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        <title>Sitachants - Sita - Blog</title>
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        <description>Sita: Blog</description>
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        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:08:06 -0700</lastBuildDate>
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            <title>England</title>
            <link>http://sitachants.com/blog.html/england</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Its hard to believe I have been in England for nearly 2 weeks and its taken practically that long to adjust to it.When I left India the temperature was in the 90's and when I arrived at Heathrow it was in the low 50's so my system went into shock-this did not help the cold I had picked up when I was travelling to the Tibetan settlement-which ever way you do it travelling in India is stressful,though I have yet to do a domestic flight.The first week was about staying warm enough by wearing nearly all the clothes I had brought and buying a couple of extra things and coughing up a storm.It was a challenge not to fall into melancholy that can sometimes grip me when I am in England which is one of the reasons I left.Now that I am feeling better I am managing to appreciate Spring.As cold as it is Spring is happening in full force with flowers galore and blossom trees everywhere.I am spending 3 weeks with my mother who lives in Haxby- a village just outside York.It still maintains lovely little cottages so endemic of the English village and also a little pond that I visit most days as the are at least 14 tiny ducklings swimming around-its a joy to watch them and last evening at least 8 of them managed to get under their mothers body and wings-it was quite a cosy sight and I was so sorry I didn't have my camera with me.York is a very historical town with buildings dating back to the 15th centuary and a wall around it that dates back to the 10th.For the most part all the shops have to conform to the mediaeval look so even a Starbucks fits in(to some degree)It also has a beautiful cathedral called the Minster-which is famous in Europe and consequently York is packed with tourists which reminds me of Santa Fe in the summer.I am here until the 23rd when I will spend time with my sister who also lives in a lovely village.Its been 4 years since I have been here and I since I have 2 brothers and 4 sisters I am kept busy seeing them all plus my 10 nieces and nephews-all of which I will have managed to see by the time I leave.I will make one more entry before May 8th when I fly back to the States.  LOve and blessings  Sita]]></description>
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            <pubDate>Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:08:06 -0700</pubDate>
            <source url="http://sitachants.com/blog.html">Sitachants - Sita - Blog</source>
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            <title>Tibetan Settlement  in Bylakuppe</title>
            <link>http://sitachants.com/blog.html/tibetan_settlement__in_bylakuppe</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Its been many days since I have made a entry as the internet places where so uncomfortable to sit in I couldn't mange them for any more than was really necessary.Now I am in a wifi hotel in Bangalore, on our last day in India.For the past week Anna(my friend who I started off the trip with) and I where at the Tibetan Settlement that covers a wide area around Bylakuppe which is about 2 hours from Mysore.We did manage a day in Mysore but i have to say I do not like(so far) being in Indian cities.We did have a rickshaw driver take us around and apart from the palace which is quite stunning the best part was going to his home for tea.The Tibetan Settlement is truly a special place.We stayed at the Sera Jay Monestary's guest house which in and of itself was quite a surprise as it looked much fancier than I expected- though after being there a few days you started to realize it not nearly as fancy as it looks-the restaurant was had a very limited selection and boiled eggs was my main protein for the week but this was a minor annoyance that was completely forgotten when you started walking around the different camps(there are 4 main ones).Thousands upon thousands of monks everywhere and the pujas where deeply moving.I especially loved whats commonly called the "The Golden Temple at the Namdroling Monastery which was started by Penor Rinpoche.It is beyond me to accurately describe the beauty of this Temple and it was surrounded by other smaller ones that where nearly as impressive.I loved the little Temple dedicated to the Goddess Tara.One morning there was puja's going on in all of them at the same time and the effect as you walked from one to another was a sonorous field of devotion and pray-I felt completely bathed in it.Unfortunately my camera had broken in Goa so this time around I have no photos to show-Ah well.After leaving Sera Jay(which is a university as well as a monestary) and on our way back to Mysore we stopped off at the Dubare elephant reserve where 20 elephants, that once worked at logging etc, are now taken care of-we hope humanely.You can only get to where the elephants are by boat and we arrived in time to see many of them being bathed and scrubbed by the mahoots then fed.There was also a lecture demonstration about what is going on with elephants so it had an educational aspect too.I have to say i had to cry some tears before i could just relax and appreciate what was happening around me, as its still so sad to see these extraordinary creatures reduced to walking around with chains around their feet and young mahoots on there backs, that you could only pray treated them with respect.But all that aside it was a treat to see them so close up and watch them enjoy the water and the food.We then took a taxi back to Mysore and a fancy(the luck of the draw )train to Bangalore.Tomorrow morning we fly to London.I am a little stunned that my time in India is coming to an end but very grateful that it was such a great trip and I am already planning my return next winter.I will make another entry a few days into arriving in England-I am just praying its not to cold.  