Kai and I decided to fly to the western coast of India to Trivandrum from Chennai and from there take a bus to Varkala, a small resort perched high on a cliff overlooking the Arabian sea. I was suffering a very bad chest infection and ojn arrival had to make my way to the hospital to pick up some antibiotics. Drugged up, Kai and I settled into a lovely hotel that had hammocks in the garden and direct views to the ocean. We needed some rest so spent the next 5 days lazing in hammocks and writing. We found the only espresso coffee house and made it our daily destination for a break from writing. It was relaxing at Varkala and we were surrounded by some tourists and of course never far from Indian reality, ie the dumping of rubbish down the side of the cliff. Spotless from above but venture onto the beach and behold an avalanche of plastic. The sort of thing you might see in the Tate modern. Time was up at Varkala and not much had happened, which was the plan. We were rested and encouraged by Kai, we were about to embark on a 2 week course at the Sivananda Ashram near Nyeer Dam. 2 weeks of Satsangs [chanting], meditation, early mornings, Yoga and veg food. I was a little apprehensive, yet intrigued to discover Ashram life. And so it was, we left Varkala, caught a train, then a bus and headed into the hills to the Ashram.
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