Our first full day in India and already it's Wednesday! What a long trip we had, 36 hours from door to door with suitcases lost twice but now safe in hand. We met our tour guide Lakuna at 2330 in Chanai our 10 other fellow travellers the next morning. Got our wake up call at 0545 to go to the annual Taru, or "cart" festival which consisted of some very ornate floats with religious guys on top passing out blessings with soot and flames. There were hundreds of people there: women in their best saris and children in their finnest garbs. Men were pulling the floats in the fron with ropes and there was a lot of excitment, cheers and yelling when they got going. Men and women both in the back helping to push. Men with fans were trying to keep the float riders cool. We took pictures of the floats tnd the people and they took pictures of us.
We visited St. Thomas Cathedral where St. Thomas Aquinas was buried in the 1st Century.
Next we went to the fish market in Mamallapuram the bus. We drove down the beachfront road and saw all the women selling fish. This beachside community was hit by the Tsunami and is mostly a pile of fallen down buildings, brocken bricks and debris but people are still living in what is left standing as well as in shaks on the beach. The fisherman were out in boats or on the beach messing with their nets and the women cleaned and sold the fish. We didn't eat any.
We had a tour of the new and old cities of chanai including the govenment buildings, schools and the market. The bus was a good vantage point as well as being a lot cooler then on the street. But we did get off the bus for a surprise--- over the traintracks we walked and onto a train with the locals to the suberbs. We rode oup onto the hill so that we could look down into the town. No windows or doors in this train. The women were all glad to have us sit with them and admire the babies. Actually it was pretty cool and comfortable on the train with all the natural air conditioning going on. The men all held onto the rooftop handles and stayed by the open doors while most of the women sat in safe spots.
Now we're in Mallapuram, named for the King inthe 6th century. We're staying in a bungalo at the Radison Hotel. Our cottage is right by the pool that is the size of a huge lake with beautiful tropical landscaping with paths that lead to the sea. We're next going to take "the buggy" down to the ocean- actually its a large golf cart. This will save us some time so we can go to the bar before dinner.
We visited St. Thomas Cathedral where St. Thomas Aquinas was buried in the 1st Century.
Next we went to the fish market in Mamallapuram the bus. We drove down the beachfront road and saw all the women selling fish. This beachside community was hit by the Tsunami and is mostly a pile of fallen down buildings, brocken bricks and debris but people are still living in what is left standing as well as in shaks on the beach. The fisherman were out in boats or on the beach messing with their nets and the women cleaned and sold the fish. We didn't eat any.
We had a tour of the new and old cities of chanai including the govenment buildings, schools and the market. The bus was a good vantage point as well as being a lot cooler then on the street. But we did get off the bus for a surprise--- over the traintracks we walked and onto a train with the locals to the suberbs. We rode oup onto the hill so that we could look down into the town. No windows or doors in this train. The women were all glad to have us sit with them and admire the babies. Actually it was pretty cool and comfortable on the train with all the natural air conditioning going on. The men all held onto the rooftop handles and stayed by the open doors while most of the women sat in safe spots.
Now we're in Mallapuram, named for the King inthe 6th century. We're staying in a bungalo at the Radison Hotel. Our cottage is right by the pool that is the size of a huge lake with beautiful tropical landscaping with paths that lead to the sea. We're next going to take "the buggy" down to the ocean- actually its a large golf cart. This will save us some time so we can go to the bar before dinner.
that festival sounds really cool! your hotel sounds AMAZING! enjoy!
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