The Three Amigo's Take On Chennai

Wow, what a great day we had today with my friends Renee and Anne-Maree, who have blessed us with their company by coming to visit us in Chennai for a week. We set off early this morning with my friends driver Mustafa, as our car was at the doctors getting ready for a trip away this weekend. Mustafa is the guy to know when you want to head to Parry's corner, the shopping hub of Chennai. Now, when I say shopping area, don't get me wrong....this is no swanky shopping mall. It is narrow streets filled with little shops with anything your heart desires. If you can put up with the traffic, crowds of people, smells, rubbish, motorbikes speeding by dodging people through narrow lanes then it's the place for you.

Mustafa, our fearless leader, carrying our bags of treasures. We did not open a car door or carry a bag all day. He really looked after us so well.

We went in search of bling, and did we find it. 1000's of Rupee later ($20 Aussie) we left with bags full of Bangles, rings, bindi's, meters of ribbon, happy, but hungry, hot, dirty and thirsty.

Everything was "Very cute sister" according to the salesman.

BLING.

The girls with their goodies

From one extreme to the next we headed straight for a wonderful lunch at Good Earth, in the plush, up market suburb of Nungambakam. This would have to be my favorite shop in Chennai. A stunning homewares store full of the most elegant items to adorn your home and the best cafe in town. The contrasts in this country are endless and constantly blow my mind. Thank heavens for these places we can go to for some normality and treats. It makes life livable.

Then we hit the fabric store......wow, oh what fun. Need I say more.

Driving along Marina Beach we came across the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, freedom fighter and a very important figure in India's history.

This little family of goats caught our attention at the fishing village. The smell also caught our attention when the windows were down.

We arrived home 8 hours after we left to find our wonderful Margaret had cooked up a storm. Dinner was a mix of Masala Dosa, Idli, chutneys and other Indian goodies. All so yummy. The girls are loving the food and we need to stay home at least one day to have a cooking lesson from Margaret.

Poor Margaret, I am the WORST Madame, yesterday was her Birthday and I forgot. I was too busy thinking about my visitors and showing them the sights of Chennai and I clean forgot. Oh I feel awful, but I quickly sent her off home with some money to take her girls out for a birthday dinner. Tomorrow I am taking my visitors to Nalli Silk shop so we will choose a new Sari for Margaret's birthday gift.

Stay tuned for tomorrows adventures as the three Amigos take on Chennai again.

Mates

Mac has made a great little friend at school and they just love one another. This week his friend is away on holidays and Mac is really missing him. We got to school today and Mac looked at the cubbyhole that holds Ryan's shoes and was devastated to find they weren't there.

They love to get to the big kids school at the end of the day to kick the soccer ball around and have a run around together. It helps that Ryan's Mum has become a great Friend to me also. Just two more people we will dearly miss when we return home.

Mr Squirrel

We have a regular little visitor who likes to come and hang out on the air conditioner box outside Eliza's bedroom. I see him come to visit as I sit at my computer. He is a big time waster and it's so hard to get a photo of him. I think he knows I love to watch his acrobats as he scales the wall without a worry in the world, it amazes me he doesn't fall.

These little guys are everywhere around Chennai, scampering through the trees and scaling high walls.

Snooze Time.

I think sleeping would be one of the all time favorite things for Indians to do. They can sleep anywhere, anytime, anyhow.

Needless to say driving down the main road through Chennai the other day we came across this guy having his morning nap in the back of a laundry van and he was totally unaware of the chaotic traffic and tooting going on around him.

These guys had slipped off their shoes and left them on the footpath while the settled down for an afternoon nap

Got to love this security guard having a nap while on duty.

The Seasons Of Friendships

Eliza and Holli saying their last goodbyes

Friday was the last day of 3rd term and it was a sad day for Eliza.

It was because her good friend Holli was leaving Chennai with her family on their next big world adventure. They had become really great friends and were both so sad to have to say farewell. We are all now realizing this is how life is when you live in a nomadic community. People coming and going all the time. It's just another season in our lives of friendships. Seasons come and go and so do people we meet along the way. It's not that we forget these friends that have been placed in our lives when we needed them the most, but we will treasure what they have brought into our lives.

At the start of the year there where 7 kids in Eliza's advisory class, now with Holli leaving on Friday, it's down to 3. Eliza and 2 boys, James and Luca. Fortunately they get along well and have loads of fun together. They have decided to change the name of their advisory class from "The Kingfishers" to, "A series of unfortunate events".

James, Eliza, Holli and Miss Kathy, their Advisory teacher.
I guess this is the first of our goodbyes, with many more to come in the next few months. The friendships we have made while living here have been such a blessing and we will hold them close in our hearts as we all move on.

My 'To Do List'

This is one of my favorite photo's from my trip to Parry's Corner shopping district last month. What a cruiser.

Also, this mode of transport is still on my 'To Do List', although I do pity the poor rickshaw driver who gets to pedal me around town. It's truly one of those real Indian experiences, getting up close and personal to ride around in a rickshaw.

REMEMBER TO,