Bharath and Shubhi our friends in the UK (who’ve helped us so much planning our trip) had warned us (apologised in fact) before we came to India about the litter here. This kind of prepared us in advance to see litter in the streets, but even we have been a bit taken aback by just how prolific litter is. Litter bins seem to be few and far between, but even if they were more common, it doesn’t look as though many people would use them. People just seem to discard their rubbish anywhere that they like. 

As we walked around the world heritage sites at Mahabalipuram today, the stone temples and sculptures were amazing, but people just discard their rubbish amongst them. After visiting the shore temple we walked down to the beach, passing lots of stalls selling all kinds of tourist tat (Aunty Janet would love these stalls!). All along the sandy walkway down to the beach was discarded food packets and rubbish. Even on the beach the litter  was prolific. You kind of get used to it after a while and although it’s all around, you sort of don’t notice it as much. There’s always so much to distract you with amazing sights and sounds all around. 

This was certainly the case at the beach where the shoreline was thronged with pilgrims who were visiting en-mass. The beach was a riot of colour with women bedecked in amazing saris and men in colourful outfits. Vaishakh our driver explained to us why so many were wearing wonderful red and gold outfits. Apparently red is the favourite colour of the goddess they were paying their respects too. The water was quite choppy with waves crashing onto the sand, but all along the edge of the water the pilgrims were enjoying the waves washing onto over them. many of the men were stripped down to their shorts and waist high in the waves. Even if I’d had my trunks I don’t think I’d have been tempted into the water – but I am going to take a dip in the pool at the hotel. We’ve had rain showers today but the temperatures are still in the high 20s, so a dip to cool off is just what is needed.