A Return to India

Visiting a Temple in Chennai

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The plane touched down at 11a in Chennai (Madras).  Wow, back in India - I hope I'm ready for this. 

I met a young German couple in the airport who have just started a 6 month traveling  trip.  We share a taxi into town.  There were less men pissing by the side of the road this time, but the atmosphere of the streets was the same.  In the mad confusion of what's supposed to be lanes motorbikes whiz by, as do archaic looking busses jammed with people, and in this confusion Indians are stretched out on the sidewalk taking naps in the hot noonday sun. 

After settling into the hotel I go exploring with Niki and Tom.  For lunch we have a S. Indian meal - rice with various sauces served on a banana leaf and eaten with your hands.  We visit some temples and check out the old fort.  At one temple a festival worshipping Shiva is taking place.  On a huge chariot offerings of coconuts are being broken on the wheels and babies are being handed up for blessings.   Hoping on an auto-rickshaw we head back to the hotel.  It's so hot out, oh that's right - it's the hot season :P  On arriving back at the hotel we learn there will be a strike going on tomorrow - so no buses or trains, shops will be closed, and so will restaurants.  I think I've been traveling too long, since I start laughing.  It's just so ... India.