Madurai and its temple

Time just flies.. it's been already a little over a month since I've left home. Life is as good as it could be. I still haven't traveled much but that's coming up soon. Went to Madurai for work-related reasons but we stopped by the Sri Meenakshi Temple. Madurai is one of the oldest cities in Tamil Nadu. Tamil and Greek documents record the existence of Madurai from the 4th century BC(Lonely Planet, 2009). So here're some pictures. This post is boring but just stay tuned for my next post, it will be filled with adventure and excitement!!!! For more pictures, please click on the title and it'll take you to my facebook album.

Me vs. Indians

Sometimes I feel really dumb asking different questions. so I will list some of the examples and let you be the judge.

1. Jin: what's the point of all these metal gates if you can just put your hands thru the other side and open it.
    Indians: well.. duh! these gates are not to keep people out, they are to keep the animals from coming into your house


2. Jin: what do you guys do for Christmas if you are a Hindu?
   Indians: ummm... technically we don't celebrate christmas if we are Hindus.

3. Jin: why does everyone have Dell Computers? is it made in India?
   Indians: No, they are made in China. Not everyone has a Dell computer. Now you're just weird.

Anyone else with intesreting questions about India???
I think India and I are still in our honeymoon phase and I love everything about it. Even walking on the roads half trying to kill myself has turned into a game. It's like how close you could get to a car/bus/truck/motocycle/bicycle/rickshaw/cow/goat before either you or they have to move. Trust me, it's actually fun!

The Big Temple

I would like to introduce you to Brihadishwara Temple of Shiva in Thanjavur. This was the crowing glory of Chola temple architecture, commisioned in 1010 by the King Rajaraja. Also, Nandi, the sacred bull of Shiva is one the largest Nandi statues in India. This amazing temple was made of sandstones and the carvings on the walls are amazing. It was very humid when we were there and very packed but I quickly learned the arts of pushing and shoving sticky people.
More picutres can be found on facebook... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=217918&id=519266544&saved#!/album.php?aid=217918&id=519266544&ref=mf

a long walk to the temple, we had no idea!

First entrance to the temple




Sayani and me sweating our asses off

 



Nandi; Sacred Bull for Shiva



A line of people trying to get into the inner sanctum where Shiva is



this is a Hindu priest handing out ashes for blessings