During one of my boredom browsing of events section in Facebook, I somehow stumbled upon Sadhana forest. So, it's an environment based community project that runs on sustainable goals and solutions. When I first heard of their University of Compassion program, it felt intriguing to me. Circumstances didn't allow me to pursue it but I still wanted to take part and experience it. I sent a mail to them stating that I can't afford to stay there for months but would like to volunteer on a short term basis. In the reply to my mail, I received an amazing possibility. Indian citizens can stay for a minimum period of 2 days. Bingo! Followed by an elaborate idea about the Sadhana Forest in the mail. They provide food and accommodation for 500 INR per day in return you need to do volunteering for certain hours. Also, I have always wanted to try out a solo trip and this sounded like an ideal one to start with. I left the thought of going there after that.
Again, during one of my explorations through Facebook events section, I came across another event at Sadhana Forest. They host Eco film club on Friday nights. My spirit to visit this place invoked and I got determined. After few months of contemplating pros and cons, I mentally prepared myself to ask permission for the solo trip. I informed my parents about Sadhana forest and how inspiring this place makes me want to visit it. I think I must have went a little overboard on praising about this place, that my parents also got interested to join along. All my dreams of solo trip shattered like a broken pieces of glass. I am a coward in terms of demanding what I need from the ones that are too close to me. My parents loves to do most of the outing together as a "Family". Meanwhile, me and my brother find it to be choking our freedom or choice to roam around without their clutches of pampering.
My dad suggested to give this place a visit on 13th September as it was a national holiday due to a Hindu Festival called Vinayaka Chaturthi and come back by Saturday to get a day's rest on Sunday. Even though my mom wanted to come along, she chose not to because she didn't want to leave my brother behind at home who is at the age eligible enough to vote in India. My brother had college and they didn't want him to have a sleepover at his friend's place. From an unannounced solo trip to confirmed dad and daughter trip. My dad didn't want to miss the breakfast because it counts as the one of the things provided for the 500 rupees paid per day at Sadhana Forest, so he suggested we get up at 4 am and take a bus. I was super nervous about the idea of going to a new place with my dad who haven't interacted much with me my whole life.
12th September, 2018:
I reach home from my office. Just before the start of the trip date, my period happened. My mom started feeding in the idea of cancelling the trip. She had a point that it would be uncomfortable being in a forest but wasn't she supposed to encourage me? I love when people encourage my zeal to pursue something. I think, not doing something new can only lead to same old boring routine till death happens. A little encouragement goes a long way. I can't understand people who can't fulfill their goals if they commit to it. Fortunate are the ones who can accomplish the identified tasks out of their personal curiosity and interests. Psst! So what you waiting for? Make a list of five things you wish to do in a month, plan for it, target to accomplish at least three out of it and pat yourself for completing it or treat yourself if it had gone not as you expected and earn the learning. Still got no idea what I am talking about or sounds as if life threatening to do? Take baby steps. It can be as simple as every Saturday I will do deep breath exercise for 2 minutes, I will put a water bowl for stray dogs or if you are too ardent as me it can be I will attend events on my own even if no one joins my journey.
My mom is a person who will not take any effort to try out new things and also never let people around her to progress on their new goals. She's a secluded person who is afraid to change a routine and her life's elixir would be ranting within the four walls of the home. At times, I feel pity for her. I advise her to go on small solo adventures like going to the local grocery shop, buy something, have a small walk, discover a new street, watch a movie, visit a park and interact with random people. Nope! Nothing works to make her see what I see in doing new things. Her philosophy of staying inside her own warm cocoon jail is as powerful as a earth's magma. Moving on from contemplating about my mother's personality to my travel towards down south of Tamil Nadu's coastline. But seriously consider doing something out of your comfort zone once in a while.
It was late night, haven't packed anything yet. I was roaming here and there in all the rooms of the house because we are lazy to keep things in one particular intended place. Packing for the trip was more like a treasure hunt for things that keeps me alive and sane. For some reason, after Chennai floods, one can find a plethora of insects at my home sufficient enough to graduate entomology. Also, the mosquitoes! There is no extinction to them I guess. My parents made a rule of closing the doors and windows to prevent them coming inside the home. Like keeping all the doors of all the rooms shut at all times. No wind moving inside and morbidity vibes emit there. I look around the rooms and started thinking about what are the things I require to begin my day and subtly enacts them in between. Like doing a brushing movement to remember to keep a toothbrush, etc. You got the idea right?
Just if in case it helps someone to pack for their trip I am vaguely listing out all the things I kept on the sofa. Yes. You read it right. I started by picking up essentials threw it at the sofa and finally went for the bag. I packed some clothes, pouch, sling bag, comb, face-wash, mirror, talc, phone charger, Bindi (the dot you see on women's forehead/ google it), money, headphones, water bottle, towel, blanket, paper, pen, finally lots and lots of sanitary pads. I was tad bit afraid because the place I was going to encourages use of cloth pads and menstrual cups but I wasn't having any of them. I even considered cancelling the trip but something in me made me not to drop this plan. It's like now or never kind of attitude. Been asking permission from my mom to buy a menstrual cup but unfortunately I haven't got her nod of approval for my own personal hygiene. Feels like still living in medieval age which bores me to the core.
Then I go search for a bag I need to pack. We don't have fancy luggage at home as we are not frequent travellers. Me and my mom rummaged the house to find a bag of my liking. She picks a bag and I be like no way in hell I am going to roam around with it. It continued for a while until she got tired and went off to sleep. I later ended up with the bag she picked anyways. It was a bright neon pink colour like the ones you see in highlighter pens. This bag was actually a freebie that came during a purchase of rice. So, it had advertisement of the rice brand and stuff in Tamil. I packed the things neatly like changing the diaper of a child (which I haven't done before but assuming it as a delicate process). Then, I set my alarm to 4 am and doze off.
13th September, 2018:
The alarm buzzes, tempted to snooze it but wakes up instead. Goes to the hall, spots the big pink bag, feels embarrassed and surprisingly finds another decent (less flashy) bag that can accommodate the same stuff. Switches the bags, hurriedly. Mom wakes up, I smile meekly to cover up my own idiosyncrasy like nothing happened. She still finds out about my bags interchanging act and gives herself a good facepalm. I still with no shame maintains the poker face with a hint of blush. My mom went to wake my dad up. We took our bags, said our goodbyes to mom and started walking towards the bus stop. The roads were silent, sky was pitch black, street dogs were roaming and few people were roaming towards tea shops. Who sacrifices their sleep to drink tea at 4 something am? Definitely not me. Meh. Different people, Diverse lifestyles.
Our plan was to take a bus that goes to Pondicherry through ECR route and then take a bus towards Moratandi toll gate from where the Sadhana forest is nearby. But we missed the bus just by a minute when we crossed the road and reached the bus stop. I don't know what my dad's mind made of but he suggested we walk to the previous bus stop instead of waiting here. So, with droopy eyes and hefty bags we walked towards the prior bus stop. A government bus to some random place which I couldn't clearly read, stopped like as if the driver is in F1 racing. It reminded me of that bus scene in Harry potter for no apparent reason. (Googled: It's called a Knight bus) Grateful for the bus brakes that worked and not eventually squished us into puddle of blood and flesh scattered on the road.
My dad asks the bus guy if the bus goes through Tindivanam and the driver tells yes nodding frantically with a face that is depicting as if where else would this bus rather go? I was confused, as in why are we going to Tindivanam instead of Pondicherry to reach a place nearby to Auroville. I am quite new to long distance bus journeys. My dad has roamed different parts of Tamil Nadu so he was sure of alternative routes. We got inside the bus, seated and took our tickets. I was still having quizzical thoughts. My dad later explained about this new alternative route to reach our destination. I was happy that the bus will reach on right time before breakfast, but to my dismay he stopped at Chennai Airport area for like half an hour. I can't blame him. He was doing what's right for his livelihood which is getting more bus tickets sold through this ride. Meanwhile me and my dad were hoping he stopped less and moved quicker.
On the way in some intervals my dad starts telling which place comes next and explains what kind of place it is. I tend to drink too many sips of water when I am nervous. The wind was cold as icy smoke that swept on the face. Half awake, half sleepy. Clutching my sling bag to calm myself and mentally chanting that things gonna be alright. I have a complex of insecurity when I am with my dad. That I should prove myself to be a champion to him. The sun slowly rose over the dark horizon. The sky was changing into different hues of mandarin orange. I wish it came up soon and warmed me. But the cold winds persisted. Eventually it perpetuated me to feel like going to the loo. I tried to hold my pee for good 3 hours but eventually started to leak a little. My pride didn't let me inform my dad to ask the bus driver to stop on the way for restroom. I was afraid to admit my urinary incontinence and convincing myself that only in few more kilometres we will reach the destination and can have a loo break there. What was I thinking! My sanitary pad hold some of the pee but after a while it gave up. Few droplets of urine slipped by my seat and I had to act like nothing happened. Until the guy seated behind me said "Excuse me I think your water bottle is leaking"
I was like "Oh, okay. Yeah. Thanks!" I confess to my dad in a whisper that I urinated a little. And I am glad the leaking blunder happened. Because what my father said after my embarrassing confession was something that surprised me. The old dad I knew would have discreetly scolded me in a way I would have almost leaked a tear from my eyes. But he said "That's alright. Things like that happen. Don't get me wrong but as a parent we have to support our kids no matter what. If me and your mom had you as a physically or mentally challenged kid then also we would have still treated you with our best care" I was astonished with his newfound wisdom. When I remember it now, it sounds like sarcasm but at that moment in the way he said, it felt like just the right thing I wanted to hear. I made it a pact not drink water until I reached Tindivanam. Turns out it took another one and a half hour to reach Tindivanam. I would have died out of UTI without some enuresis.
