Made it to India. It doesn't take long to fly here from Bangkok. Bit of an anti climax journey - need a transition period, especially as I was thinking I might not be ready for India at this point. I knew it was going to be hot and even after South East Asia it has been a shock to arrive in south India at the hottest time of year. Decided to miss out Chennai for the moment as the heat there can be ferocious. Came south to Mahabalipuram, the one place I missed out the last time I traveled in Tamil Nadu. It's hot, sticky and very few tourists (obviously because they are smart enough to avoid the furnace). Been here for two days and done most of the sites so will head a little further south tomorrow too Pondicherry. Managed to get out of bed earlier today. Hired a bike from my lodge, Tina Blue, and rushed out to the Pancha Pandhua Rathas: stone carved temples from one huge granite block, dating from the period of Narasimhavarman I (630 - 670AD). The road out to the Rathas resounded with the incessant chiseling from sculptors' workshops. This whole area is now a centre for stone sculpting schools and workshops. I think there has been this tradition since the temples and rock carvings 1400 years ago. Cycling past the bas-relief of Arjuna's Penance on the way back, to take some photos (uploading soon) stopped to snack on a favorite breakfast of iddlis (little rice cakes with curry) and sweet chai at Mamalla Bhavans. Not as hot as yesterday - not yet anyways.