Chennai-yai-yai

A temple in Chennai, originally uploaded by cbern18.

During it's hey-day, Chennai must have been so lovely. Buried underneath layers of signs, decaying paint, and dust, the buildings are charming. The rickshaw drivers here drive the hardest bargain yet. So I've opted for public transportation. I'm still working on figuring out the buses but the ladies car on the city train is actually quite relaxed and not totally crowded. The journey to the train takes me through a neighborhood of shacks. Despite the dilapidated conditions, it is quite friendly and peaceful. On the other end of the train ride, I dodge motorcycles, bikes, buses, rickshaws, bicycle carts, people sleeping, men peeing, kids playing, trash and cows all to get to yoga, a tranquil oasis in this crazy city. Last class the teacher told me I had excellent breath control! It made my week! After yoga, I stroll over to my chanting class. There are only 3 notes, but I can't seem to stick to them. I have no idea what I'm chanting but I like it. There's a man at my hostel who says I shouldn't trust it and that I'm probably chanting for an evil spirit to come and curse me. Thanks for your vote of confidence! After chanting, I stroll over to eco-cafe, which true to its advertising is actually in a leafy garden and is situated next to a great clothing store!

Chennai is home for the moment and maybe for the next month. I plan to take some yoga classes of the type I was practicing in Atlanta and travel to nearby towns and ashrams. Last weekend I planned to go to Mamallapuram. But before I could make it to the bus, I met my shopping match. I ditched Mamallapuram and headed to the mall. The rickshaw driver got lost and wanted us to pay more. In the quarrel I left my back pack packed for a weekend get-away in the rickshaw. I was just thinking I had too much stuff. I embraced the loss as an excuse to let lose at the mall. I bought my first 3 piece Indian outfit (pants, shirt, and scarf). By the time I finished the tiny coffee the saleswoman brought me, the store tailor had added darts to the shirt and shaped it to fit me. It was amazing. Indian women are always dressed to a T with completely coordinated outfits. I look like a total scrub in my mismatched, hodge-podge of Indian clothing. However, I am working just as hard on that as I am on my yoga.