with a great organization that I support in India:
Our project - Support 5000 women out of sexual & economic abuse - which you supported, just posted an update with news about the progress and results your generosity has helped make happen. Here's the unedited update from the field:
www.karuna.org
Dear Noa
Thank you - an update from the field
By Steven Murdoch - Project Manager
Having just returned from India I am pleased to report that this project continues to give much needed support to women who are experiencing caste discrimination, sexual harassment and domestic violence.
It saddens me; however, to report that our project partner continues to receive many requests for assistance from young women who have been subjected to despicable sexual assaults from men of higher castes. These heinous crimes continue because there is little or no redress under a rural legal system which is largely ignored by police and local authorities.
It is for this reason that our project partner works tirelessly to bring criminals and their protectors, including police and doctors to justice.
In my last report I shared the story of Diksha Ashruba Shinde and her sister Panchshila of Shindi village, Beed District. The sisters were violently assaulted by a group of nine men in an unprovoked caste attack. Both Diksha and Panchshila were punched in the face and chest and beaten with sticks and iron rods.
Thanks to the work of this project, the doctor who refused to admit the sisters to the Kaij Rural Hospital was suspended from work and five police constables and one police inspector were suspended from work under section (4) of prevention of Atrocities Act.
The project’s team have also successful won compensation from local government for the sisters as a result of their advocacy work. The project’s publicity of the case drew the State Home Minister of Maharashtra to make an unprecedented declaration that any village accused of repeated atrocities would find its development fund frozen by government.
If there is a silver lining to this case it is that, with the help of the project, both Diksha and Panchshila, have fought to turn disaster into opportunity. Both sisters have enrolled for and been selected to attend Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work in Mumbai, where they will train in order to dedicate themselves to the empowerment and development of Dalit Women.
Thank you for your continued generous support for this project. Your generosity is giving young women like Diksha and Panchshila a voice and bringing criminals to justice.
It saddens me; however, to report that our project partner continues to receive many requests for assistance from young women who have been subjected to despicable sexual assaults from men of higher castes. These heinous crimes continue because there is little or no redress under a rural legal system which is largely ignored by police and local authorities.
It is for this reason that our project partner works tirelessly to bring criminals and their protectors, including police and doctors to justice.
In my last report I shared the story of Diksha Ashruba Shinde and her sister Panchshila of Shindi village, Beed District. The sisters were violently assaulted by a group of nine men in an unprovoked caste attack. Both Diksha and Panchshila were punched in the face and chest and beaten with sticks and iron rods.
Thanks to the work of this project, the doctor who refused to admit the sisters to the Kaij Rural Hospital was suspended from work and five police constables and one police inspector were suspended from work under section (4) of prevention of Atrocities Act.
The project’s team have also successful won compensation from local government for the sisters as a result of their advocacy work. The project’s publicity of the case drew the State Home Minister of Maharashtra to make an unprecedented declaration that any village accused of repeated atrocities would find its development fund frozen by government.
If there is a silver lining to this case it is that, with the help of the project, both Diksha and Panchshila, have fought to turn disaster into opportunity. Both sisters have enrolled for and been selected to attend Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work in Mumbai, where they will train in order to dedicate themselves to the empowerment and development of Dalit Women.
Thank you for your continued generous support for this project. Your generosity is giving young women like Diksha and Panchshila a voice and bringing criminals to justice.
Stay tuned for more updates. And thanks for your support!
Steven Murdoch and the Karuna Trust team in India
www.karuna.org
Monday, October 12, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Prenatal Yoga Class Forming
New Prenatal Yoga Class Forming November 15 in Duboce Area
www.noaarts.com
www.noaarts.com/prenatalyoga.html
Details: This is based on DEMAND. SO PLEASE CONTACT NOA if you are interested in being part of this exciting new group of moms.
The class will be on Monday and Thursday 11:30-12:45am. Sunday evening class at 6:30-7:45pm. Time can change depending on moms' schedules.
Blog beginning
The blog has begun. I am going to document my year. My year, the Jewish new year of 5770. My year, my second year of marriage. My year, the year I travel to India and Sri Lanka. Who knows what other things will mark this new year!
I will try and update this space with my travels October 20 through November 13. I will arrive in Mumbai at 1am on October 22 so I will go right to sleep (hopefully) and then stay in Mumbai the evening on the 22nd.
I will try and add some photos and video as I go and may do a few test runs in the next week or so to make sure I can load photos and videos with zero problems.
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