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| Sunrise! |
The bus stopped at Tindivanam for brief time. I walk down from the bus in a hustle. Thankfully my dress was little dried up by the time we were switching buses. My dad suggested I change off clothes once we reach the destination. We asked for tickets to Morattanti toll gate but the guy instead gave tickets to Pondicherry. We didn't bother to ask about the mismatch, as long as the bus drops us at the place we wanted to reach. This another bus we took, did an en route to so many small towns and villages.
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| Streaks of light amidst the clouds |
The travel time supposed to be within 4 hours but it took us more than that. Finally when we got down at the toll gate, we call up the people of Sadhana Forest to pick us up. Me and my dad took a random bus to a place which is hard to locate in maps itself and trusted random strangers to pick us up. Look at the guts we got! Until they arrive and pick us up, my dad told me to wait at a place where sunlight is more to dry up my biological liquid residue. Then he strolls away to a tea shop leaving me stranded at the side of the highway. I didn't knew what to do. It was no fun to watch bunch of different vehicles passing you by. I took my headphones, plugged it to my phone and played Never give up by Sia. Subtly grooving my head to the tune and wondered when does the day end already.
Two guys arrive to the spot we mentioned. One with a scooter and one in a bike. They were bit sceptical and not sure it was us. My dad was standing firm as a granite and I was giving a meek rise of palm to indicate a sure yet doubtful hi. We both rode with them to reach the forest. I was little eager about this place. During the ride, I was trying small talk which now feels like I must have annoyed the hell out of the guy who postponed his breakfast to pick us up. The long pathway to reach the forest from highway was little tricky to understand for first-comers. As we were nearing it, a wisp of cheer fills me. We walk inside, along the way I took pictures as if I am a shutterbug.
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Sadhana Forest
(Yay! it's a real place that exists) |
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We were walking too fast!
(Couldn't capture the beautiful Hibiscus) |
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A random painting
(Did I mention that my phone can't take pictures as fast as I walk?) |
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Tiny cacti
(I took my sweet time to make sure the pictures happen and not get blurred) |
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Finally to the core of the forest!
The board says welcome in different languages. |
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| The main hut |
We reach just in time for the breakfast. Greeted by the guy who answered my mail. We were wondering about registrations but their system was bit different. We directly joined others to eat breakfast at the Main hut. It was a big thatched hut where all were seated randomly but in a circle facing everyone. They did few announcements for the day like there is no dinner prepared at the forest on Thursdays! I was mentally panicking about no dinner for the day. But hunger and food on the plate ready to eat pauses such thoughts for a while. When eating, my gaze started to spread around, observing the place. There was no fans, windows or doors. The place was completely lit by natural sunlight and breeze from the trees around. Most of the people staying there were foreigners from different countries of the world. When I read about diversity and inclusion I tend to think it as some sort of historical facts as I wasn't exposed much to the places where I experience being intimidated and surrounded by almost no people similar to me. It takes a while to get normalcy being accompanied by bunch of acquaintances that are from different countries. I like remembering people's faces but staring at them felt like intruding their breakfast time. So, I sincerely stared at my plate and occasionally at my dad.
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Breakfast
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They serve vegan food. We expected it to be some unusual bland stuff that tasted like commercial baby food. To our surprise the food was colourful and well balanced in terms of nutrition. The breakfast of the day was roasted groundnuts, watermelon slices, pineapple chunks, ragi porridge and a pear. I didn't eat the pear because I was full eating all the other things on my plate. Some of them poured a brown liquid to their ragi porridge. Turns out it was jaggery and not some weird potion. It was quite an enriching breakfast. After the breakfast, We thought it would lead to registration and a small tour about the place. But We came too early which accommodates their volunteering hours. So, we were told that there are two volunteering aka Seva timings. They call it Seva which is a Sanskrit word meaning selfless act of service. The Seva happens before and after breakfast, then the rest of the day was free for us to decide. We were approached by a girl with mundane facial expression who looked like an Indian with Sri Lankan English accent. She asked us which part of Seva we would like to work for the day.
We had no idea which Seva to do because we were complete newbies. She stared at our puzzled expression and I felt her face was emitting feeling of being bothered to repeat the same stuff to every newcomer vibe. She listed a few Sevas that we can join for the day. My dad picked the compound duty where it requires raking, taking care of huts, and other maintenance work around the forest. I picked kitchen duty because she mentioned it only has tasks like cutting vegetables which I did for three years during my college degree as a Food Science student. Internally, I was like Pft that's it? I can handle that! I was happy to get involved right away the moment I reached this place. My dad was little exhausted but due to social obligation he agreed to give the Seva a chance. After our breakfast, we came outside the hut with our utensils and was introduced to their technique of washing vessels.
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| Utensil Washing area |
The washing the vessels part involved one big and three large steel buckets filled with water, coconut coir and the wood ash they get from burning wood at the kitchen. First, excess food are scrapped into another three different buckets where one is for compost, one is for dog food, and one is for cow food. There was a sign board to let us know which leftovers go to which bin. Then, the plate, bowl and spoon are dunked at the 1st bucket, scrubbed with coir smudged with ash, dunked in 1st bucket again until it was clean of detritus, followed by series of dunking in 2nd and 3rd bucket. Finally the cleaned spoons, plates and bowls are thrown into the big bucket with water mixed with something that I forgot, the top is closed by a huge plate and soaked for few hours, later taken out to dry under the sun. After this ritual of washing vessels, it was time for our Sevas.
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| The leftover guide |
My dad and me departed to do our respected duties. I went near the kitchen and was blankly staring what to do? Including me there was three people involved for preparing the lunch of the day. There was a lean foreign guy who wore a headband and lungi which was distinct attire from others. He informed us to collect a leaves of particular plant. I was on tearing spree like a worker in tea plantation. Sometimes there was a white liquid that oozed out of the plucked area. I asked if it's okay to consume the leaves and are they safe to eat. Basically was concerned about am I plucking my own poison or not. The lungi guy tells us "Oh indeed it is poisonous but becomes edible when cooked." Involuntary nervous chuckle came out of me but internally I was like who frightens a newbie like that? Dimag karab ho gaya kya? (It means "Something wrong with your brain or what!?" in Hindi) After collecting enough leaves, we went back to hand wash place which was nearby the kitchen.
The hand wash place is quite innovative. No picture of it because my phone was low on battery and didn't want to take risk as its not water resistant. But I will describe you how it was. A steel mug with a hole at the bottom attached to a wooden pole, on the side of the pole a bottle that contained a liquid that acted as soap. There was a steel drum where water was stored and closed with a lid. The water from the drum is taken using a mug and it is poured into the mug with hole, the water drips into a stream of line where we need to drench our hands, pour some soap, scrub a little (I have seen Grey's Anatomy, so I was scrubbing as though cutting vegetables is as equivalent to a critical surgery) and another water wash in that stream of straw hole sized aqua to clean off the soap. Then, I wiggled my hands to dry the dripping droplets.
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Rocket stove and a Kettle
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I entered the kitchen. The place had few wooden cupboards and storage shelves. The fruits and vegetables were kept inside these cupboards which were safeguarded by metal mesh. They cook in a huge vessels kept on the rocket stove. Apparently the rocket stoves are something that uses sustainable energy and less cooking time from burning wood. (Doesn't have much idea other than it makes less smoke and lots of soot) The lungi guy was the chef (not sure if he's an actual chef by profession or just volunteer as cook). The other guy was an Indian whose been to this forest many times. I asked both of their names. The lungi guy was named with a word that was associated with music. I tell him elatedly oh like as in music! In return I got a dull microsecond stare that acknowledged he heard me but expressed so what? Not interested to talk much with people I guess.
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Kitchen under thatched disguise
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We were given a wooden slabs and sharp knifes to start prepping ingredients. The first ingredient to be prepped was garlic. In my home, we slit the broad side of the garlic clove and remove the skin. Here, he basically dipped the garlic in the water that was mixed along with something I forgot again, I think it must be vinegar, not sure (let's just assume its a magic natural compound that helps to clean veggies). So, the chef/ lungi guy showcased how to prep this dipped garlic. He separated the cloves, cut the ends and smashed it. That's it. I was little distracted as it was a new place and tired because of the horrendous bus travel. I forgot half the steps and was peeling the garlic skins like I do at home. He comes to check and finds me doing it all wrong and showcases the same procedure, this time with more exaggeration which made me feel like maybe I have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.). So for the prepping of other ingredients I asked him twice. It's okay to be dumb when you really don't understand something.
