Puna, November 21, 2008

After some reflection I decided to move to Goa tomorrow. To me only going to the Ashram for the meditations is not enough. So the question was staying longer and joining another class, or moving on. Overall the Ashram is quite expensive, the classes cost from 11000 to 50000 + rupees. Not cheap. This plus the entrance fees, the meals, the hotel and etc make for an expensive trip in Indian terms.

So I decided that Goa, the relaxing atmosphere + Yoga which I want to do there + probably renting a moped is a better and more enjoying alternative. I'm going tomorrow by train, about 13 hours. The train leaves at 16:30 and gets there at 5:40.

Tamara my Mexican friend which in principle came to Puna for 2 months in the Ashram also decided that it is not for her and will join me on the trip to Goa. For her this is a completely change in plans as she was not planning to be in Goa at all.
She is the head (founder) of an Animals Protection non-profit organization in Mexico City. She is still managing her organization by email from here, but this is not enabling her to wind-down and really enjoy the slow pace of India.

So now I'm spending my days doing little. I bought a few Osho books. Sipping Shai in the cafe, doing Yoga in my room in the mornings, drinking fruit juices on the stalls, etc. Very lazy and nice. I'm not complaining.
The Surya Villa hotel where I'm staying is the most central restaurant in the area. Probably the best too. So by just sitting on the veranda downstairs is a good spot to meet quite interesting people. Most associated in some way with the Ashram. Many are or will stay here for months, others for shorter trips. So Osho talk is everywhere. Everybody is reading Osho books. This adds to the atmosphere. The internet cafe is 2 steps from the restaurant. So very convenient.

Curious and Funny Corner:
Puna is full of students. You see them in the cafes, western dressed, all speaking English and moving by motorcycles. I asked a group of Indian girls why do they speak English between them as Hindi is their mother language. They told me that their studies are in English, they always had an English education and that is pretty natural !!!!!!!