Allys Tantra Tour to India in January 2010
with Marilyn Tour Guide
THE PLANNED TOUR
Jan 16 – Depart Brisbane, via Singapore and Dubai, arrive in Mumbai late 16/17 PM .
Jan 17 – Day 1- Arrive in Mumbai early 17/1 AM. Pick up and drive of 3.5 hours to Pune to arrive in the early morning at the International Osho Meditation Resort. We will be staying here for 4 nights at the beautiful 5 star Zen Hotel set in 40 acres of stunning gardens.
After the morning settling in, we will have an afternoon Welcome Workshop where you will be taught the innovative Osho Meditation techniques.
Check out the website: www.osho.com Hotel in OSHO RESORT
Jan 18 – Day 2 – Your Osho package will allow you free access to many varied styles of meditation classes, recreation such as tennis and swimming, art, music, dance etc – whatever you are interested in. Your inclusive package includes 4 days accommodation, daily entry from 6am til midnight, organic vegetarian meals, 2 robes, a one day Tantra workshop and one individual session with the practitioner of your choice. An enjoyable varied evening program will entertain you every day. Hotel in OSHO RESORT
Jan 19 – Day 3 – You will be starting to really relax now in the lush surroundings, connecting with interesting vibrant people from all over the world. Your individual session might include massage, therapy of many modalities, Aura Soma, reflexology – you will be spoilt for choice. Hotel in OSHO RESORT
Jan 20 – Day 4 – A special one day Tantra workshop will be held run by Aneesha, who is a leading facilitator who came to Osho from Esalen in California. Tantric Pulsation is an experiment in human energy, a reawakening of the body’s capacity to feel and enjoy pleasure in its own flowing vitality and aliveness. Rooted in the work on William Reich and in the active meditations of Osho, it is a body/energy approach to Tantra.
After the workshop, enjoy swim in the heated swimming pool before the in evening program and dinner under the stars. Hotel in OSHO RESORT
Jan 21 – Day 5 – We take a late morning flight from Pune to Delhi with a free afternoon to either relax or visit the quirky International Museum of Toilets, featured in Kenny’s visit to India on TV last year. Hotel in DELHI
Jan 22 – Day 6 – An early train takes us to Agra , the home of the Taj Mahal. After breakfast we will visit the fascinating Agra Fort – a fine example of Mughal architecture an interesting time in Indian history. In the afternoon we visit the Bear Rescue Sanctuary to see the great results of Australian sponsorship in this “retirement home for dancing bears”
Check the website:www.wildlifesos.com Hotel in AGRA
Jan 23 – Day 7 – We visit the Taj Mahal as the dawn’s pink rays touch it before the morning sun sparkles on the white marble. This breathtakingly beautiful “monument to love” will stay in your mind’s eye forever. We catch the train for a 3.5 hour trip to Jhansi, then drive to a restful town set in pretty countryside dotted with 16th century temples. Enjoy a drink on the rooftop of the heritage hotel next to the Bundelkhand River. Hotel in ORCHHA
Jan 24 – Day 8 – Spend the morning exploring the interesting palace complex and museum before lunch. A 3.5 hr drive will take us to Khajuraho – the shrine to Tantric love and the Kama Sutra. Afternoon at Khajuraho. A relaxing dinner on the rooftop to finish the day. Hotel in KHAJURAHO
Jan 25 – Day 9 – Khajuraho Erotic Temples We explore many temples featuring erotic, sensuously carved figures of heavenly nymphs, which have shocked many people from Victorian archeologists to blue rinse tourists. Experience an Indian village with an informal wander with a local guide to show us around. Cycle around town or have a massage. Hotel in KHAJURAHO
Jan 26 – Day 10 – Relax with a rooftop breakfast at Khajuraho before flying to Varanasi – India’s spiritual heart set on the River Ganges. Watch the Aarti – the evening Hindu ceremony of lights on the banks of the river from a boat. Hotel in VARANASI
Jan 27 – Day 11 – A dawn boat ride will reveal the many pilgrims bathing in the river to wash away a lifetime of sins. Wander down twisting narrow alleys, past shrines and temples and experience the holiness of this unique and fascinating city known for beautiful silks. We go to the Monkey Temple before dinner. Hotel in VARANASI
Jan 28 – Day 12 – A quiet morning, then we fly back from Varanasi to New Delhi. We enjoy a half day sightseeing tour of New Delhi. TOUR ENDS
Go to the airport for your flight back to Australia. flights Delhi to Dubai, then Dubai- Singapore to Brisbane.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:
Jan 16 – I arrived in Mumbai late evening. Marilyn and an Indian taxi driver met me and we drove 3.5 hours to Pune to arrive at Surya Villas, (3 star accommodation) in German Bakery Lane, close to Osho Meditation Centre. We stayed here for 4 nights. Bought maroon and white dresses as these are the only colours you are allowed to wear. White is for the evening meditation.
