I was expecting cool temps at the Ananda Ashram and I have with me a lot of warm clothes, but last night took the cake. Our tiny room has open screen windows and the same in the bathroom. I was trying to sleep butI felt so cold I was shivering like crazy. I was wearing yoga leggings, fleece pants, a long sleeve t shirt, a fleece top, a fleece jacket And a down nylon jacket with the hood over my head. Tossing and turning for hours my toes were freezing and I had a running debate with myself- should I grab the flashlight, find another pair of socks and get my winter thermal hat where my face pops out? I kept trying to cozy my feet into a fleece blanket that I brought with me but each time I wanted to turn over, I had to rearrange my foot wrapping and I was So Wide Awake. I felt my brain was on hyper- drive- something about the cold I thought. And I was thinking about the Trekkers who sleep in little wooden cabins on their journeys- They Must have Super Duper sleeping bags.
Finally I rose out of my frigid tomb to find the socks and the fleece hood. I instantly felt better as I put them on But then I had to Pee!!! I told myself No way!! So I tried to get to sleep Again and I heard Allynn snoring! And he was just wearing a T Shirt!!! I continued to Shiver and Shiver. I tried to picture a warm fire surrounding me. I thought about Hurricane Katrina- I wasn’t This cold then! And I thought about all the families who endure colder temps during the Winter!! They have no heaters in the little town where the Yoga Ashram is located,
And I thought about all the plans and efforts to make this trip come together. I kept shivering like I Never have in my Entire Life! Even my face muscles were shaking. Maybe I am too old for this Ashram experience . I have had a cold for the past few days- A cleansing cold , I figure cause there is NO coffee here and No Place to get it!!! I am Doomed! I just wanted to get to Sleep and I finally Did! When I woke up the temp had changed Completely!! It was WARM in the room!! How did That happen! The mysteries of nature- I was SO Glad to be leaving the Ashram and I am writing from a comfortable Warm hotel room in Kathmandu with a Warm Shower!! Today was the first shower and shampoo I have had in 2 weeks! I have been continually sleeping and doing yoga in the Same clothes for all that time. Today Allynn and I packed up our dirty clothes and went out to find a laundry service. Then we hunted down a Middle Eastern restaurant and felt normal again. Then, walking back to our hotel we ran into a lovely lady from Nyack – Jan Hilliard- She now lives between Turkey, Berkley and Kathmandu! And she has married a Turkish diplomat! She said she Never Dreamed her life would turn out like this!
Getting Sleepy! Tomorrow I will write about the Yoga that they do at the Ashram. Very different for me but also familiar! A mystery there- from a past life. So Long! Thanks for being with me on this journey!! Namaste and Love, Annie
Dear Annie and Allynn!
Had written a long comment this evening and went to another page and the whole darn thing got deleted. Thought it would be like FB where things rarely get deleted. So sorry! Well, will try again! Here goes.
Am really so sorry that you had to endure all of that cold over there at the ashram. The conditions certainly sounded harsh and at times humorously so but you guys certainly figured out how to make the most of it!
I had a similar experience in S. France. Before leaving it was spring-like there and we were eagerly escaping a harsh NY winter only to find that when we arrived, winter had followed. The ancient stone house had become an ice-box. It was also mistral season with howling winds and hauntingly lovely musical overtures played themselves out against a densely black, moonless, starry night. I piled on winter clothing — thank God I had some — mittens, sweater, scarf and settled into bed watching my breath. Still too cold, I experienced the same sleepless quandary: should I/shouldn’t I? Never slept with a hat on before. Finally got up to get the hat only to return to bed wide awake. Then, the next similar bit: “people world over without warm clothing, blankets, or heat” and trying to trick myself into believing the room was warm. Finally get to sleep only to suddenly reawaken, sweating fiercely! One difference between me and most people: I actually love sleeping in cold fresh rooms all cozy in my blankets but this room was so cold I hadn’t quite figured out the balance of blankets to clothing needed for this particular crack-filled ice box!
Coincidentally, it is aptly cold here as I write this entry! An ugly, slushy, grey winter storm set in today putting quite the crimp on Thanksgiving plans. Thankfully, the leaves at your house had been raked (or blown) sometime before I arrived there earlier this week. Hard to believe the weather was so warm just a couple of days ago! We will be heading to Boston tomorrow instead of today for Thanksgiving. Hope you have a little bit of a Thanksgiving celebration over there! If so, enjoy!
Lastly, just wanted to thank you for the details from your trip. It certainly gives us “wanna-bes” the essence of it. And, while the conditions may have been harsh, you have certainly spiced them up with flair and style! What a duo! Bon voyage for the next leg of your journey! ! ! And, just where might that be?
Hugs, Luv & Cheers to you and all of those lucky ones that you encounter along the way!
Liisa