Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Music & Dance Festivals in Chennai and Mamallapuram

Friday, December 26, 2008

Music & Dance Festivals in Chennai and Mamallapuram

If you're in or planning to visit Chennai, or the nearby beach town of Mamallapuram, two excellent festivals are happening there the moment.
The Chennai Music Festival (also known as the Madras Music Season), is a world renowned cultural event with over 1,000 classical musical performances. It's on until January 15, 2009.
At Mamallapuram, the annual Dance Festival kicked off there yesterday and will run until January 25, 2009. Another huge event, with hundreds of folk artists from 12 states, it's expected to draw around 150,000 foreign tourists this year.
If you get the chance, both events are well worth seeing for an unforgettable dose of Indian culture.

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.