He used to go to the stove, stir the soup and other lunch food occasionally, fiddling with the phone for next music to be played, loading logs of wood and tells us what to prep next. The other Indian guy was asking him and guessing which tune it was. I found one of the tune to be similar to a Hindi song and told the Indian guy about it. Well he was clueless about which Hindi song I was talking about. I mentally self advised myself that "Shut up, Sunayana! Stop talking, they look like as if they have just seen a graveyard or survived some disaster. Let's not disturb them with your effervescent nonsense." I started to prep the other ingredients like as if they are the only companion I got. We prepped some leaves, grated beetroot, diced potatoes and onion. I thought my work here is done. But then came the dish washing session.
There was a place near the stove area, where it had a hand pump and drain hole. So, I asked multiple times about the washing the utensils procedure because it was too fast and new for me but a usual routine to them. Like I said before, I was tired and dazed in the surrealism of whoa! I actually reached this place that I was fantasying for a solo trip months back and I seriously need to take some nap. The washing part was complicated but the struggle was standing and doing it. We had wooden chairs while prepping the veggies and I personally haven't done much work while standing still in one place. In my life it's all about sitting for long hours or walking when doing a work. I got this acute pain at my lower back which when googled it sounded like as sciatica but I know it ain't that serious. But still handling heavy vessels, scrubbing it with coconut coir and ash felt like tedious work. Also, we had to splash some water and clean the floor towards a particular mesh thing upcycled from bicycle basket which filtered the water to flow towards the soil and collected the discarded vegetable peels and stuff.
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50 shades of Fuchsia
(Aftereffects of Beetroot salad) |
After the 2nd Seva, technically the only Seva we did for the day, Me and my dad rendezvoused at the main hut for lunch. I told him what and all I did and was keen to know how much tiring work he did. On the contrary, he got an easy task. He said all he had to do was to sprinkle some amount of powder around the huts to prevent insect infestation. That's it. (That's it!?) I smirked at my own life's destiny. No two people get the same hardships or same happiness. Moving on to what's for lunch!
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| Look what was on my plate! |
So, the lunch time happens. Everyone seated in one place, few people gets assigned to serve the plates filled with food to the people who were seated. As you can see, we had some random possibly poisonous leaf and potato soup, brown rice dish (assuming not sure), peanuts, beetroot salad and pickle. So the good news is the leaf was edible, because I am still alive to write about it after consumption. The awesome news is Vegan diet is not as bland and suspicious as it sounds. It can be a refreshing design of palate to experiment with that's sustainable and delicious if cooked right. After lunch, everyone left. We were clueless what to do next other than registering and getting to know the place. So, we ask the people around, they mentioned a guy's name who takes care of the registration and after that a mini tour around the place. I was exhausted, sweaty, warm, could be red but masked by my dusky skin tone, badly wanted a bath and wear fresh clothes. To pass time my dad was fiddling with his phone (he was probably watching some YouTube video on rumours and gossips) and I was roaming around the hut.
Thankfully my dad got a companion from his compound Seva who is from England, he helped us with regards to our dinner for the day. But he had only one scooter and he can only accommodate one person in it. Also, the scooter rentals are given only for people who stay for more than 2 weeks. And the bicycles which was not a viable option according to my dad were in repair. I thought how worse my luck can turn into that we were out of options. Then the England guy went back asked a few people around and somehow that lead to meeting a cheerful lady from Germany who offered me a ride outside the forest to get a fix for my night appetite. She also suggested that people of Sadhana were invited to join an event at African Pavilion which we had no idea about but thought interesting to attend and a bike ride for dinner is fulfilled. We exchanged numbers and they informed us that they will come back in the evening to pick us up. I am eternally grateful to the people like this who gave a lending hand when we are in need.
I started roaming around the main hut and started observing more as the place was devoid of people who went out to roam or to simply taking naps. The plan was to see the golden globe structure, Auroville and Pondicherry within two days. But I was exhausted and we dropped out visiting Pondicherry out of our plan, as there is no time and we had already visited it years back when we purchased new car. It was the first road trip we had as a family which I don't remember but my dad proudly reminisces once in a while. Then, I stumbled upon a piece of information that you need to book three days in advance in person at the Auroville visitors centre in order to go inside the golden globe structure of Auroville aka The Matrimandir. I frowned upon this fact I read. Then, I started moving around the main hut and saw old pictures related to Sadhana forest and it's glory. I then stumbled upon the complex map of Auroville.
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The Map of Auroville
(complicated to interpret beyond imagination) |
The next thing to do was registration, bath and if possible a nice nap. Till the guy with whom we were supposed to register arrives, I thought of having a bath. The bathing place is unusual for a person from urban living. It was a place that was enclosed with sheets of recycled materials and long stone pillars where the lock mechanism was made of coir and metal wire, there was no roof, enough slits on the conjoining area of the recycled sheets to peep through and one feet gap from floor to the sheets which makes it easy to see feet from outside to inside the bath cabin. Imagine the privacy concern of mine. But who cares, as long as I wash off the sweat, dirt, tiredness and the day's memories, I am least bothered about it. I totally forgot about the another important feature of the bath area. There are no taps! A heavy metal bucket is taken to a place few meters away from the bath area, filled with water from a hose, and return back with half the water spilled on the way. I was worried what if there is no water that remains in the middle of washing off the soap. Thankfully such scenario didn't happened. I come back to the main hut, to get clothes and toiletries.
If the bathing place was kind of new process to understand, the lavatory procedure was even more bizarre but the sustainable way to make manure out of human excrement. It was similar to bath area infrastructure wise. No roof, four metal panels, a latrine, a pit, a hug cylinder filled with saw dust, a huge cylinder filled with water, a metal jug and all of them closed with a plate on top. There was a laminated sheet which indicated how to use this rest room. Too many steps but glad I learnt it before I had to use it. Basically the urine/ liquid goes to the latrine and the menstrual blood, poop/ solid waste goes to the deep dark pit which is then covered with saw dust after defecation. All this to make use of poop as manure and urine as fertiliser. It seems urine is rich in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, which are the nutrients plants need to thrive and the main ingredients in common mineral fertilisers.
Based on the website info, they use Eco-friendly soap which I meekly requested to them and got it. It was devoid of perfume and appeared like a rectangular cuboid of candle wax. On my way, I strolled across a cozy place decked with metal boxes. The metal boxes/ lockers were given on request to keep personal belongings. We didn't use this service though. Those pillow area is bedded, which acts as the lounge with free WiFi signal at the main hut. I can proudly say that I did't use this service extensively either even though internet is something I crave on but essential stuff like bathing was more on priority range.
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| Metal lockers and pillows |
The guy who does the registration finally arrives on spot (Main hut). I quit my agenda of bathing and started indulging into the registration. He was an Indian guy who gave us two books to enter our details. Name, time period of stay, proof of identity document, it's number and signature. Then he took a picture of us in a compact digital camera. (Felt like my first mugshot) He mentioned another person who will also join us for our mini showaround over the forest, till then we were free to do anything of our choice. My dad scribbled his sign and left it to me to fill the rest of the details. My dad went to the luggage to get his fresh clothes for post-bath. Meanwhile, the registration guy and me had a small chat. He was tired and it was prominent through his yawns. Our conversation started with me informing him that it was a holiday, Vinayaka Chathurthi and do they celebrate it here, some more blah blah blah. He had no idea it was a festival day. He even gave a surprised look and an affirmative nod with tranquillity. Then the talk moved on to my belief in agnosticism and his belief in spirituality. He must have been in a hurry for some nap and I was at the verge of feeling like an itinerant. So, We didn't converse any further.
Finally, I pick my clothes, toiletries and hustled to have a bath. The sunlight was on top of my head as it was afternoon time and there is no roof. Slowly inspected the enclosure and starting hanging the fresh clothes on one side and old clothes on the other side of the twine. Then poured my first mug of pristine heaven (water). To my dismay it was cold. The wind around the forest was high and the water was cold. Freeze therapy of the forest I guess. As part of belonging to my parents I was taught not to expose my skin towards sunlight because getting tanned is as equivalent to a sin of sabotaging my fairness with some activity of melanin. So, I tried pouring heaps of cold water staying away from glorious warm sunlight at the corner shadow of the recycle sheets but couldn't resist the need to allow the sunlight to heat me up occasionally. Freeze to death or occasional mellow warmth of sunlight that retrieves my normal body temperature, I choose the latter.
After the tricky bath session, I threw the used clothes on the floor to wash. I scrubbed a little and washed it off. I dried myself with a towel and wore fresh clothes which smelt like home. It's not as amazing as it sounds, remember my home was haven for insects? But It didn't smell like insects like I thought it would. It smelled like detergent. I have a weird obsession over washed clothes that are dried. Especially the pile of clothes my mom meticulously collects to be folded and kept in the cupboards at my home. When I was a kid I used to jump on it, sometimes sway with the clothes that's been hanging on the ropes and all dried up as if I am the worm from a cocoon and this new found dried laundry hung over the strings to be my long lost wings wavering with the winds of Chennai. (Damn why did I grew up?) Anyways, I felt happy wearing fresh clothes after a tiring day. Materialism is something I dread about but in reality some materials that brings you profound emotions are something that you can't deny about. All I know is find a balance to differentiate necessities and desires.
