A Beautiful Vacation Resort

We stopped for lunch and relaxation at this lovely beach resort. The delicious lunch buffet was worth at least 5 of the many pounds I brought back as a souvenir! 

At a Cultural Center South of Chennai, India

Good friends Bradley and Rajaram pose with some of the local statuary. 

Mahabalipuram

The two structural shrines collectively known as the Shore Temple were built by Pallava, King Narasimha Varman II (AD. 700-728). 

The Five Rathas

Here we see two of the five temples at this site collectively called the Five Rathas. The five temples plus various other animal carvings are all carved from the same huge rock. 

The Church of Thomas the Apostle

The church of St. Thomas is located on a hill overlooking Chennai. St.Thomas (the Doubting Thomas from the Bible) is believed to have preached here between the years 52 and 70. He was murdered here and the church contains his relics. 

Chennai As Seen From the Church of St. Thomas

Chennai is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is one of the four largest cities in India. With an estimated population of 6.90 million (2005), the 368-year-old city is the 31st largest Metropolitan area in the world. Temperatures while I was there reached daytime highs of 30C. 

The Beach in Chennai

This is one of two beaches in the city. A very nice beach, despite a lot of trash in the sand on this part, and the water was warm but almost no one swimming! Modesty prevents western-style bathing suits, so those that do swim do so fully clothed. 

Chennai, India

I arrived in Chennai at 2:00 am Monday, Feb. 5. I didn't get much of a chance to see India until the following Friday when I took this shot of a Hindu temple near the beach in Chennai.