Indian Summer - Part 1

My 2007 India trip was shared with a good friend of mine, Salina. For 8 days, we traveled, ate, queued up, prayed, sweat, walked, ran, and drove around some of the southern parts of this beautiful country, Chennai, Tirupathi, Kaalahasti, Chennai, Palani, Madurai, Thiruchenthur, Kanjanoor, Kumbakonam, Pondicherry, Thirunageswaram....We came back wiser and closer than we ever been before. Let us share with you our journey to wisdom, faith, belief accompanied with friendship, love and laughter..


Vellaboy with his " I merajuk" look cos he wasn't allowed to tag along



I promised Salina I'd buy her the sweetest Basundhi i can get my hand on when we arrive in Chennai.



We hired a car to go to Kalahasti and had the chance to drive the car. Our driver was so shy to sit on the passenger seat. I think I caught him hanging on to the dash board when Salina took the wheels.. hahaha!



Then it was my turn



These huts may not be much to look at, but they are oh so comfortable. It has the roof made from coconut leaves, and on a hot day, when you lie down, you can see the sun playing peek a boo with you.






This man is a professional kutu comb maker!



Kalahasti temple. It looks small doesn't it? You'd be so surprised at how big it actually is.. its huge and old, ancient and oh so beautiful.



Saw this massive Hanuman statue on our way to Tirupathi



Salina's first auto ride - woohooo!



Who said our duit small??



Big money, come on big money..



speed breaker



Manne melle tar, tar melle road, road melle car, car kulle ponne! I aint translating it..sowie



a little girl sitting beside her flower selling mother. In Madurai.


Flower lady outside Perumal Temple in Madurai.


Elephant rock - Madurai



A monument. No names available.



This Bhairavan temple was at the foot of the monument.



Pwetty fowers.



pwetty gurl wooking at pwetty fowers.



Such a pretty sight, no?



On the way to Madurai, we met a cashew nut seller and his wife and sister.



You pick the cashew nut, and you roast them.



Then you roast them some more.



And roast them again..



its a trade and skill that is passed on from generation to generation



ala reporter la konon nye!



Never let an opportunity like this pass.



The lady in this picture was feeding her child. You know how you show things and animals to entice your kid to eat?? We were the "things" !! Tactic worked wor!



Kid must have grown now :)