India
There are [88] photos and [11] stories about India
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Monday, 15 Aug 2016 | Views [741]
Long before we actually reach Chennai settlements have become more tightly knit until forming a town, which somehow becomes a city scarcely separated by the airport. It seems inconceivable that there is space for runways and terminal buildings, but suddenly ... Read more >
Tags: airport hotel, ashok tree, celebrations, chennai, cookery classes, food, sunbathing
Friday, 12 Aug 2016 | Views [786]
It's only about 110kms to Puducherry (formerly known as Pondicherry) but as most of the road from Tiruvannamalai is not highway, it takes around three hours. From the main Chennai road, the toll national highway is a pleasure. I muse whether NH66 could ... Read more >
Tags: ashok tree, bay of bengal, churches, colonialism, french, pondicherry, pondy, puducherry, tamil
Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016 | Views [668]
One evening not long after we arrived we ventured out for a stroll down the road. We hadn't got very far when we were invited to a nearby house. A light day bed frame was hastily produced and we were invited to sit outside and converse with the women ... Read more >
Tags: ashrams, ayurvedic massage, cave, enlightenment road, hammocks, shiva, vibhuti, womens handicrafts, yoga
Sunday, 7 Aug 2016 | Views [677]
On the days we don't go out, we spend time with the children, teaching a little as well as playing. There is always something going on. The builders have finished the fourth classroom and the toilets are almost complete, amongst several other projects ... Read more >
Tags: ashok tree, beauty, charity, friends, henna, kindness, tamil, teaching
Friday, 5 Aug 2016 | Views [983]
The time has come to step outside of what feels comfortable. Life in the retreat is a very sanitised version of what lies outside, but we're pretty comfortable with that. However, We came to see India and are not going to do that unless we get the local ... Read more >
Tags: ashrams, cow dung, initiation, masala chai, retreat, shopping, templesl
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016 | Views [732]
It's business as usual today following the festivities of yesterday's holiday. School is back in session, and so are the full complement of builders, site workers and the labourers in the adjoining fields berhind us.
Breakfast consists of ... Read more >
Tags: ashok tree, india, school, sita devi school, teaching abroad, tiruvannamalai, yoga
Tuesday, 2 Aug 2016 | Views [744]
It is already hot and humid by the time we are welcomed into the thoughtfully designed grounds of The Ashok Tree shortly after 9.30am. Looking round the circular layout to our left we see the small school with three operational classrooms at present, ... Read more >
Tags: ashok tree, food, india, medicine garden, retreat, school, yoga
Tuesday, 2 Aug 2016 | Photo Gallery
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Monday, 1 Aug 2016 | Views [855]
The drive from Chennai to Tiruvannamalai (Tiru) takes about three hours which passes in a hazy state of excitement, jet lag and sensory-overload. Tamil Nadu province is full of vivid colours, abject poverty, beautiful green countryside, piles of rotting ... Read more >
Tags: culture shock, first impressionsi, india, tamil nadu, tiruvannamalai
Monday, 1 Aug 2016 | Photo Gallery
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Sunday, 31 Jul 2016 | Views [777]
I haven't always wanted to go to India and I'm not even sure when I first thought that I did. I think the real desire probably started when I decided not to include it in my 2013 itinerary, both due to cost and that it is never somewhere I relished ... Read more >
Tags: india, tamil nadu
