THANJAVUR
In the bus...
in the bus station......pee wall
The biggest temple in Tamil Nadu. In general, Tamil Nadu is a state of temples. So mostly temples are the main attractions in each city in Tamil Nadu.
Dance for the God in the courtyard of the temple
The God
A young Hindu carrying out a ritual
Men in southern India walk in skirts. It's a piece of sheet, which they wrap around the waist and when it is really hot, they make shorts out of it.
Free food in the temple courtyard; People waiting with their banana leaves
TIRUCHIRAPALLI
Late breakfast in the most usual outdoor restaurant
Rock temple
View from the rock temple to the city
a church
When Men in south India are wearing skirts, than women like to put jasmine flowers into their hair. It works as a perfume, actually.
India is a country with unlimited variety, that sometimes even ends up in contradictions.
Just in front of the huge and important temple we saw a statue of a guy with big beard and rounded glasses.
And underneath was written his quotations in large script:
"Forget God - Think of Man !
No God, No God, No God at all
Devotion is nothing but one's privat asset,
But morality is a public asset,
If there is no devotion nothing is lost.
But if there is no morality, everything is lost."
Later we found out that this other charismatic Indian fellow (aside from Gandhi and many others) was Mr. Periyar- The prophet of the new age; The Socrates of South East Asia; Father of social reform movement; Arch enemy of ignorance, superstitions, meaningless customs and base manners.
He is known as the Dravidian (South Indian) social activist, who propagated the principles of rationalism, self-respect and woman's rights. He also attacked the evils of religious influence on society, mainly what he regarded as Brahmin domination.
Periyar
KODAIKANAL
Kodaikanal (more than 2000 m above sea level) is a perfect getaway hill station in Tamil Nadu, to where even loads of locals escape from the terrible heat of the plains.
Air is much cooler there, but because of the altitude and being just above the clouds in the direct sun, it is very easy to get sunburn. Just like we ended up with read cheeks and nose.
Above the clouds
European food - a sandwich. After eating several months only Indian spicy food, the simple sandwich tastes like heaven.
Branko decided to start getting rid of his stuff, so shoes were first to go.....
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