The Sweet Cows & Bulls In Mamalapurram

Very nice looking short animals, I would like one to take home.
They seem to like being patted.

They look well fed and happy. No abattoirs for them!!

Mamalapurram ( Formerly Mahabalipurram)

Cottage in a side street

Stone carvers shop

Catholics!

Looks like Mamalapurram will be getting road drainage eventually

Here we are in the stone carvers village and where there was once an ancient civilization.
The Shore Temple is here and also a nuclear reactor plant just around the bay. Maybe seafood should not be on the menu here!

We have been here a few times in the past and of course many changes to be seen, less stone carvers for instance. More shops, guest houses, hotels but nothing high rise or modern looking, thank goodness. It still has a village feeling and the beach looks just as grubby (ok at sunset when you can't see too much rubbish). Restaurants are very good here and plenty to choose from.

We are staying in one of the best hotels in town ( Mamala Heritage), 3 restaurants, swimming pool etc. it has been re-decorated quite well apart from bathroom with no ventilation and hard bed. Not bad for $60 double per night includes breakfast. Very nice friendly people working here

Thank You Mumbai

But I am glad we leave on Friday morning.

Methodists are everywhere

Bullet holes in Leopold Cafe

We are still here in this amazing huge city full of people using mobiles!!!!~ will they ever stop??

We went to the movies today and I threw a lolly ( A Lifesaver) at someone who was using a mobile in the middle of the film ( Milk) It didn't hit anyone, just made a noise. Milk was a great movie by the way. Sean Penn was excellent.

We have been to Leopolds Cafe near the Taj Hotel most days for coffee thick shakes and bottled water. The terrorist's bullet holes are still there and I think they will become a tourist attraction. You can buy coffee mugs with picture of bullet holes as a momento. We bought two as gifts for sick minded friends, well, they are unique!!!! The friends and the mugs I mean.

This city has the most incredible ornate Victorion public buildings and monuments all over the place. I wonder though, did Queen Victoria ever look so angelic and gorgeous? I thought she was short and frumpy. Is that her on the top of the Flower Fountain?

Mumbai Here We Are !!!!

Leopold Cafe.

Couldn't see any bullet holes!

We are planning to do a tour of Bollywood, we are here until friday so there is plenty of time. I believe it is quite expensive but as this is the only chance we will ever have, we should do it.

Today we are going to Elephant island after the peak hour rush.Our hotel isn't far from everything so we can walk that far in about 40 minutes.

Taj Hotel.

I seem to remember seeing the corner room with flames billowing out freom the windows when terroroists attacked not so long ago. I thought there would be more security around but none obvious to see now.

India Gate

Cricket mad India !!!!!!

Lots of buildings looking like ornate wedding cakes

More Of Kolkata

We finally made it to see Slumdog Millionaire. It was a wonderful movie, we hope it wins at The Oscars tonight. It keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way through. We went to see it at a luxurious shopping mall where there was a beautiful multi-plex with brilliant sound system. India is so full of these incongruous things.

We take A Taxi Tour

Glen meets up with Mother Theresa and her tomb.A Good Catholic boy.

Next door to our hotel is a Methodist School and church, very decayed and looks like might fall down any minute, like so many other buildings in this city.

The rickshaw wallas wanted to carry us as well but we thought no. Not with our weight.... apart from the obvious concern for another person's well being, although the say if they didn't have this work they wouldn't have anything.

AmazingKolkata

We arrived here late yesterday flying with Kingfisher Airlines, which we thought very good compared to our last trip here.After leaving the airport we got caught up in an incredible traffic jam, like nothing I have ever seen before!!!!

Our driver was like a maniac, driving off the side of the road over huge rocks and holes, but we managed to get to our hotel safely if rather shaken. Those old Ambassador cars certainly can take a beating although not sure about the suspension, there wasn't any!

Last night sleep was on the menu, no food because a tummy upset but fine in the morning.

I think this city needs to be taken slowly, just our short walk to the markets was overwhelming.

Humans dragging rickshaws barefoot ( with people in them!) is quite a shock to see on one side of the street, whilst on the other a trendy looking guy was chatting away on his mobile.

I am sure lots of people would not like it here because it is so confronting.
We have been amazed at the developments in India, hotels, shopping malls etc.
and Kolkata is no different. We hope to see Slumdog Millionaire soon as we didn't get to see it at home.

Demo in MG Street Pondicherry

I would have joined in if I knew what it was about, police looked a bit menacing with those long sticks though.

Street Scenes in French Pondi

I suppose this blog should be re-named as a Phlog, more photos than blog.
The reason for this is we are yet to find a comfortable internet cafe, it's either perched on bar stools or in a steam bath. Maybe when we get to Calcutta (next stop) we will find a decent place.

We have heard about the terrible fires back home by logging on to smh.com.au, nothing much in Indian papers that we have seen. Thank goodness for SMH.