The Farm for Wellbeing, 11 Willis Rd, Flaxley, Adelaide Hills Saturday 25 July from 9.30am to Sunday 26 July 4pm with Ally Thomas and Joan Carpenter
Saturday – “Explore Your Inner Self” with Joan Carpenter Sunday – Passionate Sacred Feminine Playshop with Ally Thomas
Limited to 4 or 6 women per day.
Program
Saturday 25 July
“Explore Your Inner Self” with Joan Carpenter
9.30 arrive, 10.00 start
Includes:
Walk up to Grandmother Tree for meditation then stopping at Labyrinth & Sacred Women’s Site
Circle in Hearth Room
Lunch – allow time in nature
Labyrinth Contemplative Walk
Drum Journey
Dinner
Closing Circle
Fire/brazier Drumming
Staying overnight is encouraged.
Sunday 26 July 2020
Passionate Sacred Feminine Playshop with Ally Thomas
10am Start
includes:
What is Passion?
Delicious healthy vegan lunch
4 keys to Tantra, tantra exercises
meditation
What is Sacred Feminine?
feminine healing
Spiritual Energy Orgasm
4pm Closing circle.
What to bring
food for Lunch and Dinner on Saturday, warm bedding, warm clothes, toiletries, gum boots if you have them, breakfast on Sunday.
Pricing
For both workshops and overnight, including delicious healthy lunch on Sunday : Early Bird $290 until 30/6/20, afterwards $330 each woman (includes accommodation and Sunday lunch) or $155 per day
I met Joani Blank at a Love Intimacy Sexuality Workshop in 2008, and stayed with her in her co-housing in Oakland. She inspired me to bring her to Sydney, Australia to run some sexuality workshops in 2009.
Joani Blank’s “Down There” Down Under Tour 2009
“Eve’s Secrets Revealed: all about Female Sexuality” (for men only) Mon 16 November
“How to Get what you want in Bed (or wherever else you do It)” Tues 17 November
“It’s not a Secret any More: all about Women’s Sexuality” (for women only) Wed 18 November
Sex over 50 or 60 or 70 Thursday 19 November
Joani also held private sessions 1-1 with locals.
Her wisdom, sense of humour and fun made these workshops inspiring and enjoyable as well as educational for the participants!
Joani’s Achievements
Joani Blank founded Good Vibrations, the first woman-centered sex toy shop in USA in 1977.
Joani Blank at Oakland Wharf in 2008
She also…
Founded “Down There Press” in 1975
Wrote and/or edited nine books.
Produced and directed two videos
Invented the Butterfly Vibrator and Titattoos (now Intimate Art Tattoos)
Trained and worked at the Sex Counseling Unit at The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Was a volunteer counsellor at San Francisco Sex Information working at the switchboard every Friday evening for the first several years of its existence.
Taught sexuality courses in the Evening College at Skyline College in San Bruno, CA
Served on the Board of Directors of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), publisher of the Journal of Sex Research.
Facilitated numerous sexuality workshops. She was always very interested in many aspects of sexuality: understanding eroticism, self-sexuality / masturbation, polyamory, and sexuality education for adults.
A Human Awareness Institute graduate and HAI Team Member.
Sex educator and advocate Joani Blank MA MPH, was the founder of Good Vibrations in San Francisco. She promoted sex-positivity for over 30 years. She was the author or editor of several sexual self-awareness books, including:
Femalia a beautiful book with thirty-two full-color photographs of women’s genitals reflect the diversity of women’s bodies. Therapists, sex educators, women’s health clinicians — and all women — will find this volume a welcome addition to their libraries. Photography by Michael Rosen, Jill Posener, Tee Corinne, Michael Perry, and Joani Blank. Unfortunately it is Out of Print.
Good Vibrations: The New Complete Guide to Vibrators;
Still Doing it (women and men over 60 write about their sexuality);
First Person Sexual;
I Am My Lover: Women Pleasure Themselves (photographs)
Down There Press started in 1975 with the publication of her Playbook for Women about Sex and for many years was a part of Open Enterprises/Good Vibrations. It was sold to another publisher in 2007. None of the books that Joani wrote or edited are being kept in print by the new publisher, not even the three that sold tens of thousands in their lifetimes.
In 1992, Joani converted Good Vibrations and Down There Press into a worker cooperative. At the time, there were fourteen owners (including Joani in my new status as an equal owner). The company continued as a cooperative growing to 100 worker-owners until early in 2006. At that time the current owners, more than 70 of them, voted to abandon the cooperative ownership structure in favor of a more conventional corporate structure so that Good Vibrations could attract an outside investor.
The Playbook for Women about Sex by Joani Blank
This is a sexual self awareness book for every woman. When you have filled out those sections which interest you, you can
hide the book
share it with a partner or friend
throw it away or
make it public.
You may enjoy going through the book again after a time to see if how you have changed.
Completing the exercises in this innovative playbook will help you become more aware of your attitudes, sexual history, body image, partner choices, what turns you on and communication patterns. by understanding your own feelings better, you’ll be better able to communicate with your partner and feel more comfortable with your own sexuality. Limited paperback copies are available. The PDF is approved for release by Ally Thomas. Authorised by Joani Blank 2009.
The Playbook for Men about Sex by Joani Blank
This is a sexual self awareness book for every man. When you have filled out those sections which interest you, you can
hide the book
share it with a partner or friend
throw it away or
make it public.
You may enjoy going through the book again after a time to see if how you have changed.
How come a woman wrote this book? Well, the Playbook for Women about Sex needed a companion piece and no man had written it yet. All the technical advisors, reviewers and editors of this book were men, and Joani was appreciative of their encouragement, support, and suggestions.
Limited paperback copies are available. The PDF is approved for release by Ally Thomas. Authorised by Joani Blank 2009.
A Kid’s First Book about Sex by Joani Blank
And
The Playbook for Kids about Sex by Joani Blank
‘Kid’s First Book about Sex’ and the ‘Playbook for Kids About Sex’ (for somewhat older children) were written many years ago when Joani Blank’s daughter, now an adult with kids of her own, was a little girl. Both books are out of print and because Joani wants them to be readily available, she has made both of them available for FREE download HERE
You are welcome to print out these books for your own use, but please do not make multiple print copies for sale.
