Rough Ideas

That morning I hopped on the bus (well hopping is a grand word for the occasion, given the amount of luggage and the delays!) and off I went to Tiruvanamalai, home of the Sri Ramana Maharshi ashram and Arunanchala, the sacred mountain. I’ll let you do your own research on that!

The bus journey was fantastic fun. I found myself stranded for quite some time in a small town which name I don’t remember, as the 122 kept “coming soon”…. Every bus without a number, I asked “Tiruvanamalai?”. It became quite comical. In the end I was directed to take another bus, with a newly found travel companion who was also waiting for the 122. We were asked to get off in the middle of nowhere, and there within minutes, the right bus arrived.

We both walked to the ashram and waited for another new friend here, whom I’d met on the plane to Chennai.

Tiruvanamalai is a fantastic place. Huge temple. Really busy and very traditional. A bit outside, near the ashram, loads of people on retreats, or just living here around the ashram - some visibly rather interesting characters, some completely spaced out…! It reminded me very much of the times when I used to go and mix with TM people.

The ashram is quite laid back. Anyone can walk in, sit and meditate during open hours, which are quite long.

My life here so far, 2 days, has been centered around walking around the moutain every evening, and being introduced to everything available.
I went up the mountain, round the mountain…
It feels like a true holiday - at last.