Day Out to Kanchipuram - Guests of Honour

Both Kumar and Pushpa had been extolling the virtues of a visit to Kanchipuram to me for a good while. Famous throughout India for its silk saris and no less than five magnificent temples I felt we had to pay a visit.

For Pushpa it was also an opportunity to visit some of her family as her niece, her husband and son live nearby and for us the chance to have local guides to show us around and help avoid any hassle, and so I invited her and her son to join us on our jaunt.

So, early one morning me, Karen (who was visiting us) Ellie, Luke, Pushpa, her son Balaji and Kumar hit the road to drive the 76km to this temple town. The journey started well and then it became very apparent that Balaji is not a 'good traveller', several stops, sick bags and seat changes later we finally arrived. We had exactly
2 1/2 hours to visit as many of the temples we could and find a decent loo before visiting Pushpa's family for lunch.

After the first temple we were joined by Pushpa's handsome (Karen had other words to describe him but I'll be polite!) nephew and two of his friends who delighted in showing us, and especially the children around. Two of the gang were dancers and trying to break into Kollywood films (Tamil version of Bollywood) and the other a silk weaver, and collectively they were all charming and so helpful, especially in the temple donation stakes...I hadn't had the chance to get any small change and typical tourist only had 1000rps notes...Embarrassing! Very!

We visited and did and saw as much as we could before the temples closed their doors to visitors at 12.30pm and then we had a short journey to our lunch destination. Pushpa's family were the ultimate hosts and welcomed us into their humble home with gifts, a wonderful meal and the warmest hospitality you can imagine.

In keeping with South Indian tradition, the ladies tucked in their Sari's and presented us with delicious food (Biryani, Curry, Samba, Rice) all served on a banana leave. Your task then, if you wish to accept it (!), is to mix together each 'dish' with your fingers and attempt to pick up and deposit the mixture in your mouth without dropping it all down your front! I had had the opportunity to practice a couple of times before and Karen did amazingly well for her first attempt. Your hosts don't actually eat with you, they stand over you and dish up more and more food until you cannot possibly eat anymore and it is only then that they sit down and eat themselves.

Reluctantly the time came to say 'Goodbye' and we all left for the drive home very happy, relaxed and FULL...and so did Balaji...for about 5 miles! Poor boy.

Make a Smilebox slideshow