Bangalore and Chennai: Yoga, Wisdom, Theosophy

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Near Bangalore is the Vivekananda Yoga Institute. Beautiful flowers everywhere, though it is winter. This is, I think, a hibiscus, but many flowers are unfamiliar to me.
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We stayed at the Vivikenanda Kendra for a few days. It is a big campus, probably more than 100 acres. Lots of natural beauty, interesting rock outcroppings, and newly planted forests.
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This is an ant or termite hill, built of dirt and sand, bonded somehow to become rock hard. Lots of them here, some a couple of meters high.
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Driving through Bangalore, it is obvious why it is (or was) called the "garden city". This is a government building, and in front a fruit vendor selling guavas.
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An hour south of Bangalore is a lovely retreat called the School of Ancient Wisdom, Manize, who created it, favors pyramidal structures (and beautiful landscaping).
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Trees with splendid blossoms and intriguing seedpods are all around.
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Ram Menon is Manize's partner, here explaining something to Sraddhalu amidst the gardens.
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From an upstairs patio with a view of lovely walks and gardens.
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Oxcarts are a mainstay of the small farm culture that is still very strong all over India.
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Herding goats, unconcerned about the flow of cars and trucks. A sari (often spelled saree in India) is what you wear, whatever your task or position.
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Saris again, and elegantly balanced baskets full of wares. A fresh flower in the hair.
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India is beginning to develop viniculture. The posts are granite!
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Here is how they are made. A vertically oriented, pointed chisel is spotted down a line, and gradually creates a linear fracture. The resulting slabs are split again -- voila, posts.
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We're now in Chennai, at the Theosophical Society enclave. I've no idea what this complex flower is called, but isn't it lovely?
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This is part of an enormous banyan tree, whose rooting tendrils and trunks span more than an acre.
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We went to Auroville and Pondicherry for a couple of days, and on the way stopped at Mamallapuram to see the intricately carved stone temples.
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Stonecarving is very much a modern way to make a living here. Resting in the shade is preferred by a peaceful goat.
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Indian families take advantage of the treasures -- and of the opportunity to talk of important things.
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Everywhere, one sees small shrines. People care for them, and bring flowers and spices, even food.
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One of the most remarkable temples is the Matrimandir (Shrine of the Mother) in Auroville.
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Our delightful guide was a French engineer who has been working on the structure for 35 years or so. He is describing the gold disks that cover the dome.
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The Matrimandir is expected to be finished in the spring of 2006. Even unfinished it is magnificent.
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Pondicherry is on the Bay of Bengal, and the shore is a popular destination.
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Back in Chennai at the Theosophical Society beach, fishermen are silhouetted against the rising sun.
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The founders of the Society are honored in a lovely lotus garden.
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In the early morning hours, lotus blooms are at their opulent best. You can judge the size of this one by the fly sitting on a petal at the lower left.
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We lived in the Leadbeater Chambers, still magnificent 100 years after it was built. Of course the plumbing does leave something to be desired.
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From Chennai we traveled to Visakhapatnam by train in a 2-person coupe. On New Years eve, sipping wine at midnight from our toothbrush glasses -- wonderful!