LOve and blessings  Sita]]></description>
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            <pubDate>Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:51:45 -0700</pubDate>
            <source url="http://sitachants.com/blog.html">Sitachants - Sita - Blog</source>
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            <title>Gokarna and my last few days in Goa</title>
            <link>http://sitachants.com/blog.html/gokarna_and_my_last_few_days_in_goa</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Hello Dear One  last week I took a train to Gokarna as good friends are staying on one of the beaches there so I wanted to visit them but i was also curious about Gokarna.I loved the town-it is one of the 12 holy Shiva sites in India and it really holds a sacred atmostphere.For an Indian town its quite clean and has an old but well kept feeling.Even though as a non Hindu I wasn't allowed in the main Temple just walking around the outer area was quite special.It also has one of the largest tanks that I have seen -walking around it takes about 20 mins.This is where people attached to the various temples,as there are quite a few that i didn't have time to explore, bath.The closest I can get to describing it so you can imagine it is an old Italian town where the houses are quaint and colorful in a faded way.I found how much more I like the beaches in Goa as I wasn't that taken with the beach but my friends love it there so you find what suits ones needs-they also where staying in the nicest guest house in Kudle.<br />This is my last few days in Patnem and i realize how precious it feels to walk every morning and sit by the ocean and allow its expanse to work on my being-I will miss that peace alot.On Sat. I will get an over night train to Bangalore then an express train down to Mysore where I will meet back up with my friend Anna who will be overflowing with Kumba Mela energy-I am looking forward to hearing her stories.I will make another entry during my time in Mysore.May this find you all Well and Happy  LOve loVE sita]]></description>
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            <pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:17:06 -0700</pubDate>
            <source url="http://sitachants.com/blog.html">Sitachants - Sita - Blog</source>
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            <title>Patnem continued</title>
            <link>http://sitachants.com/blog.html/patnem_continued</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Hello Dear Ones     I wasn't originally planning to be here for so long but I feel pretty settled  and the longer I stay the more accepted I become with the India community.On Sunday night I chanted at the local Saraswati Temple and the other evening I chanted for a yoga retreat which is happening just down at the end of the beach both where wonderful and very different= one serving the local people with a few friends and tourists that dropped in and the other 12 Japanese women who where on the yoga retreat for 8 days plus local western people that came from around Patnem.At the Temple I had a local tabla player called Mahindra who was great-by day he is a rickshaw driver.At the yoga retreat I was with my friend Meirav who is studying tabla and this was her first experience of performing which was great to observe-she did very well..Its hard to describe the beach in the early morning-the nicest time-I often sit there for a good hour just taking in the vast energy of the ocean-it can create similar feelings to the vast expanse of sky in New Mexico but its more accessible as you can touch it or allow your body to be washed by it-I can understand now why people love to live by it-it also helps that it is never cold even in the early morning or late into the evening-my body seems more open in these conditions..There are moments though when the foreigness of the place gets to me and I long for my own kitchen, for friends that i know well etc.The season here is coming to an end-by April it gets to hot for most people so already I can feel it emptying out and it seems quieter than when i first arrived.I have had to do some grieving over the dying process of my dear friend Susan as it looks like she is transitioning at this time and I had dearly hoped that she would still be with us when i returned-i have felt a long way away at times but I know that that idea is an illusion and that my spirit is with her during the process.None the less I will miss her dearly.Tomorrow I take a short trip to Gokarna-a town further down the coast in Karnataka where friends have been staying- its meant to be a special place so I will make another entry this weekend and let you know how it went and some of my impressions.Hope all of you are well and staying warm  Much LOve Sita now how it]]></description>
