Waking up to the smell of fresh bread whether it’s just been pulled out of the oven or fished from a frying pan, is my ideal morning (it used to be garlic fried rice but I guess that’s the effect of constant displacement on me). Pair that with the aroma of brewed tea with milk, and I’m in brekkie heaven.
Our nostrils were beckoned.
Shervin and I emerged from our room, cautious not to disturb anyone slumbering. We were couchsurfing at a Sudanese’s home in Madurai (one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities). Bakri, our host, offered us his bedroom. He, and his friends who came over the eve before for a PlayStation all-nighter, slept in the living area.
Surprisingly, at half past seven in the morning, everyone was up. We walked to the kitchen where we heard a hushed chatter. The entire gang was there, including the two Danish couchsurfers Thea and Camilla who were occupying Bakri’s housemate’s bedroom. We sat on the floor and joined the getting-to-know-you conversation.
When Bakri finished working the stove, we all moved to the dining area and laid newspapers on the table to use as placemats. Us guests sat and excitedly waited for brekkie to be served. Our meal consisted of omelette with onions and a type of sweet Sudanese bread (pardon me Bakri if I keep forgetting the name) that’s got a falafel texture, except it ain’t made from fava beans nor chickpeas. Its texture also sorta resembles that of Lil Orbits Mini Donuts’ (remember them?), except it’s got the shape of an obese que-kiam. The whole bunch of bread was dusted with powdered sugar.
Unmindful of the calorie and sucrose overload, all of us ate with much gusto (we needed heaps of energy anyway) while Bakri gave instructions on how to get to our destination via public transport. Soon after we finished our nth helping, we cleaned the table and grabbed our day packs. We headed to the bus station on foot, Bakri led the way.
Thea and Camilla agreed to join us for a couple of tourist spots. We bid farewell to our gracious host as we hopped on the bus. Our ride took almost twenty minutes, and only cost us 7 INR. The conductor gestured us to alight at our stop.
Approaching the temple complex, we were swarmed by touts and self-appointed guides. We managed to get rid of them except one. We let the most persistent guy who promised a “very nice view of temple from rooftop” lure us to The Museum Company, a shop that sells local textiles, furniture and trinkets. We were well aware of such scam, but curiosity got the better of us.
The view from the rooftop of the three-storey shop, actually, didn’t disappoint. And the shopkeeper didn’t have to bug us with his sales pitch because Thea bought a decor to hang on a Christmas tree (she’s collecting Christmas tree ornaments from around the world). I too purchased a couple of cheap stuff, a paper mache jewelry box for my grandma and a wooden bookmark for Luna to use someday. The shopkeeper’s mood immediately changed from indifferent to giddy. He let us leave our shoes in the shop, and he lent Shervin a sarong to wrap around his legs for he was wearing shorts.
Out of the shop and into the complex we went. At the gates, men and women separately passed through the guards, sometimes frisked. Bags were inspected. Visitors with ciggies were reminded not to smoke inside. Everyone should be barefoot beyond this point.
Meenakshi Amman Temple is a 16th century architectural marvel. Its twelve gopurams (gateway towers) are carved with a gamut of gods, goddesses and heavenly bodies. All of which, colorfully painted. Inside the temple complex, you’ll find yourself in a labyrinth of halls with different shrines.
Everywhere we turned, there were devotees praying. Or taking photos of us with their mobile phones. Locals smiled a whole lot, and we smiled back at each one of them. We felt more exhausted smiling than strolling along the vast expanse of the temple grounds.
My spiritual conquest failed due to the fact that we were never left alone. And poor tall-blonde-and-beautiful (and I bet Ms. Photogenic) Thea had to pose every so often, as requested by her admirers. We only lasted for an hour inside the complex.
We searched with great difficulty for the exit. And ironically, found peace outside the walls. We sat to collect ourselves. I heaved a sigh. That was just the first of the four sights we’re visiting for the day.
Thank You, India Series:
Aboard India’s Modes of Transport
Arrival Turned Fans Day
Thank You, India
How To Apply For An India Tourist Visa In The Philippines
yung sa Meenakshi na temple design ang pinaka gusto ko. I saw one in Kuala Lumpur very intricate ng mga design. Ganda tingnan nung mga babae kapag naka ibat ibang kulay sila ng Saris.
incredibly beautiful india. wow first time to know of someone getting exhausted of smiling. nice. i must go there soon.
Marky, I’m really impressed with the painting of the gopurams. But for some reason, I like colorless Angkor Wat more.
I wonder when (if ever) cud I visit India, isa yan sa mga pangarap ko puntahan. Awesome series Gay.
Dom, guess I can’t be a beauty pageant candidate. Char!
Oman, uhm, tambak ka ata sa work 🙁 Plan for it na!
India is a nice place to visit. Hope to visit one day.
ang kukulay ng mga sari!! at napaka-intricate ng design ng mga temples!! kelan kaya ako makakapunta dyan?
Ang cool lang ni ate sa sunnies mo 🙂
photos of India look like they are in a 100 year old encyclopedia 🙂
nice, looks like India is another place for photography enthusiast. ang kulay
Claire, haha! Yeah, she actually pulled off her old-meets-new attire very well.
Bubba, uhm… I’ll take that as a compliment. Lol.
Jerome, definitely a must-visit for photographers 🙂
Hahaha, at talagang hiniram ang shades mo, fasyon!
Haha, yeah! I kinda misunderstood her, actually. I thought she wanted to keep the shades. She wanted to wear it for a photograph lang pala.
Kala ko empanada yung morning delight na yun ah.. hehe.. At ang cool ni ateh naka-shades pa talaga.. dapat trade, borrow mo din yung dress nya tapos picture ka rin..
Haha! You’re right, I should have borrowed her sari.
India!!!!!!!!! When will I get there???!. Astig ni ate ah, naka sunglass, Sana nag-break dance pa yan, hahahaa.. just kidding.
In fact, India as a vast subcontinent, One’s whole life is not enough to blog the diversity of its culture, people, food, traditions, structures and name them.. Simply indredible.
You are sooo right Edmar! India is indeed, incredible.
that view in the rooftop really excites me.. and also i wanna try the couchsurfing too.. oohhh this is another place in india that i will go to. thanks for sharing the info and also dropping by my blog.. 😉
i want to go to india!!!
we have indian-malaysians here in penang but taj mahal is calling! perhaps, late next year…
PS : your hubby’s elephant blessing photo is as cute as his fido dido shirt. i want it too-both the shirt & the photo-op!
Haha! Doc Gelo, I bought him that shirt. We’re both 80s babies and we sooo know who Fido Dido is!
Ooooh, I haven’t given couch surfing a thought. I have a paranoid streak in me. But reading your posts makes me want to try it out. I’m planning on visiting India next year, and will definitely use your blog as my “Lonely Planet.” 🙂
Reiza
http://www.wander-if-you-must.com/
Reiza, I’ll utilize your blog as our Africa Lonely Planet!
Mukhang masarap yung bread na yan , ginutom tuloy ako, mga mini donuts na tinitinda sa palengke haha
I love Pinoy small-time bakery donuts!
I do find it amusing how some Indians like to pose with foreigners – be it Asian or Caucasian. I too was asked at least twice, in Agra’s Taj Mahal & New Delhi’s Humayun’s Tomb.