South India Part 3

Now we are very far in the south of India.

We were in Ooty at the hotel. We were divided into double rooms with the other exchange students. I shared a room with a French student. It was very interesting to see how the other exchange students cope with the situation in India. Some withdraw a lot, like my roommate, who spent most of the time reading mangas on his phone and mostly spoke French. I greatly admire the other exchange students for their courage. Some cannot speak English very well but still have the bravery to come to India for a year.

After a night in Ooty, without hot water, we continued with a train ride through the hilly area. The train ride lasted about an hour and one could enjoy the scenery.

Afterwards, we continued south with our bus. We crossed the border into Tamil Nadu and had now arrived at our destination, Isha Foundation.

Isha Foundation has the largest bust in the world. The bust is of Lord Shiva, a god of Hinduism. Additionally, Isha Foundation has a complex with temples and baths. The complex is very new and located somewhere in the middle of nowhere. It is a very important place for Hindus. Isha Foundation is also known for yoga.

We arrived at the bus parking lot (some field) of the Isha Foundation. There were many other buses full of strict Hindus. Everyone was wearing black clothing. Their garments were washed in the restroom. We then made our way to the bathing and temple complex.

We walked past the bust of Lord Shiva.

After about 5 minutes, we reached the entrance to the complex. Upon entry, one had to leave their shoes and cell phones. In the Isha Foundation, there are two baths. One for men and one for women. The water is cosmically charged and holy. Inside the complex, there were people meditating or practicing yoga everywhere. You could observe the Hindus while bathing. They performed rituals during the bath. There was also a statue (a black block) in a temple where many sat around and meditated.

Hinduism is very important here in India. In my feeling, being strictly religious is very socially recognized and appreciated. Hinduism is also crucial in daily life and in politics. I often have the feeling that one feels like the