Indian Dreams Manifest (Part 1)

The Golden Triangle Tour 

featuring Delhi, Agra & Jaipur

In 2005, I remember inviting my dear friend Denise on a trip to motherland India. We thought we were going to get to travel soon after college graduation but things never go as planned...motherhood got in the way. After raising our boys to ages we thought we could leave for a little over 2 weeks, we set to realize our dreams... 7 years later, with 4 other friends in tow.

This is our crazy itinerary: MNL-KL-Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Goa-Delhi-KL-MNL all in 2 1/2 weeks. Fasten your seat belts for Amazing Race INDIA!

Before boarding Air Asia

First stop is Kuala Lumpur. We bought Air Asia tickets on promo to Delhi from KL so we decided to spend 2 nights at Rainforest Bed & Breakfast as recommended by a friend based in Malaysia. For the budget-friendly price, we were able to get a spacious family room good for 4-5 which comes with basic breakfast and wifi internet service in some parts of the B&B.

FLOW girls at the brightly lit Petronas Towers

We delighted at what greeted us at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Different mudras (yoga for the hands) on display hung above the lines to immigration. Should we follow suit and have something more ethnic to welcome our foreign tourists at the NAIA?
 

One thing we couldn't help notice was that the concept of marriage was so important in their culture. Look, it's even advertised on their daily newspaper! To me, it is very strange but to them, it's within their norm.

Here is Denise interviewing our bus driver on arranged marriages (Our media production skills put into action!). He claims that 99% of the time, it actually works! Another acquaintance of mine says that even if more modern thinkers in India choose to marry for love, it fails half the time. So, it seems that whatever route into marriage you choose, you still have to work at it.

And here are the jokes they tell...

Because we were on a scheduled tour for the first leg of our crazy itinerary, we didn't get to see much of Delhi. A note-worthy place in Old Delhi is the Red Fort Complex which almost glimmers at night against the blue-grey backdrop. You can pay to watch a lights & sounds show about Delhi's history in either English or Hindi. Please choose to watch the show in English. Our half-Indian companions thought we would be able to save if we bought tickets as 'Indians' and then regretted the cheaper tickets when we couldn't understand a single word of Hindi :P

Red Fort Complex

One of the many other forts you can find all over India...

For our much-awaited visit to the Taj, the whole group decided to buy authentic sarees and dress up. To us, we looked fantastic but to the locals, we were wearing it all wrong! Nevertheless, we still walked like royalty and smiled for the camera. Other foreigners took delight in us, one Japanese couple kept following us like papparazi!

All dressed up for the Grand Taj Mahal

Me, Adi & Denise playing around with our sarees against the light 

my attempt at Hanuman

If I had the chance to go back to India, my first stop would be in Jaipur (if I find direct flights!) because this is where we went crazy shopping for those colorful shawls, shoes, bags and trinkets.

More gorgeous monuments all over Jaipur...

Indian local woman sweeping amidst such grand surroundings

Our Sex In The City moment

 

Hawa Mahal or The Palace of the Winds

And if we had a jeweler with us, we would've also invested in top-grade quality semi-precious stones as well.

We loved the print

Check out more stories and photos in the next cities soon....

FLOW goes to Baler!

The FLOW Surf Yoga Samba girls are uber excited to be doing our next weekend retreat in Aliya Surf Camp in Baler. We have always wanted to expand our horizons and this is ittt...we are starting to bring FLOW all over the Philippines and soon enough..the world! Check out our fabulous sponsors! Lotsa goodies to be given away. 

Exciting news! Lagu is one of our sponsors. Participants get a 10% discount when they purchasing a Lagu beach-friendly blanket from us, just email us at flowsurfyogasamba@gmail.com

Rawlicious will also be providing green smoothies to all the participants en route to Baler in our FLOW vehicle.

