India

The Riksa taxis are so much fun ...we fit in with the 3 of us exactly ...no chance of falling out as we are jammed together at amazing speeds in the traffic going about our business of investigating Tirunvannamalai, India.

We found a driver who speaks English and we phone him ..yes all riksa taxi drivers have phones and then he comes to the hotel to collect us, to all our journeys around the Holy Mountain and temples

We where brought to a 3000 year old temple and it was a wonderful encounter with a past so old one can only be amazed at that memory, dark and smelly with shadow figures still honoring the statues that they wash and oil and hang with flowers and bow to with devotion.

The bells are rang by this temple priest who gave us ash to put on our forehead, and we bought candles to burn before a benevolent figure of stone ...the beggars sit just outside knowing that you will have an experience of some holiness and will now give  generously..

This Pongal Festival is a family affair the town has been quiet and some restaurants closed, even at the hotel a ritual of burning small pieces of wood belown a pot between 2 palm trees.

Sonja and I had a wonderful 2 hour masage ...when we arrived at 3 pm we sat in the office waiting when I spotted in front of me A Course in Miracles book ..It was a version of EA so I was puzzled thinking Sonja had brought her book ..as it turned out it was a book that Coonan had given to this girl at the Lotus Center and she was using it ..it was the most startling experience I had looking at that book in this place.

Picture of Jesus on the wal ..well it was a most happy encounter. WE are driving to Pondicherry today ...110 Km