“This! Baby elephant!” our guide said as he leaned over a particular pile of poop. He leaned closer, and then smiled up at us, “Not too far away.” My husband’s daughter looked incredibly hopeful. We had been following elephant … Continue reading
We decided to visit Periyar with its beautiful rolling hills, tea farms, and nature preserve, because my husband’s children had joined us for a few weeks and we wanted to show them a good time. We also wanted a closer … Continue reading
Kerala is the state next to Tamil Nadu, is a major tourist destination, and treated as such. (Our friend’s son told us that it is commonly joked that the trash stops at the state line between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.) … Continue reading
We jumped in the jeep wrangler. It was a two-seat jeep but there was a metal bench on each side of the rear and also a ramp that could be pulled down hanging off the back. We started off down … Continue reading
We had driven South of the small town of Rameswaram, until we reached a spot where our driver pulled over and turned off the car. “The car can’t go any further than this. You have to take a truck.” he … Continue reading
Rameswaram is an island off the southeast coast of India, connected to the mainland by a long, concrete bridge. We stopped at the top of the bridge, with a bunch of other people, to watch the current sweep underneath. There … Continue reading
This post is the second part of our Alagar Koyil journey! ( BTW I’m not sure if I’m spelling it right- I see it as Koil & Kovil, too?) Alagar Koyil is overrun with people, vendors, animals, as busy and … Continue reading
When we arrived at Alagar Koyil, we left our shoes, and walked quietly around the large granite structure with columns engraved with different depictions of Hindu gods and goddesses rising into the air. I missed our host, with her enthusiastic … Continue reading
We headed back to the Jain Hillside Temple where a certain family had been carrying Shiva up the side of the mountain, and lighting it at the top for untold years. That night they would allow others in on the … Continue reading
Our host had arranged for Kevin to speak with a children’s school about American and Tamil culture. We pulled up to the school in our auto-rickshaw. A row of children lined the path on each side, all of them waving … Continue reading
Our host decided to dress me up for my birthday. I got an Indian outfit, pearl jewelry, and my hair done with flowers and a braid. We drove to the hills where we were going to see a Jain cave … Continue reading
The Thirumayam Fort appears seemingly out of nowhere- poking out of rocks on a large hill. We enjoyed the reason to get out of the car and stretch a bit. Some of the walls are crumbling. There is a colorfully … Continue reading
Our hosted wanted to stop at a temple along the way. Not much marked it, just a small trip off the main road. Several men in lungis stood outside, waiting for us, or anyone, to get out of the car. … Continue reading
Everyone climbed into our host’s vehicle for our drive to Madurai. We passed endless fields of rice, the laid back feel of South India a refreshing change. Beautiful women clothed in colorful saris bent over row after row after row … Continue reading
We were incredibly blessed in Tanjore because our host was a South Indian tour guide and extremely passionate and knowledgeable. She took us to the Tanjore Palace. The main courtyard of the palace is now turned into an art museum … Continue reading
We hired a driver for our trip from Pondicherry to Tanjore. The roads were still flooded from the recent cyclone, so we drove slowly under a clear blue sky, past fields of rice and small thatched-roofed mud houses, some with … Continue reading
Aurobindo, a famous Indian philosopher, moved to the former French territory of Pondicherry in 1910. Aurobindo spoke of people coming together above politics and nationalities, of transcending the ways of the past. A few years later Mirra Alfassa journeyed to … Continue reading
Pondicherry is beautiful, and very hot and humid due to its close proximity to the ocean. On our arrival, police barricades blocked the street entrance the beach. Our waiter explained that was because of the cyclone that had just passed through. Everyone … Continue reading
3 Months In India 