Tour of Chennai
Due to my delayed luggage I had to find something to wear. Ravi was kind enough to come and get me at the hotel and take me shopping and to visit a few other sights. I found some clothes in this pleasant mall. Available was a mix of "normal" and traditional Indian styles. While India is known for the sari, salwars etc. are gaining popularity as more practical.
Chennai is on the Bay of Bengal and known for having very long beaches. Don't let the picture fool you, it is very hot on the beach at mid-day, and fairly deserted. At night the beach comes alive as a social gathering point. There are even playground style structures for the kids to play with. Per Ravi there is ongoing tension between the economic development forces that want to bring more tourists to the area and the fisherman whose rows of boats are not far from this picture.
A Christian church is not the first thing to come to mind as an Indian tourist attraction, however India has a diverse background of many religions and St. Thomas, the one and the same "Doubting Thomas, spent much time here and was dubbed the Aposole of India. This church was built in the 1500s and the original tomb for his body. Legend has it that he died not far from this church on a small hillhock, known as St. Thomas Mount.
