Mooooo…. how wonderful, can someone give me a massage, …...pleeez?
This is Puri on the east coast of India, in the state of Orissa, the closest ‘decent’ beach to Calcutta, and therefore a ‘must-go’ for someone who’s never in her life seen the sea before (you know who I’m talking about). Anyway, there’re absolutely no regrets. Puri is surprisingly ‘tout-free’ (not totally, after all this is India mate, but reasonably …for India), and has attractions and places to cater for people of different interests.
There’s the Sun Temple in Konark for history buffs and Indiana Jones enthusiasts (like me).
The Sun Temple, Konark, Orissa
There’s the thriving and packed Jagannath Temple in the centre of Puri, one of the main pilgrimage destinations for Hindus for the spiritualists and cultural nuts (also like me, …I dunno why but I like temples and religious places, whatever religion they’d be).
The Temple of Lord Jagannath, Puri, Orissa
There’re tons and loads of wildlife for the wildlife enthusiasts (of course, this is India, remember?), cows (what’s new), dogs, chickens, monkeys, etc apart from the not so common grand entourage of birds, dolphins (yeah, some riverine dolphins, don’t ask me what species, coz I don’t remember, anyway you see them only for about err… less than a second per time, smooth grey bald round objects that bob up and down in the Chilika lake).
Our boat, Chilika Lake, Orissa
There’re stretches of quiet, tree-shaded roads (unlike India…) for a nice stroll, or hassle-free ride on a cycle (very unlike India).
The favourite pastime in Orissa, …zzzzzz (Ram Temple, somewhere between Puri and Konark)
There’re thronging markets packed with all sorts of stuff from cheap ethnic clothes to religious paraphernalia for the die-hard bargain hunters (like the women, really, I’ll never understand them…).
Life around the Jagannath Temple, Puri
There’re cheap (but reasonably bright and airy) budget hotels lining the quieter beach front towards the east (the west is packed full of Indian revelers, mainly Bengali tourists from Calcutta), where backpackers chill-out, jam music, and have an occasional dose of ‘grass’ I suppose (no, dunno where I can get them, didn’t try, but I’m sure it exists, hint).
There’re lots of cheap and fresh seafood to gorge on and beer to wash it all down, wonderful…
There’re peaceful and hassle-free beachfronts where you can roam undisturbed (most of the time) – nope I’d not want to swim here, when it comes to beaches, nothing beats good ol’ South-East-Asia after all.
Dusk at Chilika Lake
And there’s of course the super-cute main deity of Orissa, Lord Jagannath, with huge round saucer eyes on a black and red round smiley face, short body and stumps for hands, adorning every altar, wall and portrait in town. And what’s more, he’s usually with his brother and sister, both also similarly ‘cute’, (sis has no hands by the way). Dunno how they look like? Just watch one of those South Park cartoons.
The Sun Temple, Konark
