Step 1: Be Impetous
I booked my train ticket to chennai online and back , figuring the rest would take care of itself.
Step 2: Arrange accomodation for myself
Since I only had about a day to spend I thought I wouldnt be able to make it to pondy and back and so decided aurville would be home for a day
I signed up on www.couchsurfing.org , and was scanning hosts in and around pondy . By the time I got back to the search results and thought Il request a third host , the first contact responded positively. As a sign of things to come , it was pretty exciting already
Step 3: Pack bags and leave
With my handy german tourist backpack at half capcity , I was at bangalore cant station at 11 pm waiting for the chennai express scheduled within the next hour ,sitting on a flat metal bench which was surprisingly comfortable, along with a manager at McAfee.
We exchaned pleasantries and I had to leave to board my coach which decided would position itself on the opposite end of the platform I was standing on.
Step 4 : Get on with it
Since I was on a RAC seat , I had to relieve myself of a princely sum of 25/- to a man incharge so I can get a berth to sleep on . Yes , redtape is inevitable.
Arrived chennai at 7 am after a freezing night without any warm clothes to a city that was actually comfortably pleasant all day.
Walked out of the teminal and had to scout the 15B to Koyambedu which actually stops next to the Post office which is on the left side of the Chennai central station.
Caught the immediate bus to pondy and arrived 3.5 hours later at a rickety sign dulled with age and for want of attention , directing me to the Auroville main road .
Step 5: Immersion
Now heres something that will get your attention. With all that Pondicherry is famous for , if its for a world weary traveler burdened with the trivialities of being oneself , in agreement with the values and ideals set to create an athmosphere of attraction and manifestation, then auroville is the magical place you are looking for.
Heres a place where people greet all strangers with a ' Top o the morning to you! ' , and tempt you with a french breakfast with locally processed cheese and a disposition that l grab you by the cheeks and force some automatic cheerfulness to the myriad foreigners calmly putt-putting about the 10ft wide MAIN road on a deranged old tvs moped that must ve crawled out of a whales belly on the beach not 100mts away.
Did some local sight seeing on foot for the whole afternoon , soaked in the pacific warmth , while trying to hitch rides with people . I also happened to meet 2 guys also from McAfee who apparently work for the manager on the train platform .
Strange
Step 6 : AMAIDI
The tamil word for silence , www.amaidi.org was my gracious host for a day and I will now introduce you to her Founder-Director
Mr Camille van Neer
A dutchman who fell in love with India and a tamilian girl (now his wife, Jansi) started this foundation in 2006 with the aim of empowering local fishing communities with a multitude of projects from agriculture , micro finance , IT , child welfare , teacher training and a range of targets to achiev purpose and fulfil his mission here.
To say that this man inspired me is an understatement, Camille lives, breathes, and feeds Amaidi which by now is grown and is the focus for a very active community for foreign volunteers who spend some months at a orphanage or village and with what skills they know , foster and kindle some development , which in its course starts a chain of events that are simply fascinating.
Step 7 : Promise to return
By now , Ive been pretty much around Auroville , and am simply in love with the simplicity and practicality of the place and the people. When the time comes to author my autobiography , this will be my home for those 18months.
Give time a break
Some tips, its easier to travel by 2 wheelers which are pretty convenient to rent (approx Rs 100 / day) ,The Mathri Mandir closes at 4:30 , so be sure you're there by 3:30 so as to watch the video and obtain passes to walk the 1 km to the location
