12-27-08

Today was our first day of real sight-seeing, even though we didn’t begin until about 4:00 pm. In the morning, we woke up late, had a nice breakfast, milled around doing a few things, and went to The Mobile Store, with plans to procure our desired cell phone and internet service. I planned on posting all my journal entries that I have been typing, but unfortunately, this was not meant to be. While our passport, photocopy, and photo we were able to purchase a cell phone for what Patrick called the “ungodly cheap” price of 1300 rupees (~$26). However, to buy internet service, we had to either be a resident of Chennai or have a friend vouch for us. Our only contact in Chennai is presently in Uganda visiting her brother. So after an hour or so of discussion, we left the shop without the hoped for internet access.
In the late afternoon we hired a taxi to take us to the St. Thomas Cathedral, or Santhome. This cathedral is the burial place of St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles. It is beautiful and filled with peace. There was a wedding going on in the main part of the church, so we could not enter without being horribly rude (although I took a few pictures on the sly) but the grave itself is not in the main building but in a chapel next to it, which was open to tourists and disciples alike. Over the grave is a depiction of St. Thomas, but there is a small glass window which reveals the earth beneath which the saint lies. It was a very beautiful place. There were also many relics, including a statue of Our Lady of Mylapore and a cross belonging to St Francis Xavier.
After Santhome, we visited the Kapaleeshwarar Temple. The intricacy of the carvings on the side and top of the buildings is incredible. I tried to recognize some of the gods and myths using my limited knowledge of Hinduism but could not. We walked through the temple grounds passing various shrines to various gods. The only one I recognized was Shiva’s, with the decorated Shiva Linga just visible through the doorway. I felt a bit out of place, a tiourist in a living temple. This was no historical monument to a people or culture long dead, like the ruins or an ancient, unused palace. This was a place that was still used on a daily basis for people to worship their gods, and I felt as though I had no real right to be watching them.