March 13-April 1st PRe Mauritius to Post India

March 14, 2007

So the stupid noon announcements just came on and they are delaying our arrival in Mauritius until 1600 hrs tomorrow, which is CRAP! We were supposed to get off at 800 hrs that’s an entire day later basically.
March 15, 16, 17, 2007

We got in earlier than anticipated at 1200 hrs, which was nice we still had basically a full day and we didn’t have to get up that early we got a chance to sleep in after way to many tests and papers. Got off the ship and headed to the atm to get some for of cash took us a little while but we finally found one after going through and underpass, too three different places to ask and then found the one we wanted which was next to the tourist office got some maps their and asked them questions we had for our journey for the next two days. Then we headed out of the tourist office and walked threw a market type setting set up in the streets, lots of baby clothes and men’s and women’s underwear for sale, mainly men’s though which was interesting. Basically we got oriented with the city to figure out where we were in relation to everything. Walked threw a few areas with shops. We went threw a garden and ended up at the natural history museum, which wasn’t at all what we expected it was quit small. We saw the last Dodo Birds skeleton, and a whole bunch of other crazy fish and eels, and sharks and sea life preserved some how they almost looked fake but I think they were just old and they preserving wasn’t as modern as others. Then we stopped by the internet café before it was swarmed with sasers and did internet things before we headed back to the ship to relax out of the heat for a sec before we took a cab to flic n flac got a good price too bartered with him, did a couple walk aways it was pretty fun actually. Once we battled the traffic in Port Louis and made it out to flic n flac we decided on a nice seafood restaurant. We ordered a giant seafood sampler as an appetizer and then I got a surf and turf for my main course. It was awesome had great flavor, I couldn’t tell if the fish in the sampler was fresh, but whatever it was awesome. Oh my favorite part of my meal is the milkshake that I ordered and I had to laugh when they brought it too me cause they literally shook the milk and served it too me. After dinner we headed back to the ship to get a good nights rest.
Got up early today at 0630 hrs to head up to Curepipe then to Petrin then to Tamarin. So we made our way to the bus station getting into town via water taxi, which was interesting, Condoleia when trying to get out of the water taxi was grabbed by the ankle by the guy on the dock and basically thrown onto ground, it was hilarious basically not sure what they were thinking. Then we found the bus station and caught the express to Curepipe it was a nice ride only about 30 minutes or so, and when we departed the bus their we cruised around the local market their with all kinds of produce, and meats, and fish. We now found a taxi, which took us to Petrin in black river gorges national park. We hiked from Petrin down to black river. It was a three-hour hike or so 10 k, and we stopped along the way and swam in a nice pool in the black river. At the end of the trail in black river we were informed about a bus station there. That bus station doesn’t exist. The only means of transportation and life around, was a school bus full of kids, and it was getting ready to leave, so we figured ah, they might give us a ride, so we ran after the bus, getting to it just and time, and they willingly gave us a ride. It was once of the best times so far, the four of us on a bus with 40 5th graders, who were on an excursion researching the three, endangered Parakeets of Mauritius. The two boys sitting next to me let me listen to the music on their mp3 player, and it seemed that all kids were basically equals, no clicks, or cool kids, everyone loved each other, they sang and dance for us a little, and just had tons of questions, too bad I don’t speak French, but the three others I was with did. Those that had glasses had descent glasses, and a few kids had braces. Just the fact that they would give four strangers a ride, said a lot, that would never occur in the US. They dropped us off at an intersection and told us to walk up this road and over the mountain to get to Tamarin so we start trekking, and we just feel that it wrong, so half way up the mountain we find a taxi to hop in, and he takes us a completely different way to Tamarin. We go their though and that’s all that matters. Went down to the beach for a little while, and checked the surf, before we caught the last bus back into Port Louis. We had an enjoyable bus ride with some locals, did some conversing as much as I could do with language barriers. Once back in Port Louis we wanted a low key night, so we checked the movie times, and then headed back to the Explorer to shower and then went to the 2030 hrs showing of a Bollywood film. It was really good, about the fight of power between, local authority and the royal family of the area, and tons of people being killed. It was called The Royal Guard, who actually was the Princes son. Very complicated. Then we had some time to kill and were not ready to go to bed so we went to the casino for an hour or so, and only lost $10 between three of us not bad for an hours entertainment.
