Trip to Tanjore…

We started the day with a delicious breakfast. Delicious buttery croissants with there homemade jam. ‘Sunnyside up’ eggs and fruit!

There are so many things happening that I can’t remember everything but I really want to remember every detail, so when I am older and infirmer I could look back at these adventures. Although some may say I am already both!

Around Pondicherry we have seen lots of patterns outside houses, so I looked it up.

These patterns are a daily ritual, women clean the street/threshold with water every morning before sunrise to create an even surface for the kolam, which is often worn away by traffic, etc, during the day.

Why do they do it? While primarily decorative, these daily designs represent a form of charity, as traditional rice powder feeds small creatures. Traditionally made with dry rice flour or rice paste (kola-podi).

Also when we were walking we passed the police station. The sentry at the entrance had the most elaborate police outfit I have seen!

They had a free museum, so we popped in. It was incredibly dull.

We popped into the Cathedral too.

The elections are coming up, so when we listen to the radio there are sporadic jingles about registering to vote. As we walked down the promenade we saw hay bales, with Green Party placards. The ‘shrimp’ farms we passed yesterday were once mangroves and are being disseminated.

Yesterday I said to Pete that I had seen a police bomb squad van, later I saw 3 or 4 men with metal detectors, going over buns etc. Pete said he thought they were dectorists.

On our trip today Param told us that Modhi was travelling to Pondicherry today to drum up support for his party in the local elections. He said that Modhi is not popular in the south. We then united over our hatred for Trump and bemused why him and Modhi are bedfellows. So I was right! They weren’t looking for buried treasure but bombs!

On the way out of Pondicherry we crossed a bridge. This previously was the checkpoint to enter the French colony. I really can’t understand why they waited so long to grant independence. But it was linked to the aftermath of WW2. Having been occupied by Germany during WWII, France was determined to maintain its remaining colonial empire (in Southeast Asia and Africa) to regain its status as a major world power.

Moving from Pondicherry back into Tamil Nadu we noticed lots of don’t drink and drive signs. The reason being is the alcohol is half the price of Tamil Nadu, but you can’t take it over the border, you have to drink it.

Throughout our trip the roads have been fantastic. Although I don’t think Param believes us. No potholes! So any assumptions I had before I came here have been roundly challenged.

We passed accident prone zones, which is definitely one I would like to nick. It could have been made just for me.

We three temples in the way to our next step. They are a bit of a blur. But all were very interesting.

When we were in Pondicherry we met a couple at the ashram, we later saw them on the Promenade and today we met them at this temple, greeting each other like old friends!

The temple here was the Thillai Nataraja Temple, in Chidambaram. prominent temple town in Tamil Nadu renowned for its four massive gopurams (towers) at the cardinal points. These East, West, South, and North entrances allow access to the whole of the 40-acres.

This was the first time we were persistently hassled by a beggar, Who had gold nose rings, gold bracelets and several gold necklaces. Param keeps a handy bag of sweets and hands them out, he says they would drink it otherwise if they had money. Who knows!

We passed through lots of agricultural land,but not like western ones. Small paddy fields here and there, three harvests a year. People bent double collecting groundnuts (peanuts) in the fields,then spreading on the side of the road to dry and bag up.

The second one was less colourful, but impressive. We were asked by quite a few people to have photos taken with them. We haven’t seen more than 2 white people today. It is genuine interest.

One last temple. Brihadisvara Temple (Thanjavur),Features a massive moat (4.3 km long, 20–80m wide) that once defended the temple and the city.

I was flagging a bit as the heat had got quite bad.

Before we went in Param introduced us to Boba, who met us outside the temple. He proceeded to take us to his house. We didn’t know what it was all about but dutifully followed him. We went through the gardens and he picked tamarind pods from a tree and passed to us. They were surprisingly delicious, sweet and sour.

We got to his house which turned out to be a Silk cloth maker, using the traditional methods, in the family for 4 generations.

After this Param scooped us up and took us to a market.

It was good to do something else!

We got some snacks and Indian sweets there were delicious!

Close by was our hotel, called Mantra Koodam. Our most expensive hotel of holiday, but still the price of a Travelodge at the weekend.

Tucked away in the quiet village landscapes near Kumbakonam. If they ever do a series of White Lotus in India, this would hands down be the location!

On arrival we were asked to each asked to ring a large ceremonial bell. Had jasmine bracelets attached to our wrists. Given a drink, had a welcoming prayer that involved moving a metal dish with a flame and flowers a few times in a circle in front us. It was all very dramatic and everyone had rictus smiles.

But that said the moment we entered, the world really felt like it has slowed down.

Red‑tiled bungalows along winding stone pathways, with wide verandah.

The bungalow was spacious, earthy, and thoughtfully crafted. Wooden furniture, open verandas, and warm lighting gave our room a homely, lived‑in elegance.

All the added extras made us feel very pampered indeed. Copper water, a range of teas special hair and body wash concoctions.

In the afternoon we were able to partake in free tea and nibbles in the Tea Kadai. We also got given unlimited free onion bhajis made in front of us.

The residents peacocks every so often trying to beg scraps. It reminded me of my teaching days in Luton, where we had several free roaming peacocks. Very difficult to concentrate teaching An Inspector Calls when they were making love on the flat roof!