INDIA

Looking back at these five and a half month I find myself awed and moved. What an amazing adventure. How much I've learned, how much I've changed, how much I've loved and let go. Challenges all the way, right until the end. So now...now I'm sad and at the same time strangely relieved to go. So long crazy, beautiful, annoying and soothing India. We will meet again.

Favourite Foods -South India III-

No Indian meal without spices. Lots of spices come from the Western Ghats, the mountain range running parallel to the western coast of southern India.

One of the highlights in Kerala was definitely visiting one of the spice plantations.

Coffee is being collected after drying in the sun.

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a winding plant and can be used fresh and green or dried and black, with or without skin red and white. All from one plant.

Cardamon is in almost every Indian sweet dish and of course in masala chai. The fruits grow at the base of the very leavy plants.

And did you know that the Indian bay leaves come from the same tree as cinnamon? 

Thekkady, Kerala

Tekkady is a small hill station in the mountains of Kerala. To get there you travel up a winding road passing countless tea and natural rubber plantations.

Up in the hills you can find the Periyar National Park, inhabited 

by elephants, tigers, 

giant squirrels, deer, monkeys etc.

So exciting to do my first ever jungle trek here, accompanied by two guides, a gun man and three fellow visitors. 

Find the elephant :)

Favourite Foods -South India II-

A home cooking class in Kerala, with lots of tastings and great coconut based dishes.

First grate the ccoconut,

 

then add onion, garlic, chilli and spices, 

make a paste from all the ingredients

and then add it to the lightly fried or cooked vegetables.

GUTEN APPETIT!!!

Keralan Backwaters, the second

An eight hour boat trip from Kollam to Alleppey through natural waterways and canals connecting big lakes and lagoons...travelling the Keralan Backwaters. Watching the beautiful scenery and the daily life activities along the shores. Seeing eagles, cormorants and kingfishers and enjoying the peace, the steady floating. Until in the late afternoon an Indian friend and family gathering took over...Great fun.

Varkala Beach, Kerala

Originally I didn't really want to go to Varkala Beach. To touristy. I ended up staying for 12 days. Doing Yoga and participating in a nonviolent communication workshop was the start off. Followed by giving my own first three Yoga classes (a break through) and designing my own little summer collection, which I got tailored here. I also celebrated Diwali, the festival of light, with a small family from Karnataka and learned some more Makrame techniques from two amazing boys from Rajastan. And of course I got to swim, hang out on the beach, have great sea food... but most of all I spend time with amazing people from all over the world. Awed and grateful once again about the ample opportunities and mind changing experiences the universe provides me with. Deep gratitude to the place called Varkala Beach :)

The Backwaters, a group trip

The Backwaters of Kerala are known for their scenic beauty and a must for every visitor. So the ashram organised a day trip. Bus, house boat, bus and beach. I loved the group action, such a great bunch of people. The Backwaters weren't really the Backwaters though. I'll try again.