::More Pictures::

This is the street with our house...  As you can see, this isn't a very poor neighborhood.

This is the... courtyard? of the special-needs school we visited

The pictures below are all pictures from Simhachalam Temple.  The picture above (I found it online) is one of the statues in the inner temple where you are not allowed to take pictures.  It is of the god Vishnu in the form of a half-lion half-man tearing a king apart on his lap.  The reason being that this king became very proud and arrogant--and he received a boon from the Gods that he could not die on earth, nor in the sky, nor by man--so he thought he had everything covered.  But... I guess he forgot about on someone's lap/ a half-human and half-animal part...  Foolish man child.

And old woman selling herbs outside the temple

A sacred tree surrounded by statues and pictures and wrapped by worshiper's thread.  (Don't ask me why, our doctor who took us just said they have to circle the trees many, many, many times to do it).

A child getting her head shaved at the temple.  It is a sacrifice people do to show they are giving up of themselves.  There are even some women who do it (though mostly men and children seem to do it because most women have their hair growing to their hips).

Waiting to get their heads shaved.

A couple of McKenna's secret photos of the baby's naming ceremony in Simhachalam temple (which is the same place of all the pictures above and my cover photo on facebook)

A shot of Gitam University

Roadview from the CMR Mall

Old Dutch graveyard.  It is closed off to most of the public because of robbery.

Some pictures from the beach (also the old Dutch colony, who I believe are responsible for the mermaid statues--but that's just an assumption--I don't actually know)

Some other fun statues along the beach

Another Mugu drawing from the poor village by the beach

A little girl painting "pongal" in front of her house for the festival.  (I guess pongal is another word for Sankranti)

Not the happiest little merman child, is he?

Notice the BYU sticker in the doorway?  Mango leaves and flowers are hung in the doorway for festivals, and they also decorate the bottom of the door frame with yellow, red, and white powders as well (like mugu stuff...)

Stefanie, McKenna, Alexis, and Sarah in their saris.

Stefanie and Carly.  These are also saris.  They are wearing little flags because today (January 26th) is Republic Day.  The day India officially became Independent of Britain.

Our cook painted some Henna on us (temporary tattoos... mine's almost off already and it's only been a week since she did it)

Me and some school children.