Chennai-Pondicherry Trip: Part II

Friday, January 27, 2012
 After a particularly long night in our fabulous hotel, I had the most amazing orange juice I have ever tasted. Anyone who has never had freshly squeezed orange juice is really missing out.

This is tiffin and idli (I think...) It was very yummy :)

Minute Maid now has some huge competition...

Our taxi picked us up after breakfast and we first stopped at a crocodile farm/sanctuary/thing. In my opinion, it was absolutely horrifying. They put 100's and 100's of crocs and alligators in an area about 50 yards squared. They did have a lot of different species, which was neat to see, but I was pretty freaked out by the conditions. While waiting for everyone to get to the car I was standing next to some calves. I was talking to them and when I looked away one of the rammed me in the side! haha. Yes, it could have been horrible, but I found it very amusing: the HOLIEST creature in India tried to take me out haha. (*Mom, please don't freak out). I wish I could have at least gotten a bruise to show off!
   Our next stop was Mamallpuram, a group of Hindu stone-carvings. Again, I wish I knew what exactly I was looking at, but it was still pretty cool.

I tried to be as cute as this kid.

But, instead I just stole his idea.

This is an excellent example of creepy men taking pictures of light-skinned women. Poor Kelly :(

After a long trek up to a temple: (front to back) Erin, Kelly, Amber, Ryan, Alaa, Emily

   Once we arrived in Pondicherry, we fell in love with our guest house: the Kailash Guest House.

(Picture taken by: Kelly) Amber and I ready to sleep forever on SOFT, clean beds.

Run by a family of devout Hindus, we experienced shrines, incense, and warm welcomes at this place.

Wow, I could have stayed forever in this place, it was so wonderful. By this time, everyone was very grumpy and hungry, so lunch and rest took our time until night. A group of us decided to try to find La' Coffee and Space, which was a hangout recommended in my Lonely Planet book. It was super fun but before we reached it we stumbled upon something magnificent: Lakshmi, the elephant who stands in front of a Hindu temple and blesses people. For those of you who know of the what-to-do-with-an-elephant-in-india-to-do-list, this is #1. I was blessed by an elephant...3 times haha. It was magical :)

Lakshmi and I