This pink scooter is very popular. First time I saw it a woman with a matching sari rode it, but many men use it as well. Temples and worshiping
Places of worship are found everywhere in India. Hindus, Moslems, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and many more live peacefully side by side it seems. I have been to a few Hindu Temples and churches these past few days and must say I enjoy it.
The bright colors, statues, animals (cows and elephants for the most) and stone carvings are really intriguing. In the middle of the day it's also a cooler place to stay in the temple shade. Here in Trichy there is a copy of the Louvre also (I'm pretty sure the original isn't pink on the inside though) and a spectacular Rock Fort Temple. I climbed all 344 stairs (my legs were shaking afterwards!) for a great view (pics will come later). The granite steps were carved almost 1800 years ago and are very hot to tread on for those who wear socks and shoes every day ... Non-Hindus are usually not allowed into the inner sanctums of the temple, and photography is forbidden inside the temples, but I have been able to watch some Hindus as they worship, and it's quite interesting. A common technique is to stand in front of a statue of a deity, bang your temples with your fists, grab your ears and wiggle them as you bend your knees a couple of times and you're good to go. The first time I saw it I seriously thought the man was drunk and almost laughed out loud, but I have seem more people do it at various temples ... After I wrote this post, I started thinking about what India would be like without its religions. Very boring and colorless, I guess, and many people depending on the income from flower ornaments, oil lamps and other offerings would have nothing. Colors in IndiaIn India, no color is ever out of fashion. Indian women are beautiful and I feel so boring next to them in my dusty, plain backpacker clothes, cheap jewelry and red sweaty face. Indian women always dress in colors, elaborate patterns, embroidered saris and wear plenty of gold jewelry, long shiny hair with fresh flowers ... It's really fascinating to watch them, I never get tired of it! The men are also quite vain and usually carry a comb in their back pocket. When I ask to take a picture, the stretch their shirts, stand with their backs straight, wipe the children's faces and present a big honest smile. There is a lot of smiling going on, all children and young people (some old too, actually) stare, smile and say hello (OK, that can be a little tiring sometimes), you've not truly been to India until a busload of eager school children wave at you and yell "Auntie, auntie, helloooo, hellooo, goodbye"!
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