I came out of the bath area with washed clothes dripping with water drops on it's edge and started to hang them outside the area where others kept their washed clothes to dry up. The beautiful thing about this community was, there was no fear of theft to your belongings. If you leave a thing at a random place and forgot to pick it up, it would still be there on the next day. It is something I value a lot. Because there was this one incident in my life that changed me and made me know that theft can happen and how miserable it makes you feel afterwards like suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I once volunteered for a website launch of an organisation at a well known college premises in Chennai where it started to drizzle and the launch was happening at an open space. So, we were instructed to remove the chairs to side towards a building hallways. I was having a fancy branded handbag which my aunt gifted to my mother during one of her visits to Chennai from USA. Because this was my first volunteering opportunity among college people who dress up and look fancy, I pleaded my mom to wear this bag to show off that I too got some fashion sense. Honestly, I thought impressing them was essential to survive college.
One of the organisation's guy criticised me that I am giving more priority to the bag than the chairs. My ego got hurt and I was angry at myself for not being helpful and dropped my bag on the hallway instead of giving it to my parents who were also present at the event but I couldn't locate or thought about giving my bag to them and fiercely started stacking up the chairs. Finally when I went to check my bag it was not there. I panicked. My mom was close to become a devil but controlled her temper because many people were around. My dad was perplexed on what to do other than giving a police complaint. But I refused to contact police because I know how corruption and bribery are given foremost importance than actual purpose of helping the public. Dad was convincing mom to calm down that I was not injured, it's just a bag that got stolen away. The bag had my kurta, digital camera, my first touchscreen mobile that my parents bought me after lots of asking and proving how essential it is for a college girl and few other things but most importantly the Coach (An actual brand name) bag that was a proud possession of my mom's almirah. I lost it and I was in such a shock I wasn't even able to cry my sorrow out.
Apparently, few other bags were also lost and we confirmed it was theft. Till date my mom refers this incident as I lost the bag than the bag got theft which happened partially because of me but not because I really intended to lose it. So, why I am saying this horrible past that happened to me years back is because it made me experience how painful it feels like to get your belongings to be robbed. The sense of feeling safe is amazing but on top of that the sense of assurance that your belongings are not fiddled by random strangers or acquaintances without your acknowledgement is something beyond amazing. Hope the world becomes a place like that in the near future till then I am going to guard my stuff. After that incident, I didn't quit volunteering with that organisation, but learnt how and what to carry appropriate enough to a place. It helped me to practice minimalism. I only carry bare necessities than the things I fantasied to carry to be prepared for "if in case this happens" scenario.
Post-bath, I came back to the main hut. I saw my dad lazing on a swing watching videos on his phone. I told him he can use the bath and I will look after our luggage. Like I said, I was insecure to trust and leave my luggage out in the open for the predators/ thieves. I roamed around a bit, then put my phone for charging at the lounge/ pillow area but it did not charge because they have a particular time for charging phones it seems. I didn't want to use remaining battery level of my phone. So I quietly sat at one corner of the main hut and stared at the roof of the hut. I don't remember how a conversation between me and the foreign guy who stays there started (Probably I must have asked his name like I was asking the same with others the whole day, it's like when you attend a wedding of some distant relative and you have the urge to know people but not brave enough to talk with random strangers who won't harm you vibes). We spoke about lots of different things like about the forest, about him, about life, compassion and a course on it which actually lured me to this place. It went on for a while and in the process I blurted that the place is like the foreign land and it seems like I am the only Indian lady here. He denied that and proved me wrong by showing a person behind him that there is indeed another Indian lady in this place at the moment. I was mortified and incapacitated with blunt truth.
My dad arrived and we both figured out that there are two kinds of huts to accommodate. One is a private hut for people who are long term volunteers, aged above 40+ years or family. The other one is a huge hut that has rows of cots on the ground and mid portion of the hut was having a space made by logs of wood and coir twine. We climbed the stairs towards the upper portion of the hut and saw rows of beds with respective mosquito nets above it. We picked a bed that was folded which we assumed was not taken and later we confirmed with a small info leaflet hanging on the hut indicating it is indeed the bed that is unoccupied. Later the guy who was about to join us for the mini tour to know about the forest arrived. He was a bald foreigner. I don't know anything about him. By this point, I lost my threshold to ask names of everybody I met. One of my personality trait is if I am dead tired or exhausted I tend to overdo something or talk a lot to anybody. I mean seriously to whomever is beside me I start blabbering random things without a stop to it till I become normal. So glad that I had my bath and it calmed my nerves.
I do remember something about the bald guy. He always asked "Is this a Neem tree?" to all the trees we came across during the forest walk. He was fascinated to hear about the magical healing properties of Neem. I am a person who has been exposed to a Neem tree since my childhood, I am not surprised enough to get elated over Neem leaves. I even remember my mom dreading over the pour of Neem flowers from the neighbour's Neem tree that she felt gave too much sweeping work to the maid whose been with us for a long time and she's the only person with whom my mom speaks to for long chatter other than her own sisters and Ammamma aka my granny. The following pictures were taken the roaming adventure at the Sadhana Forest.
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| Nursery |
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| Interior of main hut |
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| Solar Panels and silhouette of papaya leaves |
The solar panel was the only source of electricity at this forest. And they have certain time schedule for charging our devices to conserve energy which explains why my phone didn't charge when I plugged in. The maintenance of these panels are also part of Seva. Then we were introduced to a hut that is known as free shop. Anything from this shop can be used and returned after it served the purpose. The place had used clothes, lots of books in different languages and topics, footwear, bags, artwork out of waste, and many other articles that were donated to Sadhana Forest.
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| Info regarding plants and their uses |
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University of Compassion
(The words that made me know about this place in Facebook event section) |
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| Haven for all sorts of books |
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| While getting down from the free shop |
The dogs of Sadhana forest have interesting duty of waking people up in a morning by howling when a clink is made by a person to indicate it's time to wake up.
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| Look! I found an interesting book |
We came back to the main hut waited there to pass away time till the England guy and Germany lady picked us up for our night's schedule.
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| Painting at the main hut |
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White kittens
(They said these kittens came out of nowhere the day before we arrived, how fortunate of me!) |
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| If destiny had a mouth this was the sign it was trying to tell me |
I was reading this book for a while, got engrossed but it was time to depart from it and experience leaving a forest and enter Auroville at night in pitch black darkness.
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Bye bye book reading
Hello to exploring |
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| Oh! The book had a quote that reflected to me personally |
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| I walked quick to catch up with my Dad |
Another beautiful thing about this place is there are pebbles everywhere. Like if you are a pebble collector (which I am not but loves to observe beautiful things) this place would be a treasure for them. We walked towards to reach the entrance for our ride with the kind souls that gave a ride to random acquaintances that they know for less than 10 hours.
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| I forgot to take a picture of this! I spotted it only when going out of this place. |
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So many different plants !
(because stalking nature is better than awaiting) |
I hopped on to the German lady's scooter and my dad rode with George, the England guy. The plan was to witness the unknown event happening at the African pavilion situated in Auroville and eat there. During the ride, me and Tina (German lady) spoke a lot about how her name is short and easy to spell with comparison to my name which made me bearer of many nicknames. We joked about how I may visit Germany in future and she can show me around. She laughed a lot throughout the journey. I never knew a person can be this joyous with a stranger seated behind her. But I learnt something about to take chances from her infectious happiness. We crossed the Moratandi tollgate, crossed the highway towards a narrow road. Throughout this road there was a different atmosphere, surrounded by trees, swift breeze and descending of sunset on our back side. During midway of the journey, Tina was't sure of the pavilion we were supposed to reach. Meanwhile, I wasn't even sure which place I was at. We saw a board indicating African pavilion but the gate was closed and we were thinking the event got cancelled. But there was mild sounds of drums in the dark which we thought some people practising for drum performance in the middle of nowhere.
We thought of entering to this drum performance in the dark. Turns out that was the event Tina was mentioning about. As we were entering we had to donate 100 rupees per person for the African pavilion which was literally invisible and devoid of lights. We blindly followed the herd of people who were making slow steps closer to the drum sounds. The guy who was orchestrating made the audience to play the drums. Tina immediately joined to play the drums. George was out of sight. My dad was not able to stand for a long time so he sat on a wooden log. I watched the drum performance in the pitch black darkness. It took a while for my eyes to get adjusted from the brightly lit roadsides to darkness. The sky was surreal. The twinkling stars were prominent like the ones you get to see in magazines and computer wallpapers. As I mentioned before, I get hyper talkative when I am nervous. I started talking to a person beside me. She was from USA. I remember people better than their names. So, basically I forgot her name. Then, I came back to my dad and sat to watch a person lit the logs of wood in the middle like a bonfire or a possibility of pyre.
