In bayside Pondicherry, we met the Temple elephant.
She has some very nice anklets and did not mind that I put a rupee in her trunk nostrils.
Below, the Bay of Bengal. This is about the time our second digital camera got its viewing window smashed in, so jumpy shots (well, all shots now) require some guess work. Only later when we view the images on the laptop do we see what we've gotten. It's almost like using film.
Captured below, a Bunny. And the skinny guy that's on all the money here. Ghandalf, or something...
Below, a very elaborate stone carving. Lots of masterful carving around here. Even the local guys selling trinkets on the street were still actively practicing the local art. Too bad heavy rocks and long journeys do not mix, or I would be the proud owner of a new stone Shiva.
The above and following pics are from beach side town Mamallapuram (or Mal, if you're lazy). We arrived just in time for a full moon festival on the beach. Evidently, the full moon is an auspicious time to get married. Being already married, we just checked out the gauntlet of vendors selling Indian knick-knacks to Indian folk. Seemed like everyone was having a great time, camping out on the beach, watching the musicians perform, and taking the occasional dip in the rough seas.
Above, beautiful, ephemeral art usually created with colored rice flour. Usually gracing doorways, they are meant to be enjoyed, and then destroyed.
Above, Young with another elephant. All the Hindu gods roll with style, so they've each got their own temple-chariots pulled by an animal familiar.
The goddess Parvati uses a lion. You may be as delighted as I was to learn that Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, is carted around in his chariot by... a mouse. I learned long ago from "Dumbo" that this is a questionable pairing.
Also at Mal, gorgeous Temples right on the water.
It is said that when the tsunami struck back in 2004, the receding waters briefly revealed temples even further out at sea, which had been hidden by the water.
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