Send Money.

Well, well, well. Here I am in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India. Here I am listening to Joni Mitchell on youtube. Here I am deciding where to get my next chai. My how plans change.

It was on the bus from London to Paris that I met Nataraj, a french man who was on his way back to India. Within twelve hours of knowing each other, we had made plans to go to India together and we have a return ticket (to Paris) for April 13th from Delhi. We'll be here for two months, in Tiru, and then take about two months to go up the east coast and land in Delhi for the flight. We are living together in a beautiful house with a rooftop terrace that provides a perfect view of the holy mountain, Arunachala. The space also accommodates the neighborhood children to play with the beach balls and legos that we bought at the market for them. The kids are beautiful. Its so nice to get to know them, their names and personalities; their parents and their homes. Their homes are welcome places to us too. Shanti, the mother of three girls who are frequently at our house, is always offering us chai, dinner, to clean the house. We give her money, but I get the feeling that its not about the money. We keep the inside of our house mostly off limits to the kids to maintain some semblance of a private life. Most of the time around the house is spent with the kids though - outside on the porch or on the roof. There is so much love to go around. It is a beautiful feeling.

Nataraj has been to this particular village every year for a couple of months for the past three years. He has helped to start a school nearby, encourages every child to bring him his schoolbook to study, and gives supplies as he can: like small chalkboards, books, pens... The school that he has had a part in creating is a few kilometers from here. They have no roof and few supplies. Girls cannot attend the school because they don't have enough money to supply uniforms for them. Nataraj went to the school two days ago and the children received him ecstatically. This is common among the children (and their parents) in this village. He, unlike many of the westerners who come here, is inspired to help the community while he is here. Yes, we have more than we need in the west, and, yes, we can give to the families here who are not unlike the families of north america. The differences we create and the suffering we try to ignore is all human-made. We have the power to end the suffering we have created.

From there, on the other side of the planet, the situations here can seem too big of a 'problem' to begin to 'solve.' But here, there is no problem - only lives of joy and sorrow, peace and unrest as in the rest of the world. The obvious difference lies in the availability of resources and access to education. I have asked my dad to look into ways of getting school supplies here. I assume that there are organizations in North America already established to bring goods from the wealthy west to the poor east. Getting educational supplies to the children here is really quite simple. If anyone is interested in helping to educate the beautiful children of this small village, contact me. It could be as simple as sending money to me here in Tiru, or to my parents in Rochester. If you are more interested, we could look into donation drives and what the best way to get materials here is. Several of you who read this are connected to schools with at least a few wealthy families. Doesn't everybody want to do things that feel good? Here is an easy way to feel good! No inhaling, ingesting, or injecting needed...

If any of you feel inspired to help and/or can find a few moments to consider the ways in which you might want to be a part of this, please contact me at maggie.clifford@gmail.com or via this blog. Even if you are unable to help monetarily or with collecting donations, any advice or support is welcome!

Life is beautiful. I will be here for at least two months and there is an extra room in the house (which is now the music room). Anyone considering a trip to India? You've got a place to stay here! I wish you joy, peace, clarity, and light! Be the change you wish to see in the world!

With Love,
~Maggie

In Kerala

We arrived in a touristy mountain town in Kerala this afternoon. We're staying at Hotel Rolex conveniently located near a wildlife reserve a few miles down the road. We went on a long boat ride today in the reserve's resevoir. The ride was slow-going and many of our tired minds had some difficulty enjoying the trip for 2 hours.

I have had little inspiration to maintain this blog here in India. I have read several books here including The Guide, The Alchemist, and some writings of Swami Vivekananda. I have written several songs and I'm learning a lot about myself and the world. India is mind, heart, soul awakening and I am grateful that I am here.

Some of the group will split up next tuesday, the 18th, as some of us move on to the beach state of Goa. We're looking for a hotel and we're planning on sleeping in, not sight seeing, and staying up late. The structure of this portion of the trip has been eventful and rewarding, but we're ready to listen to our body clocks on a beach.

