Out and about in downtown Kulaganivarpuram

This morning being Saturday I headed out to Carrie's house for a late breakfast UK style, boiled egg and toast. It's amazing how you crave the plain things when everything has chilli on it! Cyrus came to pick me up which was great.
My usual mode of transport here is an auto, (auto-rickshaw) known in other parts of India as a Tuc-Tuc. They're great for nipping in and out of the traffic in. I usually travel in Raja's auto and have gone since since I first met him in 2007. It's so useful to have somebody who speaks English and is used to my strange ways.
Back from Carrie's I had a lazy afternoon then went for a walk about the neighbouring streets. First though I had a chat through an interpreter with some of my fellow residents. They are a cheery bunch as you can see. The one on the left is the cook and the one on the right a regular day time visitor who doesn't actually live here. I had noticed she limped and you can see why in the picture.
I walked into the area behind where I'm staying which is a mix of new large houses and older smaller ones. I wandered along, smiling as I went and being greeted by people in return. I had just passed one house, near to the community cowshed when they called me back in English. They introduced themselves as Rachel, Esther, Ebenezer and Martha, a Christian family, as they agreed. We discussed why I was there and that I was out for a walk. Last time I was there the cowshed was full of cows being milked. That happens at 7pm apparently. There is quite a large local Hindu temple right next to it but it wasn't a good time to take a picture as it was busy. An extremely impressive, and very large, new house was in the process of being built just next to it.
I liked the three girls walking along the road in front of me. An image of modern India, one in jeans, one in Churidar and one in a saree.
On my way back, I spotted the bird in the extra, it's a bee eater, a little smaller than a skinny starling and a beautiful colour.

And the puppies, just because they called out to me and because everyone loves puppies!