Same same but different

Mysore again :o)  This time for my own practice is something I look forward to every year.  My work involves helping others in their practice (and I love it) but it is lonely practicing on my own every day.  So, the thought of coming back to practice in the Shala keeps me going.

When I arrived, there was the warm feeling of coming home – to familiar places and faces.  Yet, having been away for a year, you spot the differences right away.

The House

• My landlord has cleaned up the house in the last year.  The cupboards in my room have been painted.  I also have a big mirror in my room now so I don’t have to run outside to the living room all the time.
• My best friend, the washing machine, has been serviced.  However, the pipe carrying the water to the drain cracked so the 1^st time I used it, the water sloshed out of the washing machine and all out onto the floor!
• Based on traumatic ‘insect’ incidents from previous years, I had a minor panic attack when I saw an ant running across the bed.  Thankfully, it was only  1.  There is also a big Spider living in corner of my bathroom.  I am glad to say that we are living together peacefully.

Mysore businesses and people

• The businesses centred around the yoga students (breakfast and lunch places, are slowly starting up.  Of course they are on Indian time which means most are not open yet.
• Guru ( my coconut man)
  - He’s the same, still black hair and white beard (although the beard is longer).  Coconut prices have gone up though .. 12 rupees, instead of 10 now.
• Maney (my rickshaw man)
  - 1^st thing he asked for were “groundnuts from China”.  The garlic ones are his favourite.  I gave him 5 packets, one of which he’s hiding one packet in his rickshaw (just for himself)
  - His rickshaw has been fixed up .. new canvas, spare parts for the engine .. good thing too cos it was always breaking down last year.
• My Muruku boy / young man
  - He used to call me Jimmy (cos he couldn’t pronounce Denise).  Now he doesn’t call me anything because he’s probably forgotten my name.  Anyway, he recognised me and welcomed me with a big smile and a free handful of my favourite muruku and coconut biscuits. Mmmm

The Shala

• There are 2 new benches outside the Shala, across the road, perfect for people to sit on whilst they have their coconuts after practice.
• There are lots of new faces in the Shala.  I used to be the token Asian girl .. but not this year.  Mysore has been hit by the Asian Invasion (mainly women).  Lots of Koreans and Taiwanese who tend to go around in groups.  There are actually 5 Singaporeans in Mysore right now, which is the most I have ever seen at one time.
• Needless to say, the practice itself is great.  Sharath tends to start with a few days of Led Primary, just to whip us into shape.  There are already 2 Led classes (430am followed by 6am) and both are full!  I’d say there are about 130 people here now.  This time last year, we only had 1 Led class for at least the 1^st 3 weeks.  I am not even in the early batch; which means I only start at 6am, a luxury I am treasuring.
• The clock in the Shala (which used to be first 10, then 15 minutes faster than normal time, is now almost 25mins faster!  I wish someone would just change the Shala clock instead of making us run on 2 times – Shala time and normal time.
• Considering that there are many new people and we usually need a while to settle down, the energy in the Shala is surprisingly very quiet.  Sharath’s count is great  - slow but steady, perfect to help keep the energy in the Shala calm.

In a flash, week 1 is over and we’re kicking off Week 2.  It’s Devali (Deepavali back home) next Wednesday so I’m getting myself mentally prepared for the scares of firecrackers going off at all times.  I set one off last year and almost gave myself a heart attack.  My friend set off a monster one last year outside the Shala, which lasted almost 2 minutes!  He was thrilled until Sharath handed him a broom to sweep up all the debris :o)

Oh .. I started on my 1st Xmas Stocking (I have 3 to complete again this year .. but within 2 months ... eeeks!!).  Here's what I've done so far ...