Glowing Rawlicious girls - they make our healthy drinks 

If you haven't signed up yet, slots are getting filled fast! Please register through our form at www.flowsurfyogasamba.multiply.com and we will get back to you with payment details together with the itinerary.

It's going to be a FUN weekend under the summer sun!

Oh, and if you wanna learn more about the weekend, stay tuned for our live guesting on Mornings at ANC this Friday, April 20 1030am.

Children Cheer

Lately, Santi has been bringing so much joy into our lives because of his unintentional humor!

Some words he currently says in a funny manner:

• Sentemary when he really means....Cemetery (told ya he is blown away by Halloween!)
  
• Skoopy when he really means.... Spooky (he says this with matching big eyes)
  
• Jobilee when he really means...Jollibee (clearly, he learned this word from his Dad!)

taken at a friend's beach house during Halloween ;)

----------------------------------------------------------

I received a call from the broker of our soon-to-be-home (I am crossing my fingers on this one!) and Santi was listening by my side. All he could hear was whatever I said on the phone. This was our conversation after the phone call.

S:     Mom, who was that?
M:   The broker, my dear.
S:    What did she say? (always asking me what people tell me over the phone, curious little one!)
M:   She just explained the terms of payment for the new place.
S:    Hmmm... I wonder what the terms is (by the time he said this, Montri and I burst out laughing!!!)

--------------------------------------------------------------

After walking to a nearby restaurant with his Dad last night, Santi exclaimed, "That was a long walk! I'm tired! My bones are broken na I cannot walk anymore!"

---------------------------------------------------------------

Since it's the love month, he says "Happy Valentine, Mom!" then puckers his lips for a sloppy kiss <3

I'm sure your kids do and say the cutest, silliest things as well! Perhaps the universe gives us this gift of cheer so as we don't take life too seriously.  Children are such blessings, aren't they? :)

Yummy Mummy: Ami Swanepoel

  
Name: Amina Evangelista Swanepoel (Ami)

Child:  Lucas Alejandro (Luke) almost 14 months old

Occupation:  Director of Roots of Health, a non-profit organization focused on improving the health of women and girls, and their communities, in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Ami in her weekly feeding program for the women & children in Puerto Princesa

Your Dharma or Life's Purpose
I believe my life’s purpose is to do what I can to help improve the things that I care about. Mahatma Gandhi said to “be the change you want to see in the world” and this is something that inspires me. I remind myself of this and it encourages me to put in the effort to have strong, loving relationships with family and friends, and to work hard with Roots of Health where we provide education and services to women and young people who otherwise wouldn’t be getting that help.

People Who Inspire You

 
I am constantly amazed by my maternal grandmother, Alice Potter. She’s 99 years old and is brilliant, has a sense of humor, is generous to a fault, and is generally a beautiful person. She went to medical school at a time when women didn’t focus much on education and she is just amazing in so many ways. I get my love of dark chocolate from her.

Parents Susan & Oscar dancing like no one is watching :)

My parents, Oscar and Susan Evangelista, also inspire me. They’re both educators and taught at UP and Ateneo for decades. They just celebrated 45 years of marriage and set such a great example for my siblings and me. They’re so cute – they still hold hands and dance and go on trips together. They are also both really active and involved in the issues and causes they care about, despite being retired. They are always working and on the go! But they take the time to come and visit their grandson almost every day. I am so glad to be living near them again after 11 years of living so far away (I was in the US for college, work and grad school). 

Family Portrait at Nagtabon Beach, Puerto Princesa

Favorite Family Getaway 
When we have a day or two to get away we love going to Sabang. When we only have a few hours our getaway of choice is Nagtabon beach.

Precious Moments In Motherhood

• Breastfeeding Luke for the first time. It took 5 days for my milk to come in after Luke was born and by that 5th day I was so stressed that he was hungry and that he might get dehydrated and I thought my body had failed me. And then my milk came in and Luke fed to his heart’s content. I was so thankful that I could breastfeed him and marveled at how my body could do this and sustain another human being.

