|
Pied Tendre sur le chemin | |
Fasten your seatbeltsLadies and Gentlemen, Fasten your Seatbelts ! Are you ready for the take off ? Indian airport has the joy to say goodbye. The Airplane Flies across the sky over the bengal bay, direction : Thailand ! After a stop on the land of Sri Lanka, the humid, colorfull, smelly, loud, joyfull, overwhelming Elephant India gives place to the soft, modern, quiet, feminine Thailand. At the arrival in Bangkok's Airport, the technological and cleanliness level makes a quantum leap compared to Madras airport. It is a glass huge building and the thai officials are around five time as efficient as indian ones and all speak good english. One big problem though: they won't let Karla, our Coach's wife in their kingdom...she will have to stay "imprisonned at the airport 24 hours before flying back to India. She is Mexican and needs a Visa wile we as french do get automatic visa for one month on arrival. Stephane, Clara and I proceed to the hotel we had reserved, without our friend...it was quite sad. But we are a group, a team force, we had to hold our colors we spent the next twenty four hours doing all we could to get Karla out of there as wellas properly fed (she is strictly vegetarian) We had little time in Bankok and didn't visit much, we would eventually go back there later during the month. We stayed in a verry nice huge hotel wit swimming pool, massage, restaurant...verry old fashinned building with dozens of maids, hot shower and Tv weeee ! Our first main destination in Thailand though is ChiangMai. It is the second biggest city of Thailand but it really isn't that big even though it used to be the capital city. I will tell you soon about it ! The Orphans of TiruHello my friends, I hope you are all doing good today!I would like to introduce you to my best friends in Tiru. They are between five and twelve years old and they don't live with their parents...most of them have no parent at all or maybe just one who is not able to take care of them. So they all live together in an orphanage. Day after day, I have been visiting them after school or during their holidays.  Since the verry first day, they picked up the habbit of calling me Uncle and I have tried to bring some fun in their lives. Don't be mistaken however, these children are pretty happy considering they have no parents. But they surely lack the attention and care of adults. They are most of the time in between them with noone to give them a hug or give them new ideas about what they could do.  Sadish is the youngest and he is almost still a baby...he can't always defend himself and is somtimes unpredictable. I had hugs, attention, listening, a brother, a sister, mom and dad, I even had toys and hollidays by the sea. If I could I would give the same to all the children on earth. But all I am able to give now is some of my time to play with them so it is what I do. They are verry happy about it and so am I...  Ranjit and Surya: Power Rangers The first day I played many games with them, including playing the plane...but when you are done making 20 children fly for thirty seconds you are quite wasted...  Cindu is the yougest but she is quite a character I really love her a lot So I recalled games from my childhood...the first one i recalled is "dans ma maison sous terre" when you sit in circle and clap the end of your left neighbour and so on and one gets eliminated at the end. This was a huge sucess. Despite the fact the song is in french, its meaning is of no real importance and the kids learned it like this. They want to play it all the time...boys and girls alike appreciate it and now they even play it when I am not around...I'm pretty sure they will teach it in school to other kids.  Reka never makes problem she is a sweetheart The next most sucessfull game is the very classical Cats and Rats: A few cats try to capture and hold all the rats...international game...i am sure even creatures from other planets would play the same. I am quite a central character in this game because the kids always want to be Cat if I am cat and rat if I am rat...Also, if I am a Rat, they will always catch me first...so i never get to play very long as a Rat...and they catch me pretty easly in their garden !  When I pick up the camera Maniganden and Aunbalagan become fierce warriors Roar ! One day I decided to make them create their own adventure game...the kind of game I am an expert at where you make your warrior to kill goblins, trolls and one day maybe even dragons.  Saktivel is the most tender boy, he always want to hug and kiss me. I found many difficulties in my attempt. First I had to go buy some furniture because they didn't have white paper to make drawings. The paper is verry expensive here: 1 roupie per sheet, it is a lot ! So I bought glue, scisors and color pencils. I had Raja, who is taking care of them explain them they had to draw the adventurer they wanted to play. I then started to draw my own adventurer : a basic warrior with a sword.  Surendiren dares fighting the terrible ADULT All the kids were sitting around me and trying to peek at my drawing. They all copied my drawing...none of them made an adventurer of his own...It was really funny because all the little warriors looked so different...I really liked this moment.  Surya is verry smart and is a leader amongst the kids...he wears a nice helmet. Prakash on the right has such a wonderfull laugh... I learned many things about them then. First: they have really little access to paper and even one sheet is really a lot for them...none of them would pass on a piece of paper to make a drawing. Also I realised with time that their education is verry often parrot like: I noticed they didn't make their own drawings...they copied over and over the same drawings from drawing books...the same with learning: they could sing english songs but they really don't understand the meaning of it... I encouraged them to make their own drawings out of their own mind...I think they understood it has more value in my eyes.  