As the flight started 30 minutes late in Lisbon, I really had to rush in Abu Dhabi to get my connection flight to Chennai. I ask the flight attendant if it will work, he checked and said it will work.
And it worked, quite a long way, Abu Dhabi is a huge airport. At 02:45 Indian time (21:15 WET) I arrived in Chennai. At custums I handed over all my documents. She asked me where I go, and I said to the Sri Ramanasramam in Tiruvannamalai. Somehow they like it in India, when you meditate or being a devotee.
I grabbed my backpack from the baggage claim and went out. There was an ATM but no money inside 🙃 I changed €100 for a very bad rate, should have done it at an ATM outside the airport. Then my driver showed up with my name on his board.
He was a nice guy, good to talk with him. It was a 4 hour drive, after 1 hour we stopped and I had my first chai and Samosa and watermelon juice. From this moment I felt home in India 😃
He stopped in front of the Ashram and I went in for the registration. I got my key for the guesthouse at the other side of the road.
The first thing after arranging my room was to take a Rikshaw and drive into town. I needed a SIMcard for my phone. Was not easy as they were always asking for a local ID. First Ididn’t understand what they want, then I realised they just need kind of a proof where I stay. In the end I got a SIMcard from Tiru travel, my drivers agency. There is no WiFi in the guesthouse, so I need some more GB.
The Ashram is very beautiful and well organised. I had my first dinner there. Around 150 people entering in a queue the dining hall. Most are sitting on the floor organised in lines. Everybody has a big leaf in front and a metal cup. Then they will serve from buckets the rice, dal and whatsoever curries, put it right on the leaf.
Unfortunately I can’t make photos, not allowed in Ashrams anyway.
More tomorrow …
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