Send me something !

On this 30th of August, a good day, a surprise waits for me at the campus' post office !! Yes a nice big mail from my mum !! Can't wait to open it (eventhough I already feel there is a strange smell around...)

As I open it (on my balcony for security) I smell something in between of chocolate and old cheese... Oh NOOOOO !!!

I find the chocolate opened, melted and already the ants of my room have found it ! The cheese is warm and greenish... :-( Only survivors: Bonne Maman cookies, Italian Cantucci Toscani and.. last but not least: viande sechee des grisons !!!!

Thank you anyway & Bon appétit !!!!

For your eyes only

Sunday evening at the main gate...

(Sebastian, Benoit, Danielle, Anna)

(Benoit, Danielle, Tanya, Sebastian )

Proud students !

(and we were also very happy to have eaten in town in a restaurant with delicious hamburgers, tasty Italian pasta and dangerous chocolate desserts...)

TRIP to Mamalapuram

Welcome to Mamalapuram say the sheep by the road. Mamalapuram or Maha-ali-puram, whatever the sun is shining and we feel good !

These sculptures are all carved in the mountain rock. So many symbols are present (see for instance the snake divinty in the upper left from the elephant, or the baby elephants hidding under the big one).
Doesn't this ancient lighthouse remind you of the something ?
A clue... Eurodisney's Indiana Jones attraction !! Wonderful view from up there but hot sun...

These are the famous 5 famous temples for Parvathi, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma et Ganesh. 4 of them are carved in the same, unique, huge stone (see on the photo)

After a nice day with of visit, beach and fresh fish (mmmh), we (Anna, Aurore, Sebastian and me) got back to Chennai... On a crowded bus ... then a flat tire... no more cash.. no more buses... late at night... 3 hours to get back !!

Fashion

Can you believe it ? We wear indian clothes most of time. Hidden my gothic belt, hidden the skirts and the little b&w striped tops. Here's a glimpse at my daily dresses:

Last but not least !! The shoes. My poor feet had to get used to it and they had a really hard time. Bye bye the comfort of Doc Marten's !

On the campus

1/ This is the "Metal Forming Lab" entrance. I have most of my courses in that building and it's 2 min bike from my hostel.
On the way there are a lot of these Banyan trees and maybe a cow on the road pulling something. Nice cows ! See him at rest and all decorated !

2/ We go around the campus with our bikes and sometime stop to eat fruits (mangos, etc)

Reto, Anna and Danielle like tasty fruits we don't have in EPFL!

3/The MESS is the canteen where we eat 3xday. It is quite always the same: choose some sauces, a naan or parota, some cucumbers, some curd with salt or sugar, a bunch of white rice; mixed it all together and eat it with your right hand...

Here
eating with Aurore (F) and Anna (CH).










4/ This week: the Freshie's Soccer competition ! Our team will tell you that a few girls as cheer leader are better than 100 indian !
Please cheer for Jan (D), Julian (F), Alex (D), Andre (D) (back row), Ben (CH) and Pablo (front row)

2 x 7 min of match is long when it is hot and humid. Isn't it Benoìt?

Indian style

Indian style it's...

- when a whole continent doesn't use toilet paper ( how do they do ??) or tooth brush
- when the sweat drop in your back helps you to count the hours of the day
- when you buy your matress in the same shop that you buy your school books
- when you feel like a rock star in the streets
- when young men with 70's style trousers, flowery shirts and mustach are the sexiest men in the world
- when you have a special shop for photocopies and when the guy does it one sheet after the other instead of buying a modern machine
- when the taxi driver from Hampi to Chennai has to stop to ask the way to Chennai
- when the same taxi driver stops in the middle of the night to buy a new audio cassette
- when ants pass through your mosquito net and walk on your coussin
- when in class, fans make to much noise to hear what the teacher says
- when you have one cable for three telephones and exchange them
- when there's no more water in the morning and you come home from running...

But also

- when it smells of jasmin after the rain
- when silk shops have everlasting dresses at affordable prices
- when you can ride your bike in the campus and see the blackbucks dears
- when you are offered tea when in the Dean academic's office...

... Some more to come soon! Good night !

TRIP TO HAMPI (III)

These are misc photos of the trip...

I WANT TO DRIVE !!

" you want a ride, girl ?"


The public toilets of Hampi.
Admire the VIP western style on the left.

Andre and his girls in the Queen's bath. Any man would be happy there... Dancer and gards of the queen: all girls !!

JESUS CHRIST ! Pablo injured after a motorbike (small) accident.

No comment :-)

TRIP TO HAMPI (II)

Visite de Hampi
In the queen's palace, you find the Lotus Mahal (left) and the queen's bath (right) not far. She was lazy and pretty fat !!

Our guide was very nice and reminded me of my uncle (P.F !!). He had endless stories about the gods and goddesses like Shiva (above) and Sharavati...

The temple (right) was made for music, dance and other festivities. You can even play music on the stones and one can hear it on the other side.

Our guys on the stairs of a big temple belonging to the King's quarters... Unfortunately, most decoration were destroyed.

Indians were very interested in us. Like flies, the guys would come to us, asking us to be on their photos. Exhausting ! The were also curious when we were getting ready to leave Hampi. See below Pablo and Julien wanting to close the door !

TRIP TO HAMPI (I)

A rumour.. a trip to Hampi, city of temples, next week-end, from friday to wednesday morning. I want to be there too.. I join in !
3 german girls, 2 german guys and 5 french men.
After 3 hours at the ticket's office, we've got our train tickets for 400 Rs/person (12 CHF) for a >20 hours travel for >600 km distance. What Fun !!

In the train
Philippe & Pablo Andre & Amre Me & Mara
Philippe & Julian Me & My red head sister Judith Pablo & a child

Hampi is in the middle of the "Jungle Book" environment... Monkeys, Leopards, Elephants & Snakes. There are several millions temple in the area: tenples for Shiva, Vishnu or Ganesh...

Temples of Hampi
2nd biggest Ganesh sculpture
One of Vishnu's reincarnation (as a lion)
One day, 2 sisters were sitting on the mountain, saying that Hampi was a strange city. Vishnu didn't appreciate that so he turned the 2 girls to stone...

The campus' wildlife

Here's quick view of what we see here and there...

There are even inside ;-)

Still some lezards, birds, butterflies, squirrels, snakes and bats !!

My room****

This is where I live !!

The room (the door in the corner one the first photo) is the number 431 of the Sarayu Hostel. Sarayu Hostel and Sharavati Hostel are the 2 girls hostel of the IITM campus.

On the other side, I have a balcony... Sort of Indian Romeo and Juliette style

I have a modest bed ( a little too small), a mosquito net and a desk

That's me !