I left the ashram and took the plane from Trivandrum to Chennai. It felt like a luxury to take the plane instead of the train or the bus, but the price wasn't too bad and the thought of so many hours travelling wasn't so tempting either. I truly enjoyed getting to my destination in no-time, and I spent the waiting time in the airport catching up with my mother on the phone. My seat in the plane was next to an elderly woman, and just the fact that she was on the plane at all meant that she had money - and therefore probably educated and otherwise well to do. She was also reading a book about a philosopher, and the reason I know this was that it was in English. Very educated then. Imagine my surprise when she burped out loud several times during the flight! She was also a little smug when she saw me eating. South Indian cooking is very spicy and even this supposedly plain airplane food was making me sweat and breathe heavily. The other whities had to leave theirs.

After the stern (potentially stern anyway) ashram life, with board and lodging for less than the bus fair in Norway, I was very ready for a posh hotel in Chennai. It was very nice, but the only thing that dazzled me was the hot water in the shower. I have mostly showered in cold water showers these past five months, and off course it's not cold like in Europe, but it still doesn't do the job in the long run. I was going to Andra Pradesh for a course, and met some of the other people in the hotel. We went to the beach and saw the Mahatma Ghandi statue there. He is also on all the money. Last time I was in India I met a woman who had walked the salt-march with Ghandi. I always remember her limping gate after the satsang when I think about Ghandi.

My brothers were both in Chennai and it was great to see them again! And how funny to sit in an auto rikshaw with them, they were - like everyone - shocked at how people drive here. Either I'm used to it or just too stupid to realize the danger. After a week they went back home again, and it was a bit sad to see them off, I wanted to go with them in a way. The next day I was back in my groove, and on my way back to Auroville for the event of the month. I stopped in Mamallapuram on the way, a small and cozy town by the sea. I was there before, but only on a day trip. I didn't realize what a great place this was. There are many tourists here, including Indians, which means that most people speak a little English and there are many great shops and places to eat. And I had time to lay in the sun for a bit. I haven't had a tan since Bali, so it was about time I thought.

Back in Auroville just in time for his Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan pavilion was finished, and it was partly because of this he came. He was as warm and wise as one is used to seeing him, and he thought that European people had matured a lot. Always a good thing. There was a lot of ceremony around the event, but he cut right through it with his relaxed composure and he seemed to be completely at ease with himself, which, I've come to realize is a rare thing. When he was a young monk he was not very interested in learning. He was studying with his older brother, and the teachers would use a brown whip for his brother, and a yellow whip for the Dalai Lama - because he was holy they used a holy whip. Well, he told us that there was nothing holy about the pain! Funny guy. He spoke about the world being in a better state of affairs now than before. He was optimistic about the future, and wanted a resolution to the political situation in Tibet to be resolved peacefully - he didn't want there to be a winning side and a losing side. You've been exiled from your country for years, and you have transcended the need for revenge or any other form of punishment. He sees himself firstly as a human being so his first objective is world peace, second he sees himself as a Buddhist, so he wants harmony between all religions, thirdly he sees himself as Tibetan, and wants a free Tibet.

People had given their questions in advance, and the lady reading them up made it very clear that they didn't have time for all of them. From the back of the congregation there was a guy who shouted that he had a question. Imagine the woman's face. And then imagine her face when the Dalai Lama says 'please, I can't hear you, come up, use the microphone'. He runs up, knowing that he is trying the patience of the organizers and also some of the people in the audience. He trips and almost falls. The Dalai Lama says 'help him'. He safely arrives on the stage with His Holiness and sits down in the appointed place. Right next to the man in yellow. The latter takes his hand and holds it for a little while. Can you imagine the ripple of emotion in the crowd? Break all the rules and get the biggest prize? If you're passionate about something to the point that you're not afraid of making a fool of yourself, that you're willing to try everything, anything can happen. Even getting to sit next to the Dalai Lama and hold his hand. The event is over when the Dalai Lama pinches the nose of the man who gives him the thank you speech.

I lost my camera in Mamallapuram and I feel metaphorically naked without it. I am used to seeing things as photos, and off course some great opportunities comes along with funerals and what have you. Oh well. I find a shop that sells cameras. I tell him that I want the exact same camera, can he fix it? The next day I pick it up in his store, it's been sent from Chennai. Wow. Nothing is usually straightforward, quick and easy in this country, I am truly amazed. Camera back in hand, I take some great pic's just outside his shop. Someone has left a cart filled with beads on it in the street. I don't know if they're for sale or what, I never see any people around.