Research-vacation in Goa. More pics here.
Goa, day 1. More photos here.
We made it to Goa on a overnight train, very happy to find that the car we were in had extra berths. We chatted with various expats on the way. We’re super psyched to be here for a week, thanks to you, Jackie and Russell! Really, a great condo in a great place.
Mumbai. More Photos from our quick trip here.
Summer Rains in Pune
Our roof-top deck in Pune is a great place to experience the torrential downpours of India. We’re headed into the hot season now in March, and the rains really help to break the heat! The big rains of the monsoon won’t be here until June/July, but these afternoon gifts are certainly welcome in Summer!
The Taj in Mumbai. Was a nice day, with nice coffee. For a moment in Colaba I forgot I was in India…
We found a bit of Datta activity in Shirdi.
Shirdi Sai Baba is said to be an incarnation of Datta, but the Datta temple inside the Sai temple complex seems to be almost an afterthought.
The Datta mandir at Upasani Baba’s ashram was more interesting. It is an ekmukhi Datta, one-faced, and was explained in an intriguing way—his face is Godavari Mataji, body is Sai Baba, and feet of Upasani Baba, connecting two of the most popular figures of the area to Datta.
Headed back to Pune tomorrow on a bus. Will be happy to get home!
Staying in a surreal dilapidated funhouse resort, shrouded in mist.
Found ourselves at two arathis today—one at Bade Baba’s samadhi site, for our friends Ram and Julie, and the other at the Gurudev Siddha Peeth ashram.
It was a good village day — interesting people at Rosy’s B&B!
We head off to a hotel tomorrow to await our friends’ arrival from Delhi. Pool! We brought our suits… :-)
Made it to Ganeshpuri, and very happy to be with our friends Rosy, Vinayak & beautiful Rutuja. Excited to be here for Shivaratri on Fri — gestivities to be had!
Trains are really quite nice when booked ahead, and such a treat to be picked up at the station & not have to deal w taxis & haggling!
Looking forward to a day of wandering tomorrow, gathering images for Kelly’s art and spending some time at Swami Nityananda’s samadhi shrine.
Friends come on Thurs and the tour schedule begins!
Kelly says: jai ho!!! :-)
Shout out to our favorite artist Ram — we’re thinking of you & will offer a mala at Bade Baba’s temple for you!
New Delhi, India (CNN) — Limit displays of affection as you celebrate Valentine’s Day or face prosecution, authorities in western India are warning the public.
Police have banned what they call shows of obscenity, noisy celebrations, and the use of liquor and colored powders from Wednesday till February 15 in the city of Pune, in Maharashtra state.
Indians often celebrate festive occasions by playfully splashing one another with colored powder.
Maharashtra has been the scene of violent protests on past Valentine’s Days, by Hindu nationalist activists who say the event corrupts Indian culture. Maharashtra is home to the country’s financial hub, Mumbai.
The police ban, which applies to public and private locations, also restricts gatherings of people.
Offenders will be prosecuted under India’s penal code, the order says.
wow. that sucks
