Mysore Phoenix Blog

Tomorrow starts my last week at the shala for this visit. I’m looking forward to seeing my loved ones in real life instead of via Skype:But I’ll also miss sitting on the steps of the shala, waiting for my turn:And I did finally get my act together and...

Tonight people will go to Shiva temples and stay up all night for Shivaratri, a Hindu festival celebrated annually in reverence of the god Shiva.One of my favorite stories is the samudra manthan or Churning of the Ocean of Milk.Indra the King of Devas (gods), while...

So, a bunch of cows are running down the hill toward you. What do you do? First I thought, “Hmm, Vanessa is Spanish – she’ll know how to handle this.” Then I noticed we were both looking at each other like, “uhhhhhh…” So I...

Vanessa and I went out to lunch, but I had to get back in time to pay the cleaning ladies for the big bottle of water that two of them delivered earlier. As the ladies were cleaning, my Kannada tutor came over to where I was sitting at the table and stood a bit behind...

Masala is a spice mix. India is all about masala. And now I’m going to write a post that’s a mix of topics.First off: the ironing lady. I don’t have a picture of her at work, but I do have a picture of her workplace:See the little shack on the right...

I now officially cook for myself in Mysore. I have spent three visits being a slacker about cooking, but this time it’s different. First order of business: turn on the Tank of Doom. When I turn the valve to open the gas, it makes a little *snick* sound, like the...

A few things from today. First off, a fantastic breakfast at Sri Durga Bhavan. What you see is set dosa with beetroot sagu and coconut chutney. The dosa is a fat pancake made of a fermented batter of rice and beans, and it’s spongy and a bit like sourdough when...

5:50 AM. Hair is in ridiculous little pigtails, toe is taped out of an abundance of caution. I hear: barking, a neighbor lighting a stove, Muslim call to prayer. First practice at the shala and my tummy is full of butterflies. I know that as I step over the doorstep...

Met Angie for breakfast at Green Leaf. Indian breakfast, I’ve missed you! I had idly and vada which are served with a little cup of sambar and a little cup of coconut chutney. Angie had idly with sambar and chutney and a dosa. This pretty much sums up...

Plane takes off on Saturday morning. India. Land of opportunity, as explained in the post below: https://pdxtomysore.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/on-not-evaluating/ Time to get my nonjudgmental interrogative on.

Heading out, January 31, for a month in Mysore. Can’t wait to be back. If you want to leave a comment, put your cursor on this text box, then click on the ellipsis (…) that appears below. Click on “Permalink,” and that’ll open a comment box.