Smile at strangers and you just might change a life.
We had a good yoga class today, same instructor as the day 2 but he was stronger in his practice (if there is such a word). After an hour, we dispersed to get ready for breaky at 8am and met again with a fresh look. My usual visitor came around 7.45am with a paste which was my medicine, tasted like neem leaves. When asked, I was told it is curry leaves with turmeric made in a ball to improve digestion, a recommendation for 7 days. Every day we had the same breaky, oats – white and another variety with ragi that was dark brown in colour. Bottles of nuts were on display including dates to add to the oats along with home-made jams like pineapple or bananas. Then something warm and traditional, today was something like noodles bundled up to be eaten with a curry, it is called Idiyappam or String Hoppers. I ate two and knew already I over ate even though they were light. There is an unpleasant feeling about having an idle life atleast for me, I don’t feel hungry if I haven’t done anything, as if I don’t deserve the food. Always thankful to have it though and I think I do justice to it too 🙂
Today was the day I was going to finish the book I started reading yesterday and I did, right before lunch time after a new treatment I was introduced to, where they dab my body with potlis that are hot and filled with herbs and oils. The treatment ended with a cotton wrap on my neck, as I told the doc this morning during my 10 mins consultation that I woke up with a stiff neck. The two ladies did a great job of oiling me first then putting the heated potli on half of my body, dabbling it all the way up and down and repeat. In the end and I think this is a tradition, they finish in synchronisation so we know it’s the end and it seems to conclude well. I am enjoying this, now as I walk into the treatment room I stay with them to pray and finish together with amen, the only word I understand.
They are all lovely people, so down to earth and always smiling, nodding when you say something in English and most often they don’t get it. I feel the only words they know is that you can change, are you ok, is the temperature fine? I love the place, as I read more and more about it in the grandfather’s book as well, learn from the boys I meet at the dining table. Sometimes they forget I think that I don’t speak their language and suddenly will start talking in English asking me a question invariably. Then we have great laughs and I learn even more about their culture and grounding, occasionally asking one to start a business of homemade desserts in Mumbai where he currently resides. Kerala is the home of amazing, down to earth people who made this place with love and culture, I now have more reasons to return especially with my best friend who you know is from where… Kerala.
One thing I must mention about Ayurveda for those unknown to it, for the treatments you have to be open to yourself ie., be comfortable with who you are. Am sure you will know what I mean when you have your first experience, if not already. Being in Dubai, I had few experiences already so it didn’t surprise me anymore, one therapist or two, even with doctor or other therapists walking in during the treatment.
Evening came and we had another great session of yoga, more stretching with the band and using the blocks this time. And after reading few more pages of the new book am reading, about Hinduism, it was time for dinner. Time was flying here, so fast and now set in routine, even more.
For dinner, I had soup as usual whereas on the menu that was hand-written on the black board there was aalo porontha and paneer curry…yum!! With the permission of the doc, I was allowed to eat a bite which my right hand neighbor sweetly offered from his plate while his brother (cousin) was fighting mosquitoes under the table. As usual, we had great laughs, don’t even need to pick a topic to talk anymore. Anything would make us crack a joke and this time it was on the dude from Kerala but currently living in Mumbai, as he was on his 4-day liquids only meal plan so he was missing mangoes, pornthas and so much more. I wasn’t far behind as doc said the same morning that I would be on ghee intake and liquids soon, of course I didn’t say that tonight.
Back to room, routine Band-Aid on the knee and medication came around 8.30pm. Thoughts of this place growing stronger in my head as I was chatting with the fasting friend over dinner after the other people in our gang left the place. He told me about places nearby, where my dream place can be built and I wondered if it was easy at all, I do have to learn the language but since this was my retirement plan, I have 20 years for that, ok 15 atleast 🙂
