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3rd visit: bigger group, India, Auroville, Jan. 2009
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Logo von Auroville. Auroville belongs to nobody in particular.
Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole.
Click on it for to get directly to the internet site of Auroville.
This time our visiting group was four people: Ulrike and Hannes as well as Bernd and Sigi.
Arrival at Chennai Airport and first impressions were: big heat and big crowds of people. And everyone wants to stay out of the sun.
Ellen went away together with Sigi, because she had to look for a bathroom, and Ellen knows the area well. Here they are on their way back and they look a little lighter.
During the taxi driving ther was not much room in the car because of six people and lots of baggage. And it was gettign hotter and hotter in the car.
The driving from the airport to Auroville takes about two to three hours. Half way we allways have a little rest and drink an Indian tee (black, with milk and shugar). Hannes and Ellen in a chat.
Bernd, Ellen, Sigi and Hannes, and everyone has lots to say and the talking is not ending, because we haven't seen each other for quite a wile.
Ulrike and Ellen at the stop over. Exciting because of the visit.
Even in January, when there is wintertime in India too, there are lots of nice flowers and blossoms to see. Here are some to see for you.
Hannes is standing in front of a nice wooden made shack in India.
Around 6.30 p.m. we arrive at Ellens house. The driving took us three hours. It was very hot in the car and through the open windows were only blowing lots of dust.
During the drive you better don't look at the road, it might bring you a heart attack . The drivers are honking all the time, they are passing by even when there is oncoming traffic, they turn on high beam all the time. If there are cows on the road, they are driving a little slower and they drive arround, but if there are people on the road, they are only honking. I don't know for what the lanes on the road are good for, because the people are driving allways in one more lane than there is painted. But our taxi driver made a good job and brought us safe to Auroville.
Our guest house is Saraswati. It is simple but very clean and with much more comfort as the last time. Every guestroom has two beeds and a bathroom with a shower and a toilet. Of course there is no hot water running because it is hot outside year round and the water is warm anyway. I should better say, that there is no cold water.
Rooms with two beds, a table and a board. The beds are very hard, they only have a very thin matrace of horse hair. There is nothing smooth, it is like laying on a wooden board. Other matraces would rot very quickly in that wet and hot climate. Humidity is mostly around 90 percent, and temperatures are not less than 25 degrees Celsius.
Our bathroom is very clean too. There is a moskito net on the windows. And besides the toilet stands a water bucket for cleaning.
On our first evening we are going around 9.30 to bed because we had allmost a 36 hours travelling behind us. During January it is very cold for the Indian people, but for us it is nice warm even during the nights.
Next day we first go to the Townhall, where we have lunch and have a good look at the Matrimandir. After lunch we go to the Visitorcenter for changing money and other business.
Mostly we are biking, only Ellen is using her motorbike. We are visiting a shortly renovated temple in the area of Auroville.
Sigi und Ellen im Tempel-Innenhof.
The sanctuary of the temple is the altar and/or shrine, which we hardly could see because it was very dark inside the sanctum, and it was not allowed for us to go inside. The door was open because they did not expect visitors, so we had a good oportunity to look inside.
Later a priest quickly shut and locked the door.
Sigi was kind of talking with a palm tree. There was a big water area too.
Ellen, Bernd and Hannes talking in front of the temple. Afterwards we discussed where to go next. Ellen mostly drove ahead of us and waited at the crossings for to show us the right direction.
In the garden in front of our gues house, next day.
During travelling around we liked the taste of the refreshing coconut. But it is not easy to cut the nut in the right way without making a mess. You need to be strong and carefully at the same time with that big knife. She did the cutting for us very quickly and efficient. And the nuts were tasting very good.
Bernd is enjoying the good taste of the coconut milk. After drinking you can also eat some of the coco.
Every morning we had a delicious breakfast at Ellen with lots of fruits. The fruits are much better that we are used in Germany. Many different kinds of bananas. And of course grapes, pineapples, passion fruit, pomegranates, apples and oranges, just delicious.
At the Gulf of Bengaly, Ellen was sitting on the beach, while I was enjoing to swim in the cool water.
