To the south I go...

An interesting conversation I had with a man that I stayed with in Calicut, Kerala, especially if you know about Young Life/Oregon's history :

Me: You have a very nice home, it's just you and your wife?
Krishna: Yes.
Me: Oh, that's nice. (I started staring at a poster on the wall)
Krishna: You know of Osho?
Me: Um, no, but I have been noticing you have many of his posters on your walls.
Krishna: Yes, he is my leader. He has passed. You said you are from Oregon?
Me: Yes, I am.
Krishna: Osho spent most of his life in Oregon, maybe you have heard about him?
Me: I'm not sure, but he does look very familiar, does he go by any other name?
Krishna (looking very stern) : Rajneesh.

Keep in my mind I was told that this man was a friend of someone in Pen, so I figured it was a safe place to stay, and indeed it was. However, I changed my plan of staying two nights to just one after I learned of his Bhagwan connections, as I felt a little skeptical of his motives. He was in fact a very nice man that took me in and fed me, which was great not to have to spend any money there, and he seemed very dedicated to his job as a primary school teacher and yoga instructor. However, I was really kind of freaked out from all the books he had written by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, and decided to get the heck outta there :]

Currently, I am Alleppey, Kerala on a last minute decision to see the backwaters here. It is an incredibly beautiful place; very tropical looking and rich with culture. The trains I have taken to get here have been some of the most memorable experiences...one being crammed into a sleeper compartment with two, hash-smoking, jackandpepsi-drinkin, obnoxious Russians and a man in the Indian Navy. On another train, which was a little emptier, I decided to do like the Indians do and lean out the open car door for a peak at the scenary when my hand slipped on the rail and I just barely hung on for dear life. God is good.

More updates coming....

let 'er fly!

Reid