I’m baaack! In the U.S., that is. Yeah, it’s a surprise to me, too.
I wrote awhile back that it took me a couple of months to “land” in India and not too long thereafter I knew that I “needed another 6 months” there. I experienced an internal shift which included slowing down and coming into the present moment and I knew there was more to discover. I talked to my teacher, who was happy to have me stay, and I figured out that I could swing it financially. Yay!
To save time and money I decided to go to Singapore to get my Visa and to combine it with some market research for the cheese manufacturing business where I volunteer.
The mishaps began when I accidentally left my India cell phone in the vehicle that brought me to the airport and minutes later I was unexpectedly charged a few hundred dollars for overweight baggage. I mistakenly assumed that the weight limit was the same to Singapore as it was from the U.S. A child cried and fussed throughout the entire 4.5 hour middle of the night flight. I arrived exhausted at Singapore airport and discovered that the telephone number for the gal I’d be staying with was one digit too long so I could not reach her. I also came to realize that I didn’t have her exact address, only the building name. In spite of these experiences I had a strong sensation that God was present, I was being taken care of and there was no problem.
This was evidenced by the fact that for every “wrinkle” in my plan there were 2 to 3 people I would encounter that were willing to assist me. I said a little prayer as I was walking to the airport Taxi area that I get a driver who was willing to provide extra help if needed. As soon as I laid eyes on Asmi I breathed a sigh of relief. He had a gentle appearance and kind eyes and I called on him 4 out of 5 times during my stay in Singapore. I needed a place to leave my bags for a couple of hours and Jane, the “holiday secretary” at the Blessed Sacrament Church, located in the neighborhood of my host, was happy to let me leave my stuff in the office. Shane, the phone store gal, set me up with an inexpensive phone, sim card and pre-paid minutes and she let me use her laptop and internet connection to connect with Nicole, my host.
I also had a wink from God experience on my walk from the church to the phone store. Next door to the church is the beautiful Sri Muneeswaran Hindu Temple and I popped in to check it out. Inside there was a large courtyard
surrounded by altars to various Hindu gods and on the far side a table was set up behind which stood two Hindu priests giving offerings to visitors to place in front of the various altars. Something drew me toward these two young men and I remember thinking that I didn’t know why I was approaching them. As I neared I recognized one of the men as having participated in a ceremony I attended 3 years before, in India at the center where I’ve spent the past 5 months. I asked him if he remembered that experience, if he was there, and sure enough he was! What are the odds? He’s been in Singapore for 2 years and will be there for another 3 months. I surely felt as though God was showing me that all was well.
I had an unfortunate experience with my host and after feeling very uncomfortable staying at her place that night, decided the following morning to cut short my stay there and find other accommodations for the remainder of my time in Singapore.
Asmi fetched me and off we went to the Indian Embassy. My efforts to get a Visa were thwarted when the interviewer told me in no uncertain terms that they do not provide Visas to non-residents, Thank You Very Much Have a Nice Day Good Bye Madam. I was dumbfounded because I had done the research and would not have made the journey if this information was clearly stated on the website.
What next? “Asmi, to the airport please!” I spent the rest of the day researching plane fares and emailing my pals in CT to let them know I was coming home and that I’d need a lift from the airport and a place to stay. The people at the Singapore Airlines customer service desk, The Coffee Bean and Starbucks, not to mention my pals at home, all gave me assistance in one form or another.
The most difficult part of the unfolding was my disbelief that I had to go home and my feeling that I wasn’t ready. I am in the midst of this spiritual experience and I believed that I should remain in the cocoon, as it were, of India/Asia. I couldn’t possibly explain to my friends and family what I’ve experienced and I felt completely ill-equipped to be in the energy of the Northeast U.S. with it’s fast paced rat race. But the Divine Plan seemed to be showing me differently. Several dear friends got back to me within minutes that I had a ride from the airport and a place to stay and I found a reasonable airfare for a flight leaving the following day.
On Wednesday morning, after a brief meeting with a gourmet food distributor, Asmi delivered me to the airport one last time and off I went, by way of Taiwan. I left Singapore at 1:30 pm and after 20 hours of total flight time, arrived at 9:30 pm on the same day! How is that even possible? Gratefully, I noticed during the first leg of my flight the feeling that I really goofed up drained completely out of my body. I don’t know why I had to make the trip to Singapore but it must be part of the Divine Unfolding or it wouldn’t have happened; I am not so powerful as to be able to mess up God’s Plan.
While still in Singapore I observed to my mother that if your life turns upside down and you can choose where it will happen, I suggest Singapore. I have never experienced another place with absolutely no chaos and people so willing to help at every turn. The other interesting observation is that I didn’t get a sense of cultural history or uniqueness – I took only one photo. There are some very cool buildings but I could do a simple internet search to see them again.
The photo I took which I thought summed up my impression of Singapore, and which I doubted I’d see online, was the Singapore Airport women’s restroom. I’d put it on par with any 5 star hotel, minus the attendant. Immaculate, stylish and calming…with greenery even.
So, what’s next for me? MY plan is to get a Visa this week, empty my storage unit next week and then head home to Rochester for a family Thanksgiving followed immediately by a return flight to India….
…I wonder if that in any way matches God’s Plan for me….
CARPE DIEM!
The Happy Yogini