Lotus Petals Spiritual Journeys

Next Journey in 2010

2009-01-26T12:37:00.000-08:00

Currently we are in the planning stages of our next trip series.

In Feb. 2010, we plan to return to Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India to work with the villagers at Martuvam Healing Forest and continue our teaching of Healing Touch energy work. This will be followed by a tour of some of the historial sites in India. We are still trying to decide where to go this time. Several people have traveled with me several times and so we are planning a new itinerary.

Then we will meet with members of Self-Realization Fellowship for a tour of northern India, including the ashram in Ranchi for special services in March, 2010. This will be followed by the hike to Babaji's cave near Dwarahut.

I am looking for people to join these tours, especially now in Jan. 2009 when there is still time for input from future travelers to custom make these tours for your needs. Please contact me for more information and to share your input.

Also I have recently published an e-cookbook called "The Holistic Cookie - Enjoy Nutritious Time Tested Recipes" Proceeds from this book will help fund the projects of Healing Touch at Martuvam Healing Forest. check out -- www.TheHolisticCookie.com
also www.martuvam.org

For more free recipes, visit www.MarthaRather.com

Travel Tip Number10 - Taking the Middle Road

2006-12-16T11:20:00.000-08:00

I am really enjoying all the Holiday cheer and entertainment that Tennessee has to offer. Parties with dear old friends, Christmas concerts, and special Christmas meditations.

Someone asked me about the quality of the hotels we stay in on these tours to India. Someone else asked about staying in the ashrams - why we don't?

The tour company that works for us has picked some older, interesting, and high quality 3 and 4 star hotels. There are some really beautiful places, but they are a little older and not as expensive. For me, one of the most important things is to be able to come back to a hot shower after a day of touring. Hot water seems to be a luxury in India. Also I like some air-conditioning now and then. One of the hotels in Southern India even had a "Best Western" sign at the registration desk! So that is the general category, if that means something to you. Also the hotels we stay at are known for having excellent food.

The ashrams have no air-conditioning and as for hot showers -- well, one monk told me (when I asked him about it) that the water was hot enough. Later I asked a lady staying there, in Ranchi, and she described the water as not being hot at all.

India also has fabulous 5 star accommodations available, if you can afford it. But I like to travel to historical and SRF areas that are not necessarily high tourist areas where we can meet and interact with ordinary people -- not the extreme personalities you see on the tv news. I like to travel the Middle Road and meet regular folks so that India feels like a second home to me.

Travel Tip Number 9 - Guides

2006-12-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader, by now you must be asking yourself -- if I have all this information, why do I need a tour guide?

The answer is very simple. A tour guide is essential. We visit India because the culture is just that different -- perhaps the mirror opposite of what we are used to. To experience that difference in the most enjoyable way -- we MUST have a tour guide. A Tour Guide takes care of us in the most basic ways -- as an interface with all the hotels, drivers, local guides, restaurants, etc. By interface I also mean protection. India is so crowded with enthusiastic ebullient people who want to help. If you were traveling alone, you might interpret this as an attack. Especially we Americans, who are used to doing everything for ourselves. We are not used to this level of helpfulness. We are not used to this level of being observed. And it is true -- our every move seems to be watched by all (good and bad if you like).

But if you stay within your own level of understanding about how the world works, i.e. travelling alone and protecting yourself, you will MISS the culture of India and its great gift to the world. The people of India have an openness and friendly quality that invites you to be part of their greater extended family at every turn, in ways you cannot imagine. But if you are traveling with a trusted guide, you can relax into the process. You can enjoy this unusual culture. You can enjoy your trip with a continual feeling of safety. The trip will feel like a true Pilgrimage and not a punishment.

There is also a monetary benefit to being on a tour. Our tour company gets us the best discount prices at hotels because we are a group. You could not travel through India alone and get the discount prices from hotels and private transportation that the tour company gets for us.

So planning ahead and traveling with a tour group is really the best way to travel!

Travel Tip Number 8 - Cooked Food

2006-12-08T16:10:00.000-08:00

Because electricity is unreliable, refrigeration is also unreliable. However, as a developing country, India is working hard to fix these structural problems. But I don't think they will abandon this excellent custom -- No Leftovers!! Food is ALWAYS cooked fresh!

