More Scenes Around Pondy

Another picture-heavy post warning!

I visited the Botanical Gardens in Pondy to take pictures for dear friend Beryl. This involved a longer-than-expected discussion with the driver.

"I'd like to go to the Botanical Gardens this morning please."
"The park???"
"Uh, no - the Botanical Gardens."
"The Park!!!"
"Er, the Botanical Park?"
"Yes! Botanical Park!"
"Okay...yes please..."

Afraid nothing was blooming Beryl Dear - it's winter after all. But here's a sign showing the potential.

There was also an aquarium at the site but it was closed. It's a real trick in India - getting to things when they are open! In fact, that's true of any country you're visiting in winter.

There were however, lots of interesting statues and fountains.

I think the bottle is an offering since it contains water. It's common to offer water, food, flowers and incense to sacred statutes.

This is Hanuman - the monkey god.

One of the fountains.

This is an African mahogany tree. Great texture!

Another fountain...

Many of the long lanes had elaborate ironwork gates at their entrance.



This is a snap from our stop at the resort called Temple Bay in Mamallapuram. I took it, then Mr. Chirpsnappy artified it so that is now looks like it could have been anywhen.

Pretty cool, eh? Man hasn't lost his touch! The pointy building in the background of the upper third of the picture is the Shore Temple from the 8th century AD.

I love finding things that are both functional and beautiful! This is a magazine rack from the same resort's lobby.

Lovely pressed bisque ceiling tiles of the porte-cochere where the cars drive up.

A Tamil film being shot in the street outside our hotel with everyone who can jockeying to get a glimpse. The cameraman is in the middle right of the picture. Next to Bollywood, the Tamil film industry is huge in South India. The Tamil language (2200-year history!) does not have familiar roots to those of us used to the Romance Languages - OR to North Indians speaking Hindi. It was not derived from Sanscrit as Hindi and some of the other North Indian languages were.

A typical road in a village outside the city. Those puddles are covering rocks and pretty deep holes. If a road isn't paved, once Monsoon season hits it becomes pretty impassible. South India has two separate Monsoon times. We're in the second now.

When afternoon siesta time comes (typically 12-2 p.m.) people that have come into the city to work at shops or at stalls have to take their nap wherever they can find it.

Young hip kid stylin' on the street.