Thinking Day

Today is Thinking Day for all members of the Scouting and Guiding movements. They were such an important part of my life, my mother's, my children's and now my grandchildren are involved too. Mum was one of the first sea - rangers towards the end of the war and I think it fuelled her love of the sea which she passed to us all.

Today's blip really chose itself though, if you meet an elephant what else would you blip? They are such beautiful creatures. This one is a temple elephant and although admittedly doesn't have freedom to go where it wants and live in the hills and forests, at least it is treated well.

I visited the Arulmigu Nellaiappar Temple in Tirunelvelli town. I couldn't quite work out how old it is but there is mention of 700AD. There are impressive coloured towers, interesting carvings and today, a surprisingly calm air to the place. Then you walk around the corner and meet an elephant!
Other than that I went shopping in Pothy's, had lunch with Raja in the Sri Janikarram where I stayed in 1997 on my first visit to India. The food was delicious, vegetarian, we had what in the UK we would call a Thalli, but in South India it's simply called a meal, and it is exactly that and as much as you can eat. (see extra). Tomato soup, Rice, chapatti, poppadoms, sambar, rhasam, beans fry, chick peas in sauce, milk cabbage, dahl and probably some more I've forgotten then dessert - curd rice, paysam, kessari ice cream and fruit salad. They also came around with dahl powder and ghee for the rice and various pickles. All we could eat for 130/- rupees each, around £1.30. Its very common as you drive around to see boards outside shops saying "meals ready" and this is what they mean. They come in veg and non - veg versions and are always economical.
I did very little else today, caught up with some card writing, did some washing, visited the Chaplain and his family and planned out my week. This last week in Tirunelveli always gets really busy and I find I have run out of time to do the things I want to do.