After Goa, I'll be getting on a flight headed to London. I talked to my friend the pilot today and he said he would know soon if he could change my flight to Paris. I hope to hear from him tonight or tomorrow. If I fly to London, I will take the chunnell to paris on the 27th of November and fly to Stockholm on the 29th. I'll stay in Stockholm for two nights with an american/swedish couple and then take a train to Narvik, Norway. From there I'll take a bus to Tromso. I've received word that the northern lights were spotted last night! I hope to see them there too. If I can get a job there, perhaps I'll stay in that arctic town for a month or two. This will be hard without a visa but not impossible.

Things are looking good. I feel great. Love to all.

just heard!

barack obamaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!

we arrived back in bangalore an hour ago and soon we're headed for catholic mass in the center of the city. dr. guru says its one of his favorite things to do on these india trips.

i don't have time to write now - gotta hit the showers after a long bus ride. but i just wanted to publicly display my joy for our newly elected president of the united states of america. now the real work can begin!

love!

journal entry 10/28/08

Back in Sirigere at Swamiji's crib. played music tonight on the roof, really let 'er rip - passionately. swamijii played his violin. we sat on a well-lit stage, heard foxes howling. left Hampi today, said farewell to the shopowners who call us their friends when we give them money. waited an hour for dinner last night - played 'would you rather' with jane, matt, dale, and emma, bought elephant paintings on dyed cloth after dinner. meditated on rocks at a temple with Baba (and darroll the guru). beautiful, ancient rock-mountains underneat sunset-orange sky. remember the singing columns - solid stone sounds like a jembay. napped on a rock in the sun in a centuries-old city center of Hampi - once buried under the mud now behind bars and ticket-taking gaurds. gave coins to some beautiful boys before i realized what game they were playing and what role i had. bought too much. consumerism is materialistic consumerism no matter what country i'm in or how much it costs. remember the world.

took pictures of beautiful children. held a baby by the river.

stomach hurts after i eat for a little while. not taking malaria pills. namaste. learning everyday. reading The Guide. listening to jillian giggle. they made hacky sacks for the boys here in sirigere.

yes, michael, india will change me.

everything i think about somebody else, every time i condemn someone for saying something, doing something inconsiderate or innappropriate, i imagine myself doing the same thing. and i am. by seeing 'them' i am seeing myself more clearly. we are all light and we have all been on this planet and in this universe for billions of years. we've got to get ourselves back to the garden.

Bring it on, Bangalore

I arrived in Bangalore three nights ago. Sanjay, the trip's travel agent, was there to pick me up at the airport and my transition was smooth. In fact, it was the most wonderful air travelling experience of my life. I briefly met the captain before the flight on the escalator and he moved my seat to first class. Later when we were talkng about why he had decided to do this for me, he said, "I don't know, something inside of me told me to be kind to you." And even though he was not on my second flight, he talked to the pilot of that flight too and had me moved to first class.

Suri is his name. I am corresponding with him about changing my flight out of India from landing in London to Paris. From there I will fly to Stockholm on the 29th and then take a train to Narvick, Norway...but that is all far and distant plans.

Now I am in Bangalore, India where the car horns stop beeping only in the dead of night, wild dogs gather in the evening and at dawn, and no meal is ever over $4 (and usually it is under $2). Today we went to a Sikh gwardar (sp) in another part of Bangalore and learned that they worship their ancient text as a king and have no living gurus. They receive their answers to life's questions from the text alone. After eating in the basement of the gwardar, we got back on the bus and went to get some ice cream in a busy part of Bangalore. There are so many cars, motorcycles, and taxis not following the 'rules of the road.' It might seem quite treachorous to corss any street. And I frequently cover my face with my scarf to filter the air.

Jane arrived too. Her orginal flight was delayed and she did not arrive with the rest of the group. She opened the door to my room at about 3am this morning and we stayed up for a long time talking and laughing. Although we were quite tired today, it was worth it.

There are more details I would like to include, but am writing quickly as I am headed back to Teralabalu Kendra for a yoga session (which I will lead today). In my first day here, I wrote three songs. I believe I will perform one of them for a ceremony this weekend. The whole group will perform together and some of us will do other things too. There are a few other performers on this trip.

