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Published: April 19th 2007
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Meenakshi Temple
In all its glory... Finally, here is Ana!
Well, I spent the first part of the first week in Madurai coming down with a cold, very exciting. I felt so ill on one of the evenings, that Chas looked and me and said, 'Ana, promise me, you won't die tonight'. So I didn't, obviously!
But once I had got over that, I had a bit of a look around Madurai. Jordan, who is our wonderfully interesting flat mate (he works with Chas at People's Watch), suggested that I visit the Ghandi Museum. So off I went in an autorickshaw to the museum, hoping that the driver had understood what I meant and wasn't going to drop me off in the middle of nowhere! But I did make it, and it had loads of information on India's fight for independence from the English, and then Ghandi's life story too. Right at the end of the museum, they had in a glass cabinet, the blood stained cloth that Ghandi wore when he was assisinated. An incredible man.
I then got completely ripped off on my way home, as I was only charged 35 rupees to get to the Ghandi Museum, and was charged 200
The Marriage Tree
People who want to get married, put an orange string around the tree. People who want children, tie a yellow box with a small toy to the tree. rupees to get home! But it was by this old guy who rode a bicycle rickshaw, and watching him made me want to ride the bike, and have him sit in the back! I have learnt now to be more clear on the negotiation of price before hopping in.
On my next free day, I decided to go and see the main temple in Madurai, the Meenakshi Temple. Jordan set me up with a guide he knows in the temple, Raisya, who has a arts/craft store there. She was so excited when I told her that I had just got married, and took me to the marriage tree within the temple, and said she would pray to the gods for our marriage. She then wanted to buy me these beautiful bangles to wear! The temple itself is stunningly beautiful, and they had an elephant! Yay for elephants! As a fee, at the end of the tour, we came back to Raisya's store, where I bought a shawl that cost a 6th of our month's budget! Oops! She wanted me to buy much more, but I told her that my husband would get very cross with me if I spent
any more money!! Hehehe! But it is a beautiful shawl, ask to see it next time you see me.
On our last day that we had in Madurai, I had arranged to spend the day at the Meenakshi Mission Hospital, in their post-op orthopaedic ward. The nursing superintendant said that I could spend as much time at the hospital, having a few days in each ward. But unfortunately, after spending a day there, I found that I wasn't able to be of much use, and I wasn't gaining anything from being there. The hospital looks to be an excellent hospital, and I have been told that it is one of the best hospitals in Madurai. The main problem for me was the language, hardly anyone speaks English, so it was hard to ask the nurses questions. So, I think I will look for something else to do!
Chas and I are now currently up in Kodai, as Chas mentioned in his previous blog. And happily enough, we are getting better. I have even had an improvement in solidity but I won't give too much more detail! Today I went to visit Grihini, which is a 20 year old
Ana as Goddess
With shopping in hand of course... a new deity arises perhaps? project that was set up by the wife of a previous principal of the school here. They were a couple from Adelaide actually! She had been visiting a village with a school group, and came across women who were being exploited, and so decided to set up an women's empowerment project to help women from poor backgrounds with no education. The girls from ages 15-25 come for a year, board together, and have classes about health, human rights, vocational skills and so on, for free. It's really amazing. Because we had come to visit, the girls performed a dance where they balance a copper pot filled with sand that is about a metre high on their head, where there was a lot of swaying of hips, and even rolling on the floor without ever dropping the pot! They did have a nurse working there, but she recently got married and has left. So I may be able to teach something health related here, we'll see how things go! I will need to have it all translated as the girls don't speak English!
Tomorrow I am accompanying a school class to visit one of the orphanges, and I am looking
Ana with her new friend
But unfortunately a friendship you have to pay Rs10 for, but lovely all the same
forward to that. Geoff was telling me that there are now 11 orphanges in Kodai, one of them is just for orphan children as a result of the tsunami.
But, enough from me! Hopeufully getting sick at the start of the week won't become a pattern, or I will be spending most of my time in India in bed!
Lots of love,
Ana and Chas.
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I wish...
I wish I was in india with you...... the place looks beautiful and AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Glad to hear that things are getting better health wise.... Language barriers are hard but before you know it you'll probably pick up on a few new words or sayings! Love always