Jan 18 – Day 2 – After registering, having and AIDS test and attended the morning Welcome Workshop where I learnt the innovative Osho Meditation techniques. The Osho daily fee allowed me free access to many varied styles of meditation classes, and dancing. But No Swimming Allowed, although the pool was full of water, however something was under construction, so we meditated on the still calm water as we ate our lunches – a smorgasbord of delicious organic vegetarian meals, which were reasonably priced. Hotel – Surya Villas
Jan 19 – Day 3 – Starting to relax now and connecting with interesting spiritual people from all over the world. I had a quick breakfast at the German Bakery (not German, and not a bakery as we know it, it is a cafe. However it is mostly Western food and very food and reasonably priced). Then I went upstairs for my Arveydic Massage with Larenick (Lawrence), which was very relaxing and lasted 90 minutes instead of the 60 I had requested! Shopping for jewellery and cheap CDs.
Jan 20 – Day 4 – A 3 hour evening Tantra workshop was run by Aneesha. Tantric Pulsation is a body/energy approach to Tantra. Without telling us, they had moved the one day workshop we were to attend to the day after we left!
Jan 21 – Day 5 – We take a late morning flight from Pune to Delhi and spent the afternoon shopping at the crowded Bazaar (perfumes, soaps, incense, jewellery). Dinner with Tony from Chandigarh Hotel in DELHI – Delhi Holiday Inn
Jan 22 – Day 6 – We missed the early train to Agra, and Marilyn booked us a car with Atul. After 6 hours drive, we finally arrived at Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal, just before sunset. Our Homestay host recommended we quickly spent one hour visiting the fascinating Agra Fort – a fine example of Mughal architecture an interesting time in Indian history, then go and see the “Baby Taj” which the Taj Mahal was modelled on. Then our driver to took us to the other side of the river to see the sun setting over the back of the Taj Mahal. I got some good photos. A nice meal with 2 couples, one from New Zealand, and Emma and Simon from UK. Marilyn told funny stories of her travels in India and we laughed a lot. Very cold night – no heating in our room so we had 2 blankets and quilts and clothes on to sleep at Garden Villa Home Stay on outskirts of Agra!
Jan 23 – Day 7 – I visited the Taj Mahal at 9am and couldn’t see it, cos the fog was so bad. A local Indian guide took me along beside the famous pools, which had no water in them. Finally, when we were just about at the foot of the Taj, I could see it looming through the misty fog. By 11am I could see it clearly from the middle of the pools, along with 100,000 other people!
