FUN-travel: Marvelous Mamallapuram
December 3, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Marvelous Mamallapuram
- 7th century…
…UNESCO World Heritage site…
…more monolithic…
…Indian rock-cut architecture…
…and among the oldest…
…existing examples of Dravidian (South Indian).
- Includes caves…
…mostly carved…
…straight out of granite…
…in the central hillside area…
…and stone structures…
…spread throughout…
…this small seaside town.
- The Shore Temple…
…the oldest structure…
…is a building…
…(no picture available…
…due to downpour…
…during arrival)
- Pancha Rathas…
…contains five rathas…
…literally chariots…
…each carved over a single…
…long stone of granite…
…with some enormous…
…stone animals…
…including a large elephant.
FUN-fact – Lucky for us… Cyclone Nada went south… so we just got a lot of rain and strong winds… mostly after our morning tour.
Not so FF – More temples were spotted in the ocean during the 2004 tsunami.
FUN-travel: Magnificent Madurai Monument
December 3, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Magnificent Madurai Monument
- Meenakshi Amman Temple…
…dedicated to Shiva…
…is an enormous…
…17th-century temple complex…
…covering almost 15 acres…
…and containing an estimated…
…33,000 sculptures inside.
- 12 soaring gopurams (gateway towers)…
…all over 150 ft tall…
…with the tallest tower…
…a whopping 170 ft high…
…rise from solid granite bases…
…and are encrusted…
…with a staggering array…
…of gods & goddesses…
…monsters & mythical animals…
…all painted in vivid colors.
- The south tower alone…has 1511 of them!
Ganesha – My Favorite Hindu God
FUN-fact – This temple was on the list of top 30 nominees for the “New Seven Wonders of the World”.
Not so FF – They built the city completely around the temple so you never get a panorama view from a distance which is really a shame.
FUN-travel: Picturesque Periyar National Park
December 2, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Picturesque Periyar National Park
- What could be more perfect…
…than to wake up…
…in a national reserve…
…in the middle of the mountains…
- Spending your day…
…surrounded by nature…
…in a relaxing…
…tranquil setting …
…communing with the animals…
And of course… shopping!
FUN-travel: Kerala – Coconuts & Curry
December 2, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Kerala – Coconuts & Curry
- Dubbed the “Venice of the East” …Kerala State is filled with… interconnected canals…rivers… lakes & inlets…amid a thick…lush jungle of … teaks & tamarind … bananas & bamboo… palms & pampas grass.
Today’s Adventure…Backwater Cruise
- Our Heavenly Houseboat…gently glides from the dock… ever so slowly… inching its way… into the first canal…amid a maze and myriad of… more and more houseboats… each muscling for the lead.
- Ever so smoothly… as if attached to an underground rail….we’re on the “Jungle Cruise”… like Disneyland…India style.
- Our widescreen TV is filled with… fields of floating hyacinth….and flocks of birds.
- Until …it turns into… the Houseboat from Hell! (long story)
Not so FF – Such is life! Nothing is always perfect… and that goes for travel too. (Up until now you’ve only gotten bits and pieces of our somewhat perfect adventures)
FUN-travel: Cochin Chic
November 29, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Cochin Chic
- Brunton Boatyard…
…Bayside Hotel Bonus
The Blushing Bride
What are the chances?…
- Got invited…
…to the hotel owners son…
…Siddharth & Shreya’s
…intimate wedding reception…
…of only 600…
…close family and friends…
…held on the park like grounds.
- And it was a love marriage…
…not arranged….
…both architects…
…met in school…
…and fell in love..
How sweet is that?
- Mingled with crowd…
…in search of most striking women…
…and beautiful sari’s.
Dressed for the Wedding. Just Kidding!
- Spotted these two…
…asked to take picture…
…turns out they are…
…the best friend with…
…mother of the bride!
FUN-fact – This city is filled with parks…
…lovely homes…
…and India’s version…
…of Miami style high rises…
…along the waterways.