Rein checking in -
"It seems to have come so fast all of a sudden; our last night in Bangalore. While Simon is busy starting to pack our stuff, I feel a need to reflect on the last three months.
On February 7th we arrived in India, pretty green behind the ears regarding what this amazing subcontinent has in store for us. We are instantly drawn in by the sounds, colours and smells and spend a good week seeing all the important sights of Delhi. We're exploring our first bazaars, temples and palaces, with fresh eyes not yet realising that these magnificent monuments are the first of dozens to follow over the following months.
It is a great luxury that we can ease into Indian live from the comfort of our good friends, Gaurav and Snigdha's home in South Delhi, where we get acquainted with authentic Indian hospitality which means we instantly gain a few kilo's in body weight during that first week. But hey, we are not complaining! We are feasting to our heart's (and stomach's) delight on all the North Indian delicacies that are presented to us, almost constantly day and night.
Then comes the day that we leave the relaxed comfort of their home and our real adventure starts, with a 36 hour train ride into the big unknown. During the journey we watch the landscape and climate change slowly into a more (sub)tropical environment. Upon arrival in Bangalore we were warmly welcomed by Jai of Better Future, who, together with his colleague, Cheryl, has been instrumental in getting us settled into our new home for the past three months, as well as hooking us up with the NGO's for our respective volunteer assignments.
Our time in Bangalore is one of being out of our comfort zone in a lot of ways and being exposed to new and impressive experiences. First of all with our volunteer work that saw both of us performing tasks and handling situations which were completely foreign to us, such as children's education and women self-help-groups. But also where our living arrangements are concerned; after 25 years of independent living, I find myself sharing a house again, with youngsters half my age! But all these experience turn out really well and allow us to learn and grow.
We travel to exotic places, ranging from ancient Hindu capitals, elephant inhabited rain forests and deserted, palm fringed beaches. We make new dear friends and rediscover our sense of adventure. We even start feeling at home in this big, noisy and polluted city!
And then of course there is our first step on the road to enlightenment: our ten-day Vipasana course. This turns out to be the hardest thing I have ever undertaken in my life. I practice my determination and persistence as I sit through 100 hours of silent mediation. I learn how to transcend my bodily pains, as I sit through 3 hours of stillness each day, meditating without moving my body, not even raising an eyelid! I am exposed to the teachings of Dhamma, which talk about the impermanence of everything and the futility of forming attachments to anything. I am frustrated and full of resentment as the course progresses, but I stick it out. Now that I have come out on the other end of it, I find myself reflecting regularly on the wise and powerful messages that were given and see myself practicing the traits of tolerance and compassion, still ever so slightly, but I feel a seed has been planted. While, I don't feel like continuing the required practice of a minimum of two hours of mediation a day, I do feel that Vipasana has left a profound mark and I am convinced it will continue to be part of my life in one way or another, maybe even in the form of a repeat course, when I'm ready for it.
And now, I'm sitting in the transit lounge of Singapore Changi Airport. I started this posting two days ago and am continuing it as I wait to board my fight to Perth. The dawn of a new chapter in our sabbatical adventure! I am curious and excited to see what this stage will bring.
But first we will relax and recharge our batteries at mum & dad Andrew's warm home. Then I will be ready for new, unexpected and exciting adventures... Stay tuned as "A road to Bangalore" continues beyond India!"
- Rein checking out
"It seems to have come so fast all of a sudden; our last night in Bangalore. While Simon is busy starting to pack our stuff, I feel a need to reflect on the last three months.
On February 7th we arrived in India, pretty green behind the ears regarding what this amazing subcontinent has in store for us. We are instantly drawn in by the sounds, colours and smells and spend a good week seeing all the important sights of Delhi. We're exploring our first bazaars, temples and palaces, with fresh eyes not yet realising that these magnificent monuments are the first of dozens to follow over the following months.
It is a great luxury that we can ease into Indian live from the comfort of our good friends, Gaurav and Snigdha's home in South Delhi, where we get acquainted with authentic Indian hospitality which means we instantly gain a few kilo's in body weight during that first week. But hey, we are not complaining! We are feasting to our heart's (and stomach's) delight on all the North Indian delicacies that are presented to us, almost constantly day and night.
Then comes the day that we leave the relaxed comfort of their home and our real adventure starts, with a 36 hour train ride into the big unknown. During the journey we watch the landscape and climate change slowly into a more (sub)tropical environment. Upon arrival in Bangalore we were warmly welcomed by Jai of Better Future, who, together with his colleague, Cheryl, has been instrumental in getting us settled into our new home for the past three months, as well as hooking us up with the NGO's for our respective volunteer assignments.
Our time in Bangalore is one of being out of our comfort zone in a lot of ways and being exposed to new and impressive experiences. First of all with our volunteer work that saw both of us performing tasks and handling situations which were completely foreign to us, such as children's education and women self-help-groups. But also where our living arrangements are concerned; after 25 years of independent living, I find myself sharing a house again, with youngsters half my age! But all these experience turn out really well and allow us to learn and grow.
We travel to exotic places, ranging from ancient Hindu capitals, elephant inhabited rain forests and deserted, palm fringed beaches. We make new dear friends and rediscover our sense of adventure. We even start feeling at home in this big, noisy and polluted city!
And then of course there is our first step on the road to enlightenment: our ten-day Vipasana course. This turns out to be the hardest thing I have ever undertaken in my life. I practice my determination and persistence as I sit through 100 hours of silent mediation. I learn how to transcend my bodily pains, as I sit through 3 hours of stillness each day, meditating without moving my body, not even raising an eyelid! I am exposed to the teachings of Dhamma, which talk about the impermanence of everything and the futility of forming attachments to anything. I am frustrated and full of resentment as the course progresses, but I stick it out. Now that I have come out on the other end of it, I find myself reflecting regularly on the wise and powerful messages that were given and see myself practicing the traits of tolerance and compassion, still ever so slightly, but I feel a seed has been planted. While, I don't feel like continuing the required practice of a minimum of two hours of mediation a day, I do feel that Vipasana has left a profound mark and I am convinced it will continue to be part of my life in one way or another, maybe even in the form of a repeat course, when I'm ready for it.
And now, I'm sitting in the transit lounge of Singapore Changi Airport. I started this posting two days ago and am continuing it as I wait to board my fight to Perth. The dawn of a new chapter in our sabbatical adventure! I am curious and excited to see what this stage will bring.
But first we will relax and recharge our batteries at mum & dad Andrew's warm home. Then I will be ready for new, unexpected and exciting adventures... Stay tuned as "A road to Bangalore" continues beyond India!"
- Rein checking out
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