I ve been travelling a day I ve been travelling a year Travelling a lifetime to find my way home. Home is where the heart is, Home is where the heart is and my heart is with you. I have been in Bali three times: first in 2014, then 2015 and this year was the third visit. Even now I am still dreaming to go back. When I visited Bali first time, I just had finished my 10 year long career in the Ministry. I had no idea what to do next, where to go or what to do with my life. I was tired and looking for a place where I could go alone, do some yoga and where sun is up most of the day. I had been travelling a lot around in Europe (because of my job), so I was planning to go far away and Asia seemed nice. I had been only in Singapore before (which is very European btw) for my work, so I decided to go to Bali, just like that. When I was googel-ing around, I found website bookyogaretreats.com and there it was: Gedong Gandhi Ashram, offering one week yoga retreat and it was settled. Although I had been travelling a lot by myself, I was a bit afraid. I didnt no much about the culture or ashram life, also my yoga practise was just in the beginning. So, no expectations at all. 25 hrs later, in the middle of the night, I stepped out into the hot humid climate and my driver was waiting for me. We drove almost 2 hrs to Candidasa, which is located east Bali. I was shown my little bungalow and I slept till midday. When I woke up, fairy had left breakfast on my balcony and I was welcomed by most warm-hearted Rudi, who is one of the sons of the founder of the Ashram. So I was here, between the Bali sea and fresh water lagoon, surrounded by the mountains. I am so grateful and lucky that I ended up there, not in the touristic places like Kuta, Seminyak or Sanur, so I could see real Bali, learn about its culture and get to know people as they are. Ashram has been active since 1976 and its focus is on delivering actual health and education services through its well established Nature Cure Health Clinic (acupuncture and traditional herbal medicine), introducing Gandhian ideals to the Ashram run kindergarten and to its own cadres of Ashram's young members. Ashram earns its income from paying guests and donation. So if you want to do help ashram, help children from rural areas to get good education, your staying is most welcome. Accommodation is simple, but you don`t need that hot water, because it so warm outside. I have been in Bali always around March and May, which is considered a low season, so its hot, humid and rainy (but not so much rain in Candidasa). Rooms are equipped with fan to keep you breezy, also you are located by the ocean, so it makes little bit cooler. I dont like conditioners anyway:) Food is included in the room rate, so they offer 3 vegetarian-fish home cooked delicious meals a day, plus snacks/hot water that keep you more than full a whole day. You can take yoga classes given by local teachers 3 times a week. Kawi the resident yoga teacher and the admin-manager of ashram, is raised up there. When you meet him, you are taken. He smiles, sings and plays kirtan and makes yoga classes simple and happy. He has a great talent to explain you all the mindful things in very simple way. If you are into yoga, then look out yoga retreats they organise yearly. The members of ashram follow strict routine of puja or pray time four times a day, where you can take part of. Also there are meal blessings before every meal. If you are not used to it (like most of Estonians), you can take silently part of it. But if you are brave enough, you can sing along and in the end of week, you can remember the most complicated words already:) Pujas are voluntary for visitors, but I loved the agni hotra (fire ceremony) and evening prayers. Ashram has an acupuncture clinic where most charming doctor cures you any pain you have:) First time I went there I was bit cautious about needles, but everything was so relaxing and professional, so definitely worth of trying. Clinic is open to locals and is donation based, but for visitors the session costs 50000 rp (if I remember correctly). Yoga retreat daily program was quite intensive, but custom made depending on the participants. We started at 7 with sun salutation and meditation practise, followed by breakfast. After brekkie we had 1,5 hrs asana class and after lunch afternoon yoga. Yoga shala has an amazing view to the ocean! Besides yoga we went to snorkelling and had some beach time (white sands). Visited water temple and had a yoga class there. The view is amazing! We visited the old village Teganan where life is still followed by the ancient ways. The entrance is donation based and you get a tour guide for your contribution. On high demand, Rudi organised us cycling tour through the rice fields and we had a marvellous chance to visit his family members. We had 2hrs hiking trip to mountains, including ceremony led by local priest. I remember discussing meditation practise with the priest and he said that it is hard for him as well:) But the highlights of being in ashram was temple visits with young members. I still remember going up to the hill in the late evening, when moon was watching us. And we said our prays, singing mantras, putting flowers on head and purifying our faces with holy water. It is so touching to see dedication of prayers, all dressed up for showing their respect to their gods. I am so grateful and blessed that they let us be part of it, sharing their prays and open heart with us. Last time I went there, there were some changes happening in the ashram compund, but you can still find that door from the lagoon side and behind tht door there are real people, with smiles and dedication and willing to share that passion with you. So if you are in Candidasa please step by, or stay for a night or take yoga class (only 4 euros) there or if you are more into yoga, take a whole yoga retreat there! Thats how you can support ashram life and education of young people living there. More information can be find on ashrams webpage: http://www.ashramgandhi.com/ or their FB page.NB! Pictures in the end of post:) Ma olen Balit külastanud kolmel korral: 2014 ja 2015 ning ka sellel
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