Chennai and Mamallapuram

We're in the real south now after a long train journey in the comparative luxury of 2nd AC (air-conditioned - but not as comfortable as that sounds). Still, we got to Chennai in one piece and fortunately our hotel booking (which we'd cocked up by getting the dates wrong) was also OK despite the fact that all our attempts to change it had seemed unavailing. Chennai's not exactly a travellers' mecca but it was a tiny bit less polluted than Kolkata and a bit richer (less poor) looking. We're now in Mamallapuram, which is something of a travellers' mecca (or at least was) - lovely beaches, fantastic temples and rock carvings etc, but in fact now something of an overpriced dump because of all the travellers (and, according to the locals, all the North Indians who've moved in to do business with them). Off to Pondicherry next for a bit of French cuisine (maybe) and cheap beer (certainly) - we'll try to post some pix, but can't promise it will work.