Manek Chowk is the central square of Ahmedabad’s oldest district, The Pols. During the day it is the liveliest market in Ahmedabad where fruits, spices, traditional steel kitchen and table utensils are sold as well as a section of bright Indian fabrics. The central plaza is ringed with various gold and silver shops with a varied display of jewelry to make any a bride smile. Having crowds of hungry patrons in the square at night is extra security for the jewelry stores. At night the, the square is transformed into a giant outdoor restaurant complete with tables, chairs, vendor booths and hundreds of hungry patrons. This tradition of serving food every night of the year, began in the early 20th Century when hungry workers returned after late hours of work in the many nearby fabric mills. We had heard about Manek Chowk the whole time we were in Ahmedabad, but had never gone at night. I am not sure why, maybe because The Pols or Old City was far from where we lived, or because some of the students had become sick from eating street food near Cept University. Whatever the case may have been , we decided to go the last week with a guide and friend from Cept. The city has, as it turns out, set down some pretty strict regulations of meeting sanitary guidelines. Throwing all caution to the wind, we ate with gusto. And the food, excitement, smells, tastes, and complete sensory explosion made it a night to remember. We especially loved the chocolate and cheese pizza, and pineapple, chocolate, and cheese sandwiches Really, I am not kidding. It may just be some Indian magic , but they were delicious. And not a one of us was sick during the night or the next day from our late supper in Manek Chowk. By the time the square is set up and food is prepared, the festivities starts about 10 o’clock. If you have a chance to experience this place, day, night or both …..don’t miss it!
This video by Jaymin Modi, made me laugh with the memories of this special place. Enjoy.
Nameste. . . . T I I
Well, I teased you in a previous post telling you that jungle is a Hindi word, so here are pictures to show you the reason. Kerala is an enchanting mosaic of rice paddy fields, coconut groves, wide beaches, backwater labyrinths and jungle. People of the three major religions coexist peacefully. The politics of the region alternates between the left and far-left candidates. A pretty amazing statistic is that Kerala boasts the highest literacy rate in all of India. The ancient boat-building industry grew from the plentiful supply of wood , the proximity to the Arabian Sea, and many backwater canals. The Snake Boat races of today are thought to be the world’s largest team sport. In ancient times, these boats were used to carry warriors. There are a number of backwater tours available. One is eight hours and takes you from Kollam to Alleppey where the bus is waiting. Some European students, who are also here at Cept, took that route and found it a rather long and repetitive. David decided on the three hour ride which was also more cost effective. It was a humid, hot day and the little boat was a sanctuary from the blazing sun. We had a guide who seemed disappointed that we all just wanted to flow quietly through the water. Enjoy your trip! 
Thomas, the saint of doubters, is depicted in Caravaggio’s vivid painting at the moment of his belief of the resurrection as his finger is inserted into the wound on Christ’s side.Thomas was the first missionary for Christ in India where he served, was martyred, and buried in his adopted home. One guide told us that today, Southern India is 20 % Christian with a mix of Catholic and Protestant believers. St. Thomas’ church in Chennai is one of only three in the world where relics of the original disciples of Christ are under the alter. These churches are St. Thomas Mount, in Chennai, St. Peter’s in Rome, and the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. 
Shiva is the creator god and this is the mythology of the beginning of the cosmos. Naneste……T I I
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