Days 13-16 pt. 1

This might be a bit of a short update as I am paying for internet access.... I'll not complain about Sheru's again- ever... at an internet cafe. Mine and Hena's plans have been constantly challenged by buses and ferries let me tell you!

I promise to add more detail for these days later and upload pictures for all the days I have missed so far when I get to Calicut!

Day 13
Hena and I left Chennai for the last time to travel to Kanyakumari. The bus was late and then it was delayed! So we missed sunrise! Bwaaah! However the ride was quite comfortable since we were on an AC Semi Sleeper bus- the chairs lean back. : ) Since we missed sunrise we went to book a room and found out we beat the season when the rates double by two days! Wahoo!

We grabbed breakfast and then took the ferry to a temple and a memorial built on this huge rock that rises out of the sea! Incidentally it is the lowest point of the Indian subcontinent and where three bodies of water co-mingle. The temple is held to be where the goddess Devi first descended to earth to free mankind from the demons who also lived here locking them under the earth and sea securing freedom for the world (which happened at the Kumari Amman Temple). This is a VERY popular pilgrim site- people fast and shave their heads before coming to this temple to pay their respect and give thanks for their freedoms. These pilgrims are what cause the prices of rooms to double! The Vivekananda Memorial is in honor of the religious crusader who traveled to every region of India and met with people of all castes before forming his religious opinions. I learned all of this from a museum on the mainland detailing his travels known as "The Wandering Monk" Exhibition later that evening. Unfortunately I could only take pictures of the outside.
From that island we could view the statue of the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar. It is undergoing maintenance until about June of next year so we couldn't visit. This is a 133 ft statue built to honor the poet's most famous poem that has 133 lines.

We returned to the mainland and first went to the Kumari Amman Temple. Unfortunately this place also prohibits cameras- they collect them outside the outside door so no pictures. We were given the super fast, amazing tour of the place by one of the priests. First we offered sacred oil to feed the eternally burning lamp in the temple. Then we were ushered through back rooms to jump the line of worshipers to view the offerings of the priests to the goddesses image and we saw her nose ring which means we will be blessed by her in the coming year. Next, we offered puja (worship) in the form of five (oil-in-tiny-clay-bowls) candles to Kanya Kumari- the virgin goddess. Next we made an auspicious offering of Rs. 1 to Hanuman, the monkey god who may or may not bless us. The priest here gave us jasmine for out hair. Then we offered prayers to another shrine of Kumari Amman within the temple. Next we were shown a well that for some reason the water is always sweet tasting. The priests only draw from it twice a day, dawn and dusk I think. And with that our tour was completed- after two of these things we received teekas of red an black- but I honestly forgot which ones!

Next we walked down the beach and saw the Tsunami Victims Memorial.

Then, ah then, I dipped my feet in the water! May I mention it is COLD water! The Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea all meet at the tip of Kanyakumari where I stuck my feet in!!

Then we visited the Gandhi Memorial where Ganghi's ashes were kept until they were immersed in the Ganges. On his birthday the sunlight strikes the place where his ashes were kept but only on his birthday, kinda cool.
and caught sunset- there were clouds directly on the horizon but I still think it was a pretty sunset.

Next, we grabbed lunch at the SeaView Hotel- and it was BLAND but ok. I guess I am getting used to spicy food because even I was complaining about how tasteless the food was. We had a tomato and cucumber salad, grilled chicken and grilled fish with cheese nan (type of bread). I also had a milkshake- which is an apt description since it was almost all milk... but hey- it was very vanilla! :)

Next we visited the Government Museum and I was slightly bored until I saw the whale bones and this huge wooden chariot which is amazingly preserved! Also the weapons were pretty.... : )

After that we went to the Lookout to watch the sunset and AMAZINGLY I paid the same amount as Hena! The sunset was pretty, a storm on the horizon with the sun setting behind it over the ocean- purty! : )
We stayed in an alright hotel- view of the ocean made up for the lack of hot water. : )
Also I had to buy a towel since hotels here do not provide them!!! Bwaaah! I also did some gift shopping- *waggles eyebrows*

After sunset is when we went to the Wandering Monk Exhibition an then we grabbed dinner to take back to the room- nothing fancy or new- chicken masala with rice bread.

Day 14
We watched the sunrise from the bathing ghats and then got breakfast at the Sea View again because Hena remembered their breakfast being good. It was bland, very bland- both of us were very unsatisfied.

So we caught a bus, to a bus and stopped in Thuckalay to view a Catalite WOODEN palace in Tamil Nadu. The entire thing is made of teak and mahogany except for one inner building that is built completely of granite! We also viewed the museum of artifacts found around the palace and such. One item really jumped out- a torture suit that is made of iron. It was heated in coals and then applied to the person. The catch- it is full body- arms, legs, torso, even face and head- ouch!

Next we grabbed another disappointing meal at a government run coffee house. The problem was due partly to language differences but whatever- the food was bad too.

So we caught a bus to Ernakulan and a ferry to Fort Kochi.

When we got here we found out the house stay we had a reservation at had given our room away before we got there so we got to walk the streets with one of the guys who lived there to another house stay. This one is twice as expensive- but it was available at 10pm. To get a discount we agreed to stay two nights. So we took baths- you will never know how GREAT a freezing cold bath feels after a dusty day of bus travel. I'd love a hot shower instead- but being clean is the most amazing feeling. LoL

Day 16 pt. 1
So we slept late this morning- aaah.
First we grabbed pictures of the Santa Cruz Basilica.
Then we had one of the most satisfying meals I think I have ever had at Kashi Art Cafe. The breakfast cake and huge pile of FRESH fruit was amazing. It made up for the last three bad meals in the first three bites. We might go there for lunch too...
After that we walked up the coast to view the Chinese Fishing Nets. They are still in operation since they cropped up in the 1400's when traders here on Kubla Khan's behalf were here. They are mostly for tourists now though since commerical fishing has just about put them out of business. Random thing- since the tsunami is 2004 there have been Japanese puffer looking fish in the water and lots of seaweed like stuff cropping up after the rainy season. The people are unsure what to do about either one.
So you are up to date- I had money changed, took passport photos so I can get a cell phone, and came here to post this.
Peace- will post when I can.

Thanks for the prayers of safe travel- I think they helped- we caught one of those buses JUST as it was pulling out of the station- WE LOVE YOU!!!!!