Mamallapuram

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Left Calcutta early on Independance day, thankfully taxi drivers don't seem to bothered about this and were still working. Flew to Chennai, or Madras as it used to be known. We then set about getting down the coast to a town called Mamallapuram about 2 hours away by bus. After quite an uncomfortable 2 hours we reached our destination, found a hostel and spent the rest of the afternoon drinking beer in various beach front bars.

Next day we did a little sightseeing, the main sight being a big rock balancing on its edge half way up a slope. The town is famous for carving rock sculptures and other rock things. We saw loads of places with people chipping away at boulders, turning them into sculptures that are exported all around the world to temples and hotels and anyone else who might want a life size solid stone elephant. Sightseeing didn't last very long as it was very hot and we were both tired from a restless night previously, a swarm of mosquitos had it in for us and spent the night feasting on us. After a nap, thankfully the mosquitos had moved on to find fresh blood, we went to see the shore temple, apparently one of India's most photographed monuments. Got there too late to go in, but we did photograph it from outside.

Following day we left Mamallapuram for our late evening flight to Sri Lanka. On the way back to Chennai we stopped at a crocodile sanctuary and saw many crocodiles. The place was set up about 20 years ago to care for 15 endangered crocodiles and now has over 15000 animals being reared and looked after. As well as the crocs, there was a snake venom milking centre which makes anti-venom for poisonous snakes in the area. Watched the milking for a while before continuing our journey back to Chennai.

Went for dinner before going to the airport, hoping that we'd be able to get a Madras curry, otherwise whats the point in coming here. unfortunately they were impossible to come by so we had to settle for some other sort of curry.

Next stop Sri Lanka

More soon

Neil and Rosie

xx

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Photos

Elephant Carving
Life size elephant and other things carved into the side of a cliff

Krishna's Butterball
Big boulder on a hill which someone has decided is of religous importance

Rosie's Legs
After being eaten by mosquito's

Crocodiles
500 crocs in one small enclosure

Crocodile
From behind a 2 foot high wall which doesn't exactly make you feel safe.

Comments

[Robin]

Where's Snowy?
Getting worried about Snowy. He was last seen on the back of Rosie's rucksak in Calcutta floods. Is he OK?

[neil and rosie]

RE: Where's Snowy?
Snowy is fine, no need to worry, he's been resting for a few days. He didn't want to take the spotlight away from us. He'll be back posing for more photos soon.