We’ve had too much to do to post — the wedding and reception were amazing, and after we travelled with all the family and close friends (almost 30 people total) to the mountains to do some touring and see elephants.  We were regretably unable to ride, it was raining and noone wants to slip off the back of an elephant.  It was a crazy trip, but so much fun to spend the time with everyone.  Here are some recent pics.  Click on them to view in full and read the descriptions.  We will have much posting to do once we are back.

It is early Sunday morning now, everyone is still sleeping.  We have had many adventures in the last 2 days.  On Friday, we went shopping in downtown Chennai, which was more of an adventure than any shopping trip I’ve ever been on before.  The number of cars and people and bikes and motorbikes and autos and just stuff in the streets is incredible.  Boston driving has nothing on Chennai.  We went to some upscale shops and bought some clothes, for Shukie and I for the wedding (gorgeous!) and some treats for a few back home.  We also went to a jewelry store and I nearly fainted from the beauty of all that gold.  Shukie managed to get me out of there before I spent our life savings.  After hours of shopping, we went to dinner at an IT office park.  Our options were KFC, Subway, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and some Indian cuisine.  Shukie and I opted for Indian, but Nisha and Doctor had KFC chicken and burgers. 

On Saturday we took a day trip to visit the site of 7th century carvings and temples.  It was incredibly beautiful.  One of the temples was on the beach, and all were just amazing.  I wish I had been able to understand the tour guides’ descriptions of how everything came to be, but it was awesome none-the-less.

The heat is hot, the culture is different from anything I’ve experienced (bathrooms have been a challenge for me….need to start wearing sari’s instead of pants, but Ill stop there before I give tmi…), but there are more adventures to come and I am loving it!

In addition to the 103 cows yesterday, the number of goats and stray dogs is probably double the number of cows.   

All the structures at this site, including this elephant and the temple behind it, were carved from one giant boulder.

This is the temple at the beach, there were originally 7, but 6 have washed out to sea.

My first sari-- a gift from Ma that I wore for a ceremony the morning of our wedding.

We went to the mountains to see some elephants - I even shook this baby's trunk!

The evening of our wedding, what we wore for the reception.

My arms and feet were painted with mahindi for the wedding, totally cool, but almost 12 hours of my arms straight out!

On our mountain trip with Neela, Ma and Mala.

It is Friday morning here in Chennai, and we just had some delicious veggie sandwiches for breakfast. Since we arrived in the middle of the night, and since we lost so much time traveling, we aren’t sure if it is Day 2 or Day 3. I’m having a wonderful time so far, have not ventured out much, just at home with 2 of my new sisters-in-law and Ma. Shukie and I spent most of the first day asleep, the time change is killer. Today, I will head to shopping with Neela. I got a sneak peak at my Ghagra Choli yesterday, and it is amazing. I hope to try it on today so that I can be sure that it fits. It is bright blue and adorned with beads in the shapes of flowers and just amazing. I can’t believe I will wear something so beautiful. Ma also showed me 2 saris that she has gotten for me, both are also blue, one blue flowers on a white background with silver beads on the edge, and one a darker blue with the symbol of India on it. Last night, we all walked to the beach, about a mile away. The sun over the Bay of Bengal was a truely beautiful sight that I will never forget…
More later….
0 cows in road; no elephants

Wow -  the final final countdown.  Today is the final prep day before the family arrives…can’t wait to see everyone!

The last single Sunday!  Weather says thunderstorms….let’s hope it changes again, still plenty of time in weather terms…

Exactly one week away!  The fireworks in Boston were not as spectacular as getting married to Shukie….

8 Days away…current forecast for July 12th — 81 and Partly Cloudy!!!!  Whoo-hoo!

20 Days away….current forecast for July 24th — 94 and Sunny!!!  Whoo-hoo again!