Arrival - Chennai and Pondicherry

      So I survived the crazy flight! Seven and a half hours to Brussels, Belgium; Two and a half hour layover; and finally a nine hour flight into Chennai. I heard from many people that the smell would be the first thing to hit you but surprisingly I did not find this. The smell did take some getting use to but it was the heat that has taken a while to get use to. Learning to be sweaty all the time. Anyways I arrived around midnight in Chenai (their time) and we all went back to the hotel and all tried to go to bed. Breakfast was provided the next morning by the hotel. It was definetly not your traditional breakfast. I have found that there was not been a ton of difference in food between breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Chennai was a loud and busy city. We went to a fort that was built by the East India Trading Company and after headed across the road to the beach. To get to the fort we took rickshaws which was a crazy experience in and of itself. I have since taken many rickshaws and it is a great way to see a city in a short amount of time. We only had the day in Chennai and around 3pm headed to Pondicherry. I am currently in my second and last day in Pondicherry. Pondicherry is an amazing city with great french history. While here I saw a lot of the town by walking and richshaw. Had some french food and Indian. Almost was blessed by an elephant and experienced my first Ashram (amazing, anyone interested in yoga would be jealous). A group of us had drinks at "le cafe" on the Bay of Bengal and are currently accessing the free internet in an amazing restaurant on the veranda. Internet cafe's have been very small and unreliable. A good amount of people in my group purchased internet sticks so hopefully I will continue to have the ability to post frequent updates. I am having a great time and it was nothing that I expected. India is such a diverse country in arcitecture and culture. Can't believe it has just begun. Sorry I am unable to respond to posts but I appreciate them! Tonight we will be on a overnight train and I am a bit nervous but it will be another experience. I will try and keep in touch as much as I can. Thanks for reading :)