EPISODES | GRRRL TRAVELER

Finding my Inner Buddha at Templestay (Day 2)

Filed under Korea, Unique Stays by Christine Ka'aloa on April 19, 2011 at 4:43 am {4 comments}

Musangsa Temple, Day #2, South Korea.

3:10AM

The wooden moktak is struck and it’s barely audible. Fortunately, someone had set their alarm. Monks must be light sleepers. We get dressed and go to the meditation room.

Emerging from my crusted vision, I recognize my cushion just a few centimeters before my feet. The room is toasty and tinged with a faint incense. A two foot tall golden Buddha sitting in lotus position in the center of the room, mediates the sexes- men on one side, women on the other.

The monks file in.

Our teacher, the foreboding but jolly Lithuanian stands by, keeping an eagle eye on us. The wooden moktak is struck again. Some sticks are clacked and in unison, we begin…

108 prostrations in silence. Standing prayer position, down, prostrated bow on floor, stand up again, standing prayer position, down…

Somewhere between the sweat and your legs turning to rubber, you lose count. You go with the flow, thinking, “Tomorrow I’m going to hurt like hell…” (more…)

Finding my Inner Buddha at Templestay (Day 1)

Filed under Crazy Korea, Korea by Christine Ka'aloa on April 16, 2011 at 10:20 am {2 comments}

Musangsa Temple, Day #1, South Korea.

Buddhist meditation: Becoming Nothingness.

The mind must be a clean slate, an empty cup.

Blank mind, empty cup. Yes, I could feel it…the Zen was sinking into me.

Listen to the sound of your breath.

I could hear it alright- deep, tranquil, low…

Lose attachment to all sound and body.

Definitely losing it. Walls were losing focus, limbs had gone beyond numb. Outside, the birds, wind, trees, the sound of my neighbors’ fidgeting,… it all passed through my ears, falling right through me.

This wasn’t my first meditation retreat, but it was my first Templestay. Yet sitting in my buddhist temple robe (more…)

Do Bollywood Stars Haggle in India?

Filed under Dharamsala, Glam Around the World by Christine Ka'aloa on April 9, 2011 at 8:27 am {6 comments}

The vibe in the Indo-Himalayan air of Dharamsala was electric.

Walking back from the Dalai Lama’s temple, a large crowd was gathered around a local shop. Cellphone cameras were out clicking, digital cameras flashing… people were jumping up up to tip-toes to get a better view.

Could it be… the Dalai Lama?

A white VIP truck whizzed past me followed by excited admirers chasing after it. (more…)

Yoga & Volunteering: Dharamsala with a purpose

Filed under Dharamsala, India by Christine Ka'aloa on April 7, 2011 at 2:49 am {13 comments}

Finally, travel with a purpose. Today, I started my yoga teacher training classes!

Many travelers come to Dharamsala with a purpose–

Whether to take yoga and meditation classes, Ayurvedic or Tibetan Buddhist studies, for volunteer work… or on pilgrimage to meet his Holiness, the Dalai Lama! For the past week I’ve been in Dharamsala– I went hiking, learned to cook Tibetan food, met people, explored the Dalai Lama’s temple, etc…; but yesterday, I finally got to drop my bags!

I have my own “apartment”.

For the next month of my Yoga Teacher Training Certification program, I’ll be at the Sidarth House. I’ll have a room with a mini kitchen, a spacious bedroom with a TV, closet and dressers and an outdoor balcony. I’m just below the yoga shala and in the company of the folk I’ll be training with.

It’s quite a swank pad, especially for lodgings in India!

(more…)

Love Letter #10: Beware of monkeys in Hampi

Filed under I Survived!, India by Christine Ka'aloa on April 5, 2011 at 3:30 pm {5 comments}

: Hampi (Karnataka) India

Dear Love,

In India, there are temples dedicated to Hanuman- the Monkey God- a revered deity, symbol of great strength, perseverance and devotion. He is the perfect hero. But in reality, monkeys in India can be cunning animals, rascal tricksters and… scoundrel thieves!

At daybreak, after pedaling 25 minutes on a crappy rental bicycle, I slogged up the steep and narrow staircase (572 steps!) to the highest peak of Hampi‘s Monkey Temple (photos here). I wanted to see the sunset, look out at the city’s ancient ruins and meditate on my journey.

Midway, I came to a hoodlum monkey sitting on the stone walls. He looked down at me like a foreboding gatekeeper, barring my ascent to heaven.

We locked eyes. He looked at my backpack. In a flash, I knew what would unfold…

(more…)

Dealing with accidents and injury in India

Filed under I Survived!, India by Christine Ka'aloa on April 2, 2011 at 3:35 pm {7 comments}

So you have travel insurance. Awesome.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t remove the fear and stresses of dealing with injuries when you get into an accident in India or abroad.

In four hours I was leaving Hampi, but I still wanted to get out to see the Monkey Temple (which was 20 minutes away by rickshaw)! Walter, a lanky 20-something Los Angeleno I’d met on the bus ride over, joined me . I wanted to rent bicycles but Walter advised the motorcycle would be the most efficient vehicle. The incentive being we’d split costs!
Had Walter driven a motorcycle before?

Sure…

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Surviving the overnight seater train to Laos

Filed under Laos, Laos tips & stays by Christine Ka'aloa on March 28, 2011 at 5:37 am {12 comments}

Sometimes life throws you a condition that isn’t even satisfactory. Your overnight sleeper train is noisy, seats are cramped, it’s an 11 hour ride and the AC is making you hypothermic. This is the worst ride of your life! What do you do?

… Whatever you can.

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A Night on a Thai Sleeper Train

Filed under Thailand, Thailand tips & stays by Christine Ka'aloa on March 26, 2011 at 8:54 pm {2 comments}

When it comes to hospitality and service, the Thai certainly know how to do it right!

There are many ways to travel Thailand, such I”ve made it my mission to move and shake it around Thailand in many ways I can. River boat, to scooter, motorbike taxi, Skytrain, metro…. I’ve enjoyed them all. But my favorite transport by far, is the Thai sleeper train.

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India: Solo Fears, Scooters and Goa Dreds

Filed under India, Interviews by Christine Ka'aloa on March 21, 2011 at 3:48 am {9 comments}

Looking at the sea out from Baga Beach, the sea is shining, teasing,… much like the vibe of the locals and beaches in Goa. As a female traveling who’s been nervous about traveling india alone, I feel surprisingly safe here. Waves tickling my feet, a pineapple lassi in hand, I look out at the beach. Even the cows are catching their daily dose of sand and rays.