The African guy who was orchestrating the drums, requested all of us to come near the fire and hold hands of others nearby to us, to form a circle around the fire. We held hands and expanded to accommodate everyone and the circle was complete. My dad didn't join us, he was probably wondering why are we doing some sort of activity instead of having a dinner and sleep at this time. I enjoyed it, though. The African guy told us to repeat what he says and walk to move the circle around the fire. We repeated the words and it felt good. Circling the fire by holding the hands of random people under the glance of celestial beauty was a whole new experience in itself. Maybe the blind walk in the darkness was worth it. We did this for a while and dispersed. Few stayed back and danced to the rhythm of the drums. I came back to dad who was awaiting for dinner.
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| Bonfire |
An unusual person in different attire started dancing near the fire. This person seemed like part of the performance. More people joined the dance. We came to know that the food will take time to serve, it belongs to Ethiopian cuisine, we have to pay 200 rupees for it and Tina and George were nowhere to be seen. Me and my dad waited for the event to get over so that we can meet with Tina and George to discuss alternate Dinner plan. My dad and me couldn't identify whether it was a he or a she that is doing the dance performance. All we know is the person knew some moves to groove with the drum sounds.
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| Unusual person |
I was swaying my head and tapping my feet to the sounds of the drum. The US girl notices me and requested me to dance along with them. (How awesome of her!) I don't dance much. I like imitating or giving company but as an individual, I have no dance skills other than clapping hands, smiling, jumping and random twitches in body posture. But I love when people invite me to join them. I obeyed and went near her and did random movements in the name of dance. There was another foreign guy who was nearby to us, I forgot which country he was from but I remember him as the graphic designer guy. We three spoke while doing the so called dance (twitching to the drum beat). Suddenly we even started speaking about dance. They wanted to know Bollywood dance steps. From me! Sathya Sodhanai! (Literally means Experiment with truth in Tamil but ask a Tamil person about this word they will convey my emotion better.) If there is something I felt like pulling myself away from teaching that would be things like this (Dance) and Maths. I was never good with numbers but people around me said every essential thing in life has it and you won't survive the world without learning maths. To all those people out there I dedicate this song "I will survive by Gloria Gaynor."
I told them I have no idea how to do Bollywood dance but I showed them some moves that I have seen during the Navarathri celebrations/ Dandiya night at my College. They also tried to imitate and we giggled over our weird moves distinct from the crowd. Happiness is finding people who be in the moment fearlessly just for the sake of sheer joy of doing silly things like learning Bollywood dance from a random amateur goof like me. We did that for a while, time moved swiftly, my tummy grumbled a bit and we bid adieu to each other with smiles from heart. Funny thing is we always forget to check our phones or click a picture or take the other person's contact number especially when you are in a great state of elated joy. What I am trying to say is that I forgot to ask their number or social media name to stay in touch. I don't regret it but I realised it only after I came back home from the trip. We found George and Tina again in the luminescence of fading bonfire. We meet them along with some other people that were staying at Sadhana forest, they were all planning to watch another performance which was happening at Auroville's visitor centre.
Usually, I love experiencing new unusual events but not much in dark that too twice in a day. I was hungry and tired from all the giggles during the bonfire at African pavilion but we had to go along with our Sadhana pals as we were new to the place, it was dark and we had no other choice. As the discussion moved further on what the event is all about, it was another surprise filled with suspense but internally prayed let this not be in dark. Turns out it was some drama related stage performance by Korean high school kids. I was internally fangirling at the idea that I am blessed to witness a performance by so many Korean people at one place. I used to binge-watch Korean Dramas and one of my wish is to visit south Korea (I don't have enough courage to visit North Korea), taste their cuisine especially Kimchi and Tteok-bokki, wear their traditional attire and hopefully learn to talk in Korean for 5 minutes. I might sound exaggerating but it's a simple obsession of mine as part of my interest towards getting intercultural experience.
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| Hanging Lights - Auroville Visitor Centre |
Me and my dad along with the others whom we were acquainted at Sadhana forest went into the Auroville Visitor's Centre to discover that they already started the performance. The place was dreamy. Dark but hints of lights positioned to give such ambience. The Korean people were doing random moves and expressions to the tunes that halted and started in different intervals. We had no idea what they were performing but it looked something similar to theatre arts.
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| Korean Drama - For real! |
The peeps who were enacting and part of the drama, some were cute, some were handsome, some were beautiful. Meanwhile my dad says to me in a mellow voice "They all look the same. Don't they?" They did looked the same. I wonder how they recognise their peers at Korea. It was an open auditorium at one corner of the place that was not huge but bustling with many spectators. I later wanted to look around what the place looks like because it was pointless to watch something that I didn't watch from the start. So, I slowly climbed the stairs to reach a open space filled with less people and more serenity. I came down and roamed a bit to find ultra real sketches or doodles of Korean people. I am guessing it must be the faces of the drama troop that's performing. I also suspect not many noticed these drawings which allured me. At the time it made me smile how the drawings are casual and real. Take a look at it!
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| Doodles part 1 |
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Doodles part 2
(Because I was dumb to remember & take whole drawings in landscape or panorama mode) |
Then, I came back to watch some more of Korean performance, the theatre act was over but a drum performance happened. They started to put beats and swayed in a way the whole crowd got up and started moving to the rhythm. Some of the audience even started dancing on the stage. It was a power packed experience. After it got over, I forgot all about the dinner. My dad, George and me tried to spot Tina from the dispersed crowd. She was talking with the Sadhana forest people who came to watch the performance. We waited till she finished her conversation. It seems others were planning to eat at a place called Secret Garden. George joked "Hope this place is not a secret and hard to find at this time" We took our scooters and rode off to Secret garden.
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It basically says Auroville Information Reception Centre
(Funny how spooky pictures happen in the dark) |
So as we reached the dinner spot, it was already occupied by a gang of people. We had no idea where else to eat. The secret garden is not as fancy as it sounds, its a small roadside open restaurant with few shrubs and fairy lights. By now Tina's scooter was not starting. It was low on fuel and we were worried about where to get petrol at this time in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, the some guy from Sadhana knew that the locals sell petrol in bottles at their home so they went to enquire about it. I stood with my dad and saw Tina go towards an old lady's house. It took a while, panic in me arises. After few minutes of mental contemplation of we should have stayed at the forest and done upavas (means fasting in Hindi) instead of roaming around in the middle of nowhere under pitch black darkness. Tina came back with a extreme gleam on her face. Now another person suggested to go to other eatery place nearby. So, we rode again off to this another food place. The breeze was cold and the road was as dark as the darkness you see when the train enters the tunnel.
We finally reach the dinner destination. My dad ordered noodles and I had fried rice. The others ordered nothing like a dinner meal. Some ordered fruit juices and some just a tea. They also gave their specifications of which should be added and not required in their drink. Drink!? That's all they need to satiate in the name of dinner? They all got their orders and me and my dad waited for our meal. When we got our food, I started to gobble. It was steamy and just now cooked which burnt my tongue a bit. But in the name of hunger, you don't mind to wait a little for the food to release some of it's heat. We ate and rode back to forest in a different route as there is a safety concern in the way we initially knew. So, we took a longer route back, it had more streetlights, better road and we witnessed the Hindu ritual of taking the god/ idol around the streets of places nearby to temple. Don't ask me why they do that? Because I myself don't know but it's nice even gods (idols) come out of their residence (temple) and look around the reality of outside world.
We reach the forest, hustle towards our beds and slumber. For a person who was used to night light, air conditioner, fans and other urban stuff, I was worried about my sleep at this place. Turns out I had the best sleep. The one where I didn't had to read a story, scroll my Facebook news feed or move around in bed for the perfect ergonomic sleep position to get drowsy. Must be because of the tiredness and a series of so many experiences in one day.
14th September, 2018:
There was a mild music played from guitar beneath us. I was still sleepy and was not intending to wake yet. My muscles were still in almost Rigor Mortis mode. I woke up. Saw the mosquito net hung over my bed, waving to the soothing cold breeze of early morning. I stared at other beds. Some were empty and some people were still asleep. In few minutes there was howls from dogs and sounds of "ting-ting" as if someone is hitting a metal spoon over a metal plate. We actually didn't knew that the guitar music and the howling of dogs is the alarm system at Sadhana forest. I saw my dad woke up and we both went down the sleeping area to brush our teeth. While brushing we noticed everyone gathered in a circle nearby the sleeping area and were doing random moves instructed by a guy in the middle. We quickly finish our brushing with brown tooth powder and spat the liquid on the ground. I remember the guy during our mini tour telling us not to spit on the leaves or else the plants can't respire.
We quickly joined the morning exercise routine even though it looked like it was about to end. We closed our eyes, rotated our head 360 degree angle both clockwise and anti clockwise. Then few breathing exercise and finally hugged the people as the finale of the exercise session. I actually hugged random acquaintances from different countries, genders, ages, and maybe personalities too. I didn't thought it was a big deal but my dad noted all this and told my mom about it discreetly. Post trip my mom asks me why did I hug everyone? (As if hugs were brutal crime) I just simply dismissed it but my mom could not disseminate the fact that her daughter can hug anyone apart from her. Hope liberal mindset proliferate in my family, India and world.
