After our diplomatic briefing I tried to get to an ATM with John, Carol and Joe Bender. We had to show our passport to the Indian officials before we got off the ship and then we took the shuttle bus that takes us to the port entrance. When we got to the entrance there was a long line where they were checking passports again and they were also checking the other buses that were taking people on field trips. We decided that we better go back to the ship and wait for our field trip that was leaving at 12:45 rather than risk not being on time for it. They don’t wait for you - if you are not there within five minutes of departure time they give your ticket away. So we got back on the shuttle bus and the student that got left in the hospital in Mauritius and the doctor’s husband were just arriving to join up with the ship. So I now know who the kid is and that he is indeed back on the ship. The doctor’s husband said he enjoyed his week in Mauritius and got to see quite a bit of the island.
Someone asked a question about Diego Garcia at the diplomatic meeting and they were very surprised that we had stopped there. The people at the diplomatic meeting are US citizens that work at the Embassy in the country we are visiting. One of them from today was a former SAS student.
We went on the Chennai city orientation today and one of the things I learned is that this city used to be called Madras by the English, but since India is now an independent country they decided to call it Chennai as that is the Indian version of the name. Our first stop was at a former British headquarters. There was a catholic church there that they wanted us to see, which was not open so we could not go in. Then they took us to a museum, which was all British artifacts from when they were in charge, so there were statues of Cornwallis (who was sent to India after being defeated in the rebellious United States by George Washington) and pictures of the British royalty and a lot of canons and canon balls. Pictures of coins used in the real olden days and china left behind by the British. The traffic here in Chennai is crazy and probably will be worse tomorrow when everything opens up for business. Our guide walked us back to the bus and we had to cross one of those busy streets to get there. We crossed at a stop light, but not everyone stops just because the light is red and of course they drive on the wrong side of the road!
Our next stop was St Thomas Cathedral and the story is that Apostle Thomas is buried below the altar in this church. They say that Thomas came to India and preached after Jesus’ death. He was eventually killed because of his beliefs and supposedly the arrow that killed him is also in his tomb.
Our last stop was at a Hindu temple. First the guide had us walk around the neighborhood and showed us how the people lived. It looked pretty dirty and dilapidated. The temple is filled with statues of their gods and the streets were filled with shops selling everything from knick knacks to cow pies. Right next to the cow pies were spices of all varieties. Some of us girls found a shop that was open and was selling fabrics, scarves, shirts, skirts and pants. I ended up buying a scarf that I probably paid too much for and had to go across the street and down stairs to pay with my credit card. I have to go out again tomorrow and find an ATM machine as we are leaving in the late afternoon for the Taj Mahal and I don’t have any cash.
How come you never have any cash?
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