Saint Thomas Cathedral Basilica and Saint Thomas Mount in Chennai, India

On January 29, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn India1 Comment

After going to several Hindu temples during our stay in Chennai, going to the Saint Thomas Cathedral Basilica was a unique experience. The church is built over the tomb of Saint Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, which is one of only three churches in the world to be built over the tomb of a disciple. You should also make time to visit Saint Thomas Mount and Little Mount, which has the cave where Saint Thomas hid. Combined, these three locations create a truly unique experience inside of the country of India.

Statue as You Climb to Saint Thomas Mount

The original church over the tomb of Saint Thomas was built by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century and then later rebuilt by the British in the 19th century. The current cathedral was finished in the late 19th century and is in the typical Neo-Gothic style. The white exterior is quite striking especially against the blue skies. Unfortunately we were not able to enter the church while we were there, but we understand that it is very beautiful and that you are able to see Saint Thomas’ tomb.

There are several features that make visiting Saint Thomas Mount and Little Mount quite fascinating. For a small donation, you are able to enter the cave where Saint Thomas hid and there is even a rock that is supposed to have been worn down by his hand. There is also a spring that is just outside of the cave called the Saint Thomas Fountain, which supposed provided healing powers to those that came to listen to him and people still drink from it today in order to be cured. To get to the top of Saint Thomas Mount, where Saint Thomas was speared while praying in front of a cross, you climb up a steep hill and pass by many figurines denoting the history of Saint Thomas. There is a cross carved into a rock that was believed to be carved by Saint Thomas and many believers report that it continues to bleed to this very day.

Seeing both of these locations during our trip was something that was extremely memorable. It can also be a slight refuge from the hectic noises of the city as it isn’t visited by as many people as other place in Chennai.

Make a Wish and It May Come True

On March 9, 2017March 9, 2017 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn India, Italy, Photo Challenge7 Comments

We are firm believers that success and happiness are the result of hard work and treating people with kindness and respect, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t use a little help sometimes. With that said, there is nothing wrong with believing in some superstitions and hoping that a little luck comes your way. It is a proven fact that thinking about winning the lottery and what you might do with the money actually releases endorphins, the chemical that provides a good feeling and a sense of contentment. So, even though you may never win the lottery, it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with hoping that it could happen someday. When we were in Rome, Italy, we visited the Trevi Fountain, where coins are thrown with the right hand over the left shoulder into the fountain hoping that your wishes will come true. Even if your wish doesn’t come true, the money tossed into the fountain is used to provide food for those less fortunate, so maybe you are making someone else’s wish come true.

This week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge is Wish, so enjoy some images of the Trevi Fountain, which is absolutely stunning. In addition to photos of the fountain, we also have included some pictures of a wishing tree in a temple in Chennai, India. Women tie brightly colored ribbons onto the tree wishing for marriage, children, or other life-fulfilling events.

Daily Post Photo Challenge – Chaos

On November 8, 2016 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn India, Photo Challenge2 Comments

Things have been very hectic in our lives lately, so we see chaos in a lot of our daily experiences. With that said, this week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge reminds us of our trip to India, where everything about our time there seemed chaotic and sensually overwhelming. We couldn’t even imagine trying to drive on the roads in Chennai as there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the honking and movements that occurred. In many ways it was an odd dance of cars, rickshaws, motorcycles, and animals that all seemed to move in their own unison, dysfunctional as it may have seemed. So enjoy these photos from India for this week’s photo challenge.