Chennai

I've finally made it to India and I'm so excited to be here!

My journey started in Kuala Lumpur where they have a very convenient KLIA ekspres train that goes straight to the airport in only 28 minutes. If you're flying Malaysia Airlines or one of its partners you can even check your bags at the train station... I flew Air Asia though, the budget airline.
Kuala Lumpur is a bit confusing because they have two 'terminals' although in reality they are separate airports but share the same airport code. The low cost carrier terminal, or LCCT, is a half hour ride away. I was glad that I had plenty of time because I had to take a bus from KLIA to LCCT.
LCCT was a lot better than I expected. The terminal didn't look as pretty, but there were still restaurants and, in typical Malaysian fashion, many other shops. I had chapatti and an ice cream before changing my remaining ringgits to rupees.
Flying Air Asia wasn't much different than the budget 'no frills' airlines at home. I was charged astronomical bag fees (partly my fault because I didn't do it online, but I wasn't sure how much my bag weighed). I ended up paying about $60, or a third of the cost of my seat. The flight was short, but felt longer due to the numerous young children and crying babies on board. Before we landed the flight attendant sprayed the cabin with some kind of bug spray. I'd never seen that before.
I had my first minor problem when I got to immigration. They wanted a full address for where I was going to be staying but since I was planning to be picked up at the airport and later when I arrived in Dindigul, I only knew towns and not street addresses. I tried calling my couch surfing host with no luck and my contact at the illam. I was worried I was going to be stuck at the airport! I was finally able to get a hold of my host and got some sort of an address. Although I could barely understand him over the phone, and when I got back to the counter they almost refused me again. They asked me what language the address was supposed to be in and I told them I had no idea, I only speak English. They took pity on me.
There's a small cafe outside of the arrival terminal where I had a tea and samosa while I waited for my host.
He drove me back to his house on the back of his motorbike, an experience that was similar to Thailand, except much louder. Everyone was constantly blowing their horns. There was the same mixture of cars, buses, motorbikes and rickshaws and the same organized chaos with everyone weaving in and out.
I had a lovely evening with my host and his family. He has one brother, whom I met in the throngs of a very intense Fifa football tournament. His parents were incredibly welcoming and his mom made us a delicious dinner of potatoes, and a tomato lentil soup poured over rice. After dinner, the brothers took me to the beach, the second longest in the world, which has a small carnival every night, although we missed it. There were lots of people out though, enjoying the night.
We woke up early the next morning and returned to watch the sunrise although it ended up being cloudy. My host's father kindly made me a cup of tea. My tea at the airport had come in a small metal cup served on a strange looking saucer with high sides, like a bowl. I hadn't understood why until he showed me how they mix the tea (and cool it off) by pouring it between the two.
I took an auto rickshaw (like a tuk tuk) with my host's brother to the train station where he helped me buy a ticket and made sure I got on the right train.
The ride was beautiful. We passed by women in colorful saris herding cattle and working in the rice fields, small decorated shrines, and interesting villages. I sat with a group of army men. They weren't as friendly initially but after watching me struggle to pay for my lunch with a purse full of ringgits, baht and rupees we talked some about where we are all from and places I should see in India.