10.13.11 - Road Trip!

Pool at our Taj hotel

          Just when we were starting to get settled in at MCC, it was time to leave. However, it was enjoyable leaving our home away from home in Tambaram with the knowledge that we were embarking on a 5-day journey to the Pondicherry, one of the nicest cities in southern India. We got on board a large tour bus and ventured out onto the wild streets of Chennai. It was definitely nice being the largest vehicle on the road for a change! One of the stops that we made on the way to our hotel was the Covelong Crocodile farm. I was impressed by the striking force of the King Cobras and the immense size of JAWS III, reportedly the largest known captive crocodile in India (21 ft). Our Taj hotel was one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed at. We were greeted with seashell necklaces and assorted beverages. The hotel was situated a 9-iron away from the beach and several of us ventured out onto the coarse, tan sand. As we walked towards the water, the red-haired Elizabeth Johnston exclaimed, "This sand is burning my feet." I suggested that she walk more "gingerly." Props to EJ for dealing with my sense of humor. The Bay of Bengal was bathwater temperature and felt extremely good. As I was floating with my friends in the pleasant surf, I realized that I was experiencing the best fall break ever.
          The contrast between the affluent and the destitute is striking. Just 1 km away from our 5 star hotel, there are people rummaging through bags of trash in the street gutters, desperately in search of edible objects.