We uploaded pictures for the previous journal entry so check previous entry.
We left BBWR for Puri by taking a tour of Konark, the sun temple. It is one of UNESCO's world heritage sites. It is a temple that 49 gigantic wheels carved in stone around its base and is a resembles a chariot pulled by horses. Quite spectacular. It also has many many many figures carved into the bases and the superstructure. Some, actually quite a few, actually many erotic figures in various positions. Of course we didn't take any pictures of these. Actually we took a few, okay we took many many many pictures. There are also an enormous number of elephants and a single giraffe carved into the structure. We then went to Jugganath temple but left the tour and took a rickshaw to Puri with the intention of returning to Juigganath at a later time.
Puri is one of the four holiest Hindu pilgrimage places in India and Buddhists believe it was the hiding place of the Buddha's tooth before it was spirited away to Kandy in Sri Lanka. While it seems that our quest is to look for the tooth as we were in Kandy on another trip and did visit the resting place of the tooth, this is sheer coincidence.
Puri is a most welcoming and laid back place. We are often greeted with Namaste and asked "where from?" Not unlike BBWR people here chew the Betelnut which makes their lips and teeth a reddish brown. It also produces a lot of saliva and the streets here are rust stained with splotches of spit. It is also difficult to understand someone who is chewing the betelnut as they keep it under their tongue and when they speak their tongue is quite inactive.
Near the beach, which unlike Goa is not a very pretty beach because of the litter. One end used as a toilet by the locals and there are no facilites and no shade. We did not use the beach. It is unusual of the south to have so many cows wandering around but here there are many on the streets and the beach. Puri is a very popular tourist town with both Westerners and Indians. However each stay in very different sections of town. We went over to the Indian section and were the only Westerners or as they call us Europeans there. In the section of town that we stay in there are many very old and quite beautiful (once) houses in the colonial Raj style. Some abandoned and in a state of disrepair. We are staying at Z Hotel which we pronounced Zee Hotel and until we were corrected people here did not know what we meant. It is pronounce Djed Hotel. It is an old Maharaja's palace with rambling common rooms and quite nice private rooms. It has a lovely garden and has the feel of a funky somewhat rundown but cozy place.
We did go back to Jugganath and we viewed it from the tallest building in the area which was the library. Non-Hindus are not allowed in to see the temple. The library has a few books locked cases and I doubt anybody ever spends time there other than those that use the tower to view the temple. They make their money by asking (read demanding) a "donation". When one signs the donation book it shows people leaving as much as a Rp1000 but in fact they add zeroes and a usual donation is Rp10-50 which becomes 1000 - 500.
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