The next morning we fly to Madurai. We have a fantastic hotel set high up on a hill, overlooking the city. We get there late because our flight was delayed. I am already happy because there are resident peacocks. I am not happy that my umbrella got stolen out of my suitcase from the only unlocked pocket. Air India. Avoid this airline if possible.

Gorgeous Taj Hotel

Honeymoon Suite

Got The Pool All For Myself

Lovely View From Hotel

The Germ

Peacock At The Hotel

That evening we go and see the ceremony of putting Parvati to bed. It is in a lovely huge temple. Very colorful. People won’t stop taking pictures of me. The next thing I know, they hand me a baby. They want my picture holding a baby. The irony…

Please Hold My Baby

Hindu Temple

Ceiling Paintings At Temple

Dancing Siva

Lord Ganesh

The ceremony involves taking a statue of Parvati, ceremoniously carrying her to her husband Shiva, changing her clothes, putting her in his room that has a curtain and singing to her. They do this every night (for hundreds of years now). Dress up dolly. We don’t get it.

Taking Parvati To Bed

Scary Looking Priest

The temples have beautiful adornment on the outside because during the time of strict casts, none of the lower casts were allowed inside the temple so the people would pray to statues from the outside.

Temple Close-up

The attention I am getting is starting to get to me. Our guide tells us that everyone has been asking if we are movie stars. They are sure I am famous. Only in India…

Monkeys On The Road

The next morning we see the old court and drive for hours to see the royal family’s summer residence. Nice enough, but absolutely not worth the hours we spent in the car. I am loving the animals on the streets–except for the dogs. The dog population has no control here. A leash? Forget it. Spay or neuter? Non-existent. We figured that feeding the packs of dogs was the excuse used by the entire country for dumping their garbage anywhere and everywhere. It really is filthy here. A wasteland? A dumping ground? All of the above.

Lock At Palace

Maharaja Owners Of the Palace

Palace

Local Transport

Lunch was at a woman’s house. She converted her large home into a tourist attraction where you hang out with the locals. We had lunch off a banana leaf which was fun, delicious and a novelty. Since we were Westerners, we were given cutlery. Everyone else was eating with their hands. The food was excellent–we have yet to get rid of our heart burn.

Tuk Tuk Leads The Way

Indian Lunch On a Banana Leaf

Great Lunch

That evening we go back to the same temple. The night before we were there and stopped by a store. We saw a carpet that we loved and had the night to sleep on it. Our guide was taking me back to see the temple elephant. I am in love with elephants. The night before I only has a brief amount of time with her. Tonight I am prepared with a wad of cash to keep her around. I don’t care if no one else gets a turn. The elephant is painted which I am enjoying. The elephant lets me blow in her trunk and I can’t stop kissing her. Marc is happy enough to photograph me and not get in on the elephant action. After, we bought the carpet.

Feeding Money To Elephant

The Elephant Loves Her

Blowing Into Her Trunk

Kiss

More impressions…

Granite Stone Quarry

Local Transport

Holy Cows On The Street

Vegetable Market

Italian Muslim Architecture

Dhoti Skirt

Just Drive Around Her

Every Day Life

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