Murugan is verry sweet also and always want to help and give me his drawings... That is about it for now...I'm a bit tired of writing and i am going to visit the kids. I will take more pictures of them soon and make a second article about them. Love to all of you. Felix  Tender Foot, puppy saverTender Foot was hungry, this morning he hadn't had time for breakfast before his yoga class and he was really looking forward a few Idlys.He was walking towards the restaurant with his teacher and friend, Partheebam, when the indian boy said "look" pointing at his left side. Tender Foot saw the little moving form...an abandonned puppy. All grey, he was no more tham 24 centimeters long and was wining for help. Foot kneeled near the puppy to see if he was well...he seemed okay but really helpless. Partheeban had kept walking and Foot went after him, leaving the puppy where he was but mentaly telling himself he would bring back some milk for the baby dog. After breakfast, our boy went for a tea and as he left, the puppy came back in his mind. He asked the woman who served the tea for a glass of milk. With his metalic glass in hand, Tender Foot returned to the place where he had seen the baby dog half an hour earlier. The puppy was still there but he had moved a little bit wich made Foot happy since it meant the dog was in good condition. Siting on the pavement, in front of a house, Foot fed the little dog with his finger. At first, the milk was a bit too hot and difficult to drink. But after a little wile, the dog drank with enjoyement. Tender Foot was already wondering what to do with this creature...he couldn't keep him (the dog was a male) himself. He sought to give it to the children of the orphanage, but before doing so he went to ask Partheeban for his autorisation. Busy on the building of his new internet place, Partheeban said the children, in school most of the day couldn't care for the dog. However, the friend mentionned an american lady living nearby that used to take care of street dogs. Tender Foot, the little puppy confortably sleeping in his sweater inside his back went in search for the good hearted woman. He went in the street indicated by partheeban but couldn't find the lady's house. He was in his search when a saddhu saluted him. This particular saddhu, Foot had seen several times in the past few days and he had thought to himself "he looks like a really nice man, maybe i'll talk to him one day" The man, probably in his early fourties wearing dreadlocks and the usual orange suit seemed kindly crazy and was smiling most of the time. After a few Arunachala Shiva mumbling, he asked our hero for some money for a Chai. Tender Foot handed him a ten roupies note since he really liked that mans look and maners. That is when the Saddhu noticed the puppy inside the opened bag on the belly of Foot. The young traveler explained he was looking for a home for the puppy. Spontaneously, the Saddhu offered to take care of the animal. Tender Foot was surprised by this offer so he asked the man : "Really, you waould take care of that dog ?!!" "Yes Yes" Noded the man with a large smile. "O...Okay then" Said Foot as he handed the Puppy to the Saddhu. The Saddhu then asked for some money to buy milk and biscuits, Foot handed him a hundred roupies note. Soon thereafter, the man had departed, holding and Foot found himself quite desoriented. Verry soon, the boy started regretting his choice. "What if did this just out of cunning and is going to abandon the Puppy or even worse...drown him in the stinky sewers...oh my god what have I done...The man asked me for money, he is probably like many other fake saddhus just trying to get easy money and lead a lazy life. With these thoughts in minde, tender feet started lloking for the man and the dog, but they had vanished. Tender Feet was already beating himself mentally. "How naive, are you tender feet, you are like these african families giving a son to a fisherman for education and the boy becomes a poorly treated little slave." Quickly he went to the orphanage and got onto his bike. He said to the kids he would play with them later. Starting the engine, he began roaming the streets of Tiruvanamalai for the lost Puppy. He went straight towards the city center, thinking the saddhu might have gone this way to spend the money on beers...no results. He then came back in the Ashrams' area where the saddhus are most of the time. At the food distribution, the saddhu wasn't either. Still with dark thoughts in his mind, Tender Foot went into streets where he had never set foot before. Nowhere could he find trace of the saddhu and the poor little dog. Then, as he was about to give up his search, Tender Foot recognise the saddhu walking his way...and with the puppy in his hand !!!! Foot was so happy when he stopped the bike and also surprised. The dog was now decorated like the people and the aniamals and objects Indians want to bless during a Puja, he had red powder on his little forehead and legs ! How cute ! The saddhu had been blessing his new dog amd even had given him a goddly name: Shiva !  What a tender Saddhu... I'm Hungry !Happy End Everyday Life in TiruvannamalaiHello Everyone I am verry happy to see a new day starts because this means i'm going to have my Kalari Training with Partheeban wooo!
