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► 2010 (6)

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Temples and silk shops

My tailored Shalwar Kameez

Ah, I spent yesterday sleeping under the fan in my room and in the lovely (but probably a little dirty) pool. In the morning it was filled with 15 Indian guys that went completely quiet when I entered the pool area ... only one dared to say hello. Hilarious! Then I went shopping for a tailored Shalwar Kameez (tunic and pants worn especially in the Punjabi province up north), a silver anklet and a lovely hand painted bamboo thingy with religious motifs.

I bargained like crazy and think I got a good deal, for the tailored suit, anklet, bamboo, backpacker baggy pants, mosquito repellent and lotion I paid around 30 euros. I am covered in bites and hope the stuff works!

Today I visited the small city of Kanchipuram, famous for silks. I got an auto rickshaw tour (including a visit at a silk shop, of course - they dressed me in a sari, I'll show you later) which was quite nice. The sarees are sooo beautiful and I could not resist them. I got two of them plus 3 silk scarves for around 45 euro, which is redicilous compared to silk prices at home. Hope to make some nice pillows or dress out of it! The hindu temples were really impressive (pics will come later) and people were very curious as I was the only white person for miles (saw some in the temple, though, but they seemed to be part of a very expensive tour. From the city I'm staying a tour was around 2000 rupees (27 euros), whereas a return bus ticket is 40 rupees, including authentic Indians and a lot more fun! I was a little shocked to see the leper begging outside, but it's just another part of the Indian life, sadly.

Barefoot in the temple

Check out the bites on my right foot ...

Temple nearby

Impressive temple near the one I was visting

I am thinking of moving on further south as the monsoon is coming (rain and thunderstorm tonight and two power cuts made me very happy I brought the handheld fan!!), though the town I'm staying in is really nice and a perfect size. There are a lot of souvenir shops and A LOT of hellooo Madam, come see my shop, Madam, Madam, buy souvenirs, Madam, hellooo! Sadly, like many touristy places, it is almost impossible to sample the real culture as everyone sells what the average tourist wants - fried rice and pancakes. Most restaurants don't serve Indian food at all, but I did manage to get it at "Le Ritz", which I from now on will call "Le Gecko", and the nicest waiter ever who was sooo curious about me and Norway and whether my parents were going to arrange a marriage for me. I said no, and asked him a little what he felt about his parents picking a bride for him, and he replied he wasn't too happy with it ... But he hoped for a nice one, though.