Pretzels, Anyone?

The Dewa Retreat offers a free yoga class every day at 7 am and I’ve been a faithful attendee since we arrived. I’m not sure what kind of yoga our Adidas-clad teacher offers, but it includes several joint-straining postures that he commands us to hold for what seems like hours. “Stay!”  He’s not shy about physically manipulating the participants into pretzel shapes, but when he passes near me he usually barks, “Do your best”. I’m not sure whether I should be relieved or insulted.  The same goes for the ear-cleaning guy who always seems to pick me out in the street for his spiel. Do I look like I have dirty ears? What is in that little box he carries around? He reminds me of those old cigarette girls at Vegas casinos.

OK, another blast from the past...anyone over 60 should recall Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Transcendental Meditation movement that captivated the Beatles, plus a whole ashram full of other celebrities, including Perre Trudeau. Debbie and I toured his compound yesterday, which is now part of a National Park and tiger reserve.  It’s such a peaceful place and must have been quite a showpiece when it was built in the 60’s-70’s. Now, other than some extremely good graffiti by #artxspan, it’s in ruins and looking just slightly more recent than Angkor Wat. Well worth the visit and the walk though. We recuperated at the Ganga Beach Cafe with salsa, chips and...juice. Can you say “cold beer??”




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