DAILY PHOTO: A Spray of Yellow Flowers in Kashmir

Taken in Kashmir in August of 2016

Taken in Kashmir in August of 2016

IMG_1318

DAILY PHOTO: Sign of Our Times

Taken in Great Himalaya National Park in July of 2015

Taken in Great Himalayan National Park in July of 2015

IMG_0856

 

Back in my day, we had the “Scenic Overlook.” Now when you’re trekking they have the “Mobile Phone Access Point.” Thoreau would cry.

DAILY PHOTO: Mountain Shrine in the Himalayas

Taken in July of 2015 in Great Himalayan National Park

Taken in July of 2015 in Great Himalayan National Park

 

These cairn-centered shrines are common along the trails in Himachal Pradesh. They often have unique little items left by travelers making puja. This one happens to be located on a ridge that offers a spectacular panoramic view.

 

The same ridge line, further on.

The same ridge line, further on.

A couple of guides at the same shrine

A couple of guides at the same shrine

 

2015 Top 10: Highlights From the Year That Was

These aren’t necessarily in any order.

 

1.) Trekking the Great Himalayan National Park [June]:

IMG_1898

 

2.) Teaching kids at KAMMS and Socare [September & October]: I finished my RCYT course in April and have been teaching kids when I have a chance:

IMG_0101

 

3.) Completing Level I Examination at the Muay Thai Institute [September]:

IMG_1926

 

4.) Riding camels at Pushkar and Jaipur [November]:

IMG_3002

 

5.) Boating on the Ganges in Varanasi [October]:

IMG_3538

 

6.) Wandering around a coffee plantation near Chikmaglur [April]:

IMG_1966

 

7.) Completing the Level III and IV reviews in Kalaripayattu [February & August]:

IMG_4289

 

8.) Touring the Glenloch tea factory in Sri Lanka [May]:

IMG_0572

 

9.) 108 Surya Namaskara Against Child Trafficking [March]:

IMG_3331

 

10.) Junk boat tour of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam [December]: This may be jinxing us to put it on the list,  before we’ve been (we leave tomorrow) but I’m optimistic that our three weeks in Vietnam will be awesome, and I’m told Ha Long

 

 

What to expect in 2016? Lilla and I will be moving back to the States around mid-year. (To where, exactly, remains a mystery.) In January and February I’ll be doing an RYT-300 course to round out my 500 hour yoga teacher certification. I plan to make at least one more trip to Thailand to MTI for Level II. I’d also like to complete the 10-day Vipassana meditation course before returning. Lilla and I are thinking about another Himalaya trek for the summer.

I’ll also be continuing to work on press handstand progression, as that’s been a focus for me of late and I still have a ways to go.

IMG_4354

IMG_4342

DAILY PHOTO: Mountain Shrines

Taken in July of 2015 in Great Himalayan National Park

Taken in July of 2015 in Great Himalayan National Park

IMG_2097 IMG_1176 IMG_1405 IMG_2076

DAILY PHOTO: Rocky Ridgeline

Taken in July of 2015 in Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Kullu District

Taken in July of 2015 in Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Kullu District

DAILY PHOTO: One Mountain, Two Lightings

Taken in July of 2015 at Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP)

Taken in July of 2015 at Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP)

IMG_1000

DAILY PHOTO: A Himalayan Columbine

Taken in Great Himalayan National Park in June of 2015

Taken in Great Himalayan National Park in June of 2015

DAILY PHOTO: Mountain Scene

Taken in June of 2015 in Great Himalayan National Park

Taken in June of 2015 in Great Himalayan National Park

DAILY PHOTO: Across a Great Valley

Taken in June of 2015 in Great Himalayan National Park

Taken in June of 2015 in Great Himalayan National Park