If you have eaten in Indian restaurants in America, you will recognize the names of many of the dishes offered to you. However each section of India has it's own version of that dish. So there will be some hopefully pleasant surprises. Also you will learn about many new tasty dishes.

If you are not familiar with Indian food, start eating at your local Indian restaurants and getting used to the food as a preparation for your trip. American food offering will be limited but some will be available. In many ways the Indian cuisine is more healthy than the average American diet. The spices have medicinal value. Consider this a spa diet!

The food at the ashrams that we will visit is also very healthy and safe. The YSS ashrams have many visitors from America and Europe and therefore are prepared. The food there is less spicey and more simple, but tastes wonderful!

The HT tour visits the southern state of Tamil Nadu where the restaurants will offer fresh caught fish. This is also very good.

Travel Tip Number 7 - Raw Food

2006-12-08T15:57:00.000-08:00

We will be staying in good hotels that use filtered water to wash the fruits and vegetables. When you stop and think about it -- these hotels do not want to lose their good status with the tour companies, so they are very careful. But we need to be careful also! Here are a few important considerations.

Has the fruit or vegetable been pealed? That pealing can eliminate all worries. We will find at hotel buffets trays of pealed and sliced vegetables -- cucumbers, carrots, apples, papayas, the list goes on and on. These foods are ok to eat raw.

LETTUCE is the biggest problem. All the little ridges in lettuce cannot be scrubbed adequately and of course lettuce cannot be pealed. Do yourself a favor and Forget that Lettuce even exists!! And I am not exaggerating. The fanciest and cleanest restaurants will offer you lettuce -- do NOT take it. Recent problems with santitation in the US should already have you convinced about this.

BANANAS offer the perfect fruit. Easy to peal and eat. Plus there are so many unusual and different varieties to try as we travel along. Also we will have the opportunity to drink fresh coconut milk out of the coconut and then eat the "gel" inside. What a treat!

Travel Tip Number 6 - Showers

2006-12-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

In order to consider your health and safety in India, we recommend you take showers and Not sit in a bathtub. I will leave the reasons why up to your imagination.

Having said that, I must also say that the shower system in India is one of my favorite things. There are these big walk-in marble showers that I just love. If I was going to re-model the bathroom in my home, I would try to design a shower like they have in India. There is so much room to stretch around in the water. Maybe it sounds a bit silly to say all this. But one last thing -- after 2 weeks in India my skin takes on a robust hardiness that feels very healthy. I don't know what causes that. I can guess that it is the lack of chlorine in the water, but I don't really know.

Anyway, showers are healthy and safe and enjoyable!

Travel Tip Number 5 - Water

2006-11-30T21:17:00.000-08:00

Right now it is raining like crazy in Tennessee. I guess that means that the next tip should be about WATER.

The water in India seems to be a problem even for the Indians. Each state I have visited has it's own sort of problems. Even our guide chooses to drink bottled water in certain locations. We just solve all those problems through avoidance and INSIST on drinking bottled water at all places. Although there are a few places, like the SRF Ashrams and a certain place in Auroville, where the water filtration system is excellent, where we can drink water from the special pitchers.

In fact we suggest that you take it a step further and insist on brushing your teeth and rinsing your toothbrush with bottled water. Boy, it is hard to resist that impulse to rinse your toothbrush out in the sink. Some of my travellers have taken an additional toothbrush along in case they forgot what they were doing. Some of the hotels provide extra toothbrushes and of course, you can buy a new one there in the stores.

Just remember, ALWAYS drink bottled water. Check the cap too, to make sure it was sealed.

At certain times, when the group is large enough, we take a bus tour with our own bus. In these situations, the bus driver and his assistant will buy water by the case and keep it on ice for us. That is so handy! We have to pay a little more for the water, but that is just a little service charge. Water from the store is usually around 12 rupees (about 25 cents) per liter. Cool water from the bus driver is usually 20 rupees (about 50 cents) per liter. Water from room service in a hotel can be about US $2 or more. So there is quite a big variance in prices.

Travel Tip Number 4 - Immunizations

2006-11-30T13:34:00.000-08:00

Your local hospital will have a place known as a "Travel Clinic" which will include internet access to recommended immunizations for where ever you plan to travel. They will also check your health records and give you a consultation.

The clinic I went to in Nashville in 2003 for my first trip recommended a Tetanus booster shot, also shots for Hepatitis A and Typhoid.