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            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:37:51 -0800</pubDate>
            <source url="http://sitachants.com/blog.html">Sitachants - Sita - Blog</source>
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            <title>Life in Patnem</title>
            <link>http://sitachants.com/blog.html/life_in_patnem</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Hello Dear Ones   Its hard to believe I have been in Patnem(Goa) nearly a week and half.Life here is slow and peaceful for the most part, though these past few days the celebration of Holi has been in full swing which is far from peaceful but quite amazing.Lots of drumming and dancing to a very tribal rhythm-feels nearly African-they go from house to house and then after many hours everyone gets fed very delicious food on beautiful banana leaves-the old style of eating here.Last night it went on until after 1:00 in the morning and tonight they will celebrate all night throwing colors etc but its in the next village over so i think I will get some sleep.Patnem is, if I  can use the word for an Indian town-quaint.I am living in the compound of an Indian family-Robin, Maya and their 2 children Sakshi and Swayam-they are so sweet and gracious.I am a very short walk to the beach -its especially nice in the morning and the evening to walk along the ocean-there is also some lovely spots to sit and eat-right now i am at a place called Laguna Vista that is right on a little bay-they are one of the few places that do free wifi so I can use my computor rather than have my patience very tried at times with the computors that you find in the Internet places.One of the challenges to my health is the smoke and I can feel my chest is a little inflamed from it-it is sometimes the first thing I smell when I wake up as the Indians burn their trash and other things and seem oblivious to the effects of the smoke-since they cook alot on out door fires I think the are inured to it-becaose of the sea breeze it clears up quickly-one also has to get used to seeing trash everywhere and Patnem(Goa in genewral) is cleaner than other places because of tourism-but this is a small price to pay for the natural beauty of the place.I will be here for another week then I will go to Gokarna-about 2 hours from here, to visit friends then on to other places that i will write about as I get there.I hope this finds you staying warm and well.Many Blessings from Mother India  LOve loVE  Sita]]></description>
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            <pubDate>Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:05:45 -0800</pubDate>
            <source url="http://sitachants.com/blog.html">Sitachants - Sita - Blog</source>
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            <title>last day at Agonda Beach</title>
            <link>http://sitachants.com/blog.html/last_day_at_agonda_beach</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Hello Whoever might be reading this blog    Tomorrow  is my last day at Agonda as I will move to Patnem which is the next town with my friends Meirav and Joseph -there are a few causes and conditions that have lead up to this but it does feel like its time to make a change .I have enjoyed my stay here enormously and feel very relaxed and grateful that l was placed here for 2 weeks-it feels like quite a luxury on the one hand(though my hut on the beach is far from luxurious)and how everyone should live.Patnem is also a beach town but a little bit more up beat.Anna is taking some traveling time for herself and we will meet up again next week and make our way to Hampi-a place we have heard is quite extraordinary.I heard the news of the bombing at Pune and it makes me extremmely sad that human beings  hurt each other so much-its also quite close so even though I haven't listened to the news I can feel the enormity of it.I will create another entry at the end of the week.Until then.     much LOve Sita]]></description>
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            <pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:08:14 -0800</pubDate>
            <source url="http://sitachants.com/blog.html">Sitachants - Sita - Blog</source>
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            <title>Agonda Beach in Goa</title>
            <link>http://sitachants.com/blog.html/agonda_beach_in_goa</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Hello Dear all  Finally I have found a good internet cafe(cool and fast) and the time to do another entry.I can still feel the reverberations of Ananda Ashram as I find myself in a very differet but quite lovely situation.The last few days at Ananda Ashram where very sweet and poignant as I was not really ready to leave-it helped that a German women called Margaret,who has been going there since 1974!organizeded a going away concert for myself and Uma who was also leaving(another couple who had just arrived(Mark and Tierra)and also joined so we had a very good tabla player in the mix.It went over well and was a great way to say thank you and goodbye.I made some wonderful connections and would love to go back next year for a month.