Friday, December 18, 2009

First week in India

 

And so on December 12th we made it to India. Our first stop Chennai. Here are some words that Tal wrote down to describe Chennai:

Kind people, smiles, auto rickshaws, head bobble, rank smells, cacophony of sounds, cows, horns!, no personal space, squalid streets/houses, vivid colors…

So of all the words listed above the head bobble may stand out to you. It did to us, because when we arrived here we did not only get a nod for yes or no, but a head bobble. We first were not sure whether it meant yes or no, but by now we figured it simply means “yes, ok”.

India is crazy – we have never seen anything like it. I personally have never heard that much noise all at once and it’s just chaotic. But it’s wonderfully beautiful and we are getting accustomed to it quickly.

Here are some pictures of our first week.

The first night we arrived we took a little rickshaw to a guest house. Here is Anita buried under our packs…

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Hindu colors to be applied to their foreheads.

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Offerings to the gods in front of pretty much any Hindu temple.

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Hindu Temple

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Cute kids we met on a little detour off the main road.

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Scenes in Chennai

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The next day we made it Puducherry. Our first meal…$1.50 for both of us. After that we decided to step it up, because it was just a bit too dirty (found two flies in my dish). From then on we have started living large by spending $3/meal.

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This is the nicest place in town. The French Hotel L’Orient. It was a fortune and still only $16 for a three course menu for both of us.

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And here Tal very happy eating some fine French food

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We wish we had more pictures of Puducherry, because it’s one of the most charming places we have seen (ok it’s only been one week, but still). The French resided here for quite some time and so it has a European flair. There is also a beautiful Ashram in town that pretty much dictates the atmosphere here. It’s the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and we felt it was the oasis we needed after Chennai.

Here are a couple of shots of the people in Puducherry

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You can find anything here…literally.

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Loads of bikes…

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And motorcycles..

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Fresh eggs in the market

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And no we did not want to eat those fish. Flies were swarming around them and the smell was horrendous.

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So tonight we are off on a overnight train to Kerala. Don’t know yet how well we will sleep, but we are excited to make it to Kerala. According to me brother (Martin), it is paradise and so we don’t want to wait any longer to get there.

Talk to you soon and if we won’t be able to write another blog before Christmas – Merry Christmas to all of you!

7 comments:

  1. WOW, I loved reading about your amazing adventures. You are the best. Africa and now India. That is so cool. You are such LIGHTS.
    TE AMO!!!!!Merry Christmas to you too. XOXOXO

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  2. We were in Chennai 18 days after the Tsunami. It will be so interesting to see how that deserted beach with people living under blue tarps looks now. What fun to read your adventures so close up and personal! Can't wait to hear about the next one! Watch our for cows!

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  3. P.S. We stood at that very hindu temple. So fun to think that you were standing in the very spot we were!

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  4. Hi folks, I came across your blog thru Adrian Dayton's twitter profile. We are following each other. I love your blog and what a superb idea for a honeymoon!!!! your photos are great, I am so keen to visit India and your photos have made my feet itchy :) I had a trip down memory lane reading about your trip to Sodwana Bay. I spent a week there in the 70's and it was wild!!! Absolutely no sign of civilisation at all. It was wonderful and one of the most fun weeks I ever had. I was interested to read about how Mozambique came to be named. I should know that since I am a South African...yet I did not! so thanks for that. I loved your chutzpah at the ski-resort in Dubai...good on you! Wishing you all the best for your stay in India and may you have a wonderful and blessed festive season. I will be keeping your blog on my favourite list and hope to make a contribution in the new year. Enjoy
    Cindy
    notjustagranny on twitter
    p.s. I just posted some photos of the snow we had in Hove, East Sussex today if you want to have a peek when you have a chance. cheers

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  5. Merry Christmas to the both of you! We are here in Utah. Wish you were here! The boys are having a blast skiing while I am suffering from clogges ears.

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  6. Anita and Tal!! Merry Christmas! Love your photos! You missed the Blizzard of '09 here on the East Coast. I hope you're staying nice and warm!

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