Mavelikara, where I'm based, is the same size as Gloucester (100,000 residents), although it feels smaller, more 'village-y'. The town centre is full of small shops, mainly selling sarees, electrical goods and groceries. I haven't been to the Praise the Lord chicken shack yet, but I'm sure it's marvellous.
Visiting any given 'supermarket', you find shelf upon shelf of pan-puri, which can be loosely translated as deep fried brown stuff. The remainder of the store will be piled high with sugar, sugary cakes and white bread with added sugar.
The fruit and veg stalls, however, are fantastic: small round aubergines with purple and white striped skin; the juiciest, sweetest oranges; watermelons twice the size of footballs (and HEAVY!); and a whole range of yams, chicoos and much more that I've yet to try.
Fish is sold by the side of the road, spread out on big sheets of cardboard. I'm quite tempted, given that my staple diet of veg curry and dhal could do with livening up a little, but haven't risked it yet. Not sure what I'd do with a pink fish bigger than my face and of unknown parentage.
Away from the town centre, the byways and back roads are cooler and quieter, with a lot less chance of being temporarily deafened by a lorry's illegal air horn. The picture shows my route to school. The walk takes around 20 minutes and is one of the nicest parts of my day. I pass large, brightly coloured houses under shady trees, and enjoy the time to myself for walking and reflecting.
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