<br />After an all day journey by train, that went smoothly, Anna and I arrived at Agonda beach where our close friend Meirav is staying with her partner Joseph.She had booked us into a beach hut next door to a restaurant which was a definite shock to our systems so after a sleepless night we where determined to find something more Shanti.So  we walked the long beach and eventually found a sweet,funky,colorful hut on stilts with actual glass windows that looks right out onto the ocean.For a lower price we agreed to stay 7 nights so here we are.It is a long beautiful stretch of beach and according to the Lonely Planet, one of the mellow places in Goa and so far that seems to have proven correct.It is more western inhabited as all the Indians own the huts and restaurants and are either in them or behind but after a while I started enjoying the amazing mixtures of languages and since the beach is so long it never feels really crowded.We had thought about moving to Patnem, another town close by, but have decided to stay put until we take a 3 day  adventure up north with Meirav.The electricity went off about 5 minutes ago, so what was an air conditioned room is now feeling like a sauna-Ah India-so I will sign off here.  Much Love   Sita]]></description>
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            <pubDate>Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:23:05 -0800</pubDate>
            <source url="http://sitachants.com/blog.html">Sitachants - Sita - Blog</source>
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            <title>One week later at Ananda ashram</title>
            <link>http://sitachants.com/blog.html/one_week_later_at_ananda_ashram</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Its hard to believe I have been at the Ashram for a week-I was sitting in a  beautiful garden listening to bajans in the background reminicsing at how quickly one's reality can change as its certainly very different-its so delicoius to feel warm especially in the mornings and there truily is singing all day long and way into the evening and sometime multiple things happening at the the same time. I love singing Ramnam with all the Ma's many times during the day  circling the mandir-the combination of the different colours of the saris(Indian women are not afraid of color)and the sound of the chant is quite beautiful-a tapestry of sounds and color.The days seem to blend into one another quite seamlessly and i feel I  have adjusted to the rythms of the ashram-the consant sounds of the chanting is in the background of everthing else that goes on and after awhile you feel it pulsating within as well as without-this feels very healing.I have come to the end of my time so will make another enterey in a few days.  Much LOve Sita]]></description>
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            <pubDate>Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:48:12 -0800</pubDate>
            <source url="http://sitachants.com/blog.html">Sitachants - Sita - Blog</source>
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            <title>First day in India</title>
            <link>http://sitachants.com/blog.html/first_day_in_india</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Hi Dear All     I have to say the word blog is not music to my ears(I wonder who coined it) but so be it.I don't think of myself as a writer so this may not be the best blog but given where I am it won't be the worst either.I arrived in Bangalore not to worst for wear(given that I have hardly slept in the last 2 days)-I can already feel my body relaxing into the warm, delicious(though a little polluted) air.Bangalore is a sane airport to arrive into India-but Bangalore itself is noisy and seems to be in constant repair so i glad we are only here until tomorrow evening when we catch the overnight train(my first) to Mangalore and then onto Ananda Ashram.I am here with my friends Uma and Shivaya and hopefully Anna will arrive sometime early morning as she missed her connecting flight due to weather in Newark-it was amazing to see how snowy London was and I was grateful that my planes seemed to land and take off more or less on time-thank you Ma.Not sure what my accessability will be to the internet when I am at Ananda but hopefully another one will follow soon .  LOve and Blessings Sita]]></description>
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            <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:21:07 -0800</pubDate>
            <source url="http://sitachants.com/blog.html">Sitachants - Sita - Blog</source>
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            <title>Sita's Travel Blog    January - May 2010</title>
            <link>http://sitachants.com/blog.html/sitas_travel_blog____january__may_2010</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Dear Friends,<br />As most of you know, I leave Santa Fe on January 12, 2010 and I'm off to India for two and a half months, followed by some time with family in England. I plan on sharing travel experiences, as I have them and as I can find internet cafes on my way. I hope you enjoy them. I would love to hear from you via the comments function of the blog.<br /><br />Love and blessings,<br />Sita<br /><br />P.S. To comment or to read comments, click on the word "comments" below the blog title.]]></description>
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            <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:24:21 -0800</pubDate>
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