Last day in Port Louis, headed to the real market this time, got a few items, cruised threw the streets, hit up a pharmacy. Just enjoyed a nice day in Port Louis, made a few phone calls, did a little more internet, cruised threw some shops, and then chilled at a café around sunset and enjoyed an ice cream Sunday, before heading back to the ship. Mauritius was a lot like Hawaii, just completely different, the landscape aspect basically the same, a lot of the same vegetation, but everything else completely different.

March 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 2007
Sea Olympics, assasians, yoga, dolphins, whales, islands, BBQ, new malaria meds, college bowl, entourage, crazy dreams,

March 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 2007

Awoke in Chennai, finally in India, headed straight up to the seventh deck to see what Chennai looked like. The port was just what I was expecting; coal ships, and lots of dirty buildings around couldn’t wait to see what the city was like though. The first person I saw from the seventh deck was a man showering in an alley from a hose I believe. Then proceeded to go threw the two rounds of immigrations. Finally got off the ship and made our way threw the industrial area too the street and bartered for a good price for a rickshaw to T. Nagar a market area. We had a second group with us but we lost them on the ride over. Our driver stopped at two different stores practically forcing us out to go in the store and buy something so that he could get some commission. We stood our ground and basically drove the rickshaw to convince him to take us to where we wanted without any more stops. We went into a shop selling Sari’s and other types of clothing. The shopkeepers were very friendly and welcoming, and gave us great insight to Chennai. We needed to get to an ATM to get cash to pay for things so the shopkeeper had a rickshaw man take us to an ATM and bring us back they were really nice. His father started the shop forty years ago his father has now passed. We then made our way to the main section of T. Nagar and cruised threw shops and observed all that was going on for a few hrs, we were in a music store and all the electricity went off which seemed odd but no one seemed alarmed and just kept on shopping so I followed their lead. Then we found a internet café and sadly had to spend time doing school work for fall registration. Classes seem alright, Soviet Secret Service, Strategy in Action, MIS, and Intro to IAF. Then it was later in the evening at this point so we made our way back to the ship which was interesting, the rickshaw driver we were wanted us to give us a ride, gave us a price of 100 rupees, and then I tried to go lower, but he said no, 300 rupees, I said you cant go up after starting you are playing the game wrong here buddy. It made us laugh, we were turned down by a guy before that, I didn’t know they could turn you down, it was a fun and entertaining afternoon, on the streets of Chennai it is for sure survival of the fittest. Made it back to the ship in one piece, had dinner on the ship, and then Roxanne and I decided to go to a movie, the immigration guys on the ship talked us into it. So we had a insane rickshaw driver, but he got us their around 10 and so he said he would wait cause their would be no way to get back after the movie, so we said alright well be back at 1130 and he curled up in his rickshaw and took a nap. All the shops in the mall like place so we bought tickets for a movie, 50 rupees a piece, a true bargain. Was escorted to our seats. The movie is in Tamil now, no subtitles, which made things a little interesting. We tried to follow as best as we could. It was hilarious, so girl was with like three different guys and people were being killed then they would break out into song and dance, and do some jump over a twenty foot building, it was very amusing. We left the movie a little before 1130 to find our rickshaw man, and we got lost getting out of the theater so the attendant escorted us down these back stairs, threw two different bars then a parking garage, and finally we made it out to the street, and our man was still their thanfully because the area was deserted now not a rickshaw in sight. It was interesting to compare the streets of day time Chennai to the deserted streets of really early morning Chennai, we made it back to the ship and prepared for my all day trip that was leaving at 7 am but I had to be their at 6 am to be the first on the waiting list to see if I could get on.

