i am currently sitting in an internet cafe in Pondicherry, India. We arrived here yesterday, after spending three nights in Chennai. Chennai was refreshing to be in, on a cultural level (a much bigger city than mysore, which means more things to do), but was quite possibly the most polluted place i've ever been to. The air had a constant blue haze floating over the city at all times, and I woke up every morning with a hoarse throat. We visited some temples, a bronze museum, and celebrated both Alana's and Lizzy's birthdays.
Pondicherry, on the other hand, is completely different. It's just like Nice, France (because it used to be a french colony), except they speak Tamil instead of French. But walking through the streets, the architecture makes you think you're right in the south of france. we're staying in an ashram that overlooks the water, which is actually the Bay of Bengal (which is bizarre to think that it's not the atlantic or pacific, or even the mediterranian...it's the BAY of BENGAL. wtf). The food has a definite french influence...more french-indian in everything, which is a nice change as well.
this morning, we visited Auroville, which is this really strange, kind of surreal, hippy-dippy "the-world-belongs-to-everyone" commune type place. It was founded in the sixties by an important revolutionary indian polital leader, and his partner, who was a french woman (referred to by all as "the mother"). according to them, "auroville belongs to humanity as a whole", where the set up of the area is in the shape of the galexy, and they follow no laws, except for those of "the supreme truth". i think you need to apply for residency, but once there, you can choose what you'd like to do. everyone is expected to teach, and be taught (though not in the traditional sense, like being in a school). they really tend to focus on self growth and recognition of personal strengths. they're completely sustainable within their compound, growing organic foods, building their own buildings, using natural power sources, etc. it's actually really really neat, until they mentioned something about how "this is the way of the future, and it's only a matter of time until all join" or something like that. but the whole concept behind everyhing is amazing.
aside from that, there's really not much to say. it's just really relaxing being here in pondicherry after being in chennai. too bad we leave tomorrow morning. i really miss living near the water...silly maritime obsessions. from here, we go to tanjore for 2 nights (i believe), then to maduri for a night (my birthday night. woo), then to thekkadi for 2 or three nights, and finally cochi for 2-3 nights. v.exciting. rly.
ok, time to visit more ashrams. miss miss miss you all.
Pondicherry, on the other hand, is completely different. It's just like Nice, France (because it used to be a french colony), except they speak Tamil instead of French. But walking through the streets, the architecture makes you think you're right in the south of france. we're staying in an ashram that overlooks the water, which is actually the Bay of Bengal (which is bizarre to think that it's not the atlantic or pacific, or even the mediterranian...it's the BAY of BENGAL. wtf). The food has a definite french influence...more french-indian in everything, which is a nice change as well.
this morning, we visited Auroville, which is this really strange, kind of surreal, hippy-dippy "the-world-belongs-to-everyone" commune type place. It was founded in the sixties by an important revolutionary indian polital leader, and his partner, who was a french woman (referred to by all as "the mother"). according to them, "auroville belongs to humanity as a whole", where the set up of the area is in the shape of the galexy, and they follow no laws, except for those of "the supreme truth". i think you need to apply for residency, but once there, you can choose what you'd like to do. everyone is expected to teach, and be taught (though not in the traditional sense, like being in a school). they really tend to focus on self growth and recognition of personal strengths. they're completely sustainable within their compound, growing organic foods, building their own buildings, using natural power sources, etc. it's actually really really neat, until they mentioned something about how "this is the way of the future, and it's only a matter of time until all join" or something like that. but the whole concept behind everyhing is amazing.
aside from that, there's really not much to say. it's just really relaxing being here in pondicherry after being in chennai. too bad we leave tomorrow morning. i really miss living near the water...silly maritime obsessions. from here, we go to tanjore for 2 nights (i believe), then to maduri for a night (my birthday night. woo), then to thekkadi for 2 or three nights, and finally cochi for 2-3 nights. v.exciting. rly.
ok, time to visit more ashrams. miss miss miss you all.
posted by nadelblog at 2:52 AM
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