After the exercise, long term volunteers dispersed to do their allotted Seva. We were given few available options. I picked the compound duty this time because of the positive review and experience my dad had the other day. My dad was still tired so he went back to sleep in his bed. People were wondering why he is not helping but I had to lie that he was sick. I followed an Indian guy with a small Mohawk, along with me joined another newly arrived foreign lady. He gave us rakes and sweeping thing with lot's of sticks that's made of dried coconut leaves. As there will be visitors on Friday, the duty was to sweep the pathways and entrance of the forest. We walked towards the entrance. I tried to use the metal rake but it was not serving it's purpose. I take the coconut sweeping thing and sweep the leaves to the sides of the pathway. It was not a easy task to bend and sweep many pathways. The Indian guy spoke to the foreign lady for a while I overheard their conversation about him enquiring about marriage laws in her place. (Like seriously? Of all the things in the forest that came up to his head!? But the conversation was interesting to listen though.)
He had some other work to do and left us to finish the rest of the sweeping work. I was tired, my forehead and nose was dripping with sweat. I could feel my face turning red to tanned brown. I took a break and looked at the foreign lady. She smiled back innocently. I asked her name and enquired about her whereabouts. We spoke for a while, made strategic plans on sweeping and orchestrated it. I took a break to see if I can put my phone for charging. Then, went to drink some water. When I came back we resumed our work, swept till all the pathways were clean. I came back to the main hut for breakfast, sat near my dad.
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Interior of the main hut
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My dad notices in the seva blackboard that someone wrote our names under the cleaning the guest dishes. My dad got tensed about it that even after we denied to do it someone signed up our names for it. He spoke with the guy who greeted us at the start and he eventually erased our names. Honestly, I was about to agree to do it but my body was giving hints of strict no after washing the vessels during kitchen duty which can be a strenuous task. My dad sort of rescued me from it. Break fast was served. I don't remember what we ate but I am sure it was vegan food. George came by and told us that he had no plans to roam for the day and we could use his scooter to roam around. How cool this guy can be? Obviously we accepted the offer because we had no other plans to do at the forest other than attending the main tour around Sadhana forest in the evening to which few guests from outside will also join. George gave us his scooter keys and I kept it in my bag safely. My dad was tired but I was determined to see the golden globe thing at Auroville. He agreed to see it as we came long way and there needs to be proper picture of something iconic to reminiscence about.
My dad went back to his sleep routine. I went for the second Seva. The same Indian girl whose accent sounded like Sri Lankan, came with a notepad and told me kitchen and compound work available to do. I instantly chose compound maintenance. I followed George, and another Indian guy who walked towards a small hut which looked like a storage room filled with tools. I was given a sickle and gloves. They carried other tools that excavate soil. We walked towards the free shop hut and our task was to remove weeds and make a space of 1 meter wide. I took my sickle and started to cut the weeds. The others started to dig the soil to make a clear space and prevent the weeds to touch the hut in order to avoid insects, snakes or anything in the forest to climb the hut. I got tired. Sweat was dripping and I took a break, spoke with George for a while. I was surprised by his interest in simple living, nature and helping others. I went off to drink some water and came back to see that most of the work was done. So, I went back to main hut to relax and check if my phone got charged.
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| Look who gave me company! |
We had a silent lunch where no one talks while eating it seems. My dad didn't fancy this practice much. He later told me how can they forbid someone from talking? On contrary to his opinion, I simply enjoyed the peace of this absurd lunch practice. After taking rest in the main hut, I went back to the sleep area, picked fresh set of clothes and march to the bath area. Happiness is washing away sweat after such toil. Then, I tried to read the "Calm" book for a while, had our lunch and came out to the entrance to visit the round gold architectural marvel of Auroville. Coming out of the forest made us feel like we have entered a foreign land. The heat, roads, vehicles, people and the whole vibe was different. My dad wanted to fill the bike with petrol as a gift to George's kind gesture. We rode till Moratandi Toll gate, asked a policeman to direct us to nearby Fuel station. He thought for a while, told us we can get fuel in Pondicherry or at a nearby small place called Sedarapet which is around 3 km only according him. We rode towards Sedarapet as we believed it was nearby. It felt more than 6 km. We were going further more but it seemed to us that we were going to reach Chennai itself if we don't reach Sedarapet by now. We finally found Sedarapet and later the Fuel station. Filled the scooter with Petrol, took a U-Turn and rode towards Moratandi Toll Gate.
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My dad and the search for Sedarapet
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On our way my dad saw on the roadside someone was selling portable wooden bird houses. He asks the price of it and the seller tells a price that's little higher than expected. My dad negotiates a bit. The seller mocks my dad and we leave the place. (Awkward vibes alert! Have you ever felt like leaving from a situation like this? I did. Many freaking times.) My dad said the seller is probably a drunkard. I asked "Why? How do know that?" He replied "Or else why would he fixed such a high price and mock his customers" My dad and his logic! Then we spotted bunch of tender coconut hanging from a tree. There is something magical about drinking coconut water after roaming under the sun. The minerals and water replenishes the body, mind and even the soul. We quenched our thirst and left to reach Auroville.
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Tender Coconut
(Hopefully there's an end for plastic straws)
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We rode towards Auroville. At first, we got confused with the Auroville parking place and actual visitor centre. We then rode again to discover the right path that leads to Matrimandir (The huge gold sphere in Auroville). When we reached the place, there is no parking allowed. We didn't want to go again to the parking area and walk a long distance because we had to return by 4 pm and not miss the main tour of the Sadhana Forest. So, my dad dropped me there and went into a small pathway to park the scooter without getting any discrepancies. We enter the entrance and a lady asked us did we had a permission or a token to enter the place. (Oh god! So many hurdles to witness a gold orb?) We told her we are staying at Sadhana and she let us in. So, I am not sure if they let everyone in or there is a token system to enter this place but I advise you to enquire about it at the Auroville Visitor's centre.
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Me, my dad and my foot photobombed
(Our shadows depict the intensity of the sunlight) |
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| Interesting logo for a signage |
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| No idea what it is but looks pretty |
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| Bowl filled with Plumeria and Bougainvillea |
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| Voilà! The Matrimandir |
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| About the gardens of the place! |
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Yet I have no idea which plant is this.
Guessing it's Bougainvillea |
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| Mystic Shadows of Huge Banyan Tree |
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| Vast Solar Panels of Auroville |
After visiting Matrimandir, I told my dad that I will walk towards the Auroville Visitor's Centre by the time he can bring his scooter back. My dad said we already went to that place yesterday night and should we visit it again? I pointed out it was dark and all we saw was a Korean drama. He saw my firmness at the idea of visiting it, agreed and went to bring the scooter. Meanwhile I had a beautiful walk all alone at a new place. I guess I did missed the idea of having a solo time at this trip. On my walk I captured the following!
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| Stray flowers |
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| Waterfall of Shiny things |
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| Alternative use of CD? - Make art out of it |
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| Hole in the rock |
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| Dragonfly painted in a round thing |
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| Butterfly painted in another round thing |
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| Okay, I am out of words. What the heck is this? |
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| Convergence of directions |
My dad got his scooter by this time and my solo stroll got over. There was a barricade between the walking area and the road. I had to hurriedly walk a little further to find a open passage. We rode towards the visitor's centre, parked the scooter in the nearby parking area and entered the place.
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| The another place at upstairs |
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| Significant logos of Auroville |
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See the number 2 at the bottom of the wall!
The walls were like pages and the room was like a book to read, explore and ponder.
The people in the picture are Mirra Alfassa & Sri Aurobindo |
The following pictures are something I found intriguing to read among the other ones.
(Note: My phone picture quality may not be as great as you expect it to be. Also, I was in a hurry to join my dad who was waiting downstairs. So, apologies if it hasn't captured the place properly)
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| Superman |
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| Transition |
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| Unity |
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| Within you |
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| Myriad yet one |
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| Atoms |
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| The divine doodle |
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| Omnipresence |
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| Because it was pretty! |
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If you like biology or have watched the anime "Cells at Work!"
I am damn sure you will be fascinated by this |
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| These words felt like pixie dust sprinkled on my mind |
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| Everything is here and ready to be utilised |
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| Bio about Sri Auribindo and Mirra Alfassa |
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Calligraffitti
(Get it? Calligraphy + Graffiti) |
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Oh! That would be my shadow befalling on these tantalising tiles
(Evening fast approaching, time to get back to Sadhana Forest) |
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| White flowers found at a corner |
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| Huge Palmyra |
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Sometimes I take pictures for the fun of it
But no idea what this art means |
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| If in case you still have no idea about Auroville |
We were about to leave the visitor centre to come back to Sadhana forest because we didn't want to miss the tour. On our way we halted super briefly to have a look at the local shops that were selling decorative stuff. We spotted the foreign guy who was the fan of Neem riding back towards the forest in his cycle. Sun started to set down and the duskiness of the sky prevailed. The scooter en route to the Sadhana forest started to gave trouble. My dad told me to get down and push the scooter till it starts to move. The scooter started and for some random reason, I felt like driving the scooter. I don't know how to drive a scooter and have no prominent experience in it. My dad agreed to the idea and let me practice because the road was in the middle of nowhere so no possibility of injuring anyone apart from my dad who was standing behind and nowhere near the path I will be riding on. Even if then I was beautifully skilled enough to hit him, it will just prove the next level of my clumsiness.
