Word is spreading fast...

...that I am headed to Madurai soon, apparently. I just got an email from my former Tamil professor in Madurai who indicated that "everyone in Madurai" is saying that I am coming soon. Furthermore, people are already deciding where I should live. This is both good and bad. There are going to be some politics involved, for sure.

Today I was going to go to Spencer Plaza, which is the biggest mall in town. Turns out it caught on fire and is closed. I ended up going to Fab India way out in Anna Nagar. I got ripped off by the auto guy but what else is new?

Saw a sari exhibition today. This weavers cooperative is holding an exhibition and contest in which people from all over T.N. have sent in their heirloom saris, some of which date back more than 100 years. Those chosen for the exhibition receive Rs. 2000 ($50). One woman in Massachusetts even made a submission over the internet by sending digital photos. Check out some pics of the exhibition below.

Some of the selected saris

circa 1948

100-year-old sari

Sari from 1954 (during period of rapid economic development) with an interesting pallu:
It features cars, trains, and airplanes with a temple and mosques in the center.