Parikrama 2010

Had been back from Navadvipa, already a week now. Was very tired, the first thing I got home was bath and wash my hair. Can you believe it the water from my hair was brown. Imagine the amount of dust collect during the 4 hours to Kolkata airport in a no aircon taxi or AC that's what India called it.

Actually you can pack food on AirAsia flight. I saw people with children pack cakes and drinks, they were eating on board. I remember, when I was travelling with my mother, the air stewardess was very strick, tell the passenger no food allowed on board.

This year Parikrama, the feeling was different from last year. Last year had walk for 3 days but the leg was not hurting so much. This year the leg don't seem to listen to me, was having cramp. But manage to walk for 2 days, to Mayapur and Navadvipa. the rest cover by taxi. Of course shared with other god-sister.

1st day parikrama i was look at those in the taxi. I asked myself why I can't take the taxi, that evening my roommate decided to get a taxi for next day parikrama, which is Nrshmapali. The place is far and the crowds was terrible, so much of pushing. Lucky we leave early to Nrshmapali where Lord Nrshma was his nails after killing the demon.

No doubt I finished my parikrama, but I am inspired to do one on leg, maybe next year. Will exercise more, build my leg muscles. With Srila Gurudev's mercy, hopefully I can make it to Navadvipa every year.

Last year only 3 of us went, we called ourselves the 3L, Lalita, Laxman and Lilavathy. This year there were 16 of us. A 6 from up north and 10 from central. Due to the cheap airticket to from KL to Kolkata by AirAsia most can afford to go. The best thing is fly direct.

I remember we had a hard time at the BKK airport as we need to transit at BKK to reach Kolkata. It was mid-night and having to wait for 2 hours and the flight was delayed. When we reach Navadvipa it was 3.30am, standing in front of Srila Gurudev's temple waiting for daylight to come. Lucky the landlord was a nice person, he waited for us. We quickly got ourself settle, and sleep!

More people will be more excitment.

On the first day of parikrama, was to Mayapur. We (3 of us) started an hour early (before Mahaprahu starts his parikrama) taking our sweet. When we finished our temple visiting we were faraway from the pier. My god-sister find the ricksaw too expensive, and I was kind of fedup bargaining over the price. I said last year I took the bus, it kind of exciting. You push with the locals. One of my god-sister was too frighten to take as she saw passengers sitting on top of the bus. After an hour waiting have no choice got into one that comes by. There were hardly any space at the door. We pushed ourselves up. I got up, I saw one of my god-sister was holding very tightly but the other was like where to hold. So I hold on her and another hand was pushing at the window. So when the bus sway to the right we will not be throw out of the door. Actually it was like the minibus days. The ride was only 4 rupees per person.

The rest of the days was ok not much excitment but when we were booking our taxi ride to cover 2 days parikrama in 1 day. One of my god-sister was......me cool person find her irritating. Another god-sister was having a headache I thought she was going to blow. I thought there will be a war of words. Lucky nothing happened, all managed to keep calm.

I noticed when you are feeling calm and bliss from your stay there. If not careful someone can just come and spoil it. Who we go with share room is very important.

I noticed one of my god-sister, when she is all stress up, she cannot think straight. Every year she goes there and yet she cannot find her way to her siksa guru samadi place. Anyway I found out that the Ganges river was nearby. But she will not own up that she had a bad sense of direction.

The dip at the Ganges river was good, make a person feel fresh, all the heat from the body is like Ganges Devi just took it.

Hopefully next year I will find time to go again.