visiting Amma - travelling in India

[Guest guest]

Jai Julan:

 

> Here are my questions:

> Where is the ashram?

 

The ashram is in the state of Kerala on the western side of India very close

to the southern tip of the sub continent. It is on a thin strp of land

between the Arabian Sea and the "backwaters" (a river running parallel to the

sea). See a map of the area at:

http://www.amritapuri.org/sevadesk/routemap.htm

 

Check out the web site for the Ashram at:

<A

HREF="http://www.amritapuri.org/ashram/amritapuri/amritapuri.htm">http://www.amr\

itapuri.org/ashram/amritapuri/amritapuri.htm</A>

 

The links for the ashram main web page are disguised in some of the pictures

on the home page and not very clear at all! The home page is at:

<A

HREF="http://www.amritapuri.org/ashram/amritapuri/amritapuri.htm">http://www.amr\

itapuri.org/</A>

 

The last time I was there was in 2000 so I hope I can remember everything

correctly.

 

> how do I get there?

 

See: <A

HREF="http://www.amritapuri.org/sevadesk/faq.htm">http://www.amritapuri.org/seva\

desk/faq.htm</A>

 

I flew into Trivandrum (airport symbol TRV) as it is the closest. I then took

a 3 hour taxi ride to the ashram.

 

First, exchange some money (make sure you get wads of small bills to pay the

exact amount for everything ... Indian vendors may say they have no change so

they can keep it). Go to the ‘Airport Taxi Service’ window and ask for a

taxi to Mata Amritanandamayi Ashramam at Amritapuri in Parayakadavu. It costs

about 1,300 rupees (about $40 US but may have changed by now). Make sure you

go to Parayakadavu (the taxi will cross the backwaters and take you directly

into the ashram). If you go to Vallickavu, you must take a ferry boat ride

(do not wear good clothes on the ferry boat!) across the backwaters. The

ferry boat costs about 1 or 2 rupees, a bit more for luggage or night trips.

Ferry boat operators like to get a lot (10 or 20 rupees) more if they see you

are new to the area. Do not over pay them or anyone else.

 

Take enough bottled water with you for the taxi ride. The driver, who will

probably speak little English, can stop at a food stand. There are lots of

fruit stands but only get unpeelled fruit like oranges, bananas, etc. Bananas

are small and very tasty. I like a bottled drink called Limca. It has a

lemony flavor. Do not let the vendor uncap it for you because they clean the

end of the bottle that goes in you month by rubbing their hands over it. They

do not wash their hands beforehand. Also carry a bottle opener with you so

you can do this yourself. I found Pepsi to be too sweet and surpy for my

taste. I drank a lot of Limca (about 10 rupees).

 

Bottled water is readily available but make sure it is still sealed. Just be

sure you buy it in a reasonable looking place and never buy it from a street

vendor. They get empty bottles and fill it with bad water then try to sell

it to tourists. Never throw out or give away empty bottles unless you break

it so it cannot be refilled.

 

I avoid going into Delhi or Mumbai (Bombay) because most of the flights from

the US, Europe arrive around midnight or 3:00 am. You would then have to take

an Indian Air domestic flight to Trivandrum that usually leaves around 6:00

or 7:00 am. Mumbai airport is not a good place to hang out at that hour.

Baggage theft is common. Be sure to talk a chain and lock so you can secure

your bags to something solid. Do not figure on dosing at the airport!

 

I prefer not to travel on Air India!

 

 

> when will amma be there (Dec/Jan)?

>

 

Most likely. Check Her schedule on the web sites.

 

What will I need to bring eg bedding mosquito nets etc?

 

 

You can bring your own bedding but the ashram will rent, for a small amount,

mattresses, sheets, pillows, towels, etc. They have a good laundry. I prefer

to bring my own towels but rent everything else to save luggage space. I like

to travel very light.

 

When I travel in Asia, I like to bring everything I need so I do not have to

take time looking to buy something. Most personal care items (soaps, shampoo,

tooth paste, etc.) can be brought at the ashram or in Vallickavu, just across

the backwaters.

 

Soon after you arrive, I suggest taking the ferry boat over to Vallickavu and

looking around to see what is available. It you have never been to India

before, this is an adventure! Suggest you either take non-breakable camping

gear like plates, cutlery, cup or purchase tin ones for yourself in

Vallickavu (they are cheap and you can leave them at the ashram when you

leave). They are available at the ashram but people just rinse their plates

in cold water and put them in a bucket for someone else for the next meal.

They are not washed with soap or sterilized. Use only your own dinner ware.

 

> Is there good drinking water?

 

Yes. There is good filtered drinking water in several places around the

ashram. It would be good to bring a camping plastic container to carry your

water. It need not be a large one.

 

> How much does it cost?re children welcome - is there a special program for

> them?

>

I don't know the current prices but it is not expensive at all. I think I

paid about $300 US for a month. You can eat Indian food for free or pay for

Western food (breakfast, lunch, no dinner) at the Western canteen.

 

Don't know about children. Email the office at international.

You should do this several weeks in advance to let them know you are coming.

This is especially important if you are bringing children. Westerners are

assign four to a room and you sleep on a foam mattress on the flour. If you

have two children, they will probably give you a room by yourself. There is

one general room for sleeping and an adjacent one that has a small kitchen.