We went to Agra Gantt (railway station) and the 12.25pm train arrived at 3.30pm (because of fog) so we spent 3 hours waiting on the crowded railway station! On the train trip to Jhansi, we shared a carriage with a lady in white going to an ashram, and an old man and his son. The elder was Gopal Das Neeraj, a Vice Chancellor of a University, Poet and Author of 26 books. We arrived at Jhansi at 5pm and got an auto to Orchha and another local one to Bundelkhand Riverside Hotel (a heritage hotel next to the Bundelkhand River) in the dark. The room was the best we have had – very luxurious Hotel in ORCHHA – Bundlekand Riverside Hotel
Jan 24 – Day 8 – Enjoyed the view from the rooftop of the heritage hotel next to the Bundelkhand River. Spent the morning at Orchha exploring the palace complex, local market and 16th century temples in Orchha before lunch. Met Leila, a budding young entrepreneur. Our driver was Devesh (on U-tube “Indian Taxi Driver”) who was very chatty, intelligent and informative. The 3.5 hr drive to Khajuraho was very pleasant, however we arrived at 5pm, just before the sun was setting. We met Ashok, Marilyn’s local Tour Guide, and his friend Aashtosh, where we ran quickly to a ruined temple to watch the sun setting over the flat plains of Khajuraho. Khajuraho is famous for its Temples which have wonderful sculptures covering the outside with statues of Tantric love and the Kama Sutra. A relaxing dinner at Mediterraneo Italian Restaurant (chef is trained in Europe!) on the rooftop to finish the day. Hotel Surya in KHAJURAHO
Jan 25 – Day 9 – Khajuraho Erotic Temples I explored the Western group of temples by myself (with help from an audio cassette) featuring erotic, sensuously carved figures of heavenly nymphs, in many different positions of love adoration lust and sex with males, females, animals both mythical and real. We visited the “Old Village” where the Indians live (away from the tourist strip of hotels and shops) with an informal ride on a motor bike with Aashtosh and Ashok to show us proudly around, invited us into their homes and introduced us to their families. 4 castes live in the village, each one in a separate part of the village. They all intermingle however they cannot marry anyone in another caste. They also took us to the Eastern, Jain and Sothern Temples, which are less “touristy” I did not have a massage there, however I did have a romantic encounter with Aashtosh. We stayed at Hotel Surya in KHAJURAHO
Jan 26 – Day 10 – Relax with a rooftop breakfast at Khajuraho before flying to Varanasi – India’s spiritual heart set on the River Ganges. Met Raju, the local Tour Guide and stayed at Palace on Ganges at Asi Ghat in VARANASI for 2 nights.
Jan 27 – Day 11 - Wandered down twisting narrow alleys, past shrines and temples and experience the holiness of this unique and fascinating city known for beautiful silks. We go to the Monkey Temple. At 4pm I had a Kerala Ayervedic Massage with Maya from Arogyam Sukhavardhanam Clinic. It was very oily and astringent smell on a big table with leather edges, headrest and squares for legs to be raised. The cover I laid on felt very oily. It was a strong firm massage, very mechanical, with both hands together, reflexology on feet and up sides of legs and sides of trunk. Back to hotel for shower and change into warmer clothes for another boat ride up the Ganges to watch the Aarti – the evening Hindu ceremony of lights on the banks of the river. On the ghat (steps) we met Emma and Simon (from Agra) afterwards – what a coincidence! Went to Niyali Cafe for the cheapest dinner in India (100 rupees) Then went to Main Bazaar and I got green leggings and an overflow bag with Taj Mahal on it.
Jan 28 – Day 12 – A quiet morning, I had the Best Massage in India from a man at the Temple Hotel who charged half the amount of the 2 other massages I had. A 1.5 hour drive through bustling Varanasi to catch the Kingfisher plane from Varanasi to New Delhi. A mad taxi ride to the International airport for the flight from Delhi to Dubai. When I got to Dubai I was very sick, so the flight stewardess advised me not to fly, and I spent the night in the Dubai Medical Centre and caught the next flight to Australian at 10am the next day… arriving in Brisbane, it took me 2 hours to get home. I was sick for 10 days, a detox from my trip away…
Conclusions:
India is a beautiful land of contrasts – the rich, the subsistence life, the teeming masses, very spiritual people.
They are always willing to say YES, however that doesn’t always mean what we think it means!
The Indians are very friendly, and happy to share their homes and family. I made many friends there.
There are SO many temples, however every place can be holy.
I appreciate sanitation and living space back in Australia