Still doing it (women and men over 60 write about their sexuality) by Joani Blank
Can’t think about your parents or your grandparents having sex? What about when you reach that golden age? A recent survey conducted by Modern Maturity and AARP found that more than 25 percent of Americans over the age of 75 indulge in sexual activity at least weekly.
Sexual pioneer Joani Blank has her ear on the pillow of sexual America, and the secret is coming out about sexual pleasure over age 60! Pulling the covers off, Blank has collected anecdotal evidence supporting these dry if tantalizing statistics. Nearly 40 women and men over the age of 60 share their stories of their partnered and solo sex; their gay, straight and bisexual experiences redefine our images of what it means to age sexually.
Still doing it expands our vision of sexuality beyond youth, deepening our understanding of how we grow sexually. These intimate accounts give all of us permission to seek lifelong sexual pleasure that can continue and get better indefinitely, and with infinite variety.
Editor Joani Blank founded Good Vibrations, the San Francisco-based sex toy, book and video store in 1977. Described as ‘unabashedly evangelical” by Playboy, she has dedicated her life to helping women and men find sexual pleasure.
I Am My Lover by Joani Blank
Six respected photographers present intimate portraits of 12 women practicing humanity’s first love – and last taboo. Over 100 thought provoking duotone and black and white photographs capture a powerful range of aspect and emotion additionally, the women photographed share with us their thoughts, recollections, fantasies, and feelings about their self-pleasuring.
Limited number of hardcover copies are available HERE
First Person Sexual by Joani Blank
Everyone does it – and hardly anyone talks about it! More than 40 women and men describe their masturbation experiences in a series of vignettes and short stories.
These sexual progressives bare their souls, offering their tales of when and where they practice their solitary pleasure, what inspires them, and why and how they do it! They give new meaning to the term ‘digitize”, and reveal myriad new ways to pet the kitty or play in the one-man band. Read on, fuel your fantasies, and practice, practice, practice.
Pricing
Limited hard copies of some of Joani Blank’s books are available HERE. Joani authorised me to copy and PDF the Playbooks for sale in 2009.
Name of Book
Description
price
Playbook for Women About Sex – PDF
This is a sexual self awareness book for every woman. Invented and hand lettered by Joani Blank This PDF is approved for release by Ally Thomas. Authorised by Joani Blank 2009.
AU$19.00 PDF
The Playbook for Women about Sex – Hard Copy
A sexual self awareness book for every woman by Joani Blank A4 paperback book – limited copies available
AU$29.00
Playbook for Men About Sex – PDF
This is a sexual self awareness book for every man. This PDF is approved for release by Ally Thomas. Authorised by Joani Blank 2009.
AU$19.00 PDF
Playbook for Kids About Sex – PDF
For older children and teenagers words by Joani Blank pictures by Marcia Quackenbush This PDF is approved for release by Ally Thomas. Authorised by Joani Blank 2009.
FREE
A Kids first book about sex – PDF
For younger children by Joani Blank This PDF is approved for release by Ally Thomas. Authorised by Joani Blank 2009.
FREE
I am My Lover – soft cover book
Women Pleasure Themselves edited by Joani Blank Lambda Literary Award Finalist 1998 limited copies available
$55.00
First Person Sexual – paperback book
Women and Men Write about Self-Pleasuring Joani Blank; editor Small Press Book Award Winner 1997
Do you struggle with money? Do you want to attract more money? Do you want to create more success? Do you want to get out of that job and into your own spiritual modality or business? Are YOU ready to create more success, more happiness and more prosperity in your life?
Increase your Financial Flow in your Spiritual Modality for your Passion and Purpose. Here is a Step by Step or Breakthrough Sessions to start or improve cash flow in your business
How to tune into your money flow
Break through to create financial flow and abundance
Change your money beliefs
Shift your wealth to abundance
Tune into your self worth to increase your financial income in your spiritual business
Do you want to leave your job and start your passion business purpose?
Do you want to start a spiritual business which will generate income?
Increase your cashflow in your existing business?
You need an abundance mindset, a wealthy way of thinking, and to release transparent limiting beliefs about money and finance that are holding you back from the prosperity you deserve.
What do you get?
5 week program: Qualifying Questions, release your limiting beliefs about money, you will increase your self worth, create your business plan and how to monetise your programs, business goal setting and action plan. Promotion, paperwork, recording to track your progress. Weekly email support, accountability feedback, progress and Follow up.
Sacred Feminine Wealthy Coaching program – investment
First 2 women = $100 per session and 2 referrals booked in. Then $250 per hour x 5 sessions or $1000 paid in full in advance.
Payment plans = 3 x $400 or 5 x $250
Payment available by AP/DD/CC eftpos Visa MasterCard/cash.
Fast Start One day Wealth Intensive
How to run your spiritual business successfully
Mine has been running successfully for over 12 years. I used to work in a 9-5 office job and had coaching to leave my job and start my niche massage business. I have taught lots of men and women in a niche market all over Australia and New Zealand, and trained more than 10 people to do what I do and some how to run a business in some or all of these modules.
This one day intensive Coaching and Counselling Session gives you practical ways to promote, run and record your business success – one day – 6 hours – 9am to 4pm or 10am to 5pm – (includes lunch and workbook) $1200 paid in full in advance (or 3 x $400 payments)
One day – 6 hours – 9am-4pm or 10am-5pm
Book now for your Clarity Call , or apply now – email Ally for your Application form.
Transformational relationship coaching with Ally is now available.
I’m not sure you know this, but I am a Transformational Relationship Coach.
What is Transformational Relationship Coaching?
Using NLP (Neurological Linguistic Programming) techniques, I can help you with relationship issues – lack of confidence, trust issues, emotional release, sex or porn-addiction, ED or PE … These NLP techniques can help men or women who wish to get over a relationship trauma, learn to love again, and have a more romance and a more fulfilling sex life.
So if you’ve been wishing you had someone to confide in, talk
to, and overcome something in your relationship with your partner, (or lack of
a partner), that is holding you back, email me a bit of background about your
issue and I’ll make a recommendation.
Here’s some guidelines for helping me help you with your Transformational Relationship Coaching: (please send me these answers)
Your age, location, and gender.