Struggled out of bed, but made it up to the union around 615 and was the first on the waiting list, and after a lot of commotion and disorganization made it on the trip and we set off on a bus to Kancheepuram. Kancheepuram or the Golden City is one of the seven most sacred places of pilgrimage for Hindus. Most of the following are exerts from the plaques at the sites. Once known as the City of a Thousand temples there are still over 100 shrines in the environs of Kancheepuram. The most imporatn are the ‘living’ temples whiere the pracice of worship continues today. There are 7th and 8th century paintings on the walls of the 1200 year old Kailasanatha Temple. We saw the ten storied intricately sculptured tower of the 16th century Ekambareswara Temple which had either baboons or monkeys climbing on them which was awesome. Then we saw the Hall of 96 Pillars and the handsome pavilions at Vaikuntanatha temple. We then went to a silk weaving place and saw them weaving and had the opportunity to purchase their products. We then headed on to the Regency hotel for a very elaborate buffet lunch which was very tasty. My favorite food was called “the jackpot”. Not sure what was in it but majority of people in Tamil Nadu are vegeterain so so was all the buffet I recall. After lunch we made our way too Mamallapuram which is an ancient port city of the Pallava kings. Apart from being a popular beach resort, it is famous for three major sights of great architectural and artistic merit. We saw the 1200 year old shore temple standing in solitary splendor on the sand of the shoreline. We visited the five rathas named after the Pandava brothers heroes of the Mahabharata. These large stone edifies are sculptured and shaped into temple prototypes. Then we saw the biggest bas-relief in the world, Arjunas Penance, which portrays the descent of the Ganges from Sivas locks and other fables from Panchatantra. The “monuments” at Mamalampuram are young compared to the ones that are now out at sea, and can occasionally be seen at low tide. As in all other countries previously visited the vegitation in India is very similar to Maui, I have seen iron woods, monkey pod trees, mango, sugar cane, plumeria, lots of the same. They of course have much different names for them. Just a little more history on the places previously mentioned. The Five Rathas: These monolithic temples are known as rathas, as they resemble wooden chariot and it is an innovation of Pallava King Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla) (AD 630-668), A huge rock sloping from south to north was utilized judiciously to cutout different forms of temples besides few animal sculptures. Though these monolithic temples are termed as Panchapandava Rathas they have nothing to do with Mahbaharata. These rathas with their ekatala to tritala vimanas and different in plan and elevation exhibit splendid forms of south Indian art and architecture. The nakulasahadeva ratha has apsidal vimana a relief sculpture of ardhanariswara on the wall of dharmaraja ratha with perfect balancing of the masculine and feminine features is considered to be one of the fines specimen of early Pallava plastic art. The Ratha also contains Pallava-Grantha inscription recording the titles of Narasimhavarman I. The group of five Rathas were executedas models of south Indian temples and were not consecrated as their stupis are still attached with the bedrock.
And more info:
Mahabalipuram as the place is called today was known variably as Mallai, Kadal-Mallai and Mamallai in ancient Vaishnav hymns of the 6th-8th century A.D. The place however dates back to early historic times on the evidence of stray pottery and roman coins. All the monuments here except for the medieval Vishnu temple in worship in the heart of the village clearly owe their authorship to the Pallavas of the Smha Vishu line who ruled from Kanchi (the ancient Kanchi) Mahabalipuram was one of the Pallava ports in majority of the monuments (rock cut and monolithic) would seem to belong stylistically to the reon of Narasimhavarman, Mamlla (630-688) while some others should be of the time of his successors such as Parameswaravarman (672-700) and Narasimhavarman (Rajasimha) 700-728, all the for structural stone temples however belong only to time of the last mentioned king. The monumental remains at Mahabalipuram are informed by three kinds of mode of execution: excavated cave temples, monolithic temples models and structural erections. The first mentioned are essentially confined to the whole black granitic hillock rising in the centre of the village e.g. the trimurt. Mahishasura Mardini, Maraha Mandapa, Ramanuja Mandapa, Dharmaraja Mandapa, etc. The pillars are borth of simples square and octagonal shaft type as well as omate fluted and lion based forms reflecting the elements of the pillar order. The monolithic rathas however display the fullform and features of the contemporary temple style and show many varieties both in ground plan and elevation. They are of square (Dharmaraja, Arjuna and Draupadi Rathas) Rectangular (Bhima Ganesha Rathas) and apsidal rathas, Sahadeva rathas and range from single to triple storeys. They carry art motifs as well as carved panels of many divinities on them together with the Valayankuttai and Pidari Rathas as isolated boulder on the western side of the hillock they represent the most impressive and the oldest preserved vimana models of Tamil Nadu the earliest and most modest of them is Mukundanayanar temple in the sand dune to the north of the light house, and is very omate though small sized and dilapidated the shore temples in the other hand are the best and give the most finitelayout of a southem Vimana complete with Prakara. Dvarasala etc. and majestically fringe the sea most of these temples have Samaskanda (or Vishnu or Durgaetc as the case may be) on the back wall of sanctum. The bas reliefs of Arjunas penance and the Govardhana-Dhari are again another very important class of creation of Pallava activity. NO less unique are the portrait sculptures with laurels in the Adivaraha cave temple, seemingly representing Simhavihsnu and Mahendravarman I. Many minor carvings of Merit lie scattered in the place they all bear mute witness to the virility of Pallava art and religious patronage. The standing structural temples, which show a confidence in stone masonry constructions for first time, again have both simple as well complex models. So that is basically the most confusing summary of anything ever! After these too towns we departed for out 2 hr drive back to Chennai. I tried with all my might to stay awake but we all know how long that lasted. It was a very hot day and they air conditioning was only really working in the front of the bus so the heat just but me right to sleep. Oh at the giant rock stop we definitely saw a monkey dressed up it was like abu on crack, it had its ears pierced, and this really insane looking owner that carried it on his shoulder. It was saying hi my name is crazy I want your money. That definitely wasn’t happening. We also stopped at some market like tourist trap were I got some disposable cameras for my village project, and rode a 1200 year old cow. It was insane bucking bronco style. One of my friends basically got chased by some guy cause they wouldn’t give him money not sure of the true story. Then once back to the ship, I headed back to my room I had two hours to eat, pack, and shower before I had to meet for my Jayamapuram trip.
