Having flown from the rather gritty Kolkatta to our first south Indian destination, Chennai, we were unsure what to expect when disembarking…would the south continue to be an assault of noise, pollution, people, cows, rickshaws and intense smells? Would we, at any stage, get a glimpse of what could be a deemed a ‘relaxing holiday’ rather than a ‘hardcore adventure’?
Having been stalked paparazzi styles around practically each and every monument of the north, bamboozled out of more rupees that we can anticipate at every turn and having grown increasingly more wary of people’s intentions with every interaction, we were (as ungrateful as it might seem) ready for a change of pace. Strolling along the beach in Chennai our first night, we braced ourselves as a large group of young men came running up to us to chat and take photos. 
Feeling the relaxation that a change of scene can sometimes bring about we obliged and were rewarded with…huge smiles, sweet intentions, grateful handshakes and hearty goodbyes. The end. No ulterior motives, nothing. It was a wonderful introduction to the relaxed and generous nature of the southern people and was to be the pattern for the entirety of our stay at this end of the sub-continent. We spent entire afternoons sitting on beaches, outside temples and cruising around the markets having people approach us to talk and always wanting their photos taken, providing us with the best ingredients for fabulous portraiture. There’s no anecdotes or narrative here, other than the generosity of our models. Enjoy!
Before you think AGAIN that we’ve gone all soft and fluffy, check out this awesome video we took on the beach the first night in Chennai. It has been duly added to the file of “Things to Do to Naughty Kids in the ESL Classroom”…hehehe.
On the must do list for Kolkata was Mother Teresa’s house. For even the most cynical and jaded of travellers, for those who have seen both the best and the absolute worst of humanity and for everyone in between its a place where you can’t help but be moved. Part museum, part missionary centre (and wholly both at the same time!) it provides a fascinating glimpse into the psyche of Mother Teresa and other such people who choose to give their lives to helping others. Whether you agree with her religious views or not, throwing yourself into the very depths of poverty and despair in a foreign country is a pretty full on effort, don’t you think?
Nuns pray around Mother Teresa’s marble tomb regularly and must be pretty pap-savvy as they didn’t even flinch at the flashbulbs going off all around them. Man, we sound tacky, but we swear, we respected every minute and every centimetre of their space. 
Of course, like most of the rest of the north of India, cows are everywhere. ”Beef, beef everywhere and not a bite to eat.”