Then It will be time for a Breakfast and I'll go to have a breakfast at a "restaurant" where I probably will have a Rice Poongal with Coconut Chutney and Vara (Dal/lentilles)
After this I will probably meet my Hungarian friend Erne...
Erne Before the mount Arunachala...but what is in his hair ?
But two days ago, we got up verry early, met at 5:30 am at the Ashram and I followed my amigo for Girivalam: a walk of 14 Kilometers around the mountain.
During this arduous march, one of my slippers (tongue in french) broke sniff During most of the walk we kept quiet. But a verry special companion was our surprise guest. This little and verry shy dog followed us from the start to the end.
Maybe if I don't move the man won't see me...
The Dog was so shy, I had to be verry smart and quick to take a picture of him. I really liked how he followed the two of us all the way, he was so cute
After the walk, Erne and I went together to have some needed and deserved food. The usual meal for lunch is a Thavli: Rice with many different curries and sauces with different kinds of tastes to accord to Ayurvedic rules.
After this simple healthy food, and maybe a little nap, I sometime go visit my friend and teacher Parteehban. He is such a nice guy ! just one year older than me, we have long talks and get along really well. I learn a lot with him and the everyday exercise we do together makes me so much good ! Also today he is going to give me the first Ayurvedic massage of his new season.
Partheeban tries my bike wile the children he takes care of look at us
In the afternoon I also go to the Internet cafe to write something for us here, answer my mails or play a game. The girl taking care of the place is Suguna, wich means beautifull...I think it should mean nice and beautifull.
Then, I will go have some tea in one of the many shops preparing the sacred beverage. I always get asked for money by ten people every time i go out...
Then I will get my slipper reppaired for 20 roupies (a rip off)
And it would probably time for a me to have dinner
Oops no more space for the pictures !!! this is an emmergency situation !
Ernest, Ramana Maharshi and MeI am in Tiruvanamalai and you might wonder what is special about this town so that i would decide it to be my first stop after leaving Auroville. Tiruvanamalai is hometown of the Ramanaramam, the Ashram dedicated to Sri Ramana Maharshi. Sri Ramana Maharashi was an Inidan sage that was born in the late 19th century and spent half of the next century meditating on a mountain in Tiruvanamalai.  The man next to Sri Ramana Maharshi is Ernest. I met this Hungarian man at the Ashram on my first morning there. He was just sitting next to main hall of the Ashram and seemed nice so I talked to him, we got along well right from the start and he offered me a tour of the Ashram. The main areas are the Samadhis (tombs) of Ramana Maharshi and his mother. In the main hall, ceremony are held several times a day and there are many devotees coming all day to bow or even lye on the ground before Maharshis' Samadhi. Some people also walk around the sepulture; sometimes for just a few minutes and sometimes for hours. Some walk really verry slow but some others like this Italian man looking like a dynamic entrepreneur walk like if it was a race ! After a quick talk about my own motivations to be here, Ernest takes me on a tour of the initial sacred place that first drove Ramana to Tiruvanamalai : Arunachala, the sacred mountain, believed to be one of the forms Lord Shiva has decided to have on earth. Every month, at full moon, thousands of pilgrims come to Tiruvanamalai and walk around the holy mountain wile a giant 30 meters candle, symbolising the wrath of god, is lit there for several days. We climb on a pass made with large stones, going up the mountain.  The
noise of the city quickly fades away to my surprise and delight. Ernest
and I climb in silence and the sound of the buses horns reaches our
ears again when we arrive at a point giving a diving view on