Left the ship around 9 went to Chennai Central maneuvered threw thousands of people in a very frantic matter and then waited 30 min for our train to arrive, once it was finally their we boarded (Yercaud Express to Erode) and we were given roommate assignments but their were four bunks in a cabin not two (oh sas) so we just went wherever really, and we stayed up for a while playing some card games and just chillin meeting new people some which I had never even seen on the ship before. After a 7hr train ride that felt like 15 min. we arrived in erode. The 30 of us then split up into two different groups, 20 to Jayamapuram and 10 to some village Goibebajychan or something like that. Thankfully the trip leader went to the one we didn’t he was obnoxious. We took a 30 min ride to The Jayaramans estate. They were our host family and farm about 150 acres, of coconuts, sugar cane, guavas, bananas, and various other plants; they also have a nursery, and some cows. We arrived around 7 or so at the house, and freshened up a little had some tea and coffee and met our family and the Jayaramns daughter in-law purni and their niece Raji. We then went on a walk threw the fields, people climbed a coco nut tree, and we saw their irrigation system, their well, then we headed to the local sugar cane processing facility, met some kids who I gave some jelly beans too. Then we went over too the husk factory where they husk the coconuts and turn the husk into rope and other things. Then we made our way to the school to visit the two classes going on, talked with the ones we could, I gave them a disposable camera to take pictures of each other with, hopefully they came out alright they weren’t the best disposables ever. The energy that these kids have towards life and learning is amazing. The looks on their faces when they see themselves in the camera can’t be put in words. They all want you to write your name down, they all want to know how old you are, I don’t think they know how old 22 is, (just kidding). They just look to us with such fascination on their faces. Its like a kids first time to Disneyland, or the beach. Then we took a stroll threw main part of the village all three streets, we stopped by a ladies house can’t recall her name, her husband was napping, she took down her 5 family photos and showed them to us with great pride, and explained as best she could what her children were up too. While we were at the house I guess word of our arrival had spread and a few more members of the community came to say hi to us. I guess we were the talk of the town you could say. We were supposed to have stopped by a more modern house in the village but they were not home so we ended up just observing it from the outside, and headed back to the house for some relaxation after being in the sun and heat during prime time heat in India. The kitchen hands whipped up a traditional lunch for us. It was quit nice what I could handle at least. A lot of it is too spicy for me. I tried to nap I had major sinus congestion so I just napped for a few minutes in a chair while talking to Purni and Raji, and having mama stare at me. Then we had more tea and coffee again and headed into the more center part of town to the village market, were we did some shopping my first and only purchase was a super sick sling shot, only 10 rupees, such a good deal, it was nice they gave us the same price they would anyone else, and for a lot of the people at the market we are the only white people they will see all year, so for them I guess we are just fascinating. We get a lot of stares, but it doesn’t bother me, I just smile and say hi to everyone, the kids are the best, when they see my video camera they all want to be filmed and their reactions every time they see themselves in the LCD screen is amazing, one kid just could not stop jumping around, and making crazy noises, he was highly entertaining. At sunset we headed back to the house, to have more coffee and tea, and get ready for dinner. Dinner again was amazing I ate as much as I could, they served us a really good desert something with lots of sugar, and momma, came and sat right in front of me and watched me eat, and made fun of how I don’t eat correctly with my hands, or at least not in Indian terms, and thought it was the funniest thing ever, so she entertained herself for awhile then went and found me a bag of the desert I liked which she had told everyone else was all gone, and just kept feeding them too me, while at the same time telling me how sugar is so bad for you it is going to give you an upset stomach but didn’t hesitate to stop feeding me them. Then we got the grand tour of the house, and just sat and talked for a while, Purni and Raji and just such intelligent people, the knowledge they shared with us was more than a few months worth of hard studying and schooling. We then headed out towards the gates for a drum performance by the untouchables, and we were begging mama to come dance with us but she said she couldn’t many times, then go stern and said she couldn’t because of their rank in the cast system she would be looked down upon if she did so, which was interesting to us, cause everyone claims the cast system no longer exists and I believe it is illegal. It was an amazing performance I tried to play the drums but that was a