10 December 2005
Dakshinachitra
Mammalapuram was most impressive, and I thank my hosts for the opportunity - they also are grateful to be able to come, one of them has never been and the other not since he was a child and came with school, they usually work all weekend or visit with their parents who live outside Chennai. When entertaining clients they go to western bars, it is the first time they have taken anyone to tour historic sites.
It is getting quite late, so we only have time for a quick visit to one other site called Dakshinachitra, which is a village containing houses of all styles of Indian architecture, some are original, others are recreations, the site is maintained by a not for profit community and there are many crafts for sale. I buy a couple of bags which are being made inside the store.
Inside the forecourt of a house in the traditional Tamil Nadu style - it is starting to get dark...
A Tamil Nadu streetscape - my friends have never been here before and are thrilled at the place. They are just about jogging about to see everything in excitement, Vaigunth calls his mother and promises to bring her here.
A sculpture inside one of the buildings.
A house of the Kerala style, Kerala is a state full of backwaters, many people travel on the water - like venice.
A painting or tapestry in one of the houses.
The visit comes to an end as it is now dark, at 5:30pm, we now make the trip home, about 40km, how long could that take do you think? 3.5 hours! I am feeling ill again from the traffic fumes and have a headache (I never ever get headaches) I have some headache tablets but decide not to take them, as I would rather know that something is wrong than mask the issue with drugs.