We have arrived in Chennai after many adventures! After our very relaxing ride through the beautiful backwaters of Kerala, Joey and I headed back to the mountains in an effort to get a break from the scorching heat (think 95 - 100 degrees & 80-90% humidity). We traveled by local bus up to Kumily, near the Perriyar Tiger Sanctuary. While there we visited a 1941 tea factory that is still fully functioning. Needless to say, OSHA has not made it to India, and this old fashioned factory was a site to behold! Now we truly know how that Orange Pekote Tea is made! We also visited a lovely spice garden with a **VERY** knowledgeable guide who showed us 50 types of spices, how they grow, how they are processed, what they smell like, and where they came from. It is truly amazing to think that a mug of coffee and a carmel creme desert draws ingredients from all over the globe!
We spent the next day trekking & rafting through the wildlife sanctuary – we didn’t see any tigers, but the forest was BEAUTIFUL, and we did spy barking deer, bison, scorpions, 3 types of macaw monkeys, and some of the most dramatically featured butterflies & birds around!
The next day took us to one of the biggest Hindu temples in south India — the Sri Menakshi temple in Maduri. This intricately carved, palacial temple was truly a site to behold, though the bustling city of Maduri left little else to be desired. We headed out that night to Chennai where we were lucky to spend 1 1/2 days with Katy & Vivek and their families before the wedding craziness officially set in.
Wedding festivities are now underway — we’ll be sure to post some pics an keep you updated!