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The rest of the time we spent at the post office mailing off boxes of our stuff. This was an experience as the boxes had to be carefully wrapped in cloth and sewn up before mailing... Watching the experienced man sew up the parcels mad me think we should have brought my bear along. The next day we took the train to Bhubaneswar (in the state of Orissa) on the way to Calcutta. It was to be a long trip of over 24 hrs., so the folks figured to get as comfortable as possible with 2-tier aircon sleepers. Very nice - not first class - but pretty close. We ordered and ate the local cuisine of rice and curry on the train and I actually liked the dinner eaten with banana (of course). We spent the hours playing games and doing school work. The time seemed to speed by while we chugged along the eastern coast of India. In Bhubaneswar we visited various Orissa temples though some of them were not open to non-Hindus. Of these, we only had a glimpse of the exterior from special viewing platforms. The next day we took a 2 hour bus ride to Puri a much smaller beach town. This place was a little like a backpackerscentre ready to happen: again, because it was low season, the place seemed deserted. A few stores selling souvenirs lined the main street, and there were |
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restaurants serving semi-western food at places named Mickey and Mini Mouse Palace. Being so close to the sea we were expecting more hotels on the beach but were disappointed to find this not so. It was just as well, as we later discovered when we took a walk through the small fishing village. The beach was absolutely filthy!! Every year in July Puri hosts one of India�s most fascinating and largest festivals: the Rath Yatra, where huge chariots are being wheeled around town with various deities on top of them. Unfortunately for my parents we were going to miss that (they�ll have to come back another time), but Papa was able to get a glimpse of the main temple and square from a nearby roof-top.
One day we had arranged for a private taxi to take us to the famous Sun Temple at Konark, an hour or so north. Accompanied by a guide, Papa (I stayed with Mommy who was busy taking pictures) got a whirlwind but vivid tour of the erotic sculptures of this impressive temple: �man with two women�, �woman with happy, old man�, �two warriors in brothel�, etc. etc. It was quite funny, according to him. Many of the figures flanking the outside of the temple were in an amazing state of preservation and the fantastic craftsmanship resulted in all sorts of facial expressions. But it was Hot, so we didn�t linger too much and I was glad to be in the Ambassador with a/c again. That same day we had our train ride to Calcutta. |
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