Home About Auroville The Auroville Charter The Matrimandir Our Journeys Activities Accomodations & Fees Travel Tips Registration Traveler Testimonials from Past Journeys The Facilitator: Prapanna Smith			Auroville Journey Activities Many opportunities for cultural, artistic, social, educational, scientific, and spiritual experience are available in Auroville and at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which is located in nearby Pondicherry. As guests of Auroville participants in our Journeys will be allowed access to the inner chamber of the Matrimandir for meditation twice daily, and enjoy many opportunities to learn about life in Auroville by visiting its communities, centers, and schools. It is highly recommended that all members of an Auroville Journey group explore the Auroville website in order to get an idea of what aspects of Aurovillian life they would like to learn about or take part in. Auroville Tour During the first week of our stay in Auroville we will take a four-day guided tour of Auroville provided by Ross. An Australian by birth, Ross has been in Auroville since 1994. In Auroville he has served in different working groups and helped out with various projects, but above all, he enjoys receiving visitors and introducing them to different aspects of Auroville. Ross' guest-tours, which he started in 1995, are extremely popular for they allow short-term visitors to get an insight into Auroville. Outgoing and friendly by nature, Ross has always chosen to live in community. At present, Ross lives in the community of Creativity-a new and exciting social experiment in Auroville. He looks forward to receiving us with a cup of Indian "chai" in his community kitchen! Ross will share with us his wonderful personality and wit as he introduces us to Auroville's schools, communities, and farms, and takes us to the Visitor Center (where we will view a video on Auroville), the Center for Scientific Research, the Bharat Nivas Cultural Center, the American Pavilion Student Guesthouse, the Tibetan Pavilian, the new Auroville Town Hall, the Matrimandir Gardens, and other places of interest. Ross will also treat us to lunches at the Solar Kitchen and the New Creation Corner Restaurant. Sri Aurobindo Ashram Tour During our first of two visits to Pondicherry, we will take the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Tour provided by the Ashram's Aurocare Service. This tour begins with a video presentation on the history of the Ashram and the lives of its founders, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, at the Bureau Central Museum. The tour then explores the cottage industries of the Ashram and provides opportunities to shop for exquisit handmade arts, textiles, herbal remedies, essential oils and perfumes, jewelry, incense, books, and handmade paper. After a visit to the Samadhi (tomb) of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, the tour ends with lunch at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Dining Hall. Dinner at Le Rendezvous Restaurant During our second visit to Pondicherry we will get a taste of French culture and cusine at the Rendezvous Restaurant, one of the premier restaurants in the city. While vegetarians in the party will order their choice of vegitarian meals from the regular menu, the rest of us will enjoy the chef's choice of buffet salads, entrees, deserts, and drinks, including: Egg Mayonnaise Salad, Tuna Salad,Garlic Bread, Coq au Vin (Rooster in Wine Sauce), Fish in White Wine Sauce, Broccolli and Tomato in Cream Sauce, Baked Jacket Potatoes, Pilau Rice, Prawn Molee, Bananas in Rum Sauce or Dutch Apple Pie with Custard and Ice Cream, Tea or Coffee. Excellent French and Indian Wines will also be available at an extra cost. Free Time to Explore Auroville In the days following our tour with Ross, individuals will be free to explore those places in Auroville and in Pondicherry which are of special personal interest to them. Whatever interests one may have, one will find ample opportunities to connect with like-minded Aurovillians, make new friends, visit Auroville's communities, schools, and gardens, and participate in cultural, educational, and spiritual programs. There is truly no limit to what one can learn and explore in this unique and special city. Again, please see the Auroville website for detail information on centers and other places offering various activities and programs. Travel Outside Auroville and Pondicherry Tamil Nadu, the Indian State in which Pondicherry and Auroville is located, has countless historical, cultural, and relgious sites of significant interest to world travelors. Though side trips to any of these places is not included in the fee for the Auroville Journeys, arrangements can be made for members of our groups to take side trips to such places, either during or after our stay in Auroville (though after is more preferable than during the stay in Auroville). Please contact the trip facilitator, Prapanna Smith, for more information.