Plan for the next day was a trip to Ponticherry. Which meant getting up around 7.30 a.m., breakfast with fruits at Ellen's place, and going to the school bus stop for catching the bus to the town. The town has a clear French influence. on many places the people are talking french language.
The streets are crowded with bikers, cars and motorbike as well as with people. Some of the buildings are in good condition, others are very poor and ruins.
Blossoms and flowers braiding to little artworks is very common for many ladies and young women. And they are wearing them gracefully.
Coffee and ice cream we had ont the coast esplanade. Afterwards we went along the stony beach road.
We also visited the big Ponticherry market place. It is a real little urban quarter with lots of halls and corridors. It is very difficult and almost impossible to orient one self. You can only drift with the crowd.
Hannes on a small corridor inside the marketplace.
Some of the market-women hat lots to offer, but some of theme only very little. Some older women were sitting in front of only a few fishes for to sell them for very little Rupies.
Main transportation vehicle is not the bike but mostly the motorbike, at least for the ones who earn some money.
In Ponti we also visited an Ashram. It's a sacred place and it is a must to put off your shoes and go barefeet.
At this Ashram there are the mortal remains of Sri Aurobindo and of the "Mother". Both people had founded or established Auroville and the roules how to live there. (As a place where the human beings can live together in peace, not matter what nations or what religion.)
The whole place is decorated with blossoms and flowers over and over. There is a deep silence everywhere, and the people also go inside to enjoy the silence and meditation and the silent prayers.
Afterwards we were going out for lunch into an Indian restaurant and we all ordered "Paper Dorsai", a filmy roasted flatbread or pita, rolled and about half yard long. Besides are many different sauces and vegetables. Later we had to pay for all six persons together about 500 Rupies, approx. ten U.S.dollars.
Very often the women are wearing their hair long and open, not bound together. But sometimes the women get their hairs cut and immolated to the Gods.
On our way inside Auroville. Ellen and Sigi deliberate . . .
. . . during Bernd is giving a hand for to take a picture of a group of young Indian men. They are very polite and they thank so for it with shaking hands and taking a picture of me and them together.
Muthu, his family and his house, we were visiting the next day. He is one of less who has his own house made of stone. Mostly the people are living in mud huts, and sleeping on the ground without furniture. And so is Muthus house too, there are some romes, but almost nothing inside besides a table and few cupboards. Cooking is done outside on a mud cookplace.
Ellen was greeted very friendly from the whole familiy.
Muthus mother. Her age is hardly to estimate, and so is the age of Muthu himself.
Hospitality was very nice and good to all of us.
There were many people around, but for me it was not possible to find out the relationships, and who is who.
At the balkony of Muthu's house we got served with drinks and food, and we talked about many things.
Pongal, a very big celebration was coming up next day. Therefor at the village where Muthu is living, everyone was outside on a meadow and preparing meals and cooking. Next day they will bring the food to a priest for to bless it by a priest. And than they will celebrate and eat.
During the cooking outside the village we were talking to many young peoples. Especially three young sisters were catching the opportunity to talk to strangers and to use the English language they have learned in school. They started a very polite and nice talking with lots of questions, and they were telling us also many things of their life.
This was a parade float, next day. Thousands of people were standing beside the streets and were waiting for the floats and the holy cows. They were driving the cows through all streets.
Woman with her child, nice clothing.
Feastful decorated cows were driven through the roads during the Pongal.
Many people all around. No way to get through.
Sigi is trying to buy a necklace from a merchant. But therefor she has to trade for a good prize, because for to save her face.
A visit at Mahamalipuram was on our program this year too. In this town there are many very old temples to see. Here are some pictures of this beautiful town.
Sigi was a much sought-after motiv for to take a picture with.
Ulrike, the new Indian God (smile).
And suddenly Sigi had a new little daughter. Sometimes it happens very quickly. Smile.
Children are allways happy to get mugged.
Overlooking of the beach of Mamalapuram.
Sundays there was the possibility to have lunch at Jonny's. An Aurovilleian who liked to cook and have guests.
Jonny gets visited by many different peoples for to eat and talk.
Our last lunch together during this vacation.
And the last discussions and talks.
Then we only could wait for the flight back at the airport of Chennai.
Thank you very much, dear Ellen, for the wonderfull vacation we had together. Thank you for all your help and for being with us. We love you.
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