lost cause. Then we went back to the house most people went to bed but a few of us stayed to talk with Purni and Raji, and touched subjects, as sex ed in schools, and homosexuality, Medicare, school system, urbanization, and Muslims, Hindus, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, UAE, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Africa, US politics. Just about everything that you can think of. Mamma had the cook make me some extremely extremely strong ginger tea, which was supposed to get ride of my sinus problems, and you better believe it in the morning no problem, everything was fixed, it wasn’t the best tea I have had, but it sure did work, and I forced enough down I guess. Then went to bed a little late but we were learning so much I just couldn’t stop the conversation. Got up at 530 the next morning to milk the cows, which was awesome, basically I am a natural. Then we had more tea and coffee, very popular here, we then took pictures with everyone, and had to say bye, it felt like we had spent weeks with them but it was just the longest day ever, and the most amazing, the amount gained in that one day is equals about a years plus worth of knowledge. So we departed Jayaramapuram and headed into Erode. Once in town we went to the BVB School and had breakfast, and made some friends with students, Anderson spotted me right away and wanted to tell me about his physics class he had just gotten out of. Also this is where my celebrity status was discovered. So me looking like Dhoni was started and after that it was every where I went basically. Then after a quick breakfast we headed to Bhavani Temple after stopping at a much smaller road side temple and Bhavani is where we saw the elephant, and it was a very large temple, we saw a wedding party, the first large camera taking pictures of us which was kind of fun to have the roles reversed for a sec. The temple was on the river we saw people swimming and washing their clothes in the river. Then we drove to a carpet-weaving center. Which was awesome, the do the weaving in underground looms, I believe you call them, and it quit interesting all of it is foot based I think much more than usual, and it was intriguing to see, people keep on buying massive amounts of everything not sure what they are going to do with and how they are going to get it home. Then we headed back to the school for lunch, where these ladies who asked me about Dhoni made fun of me for not being able to handle the spicy food, after lunch we headed off to the ARIMA Centre for physically handicapped children, who all had affects from polio. It was amazing they performed some dances, Karate, and a few other things then wanted us to perform for them and we came back with the hokey poke, I was just completely embarrassed, we could have at least done the electric slide or something. But it was still amazing to interact with the kids; I gave them a disposable to take pictures with which they love. It was intriguing to see how they got around with such grace, and their disabilities didn’t hinder them from doing what they wanted. Then we traveled back to the big school in erode, and had some down time, (Kara and I well more so I attempted to practice things I haven’t done in 10 years, it was hilarious, the stares we got from people were great just ladies standing jaw dropping stares at us, I love it, I guess were interesting, what can I say) before they performed for us, they did an amazing dance, and then had some students do the same dance with them which was amazing, then they wanted us to perform so me Kara and Brittany represented us and did some gymnastics on stage for them just so that we didn’t have to embarrass ourselves again with the hokey poke, and I think it went over well, then their girls basketball team wanted to challenge us I steered clear of that one. I wasn’t around for the whole game but I am guessing we didn’t win cause their girl’s team is the champion of their league. A group of five boys found me and they wanted to know my ambitions and what I strived to do with life. I figured it would be hard to explain that I really had no idea, so I said I wanted to work for The World Bank. It sounded like a legit response. So I asked Anderson and his friends what there ambitions were, and three of them responded civil engineers one responded electrical engineer and the last Anderson mumbled something in Tamil that sounded like beggar, so I asked him if that was right, and then it became a running joke. I hung around talking with the students for about 45 minutes to an hour, just answering all their questions and asking them questions. They seem to have a hard time understanding our accent I think, and my Indian accent isn’t the best yet (HAHA). They are such intelligent people though, I wish I was that smart in seventh grade. But the things that you learn just from observing people in their “natural habitat” is amazing. After an amazing afternoon/evening we headed off to Swaminathapuram. Their we visited the Sidda medicine where the manufacture natural medicine from herbs, and plants, and all kinds of things. It was quit a large factory, tried some really crazy things, if it works at all like the ginger tea mamma gave me to cure my cold than everyone is in it to win it. After our tour of the factory part