Focus Yoga

I am sitting in my eco-hut writing this. In the background is the sound of another camp in heavy, over-the-loudspeaker chant mode. This will go on all night. From several directions. All night. Long.

Today we took boats to the point where the Ganges, the Sarasvati and the Yamuna.  meet. This is an important area in the Kumbha Mela, the point where the nectar of immortality, the elixir of life was sourced. This elixir is happiness, and it it the point to take a dip, if you dare to dip in a body of water that currently has e-coli levels 100 times above the Indian governments acceptable level. Not saying anything about the U.S. governments acceptable level. But after watching our local boatmen paddliing against the current, pulling us along shore, dipping in and out of the water to get us there, even reaching over the side for a sip when thirsty, it seemed almost insulting to not dip a hand in and scoop a little on the top of the head for a symbolic blessing. But I think most of us took a long, luxurious bucket shower afterward.

Speaking of the amenities, yes, shower stalls are private, with buckets. You fill the buckets in another area with some hot water. In each stall is a spigot of cold. You mix until you have the ideal temp. Today I showered, washed hair, and washed clothes in about a half bucket of water, plus cold to rinse. There are outhouses with flushing toilets. We sleep in grass huts with mosquito nets. So we are pretty much outside all the time.

The girls have made two good friends their age here, so they are now officially having a blast. I also think it helps them process some of the things they are seeing,to discuss with a peer. After driving in and seeing the poverty, and craziness, and (gasp!) dogs with udders (pretty much all dogs seem to be feral here and thus have many litters, unlike dogs at home) one daughter was a little teary and homesick for "western civilization". A good friend makes all the difference in the world.