|
Hello from Chennai,
We are here safely after arriving at 4a.m. Slept until
8a.m.....itching to get on the streets and wander. The hot
perfumed air from the Jacaranda flowers is mixed with pollution
and broken with constant horn honking. Everywhere are
stick stalls with corrugated iron roofs where fruit, flowers and
chi are sold and whatever else the merchants can sell! Every
surface is littered with textures!
|
Kaffe sorting through a sea
of wonderful textiles.
|
Ladies wafting along in
their saris, men in their lungies patterned in faded checks
weave their way through cyclos and taxis in a constant
stream of traffic all with their own right of way!
Street children pester for money. Kate (Kate Buller...merchandising
manager for Rowan) is charmed by the flower sellers. We
found a four story store for the local ladies to buy saris.
Wall to ceiling glass fronted cupboards are behind large
wooden counters where plenty of male shop assistants with
jet black hair, combed and shiny, are all eager to smile and
assist.
After lunch the three of us crammed into the back of a cyclo to go four
kilometers to the beach. |
We walked along the
lukewarm sea edge amongst the fishermen yanking up their lungies
to squat and have adump before hauling in fishing nets filled with
sardines and large fish.
They throw aside poisonous blowfish along with amazing shells and rich
blue sea urchins. Hordes of women gather to buy the daily catch.
Others gather to enjoy the open space...facing the sea while
sitting in the shade of wooden fishing boats. This is a complete
contrast to the street "goings on" over their shoulders in town.
Groups of girls giggle in the shallow waves, oblivious to
their soaked saris. Occasionally they'll stop us to have a photo
taken with us.
Today we have spent the day inside an air conditioned room of the
Handicraft and
Handloom Export Corp. of India. Digging our way through
mountains of woven fabric, we are bending our ears to understand
the English of the officials! Lunch was served wrapped in brown
paper tied with straw. Inside was Massala Dosa (rice pancake with
spiced potato along with two accompanying sauces, all served
on banana leaves.) Rice mixtures, steamed rice muffins,
aromatic spicy dips and sweet dessert... absolutely fabulous food!
Kaffe cannot stop watching Bali-Wood music whilst I have returned all
bendy from an Indian massage. We are making some very exciting
design choices! No time for shopping...well only a little anyway!
Brandon
|