I feel great. I just took a nap. Tomorrow we leave Bangalore and will not return until the 6th of November. Our journey has begun. I am so glad to be here in this place and with these people. I am learning so much.

Love.

Another Debate, Another Day in Paradise

I've decided to spend my morning with 2008's presidential nominiees on youtube again. McCain is getting on my nerves today. We should both practice deep breathing techniques. Perhaps then he wouldn't get so flustered. And then I wouldn't feel the small ball of unease in my gut. And we both would be quite peaceful.

After a few deep breaths I feel much better. How do you feel, McCain?


*************************************************************************

Today I leave for Bangalore, although I won't arrive until tomorrow at 7pm. I leave London Heathrow at 9pm and arrive in Mubai tomorrow morning. Five hours in the airport, and then I fly to Bangalore. The rest of the group will arrive Tuesday night, so the travel agent for the tour, Sanjay, has said that he will pick me up in the airport and take me to where I shall stay.


Wow. India.



The past couple of days have been beautiful here in London. Only on Wednesday were there thick clouds and light rain showers from the sky. On that day, Marcelo and I met outside the Tower Hill tube station and walked down along the Thames, marveled at St. Paul's church, and found our way to his friends' flat in the western-most end of London.

On Thursday we had a slow morning sitting in filtered sunlight as Marcelo reconnected with old friends. We went off by ourselves to Hyde park and ate lunch by the Royal Albert Memorial before going to the Natural History Museum. Much of the displays about the geological history of earth and space were in dark rooms that made me feel tired, but I stayed strong and went on to see the dinosaurs and mammals. After watching a mechanized, life-sized T-rex for several minutes, I was glad that I had not succumbed to the power of the yawn.



Friday was another slow morning and another museum. We went over to SoHo and walked around the time-squarish part of London. We walked through St. James' park and then up and over to the British Museum. We were only there for about an hour before it closed. We hardly had enough time to oggle the mummies. As we left the museum, a flyer for a Baroque ensemble called clockwise handel (I think) caught our attention. The music was in a church called St. George's and was literally right around the corner from the museum. Aside from the everpresent street noise, the acoustics in the church permitted the beautiful sounds to resonate for several seconds after the musicians had stopped their movements. There were 5 musicians: an oboe, soprano vocalist, harpischord, a bassoon-like instrument, and cello. All the musicians were passionate and talented.

It was afer the music (and on an empty stomach) that we met our roommates at the old english pub pictured below. We were there for a couple of hours and I drank two beers. The first was a nondescript organic ale and the second was...sweeter. It was great to be at this particular pub because it is in the old city of London and one of the last pubs around of its kind. If you can zoom in to the picture, you'll see 'anno. 1720'... just another structure older than any institution in the US.



And yesterday we hung out in the flat, got some chinese food for lunch, and played music. Marcelo left for his flight to Berlin last night around midnight and we have made plans to meet again after I return to London from India. I'm pretty certain that we're going to meet in the arctic town of Tromso in Norway. However there is a slight possibility that we will meet again in Italy. Whichever way the wind blows I suppose.

Today I might go to the Tate Modern Art Gallery. Gareth prepared a London to-do list for me before we parted ways, and I have checked off most things on the list. The Tate is on there, so I might go for it.

Soon I'll pack my things and blow this popstand. I'll probably head to the airport around 6:30pm...

Until we meet again, Love.

pictures

picture 1) the royal albert memorial

picture 2) a memorial for political activists in hyde park

picutre 3) view of london from primrose hill

picture 4) some friends outside of a true old english pub

picture 5) marcelo by the pond in hyde park

Listening to the Debate...

When I left the internet point after the last post, I went back to the Camden lock (where I had napped earlier) and sat down next to who I later learned was Whiskey Mick. He had his mandolin and a fantastic repertoire of christy moore, chris chrisopherson, willie nelson, and classic rebel songs from his time in the military in Ireland. We sang together and he taught me a few necessary chords on the mandolin. Transient audience members kept us company on into the evening.

