Friday, October 27, 2023

Kerala Trip - Oct/Nov 2023

Oct 25/26 - 
Chennai to Cochin by flight
Rental Car trips
Drive to Amirtapuri Ashram 

Oct 27/ 28 - 
Drive to Vagamon 
Pine Forest , Pine Meadows, Glass Bridge , Zeep Safari

Oct 28/29 - 
Drive to Munnar
Echo Point, Kundala dam, Top Station, Tea Factory 

Oct 30 - 
Drive to Guruvayur
Temple darshar


Oct 31 - Guruvayur & Coimbatore 
Drive to Athirapalli Falls,
Achar Mami, Ramiserry Idly, Coimbatore 

Nov 1 - Coimbatore
Isha 

Nov 2 - 3
Ooty sights & back to Coimbatore

Nov 4
Back to Chennai



Friday, October 20, 2023

Ashrams (visit sivabhuvanblog.com for details)

Kanha Shanti Vanam
Oct 20/21
Stayed at the Pearl ( Dorm & Madhuvanam Apt)
Meditation Sessions in morning & evening at the Meditation hall
Dining hall, Suruchi Canteen, Italian Restaurant 
Welcome Lounge, Guided meditation  by Preceptor/Master Heartfulness session (3 initial  sessions for new Abhyasi)
Relaxation, Meditation, Cleansing, Prayer
Wellness center
Airport pickup, Drop
Focus on Meditation 

Amirtapuri Ashram 
Oct 25/26
Location 
Advance booking
International/ INR 300 per person 
Passport deposited/ Check out timing 
Multiple canteens 
Evening Satsang, Meditation, Bhajan, Darshan
Activities 
Kalari, Temple, Beach
Segregation of men/women in Meditation hall
Focus on Bhajan , Meditation and Darshan 

Isha Yoga Center- Nov 1
Location 
Entrance - Adhi Yogi/Yoga Center/Parking
Mobile/Shoe deposit
Intro Video
Suryakund/Chandrakund/Change room
Dyanalinga Meditation 
Linga Bhairavi
Free yoga / Spandana hall/Inner Engineering & other programs 
Volunteering
Accommodation/Email confirmation 
Canteens/Stores/Shops
Yoga Center to Adhi Yogi
Sound and Light Show
Segregation only in Kund
Focus on Yoga and Meditation 

Dayananda Ashram - Nov 12/13
Location 
Parking 
Office timings 8 -12.30 & 3 -6.30 
Puja schedule 
Dining schedule 
Ganges - walking upto Ramjoola and back
Temple/Samadhi/Bookshop
Accommodation / Advance confirmation 
Retreats/Camps/ attended one session on Upanishad 
Segregation only in Temple 
Focus on Puja and Vedanta teaching 

Sivananda Ashram- Nov 13/14
Location 
Reception office timings 
Steps to reach the room situated on a hillock (circuitous road available for vehicles)
All activities (except Aarthi) located on the hillock 
Accommodation/Advance confirmation 
Daily Schedule 
Samadhi/Mandir/Aarthi/Satsang
Dining 
Ganges/Aarthi 
Bookshop/Library 
segregation of men and women in Satsang and Dining 
Focus is more on Kirtans, Bhavan and to some extent vedic chanting

Yogada Satsang Ashram/Babaji Cave (16 Nov)
Kukuchina village starting point
Joshi Guesthouse 
Trek one way 1.2 mile from Parking
About 1 hour one way
Ashram in Dwarahat about 20 kms away
Accommodation only for members (after 6 months of becoming member)
Meditation hall/Temple/Dining/Book room
Retreats

Kainchi Dham (17 Nov)
Location/Parking /Restaurants
More of a temple
Crowded
Hanuman Chalisa
Samadhi in Vrindavan (UP)
Accommodation request with reference
Official website
Book stall/donation 
Demography 

AOL (Nov 23)
Location 
Accommodation only for Trainees or who have completed any AOL course
Inhouse Happiness program for lndian residents Rs 4800 including accommodation & food
Free food for all visitors
Multiple Dining halls, Cafes and food joints 
Multiple Training programs
Meditation halls, Temple and other attractions 
Discourse, Satsang, Meditation
Yagna and Vedic activities 
Demography

Prashanti Nilayam (Nov 24/25)
Location
Dress code, Segregation
Accommodation
Dining halls, Food joints
Daily Schedule, Vedic chanting, Bhajan, Arti & Dharshan
Sai Kulwant Hall, Temples 
Worldwide Samiti, Sevadal volunteers, Balvikas
Miracles of Sathya Sai, Devotees
Demography



Ramana Ashram (Jan 11)
Book Shop, Accommodation office, Shiva Temple, Samadhi Hall, Meditation room, Dining Halls, Gate to Virupaksha cave, daily schedule










Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Kenya Tanzania- Oct 2023 (Visit sivabhuvanblog.wordpress.com for details)

Day - 1 ( Oct 6, 2023)
Arrived in Nairobi from Chennai 
Sarova Stanley stay - 4 star with Indian veg options 

Day - 2
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru 
Game drive in the evening 
Flamingo Tented Camp just ok - Indian veg options 

Day - 3
Game drive in Nakuru NP after breakfast 
Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha 
Boating in Lake Naivasha 
Naivasha Sopa Lodge- Excellent- Indian veg options 

Day - 4
Hells Gates NP ( could have been skipped)
Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara
(last 2 hrs horrible road)
Masai Mara Sopa Lodge - comfortable, wifi only in Reception, Indian veg options 

Day - 5
Full day Game drive in Masai Mara 

Day - 6
Masai Mara to Serengeti 
Kenya side horrible road (Tanzania side not that bad)
Kati Kati Tented Camp (quite basic) good wifi- ok dinner

Day - 7
Game drive - morning & evening - lunch with veg options 

Day - 8
Game drive - Ngorongoro Crater (only a couple of hours but good sightings)
Stay at Karatu Bougainvillea Lodge - nice cottage with good veg options, wifi only in reception 

Day - 9
Game drive at Lake Manyara - nothing much except monkeys and elephants

Day -10
Crossed border and reached Amboseli NP in Kenya
Stay at Amboseli Serena Lodge (within the Park, wide spread veg options, wifi in room)
Game drive in the evening 

Day -11
Game drive in the morning and evening 

Day - 12
Game drive in the morning 
Reached Nairobi by afternoon 

Day -13
Early morning flight to Mumbai/Hyd