Best Western Classic Avenue Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

... me one thing, and that is that everything happens for a reason. In that regard, I have absolute faith in the workings of the universe/God whatever you want to call it. The cosmic force which is found in all things, which is very transpersonal psychology (everything is connected, we are all energy etc). It's like when you close your eyes and hold out your arms, you feel like you go forever; that you don't end at your fingers, and that message of quantum mechanics ...

... and oxygen. The Asanas also affect the internal organs and the endocrine system (glands and hormones). Ommm...... The Yoga classes began with a chant then before the asanas, we always practised some full abdominal breathing and cleansing techniques called Kapalabhati and alterante nostril breathing then did Surya Namaskar (the sun salutations). The Sivananda system focuses on the twelve basic postures which work the whole body. The 12 basic asanas are: Headstand ...

... It feels exactly like liquid and the first time I couldn't figure out what it was. It is incredibly relaxing. But at the end they send you to the bathroom where cleaning all that grit and mud is a real ordeal. We talked to a Russian woman from London whom I'd met at the ayurvedic center. She recommended the massage where they beat you with bundles of herbs. 2 therapists work on you so they do both sides at once. It ...

... some time out from the heat, which was like the local equivalent of a greasy spoon caf' except the waiters were wearing sikh turbans. Of course, we were a great source of entertainment for the clientele. The next morning we rose bright and squeaky to make our way down to the boat jetty for the morning ferry to the village. For 5 rupees we joined all the other locals making their way about their daily live along the backwater. At the various stops along the river people ...

... us back, he couldn't find our accommodation, as we didn't know the name of it! So just dumped us near some other guest houses. Walking around lost again we came across all the restaurants, cafes', shops and beautiful beaches and cliffs. We had taken the wrong turning out of our hotel and if we had turned left we would have come across all these attractions! Typical, the pair of us are useless!! Beautiful place though, we shall have to return one day!

... time: The capital of Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram, which has recently reclaimed its original name. It used to be named Trivandrum to appease the British who were unable to pronounce Thiruvananthapuram! Many of India's cities are going back to their original names - Mumbai, Kolkata, etc., see more info on this website. That's my mini-adventure from this southern state of India. I have a few more days before I travel to Sri Lanka. Until then, toodleooh.

... Iced Tea or two works just as well. The beach is also great, if you discount the fact that it's covered in irritating sand, we've had many a happy hour leaping about in the waves, followed by a lobster-session and a stick of fresh pineapple from the hawkers ("pineapple, piiiinnnneeeeaaaappppllllleeee, cut cut eat eat"). As Andy said though, time to move on as we've less than two weeks to get to Goa for Christmas and there's still a whole lot more to see. Namaste

... stream of whities staring at them from their luxuriously converted rice barges. In a nutshell , although we very much enjoyed the experience, the scenic beauty of the entire area, the company of our floating buddies, the food and the comfort of a well appointed boat, we felt a little uncomfortable, as if we had crossed an invisible line into the realm of voyeurism and irresponsible tourism. Not that you should renounce the experience ...

... nobody crossed my path without sharing my being. I plunged up to the neck into adversities that were not mine, into all the sufferings of others. It wasn't a questions of applause or profit. Much less. It was not being able to live or breathe in this shadow, the shadow of others like towers, like bitter trees that bury you, like cobblestones on the knees. Our own wounds heal with weeping, our own wounds heal with singing. but in our doorway lie bleeding widows, Indians, poor ...

... with a washing-up bowl full of rice (a fatter, rounder grain than the usual, particular to Kerala)and dishes out a vast mountain of the stuff onto my leaf. After studying others its de rigeur to make a hollow in the mound to accommodate some yellow slop some other chappie comes round with. A popodum is added before a guy with three pots on one hook dishes out a large spoonful of each - the contents of which - who knows? It's not over yet although there's no harm in digging in (I ...