We have arrived! And what a place it is. Unbelievably hot, colourful, friendly and every bit an adventure!
So far we have visited the enormous city of Chennai (6.4 million) and it was manic with rickshaw journeys on roads unashamedly disorganised! Our first venture outside was a hair raising ride into the city from the airport.
After our first night in an aircon room (expensive) we met a lovely friend from Couchsurfing - Lead Machary. He was so friendly and let us have the keys to his place and do as we pleased. On the second day he showed us around the city, and the many modes of transport to get around. We saw all the city had to offer from these vehicles: Rickshaw, Train, Metro, Bus, Car and Motorbike (Guy only). We hung out with Leads lovely friend Mani and his wife in the eve, and talked/laughed into the early hours. We could have stayed for longer with new freinds, but Chennai is a very big polluted city (so much waste and rubbish lines the streets, poverty is very apparent) and we felt it time to head somewhere more calm.
We are now in Mamallapuram on our second day in this wonderful small town - where huge caves and temples have been carved from the local rocks. The town supplies much of the world with Hindu statues. It is quite a sight. Cows and Goats roam the streets freely, occasionally getting pushed away from eating from the food carts. Cheeky monkeys frolic in the temples and trees. It is a pleasant place - quite touristy though because of its white sandy beach. It is one of the beaches hit by the 2004 tsunami, but it has recovered well and people hear seem relaxed and happy. Guy could achieve one of his top things to do in his life here: #2 - Surf in waters so warm as to not need a wetsuit. I should hope to try this in the Bay of Bengal, before we head west towards the Indian Ocean.
Next we intend to head to Pondicherry, just south of Mamallapuram and will keep you updated. Our Indian language skills have not improved much - as in this state (Tamil Nadu) the most prominent language is not Hindi but Tamil - so valakom (hello - incorrectly spelled?!) is as far as we got. However, we have been taught the correct way to eat with our right hand and it is becoming a little easier now.
So far we have visited the enormous city of Chennai (6.4 million) and it was manic with rickshaw journeys on roads unashamedly disorganised! Our first venture outside was a hair raising ride into the city from the airport.
After our first night in an aircon room (expensive) we met a lovely friend from Couchsurfing - Lead Machary. He was so friendly and let us have the keys to his place and do as we pleased. On the second day he showed us around the city, and the many modes of transport to get around. We saw all the city had to offer from these vehicles: Rickshaw, Train, Metro, Bus, Car and Motorbike (Guy only). We hung out with Leads lovely friend Mani and his wife in the eve, and talked/laughed into the early hours. We could have stayed for longer with new freinds, but Chennai is a very big polluted city (so much waste and rubbish lines the streets, poverty is very apparent) and we felt it time to head somewhere more calm.
Lead - Guy - Mani and his Wife - Emma - Beer (V.expensive here!)
Krishnas Butterball
Shore Temple - Oldest Temple in South India
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