I must admit that today has been the best Sunday spent in Mysore thus far - HANDS DOWN!!!
My dear friend, student, and fellow yogini Maureen arrived in Mysore on Friday - was able to stop by and say a quick hello before I headed off to Bangalore...But couldn't wait to get back to Mysore to hang out and catch up on the last 1 1/2 years - she left Orlando soon after I did last year to go to Korea and teach English. She finished up her year stint there in August and traveled around Asia a bit before arriving here. Maureen will be in Mysore for the next month - and If I can talk her into it - she may opt to stay til I leave in Mid-November ;)
It is so great having her in Mysore - although I have friends here it feels like home away from home - so comfy like old times. And sure feels like we haven't missed a beat - even though it's been well over a year since we've seen each other....
This morning I made sure to save a spot next to me for her to practice - she was so cute - a bit nervous about her very first day practicing at the shala - told her not to worry - Saraswati allowed her to do all of primary - and I was grinning inside b/c I knew she would be just fine ;) After led primary we enjoyed a few coconuts - then enjoyed a large chai....
At 9am Maureen, Erin and I arrived at the Southern Star to indulge in a fantastic breakfast buffet...Haven't had the Southern Star breakfast thus far this year so I was most definitely looking forward to it - and omg it was phenomenal......Simply amazing - we all gorged ourselves on nearly everything available to us...Well deserved though - I know I woke up starving this morning and had to wait another 2 1/2 hours after practice before putting my first morsel of food in my mouth...After we had finished devouring everything in sight Jake joined us, and then Joyce...
Maureen and I had already planned to lay out by the pool, weather permitting...So we spent a bit more time chatting before I couldn't take one more second away from the sun. Erin didn't care to join as she tends to burn as opposed to tan, and Jake had forgotten "his bloody swimming costume" at home ;) but Joyce joined us by the pool for a bit before heading out to meet a friend for lunch...However, Maureen and I spent 4 1/2 glorious hours paying respects to the sun gods...I was so stoked too b/c Maureen had some little speakers to attach to her ipod - so we had tunes by the pool! By far the best day to lay out since I've been in Mysore...I even burned a little today, which I don't mind at all b/c my burn always turns into a nice golden brown.
Around 2:30pm we'd had as much as we could handle for the day so we got dressed and walked a bit further into town for some grub - ate at Shanghai for the second time - and it was delicious!
From there we took a rickshaw back to Gokulam - spent some time at my flat before meeting up with Jake to walk to Loyal World so Maureen could grab a few necessary items and so I could show her around Gokulam more...After a bit of grocery shopping we stopped by Cubs to grab a latte (me;) and hot chocolate (Jake and Maureen;)...We ended at the coconut stand as I needed a coconut fix! We just got back to my flat and I must admit I am pooped - a lovely lazy day in Gokulam - how sweet it is!
My dear friend, student, and fellow yogini Maureen arrived in Mysore on Friday - was able to stop by and say a quick hello before I headed off to Bangalore...But couldn't wait to get back to Mysore to hang out and catch up on the last 1 1/2 years - she left Orlando soon after I did last year to go to Korea and teach English. She finished up her year stint there in August and traveled around Asia a bit before arriving here. Maureen will be in Mysore for the next month - and If I can talk her into it - she may opt to stay til I leave in Mid-November ;)
It is so great having her in Mysore - although I have friends here it feels like home away from home - so comfy like old times. And sure feels like we haven't missed a beat - even though it's been well over a year since we've seen each other....
This morning I made sure to save a spot next to me for her to practice - she was so cute - a bit nervous about her very first day practicing at the shala - told her not to worry - Saraswati allowed her to do all of primary - and I was grinning inside b/c I knew she would be just fine ;) After led primary we enjoyed a few coconuts - then enjoyed a large chai....
At 9am Maureen, Erin and I arrived at the Southern Star to indulge in a fantastic breakfast buffet...Haven't had the Southern Star breakfast thus far this year so I was most definitely looking forward to it - and omg it was phenomenal......Simply amazing - we all gorged ourselves on nearly everything available to us...Well deserved though - I know I woke up starving this morning and had to wait another 2 1/2 hours after practice before putting my first morsel of food in my mouth...After we had finished devouring everything in sight Jake joined us, and then Joyce...
Maureen and I had already planned to lay out by the pool, weather permitting...So we spent a bit more time chatting before I couldn't take one more second away from the sun. Erin didn't care to join as she tends to burn as opposed to tan, and Jake had forgotten "his bloody swimming costume" at home ;) but Joyce joined us by the pool for a bit before heading out to meet a friend for lunch...However, Maureen and I spent 4 1/2 glorious hours paying respects to the sun gods...I was so stoked too b/c Maureen had some little speakers to attach to her ipod - so we had tunes by the pool! By far the best day to lay out since I've been in Mysore...I even burned a little today, which I don't mind at all b/c my burn always turns into a nice golden brown.
Around 2:30pm we'd had as much as we could handle for the day so we got dressed and walked a bit further into town for some grub - ate at Shanghai for the second time - and it was delicious!
From there we took a rickshaw back to Gokulam - spent some time at my flat before meeting up with Jake to walk to Loyal World so Maureen could grab a few necessary items and so I could show her around Gokulam more...After a bit of grocery shopping we stopped by Cubs to grab a latte (me;) and hot chocolate (Jake and Maureen;)...We ended at the coconut stand as I needed a coconut fix! We just got back to my flat and I must admit I am pooped - a lovely lazy day in Gokulam - how sweet it is!
