there and back again

The will is not free - it is a phenomenon bound by cause and effect - but there is something behind the will which is free.

on september 4th i returned to nyc, having journeyed across ocean and earth to india. a fantastic trip indeed! i was there for about 3 weeks. it was both relaxing and rejuvenating. my parents, brother, aunts, grandmother, and cousins went on a 5 day road trip to the country side. we hired a driver and a big jeep, and set off, travellers 9.


we stopped at the small towns and visited important temples. much of the drive was through the rainforests of the western ghats, a very mountainous region! it was an incredible drive, alas even pictures do no justice. with the humid air foretelling monsoon rains, the feel of the warm wind on your face, the sounds of wildlife in the lush, wet forests, majestic clouds lingering atop mountain peaks, there is nothing to do but soak it in.


down in the valley, a thundering river surged below. this river must have been fed by many streams and waterfalls, and these scenic cataracts gave necessity to pull over and enjoy sight. until large oil trucks needed way to pass the narrow road. on the journey there, these roads were very bad. i had never seen such road craters! on the way back, our route was friendlier.


we spent two nights in the small town of sringeri. there is a very nice temple here, more than 1,000 years old. although the town is slowly becoming populated, within the compounds of the ashram, it is very peaceful and remote. the temple is situated upon the banks of the tunga river, an idyllic setting.



i think we were all tired near the end of 5 days. but it was a great trip! back in bangalore where both sides' grandparents live, it was back to relaxing. shopping, visiting relatives, enjoying more freedom! hehe...

here are some pics from around the city: one of the many street markets; school boys in the field across our house, playing cricket ofcourse!; one of the busy shopping areas, commercial street; one of the main modes of transport is the autio-rickshaw, but when hailing one down its "auto!". these are fast, cheap ways of getting around, more convenient than taxis cuz there are no doors! just hop in and out! actually autos are like the yellow cabs you see in nyc, they're everywhere.