The Trip down the East Coast Road-1

A small church on the ECR

The penultimate day of ANCIPS-2007 was devoted to improving the hedonistic tone in my limbic system. The one thing that consistently does that is being able to use my camera in a meaningful way and to be able to finish a bottle of beer in quick time. A drive down the East Coast Road (ECR) to Pondicherry via Mahabalipuram seemed to be just what the shrink analysed (pun). Anyways, Pondicherry because its one place in India where booze is about as cheap as water and also because the road is supposed to be scenic and promised to deliver a lot of photo-ops. Therefore, our stern and Hindi challenged driver, Mr Shiva was sought out. And off we went.
There is precious little of the east coast visible from most part of the road. Instead, there is a surfeit of cutouts of Stalin, and more Stalin. Of course, Karunanidhi is around too. Also are the mushrooming resorts, hotels, houses and villages. This is all Tsunami country and here and there, are planatations of trees, ostensibly to break the force of the next tsunami. The sea is immense, and streches on for eternity, i saw a helicopter come in from over the sea and felt a twinge of anxiety thinking of being all alone and in so vast a bare playground of nature. It must have been devestating.
There are some salt pans along the way too, and I was pretty surprised to see people standing nonchalantly nose-deep in sea water seemingly doing nothing. That was until I asked Mr Shiva what they were upto. They were making the trenches in which sea water is evaporated to get the salt. There were a few photo-ops, true. But by the time, I could convert my "BC, Gaddi roko" into english, Mr Shiva (who I am sure, understood only when it suited him) was too far down the road and I too lazy to walk back to the photo-op place.
I had this terrible craving for coconut water and longigly looked at all those coconut trees. And remember thinking to myself that I would be really unfortunate if I conked off just now and went to hell unrequited. Said so to my Bengali friend who was suitably horrified at such morbid thought processes.
Eventually, we got to Mahabalipuram about noon. The entrance to Mahabalipuram is guarded by a man with a rope and a slip of entry that costs Rs 20/- and says Mahabalipuram panchayat. Opposite the man is a stone platform that was left unfinished in antiquity. The air is filled with stone dust from the many workshops that make statues and curios for toursits and the like. The subject mostly being mythological. Its big busts, broad hips, thick lips and no or a few clothes everywhere, unfortunately all in stone. Even in ancient times, South Indians liked plump women. Getting to the first temple complex, fulfilled my vow of having coconut water before I conk off at the ridiculous price of Rs 20/-. Only two problems, I got fleeced and now I have many more things i want to do before I slip away. Humankind is so very mean.
I only read about Mahabalipuram after getting back home. This makes for fantastic reading. There is so much to explore, this place alone is worth a week. Just make sure you do your homework.
The first temple complex we went to is the Ratha complex and later we went to the shore temple. The shore temple is pure heaven. The surf and the sand, the temple and so many beautiful people around. I wanted to stay there and rest for a while.

Now even though, its tough as nails to upload all of these pics, but then I cant resist a captive audience and since Tatastha is getting so many accolades ;-) on my blog, I hope there will be some wise comments from her for this post too.

Ratha Complex

The view from the entrance, walking on the sandy soil. These monolithic temples made me imagine all those times that we will never know.

Nandi the bull is a patient playmate for this young kid who found thisplace ideal for a quick game of hide-n-seek. It always surprises me, the way such places are so much in-your-daily-routine type of places for locals. Tourists like us can only gape and look soppy.

The stone lion guards the entrance. It is also nice as a shady place.

My friend kaustav got stuck climbing up this rock face, we got a picture of both his ends. :-))

Making up in ancient places, this girl was pretty pissed with her elder brother about something. they soon made up.

Two artists, two media, two perspectives, one object of desire. I always find this interesting.

Two kids, they were happy to see a huge, overweight sardar taking their picture. I thought they made a nice subject too.

I was walking back when I saw this old lady and taking my best south Indian accent I asked, "Amma, fotto". She looked at me in shock and managed to shake her head in acquiscence. took her picture before she could say no.


The Shore temple Complex

We took a wrong turn while walking to the shore temple complex. Saw a lot of people, men in these turbans and women in red saris, anyone know it's significance?
Lots of shacks selling delicious looking seafood, was sorely tempted to give up vegetarianism. Held steadfast. (pats own back). Had to jump over a few fences to get to the temple and then would have had to walk back a few hundred yards to get a ticket, but a kindly and chinese looking security guard let us through. Maybe it was kinship of being obvious foreigners in a strange place, but I was greatful to him because by now my back was killing me and I could not have walked back and forth.Thanks man.

I quite liked this view, later found that most people do not take this view. i am sure I could make a poster or something out of this.

Next to the temple is the coast, a long and deserted beach. The most beautiful Ihave seen in a long time. Trust the angrej's to get it right. Saw this guy surfing and was seized with a longing to go and have a dip myself.

This lady tried hard to get a sale, but I took her picture instead. She sells sea shells on the sea shore. This time I got it right.

A guide at the temple, employed by the ASI. I took his picture as he saw a squirrel run down the temple steps.
These rows of sculptures reminded me of the egyptian temples I have seen on discovery channel.