Since the very beginning of my trip, I have always hand washed every single item of clothing of mine. Whether it be washed them under a running shower with shampoo, in a bucket with shower gel or on a washing rock with proper washing soap, I always did it myself without the help of others. I always felt that it was my duty to do such. They were my clothes; if I wanted them washed then I must pull my finger out and do it myself. I’ve felt this way since I was 16 and decided it was time to learn to use a washing machine so that I could become more independent rather than yelling at my mother as a bag of laundry gets thrown in her direction.

I’m completely aware that in India, to get someone else to wash your clothes for you it would be cheaper than buying a Kit Kat in England but to me that was still money wasted for a completely unnecessary task.

However, in regards to my dirty clothes in the meditation centre, well I simply didn’t have time to do any washing. The morning bell would sound and I would jump up, get ready and get to the meditation hall as quickly as possible. As soon as morning meditation was over, I would leap from my seat and eat as much food as quickly as possible just so that I could flop onto my bed and rest before it all happened again. There simply wasn’t any time left in my busy schedule of solid meditation, eat and sleep. My clothes were slowly becoming more and more unbearable to wear given that all day I was just sweating constantly. I had no other option than to just suck it up and give away some of my more repulsive items. And within 24 hours my clothes were fresher and cleaner than I had ever seen them, and all for a shocking 4p (English pence) per item.

Follow