Chennai-Pondicherry Trip: Part I

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

(Photo taken by: Kelly O'Brien) I know, our excitement is outrageous

   At 7:30 pm, Ryan, Erin, Emily, Alaa, Kelly, Amber, Megan, Jamie, and I got on a semi-sleeper bus for a 14 hour ride to Chennai. We only stopped once... luckily it was at the 'Nice Restaurant'...there I encountered  the worst bathroom I have EVER experienced in my life. I will not elaborate... let's just say I will never EVER complain about an American gas-station bathroom again... EVER.


Thursday, January 26, 2012
The ride was alright and we arrived in Chennai about 8 AM. We walked to our hotel and spent a few hours resting there. So far, it was the worst hotel I've stayed at in India, but there were no bed bugs and it was relatively safe.
We got some brunch at a small restaurant down the street. I had an excellent egg doosa and some fabulous tea.

I love that the saucer and cup do not match :)

  Rahul had insisted that we get a guided tour of Chennai, so our guide and driver showed up at 1 pm. The woman, who told us to call her 'Rain' because 'it was easy for us to say' was quite intriguing. She was openly prejudice against Muslims, but had an interesting life story. She told a few of us at dinner that she had an arranged marriage that was based on her horoscope. The marriage consisted of a very abusive dowry and when her husband died (when their daughter was 2 years old) his brother said she could either pay for the funeral (roughly $10,000) or get out. So she left and took her daughter with her. Now, her 19 year old is in an Engineering College and setting sights on America. Her mother insists that she will get to choose her future husband. :)
   Anyways, the tour! First we went to St. Mary's Church, which is the oldest Angelican Church East of the Suez. Next was the St. Thomas Basilica. St. Thomas is buried underneath, and our guide said it's one of the top three churches to see in the world. Personally, my favorite part of it was the hollywood-like posters of Jesus' prophets:

St. John with a mullet.

St. James The Less

Pretty Impressive

The stained glass windows created this wonderful reflection on the marble floor- made me think of home.

Next was coffee. Most coffee here is not really coffee, it's more of this dissolvable mix that resembles the taste of week-old coffee. But wherever this tour lady took us was LEGIT! I had the best coffee I think in India. It was sooooo great and very much needed. 

In order to cool it, you pour it back and forth between the cup and the cup-bowl-thing. Pretty genius, I'd say.

(Photo taken by: Kelly O'Brien) Me bein' real excited for real coffee.

The Hindu Temple was next. Wow it was cool. I'm not even sure if I could ever explain it. But it was beautiful to see people in worship.

On the way to the beach we saw fruit and vegetable markets! They look as good as good ol' Nebraskan grown :)

A lot of gods. Whew.

Next was the beach! I had been looking forward to this moment since we arrived to the coast. I was wearing white pants... which didn't mix very well with running in the ocean as soon as I could, but I really don't even care. I was so excited to feel the waves, I'm sure everyone had quite a view haha.

(Photo taken by: Erin Mcconnaha) Me being really happy after a splash in the Bay of Bengal/ Indian Ocean

   
That night (mostly to get ourselves out of our hotel), a few of us and Alla's friends went to a huge mall. It was Republic Day, so even the mall was festive!

(Photo taken by: Kelly O'Brien) Me being touristy.