Thanksgiving Weekend at the Dune

While John and I were swimming--notice us in the background--Widi snapped this shot. When I looked up and saw the passing camel, it was another one of those we're-not-in-Kansas-anymore moments.

Four other families from our teaching group that arrived in July decided to spend the long weekend at the Dune as well. We stayed in a "nature-cooled" cabin this time, no AC and quite comfortable in the cooler evenings/mornings of "winter." Never fear, it still reaches 90 during the day. The first day we spent two hours at the beach and two hours at the pool between 10 and 2. Despite my constant slathering of sunscreen #50, I scorched my face like I haven't done for years. Too much time in the water, I guess, with the suncreen washed off. So, I'm suffering a bit now and slathering John's aloe vera gel on it now in hopes it won't peel.

 

Of course, we spent our time at the spa and learned that there was a new yoga master. We really like the first guy, Falkuna, but the new guy had his moments too, and I learned some new poses and lots of philosophy from him. I tried a new Aryuvedic head/neck massage with a long period of relaxing hot fragrant oil being poured over my forehead. There were the yoga and meditation classes everyday, Widi's volleyball, and we toured the organic farms and dairy.

 

There was plenty of time with Dylan and Athena at the pool and around the grounds, and a nice dinner on Saturday night. Well, there were nice breakfasts, lunches, and dinners throughout. There's a culinary school and all the food is grown locally plus all the fresh seafood. The place is a dream, I tell you, a dream.

Today on our way home, our driver took us to the Auroville Visitor's Centre, which provides an introduction to the spiritual global community that is an autonomous region right here in Southern India, near Pondicherry. It's an amazing place. Next time we visit, we'll arrange to be able to enter the big Epcot Center structure where the largest crystal in the world is housed. The community, which numbers around 2,000, meditates in this building. I'd like to find out more about the place. The quotes around the Visitors Centre reminded us of Lennon's "Imagine." Very cool.