Then there is what can become an "issue" of Malaria medication. This comes in several oral forms, but can have side effects for sensitive people. Please check into this and discuss it carefully with your health care practitioner. This is an important decision to make concerning this trip.

I have chosen to not take any malaria medication due to the fact that I tend to be hypersensitive to chemicals. Instead I take a few "health food" products that are supposed to stimulate a person's natural immune system. In fact these are the same products I would take in the wintertime to prevent flu symptoms even while staying here in this country. This has been a successful plan for me.

Here are the names of my two favorite products:

New Chapter "Host Defense" which comes in oral spray bottle, liquid drops (to add to my water bottle) and capsules
Gaia brand "Astragalus" which comes in liquid drops or gel caps

Remember to bring along your "favorite" Mosquito Repellant!

Please do what is RIGHT FOR YOU!

Travel Tip Number 3 - Travel Insurance

2006-11-30T13:02:00.000-08:00

Travel Insurance is a concept that has been hard for me to understand. I have called several credit card companies and also noticed that there is a ton of information on the internet. So far my understanding is that there are 3 kinds of travel insurance: 1. Flight Travel Insurance, 2. Travel Medical Protection, and 3. Trip cancellation insurance.

1. Flight Travel Insurance -- This is a free service provided by many credit card companies when you purchase your airline ticket. Check with your credit card companies to see who will provide the best coverage for you and then use that credit card to purchase your ticket. This usually covers your medical needs during a flight only, in case something happens.

2. Travel Medical Protection -- This insurance will cover medical emergencies, hospitalizations, evacuations (check for exact details) for a specified time period, for instance, a trip of 30 days, or a trip of 45 days (check for policy details). This can be very inexpensive and a person can enroll on a monthly basis. American Express has plans that begin at $9.95 per month. You can also check with your current insurance provider. You might already be covered for foreign travel and not even know it!

3. Trip Cancellation Insurance -- This kind of insurance will apply if the trip has to be cancelled at the last minute due to sickness in the family, or natural disasters, or political disasters, or even labor disputes with airlines. An insured person can get full reimbursement of airline tickets and even tour company costs with proper validation of charges. This insurance can be a bit costly. The price depends on the cost of the tour plus airline tickets and also the age of the traveler. Again American Express has package deals that include both Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation.

If anyone knows of any special offers on the internet that will cover these insurance needs in a clear and honest manner, I would appreciate getting more information about them.

One last thing about insurance -- you will need to bring along on the trip your information about your insurance coverage. We will need to know that information and have it handy, along with your passport, at all times.

Travel Tip Number 2 - Passport and Visa

2006-11-30T12:40:00.000-08:00

Wow! Time is just flying by. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, but now I must remember to get all these helpful Travel Tips out to my friends who want to travel with me.

PASSPORT -- In order to enter the country of India, first of all, your passport must be good for a minimum of 6 months or more. If you have less than 6 months left on your passport, you must apply for a new one to take with you. Please check your passport right away.

VISA -- India also requires a VISA for entry into the country. The application form is available from www.indianembassy.org . Click on the Passport/Visa button. Next scroll down to the Visa application (#2). There will be lots of instructions and another link to print the 2 page form with a 3rd page containing instructions.

Basically they request you to mail your valid passport, with 2 passport photos, the application form, and a cashier's check (no credit cards). This is mailed to the embassy in Washington, DC. Your passport with the visa laminated inside will be returned to you within 2 weeks.

COST -- For a Tourist visa, which is what we need, there are 2 choices: either a 6 month visa for the cost of $60, or a 10 year visa for the cost of $150. If you think you might enjoy travelling to India more than once, the extended visa might be what you would want. However, the 6 month is totally adequate and most people would want to visit India once before they would even know if they wanted to return.

Also there is a return mailing charge of $7.00. Don't forget to add that to your cashier's check.

LOCAL ADDRESS -- The visa application form requests a local address in India. Since we will be travelling on a tour, we use the address of our tour company. They will always know where we are at any minute in time.

