The next morning I met our OAT trip leader and some of my traveling companions during breakfast. After the late morning trip orientation meeting, we drove through a bit of Chennai with the first stop for money exchange. Some people chose to use the money exchange. For the rest of us, neither of the ATMs were functional. A short drive onward and we arrivec at The Writers’ Cafe for lunch. Founded by Chef M Mahadevan in December 2016, this Swiss bakery cafe works closely with and gives its profits to a non- profit organization, International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care. Eight women who are burn victims either from being attacked, self-immolation to escape a bad marriage, or due to an accident have been trained and work as part of the employment team. Higgenbothams Book Sore is also associated providing books for sale for both children and adults. Higgenbothams foundef in 1884 is India's oldest bookstore. Contemporary art decorates the walls and, in addition to tables for dining, there are nooks for reading and writing.

After we returned to the hotel, the group took a walk around the hotel area. I chose not to as I had already done that and walked to a Hindu temple not too far away that I found on the map. The temple was ver small and closed, but the route there took me through a very poor area. People here are very friendly, very happy to have their pictures taken, sometimes asking to have this done and not expecting to be paid as in some countries. I enjoyed the walk, took an auto rickshaw back and re-connected with the group.

Dinner was on our own. Randi, a woman from Oakland in my group and Wendy from Connecticut whom I had met at breakfast and was starting her tour the next day walked about ½ mile to Annalakshmi, a restaurant I had researched and Rebecca recommended. We passed the wedding hall which holds several thousand people and saw guests arriving and heard drummers and musicians outside the hall. It was quite festive. At the restaurant we hot the last unreserved table. Although few people were there when we arrived, it was full when we left. It is an upscale vegetarian restaurant with lovely traditional Indian decor. We all chose the recommended multi course Mahalakshmi Preethi Bhojan dinner with an extra Ayurvedic warm drink with spices and rice. The evening was really enjoyable. We walked back past the wedding hall where festivities were continuing.