Feb 03 2008
I’m going back to Krabi, Krabi, Krabi … I’m going back to Krabi … Hmm, I don’t think so
Yes, I'm finally in India - what a fascinating country shithole! And what better way to celebrate this auspicious occasion than for me to immediately book a flight to Krabi, Thailand.
Yes, India is just THAT good.
The presence here of what I had feared most — rabid European tourists and ego-driven nuevo-hippies everywhere — has indeed come to pass.
I originally planned on staying in India for 2 full months practicing my yoga and getting some further training should I ever wish to pursue it as a career in the future. However, I've since learned that most of the yoga ashrams and schools here — and especially those specializing in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, which is what I practice — are a complete farce.
On the one hand are the loads and loads of 'yoga centers' catering to all these Westerners who have been led to believe that the best practitioners MUST be in India since that's where modern yoga developed. That's complete bullshit. My brief experience has confirmed what others have told me — you can probably get just as good, if not better, training anywhere else in the world.
Then, on the other hand is the fact that yoga practitioners here, and especially in Mysore, which is known for being 'ground-zero' for ashtanga training, in fact produces bigger egos than true ashtaga yogis. Most of the guys here project a real ego-driven sense of "I'm more at peace than you are, and I can prove it!!" Fuck that, if I wanted to sit in a room full of bitches comparing how flexible and happy they are about living with no money, I could have gone to any ONE of the many fabulous nude bars in Miami and had a much (much) better time.
I know, I know … don't be hatin' on India. Yeah, I guess you're right … it's not ALL that bad.
I mean, the food here is probably some of the best in Asia — I actually enjoy eating vegetarian cuisine when it's prepared THIS good. Plus, all the wannabe hippies with their long flowing gowns and ponytails DO make for excellent dinner theatre. And as an added bonus, all the garbage burning throughout the day makes for an absolutely beautiful sunset.
Okay, granted, you really shouldn't go into the ocean unless you want to bring a pet parasite back home with you. But then again, the numerous packs of stray dogs and the occasional elephant you may encounter whilst trying to walk back to your room will more than make up for any 'wildlife' you may otherwise be missing underwater.
So, rather than stay here any longer than necessary, I'm going back to Thailand in a couple weeks to meet up with friends from Singapore before they all head back to states for good.
I've got a multiple entry 3 month visa, but I'm not really sure for how long — or even if — I'll head back to India. Moreso, given the continuing escalation of violence in Sri Lanka (one of the same private buses that I took to leave Kandy on 1 February was blown up by Tamil terrorists the VERY next day, killing 18 people and injuring 55), I fear it's not safe to travel there again until it all resolves itself. Instead, I will go back through and pick up my surfboards on my way to Thailand.
I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a hater, I'm just drawn that way.
“The presence here of what I had feared most — rabid European tourists and ego-driven nuevo-hippies everywhere — has indeed come to pass.”
I won’t say I told ya so, but….
as they say, one either hates or loves India, there’s no in between….
first, I am glad you are alive!! I was worried. that bus explosion was on the front page of the nytimes and you hadn’t posted since jan 23 so I was wondering where you been…. But I am glad you are okay and sorry India sucks:( bummer!
I’m glad your feet are better as well (mine are frozen, thank you)
hopefully they’ll thaw by may when I leave for siargao (staying there til aug and visiting thailand in june for a week. wanna visit other places too but we’ll see what unfolds:P) ….glad you are getting out of India, that really sucks the yoga people sound pretentious, yuck….
I think you need some good waves, you sound grumpy
big Brooklyn hug,
Cyn
Lin, yes you were right, but one’s always gotta check these things out for themselves (especially when the visa in the country you’re at is running out and would prefer to avoid fines/jail. But as for the love/hate thing, I kinda disagree. Yes, it does sound like I hate it, but only for purposes of distilling it down for this blog. It really isn’t all that bad, but there are other places with similar/better things to offer me. So be it, you know what they say: “When the bottles gone, it’s time to move on.”
Cyn, The New York ‘who’? The Super ‘what’? Ahh, you silly Amerikans with your silly sports.
Thanks for worrying Champ, but no worries. I’m fine. Lemme know your travel plans so we can work something out. Right now, I’m changing plans and thinking of heading back to Indo (or stay in Thailand) for a couple months before heading back to Siargao to meet up in May.
“I’m more at peace than you are…”
“Oh, yeah, here’s my fist-a-peace breaking your nose!”
Can you please shoot some pictures of these nuevo-hippie yoga dirt bags, please? I want to confirm the picture in my head. I’m picturing Jeff Lebowski, only less cooler.
Take care in India.
It’s great to hear from you. I wanted to visit India; think I’ll pass. Dude, it’s time for you to come home. You are so missing the political campaigns. Bill Clinton’s honorary black man card has been revoked and John McCain will likely be the RRepublican nominee for president. On second thought, perhaps I’ll need to join you depending on the elections results.
I spend 6 months there working, Indian is a sh!t hole. The people for the most part are very nice, but the place just sucked…
I get a kick out of people that have never been there have made for TV movie idea how the place is beautiful and every one is some spiritual person…
I tell them about the cast system that is full in effect in this day and age and compare it to the apartheid in South Africa and the practice of killing female fetuses…