When I was around 10 years old or something, my dad attempted to teach me and my brother to learn driving using an old TVS 50. At first we were afraid and klutzy about learning it. We practised at the streets nearby my home in Chennai. Usually the practice was like going straight the road, take a U-turn and repeat. It wasn't a long street, so I felt like doing U-turns every 10 seconds. In that simple route, this one time I somehow lost my balance and hit a drumstick tree on the roadside. Seeing this an old lady from a random house in the neighbourhood gave a loud screech from the balcony and came running down the stairs in her house and scolded me. She said I had no concern for nature (we had around 100+ potted plants at my house compared to the bare concrete house of hers), it was her drumstick tree (stray roadside tree that was almost dried up), I have come here to sabotage it (Of all the things, I wanted to sabotage a tree?), blah, blah, blah. Reality was nothing happened to the tree but I had few abrasions. Boredom does make a person go mad and yell at random people instead of asking if the kid needed first aid or some comforting words. These sort of people make me feel like what is humanity and where to find it?
So, after that lady's yelling I stopped learning to drive. I cried a lot that day. I used to be a sensitive kid who valued opinion of others at that time. I even stopped going through that street and only after a decade I had the courage to enter that street again. I got reminded of her (scary old imbecile) when I sat on the scooter and started the engine. Also I was super nervous (remember I don't like showing my weakness in front of my dad?) So, my hands were wobbly and it took me a while to get a grip and balance the scooter and fortunately I didn't fell down. Unfortunately, It was not a long ride, I reached the entrance of Sadhana forest within seconds. My dad came walking and told me me "We should have tried this sooner" Because he saw the glee on my face when I rode the scooter without crashing anywhere.
We gave the scooter keys to George and I went in to charge my phone because of the unusual pattern of phone charge timings that was hard to remember as I am bad at remembering anything with numbers (possible dyscalculia). I met again with the lady I swept the pathways with. She was from Germany and the happy thing is post-trip she actually visited us at our home but that would be whole another story to tell about. We both were relaxing at the lounge area. The place had three white kittens roaming around. The visitors for the tour arrived and sat inside the main hut. I was busy looking at the kittens and a cute East Asian kid that was roaming around enthusiastically.
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| Silhouette of Cat or Batman? |
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Same cat picture
Because I love cats!
(And dogs, too) |
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Someone has been watching the visitors discreetly
(The chronicles of the spy cat) |
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Damn, the secret is out!
Someone figured out the cat's hidden space |
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Okay I will stop spamming the whole post with cat pictures
(I promise this is the last one) |
Somewhere during my stalking of cats, Christiane (German lady with whom I swept) went inside the main hut to listen to the talk on Sadhana forest. The Indian guy with whom I did kitchen Seva came by the way when I was stalking the cats and he said exaggeratedly it's part of our welcoming, don't miss it, it would be really useful to know and prompted me and my dad to listen to the talk about Sadhana Forest. We entered the main hut, almost in the middle of the talk and everyone's eyes were on us for a microsecond that was enough to make me feel embarrassed. I sat on one corner nearby to the East Asian family. The talk by now was about how innovative strategies were employed to create this forest in such harsh conditions. They showed us techniques and instruments used to keep the plants alive and survive to create a sustaining habitat. I was watching the cute Asian kid who was jumping and laughing. After the talk it was time to walk around the Forest. The place was getting dark. Some walked barefoot but I am habituated to walk with footwear when outside. We first went near the kitchen, then to the washing area, solar panel area, and many more places. In each place the person who represents Sadhana forest spoke a few lines about these areas and it's functionality.
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Solar Panels
(Darkness conquering the skies) |
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If you observe closely the same branch yielded fresh flower bud and a wilted flower
(Life journeys can be from the same source but it's manifestation is unpredictable) |
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| Contour of trees |
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| Children's Land |
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| The other side of Children's land |
They had a place called "The Goshala" where abandoned cattle are taken care of. Mostly they are male cows which were recused from being slaughtered. Each have a name and distinct personality.
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| The rocky pathway |
Then we all came to the place where the dogs are fed and then walked towards the morning exercise area. It was a open space, dark and all we could do is listen to what the speaker was telling. It was at this moment I came to know why the dogs were howling early morning when he hit something to make a ting sound. Late realisation of alarm technology of this forest. My dad got restless and went to the lounge area to take rest. Every Fridays, the Sadhana forest conducts a eco film screening and I went in to watch it among the visitors. Some sat down, some sat on seats, some lied down and everyone were seated in there own random comfy position. Meanwhile I sat for a while but felt like my head was hindering the screen view for the ones behind me and I lied down in a sleeping posture.
Apparently this cute Chinese kid and few other kids were roaming around us. I felt little scared about what if he trips over my feet or something. Funny how life can twist realities from our fears. The cute Chinese kid ran quick and basically stomped over my sternum and went away. I was overthinking and scared that the kid will trip over me and get hurt. But in actuality he was having fun, didn't even notice I was there, basically tramped over me as if I am just another obstacle on the floor. Damn, the lucky Chinese kid who almost choked me to death with his tiny feet. At the moment I learnt that if you like something too much, it can hurt you! Even if it's tiny, harmless, cute kid.
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| The film screening |
We had our dinner after the film got over. I don't remember what we had for dinner but it was delicious. My dad went off to sleep. I sat and was looking at the crowd. I spotted the USA girl and graphic designer guy who asked me to show them Bollywood moves at the bonfire. They were busy talking to other people so didn't greet them. I spoke with Aaya, a foreign lady with lots of ear piercings and a dancer. Also, spoke with her guy companion who was from Italy and forgot his name and what he does. I told her that in Hindi (आया) her name means "came" and in Tamil (ஆயா) it means an old lady with whom the family entrust their kids to be taken care of. She took a while to process what I said but then gleamed a smile. We had a brief talk. Another Indian person joined our conversation and I left to wash my plate. I met with the USA girl and Graphic designer guy. All three of us were surprised to meet at one place again. We spoke till we entered the main hut, it was time for the visitors to depart. They said a bye and left.
I spoke for a while with the Indian guy who I met during the Dinner. He said I am different and my way of thinking at such a young age makes the society to deem me mental (another way of telling I am suffering from Psychosis.) He preferred to have the conversation in Tamil as he was bored of listening to English the whole day. We shared a little about our lives and I mostly conversed in philosophical ramblings. He also said good bye and left.
I met Christiane and we spoke for a while. The talk was mostly about mosquitoes. The main hut was slowly getting empty. Devoid of people. Few students were talking to Aviram (one of the founder of Sadhana forest) and a lady with headband sat beside us. I smiled at her. We spoke for a while and in the course of our conversation, I came to know she's also the founder of this forest. Sadhana forest was basically founded by a family of four. We spoke about many things like environment, women, thinking, etc that eventually made her to tell that my parents are blessed to have a child like me. That was soul soothing words to hear at a tranquil ambience of the almost empty hut amidst the night time of the forest. I brought in the topic that someone told me that the forest has snakes and scorpions. She mentioned that once her daughter was bit by a snake when walking in the night without a torchlight. And, advised us never walk in the forest without a torchlight when it's dark. She concluded our conversation by saying "Read my book online. I think you will like it" She emitted a most content smile I have ever seen from any person I know and left to her hut to sleep. Her book was easy, funny and quick to read, it was about her life in Sadhana forest. (If you are curious to read, check it out here and it's free: www.sadhanaforest.org/yorits-book)
My phone battery was not charged to required level that I can use it for the next day. So, Christiane helped me with her phone torchlight to navigate in the dark towards the sleep area. I went to my bed, took off my watch and tried to sleep. I was wide awake. I wasn't drowsy or tired enough to close my eyes for few hours. I squirmed for a while, attempting to find the right posture to sleep. It didn't work. I started observing the dark shades of the roof, the bamboo sticks, mosquito net that enclosed my bed, sounds of the forest's night life, slow movement of breeze and still no sleep. Insomnia is a real deal in my case. Later, I got the urge to pee. For a person who had the luxury of attached toilet in bedrooms at home, getting up and stepping out towards a toilet in the middle of the night was unusual. My phone battery was low and everyone around me were asleep. So, Can't borrow a torchlight from them. Also, I was worried my phone will switch off in the middle of the walk and I will get bit by some random snake or scorpion. I didn't want to take chances for bedwetting. I thought to myself that it's okay to put your life on risk to fulfil basic necessities. Right? (Damn this paradox)
I took my phone, my watch, my nightwear (ancient school uniform grey pants and almost a decade old striped cotton shirt) and a menstrual pad. Marched towards the toilet. Someone was awake at the kitchen noticed me and he had a bizarre look on his face wondering why I was carrying so many stuff to toilet at that time. Thankfully I was not bitten by any creature and came back safe. My phone did got switched off in the middle of my walk but I knew there is no going back. I walked blindly with the belief that nature is not conspiring to poison or kill me today. I finish urinating, changed my clothes and the menstrual pad. Disposed the used menstrual pad in a bin dedicated to such purpose and started walking back to the sleep area with the help of my watch. My watch is also a fitness tracking device which emits faint light in it's display when clicked and disappears after five seconds. My dad always despises the fact that I never wear a chain or bangles (I follow minimalism especially after the theft incident and due to my weak memory it's easier for me to carry less things which means less worries and more time to be productive) Also my dad thinks wearing only stud or plain earrings doesn't look ladylike or someone that shows off their familial substantial riches. He appreciates the fact, I atleast wear this watch in my hand in the place of bangles. What's this obsession of shackling the girl with jewellery?
