eating, beach, festival temple - and sunday night debrief

after a long soak in the spacious outdoor shower at broadlands lodge, we head to the new woodlands hotel for a late sunday lunch.

this hotel is located in the posh area of chennai, we look at the lovely clothes and eating manners of this middle class that the restaurant attracts. we use spoons today to eat.

south indian thali: 12 vege side dishes, unlimited rice and indian tea. this meal lasts me all day. fi has a masala dosa which is like a cross between a pancake and cornish pasty with curried potatoes in with chilli. our mouths are becoming absestos lined with the more of the little green guys we eat. on the beaches they deep fry them whole in batter.. better than a 99' with flake, eh?

we carry on after being carried out by security, on a rickshaw to elliot beach

we get to the beach expecting to be mobbed by locals, however crowds only gather when we both sit down on the shore. we are asked to be a young groups photo.. of course, we may be in the indian hello this time next week!

the groups get bigger as i look very white when i enter the ocean. a distinct taste of oil and sewage effluent.. i get out very quickly when i realise my shorts have dissolved..

after taking a few photos of the indian version of blackpool we head to a trendy rooftop cafe for a couple of juices.

our reliable rickshaw driver is waiting for us, we are quikly enroute to the largest temple in chennai, a funny name, cant remember.

>> amazing! we are given a tour around, and see a wedding being blessed, hindu style. then a childrens temple, where kids whisper all their problems into the ear of a cow.

we have to walk partly home as the rickshaw runs out of gas. this works in our favour as we buy a sarong. back in triplicane, chennai we head for a sunday night debrief **hello monkeyrats!! #%$@** lots of cheezy bollywood music videos with the audience learing at the actresses dancing.. some videos they even played twice!

fi was the only female in the bar, she was escorted to the downstairs toilet as the upstairs wc was male only. it was ok as the lift operator waited for her!

we walked three doors down, past a cow, to our city home

jim