Your relationship status.
#1 issue you are struggling with.
Additional issues you’re struggling with.
The outcome you desire.
Any previous experience with a coach, therapist or psychiatrist.
Physical health issues and medications you’re on.
Emotional health issues and medications you’re on.
Sometimes in just one or two sessions, you can get the
strategies you need to move past what is holding you back.
Many people get STUCK in the past and ruin their future
because of their own blind spots. You can release negative beliefs, let go of
limiting and transparent beliefs to create the life you want and deserve!
If you want help, I’m happy to help you. To love yourself
and others, to be loved in return.
What do you have to do?
You must be willing to commit to a program of one hourly coaching sessions – weekly, fortnightly or monthly, preferably in person.
Your first session will be approximately 30-minute phone or Zoom discussion, which is free so we can meet each other and connect (if we haven’t already met).
A one day Fast Track Breakthrough session is also available.
For physical issues, I have also helped men, women and couples with Tantra Massage therapy, based in Adelaide. I sometimes travel inter-state to most capital cities.
I also offer Personal Coaching Packages for weekly fortnightly or monthly sessions. And payment plans. More information on my Coaching page HERE
Contents – Womens Massages, Cranial Sacral Treatment, Spring Specials, Breast Massage – Read it HERE
November December 2019 MTM Newsletter
Read about my Burlesque Playshops, A Taste of India Fundraiser and more HERE
January-February 2020 Newsletter
My first newsletter for 2020: Passion Mapping Workshop in March, Sacred Feminine Playshop in May is HERE
March April May 2020 MTM Newsletter
Passion and Purpose Maps for Individuals, Couples, Relationships; Transformational Relationship Coaching, and new books available. Read it HERE
June – September 2020
Watch my latest video! Read about the Sacred Feminine Playshop, new Events, new Playbooks, my blogs and latest artwork. Read it HERE.
January 2022
AccuTouch, Adelaide news, Pricing, Pamper Packs, Shakti mats. Here it is.
May 2022
Newcastle in November, new photo, Aldinga, Tantra Training Academy, new Goddess Pamper Packs, my art for sale. My new book “Akwa and the Sea Goddess” to be published soon. Read more here.
I spent 16 days on holiday in India and Singapore from 24 October to 8 November 2018. India is a colourful interesting place, bustling with people. Spiritual and mysterious. Sacred and smelly. Noisy and peaceful. So many contrasts. I found the people are generous, friendly and family oriented. Wifi and internet speed is wonderful. We explored the “Golden Triangle” – Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. Which covered a small part of the huge desert state of Rajasthan. We arrived in New Delhi, flew to Udaipur and spent 2 days in the beautiful city, and only one night in tiny Ranakpur, 2 days in the town of Pushkar (see Part 1); 3 days in Jaipur city (see Part 2). We drove to Agra and stayed there for 3 days. We spent the last 2 days in New Delhi (see Part 3). After my India trip I spent 2 days and one night in Singapore on the way back to Australia (Part 4).
Wednesday 7 November: We flew from New Delhi Airport to Singapore. The others went on to Auckland and I stayed in Singapore. It was very hot and humid there, storm clouds were gathering…
Ally at New Delhi Airport
I checked in to The Inn on Temple St in Chinatown to stay overnight. I met a friend from Melbourne who just happened to be in Singapore at the same time! We went to Clarke Quay for dinner at Fremantle Seafood which was next to Crazy Elephant which had great live rock music. I enjoyed my first seafood for a couple of weeks – delicious Octopus Salad and my companion had pizza, with tall wet beers. There was a sudden thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rain for couple of hours which cooled down the temperature (and delayed the departure of the plane to New Zealand).
storm over the Big Wheel
Temple St Chinatown Singapore
Hindu temple
I got back to the hotel at about 10pm. I had a shower and slept.
On Thursday 8 November I slept in and got up at 8am and tried to upload photos to Facebook. It took me all morning! The wifi was very slow and kept dropping out. I left my hotel room about 1:30pm!! I walked around, exploring Singapore – Temple Street, I found a Hindu Temple and mosque but couldn’t find Buddhist Temple with Google Maps. Finally I gave up looking and took the MRT (Metro Rapid Train) to Bayfront station to see the Gardens at the Bay and Super Trees.
Gardens by the Bay
I spent all afternoon there, enjoyed walking in the gardens by myself, at my pace. I went up on the Skywalk and watched the sunset, taking lots of photos of the gardens, trees, orchids, flowers, sculptures, including some beautiful big dragonfly sculptures in the river, the big wheel, and the Skywalk.
Super Trees lit up at night
sunlight through apartment building
beautiful orchids at Gardens by the Bay
ants and orchids at Gardens by the Bay
Dragonfly sculptures at Gardens by the Bay
Super Trees story
Big Wheel from Skywalk at Gardens by the Bay
Super Trees at Gardens by the Bay
sunset at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Then I took the MRT back to Chinatown.
I finally found the Buddhist Temple, just as it was closing, so I went in and gave a quick thank you meditation to Quan Yin and the goddesses for a great holiday and safe trip home. I had dinner at a nice Korean restaurant on Temple Street and enjoyed sweet and sour chicken, steamed rice and beer. They charged my phone for me because it didn’t fully charge last night attached to the USB port of the television set and I flattened both my power banks today!
I took a taxi to airport from hotel and arrived at the
airport about 9:15pm, wandered through and caught the Skytrain to gate.
I sat next to a writer on plane. Prayaag Akbar is from Bombay and going to Adelaide for the Jaipur Literary Festival. He wrote a book is called ‘Leila’.
(Leila is a 2017 dystopian fiction novel written by journalist and debutant author Prayaag Akbar. Akbar was awarded the jury Crossword Book Award in the fiction category for the novel. It was also shortlisted for The Hindu Literary Prize. In February 2018, Netflix announced that an original series will be made on the novel. Produced by Deepa Mehta, the series will star Huma Qureshi and Siddharth. (Wikipedia))
On 9/11/18 I arrived home safely in Adelaide. Enjoyed
unpacking my beautiful marble table top and making up the table frame to put it
in, with LED lights to make it glow.
pashmina on my bed
Two weeks later my beautiful Pashmina throw arrived and I could put it on my bed!
