Wednesday 15 February 2012

Day 239 : Konark Sun Temple


Took a fun cycle rickshaw to the bus stand. We went on a really big, busy road – the cows are so funny they just lie in the middle of the road not minding the traffic. I saw a dead cow for the first time (thought I would see more as they just wander on the roads but people avoid hitting them at all costs and they are so well fed – always munching on rice or chapatis!) it was covered in flowers and they was a guy sat with it with a collection bowl. The tour guide in Kolkata said that you can only kill an ill or old cow so that’s what the Muslims in the city eat – not sure if that rule goes for all of India but I won’t be eating any beef or any meat! I have a slight obsession with cows Will is trying to limit the amount of photos I take of them but they’re so cute.
Got a bus to Konark. It was ridiculously squashed like the student link but worse - couldn't even put both feet on the ground (not cheap either at 30rps each). An hour or so later we arrived at Konark to go to the Sun Temple.

The temple is 13th century and was buried under sand for a long time. It is really tall and set in beautiful grounds. All the stone carvings are really naughty displaying explicit Karma Sutra action!

Photoshoot: The place was full of Indian tourists and we had our photo taken with many groups of people. Some families hire professional photographers who hang around the temple and we had a few “photoshoots! with these. It was like getting married again! E.g.. two women wanted their photo with us both, then one of them with us both then the other then them with just me etc! Also had photos taken with bemused children. It’s funny to think that we will go in the family album of these random people!

Took a more comfy auto-rickshaw back to Puri (saw a monitor lizard) after buying some palm leaf drawings. I really like them – I love all the stuff you can buy especially the tacky shiny shiny glittery stuff (Will not so keen).

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