Quite simply the tourism trail was not for me. I was lured into the idea of being a tourist when I was really on a journey, an external manifestation of the changes I needed to go through internally. So going to the Ellora caves was the first step, it is a tourist site but it is also filled with interesting and good energy from the 2000 years of meditation and prayer by Buddhist, Jain and hindu monks...an amazing place. I also acquired my own local tourist guide and ended up visiting some hidden caves and swimming pools. After this I headed straight to the Sai Baba Ashram in Puttaparthi or Prasanthi Nilayam, 'The Abode of Supreme Peace' as it is also known. This particular guru is known to me through my family as my grandfather Professor Keith Critchlow was the architect for the Specialist Hospital pictured here.
Bangalore was Great! It was like reconnecting with normality again. Eating in french cafes, partying in bars, take aways, movies - all the usual! It was a perfect respite before I went headlong into a 10 day silent Vipassana Mediation course which taught me, among other things, that half a bucket of hot water and a chair can become luxuries!! This course was intense and hard but very rewarding. Meditating for 10 hours a day gave me plenty of time to think through past issues, future plans and to learn to be in the moment. I felt a very strong connection with my higher self and got a much clearer view of the things I needed to do. It was a really worth while experience and allowed a lot of previously hidden emotions to be released. After this very long quiet experience, it was back to Bangalore for another relaxing weekend with hot water, chairs and comforts courtesy of the very lovely Johars :)
Heading towards my last 2 weeks there was only one place I wanted to be... GOA! Finally the beach holiday I had been waiting for! Once I had settled in my beach hut it was off to the sea. I spent the first few days in Palolem but was surprised by the number of Brits and Russians boozing on the beach. Not quite my scene, so after a good tip I hired a scooter and headed off in search of quiet company. ....Found on Agonda! the next beach over. Although it is still busier than a couple of years ago (or so i'm told) it was just what the doctor ordered. I had many interesting conversations here, discussing paradigm shifts, new age ideas, religion, psychology, concepts & philosophy even alternative energy sources. This was a place where I felt at home and kept meeting people with news or ideas that related to conversations I'd just been having. The magic of life was in the air. Not to mention the night of shooting stars.
This really was just what I needed to conclude my journey. It was 7 weeks of what has been a 7 year journey of self discovery. It is finishing one stage of my life and beginning another.
This one culminates with my first book: 'Hello! A Life worth Living' and the beginning of my second: 'Design for a future generation of Society'.
To make the move from one stage to another I have developed a blog for my new book:
I do hope you will join me in continuing the journey as I would love to hear your story of discovery!
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