I spent 16 days on holiday in India and Singapore from 24 October to 8 November 2018. India is a colourful interesting place, bustling with people. Spiritual and mysterious. Sacred and smelly. Noisy and peaceful. So many contrasts. I found the people are generous, friendly and family oriented. Wifi and internet speed is wonderful. We explored the “Golden Triangle” – Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. Which covered a small part of the huge desert state of Rajasthan. We arrived in New Delhi, flew to Udaipur and spent 2 days in the beautiful city, and only one night in tiny Ranakpur, 2 days in the town of Pushkar (see Part 1); 3 days in Jaipur city (see Part 2). We drove to Agra and stayed there for 3 days and spent the last 2 days in New Delhi (Part 3). After my India trip I spent 2 days and one night in Singapore on the way back to Australia. (see Part 4).
After a late start on 2nd November we had a long drive from Jaipur to Agra. We were using IST = Indian Stretchable time! It was a long day. We visited the Galataji Monkey Temple, Fatehpur Sikri Palace and Mosque on the way.
Galtaji is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage about 10 km away from Jaipur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The site consists of a series of temples built into a narrow crevice in the ring of hills that surrounds Jaipur. A natural spring emerges high on the hill and flows downward, filling a series of sacred kunds (water tanks) in which pilgrims bathe. Visitors and pilgrims can ascend the crevasse, continuing past the highest water pool to a hilltop temple from there are views of Jaipur and its fortifications spreads out across the valley floor. It is believed that a Saint named Galav lived here, practiced meditation, and did penance (tapasya). (Wikipedia)
At this monkey temple we were told that there are 3 ponds: bottom one for monkeys, second one is for women, and the top for men – a cow mouth spring. They don’t know where water comes from. It was a disappointing rushed visit because we saw only 2 monkeys and were told we didn’t have enough time to visit the top pond and sacred spring or see the views of Jaipur. However I found a building with a Shiva Lingam Yoni and I did my private meditation.G
“The city of Fatehpur Sikri was founded in 1571 and was named after the village of Sikri which occupied the spot before. The Buland Darwaza was built in honor of his successful campaign in Gujarat, when the city came to be known as Fatehpur Sikri – “The City of Victory”. It was abandoned by Akbar in 1585 when he went to fight a campaign in Punjab. It was later completely abandoned by 1610. The reason for its abandonment is usually given as the failure of the water supply, though Akbar’s loss of interest may also have been the reason since it was built solely on his whim.
Akbar visited the city only once in 1601 after abandoning it. William Finch, visiting it 4–5 years after his death, stated, “It is all ruinate,” writing, “lying like a waste desert.” During the epidemic of bubonic plague from 1616-1624, Jahangir stayed for three months here in 1619. Muhammad Shah stayed here for some time and the repair works were started again. However, with the decline of Mughal empire, the conditions of the buildings worsened.”(Wikipedia)
We were told the Fatehpur Sikri Palace was called the Ghost Palace because it was only inhabited for a few years and then abandoned because the water supply was not suitable.
“The Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) is a 17th-century mosque in the World Heritage Site of Fatehpur Sikri in India. The Mughal emperor Akbar personally directed the building of the Jāmiʿ Masjid (Great Mosque; 1571), which stretches some 540 feet (165 metres) in length. The mosque also known as the “Friday Mosque” is one of the largest mosques in India and is a most sought after pilgrimage site by the devotees. It is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in Agra district. Some of the designs of the mosque reflect beautiful Iranian architecture.” (Wikipedia)
We got there at sunset and were warned we would be accosted
by touts. They were very insistent and we had to try to ignore them. I didn’t
like the energy of this mosque at all.
The only part I thought was interesting was a “secret” tunnel entrance (built in about 1500) which was wide and big enough to take 2 horses and escape to Agra Fort! (which is about 37km away)
“Agra is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is 239 kilometres from Jaipur and 206 kilometres (128 mi) south of the national capital New Delhi. Agra is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh, and the 24th most populous in India.
Because of its many Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Tāj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpūr Sikrī, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Agra is included on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit, along with Delhi and Jaipur; and the Uttar Pradesh Heritage Arc, tourist circuit of UP state, along Lucknow and Varanasi. It has a population of about 4 million people” (Wikipedia)
On Wed 3rd November we toured around Agra – first to the
carpet factory, and then to Agra Fort, and to the back of the Taj Mahal at
sunset.
We saw a handmade Carpet making demonstration. The wool carpets are 100% handmade, using a pattern for size and quality. A handmade carpet size 48 x 72 takes about 5 months approximately to make! The carpet weaver gets paid monthly by square metre he has made. They burn the back of the carpet so it doesn’t slip on the floor. They wash it as well, and then cut the top of the carpet to sharpen the lines to make pattern pop up. We had a Carpet showing – Pashmina throws, many carpets, Silk on silk, wool. Handmade carpets (rugs) are a different colour from different directions!! You can clean handmade wool carpets with soap and water. Quote from carpet man: “Women don’t make mistakes only men make mistakes!!”
“Agra Fort is a historical fort in the city of Agra in India. It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. It is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled city.” (Wikipedia)
We were told that Agra Fort was built before Taj in1739. It took 95 years to build it. There are 4 gates – Elephant gate, Water gate, West gate, and Delhi gate. At the entrance to the fort there are grooves for horseshoes so the horses don’t slip.
We also went to the gardens across the river at the back of
the Taj Mahal to take photos at sunset. It looks the same from front or back!
We got up at 5am, had no breakfast, but bananas and water were provided. At 5:30am we got on bus to Taj Mahal and it was still dark! It was very cold until the sun came up. We took lots of photos of the Taj Mahal. There were lots of people.
Ally at Taj Mahal
“The Taj Mahal (meaning “Crown of the Palaces”) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to 1658), to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan, the builder. The tomb is the centerpiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.
The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1631, to be built in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess who died giving birth to their 14th child, Gauhara Begum. Construction started in 1632, and the mausoleum was completed in 1643, while the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. The imperial court documenting Shah Jahan’s grief after the death of Mumtaz Mahal illustrates the love story held as the inspiration for the Taj Mahal.