Tiruvanamalai. From there, we have a wonderfull view on the huge Temple of Arunachaleswarar. After a quick photo, we walk up to the two houses where are the caves where Ramana Maharshi meditated for over 50 years. The places are small but verry quiet. Several person stay there, meditating, most of them are white men. Some Saddus with orange close are also here. Other Indian people also come but don't stay for long meditations, rather they prosternate before a picture of Ramana or a specific Samadhi. After spending a little time in there Ernest and I go down in the city towards Arunachaleswarar Temple. We are back in the noise and dust and movement of the city... We enter the temple by one of the four huge entrances, one for each direction (North, South, East, West)  We
go inside the two main parts one
dedicated to Shiva and the other to the Divine
mother goddess. Pictures inside are not allowed so here are a few
outside pictures. The interior of the temple is pretty dark and they look all the same to me. in this one they even added mettalic barriers to guide the flows of pilgrims wich give a verry poor outlook to the inside of the Temple. the temple are the shelters for verry small rooms where a statue of the god is guarded by a group of priests. The pilgrims come with offerings and pay 20 roupies to enter the temple. Then they wait for there turn to get into the room next to the one where the divinity resides and have an opportunity to look ath her. The priest enters the room with there offerings, if there are flowers, he will dispose them on the statue, if there is coconut he will break their shell before laying it in front of the godhead. All the wile, he is waving a plate with burning fire that he used to carry the offering. He then comes back with this fire and the pilgrims can approach there hands from the fire and then bring them three times towards there face, thus receiving the gods blessing. they also receive some colored powder to put on their forhead as a symbol of their devotion and relation with the divine. The devotees often leave money on the plate. Ernest and I go through all the same process. Ernest seems to worship these divinities in his own way. I don't feel much of divine contact myself but am quite impressed with the setting and the ceremony involved. As we go out, I spot an Elephant. Ernest tells me that for a coin he will give me a blessing. I am not too keen on touristic exploitation of Elephants but I am afterall not much different from the other tourists in some aspects and I step in front of the Elephant to get my boon.  I put the little half roupie coin in his trump. And I Get the promised Elephant Blessing I then take a last picture of Ernest with a pretty flower Necklace and we head up for lunch. I leave you with this picture of my new friend. It is getting late and I'm going to have dinner with him. Kisses to all of you Felix Ancient war Citadel on the road to TiruvanamalaiYesterday, I travelled all the afternoon on my bike to go from Auroville to Tiruvanamalai.The weather was my ally and i got a wonderfull day with a perfect sun giving rice fields a wonderfull green I tried to capture for you.  And wich really didn't look like this picture at all LOL By the end of the afternoon, I was enchanted and waving and smiling to groups of children coming out of school when on my right side, among piles of round and huge rocks, a citadel appeared, the citadel of Gingee.  As a son of an Architect, I could not just pass my way on the facinating millitary monument. So I stopped to see if I could visit it or at least get closer to it. But unfortunately it was already 5 Pm and the visiting time was over. So I just got a little closer to get this more detailed picture.  On the other side of the roads, a few hundred meters away, another piece of war building awaited me and i admired it in the late evening sun.  As you might have noticed this is my first article in English, I have decided to write one english article from time to time because I am meeting many people that don't read french but show interest in the Blog. Besides, I believe my dear French readers are good enough with english to read this. |
Qui suis-je ? Qui suis-je ? Archives Amis Album photos LiensRubriquesAdventures in EnglishAnnonces Aventures Humour Reflexions Derniers articlesPresentation et Actualite du BlogPresentation de mon enseignement Fasten your seatbelts La Septieme Compagnie a l'Assaut de Caca Beach Quand l'argent glisse des doigts de Pied AmisArthuro19manue moudjik108 |
...so I had to complete the walk with bare feet ! This is the proper way...pilgrims don't use shoes. But they are trained and I am such a tender feet boy.
.
