Hello Everyone,

Finally got this thing working but now in a little village (12,000) people on the beach 2 hrs south of Chennai.

Well where to start..Got off to a good start with Vicki dropping me at airport. Plane was 30 mins late, but we caughgt this up by Singapore but then tropical electrical storm at airport meant circling for 30 mins..however uneventful flight of 3:30 to Chennai from there. Very few europeans on plane ,,I cxhose the Indian menu options, Very busy route for indians back and forth on business, Straight through and checked then had to wait for bags, Unfortunately there were lots of big lcd screens being brought back from Singapore. One was put on the conveyor on edge and jammed under the haed of the opening stopping the conveyor, 4 men finally got it unstuck ..it lokked completely shattered so they poked it shrugged and carried on laughing ..had already spotted Paul and Julia through the opening...not hard amongst allthose darkies. Got out after 45mins with my bags asnd my first great Indian experience was about to start, It was just so good to see Paul and Julia, they looked great and relaxed and had got a autorickshaw to the airport and it was waitng to take us back...wow..35 degs literally thousands of people everywhere..and a 40 min trip to hotel nose to tail hooting along at speed and literally only about 100mmm to adjoing cars truks bikes scooters rickshaws front end loaders buses etc but it all worked. He took a short cut thru a slum area and that was disturbing 11:30 at night children and animals everwhere women washing families sleeping on tiny traffic islands...but it was a scene that I have seen lots of since. Hotel was great with P & J along on same floor. It was on 4th floor and no matter how hard I tried I couldnt get the images out of my head and couldnt sleep at all even though a was dog tired and hadnt slept for almost 24hrs. It was sensory overload (a bit like too many caffeine fixes at C1), Then first day auto rick to old fort area then some exquisite temple architecture then rickshaw to beac...the second largest in the world. It was sunday so lots of locals there ..some begging like little girls with baby monkeys...then walked into city to some of P&J's earlier haunts for some Chai then lunch at the back of some locals cafe....no utensils...I ordered a mutton thuingy but think it was goat paul ordered omelet and got 3 boiled eeggs! fantasyic sitting there with all the locals. We've seen only 1 other eurpean this morning and theres lots of interest in us particularly Julia by both boys and girls.

Then fresh squeezed juices all round at another bar ,,then home by rickshaw..Pand I went for walk to local train staion ...a site of unbelievable action...There is so much to right about....nothging not even all my reading and tips from everybody could prepare me for the assault on the senses...the sounds the smells the visual impact and certasinlry thr emotional..on the way back to the hotel P and I passes lots of street dwelewrs and i noticed a women with a baby that to me looked new born...she was cradling it with a younger women who I presume to be the mother and they looked just so happy and yet ther were a million vehicle spassing within a metre of them...I found it all just so emotioal....that sort of sums it up here...its not a new experience every now and then but every minute ..some good some not but always dramatic. The people to date have been the happiest friendliest helpful imaginable. And this was only my first day...Chennai has twice NZ populatiuon and theres wealth here that is way beyond anything in NZ but at the other end of the spectrum such extreme poverty. In the evening we walked to a local resrtaurent and rfor 400 rupees had more vegie curry and naan than we new wot to do with. And that wasnt a cheapo eating place, Better slep last night and 2 hr bus trip south this morning,,,had a gentle local fall asleeep on me..Plenty of foto oppurtunities ..into my 2nd hundred already...LOL....must fly and walk back to our rooms...As you can gather I'm having a fantastic time...and it's so good being here with Paul and Julia so will write again soon with maybe some fots...cos tomorrow were hiring bikes and going temple spottig at a local world hertage park.

Love to you all. M

Phew that was bit of a novel! sorry