The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest in Mughal architecture. As the surface area changes, the decorations are refined proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying paint, stucco, stone inlays or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or vegetative motifs. Throughout the complex are passages from the Qur’an that comprise some of the decorative elements.
The calligraphy on the Great Gate reads “O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you.”
Much of the calligraphy is composed of florid thuluth script made of jasper or black marble inlaid in white marble panels. Higher panels are written in slightly larger script to reduce the skewing effect when viewed from below. The calligraphy found on the marble cenotaphs in the tomb is particularly detailed and delicate The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. It is believed over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials. It took efforts from 22,000 labourer, painters, embroidery artists and stonecutters to shape the Taj Mahal. The translucent white marble was brought from Makrana, Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphires came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, 28 types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.
Soon after the Taj Mahal’s completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Upon Shah Jahan’s death, Aurangzeb buried him in the mausoleum next to his wife.” (WIkipedia)
Taj Mahal
We were told by the Indian Tour Guide the romantic story of Mumtaj, the Persian wife of emperor Shah Jahan, whose mausoleum is the Taj Mahal. When she gave birth to her 14th baby, she got sick and knew she was dying so she asked her husband 3 things:
Don’t remarry
Look after our children
Make a tribute to me better than anyone else has
ever seen.
After building it he was imprisoned by his son and when he died 35 years later he was buried there too – underneath.
Facts about the Taj Mahal
Everything is 100% symmetrical except for Shah Jahan Akbar’s tomb inside.
The 4 towers are leaning out!! so that if there is an earthquake they don’t damage the Taj Mahal!
White Marble came from 400 km away!
It is an octagonal structure, not square!
The Persian lettering on the pillars are black stone, not painted.
When I felt the energy of Taj Mahal from top of central
spire to bottom below ground I felt that it is very powerful strong loving.
Taj Mahal framed
We finally had a delicious breakfast at Bansi at 9am – Paw paw, Sweet lime juice, Sweets, Poori (puffy pancake) and potato stuff, Scrambled eggs.
“Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah is a Mughal mausoleum in the city of Agra in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Often described as a “jewel box”, sometimes called the “Baby Taj”, the tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah is often regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal. The mausoleum was commissioned by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir, for her father Mirzā Ghiyās Beg, originally a Persian Amir in exile, who had been given the title of I’timād-ud-Daulah (pillar of the state). Mirzā Ghiyās Beg was also the grandfather of Mumtāz Mahāl (originally named Arjumand Bano, daughter of Asaf Khan), the wife of the emperor Shah Jahan, responsible for the construction of the Taj Mahal.” (Wikipedia)
At 10:30 we went by bus to “Baby Taj” – tomb of step father of Shah Jahan built by Nur Jahan for her father.(Nur Jahan = means Light of the world)
We were told it was built in 1622 and took 6 years to build. It was painted inside with vegetable colour, and the outside was inlaid decor. The ceiling was painted with gold. Both her mum and dad are buried here, and I asked if Nur Jahan who built it was buried here. They told me her tomb is in Lahore in Pakistan.
I loved this stunning building. It took my breath away when I first saw it! So beautiful! The photos don’t do it justice. The energy inside the tomb felt to me very maternal and loving for her parents.
beautiful breath taking Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah – inspiration for Taj Mahal
Next we visited a working marble shop in Agra. The translucent white marble comes from underground mines near Jaipur.
We saw 4 men doing each aspect of the construction – drawing the design, cutting stones, shaping stones and gluing stones in. They put henna on marble to temporarily colour it to draw the pattern eg draw outline of petal, then scrape a hole 2.5 mm deep to put specially cut stones in. Stones are hand cut and stuck in one by one!! They use a special glue- very hard- melts only once and takes 2 hours to set. Sets dry, then it is sanded and polished.
Precious Stones used: Turquoise from Turkey, Green Malachite from, Jasper from, Mother of pearl glows in sun, Carnelian fire stone glows in dark.
Only Indian marble has translucent property – table tops glow when lit from underneath no matter how thick it is!!
handmade marble table top demonstration
so many beautiful marble items
It takes 45 days for 2 people to make a marble table top. They can be round or octagonal, solid or lattice cut, large, medium or small. The small ones cost about NZ$652 or AU$500, medium size cost 48,000 rupees or about AU$960, depending on the number of stones inlaid. Only takes 25 days to make if less decorative. If you take it with you it is specially wrapped and cheaper too. The number on back of table top is the number of stones. You get a free stand when you buy a table top!
Also available in the shop are a huge range of beautiful marble items of all sizes: round or octagonal coasters, tiles, vases, bowls, platters and ornaments – elephants and other animals.
I wasn’t going to buy anything marble, but I just couldn’t go home without a little marble table! I had a hard time choosing out of all the beautiful table tops – round or hexagonal like Taj? Do I get solid or cut out? Blue or same coloured stones as Taj Mahal? I narrowed it down to four!
Which marble table top to choose?
my table top bubble wrapped to take home
At 3pm we went to have a relaxing massage at multi story hotel in Agra. Heena gave me a great massage and head massage. We had an early dinner at Bansi – takeaway KFC!
On 5 November we had an early breakfast at 6:30am to be on
the bus to leave at 7.30am. We were again given lovely gifts from our Indian
host, Mr ? of Bansi – a beautiful marble tea light each.
It took us 3-4 hours to drive to New Delhi where the air quality was very polluted and hazy.
Delhi has a population of 23 million – the same population as the whole of Australia!! It is a very polluted city, full of people. Whenever I checked my weather app to see the weather and temperature it said “poor air quality”!
The others checked in to the Hotel Sunstar Heritage and I went to the dentist at the Manav Dental Clinic. Marilyn recommended him as she has had lots of great dental work done over many years by Dr Manish Motihar, BDS. It only cost me 1,000 rupees for X-ray and exam ($20) and 1,000R for a filling! My Root Canal Treatment will be 10,000R ($200) tomorrow [in Australia it would cost nearly AU$2,000!].
More shopping! We visited Kahn Market and looked at the beautiful Diwali lights, Inoki patterned clothes, Fab India clothes and other luxury shops at sunset. We had dinner at Kahn Market – I had mushroom penne pasta. Marilyn gave each of us a DVD. She couldn’t get 10 copies of Jodha Akabh, so I got a DVD called “Kama Sutra”. It was a love story, not the famous book!
