Out and about...Ramble alert.

Went tripping today. It is a very auspicious day here in Tamil Nadu. Today are regional elections. They are held only once every five years for this state, and it is a state holiday today and tomorrow. The people are very unhappy with the current government. Inflation is very high, and corruption is rampant, according to the locals I have spoken with. Alcohol has been banned for three days, and most businesses a closed. The chance of post-election violence is a reality. We have been told by the hotel management to remain close to the hotel, and only venture into the capital.

With all of that said, we went into the city to shop, but the major mall was closed. I did, however get some good pictures, and will be uploading them to my flickr soon.

We returned to the hotel, and I had some amazing Thai food for lunch. It is the Thai new year today, and we were given free drinks by the restaurant in celebration of the occasion. They were apologetic that they could not provide us with alcohol, but they made us a nice guava and watermelon juice drink. It was quite refreshing. I had a meal of chicken and tarragon pillow pastries (as beautiful to look at as eat), and a dish of minced chicken, rice noodles, and basil. It was spicy (no red pepper, hah) and delicious. I finished it off with chocolat mint ice cream, and black coffee. This was indeed the best meal I have eaten while here.

I am consistently impressed by the hospitality the Tamil show us on a daily basis. Even while paying tourist prices, it is quite affordable. Each person makes intent eye-contact, and is very polite, and willing to hold a conversation, even if it is only a broken one. There is a certain power of spirit that has me loving this place. Amongst the chaos of ever-present squalor, construction, opulent walled complexes, and shanty towns, these people display some sort of strange tenacity of spirit. They are nonplussed by their troubles, and happy to be alive. I am quickly learning to love the Tamil.