Thanks Dhami Boo,

I am busy getting myself ready to go to India and I got a lot out of your post. Mostly this is stuff I knew already since I have already been to India, but the one problem I usually run into, even though I know better, is taking too much stuff. So it is really helpful to hear again from you to not bring very much. I am even considering going with just a carry-on backpack, I have always wanted to do that, and yet it hasn't quite manifested that way thus far, so this could be the time to travel very light I feel. The only thing is, I am thinking of bringing my laptop and have been hearing conflicting reports from people about that. Some say bring it for sure, others say don't bother it'll just get stolen and/or you'll be weighed down by it. My newest yoga teachers, Noah and Kimberly WIlliams, who have been to India 13 times, say to bring it. Every room has a box that can lock, they also recommended bringing your own padlock, so it is good to hear that from you too. Does anyone else have ideas on whether to bring a laptop or not. It is only 5 lbs. though that can be quite heavy if one is travelling a lot. I am planning to just do Bombay, Goa, Gokarna, and Mysore, though I may do more travelling in April, I am still working that out.

Other things to consider: It is always very good to get an open ended ticket if at all possible. Many people wind up staying longer than expected, so unless you have a very definite period of time off from work or something like that, it is good to consider going open-ended.

I am going to do research online this weekend to find out what travel fares are available. Joey told me that yahoo travel and kayak.com are good places to start. So I will be posting my findings here in the next day or two.

For those going to India or thinking about it, please consider joining me in Goa and/or Gokarna. I will mostly be in Goa for Feb. & March, tho I will make a weekend trip to Gokarna around Mar. 6 for Shivaratri, this is Shiva's birthday celebration and is not to be missed, you could be anywhere in India for that, but I know from personal experience in 2001 that Gokarna is really amazing at that time, Varanasi is also supposed to be very nice for Shivaratri.

I guess that's all for now. Thanks again Dhami Boo. Where you at these days?

Love,
--Yoga Daddy