The shops were decorated and festooned with lights for Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, is goddess of Diwali.
haze of polluted New Delhi
Happy Diwali decor at Kahn Market
Diwali lights in Delhi
Recommended Dentist – Dr Manish Motihar, Manav Dental Clinic, New Delhi
I had my root canal done in the morning. It only took 30 minutes by a root canal specialist – no injection, painless and easy.
Another 10 seater bus was hired for on Tuesday 6 November (Melbourne Cup Day!) for our sight seeing tour to India Gate war memorial. It looked a bit like the Arc De Triumph with 25000 names on it from WW1 & WW2. Then we visited Ghandi’s Smriti – the beautiful house and gardens where Ghandi lived last 144 days until he was assassinated. It was a museum as well with lots of information about Ghandi and his life. We saw the WorldPeace Gong and there were some Buddhist monks having their photos taken in front of it, so I cheekily took a photo of them!
Ghandi – going home
World Peace Gong at Ghandi’s Smriti (home)
Then we went to Connaught Place, another shopping Centre
area, and had lunch at Hot Mess. Our tour guide was Amir, a handsome Muslim
& professional cricket player
We did lots of walking and my tooth started hurting so I lay in back seat of bus while others went to see the Step well. I didn’t feel well and wanted to rest, so the bus dropped me at hotel @ about 4:30pm and the others went to market for more retail therapy.
Back at about 7pm and Marilyn took me back to the dentist for final check up. As I only took a small suitcase, I needed to buy another suitcase to fit my marble table and stand! The table (wrapped in layers of protective bubble wrap) is about 15in (40cm) x 17in (45cm) wide and 40 x 40 x (20cm) deep.I packed my 2 suitcases (still only about 20kg with a 30kg limit on Singapore Airlines) and we all went to bed early.
On 7 November we got up early at 6am to get to the airport for our flight to Singapore. It was too early to have breakfast was not available at hotel.
Tantric energy sexual love making is easy to learn and ecstatic to do (and be done to!!)
Enjoy your reading and imagination of the experience of my Tantric energy sexual love making session with my partner!
Connecting – first touch
His first touch was electric. We just sat and stared at each other and held hands – feeling the strong current flow between us. Then he put his hand on my heart and I put my hand on his – that took the energy to a new level!
The he put his hands lightly on my shoulders and our foreheads touched – to explode my head in an orgasmic fountain of light and feeling. He gasped from the energetic kick…
When we’d recovered from that Kundalini rush, he looked deep into my eyes.
My Orgasmic Pleasure
Can I lick your breasts?
“Yes. Please do.” And he gently licked and sucked my nipples so that I easily had half a dozen nipple-gasms, one after the other, riding on waves of pleasurable energy and lifting me out of my physical sensations.
“Can I touch your yoni?” He softly asked permission in such an honouring way. “Yes of course” I replied, already wet and juicy with anticipation.
His hand gently cupped between my legs and I held his lingam. We both vibrated with the uplifting connection he slowly guided me to lie down, never letting go. When I was lying on my back he did something and the energy changed. Then he played my body like the sensitive instrument it is – tuning me up and evoking a musical symphony to which my body danced in orgasmic ecstasy – rising and falling, moaning and crying with joy and bliss.
I lost all sense of time and space, but never lost that connection with him. The completeness, the oneness and the pleasure was beyond words.
I lost count of how many energy orgasms I had from his loving energising touch. His energy stimulated my whole body – tingling and vibrating all over. My body arched and quivered with the tantric energy. It bucked with the vibration of the kriyas, and at times I was aware of him vibrating at the same rate – flowing on waves of pleasure together.
I reached the blissful state of floating outside (or is it inside?) my body (or the universe), beyond words – just moaning and pleasure sounds expressing my ecstatic flowing experience.
Finally, after countless peaks of blissful energetic waves, he slowly brought me down (or back?) to a state where I could look at him and see him as slightly separate again. Then he stroked my body with feather tipped fingers – spreading the energy out to my fingers and toes, finger-combing my hair and gently stroking my face, around my forehead, eyes, check, down my nose to that sensitive bit underneath my nose, tracing around my lips. They pated, invitingly, and then he gently kissed my forehead cheeks and nose. I was expecting a lip kiss, but he nuzzled my neck and inhaled my hair, keeping me on the edge again. Licking and blowing on my neck like I loved, he teased me, blowing gently in my ear and whispering sweet words in a language I didn’t know, but could exactly understand by the spaces in between.
Then suddenly, he kissed my lips with a full Tantric kiss – drawing first my bottom lip in between his, then my top lip. I inhaled the nectar from his saliva, his skin, his masculine pheromone and it tipped me over the edge again. He gave me multiple kiss-gasms and we joined out infinite energy together again in a different configuration of happiness joy and ecstasy.
Tantric energy sexual love making for her
Honouring Him
I undressed him, slowly and seductively. Sliding my hands over his skin, kissing here and licking there, while he shivered with anticipation. I kissed his feet, wiggling my bum for his visual pleasure, then slowly moved up his body like a snake, to suckle his nipples and lick his neck, kiss all over his face cheeks, nose and lips.
Sometimes I would kiss and lick his purple head, just to tease him and check his control. He would moan with pleasure…
He lay down on the massage table on his tummy, which was a bit awkward, as his erection got in the way. Then I would anoint his body with oil on my hands, gently stroking all over his back, down the outside of his legs and up the inside sensitive groin. His bum wiggled with delight, like a happy puppy! He let out a big sigh, releasing pent up tension, as my palms, fingers and nails tenderly touched each area and his awareness sunk into his body, his pleasure increased and he moaned with ecstasy.
My breasts brushed over his legs, bum, back as I stroked intimate parts of his perineum and balls from behind. He didn’t know which pleasure to concentrate on and surrendered to just receiving it all.
Then I stroked his arms and hands, twisting his fingers like I would twist his lingam later. His hands found my hanging breasts and gently stroked them, so I stopped playing with him and concentrated on receiving his loving touch.
Then I moved to the other side, stroking him with my breasts all down his body.