It got cold there outside, so Mick and I walked to the bar where I was to meet Gareth. Mick and I hugged goodbye and shortly Gareth and I headed back to his home. Yesterday morning was spent here in the house. Gareth and I played music for each other and then went to the Victoria museum. We met up with two of his students (he teaches english as a second language) and attempted to have slow, short conversations with them. We walked around for a bit in the museum, waiting for lights to illuminate an ancient carpet from the Middle East, weaved in and around tombs, and marveled at classic Japanese warrior garb.

After a baguette lunch and sitting in the sunshine, we went to the underground and jumped off at Tower Hill to look briefly at the London Tower. Gareth pointed off into the near distance and asked, "Have you seen the Thames?" "No," I said. "Well," he said as he pointed, "there it is. Beautiful, eh?"
"Uhhh, yeah," I said as my eyes squinted and struggled to catch glimpses of water.

We jumped back on the underground and got off at aldgate east where we headed for Brick Lane (or street or road..). This area reminded me of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. It is the place where artists have gone to now that Greenwich is gentrified and expensive. The street was lined with musicians, outdoor pubs, and fashionable folks drinking beer.

Both tired, we decided to return to Gareth's home at about 7pm. He is at work now and I am listening/watching the 2nd presidential debate on youtube. I lost interest after the first 45 minutes and started writing this entry.

McCain is so cute. "I'll get 'em. No matter what!" Awww...McCain! I just wanna squeeze his cheeks. Don't you?? I think he'd be a better candidate if more people wanted to squeeze his cheeks. Everybody loves McCain. More people are going to vote for Obama though. Perhaps because he doesn't need his cheeks squeezed like McCain does. Do you understand?

Let's envision whirled peas and squeezing McCain's cheeks. That's the middle path, the way to enlightenment, the secret to sustainability!

Love!

"This is not just a challenge, it is an opportunity." - Barack Obama, 2nd presidental debate, 2008

Live from Camden

Yesterday evening I took the underground to the Russells Square (?) to meet up with Gareth, my first couchsurfing friend. I walked up 127 stairs from under the earth and was out of breath by the time we shook hands. Instantly we were talking, laughing, and sharing our life experiences. We walked to a London university and went in to the student union's cafe. The Brits geniusly serve beer on campus at discounted rates. I drank a light beer that Gareth reccommended. He's now on the wagon and he drank iced tea.

He lives with his parents in a two-story town house(ish) area of North London. We arrived to his place last night at about 10:15pm with fish&chips in hand. As far as I can remember, that was my first fish&chips experience. I hope its not my last. In an attempt to show how hard core I am, I ate all of the fish. Albeit slowly and with several breaks, I ate the fried piece of cod that was about the size of my fore arm. Gareth and I stayed up late talking and playing music.

We woke up at about 8:30am and prepared to head into the Camden area to go to a Landmark session. Landmark is an awesome program that gets people together to discover their potential and to live the life they want. There are several different ways that one can experience a Landmark course, I reccommend looking them up. As Gareth's guest in the session, I listened to the stories of people who were going through the program and the changes it had made to their lives. It was a positive experience for everyone. Perhaps I will join a group later in life when I am in one place for a longer amount of time. They are all over the world.

After eating lunch with Gareth and the other Landmarkers, I walked down the road a bit to the Camden market. It was crammed with people, food, jewelry, and gothpunk kids smoking cigarrettes. I walked around for a while, but was too tired to be right there in the madness. I walked to a small patch of grass and laid down for a while. I must have dozed off for a few minutes there...it felt nice. When I awoke, I sat up all crunched over and hazy. Gathering strength, I embarked on a mission to find coffee or beer or an internet point.

Here I am at the internet point. Perhaps I will go back to the market to find one of the other two...or both! Or perhaps I will enjoy walking slowly into the sunlight of the afternoon. People watching is sure to provide endless entertainment and I may head up to a park for some prime sightings.

