London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 79 – 14 November 2016
Temples, Surprises and a New Flag for Kontiki
Today was our opportunity to explore Chennai before continuing our journey further south tomorrow.
We began the day with a visit to one of Chennai’s magnificent temples.
The temple was an absolute feast for the eyes.
Its colourful towers, intricate carvings, and beautiful sculptures seemed to tell stories from centuries past. Every surface appeared covered in artwork and craftsmanship. The photographs we took hardly need any explanation, as they speak for themselves.
The colours, architecture, and atmosphere were simply breathtaking.
Standing there admiring the temple, we were reminded once again how rich and diverse India’s cultural heritage truly is.
The day then produced one of those remarkable moments that makes you realise just how small the world can be.
While visiting the temple, we unexpectedly met a family of four from Leicester, who happened to be friends of Ramesh.
What were the chances?
Thousands of miles from home, after driving across Europe and Asia, we suddenly found ourselves chatting to people from our own city.
The surprise was mutual.
Ramesh introduced Mahesh and me to the family, and as we shared stories about our journey, the conversation turned to the school that Mahesh helps manage in India.
Touched by the work being carried out there, the family generously donated Rs. 2,001 towards the school.
We were genuinely moved by their kindness and thanked them warmly before continuing our sightseeing.
Sometimes the most memorable encounters are the ones you least expect.
To make the most of the day, we had hired an auto-rickshaw and its driver became our personal guide around Chennai.
He took us to several interesting places across the city, including a beautiful church whose peaceful surroundings provided a striking contrast to the vibrant temple we had visited earlier.
From there we headed towards the seafront.
Chennai’s coastline was impressive.
The promenade was wide, clean, and well maintained, with plenty of people enjoying the pleasant weather.
We stopped to enjoy some fresh sweet coconut water, one of the most refreshing drinks you can have on a warm Indian afternoon.
As we travelled through the city, we also witnessed the continuing effects of India’s recent demonetisation announcement.
Outside many banks, long queues of people stretched onto the pavements as citizens waited patiently to exchange old currency notes for the new ones.
It was a reminder that the entire country was adapting to a major economic change.
By late afternoon we returned to our hotel, but the day was not quite over yet.
We had one important mission.
During the storm in Gopalpur, our Indian flag had been damaged and torn. Since then, we had been searching for a replacement worthy of flying proudly from Kontiki.
Finding one proved more difficult than expected.
After quite a bit of searching, we eventually located a suitable flag.
The next challenge was finding someone who could alter it to fit our flagpole.
Fortunately, Ramesh tracked down a local tailor who agreed to help.
An hour later, he returned proudly carrying the newly modified flag.
However, our celebrations were short-lived.
When we attached it to the pole and raised it, we discovered that it had been sewn the wrong way round and was flying upside down!
Much to our amusement, Ramesh had to march back to the tailor and explain the problem.
Thankfully, the tailor saw the funny side of it and quickly corrected the mistake.
This time, when the flag was raised, it flew perfectly.
After travelling through eleven countries and thousands of miles, it felt good to see a fresh Indian flag proudly flying from Kontiki once again.
As evening arrived, we freshened up and headed out for dinner and a few drinks.
The food was excellent, full of the wonderful flavours that South India is famous for.
As we sat enjoying our meal, we reflected on another enjoyable day filled with unexpected encounters, colourful sights, and plenty of laughter.
Tomorrow, the road would once again be calling.
Our next destination would be Pondicherry.
Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Weather: Sunny, warm, and pleasant
Highlights: Visiting Chennai’s magnificent temple and unexpectedly meeting friends from Leicester
Most memorable moment: Receiving a generous donation of Rs. 2,001 for Mahesh’s school from fellow Leicester residents
Funny moment: Ramesh having to return to the tailor after the new Indian flag was accidentally sewn upside down
Places visited: Temple, church, Chennai seafront, and city centre
Vehicle update: New Indian flag proudly installed on Kontiki
Dinner: Delicious South Indian cuisine and refreshments in Chennai
Mood of the day: Surprised, grateful, and ready for the next stage of the journey
“After nearly 14,000 miles on the road, the last people we expected to meet in a Chennai temple were friends from Leicester. Sometimes the world really is a very small place.”
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki leaves Chennai behind and heads south to the charming former French colony of Pondicherry on the next stage of our London-to-Mumbai road adventure.