After oiling my breasts, I climbed on the massage table from behind him, stroking his legs, bum cheeks and back with my finger tips. Then I slid up his back and down again. He moaned again, put his hands around me and stroked my legs and bottom. I nibbled his neck and blew in his ear. He purred like a lion with the pleasure.
After a while I sat back and played with his perineum a bit more. He obligingly put his cute ass in the air and I had easy access to his lingam from behind. So I stroked it and teased it, while he just moaned more and more… I helped him stay on the edge for several peaks of pleasure.
To bring him down a bit, I stroked his arms and legs to help him be aware and distribute his sexual energy outwards. Then I got down and retrieved the big pillow.
Tantric energy sexual love making for him
Edging Pleasure for Him
He turned over and I got a lovely view of his magnificent cock. While he got the view of my magnificent breasts.
As I oiled his legs and thighs and groin by hand, he murmured his appreciation – “I feel SO relaxed !”
Then I stroked my breasts up his legs to his sensitive bits – gently pushing his lingam in between them. He moaned again, and it playfully tapped me with his strong PC muscle action.
I nibbled, licked and sucked his nipples, blowing on them to stimulate him more and more. We kissed and exchanged breath and energy in an orgasmic dance (without a single tongue involved!) that united our circle of fire and water in a dancing spiral of rainbow energy, spinning around and through us.
Then he kissed my nipples and I had several loud nipple-gasms as he gently licked and sucked them to take me to the peak. I surrendered…
Then it was his turn again and I stroked his arms, licked his neck and all the other parts he loved me to play with while standing beside the table.
After much fun play, I oiled my hands again and sat between his legs. I started stroking his perineum and balls, slowly making my way, fingertip by fingertip, to his rock hard lingam. Again he was moaning with desire and anticipation, as I pleasured him with different strokes and touches. Spreading energy and sensation down his legs, up his chest, down his arms. Then back to his sex spot.
Our Tantric Energy Sexual Union
I lay on top of him, breasts cradling his lingam and stroking in between with my heart energy, sliding up and down with his breaths and mine joining together in sweet harmony.
We slithered and wound ourselves together, joining in kisses and touches, hugs and hand strokes, teasing and tantalising each other, passionately making tantric sexual love on physical spiritual and energetic levels simultaneously until we were both satiated.
To be continued …..
Tantric energy sexual love making by the sea
Your Tantric energy sexual love making
Couples can learn how to do this:
Buy and read my book “What Men and Women Really Want – 6 Tantric Love Secrets” or
See more information about Tantra Couples sessions HERE
When I went to the Ranakpur Jain Temple in Rajasthan, India, in 2018, the Chief Priest told us that they ring their bells every day before their rituals.
I love the sound of bells, and often ring mine before or after a Tantra session, as part of my opening and closing rituals.
ring my bell!
Here are some of the reasons why a bell is rung in a temple:
Ringing bell in Jain temples
To wake you up
For left and right brain harmony
To balance your chakras
De-stressing
To get rid of insects
To drown out other noise
It creates higher vibrations in your body
Cleanses mind of external distractions
and can make the heavenly beings aware of your entrance to temple.
Church bells are rung to
Advise people to come to the service of worship
Call the community together
Give alarm or notice of invasion
Announce time of day
Drive out demons and bad spirits.
Bells chime for ceremonies – weddings, funerals or other announcements. Altar bells are also rung at different times in the service to signify special events.
I have always loved the sounds of bells – small tinkling sounds, as on a bicycle, on a shop door, a house bell (ding dong!), and the bigger, deeper temple bells and the deep gongs of Tibetan Japanese and Buddhist and other Asian countries.
Church bells and the musical carillons still ring in some places – eg Hobart in Tasmania and Perth in Western Australia.
Some people can remember the old school bell which called them to study! Ships also used bells for communication since ancient times..
Musical Bells
Many songs and music, particularly spiritual music from both Eastern and Western civilisations, have bells ringing, gongs sounding, to create a sense of peace and tranquility. Karunesh is a musician who uses a lot of bells and gongs in his music. Tubular bells are another type of musical genius.
All these resonate with your energy, giving some or all of the effects above. They stimulate your energy or vibration, and can calm your mind, energise your body and increase your awareness for peace.
Sounds of Bells
The sound of a bell is a sacred sound, which can awaken your spirit or soul, balance your chakras and uplift your energy and vibration.
DING
DONG
Why not add the chime of a bell to your meditation ritual or practice? Here is a Womens blessing and chant from the Chief Priest at Ranakpur Jain Temple. More about my Indian Tour in 2018 HERE.
I spent 15 days on holiday in India from 24 October to 8 November. It’s a colourful interesting place, bustling with people. Spiritual and mysterious. Sacred and smelly. Noisy and peaceful. So many contrasts. I found the people are generous, friendly and family oriented. Wifi and internet speed is wonderful. I visited the cities of Udaipur, Jaipur, and towns of Ranakpur, Pushkar in the desert state of Rajasthan, then to Agra and Delhi.
I joined a private tour group of 9 women from New Zealand only a couple of months earlier, when one of them got sick and could not go. My friend Marilyn was the Tour Leader and Organiser, Raju was a wonderful Tour Co-Ordinator and Liaison and Babloo drove the 12 seater bus.
We marvelled at the palaces, temples and forts. Quietly and respectfully we enjoyed visiting the peaceful, sacred temples, shrines and mosques of different religions – Jain, Hindu, Mosque. We were awed at the Persian Mahals (palaces) [eg Taj Mahal, Hawas Mahal] and other amazing buildings in Agra and Delhi.
I appreciated and enjoyed the way that Indians are renovating and preserving the iconic buildings and temple that tourists want to see. We were all appreciating and marvelling at the craftsmanship and handmade fabric, clothing, textiles, jewellery, pottery, carpets, marble and wooden items and bringing some of them home to share with people here. And we all appreciated being back home to good sanitation and familiar smells.
On Friday 24 October I left Adelaide at 10am to arrive at Singapore at 5pm. There I met up with the Kiwi ladies and we flew together to Delhi. Marilyn met us at the airport, stayed the night, then got up early to catch a domestic flight to Udaipur. Accommodation was at the comfortable Kalyas Dewi Homestay, which was a 3 or 4 story large home of Ragu and his wife who supplied large comfortable ensuite rooms, bed and breakfast.
