SURP 827 2024

On Saturday Dec. 21 after a long travel day and finally finishing our last set of domestic flights, the team checked into the Moustache hostel in Jaipur.  Despite its quirks and green water swimming pool,  we were delighted to get cozy into our little bunks for a good night’s sleep before our first day exploring the city known as the “Pink City” for its trademark building colour.  Our very first stop was to the one that Dan’s been waiting for since our initial trip planning days, the Jal Mahal!! The Jal Mahal, meaning water palace, was originally constructed around 1699 which sits in the middle of a lake. Although we could not go to the palace, we enjoyed taking pictures from afar.  Next the team braved the crowds and many stairs to visit the Amber Fort located high on a hill. The fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its artistic style. It features large ramparts, a series of gates, cobbled path, mirror work and many maze like passageways.  Afte...

The entirety of our Munnar journey took place in a lovely 7-person van. With our trusted driver, Vippin, we left Kochi and set off towards the mountains. Our first stop was at the resto/hotel, Cloud 9, where Vippen took us for our “western stomachs.” Then, we drove until we finally hit the luscious greenery that is Munnar. Picturesque tea gardens surrounded us from all angles - it was impossible to get a bad view.  Due to the large size of our van, we had to bypass the bridge needed to get to our hotel. The route that we instead had to take was a long and bumpy one (think Quebec’s potholes but 10x worse). However, our prize for braving the road was the most magical reception at our hotel, Fragrant Nature. Tea, hot towels and snacks were presented to us inside the lobby. The hotel itself looked like the evil lair of a James Bond villain, perched along the side of Munnar’s many mountains. Once settled in at the front desk, we ran to our rooms and basked in the glory of big, comfy bed...

This marks the turning point in the trip where we have been left to fend for ourselves. Ajay has departed and we are on our own. The night before, we’d joked that we had managed to get through the trip without doing anything embarrassing. Cue dramatic music. Oh, how the tables turned.   The day kicked off with our usual guesthouse breakfast. Dan and Spencer joined Lalit for a walk at the Matrimandir, while Caley, Chloe, Tara, and Maeve headed to a women’s empowerment workshop hosted by Eco Femme. The workshop was fantastic, made even better by the surprise appearance of a puppy who decided that Caley and Maeve’s laps were the perfect resting spots.   Afterward, the girls caught a tuk tuk to La Terrace, a café on top of Solar Kitchen, where they indulged in crepes, pasta, and sandwiches. They made friends with another puppy (though this one we couldn't pet).    Feeling they hadn't quite gotten their steps in for the day, the girls decided to walk from La Terrace to th...

On Friday, the team prepped for the final presentation. Dan, Spencer, and Caley bravely volunteered to take the stage, while Maeve, Chloe, and Tara dove into report writing.  Unfortunately, The Rumblies —a term we plan to trademark — launched an attack on two more team members. Because, of course, the group wasn’t stressed enough already. But fear not, Imodium (hero), eggs (questionable choice), and oatmeal (solid, reliable) came to the rescue. The presentation was at Bhumika Hall, and to our delight, a decent crowd showed up, despite the rain.  Dan, Caley, and Spencer knocked the presentation out of the park, answering some tough questions with grace — or at least with a solid "that may have been beyond our scope." Afterward, we relaxed with samosas and chai — the official Auroville team recovery fuel — and mingled with the crowd. Caley and Tara then snuck away for one last stroll through the Matrimandir gardens. They both agreed the walk meant more to them now given how lon...