KVT Travels Ltd.
805-806 Kirti Shikhar Building
District Center, Janakpuri,
New Delhi, 58, India

Travel Tip Number 1 - Start Walking

2006-10-07T16:26:00.000-07:00

It has been said that the Pilgrimage to India begins when you decide to do it. Well, this can mean a lot of different things to each person, but to me it means that now is the time to make the most of your decision to travel half way around the world to visit this very exotic culture. Now is the time to study the culture and read tour books. Now is the time to start getting in shape. Now is the time to start saving money. The more we learn now, the more comfortable the trip will be. When we already have a bit of basic understanding of this culture, we can truly appreciate what it can mean for us personally.

Travel Tip #1

Start getting in shape. I am going to pass on the advice of Dr. Roizen of "Real Age" fame. (also on "Oprah") Go for a walk for half an hour every day. You don't have to walk fast. You don't have to measure miles -- just measure time. It is unbelievable what this can do for you.

I started doing this myself in April 2006 after returning from my 4th trip to India. I thought I was in good shape, except that I caught the flu about a month after returning. Well, it was a cold and rainy day and I felt miserable, but it sounded like a good idea. So I started walking around inside my house, barefoot, and with the intention to look only at the clock and not the piles of unfinished work lying around. I have not missed a day since. Honestly. I don't know what it is about walking around first thing in the morning, barefoot, no hurry, no worries (yet), only the clock to satisfy. But this works for me.

You might already be on a more aggressive training program. But in case you are not. Try this one. If it is nice outside (you decide the definition of "nice"), walk for half an hour or more outside. If it is not nice outside, walk inside. You can walk more than half an hour, but do not walk less. Walk as fast or as slow as you feel like, but do it every day.

Barefoot is a separate issue. Of course good walking shoes are essential for any kind of endurance workout. But in India, we will be visiting Holy temples and shrines where we will be leaving our shoes outside in the specially tended "shoe stall" and we will be walking around barefooted inside. If you have practiced walking barefooted, even a little bit, this will feel like a beautiful and natural experience. You will be meeting India on a very personal level through your feet. More on this later when we talk about shoes.

Tours planned in 2007

2006-10-07T15:54:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of me at a famous Krishna temple in Vrindaban on my second day in India in 2004. Do I look happy? I was so blissed out -- beyond words. Visiting India was truly a dream come true for me. Standing barefoot on the Holy marble floors of various temples with a visual feast of brightly colored flowers and saris fluttering around me -- everything is beautiful, peaceful and interesting!

In 2007 I have planned two tours. The first one will be in Northern India with a focus on sites that are important to members of Self-Realization Fellowship. To be very brief, we will visit the ashram in Ranchi, Delhi, Taj Mahal, and hike to Babaji's cave in the foothills of the Himalayas. This trip will be March 4 - 19, 2007

The second trip will be in Southern India in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerela. We will continue the Healing Touch classes in Auroville. Then we will tour ancient temples, spice gardens, wildlife sanctuary, tea plantations, southern beaches and the very tip of India. This trip will be Sept. 25 - Oct. 11, 2007.

The Auroville newsletter auroville.org has just published an article about our Co-ordinator for the Healing Touch classes healingtouchprogram.com Click on the article marked "Martuvam" under "What's New".

Second posting

2006-10-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am again. Tonight I was able to put the description of my blog into the headline. Sorry to be so boring, but this is a really big deal for me. Also I want to thank whoever it was who wrote me a comment. I think I am invisible sometimes, but here is a blog that does not say anything yet and someone who is already saying hello. Wow. This is a whole new world to me.

Tonight I read so many blogs of other people on so many different subjects. Some people are angry, some people are poetic, some just want to show their travel photos or write about their latest knitting projects. I am all of those things too. Perhaps I will end up with several blogs and become totally addicted to this new world.

But THIS blog is about Travel Tips to India. It is primarily for people who want to travel with me to take pilgrimages to sacred sites in India, to visit ashrams run by Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society, or to help teach Healing Touch in Auroville, Tamil Nadu. There are 2 different trips. Healing Touch is energetic healing. The Travel Tips are necessary to help make their trip more comfortable and enjoyable!

I have lots of books I can recommend to people to read. Maybe I could get affiliate advertising with Amazon, or something like that.

Enough for tonight. Thanks for listening.

Welcome to my New Blog!

2006-10-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

Hello. This is my first posting of my first blog. I cannot believe I am doing this. I hear it is addictive! I hope to have a lot of fun with this. I am looking forward to writing lots of stuff that will be interesting.