just when you thought the story was over

Chris' dad arrived! Breck and Abeni had been out tromping around on their own (again, go here for their tales). Just as they were preparing to leave, Scott Allison, my revered father-in-law, came to visit too.

He spent the first couple of days exploring Chennai with Rajendran while Chris and I were at work. Really, as Abeni has intimated, there is no better tour guide in Chennai than my very own driver. He knows a lot of stuff. He knows a lot of WEIRD stuff.

Scott, like myself, found the very existence of Chennai to be the most thrilling aspect of being here. Sightseeing and traveling have their place in an adventure, but sometimes just being in a place is where the real fun lies. He toured the grocery stores, the markets (which are extremely insane and wonderful) and just got out there and walked. A man after my own heart (even though Rajendran gets irritated if anyone decides to walk anywhere).

We arranged a tour of the Madras Boat Club, he and Chris went to a movie, and we went to a lot of meals in and around town. Then we went on a roadtrip.

We met up with Breck and Abeni in Mamallapuram (about which you have seen and heard enough . . . or so you thought!), where they had spent a couple of days at a nice beach resort (Temple Bay). Then, due to constraints regarding accommodating all of us, we all moved into a not-so-nice beach resort (you must remember this one . . . Ideal Beach).

To be forever known by all of us as Not-So-Ideal Beach.

I'll bore you/amuse you (depending on your disposition) with the details at some future point in time. It was very funny. I got mad. The manager will never forget me, I daresay.

We toured the sights in Mamallapuram, chatted, hung out, and just generally spent quality time together. But one Thing did occur. We finally went to the famous Shore Temple (Again, why we have not done so earlier will be a story for those who are interested, at some future point in time. Our lives are so full of intrigue! Or so full of something . . . ).

The Shore Temple:

thank you beth.
move on!