So for the past four weeks the security man outside my apartment block has greeted me everyday with the word "bye". This has been regardless of  me coming in or going out of the building and often in response to me saying "hello". Imagine my surprise when entering the building yesterday... He said "hello, how are you?" (in the same voice as Manuel in Fawlty Towers does). I was so taken aback I just looked blankly at him at first and then respond "very good". When I got inside the apartment I laughed my head off. He really has had a crash course in English and took me completely by surprise. I wondered if he would revert back to "bye" this morning... But no, his response to my "how are you? was "fine" ( with, of course, an Indian sideways nod of the head). Everyone keeps you on your toes here in India.

A little tongue in cheek item about understanding shala speak here in Mysore. :-) Shala time and real time do not match. Be prepared to show up at the wrong time for a week. "One more" doesn't always mean its your turn to enter the shala (although you thought you were next in line). "what's your time?" usually means a) you are too early, b) too late, or c) your time is about to change. "Move" means can you please move. "Walk" doesn't mean its time to leave. You've got to get your hands closer to your feet in back bends. "Catching" doesn't mean someone is about to throw something at you. You are about to do something quite unbelievable (or not, in my case) in a back bend. "hmmmm" means your doing something good (I think) "The grunt" could be good or could be bad. Got to listen up here (a bit like when you have a baby and are unsure what that crying is for? milk, changing etc... the same

This is the nearest thing to Starbucks here in Gokulam Mysore. As far as I'm aware they do not sell coffee. "Coconut sweet or water?" is the request from the barista. It's a favourite hang out for many yoga students and local young people. The post practice fresh coconut is like nectar from the gods.

Took a day trip from Gokulam in Mysore to the monastery in Bylakuppe yesterday. Myself and some other yoga students took our life in our hands with a taxi ride that took a few hours (a taxi ride here is an experience in itself). Bylakuppe is a beautiful, tranquil place and attracts people from all faiths. I saw Christian nuns, women clad in burqas and of course many Hindus. There was a festival going on in the temple and I feel we were very lucky to have witnessed this.

Sleep is the best meditation. Dalai Lama Sleep. Mysore, India

So I'm here in Mysore India to practice yoga at the Ashtanga yoga institute. I could write a long monologue of my practice, the shala, the students, the gossip and all the other "stuff" that keeps the yoga students entertained when they are not practising asana. Instead I will give you a glimpse into the life of the people of India who are teaching me lessons every day that I am here.

Fear is a natural reaction of moving closer to the truth. Pema Chodron. When Things Fall Apart

The hugging guru Amma is currently here in Mysore India. It is said that she has embraced over 32 million people, spreading a message of love and compassion. Whilst I didn't actually get a hug myself (I couldn't wait until midnight), it was amazing to be part of this huge spiritual gathering and Amma was clearly offering hope to a lot of people both rich and poor. Amma is also the guru made famous by the book and film "Eat, Love, Pray" in which her ashram appears.

This made me laugh... A cow randomly standing outside a beauty salon, obviously waiting for it to open. Only in India. Below another cow just innocently hanging out? or destroying someone's front garden :-)

It is through the alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind, self and intelligence. B.K.S Iyengar