You could buy a small gas hot plate in Vallickavu if you want to. There is

also a bath room with flush toilets and a shower. No hot and cold water ...

it is all warm.

 

Is it near sea/river and can we swim?

>

>

It is a short walk to the Arabian Sea but it is not advisable to swim there.

It gets deep quickly and there are rip tides. If you go to the beach, be

very, very careful where you walk. There are a lot of houses around the area

that do not have toilets so people use the beach. They do not cover it up so

you can see where not to walk! Do not swim in the backwaters ... the water is

polluted.

 

Use the swimming pool at the ashram. There are different times for men and

women.

 

Cautions:

 

RESPECT: Indians do, by a large part, grant westerners with a lot of respect.

They are very proud of their country and pleased you chose to visit it.

Return a smile. They don't really use the words "thank you" so a smile

conveys your appreciation.

 

SHOCK: If you have never been to India, be aware that every one of your

senses will get shocked. It is even more of a shock when you go home.

 

PASSPORT: Guard your passport with your life! Carry it concealed along with

your money inside your clothes. They fetch big bucks on the black market.

Moreover, if you loose yours or it gets stolen, you will have to go to your

embassy in Mumbai or Delhi. BUT, how do you get there?? You MUST have your

passport to get a hotel room or buy a train or airplane ticket! Take a couple

of photocopies of critical documents (including your airline ticket) and keep

them in your luggage. There are safety boxes in the ashram office. They keep

your passport while you are there anyway. Guard your passport with your life!

 

 

MONEY: Take a couple credit cards. I put prepayments on my cards, like a

couple of thousand dollars, before I go so I do not run up interest charges

or get the card canceled because I didn't make any payment at all. There is a

bank at the ashram that will give you cash on your credit card. They cash

travelers checks too. I always took some travelers checks in both Thomas Cook

(English) and American Express (American). The banks are probably better now

and may take Visa or MasterCard travelers checks.

 

EMAIL: At the ashram, they had email service for a small sum. You wrote it

out and they sent it. Hopefully, it may have improved so you can send your

own.

 

MEDICAL: There is a small clinic with a couple of Doctors at the ashram. It

is more for locals but westerns can use it if they have too. It has a small

pharmacy. There is also herbs at the ashram and an auruvedic Doctor. There

are several pharmacies in Vallickavu.

 

NEEDLES: I got my Doctor to give me a prescription for several needles in

different sizes before I left just in case. Had to show my airline ticket and

visa to get them from the pharmacy. Medical facilities do not have the same

standards regarding keeping everything sterile. Never had to use any but they

took little luggage space.

 

SHOTS: get all the shots you need and take malaria pills. They are expense

but well worth it. Check out the web sites of the US travel advisories.

 

PHONES: They are available but costly. Quality is poor unless you get into

international telephone lines.

 

BE AWARE: of your surroundings when traveling outside the ashram! Watch where

you walk at all times. Indians do not fix things promptly. Sidewalks may have

broken concrete and you can easily hurt yourself. And that is something you

do not want to do. Be aware of other people around you. It is a good

opportunity to increase you conscienceness.

 

WOMEN SAFETY: Many single women travel by themselves around the country.

There were a few in my 1990 trips ( I was over twice for seven months each),

many more in my 2000 trip. Just bare in mind that our movies show graphic

sexual content and give Asian people a wrong impression of our sexual

attititues. Some think we are excessively sexual at the drop of a hat.

Indians generally are not as sexually uninhibited as we tend to be. Just be

aware.

 

POLITICAL TROUBLE: Kerala favors communism. When I was there, they was some

unrest and strikes. Do not travel in these areas at those times.

 

STARING: Indians like to stare. Especially at foreigners. It is not rude. Get

use to it.

 

GLASSES: If you wear glasses take an extra pair AND take your prescription.

Mine broke and I got a new pair including the examination for $18. But, the

equipment is not up to our standards and one lens was seriously off.

 

SHOES: Take good traveling shoes for comfort and a cheap pair of sandels for

around the ashram. I had an expensive pair of Tegis stolen outside a temple

(not the ashram) and had difficulty getting something else to ware. We are

physically bigger than most Indians. They don't make shoes in a mens size 10.

When visiting other temples, I put my shoes in a cloth bag (to hid them)

hung over my shoulder and kept them with me always. Strictly forbidden is

some places but I was not going to risk loosing them. Nobody every questioned

me.

 

TOILET PAPER: Best to take some for the trip. Indians for the most part don't

use it although you may purchase it in some stores. It may take some looking.

They use a cup for water for that purpose and air dry. REMEMBER, never take

food or anything else with your left hand. Eat with your right hand only. The

left hand is strictly reserved for cleaning. Be aware that your childhood

toilet training issues will come up!

 

ISSUES: Speaking of these, they will come up. Most often, unexpectedly. Great

time for growth!

 

BEGGING: Beggars are predominate all over the country. Many are women with

babies who have been deliberately disfigured to get sympathy. If you have not

seen this before, it will sicken you. Many are children trained to beg. They

don't get to keep the money. Give something to one and you will get

immediately surrounded by many. Do not give anything.

 

Enough for now. I hope I haven't painted too much of a negative picture but

there precautions that need be taken. Visiting India is a precious experience

that will be intense at times. Your experiences will be unforgettable and

spiritual growth is guarantied in unsuspecting ways.

 

More questions?

 

Om Amriteswaryai Namaha!

 

Kandar (Peter White)