My 5-day Stay at a Buddhist Forest Monastery in Sri Lanka

After five months in a popular surf destination in Sri Lanka, I decided to move into a remote Buddhist forest monastery to practice meditation.  I had been dreaming about meditating in a cave for months, but I wasn't sure if the forest-dwelling monks would allow me to stay.

This is Why I didn't Stay in an Ashram in Varanasi

Beginning of this year, I visited one of the most iconic cities in India: Varanasi.  One of my intentions was to stay in an ashram in the holy city, but that proved to be difficult.  In the end, I had no choice but to stay in a guesthouse.  This is what happened.

I Visited Lahiri Mahasaya and Babaji's Cave Temple in Varanasi

If you want to experience the most authentic spiritual India and the most impressive Ganga aarti, then you have to visit Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India. But what truly motivated me to visit this city earlier this year, is the stories of Indian yogis (such as Lahiri Mahasaya) who walked its streets more than 100 years ago.

TOP 7 Things to Do in JODHPUR in Just 2 Days

Jodhpur, the Blue City of India, is definitely a must-visit place in Rajasthan, and in only two days, you can explore most of its top sights. So, based on my recent trip earlier this year, here are the top 7 things you can do in Jodhpur in a two-day itinerary.

Why You Should Visit Pushkar | Travel Tips Included

Pretty much as soon as I arrived in India on the 3rd of February I made my way to Rajasthan. This was not my first time in Rajasthan, and the only place I was willing to visit again was Pushkar. Let me tell you why.

My Six Months Yoga Journey in India [Mysore and Rishikesh]

I had so many wonderful experiences during my recent six months yoga journey in India, from Sep 2018 till Mar 2019. I spent one month in Rishikesh and five months in Mysore.  But somehow I feel as if I learned a lot more and was more productive in Rishikesh compared to Mysore. Why? Let me explain.

Why I Changed My Plans and Booked a Last Minute Flight

After my three months stay in Europe I had in mind going to Nepal. I had a confirmed place where to stay and a beautiful center where to teach yoga. Everything was all set, but last minute I changed my mind and booked a flight to Sri Lanka instead. Why would I do that?

Kolkata (Calcutta), Land of Yogis

As soon as I arrived in Kolkata (Calcutta) last March, and started walking on its busy streets, I started to notice something happening within me. A strange positive feeling came from nowhere. “What is this feeling?” I asked myself. I didn't know what it was but it felt really good.

Following the Steps of Paramahansa Yogananda in Kolkata: 2nd Part

On Tuesday, March 15, just two days before leaving India, I decided to complete my pilgrimage following the steps of Paramahansa Yogananda in Kolkata by visiting guruji's house on 4 Garpar Road.

A few days before I had done a pilgrimage to visit the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Yogoda Math, Belur Math and Sri Yukteswar's temple in Serampore. I wrote about that pilgrimage in my previous post.

Following the Steps of Paramahansa Yogananda in Kolkata: 1st Part

Thursdays are a day off for the volunteers at the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, but instead of going to explore the city I decided to do a one day pilgrimage to follow the steps of Paramahansa Yogananda.

I wanted to visit all the places that Yoganandaji mentions in his autobiography like the Dakshineswar Temple, Yogoda Math, and Serampore.  Serampore is where his guru Sri Yukteswar used to live while Yogananda was a college student.

Volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India

It was only ten days but volunteering with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata (Calcutta), has been an experience that really touched my heart. Although volunteering is meant to be selfless service I received a lot more than I could give. If you are looking for a place to volunteer in India then I can definitely recommend you to visit Mother Teresa's Mission in Kolkata.

How My Backpack Got Stolen in Sri Lanka -Traveler's Worst Nightmare

On a night bus from Colombo to Arugam Bay the traveler's worst nightmare happened to me. While I was deeply asleep my small backpack with all my valuables got stolen. I lost my passport, credit card, MacBook Air, 50,000 Sri Lankan rupees ( 330 Euros) and a 1.5 TB external hard drive with about 500 GB of movies. But what will probably shock you the most is the way it happened.

Finally I left Nepal

Every time that I travel to Kathmandu, Nepal I travel for the same reason, to apply for a new Indian visa, and this time was no different. I had actually been avoiding Nepal as much as I could. I've been there way too many times and I always stay way too long, but if you are in North India then this is the nearest and easiest place to reach to apply for a new visa.

Helping a Little Angel Rebuild Her Life After Earthquake in Nepal

On Thursday morning, just five days after the first earthquake, I met my neighbor Shane Basse, an ex U.S. army soldier. Shane, now a student of Buddhist philosophy at the Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Boudhanath, had just returned from a rescue mission to a remote village, sponsored by the Chokgyur Linga Foundation, to help the victims of the earthquake.

How Buddhist Monks Are Helping the Victims of the Earthquake in Nepal

By mid February I traveled from Delhi to Kathmandu to apply for a new Indian visa. Unfortunately that didn't work out so I had to stay in Nepal, but as we all know everything happens for a reason. An earthquake hit Nepal the 25th of April and I was giving a once in a life time opportunity to help and to witness first hand the amazing work that a group of Buddhist monks and foreign Buddhist volunteers are doing to help those affected by the earthquake.

What do Barbie Girl, Coconuts and a Palace Have in Common?

What do Barbie Girl, coconuts and a palace have in common? Coconuts and a palace? For some of you maybe not so hard to guess, but... Barbie Girl? Well, believe it or not they can all happen at the same time in only one place, Mysore.

My Life in Arugam Bay - Learning to Enjoy Each Moment to the Fullest

A few days after I arrived in Arugam Bay I met a super nice dude from France, David, while I was renting a board to go surfing. We immediately became surf buddies and everyday for almost fifteen days until he had to leave we shared a tuk-tuk to go surfing together.

A Motorcycle Road Trip in Cambodia

Imagine, 1,250 Km (776.7 miles) in ten days by motorcycle around Cambodia. Really an unforgettable experience, another one of the highlights of my life. After six months of Ashtanga Yoga practice in Mysore I thought about using my recently learned motorcycle skills and do a solo road trip around India but my friend Ashka suggested that I travel instead to Cambodia, a country that I had never visited before, and rent together a motorcycle to travel all around the country. How to say no to such a great idea?

No more Yoga, only Gangnam Style

It's time to take a break from the yoga talk and just have a good laugh. Check out this video, it's hilarious. This was an spontaneous moment at the apartment of my friend Gina in Sheffield, Massachusetts.

The Magic of India: Incredible Kerala Hindu Temple Festival

Elephant playing with water during festival

India is such and amazing country. During my second night at Arsha Yoga Gayathri, an ashram right next to a paradise beach not so far away from Fort Cochin, Harilal and Meera (the owners of the ashram) invited all the guests staying at the ashram to the town nearby, so we could experience an incredible Kerala Hindu Temple Festival.