The good night's sleep and wine on the patio more than made up for my forfeited deposit! I don't mean to blast Kaivalya or its owners, and I'm sure it is great for some people (who carry their own soap). I stayed one night at Kaivalya then moved to a blissfully quiet, clean and beautiful place just down the street, right on the lake (Jinava). I have traveled enough to know what I can expect and to adjust my choices accordingly. I have stayed in many remote places with very simple accommodations and lack of access to basic goods, so don't misinterpret that as the source of my displeasure. Apparently it is more convenient to have a guest pack 10 lbs of flour around the world than it is for them to travel across the lake. When we mentioned this to Kaivalya they indicated they were aware of it. One of these stores was a 15 minute boat ride across the lake, very convenient to Kaivalya in my opinion, especially since the shop owner said she does special orders for locals. But when we got to Guatemala we quickly found two places where they could have bought the exact same items - same brand even. We were asked to bring gf foods (flour, etc), which of course we did. I have no problem with this as long as the items truly are not readily available for them to get on their own since shopping and packing for others before an international trip is not convenient. The other thing to mention is that the owners seem to request all of their guests to shop for them before coming to Kaivalya, and they will reimburse you. Bathrooms are bad enough in this part of the world not having soap is my opinion is just not acceptable. I also expected the ability to maintain good hygiene, but without soap at all of the sinks I had to carry my own around, which was a real hassle and could be a big problem if other guests are not doing it. I was wrong about the sleep - it was very noisy and I didn't sleep well at all. I ended up making a reservation anyway not because I wanted a cheap room or some ethereal experience but because I wanted to stay with my friends who had already booked there, and I thought for sure I'd at least get a good night's sleep. So the clues were there, and I should have trusted my gut. They do not allow alcohol or meat (posted on their website, fair enough), and they don't have a coffeepot in their communal kitchen. I was skeptical about making a reservation at this place, as I'm not keen on being told what I can (and can't) eat or drink. Thank you Kaivalya, and bright blessings to you all! I would absolutely return to Kaivalya to attend another retreat or any of their yoga classes, meditations, or Kirtan chants. Seriously, eating her food is like eating LOVE** Overall, staying at Kaivalya and participating in the 5-day Silent Meditation Retreat were incredible ways to welcome 2013. **If you do the Silent Meditation Retreat, sign up for the meal-plan! Arpi prepared 3 absolutely delicious vegan meals per day and fresh tea with every meal. And yes, there are certain food restrictions at Kaivalya, based upon the yogic tradition and ideals taught in the classes offered. There is a shared kitchen that seems to be stocked with all basic cooking, eating, and dish-cleaning necessities. The bathrooms are communal and clean, with hot water in the showers, and YES, it is necessary to bring along your own soap, towels, toiletries. The accommodations are modest, clean, and secure, and while the space was noisy at times (due to neighbors and dogs), I was able to sleep at night. Perhaps it is important to clarify that I fully understood the setting I was entering PRIOR to my travels: Kaivalya is a budget "backpackers" style hostel, though it seems to mainly serve as a yoga and meditation school / retreat space. I truly feel that these realizations were made possible by the beautiful people named above, the retreat they facilitated, and the setting of Kaivalya. Earlier this month, I participated in their 5-day Silent Meditation Retreat and while this sort of retreat may not be suited for all (check out their website for more details), it encouraged me to experience and release some of my fears and discomfort, relax into simply BEing, and to consider the question: "who am I?" While the retreat was challenging for me, I found inspiration, new levels of softness and peace, a budding connection to the transcendent self, and a blossoming wonderment for the beauty of life. First, I feel called to express my deep gratitude to Arpi, Arjuna, Emma, and Kaivalya Yoga Hostel.
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