Five Rathas

[posted 18/11/09]

Our last day in India was a long one. First we finished visiting the various rock carvings in Mamallapuram, visiting the Shore Temple and then this location, the Five Rathas. Generally I find rock carvings or stone sculptures impressive, but to carve a temple from the huge solid bedrock, a temple you can walk into, just amazed me. And to carve a series such as these, I can't even imagine the effort and coordination required.

Then we were off to the big city, to Chennai, along the way stopping to have lunch with our driver Sajeev as a small thank you – even if it was just some fast food and a little awkward for all of us.

Chennai was a renewed education in Indian traffic. We thought we knew how things worked on the road, but being the biggest city on our journey, Chennai traffic was something else. I was very thankful I wasn't driving! Even more so when Sajeev said he was glad we'd arrived mid-afternoon, 'less traffic' he said. Bloody hell – not sure I want to see it later, I replied!

After about an hour of repeatedly stopping to get directions (poor Sajeev was having a really hard time with the numerous detours and generally being none-too familiar with the city) we finally managed to get to Chennai Silks, the big store where H wanted to buy some more salwars and I wanted to get some more kurta/pajama tops. Again we had the interesting experience of shopping from a seated position, with the occasional trying-on of items.

Later, to kill time, we grabbed some food and drinks at the bar in the Radisson, where the hotel had more stringent entry security than the airport would! And finally we said goodbye to Sajeev before plunging headlong into the airport, wrestling our way through check-in, experiencing a particularly delightful toilet that evoked visions of the film Trainspotting, and then just shy of midnight we boarded our flight out of India, longingly looking forward to the comfort of our own bed, shower and home. But first we had a two day, one night stopover in Singapore.