Udaipur
We changed our money in the market and then went on a tour of the Udaipur City Palace Tour with Suresh. it was meant to be one hour but we asked so many questions and he enjoyed being with 10 women, it ended up to be 3 hours! We took lots of photos of the huge 5 storey complex, which had been extended by many generations of rich maharajahs. I asked our guide “How did they plant trees in a garden on top of palace?” He told us that originally there was a hill there, and the trees grew on top, Now the palace surrounds the hill, and they are still growing in the soil on top of the hill!
Udaipur City Palace – trees growing out the top!!
We heard about Kashmir Pashmina shawls and how to tie them different ways. We did some good shopping in Udaipur. I had the best Ayervedicmassage at Udaipur Ayervedic Massage by Reetu. It was similar to what I do when I give a massage! We enjoyed dinner at Zucchini restaurant on the first night. On the second we went for a cruise at sunset on Udaipur’s Lake Piccolo – stunning sunset photos of the Lake Palace and man-made lake. Then enjoyed watching the Rajasthan Cultural Show with colourful dancing women, puppet master and a lady who danced on broken glass with 10 pots on head!!
The next day Raju, the Indian Tour Co-Ordinator & Liaison and Babloo our driver, arrived with our 12 seater bus. We drove from Udaipur to Ranakpur, through stunning countryside, with monkeys and the occasional view of a local woman in a bright pink or red sari. We stopped and took photos and videos of an ancient water wheel called a “sakia”.
The sakia pulls water up from the stream by buckets fastened to a vertical wheel and the wheel is attached to a horizontal wheel which is pulled around in a circle by a cow or ox on the top of the high edge of the river.
We had lunch at the adjacent Amari Restaurant and I bought some funky purple pants with a zip pocket in the front and ties at the ankle and a book called “Yogic Secrets of the Dark Goddess” about Kali.
We got Indian SIM cards from Raju, which cost about $12 for unlimited calls, SMS and data in India for 30 days (although we needed them for less time). I was very impressed with the Wifi and broadband/internet connection there which was fast and efficient, easy to upload our many photos to Facebook and talk and share with our group and locals when necessary.
Ranakpur – Jain Temple
Ranakpur is a village located in Desuri tehsil near Sadri town in the Pali districtof Rajasthan in western India. It is located between Jodhpur and Udaipur. 162 km from Jodhpur and 91 km from Udaipur, in a valley on the western side of the Aravalli Range. Ranakpur is widely known for its marble Jain temple, said to be the most spectacular of the Jain temples.
In the afternoon of Ssaturday 27 October we visited the Jain temple at Ranakpur. It is one of the largest and the most spectacular Jain Temple. It was built in the 15 century. There are 1444 marble pillars, all differently carved in exquisite detail, which support the temple, no two pillars are the same. There is one beautiful carving called The deity of Parshwanath with 108 heads of snakes and numerous tails which is made out of a single marble rock – you can’t find the end of the tails!
Ally at Ranakpur Jain Temple
It was lovely to be by myself and do my daily spiritual ritual within its sacred walls. Later the Chief Jain Priest blessed us and gave us special tour. Here is some of his wisdom that I managed to write down as he spoke: “Women are 14 x more strong than men; Without Shakti nothing is possible; Beauty comes from inside; Jain followers believe in Shakti and 16 goddesses A special Yantra raised stones to the roof Lotus flower from tree Only Jain followers are allowed to worship at the inner altar of their temple The priests ring bells every day for prayer, meditation and lots of other reasons. (See my separate blog HERE) Jain priests mix sandalwood and saffron mix together for rituals and bindis every day; We (the priests) will send sparkling energy to you all at Diwali;”
Here is his Womens Blessing and Om Shanti chant, which he is happy for us to record and share.
We arrived at Ranakpur Safari Lodge as the sun was setting. This was the only place on our tour that we had our own rooms. As the temperatures were about 30 degrees (and not humid) every day, we enjoyed the air conditioned bus. At the end of the day though, we needed a watery refreshment – inside or out! Here some of us chilled out with a swim in the cool pool, other women enjoyed beer or vodka and lemonade pre-dinner drinks watching us swim sitting by the pool.
A man took viagra. And it got stuck in his throat. He had a stiff neck for a week!! (Shona joke)
Pushkar
The next day we drove from Ranakpur to Pushkar, first stopping at a local rug weaver who was weaving by hand.
When we got to Pushkar it was evening, we arrived at Sajjan Bagh Hotel a distance from the town. Marilyn took us for an orientation walk through the quaint town with its windy streets – noisy and full of people, giving way to beeping motorbikes and leisurely sacred cows and dodging their droppings. The shops were funky and colourful. We booked a massage for tomorrow and had street food for dinner – I had a banana pancake and ginger lemon tea, cos I was feeling a bit seedy. I enjoyed sharing a room with Deidre. We talked about Reiki and healing and had quite a lot in common.
The next day, Monday 29 October, we had a buffet breakfast – cornflakes porridge fruit salad pomegranate bananas and paw paw. Then it was off for a day of shopping and a relaxing massage. First we went to Robin’s Jewellery Shop, where I got some lovely Amethyst earrings. We met for a delicious lunch at Honeyand Spice, where I had Rose Lassi, Mediterranean salad with mango oregano dressing and Brown bread with garlic pate -which cost about A$6! Then we smelt delicious samples at the Perfume and Incense Shop and I bought some incense and perfume. We all had to wait for our pre-booked Ayurvedic massage, mine was terrible! Afterwards we did some more shopping – I got some lovely soaps, massage oil and Ayervedic face cream.
beautiful Pushkar Lake sunset
Then we went to watch the beautiful sunset over Pushkar Lake and listened to Indian traditional Dhoti music. A pizza and pasta dinner at Om Shiva Garden restaurant was next –I had mango lassi, spinach and mushroom lasagna. We slept well after a busy day!
On Tuesday 20 October we did some last minute shopping in Pushkar. We sampled Honey and Spice’s delicious Mango Cake and I had another Rose Lassi before we left to drive to Jaipur.
