As I drive along Chennai’s streets in an open air vehicle, I often question which is better – to breathe in through my nose (where I smell the odour) or through my mouth (where I taste the odour). I more often than not choose the nasal route.
In other news, today was marvellous – BEACH/CHURCH/TEMPLE
It was a day filled with such joy. I relaxed in the morning, went for a lunchtime stroll and Golvin picked me up in the afternoon to take me to Marina Beach. At 12kms, it
is the second longest beach in the world. At first, I was on so on my guard. People would approach me and I full expected they would crash tackle me for my camera. So I decided to seat myself under the shade of a row boat with two women who were watching their children playing in the water. Mission was successful. I also checked out what looked like movie filming – these poor kids had to run up and down the beach about 50 times! After these women had left I got pretty absorbed in my book and was interrupted by a young girl and a hoard of her brothers and sisters. They wanted me to take photos of them and endlessly chatter away in the English they knew. They even bought me a coffee – so touching.
On the way home we visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of St Thomas – one of only three churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle of Jesus. We also visited Kapaleeswarar Temple on the way home which dates back to the 8th century and fam
ous for its 37m gopuram (entrance gate). Golvin (trusty rickshaw driver), then asked me to do him a favour a visit two tourist shops so he would be given a new shirt for soliciting business – how could I say no to sheer blatant honesty like that?!
What a wonderful day.
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