Some Kanyakumari that I hadn't posted

(Lesley) The trains are fun in India. It is a relaxing way to travel. On the way down to Kanykumari, I read and snacked and even dozed off for a few minutes. I made Sam promise to stay awake if I slept. The scenery was nice, rice paddies, some mountains, lots of dry red earth. We met a nice family with a 4 year old boy. The mother teaches at a government school and has 50 students in her grade 4 class. The father works for the government in revenue. Land stuff mostly. Their son was super cute. Each time it went dark in the train (under bridges or in tunnels) he would say it was night, then when it got light again he would say it's morning. His father translated because he wasn't speaking in English.

Sam tried mango the other day and liked it. He never used to like it in Winnipeg. I ate a banana too. I usually don't eat bananas unless I'm doing a triathlon. Someone convinced me I need the potassium when racing, so despite not enjoying them I suffer them for my body's sake. Sam and I also tried coconut water. It wasn't a favourite for either of us, but having bought it not wanting to be wasteful we drank it up.

Have I mentioned how much older Sam looks than the kids his age? Probably. He looks 20 years old, according to the Indians. No one can believe he is 13. Their 13 year olds look so much younger. I expected this but find myself explaining to people and they always ask about my husband and if I have more children. Half the population now knows about Mhari and her injured leg and our family reunion in a few days time.

Sam and I went to Suchindram, the temple today. It was neat to see, very detailed. Lots of columns inside. Again, Sam had to take off his shirt.

And today, Sam and I did get up early to see the sunrise. But once again it was too humid to actually see the sun. It was however, fun to join the throngs of pilgrims at the waters edge in the dark and wait in anticipation of the big event.

In answer to a blog question:

Was Gandhi from the south? No, Gandhi wasn't from the south, he was from the north, Gujarat. He did however come south, well he went all over I gather. After he was killed, some of his ashes were brought her to be scattered in the 3 seas. There is a memorial here in Kanyakumari, with a small hole in the roof and on October 2, his birthday, the sun shines in and lands diredtly on the spot where his ashes were kept just before they were thrown in the seas.