Cambodia Retreat

On Saturday, Feb.9, I went to Siem Reap, Cambodia.  I think I’ve mentioned it in an earlier post but if you didn’t catch it, Siem Reap is home to Angkor City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor), one of the world’s premiere heritage sites.  It is also home to the yoga and meditation retreat centre that I chose to visit for one week (http://hariharalaya.wordpress.com/).

I’m in my 40s and I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to spend the next 40 years of my life.  One of the areas of clarity is that I do not want to be unwell for all of those years.  Of course this means I need to pay more attention to what my body needs and to attend to those needs.  For the most part I still eat like a teenager without much thought to the consequences, until lately.  So, when I knew I was going to Thailand for a wedding I decided that I would take some time to begin living a bit differently.  I looked in Thailand but could not find a retreat centre that had a good combination of yoga, a detox program, a good atmosphere AND an affordable price).  I found Hariharalaya when I expanded my search to Cambodia.  It had yoga, it had meditation, it had a detox program, accommodation included three meals a day and it was outside the main city allowing for some connection to nature.  And it was possible to get massages, steam baths, take workshops and visit the temples at Angkor City.

I had been to Siem Reap once before, in 2007 and failed to visit the temples.  I’d gone during my time in Vietnam but was sick with either the flu or malaria for the entire week I was there.  I visited the temples once but have little memory of anything but the inside my hotel room.  It was a lovely establishment and I would recommend it highly if you go to Siem Reap (http://www.thevillasiemreap.com/index.php).  So, I thought Hariharalaya would be perfect, I could see how I felt about yoga and meditation and detox AND visit this beautiful world treasure at the same time (I’m such an north american!:) – fit as much in as possibleJ)

I arrived Saturday night (I flew from Bangkok to maximize time at the retreat), just in time for dinner!  Dinner is eaten at low tables, seated on cushions. 

 

There is one ‘regular’ dining table, but most sit on the floor.  That night Pazit, one of the teachers at the retreat, told us about a workshop she and her husband (Koby) were going to be offering over the following two days on tantra.  Of course, I signed up!  Who wouldn't want to learn about tantric practice?

The days at Hariharalaya are structured with lots of free time built in.  Each morning begins at 6:30 am with a soft bell waking everyone up (it is not a scary bell, although I didn’t know that until the first morning and thus had been sleeping less than peacefully waiting for the bell!).  J).  I was in a private room in the house with a shared bathroom.  There are also huts that can be rented and of course there are dormitories.  Here is my room, named Dharma (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma_(Buddhism)):

Between 6:30 – 7 everyone can get ready and be downstairs for morning practice from 7 am – 9 am (yoga and meditation). 

Here is a picture of where we congregate for morning practice (and many other activities):

After morning practice there is breakfast – usually including fruit, garlic bread, sometimes cooked chia seeds and sometimes greens (both really good and the garlic bread takes some getting used to but is quite goodJ).  After breakfast one can attend a workshop, like I was planning, or it is free time until 12:30 when there is another meditation sitting.  Lunch is at 1 pm.  The afternoon is similarly dedicated to nothing or a workshop or whatever else one wants.  Another meditation sitting at 6 pm and dinner is at 7 pm.  There is no need to participate at all in the structured activities although everyone who has come to the retreat has come because they are interested in the above activities so most participate partially if not fully.  Depending on who is at Hariharalaya, there are various activities led by these teachers:  acupuncture, thai massage, reiki, acupressure, private yoga practice, etc.  There is also a blind masseuse who comes several times per week to offer massages.  All of these activities are extra cost but quite reasonable.

This is one time I haven’t taken pictures of the food.  SorryL  The food is vegan (no animal products) and many of the dishes are Khmer inspired.  The staff who prepares the food is Khmer and over the years have been coached to create very tasty vegan options.  There is water and tea available from morning till night.  And if you want there are snacks to purchase (free coconuts, mango, peanuts, bliss balls).  No alcohol or drugs are permitted on the premises but again, anyone can go into town to have a beer or whatever else they desire.

Hariharalaya is situated about 12 km outside of Siem Reap in a Khmer village. 

During the day one can see folks going about their daily business (going to market, taking cows to pasture, children going to school or returning, tractors going to and fro and tourists being taken about in bullock carts looking red and bothered).  Sometimes from day to night you can hear someone celebrating – a wedding, a birth, a birthday – at outdoor party palaces (speakers stacked three or four high, fairy lights, etc.).  Everyone joins in the fun – invited or no!