I went back to my bed and had a deep slumber. So, trip to toilet, wearing fresh comfy pyjamas and a walk in the middle of forest at night can cure insomnia. (Done and Dusted!) I wish it was that easy but I did woke up soon. Everyone around me were still sleeping. The next day began.
15th September, 2018:
I woke up, had a small stroll and brushed my teeth. Smiled and said "Morning!" to whomever that passed by me. My dad was awake and came down from the sleep area. He brushed his teeth and we ate bananas from the kitchen. My dad went for walk on his own. I halted and took rest. I resumed walking randomly and a big cat came near me. For some reason the cat kept on bringing me to the dog's eating area. I figured super late that the cat was hungry and wanted me to put food to eat. But I am not in such a position. So, I sat on a wooden log and thought of petting it. This huge furry cat hops on to my lap and I started caressing the cat. It was fun and relaxing as if playing with a Zen garden kit. I wish I had pets at home but I also believe in if you love something set it free philosophy. I saw my dad coming, I quickly got up and the cat rubbed itself to my legs. My clothes were now a den for shed cat fur. My parents hate to see me touching animals because of hygiene reasons. Thankfully, He didn't notice or mention about the strands of cat fur on my clothes. I went to wash my face. When I returned back, my dad told me he followed the cat and found it hunt a snake. He was joking that the poor carnivore attempted to eat a snake because it got bored of eating vegan diet.
On Saturdays and Sundays, there is no Sevas and it's a free day at Sadhana Forest. So, no one woke up early and did morning exercises. Only basic work like cooking is required to be done. We anyways finished our time of staying 2 days and about to depart. I went to the main hut to charge my phone and connected it with the internet. The notifications flooded. I read few of them and switched my gaze towards the white kittens. I had a tisane that was kept in a black kettle. I poured some in the cup, it tasted bitter but enriching. I added liquid jaggery to it for sweet taste and it was nice. The warm tisane filled my tummy almost felt like wisp of sun rays in my stomach. I went for bath, wore fresh clothes and packed our bags. Then, me and my dad washed the bed sheets and hung it over a twine for it to dry and picked up. We informed the people in charge of the Sadhana forest that we will be leaving in a while.
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| Tisane time |
Few people started going out and skipped eating at the forest. We had our breakfast and it was time for us to leave. The problem was we needed a ride till the toll gate to get a bus back to Chennai. Me and my dad didn't knew what to do. We asked a few but no one for avail. Tina was busy with her Seva and George was there who was ready to give a ride but he can accommodate only one person in his scooter. We required one more person to drop me off at the toll gate. No one was ready to help us out because it would mean to do a non-obligatory help to a random acquaintance (me) instead of happily lazing around. I think George is a hidden angel on earth. He relentlessly asked people around and somehow prompted people that it was just a ride till the tollgate. A Indian guy finally took pity and gave in to the idea. I finally had an end to my agony. The worst case scenario would be walking few kilometres or two trips on George's scooter which we felt like too much to ask for. If it was only me I would walked and reached by the time we used to ask for help. Because my dad was there and he didn't want his daughter to be left behind or walk long distance, I had to oblige in such a situation.
Like I said before, I talk non stop when I just had or still having a anxiety attack. I spoke throughout the ride. I asked the guy's name, where he is from, etc. He said his name was anybody. I understood how annoyed he was about helping us. All he did was ride the scooter and reply in mundane tone. Suddenly he said something I didn't anticipate. He said I have a different accent when I talk in English. I was perplexed. I didn't knew if he thinks it's good different or bad different. I assumed the later. I replied back saying "Oh yeah! Many people have told me I have an annoying accent when I talk in English" He replied back saying "It's just different, that's all" He didn't justify if it was annoying him or genuinely compliment worthy accent. I felt little offended and didn't want this poor soul to continue this ride anymore because I could sense his dismay for helping me which was a hindrance in his relaxing Saturday morning. I felt like asking him to drop me then and there but didn't want my dad to scold me for suddenly halting a help from a random acquaintance. See the dilemma?
If I had been on a solo trip, all of this wouldn't happen. I would have probably be on my own, walked till the toll gate and get a bus back to Chennai. Or I would had the right to do and take decisions on my own, could have got down from his scooter, voiced out my opinions clearly (Probably would have punched him with fine words), moved on, walked till the toll gate and get the goddamn bus to Chennai on my own like a badass. But I had to consider the fact my dad was along with me and I shouldn't cause any ruckus. I shut my mouth after the accent comment. We reached the main road/ Highway and I couldn't bear the fact I am still riding with this guy who I am starting to dislike. His Bandana flew away on the road. I thought this is the good reason to end this journey with the guy who is giving me a headache. I told him to stop and pick up his Bandana. He was least bothered about a piece of cloth. I collected all the serenity and courage I had in me and took the plunge. I told him, it's alright you can leave me here. He stopped, got confused for a microsecond, said bye and happily rode his scooter off to the Forest. I mustered a fake smile and said thanks.
Funny how a place that concentrates and preaches on the practice of Seva (Selfless act of service) can have people with mindsets to disgust over helping new people. I guess everything has flaws. I strongly believe the forest was a happy place to be but sensed little repulsion vibes from few people towards me and my dad. I guess they were jealous I could pull off a dad and daughter trip at such an unusual place. But still I am grateful it happened so that it was easy for me to depart from a place that had rich biodiversity. I crossed the road, because my dad mentioned we would take a bus from Pondicherry Bus depot so that it's quick and goes through the coastal side of Tamil Nadu. I awaited for my dad. He was riding the scooter with George seated behind him. I was glad my dad had a good time with his newfound companion. They stopped at a tea shop far away from where I was standing. I walked there under hot sunlight over my head, carrying my luggage on one side and my palm perpendicular to my forehead to see clearly from the shiny sun.
When I reached, my dad asked me "Why did you drop there instead of near tollgate?" I lied to him the guy was in a hurry and his fuel was getting over so he dropped me there. George and my dad had tea. My dad asked George his age and marital status. The evergreen classic question asked by my peeps to anyone they interact with. Mentally I was facepalming myself. I don't remember George's exact age but it was above 40 and he's unmarried. My dad felt a jolt of shock knowing he is single at this age and has no wife or children in his life. My dad later told me in Telugu "Very sad know! He doesn't have a family at this age." How can I reply back to him that marriage and having kids is not the only sole purpose of life. Another foreign guy from Sadhana forest came up to ask us if we know where to get petrol. Surprisingly, the tea shop guy sells petrol. George said good bye to us and gave a ride to the foreign guy to fill his bike that's halted far away. Damn, I wish everyone were like George. We thanked him a lot and walked towards the toll gate to catch a bus that takes us to the Pondicherry Bus Depot.
We stood near the ticketing booth of the tollgate and wait for the bus to reach Pondicherry. We saw buses going to Chennai behind us. The idea was if we had taken those buses it will halt at every village and town eventually delay in reaching Chennai. If we take the bus inside Pondicherry to Chennai it would be quick. It took a while to get the bus. The bus went inside the locality of Pondicherry. My dad as if he had done some great accomplishment told me "See! Now because we took this bus, we can claim that we roamed around Pondicherry also!" I was amused to hear that. Sometimes I think my parents are like toddlers you can't reason out with them but have to be happily affirmative to whatever they say. For some reason, there was traffic jam at the road which was walkable distance to the Pondicherry Bus Depot. Time wasted like anything. After a long wait to reach the bus place. My dad suggested we take Volvo bus to Chennai but there was no Volvo bus on sight. My dad was interested to buy liquor as Pondicherry is famous for buying alcoholic beverages at cheap price. I sat down on a bench with our luggage and my dad went away to do alcohol shopping.
I started reading a book on my phone. Then my dad came back and showed me an aluminium pouch which contains liquor and cost only 40 rupees. There was many buses to Chennai halted there. We took a bus that looked like having good seats and started our journey back to home. The bus took one hour to move from Pondicherry to Highway because of some political party meet in the area. Once we got out, it was swift ride to Chennai. I started listening to music from local radio stations. The view was different, occasional sighting of blue sea along the horizon, little humid weather and amazing music.
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| Bye Bye Pondicherry |
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Hello, Chennai!
(The picture was actually taken somewhere near outskirts of Pondicherry but the thought was true) |
Thankfully we reached Chennai before dusk. I really had a once in lifetime experience in these two days trip to a less known place. After, reaching home, Chennai welcomed us with rains.
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| Right amount of Rain in Chennai is a Rarity |
My mom and brother had a expression indicating "You guys went and came back already?" Me and my dad had a lot to share with them and it took me a month to share the same with you. I hope you liked reading about my trip story.
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