with these awesome hats we had to wear, we had a little snack time juice never tasted sooooo good. Then we went to an area of the factory where there were tons of kids, and played and interacted with them for about half an hour. They all gather around you beckoning for you to write your name down, sometimes they want your age as well. I love hearing all of their names they all are beautiful and unique well at least to me. Then headed into another room for meditation. I swear there were fifty mosquitoes attacking me during meditation cause I could not reach my inner chi very well. After the relaxing and deeply needed meditation we headed back to the BVB School where we had the best meal so far. We had these amazing noodles, tons of other things that were so hot they would have sent my too the moon, and then we had cake batter ice cream. We also got to meet the founder of the school who is mamas brother in-law. They kind of rushed us threw dinner and then we had to leave. It was hard to part with such a great time that was too short. It seems that the great things are too short. It left us starting or trip back once we left the school for our drive to the Rail way Station. SAS has been doing trips to Erode for 18 years now. It shows with how perfected your time there is spent. We got to meet Kings son who is an awesome tennis player apparently. Not sure if I touched on it but Mr. Mouche as I would spell it in English there is no English way of spelling it, it’s the Hindi term for mustache, and King which is what his name translated to were two teachers at the BVB School, one actually worked in the NCC I think its called, they loved me, the took me under their wing. Everywhere we went they held my hand, and made sure I didn’t miss out on anything. They wanted me to go and meet their families, so I had to promise that when we come back we will meet their families. It is fascinating how every school we go too the kids are so captivated by our cameras. I completely see why, but it makes me want to donate cameras to them and spend some time teaching them how to use them. I think some of the shots from the disposables I let them use will be really good. It was an interesting train ride back, I was asked by our trip leader to sleep in a car with Indians cause it wasn’t safe for a girl to do so me and Taylor were asked to and he couldn’t cause he wanted to stay with his family. So put us at risk cause you want to stay with your family who is surrounded by SASers, I mean I didn’t care, but they lecture us about not being adults, then expect us to be only when they want. Enough about that though. We hung out for a while on the train then finally passed out and got up around 6 am as we were pulling into the station. Got back to the ship around 630, took the shower of a lifetime. Not long just felt so good to get 4 days worth of dirt off. It was hot and Chennai isn’t the cleanest place on earth. Then grabbed some breakfast before heading downtown. Went to cruise threw some shops before we went threw spencers which is a mall type place the exact opposite than that of T Nagar where we went the first day. It was not as juristic as in Brazil but it was a different crowd their. Enjoyed spending a really long time in a bookstore/music store. Then after grabbing a bite to eat for lunch, we headed out back on to the streets of Chennai and found this awesome antique shop with all kinds of awesome stuff. Our favorite was this walking stick that was about 100 years old made of pure silver the handle part was a beautiful elephant, and it was engraved and designed very intricately down the whole stick, and you unscrewed the handle and a dagger was inside. It was super sick. Too bad it was $500 USD, and we couldn’t get it back on the ship. The owner had lots of awesome things, lots of it really expensive, but we learned a lot from him just asking him questions about each piece or thing we found interesting. He had some truly amazing silk paintings. We learned about the art that the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston bought from him, and the random people who came threw his store throughout the years to purchase things. He claims his shop was the first of its kind in Chennai. We didn’t catch how long he has been open for, but he had just boxes upon boxes of cool old stuff, which he just let us rummage threw. Then after about 3 hrs in this store we headed on a search for an internet café called java green, to do some school work. We found one eventually but it was for members only so we joined it was like 80 rupees to join something like $3 USD. It was interesting we were the only none Indians, and we were quit the talk of the room for a while. I just wish I could understand what people are saying sometimes. The internet was a hit we did all we needed, then made our way back to the ship in time to beat the rush before on ship time and massive lines. India is growing rapidly economically, and it seems as if its population is slowing down. The effects from the tension between Pakistan and India’s boarder is common knowledge to most citizens, and they can inform you in detail of the issues present from their side, and they even explain it from the other side pretty well I think. The effects from projects in the 80’s are now prevalent more than ever before.