The weather is still warm and beautiful and I'm feeling great. Gareth gets out of class at about 10pm and I'll meet him right around here at a place called the Camden Eye. Meeting Gareth is a blessing. What a wonderful world.

Love. Love. Love.

Kensington and Chelsea

I am writing from Mark's apartment. I met him and his friend at a club called The Troubadour last night and we spent a few hours talking and laughing. His apartment is palatial and he's presently speaking with an architect about renovations. He's only lived here for a few weeks and must get the carpet out and hardwood floors in.

I only have a few more minutes to convince him that I am sane enough to house sit for him next week. He is more than a little wary of this particular, pretty, posh american girl.

"You might be a raving lunatic," he said.
"Might be?" I said.

This is a beautiful part of London (at least that's what I've heard). Its kind of "small townish" with lots of small restaurants, beautiful apartments, and small parks in every square. I did a fair bit of walking around yesterday looking for my hotel. It was easy to find once I realised that I had been walking on the wrong street.

I must go now, Mark is starting his day. We had breakfast together this morning (again at the Troubadour) and he took me to the car wash. I'll go back to the hotel soon, play some music, and walk around. Later this evening I am meeting my first couchsurfing friend. I believe he has an available couch that I could stay at tomorrow night. I'm still crossing my fingers that Mark decides that he needs an american house sitter when he leaves the city next Thursday. He's pretty skeptical in his Englishy kind of way and unused to my good ole fashioned american openness. Only time shall tell.

My journey has had a clean start. Its beautiful here. The sun is shining and I feel no jet lag as of yet.

Until we meet again...

((Love is Peace))

On the Blog Again

The sun is making its daily appearance on Michael's custom-unfit window cushion again. There are a few moments each day when the light peeks over the high rise apartments across the street and spills through the cracks of the bamboo shades. Those of you who haven't had the chance to come see Michael Parkes' apartment must try a little harder. It is on a beautiful street with magical trees and classic stone worked residential buildings.

Michael and I went for a walk in the park yesterday evening around the Jackie Onassis reservoir. The sun had just dipped below the skyline and lit up the Manhatten-scape with warm reds, yellows, electric oranges. We tried to take some pictures that included both our smiling faces and the incredible scenery behind us. We ended up with indiscernable blobs in the foreground and a blue-ish background. No worries, we may try to do some superimposing to make our dreams come true.

After our walk, a beer in an official Dive Bar, and a stir fry dinner with Melissa, I embarked on a solo journey to see Emilie Cardineaux play music downtown. Her performance was inspirational and engaging. She played her keyboard with a rhythm section she hires comprised of rhythm/lead guitar, bass, and drumkit. An hour in to the show, I got up off my barstool and proceeded to cut a rug. Emilie and I have made tentative plans to play some music together in the next couple of days.

Tonight, Michael and I have big plans. We are going to a movie premiere with Angelina Jolie and Clint Eastwood. That's right, we're going to snuggle up close to america's favorite vixon and snag a smooch from a verifiable cowboy. Afterwards, we may head over to the bar that Danielle bartends at and meet Peter. Dancing is sure to ensue.

All immediate plans for the Big Apple aside, I am ready to high-tail it out of this country just in time for the big elections. I already voted and know that Barack Obama is going to win, so I leave in good confidence that this country and this world may continue to sustain life for a while longer. I fly out of JFK on Tuesday and arrive in London on Wednesday morning. I'll stay in a hotel for the first two nights (thanks to the groundwork of Tom Mathien) and then I'll couch surf.* I have my guitar, my boots, and some warm weather gear to accompany my on this journey. I am also carrying three cell phones, 4 outlet adaptors, a digital camera, and two 1GB ipods. Presently I have two books with me, Naked Lunch by Billy Burroughs and Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino. Dad had the Calvino collection sent to Michael's apartment. Its a small book and wonderfully engaging. (Dad said he might even read it...wow!)

I am ready to go, go, go. Who's with me?

**((Peace is Love.))**

*don't know what couchsurfing is? check out the website at www.couchsurfing.com