• In Luke’s first few months he would only sleep well at night if he was sleeping on Marcus or me.  I loved how he snuggled into me and how he looked as he slept. But I have to admit it was also a precious moment when he learned to sleep on his own! ;-)

• Marcus and I love swimming, whether in a pool or in the ocean, so we were thrilled to discover that Luke is a water baby. From the first time we took him swimming he loved being in the water. We are so happy that he also likes doing something that we love so much.

• The joy that Luke brings me and Marcus and our families and friends on a daily basis is amazing. He is such a blessing and it is so cool to see that even at such a young age he is touching the lives of so many others beyond Marcus’ and mine.

in Chichen Itza, Mexico

Dreams Realized
I am so blessed and give thanks every day for my amazing husband and wonderful son. I grew up in a really loving and close-knit family and always hoped and prayed I’d have that when I got married and had my own kids and I am so happy this is the case.

Despite not really loving being a student (I hate studying and writing papers!), I really wanted to go to grad school to get training on human rights and public health issues. I was pretty thrilled when I finished my graduate degrees.

It was also super cool when my mom and husband and I started Roots of Health. We are overjoyed that despite the ups and downs of running one’s own organization that generally things have been going really well. I think of Roots of Health as my first baby and I love watching the organization grow.

Dreams To Be Manifested

visiting a sacred site, the Stonehenge in the UK

I love traveling. I’ve had the opportunity to live in many countries and visit a lot of cool places but there are still so many places I want to go to. 

Marcus and I dream of figuring out a way to live in both the Philippines and South Africa. (Marcus is from Cape Town). It would be amazing if we could figure out a work and school situation so that we could spend a few months of the year in Palawan, a few months in Cape Town, and the rest of the time traveling the world 

Ami & Marcus in Coron, Palawan

Thoughts on Marriage and Life with Husband

Marcus & Ami with their dogs, Harper & Scout

Marcus is an amazing husband and life partner. He is so loving and supportive and patient and he balances me out in a lot of ways. I am really thankful for the four years that we were married before Luke because they were fabulous years of just focusing on each other and traveling and having lots of spontaneous fun. Since Luke, Marcus has proven to be a wonderful, hands-on father and I am so thankful for that as well.  We’re really enjoying the stage we’re in now and love being parents, despite the sleep deprivation and completely different lifestyle we now have. I have so much to be thankful for.

Follow Ami's Adventures
www.swangelista.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/teamswangelista

Ideas for Love Month

photo via pinterest

Santi started seeing hearts decorated in establishments and the curious little one asked if it was somehow related to an event similar to Halloween or Christmas since those two really made an impact in his life, so far. (Believe me that he is blown away by Halloween!)

I explained that those hearts he saw represents LOVE because we are celebrating our love for one other this month. Not too sure how this month's festivities will move him but so far he has been saying "Happy Valentime!", hugging and kissing me. Oh, how I love you, my sweet little boy :)

Here are some ideas for your whole family on this month of hearts! <3

1. Refine your child's taste in the arts. Take your child to see these works by the finest lovers on the planet...artists!

Shameless plug: Check out my brother's works -Gino Tioseco!

2. Give the gift of love. (For the husbands, hint, hint!) Surprise your dearies with amazing healing jewelry by genius Geometrician & artist, Frank Chester. Purchase through Healing Forms.

3. Give yourself some yogalove! Beyond Yoga will be bringing in Cat Alip-Douglas for an open Jivamukti Music Vinyasa Class which includes pranayama, meditation, sanskrit chanting & deep relaxation.

PLUS! A collaboration between Beyond Yoga & Yoga+ for Valentine's...Cupid Yoga featuring Anna Carbonell and Ryan Chester. Come drag your date to yoga :)

photo credits to Diego Jose

4. Have heart for the animals, too! Enjoy a vegan (cruel-free) meal at our favorite vegetarian restaurant, Pipino.

XOXO,
Dharma