Sri Chakra Ashram In Kerala Free But Are

It was suppose to open at 05, but I guess the guy overslept or something.

Parking the bicycle on a Auroville place close to the toll gate, that left a 5 minute walk to get to the toll gate to wait for the bus.

The buses go around once an hour, so I didnt want to miss the one at 10 am to wait another hour at the dirty, noisy toll gate.

After a 2 hour bus ride (80 Rs), talking with an Indian electrical engineer and listening to interviews I had recorded at Buddha Garden and Annapurna Farm (I was doing a radio program, first time ever, about sustainable farming for Auroville Radio), I arrived at the bus station in Tiruvannamali.

From there, a local bus with a lot of young, curious Indians took me to Sri Ramana Ashram (4 Rs).

Sri Chakra Ashram In Kerala Free But Are

A donation-based ashram, so guests get food and accomodation for free but are welcome to practice generosity and give a donation to the ashram.

I tried to book two different dates: one two days before arrival and another two weeks in advance.

If you cant find accomodation at the ashram, their are plenty of other cheap and decent alternatives close to the ashram.

They want you to bring a printed copy of the email with the confirmation and a passport photo.

I said I had neither, to see if there are smoother ways to slide through the administrative formalities of India.

Showing the email on the smartphone was enough for the first requirement.

The guy in the reception just took a photo with his phone, then the other requirement was met.

Roaming around the ashram premises, I found my way to the library.

Among the the things I see as I enter the library, was a magazine called LifePositive.

As I quickly looked at the list of content and quickly read through the articles to get a feel of the magazine, I felt like I merged with the magazine.

To check the validity of the experience, I took out a number of The Economist (a world-famous well-written, but overly intellectual, and capitalistic, magazine about economics and politics) and read a few pages.

You got your own room, as a starter, which felt like heaven after eight weeks in a community.

Breakfast at 7.00, lunch at 11.30, and dinner at 7.30.

I didnt it the breakfast so I cant comment on that.

And you are eating on the floor with your hands with the food served on a banana leaf.

I had brought along my own spoon, to reduce the risk of stomach problem.

That didnt help. The first night at the ashram, a lot of strange things were going on in my stomach.

So I poured on some spirulina (around 60 protein, a bit expensive though as main source of protein) and wheatgrass to boost the nutritional content of the food.

I have become famous as the spirulina-man at Buddha Garden in Auroville:).

After being electrified, unplugging the charger to the wall socket, I was ready to head out for adventure.