Mynashi Temple:

Wow. I'm not even sure where to begin. The first time I saw this grouping of temples (Yes, it's plural), was when I was eating a delicious dinner on a rooftop overlooking Madurai. Even though it was night, there was lights set up around to capture the bright colors of the temples. Even though they looked amazing from far away, the experience of seeing them up close was a hundred times better.

 

A Close up of all the carvings that make up the temples

Throughout my time in India I have seen quite a few temples and giant monuments but none of them compare to the temple I got to see just last week. It's set up as a bunch of connecting temples.

Even though this picture didn't load properly, if you look really hard you can make out how all of the temples are connected and there is an inner courtyard type of thing.

Inside one of the temples was a sort of museum. (And once again I'm struck by how much foreigners more foreigners have to pay. It wasn't as bad as at "the butterball" but it was a dollar more). Rows and rows of carved pillars were inside the museum styled temple and they were all intricately designed. I wish I had been able to take pictures that could truly capture how beautiful it all was. There were walls covered in the stories of Minashi (a Goddess) and her husband.

I noticed that on a lot of statues people had thrown red powder over the gods and goddesses. Hopefully I will learn why later!

As we walked to the next temples, everything was SUPER bright. The ceilings were painted green, yellow, pink, red, blue, and purple.

Sorry about the colors not working!

Although this is pretty dark, you can still kind of see how detailed the ceiling is and how the hallways look as a whole. I just wish the picture didn't look so skewed.

 
In some of the other temples we got to see people praying and lighting candles in honor of the gods/goddesses. I learned a bit about the traditional mens outfits since a lot of men were in matching attire.

Here is an example of some of the shops. I hope to go back sometime later and do some shopping.

There were also lots of brightly colored shops. I really wanted to stop and check all of them out but there wasn't enough time. They were all lit up and very colorful which fit with how vibrant the whole setting of the temples are.

Here are some people praying.

This shop was actually inside the temples. (the rest were slightly outside or in between the temples).

A sign that said no foreigners past this point.

Backstreet Boys in India (A Post from my First Week In India)

Note: I just realized that this post never actually loaded properly so I had to repost it. The days mention are from my very first week in India while I was still in Madurai. The monday I mention was my fourth day in India.

Yesterday, (Monday), we did a lot of the typical tourist type things. We visited Shore Temple, this giant craft type museum, and a novelty called "the BUTTERBALL." It was pretty dark when we finally got there so it basically just looked like a giant stone rock, which is apparently what it is. I might have to google pictures of it to see what it's supposed to look like!
    At one of the temples we visited, there was a charge to get inside. However, there was a huge difference in the price for Indians and "others." They had to pay 10 rupees, approximately 20 cents, while we had to pay 250 rupees, basically 5 dollars!
    Yesterday I learned about India's drinking age when I had my first Indian beer. It seems that most people don't even know the drinking age because when I ask they aren't sure exactly what it is since it isn't strictly enforced. One person I asked said even a seven year old could drink if they wanted! The beer was also a lot bigger than bottles in the United States.
    On the drive home, one of the people we were with heard I liked Backstreet Boys and so made a little playlist so we could listen to it in the car. It was fun to finally be able to sing along to a song and even better when they joined in!

ANIMAL UPDATE
    While driving there, I saw horses and oxen just roaming around! I wasn't expecting it so I didn't get any pictures but there are other animals besides cows!!

An Example of a man at the Craft Museum. They sold their own work there and sometimes let you watch while they worked. This man actually drew me a little picture for free. It was a very cute elephant :)

Here a lady is teaching me how to make culombs (the designs outside of houses) with chalk. It is surprisingly difficult! She also just assumed I understood which I didn't!

Here is an example of some of the work done by the artists.

Max, Murgen, and I at one of the temples.

More art work!!

Carollers on Motorcycles: Holiday Spirit in Tamil Nadu

It seems like everyone here is completely ready for Christmas. We already had our mini christmas tree up and decorated by the first Saturday. (They said of course it is already December 3rd as if I was insane to want to wait). The boys and some of the younger girls all crowded around watching as Abraham set up the tree and decorated it. The kids helped in minor ways but mainly were just there as spectators. I know I say it all the time but the kids are so adorable and while watching them watch the tree I couldn't help but be amazed by them again. Although the tree was not much they all liked it so much and wanted to make sure I got a picture of it!

Last Tuesday the younger kids didn't have school because it was a nation wide holiday. So the girls made a dance and two skits to celebrate Christmas. It was so fun to watch (although I had to have them translate the skits into English for me!) They all dressed up and had costumes and roles.The girls all liked teaching me the different Indian dance moves and were beyond delighted when I turned and "dipped" all of them. It was a very fun girls only afternoon!

Then, that night a group of carolers came to the home! They all rode up on motorcycles and somehow managed to have a keyboard and a guitar with them as well. One of the men was in a full Santa outfit, he even had a mask! (Although in India he is called "Christmas Grandfather." It was fun and the kids loved it - especially since they all got chocolate at the end!

Also, last Saturday I went to a special Christmas choir concert at Lady Doak College and got to hug Santa!!

So, even though it isn't quite that time yet, HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

17 Monkeys and Some Evil Turkeys

When we went to KodaiKanal at the end of November, I was excited. I heard it was beautiful and that there were waterfalls and mountains, etc. It had been built as a summer getaway for the British when India was colonized and still is a sort of "getaway" and tourist place.

However, I was extremely disappointed! It rained the entire time we were there and was very cold out! (Probably not as cold compared to back home but relatively cold to where we are here!) We tried to go for a walk but there was fog everywhere and it just didn't stop raining. I plan on going back there later in my trip so I can finally see what it actually looks like.

One good thing from the trip is that I saw17 monkeys!! On our way back down the mountain (the roads are terrifying!) the fog started to clear and we could see one of the giant waterfalls and a bunch of monkeys sitting near it. I wish I had gotten a picture but we were in the car and I didn't have enough time to get my camera :( I know they won't be the only monkeys I see though!

PS. Like I said, I couldn't get any monkey pictures so these ones are kind of random!

 

 

Dibark Chasing Marudupandi

 

 

PPS. I'm still having trouble with my internet and can't get the pictures to load properly. I might have to reload them but for now, here they are!

Rubber Ducks: The Sequel

Rubber Ducks: Part 2

Whoops! I should have posted this a while ago but I have found a solution to teaching! While it's not perfect and I'm still working through it, the kids don't expect presents each time and I am planning to only give them out after tests or after big games like the one I have planned for later this afternoon.

So far I have only had time to work with the boys because the girls are older and have a lot more homework and studying to do as well as chores. The girls help out with cooking and cleaning and laundry while the boys don't have the same responsibilities so they have more time to learn and play educational games.

The boys love playing duck duck goose and if I could figure out a way to make them learn while playing it would be perfect. They also like playing a version of Simon Says which they call Tamil No, English Yes which is pretty straight forward. If I say a verb in English, they have to do it, but if I say it in Tamil, they can't do it. They love seeing who will win and taking turns being the caller.

I'm still working on planning other games and activities and seem to only have the best luck in small groups (aside from the Tamil No, English Yes game.) and have gotten some great suggestions! However, I won't turn any other ones away :D 

Esther Amma cutting some vegetables

Feeding the chickens. There are SO MANY of them!

Further proof I am cooking

Suresh: A total sweetheart. One of the projects/activities we did was about favorite things, and for every one he would ask me what my favorite was because he wanted us to have the same one! Then to top it off, when I said to draw a picture of you and your friends, he drew a picture of us holding hands!!!

Here mom: It's a picture of a chicken like you asked for :)