I'm writing this as I'm waiting to board my flight to Bangalore. Being the idiot I am, I've completely forgotten about winter and left my winter coat hanging up in the wardrobe at home. So my parents have so very kindly offered to drive home, pick it up, then drive back here to the airport. And they insisted I stay here at the airport in case they don't make it back in time before my flight. Then they'll courier my coat to me in Mysore.
Hahaha!! Sending a winter coat to Mysore, that's probably a first!
As I sit here on the first day of the year before embarking on my virgin Mysore trip, I have NO IDEA what to expect. I am completely ill-prepared, right down to my yoga practice. I am going to my yoga Mecca probably the most out-of-shape I've ever been, not expecting to be moved on beyond half primary. Hahahahaha!
At Christmas dinner, all the doctors in the family (and there are FOUR doctors in my very accomplished extended family), were grilling me about what shots I'd done, what pills I've taken or will be bringing with me. And I was dumbfounded. I mean... Seriously?! I was just gonna rock up to Mysore as is, and just do my practice. But Singaporeans being Singaporeans, that is, scared of all things dirty and germy, they put the fear of God in me.
So I actually rocked up to the Travellers clinic and got the recommended jabs for India. 5 in all. All at once. I feel like a hero. I got 3 shots in 1 arm and 2 in the other. Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Polio (?!), and Influenza. I dunno what's worse, to contract something later only to have said "coulda woulda shoulda" or to be loaded up with so much poison like I am now. (I'm usually all for homeopathic and all-natural remedies, so going for these shots is a really big deal for me). They kick in only 7-10 days later so I'll be in "danger zone" the first week or so, but "protected" after that.
I still haven't done any malaria pills which was also recommended. Oh well. One hazardous poison at a time!
Today doesn't feel like the start of 2011 at all. I haven't had time to think of what this year's intention will be. Remember last year's Joyful Surrender? That sure served me well. I suspect this year's intention will revolve around Gratitude, but I'm looking forward to finally having some time on my own to sit down and reflect on this. I just haven't had time to at all!
So here's wishing all of you a blessed start to the new year, may you continue to be showered with love and light and be grateful for this beautiful life.
See you on the other side in the Motherland! ;p
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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Have a great trip Jaime, look forward to reading about it
ReplyDeleteHave a great time! I can't wait to hear about your mysore experience. Since you practiced at the KPJ shala here in Bondi, you might remember/know Ben - he's there now.
ReplyDeleteHave a FAB time and blog lots!! :)
ReplyDeletei got shots as well, not flu, and was up to date on tetanus. look out for lymph swelling in your armpit that got the typhoid shot. that way you won't freak out like me and think that you have cancer :P re: polio, there is an upsurge in india because of folks there not having the vaccination, so the extra vaccination is in your best interest. vaccines work best obviously when everyone is on board.
ReplyDeletemalaria isn't a big problem in mysore. and unless you get the really spendy malaria pills (malarone) the other ones can have some nasty side effects (i gather it can act as a psychotropic?) so i am not bothering with malaria pills this time. dengue is troublesome there, find some bug spray.
and maybe i will get to meet you there in a week :) let me know if you need anything small from the states :)
Thanks Kev!
ReplyDeleteHey Lilli! Yes, I heard from my friend who was just here that Ben's here too! And Mark was just here too apparently and recently got certified!
Thanks Susan! I'm commenting from the comfort of my (very hard) bed for the next month, and the first thing I got sorted was my internet connection. So YES! I'll be blogging from here. Heh.
Tova - Woohoo! See you soon! Thanks for the very kind offer but think I'll be OK. Just gotta sort myself out with a mosquito net (for peace of mind really) and bug spray, both of which I'm sure I can find here. Good to know I wasn't being overly-paranoid on the shots, hehe!
What a fantastic way to start 2011. Have a wonderful trip Jamie x
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Mysore! I just want to put my 2 cents in about those malaria pills. Nasty side effects and very long recuperation from them. The story goes that even deployed soldiers pretend they took them, because the side effects can be long lasting and hard to get rid off. Happy 2011! cannot wait for the Mysore Chronicles...
ReplyDeleteHappy new year! With the winter coat in Mysore you'll have another layer of protection from those bugs :)
ReplyDeleteGratitude sounds like a nice pithy theme for the year. Mine's going to be mindfulness....easier said than done, but it's not fun otherwise right?
Hello Mysore!!!! So excited that you're there (I can't believe it's come around already!) and looking forward to hearing all about it. You know when you were blogging about Sharath's trip to Sydney I felt so much like I was there I was convinced I saw him in the street one day...in London!! Which of course says a lot for your blogging skills ;)
ReplyDeletexx
Thanks Cherie! Looking forward to this adventure. :)
ReplyDelete5'2": OK, now I don't feel so bad about not doing anything about the malaria pills. I went out to look for bog roll today and forgot that I should've bought a mosquito net too. Oh well, I guess that will be tomorrow's mission. Feels like 1 task at a time here. :)
Danielle: Mindfulness is a great intention to have for the new year! Hope that goes well for you. x
MEL!! Awww... thanks sweets! Hope I don't disappoint this time. I'm feeling excited and nervous and a little scattered right now. Which will probably come through in tomorrow's practice. EEEEEEK! Hugs to you. xxx