One Step at a Time

The view from near the caves...

I can see why the rishis men like it up here. The holy mountain Arunachala is said to have healing powers. Even thinking on the majesty of the sacred hill and it's temple can confer benefits to the body, mind, and soul as it has 'since time immemorial' as the books say. We gave it a shot. We burned our feet scrambling up to check out the caves, home to the Ramana Maharishi and his mother when they lived there. We found out later that barefootedness is NOT required to scale the hill, only most auspicious for the circumnambulation. The caves are an amazing contrast to the bustling 'sleeping village' we expected to find. Our timing was excellent- after exerting ourselves all day, we learned the full moon walk around was scheduled for Monday, not Tuesday. After 5 miles of dayhike, we rested poolside and prepared to do the 9 mile circuit.

A garland of 10,000 pilgrims encircles Shiva's Mountain.

This was the scene as we hit the road. We figured starting @ 7;30pm was the best strategy to get done by midnight. By 8am the auspiciousness of the event would be over. I had no idea that in the 4 hours we decided to do this that the population would swell. It was like getting out of a concert, walking in a parade, and being at the county fair all in one. Vendors lined the street, housewives cooked from their stoops offering tiffin meals for the 4-6 guests she had room for. All the ashrams and temples were open and lit up.

#4,389... #4,389... now serving #4,389...

Keep in mind that we have been overloaded with trains, busses, rickshaws, and countless beggars and saddhus to navigate through. With my toe, I should have stayed home and propped up my foot. But this  is India!

Maybe I should have had THIS guy check out my foot.

We actually survived. The next morning it was as if it were a dream; no vendors, bus lots empty, some garbage, but mostly life back to normal. Our feet hurt and tired, survived with only minor damage. It felt like they were getting tattooed for those 4 hours. But that's how you do it here. You just keep walking. Our trip continued to have ups and downs. We saved $20 by taking busses instead of taxis, but were given bad info half the time. There always seems to be somebody to help out though, if like the mountain one stands quiet and listens to the wisdom coming up the hills from the temples.

If this express bus stops, don't get on...

aeryk