Marina Beach New Year's Day 2012

The People in Your Neighborhood: Mylapore

Mylapore, my neighborhood in Chennai, India, lies close to Marina Beach, the Mylapore Temple, and Santhome Church.  At 4 am the Muslim prayers drift over the rooftops, and at 6 am the small Hindu temple behind my apartment sounds its morning gong.  A thousand angry crows start in on their daily rant, and Mylapore wakes up with the cry of the rice seller, and the auto rickshaw drivers starting their little engines.

I haven't eaten at this Five Star restaurant yet

The tea seller

                                                        

POWER TO THE JOURNEY

Rain

"It's hardly surprising that this country has been dubbed the world's most multi-dimensional.  Love it or loathe it - and most visitors see-saw between the two…It's a place you'll never forget."  

Lonely Planet India 2009

The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai

Entrance to the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai

Woman preparing to offer 'pooja' to one of the temple gods

Stone workers in the temple

One of many stone statues in the temple

The roof tops are a jumble of carved gods and goddesses

This statue and the altar part of the Hall of a Thousand Pillars

Incredible ceilings

One small portion of the painted walls

Temple guard

Sew Sari

Finally wore a sari.  These are the wonderful men and women teachers and co-trainers I had the privilege of working with in Coimbatore (Southwest India).  This sari was a gift from one of the teachers, and the women helped me wrap myself in it (not an easy feat).  More photos of the two-week workshop below.

The illustrious master trainer Dr. Raja and MK

Teachers working at a poster session

The Master Dr. Vasu with teachers at a poster session

Dr. Jayasudha who has been my guru and another of the master trainers 

Yet another masterful master trainer I had the pleasure of working with, Dr. Vasuki

Below, many of the lovely teachers at the workshop.  My apologies for those left out (I wasn't able to get everyone's photo that last day), or my apologies for including those who would rather not have been included.

The Government Arts College, Coimbatore, where the workshop was held