It may be the end of the Mayan Calendar, but it is the beginning of something new as far as I can see. Stopping in Palawan Philippines before my Winter Euro Tour was juicy to say the least. WIth the help of some great friends and synchronicity, I have built a little earth friendly cabin at Maia Earth Village just outside of Puerto Princessa, Palawan, Philippines…way off the grid.

I taught a weekend retreat at Bahay Kalipay with my crafty assistant named Choc Elle. Students came from Manila, Portugal, the Middle East and North Africa. We had some great asana and sunrise meditation sessions at Bahay Kalipay and Maia. After the retreat, Choc and I spent a few days at Maia. It was really wonderful to stay in my own house, so quiet and sattvic.

We met up with some kindered souls and hunted for waves to surf in this pristine playground. Quite a homecoming. Off to Manila a little too soon to catch a plane to Helsinki, Finland where there is snow on the ground brrrrr .-)

12-12-12 Maha Kirtan in Mysore at Anoki Guest House

On Wednesday, December 12, 2012, the eve of a New Moon, we had an amazing Kirtan in Mysore with myself and yogi Mark Robberds. It was a benefit for the orphanage of Ashaayaka Seva Trust in Mysore. The room was packed and people were even out on the patio dancing and chatting away. Julie Southwell on violin, Ganesh and his son, Bharat on percussion. True to our “Hippie Campfire” of kirtan, we played and sang many of the traditional Greenpath kirtan chants, but at the end of the night when we played  Beatles songs: All Across the Universe, Imagine and My Sweet Lord, the crowd went nuts! we ended the night with Om Lokah Smastah….with everyone joined arms, hugging in a big “share the Love” moment. It was great to have a full on sound system with 5 microphones to power over the outside of the  room chatting – and in true Indian style, we had no electricity until we started to chant to Ganesh at the beginning of the night.-) I call it a “Hall of Famer” since it was one of the most spirited kirtans I can remember. Hopefully the Kirtan with Mark & crew this Friday Dec. 21, 2012 will be a high vibe as well.
OM Shanti~

Arriving in Mysore

After a wonderful two weeks of teaching weeks in Cebu, Philippines and surfing in Siargao, Philippines, i have finally arrived in India. The instant sight of black and yellow rickshaw taxis and the smell of burning dung and exhaust is somehow comforting as I make the 4 hour taxi ride from the Bangalore airport to Mysore. On the taxi ride, my first cup of Indian Chai is received with a huge smile. I have lost count actually, but it is probably my fifteenth trip to Mysore. The shala is relatively full. At registration, Sharath gives me a 6:00 start time. The weather is amazingly confortable. It seems I have been hot the last 8 months traveling in Asia and Europe – or is it Global warming? I am seeing lots of familiar faces, lots of hugs and hellos. It is good to be back in Mysore again…ready for another month of focused practice. Om Namah Shivaya.