Tamil Locals Helped Us In Rural India 🇮🇳

Luckily we found ourselves in Madurai for the multi day Pongal festival that takes place every year in Tamil Nadu!
We jumped into an auto and headed out into the Indian countrysides to an ancient hill temple.
Here we met so many friendly locals and a group of super hospitable Indian lads looked after us the whole time.
We then headed back to our homestay on the outskirts of Madurai where our lovely host cooked us some sweet pongal and rice with sambar.
The day was ended with some Madurai parotta and then chai and biscuits before bed!
Pongal festival 2024 has been a fantastic experience, we're super thankful for all the kind people we've met who have made it memorable 🙏🇮🇳
Subtitles Available! Just Turn On "CC"
📍Madurai Homestay
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Chapters:
0:00 Auto Ride Through The Countryside
2:35 Climbing Hill Temple With Friendly Locals
22:05 Host Cooked Us Sweet Pongal
28:11 Sugarcane Time
29:50 Madurai Parotta
35:19 Street Chai To End The Day
#india #pongal #madurai #tamilnadu

[@EllisWR]

Happy Pongal Festival! We had another quality day here in Tamil Nadu, the local people are super kind 🇮🇳 If you enjoyed please Like, Comment & Subscribe it really helps us out 🙏

[@Sammispratt48]

Here’s a tip to you guys, don’t go to Nepal’s monkey temple then if you don’t want anything to do with monkeys 😂 lol. They’re MASSIVE and there’s thousands of them just roaming about

[@shaksheedigitalmarketing]

The host was kind

[@suganthans3159]

Thanks for your candid feedback. Welcome to India always

[@padmannaban3403]

Do you visit madurai collector peter known as peter pandian, who refused to leave madurai on his retirement , asked to bury him his face looking towards Meenakshi temple at Peter's Church in madurai

[@vyogana]

I am proud we are well educated in south India; most of them can speak English! Wonderful!

[@EllisWR]

Yeah everybody is super respectful and educated!!

[@karthikeyan5605]

You’ll never see someone in tamilnadu trying to sell you stuffs with fake prices. Honest and hardworking tamil peoples🎉

[@EllisWR]

Southern people nice

[@sharathsin4090]

Except the auto drivers in chennai😂😂

[@user-pn1zr3ej4o]

Yes Tamil people are trusted ​@@EllisWR

[@user-vu2su9xe5k]

Nonsense, it happens everywhere, I live in Chennai, don't sell me this bullshit

[@Sreetam867]

It is all because of education without education people are apes animals uncivilized

[@smilingpeace1470]

As a tamilian i am very happy to see you in our land on our special day

[@EllisWR]

Thanks so much

[@veereshwarvir8089]

Madurai ppl are just sweet hearts❤️

[@EllisWR]

I think they are nicest people

[@nocontent2027]

mate.. those peoples are bargaining with auto rickshaw driver for you.. wow such a souls...

[@EllisWR]

How amazing are they. Blessed to meet them

[@johnpereira5599]

But they both didn't reward those wonderful lads with anything 🙄 so bad, any other foreign tourist would definitely give them something out of courtesy whether the boys accept it or not that's a different thing...

[@mrdood_foodie]

6:34 Happy to see in madurai 🤩✌️By MrDood Team (Madurai KZbinrs)✌️

[@EllisWR]

Hey my friend! How's it going! Lovely to meet you have a great weekend!!

[@prksingspr]

Proud of those youths 💯

[@EllisWR]

Such nice lads 🙏

[@Rajeshkannan-pe5gw]

Tamilnadu always best in hospitality. Always safe❤❤❤

[@baskarank3830]

Awee...❤ At last those guyz said take care and drop them safe...❤❤...Tamilandaa...❤

[@mithunraj1520]

its high time we should keep a check on throwing waste on road and barren lands 0.20 to 0.45 is insight to our own lifestyle.. Not being negative but it is definitely an area of Improvement.

[@EllisWR]

Yes please let's all be better!

[@madhanmanoharan6841]

Indha foreigners makkalai sariyaaga valzhi nadathiya andha thambigalukku ennaadhu mariyadhaimigundhaa anbu vanakkangal 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@sathi6395]

We liked your journey tasting a piece of Tamil Nadu. Glad you and yr friend enjoy Ponggal dishes. In case u r unaware we were the Indus Valley before the Aryans invaded it and chased the people to downsouth. Best wishes from Msia.🎉🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾

[@EllisWR]

Very interesting history 🙏 thanks for watching!!

[@naveex6968]

some of the greatest architecture in Tamilnadu and the world- Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai; Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur; Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam; Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram; Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram; Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram; Monolithic Rock Temples, Mahabalipuram.

[@EllisWR]

Yeah some amazing places, we do like Tamil Nadu

[@brandstar460]

Easily could be in top wonders if they were outside India 😢😢😢😢

[@TheRforravi]

​@@brandstar460our times are coming brother... Pretty soon...

[@user-hh8td3pv4p]

Really impressed with the way you both can eat with your hands. After regularly visiting Asia for 30 years I still can’t. I’d starve to death if I didn’t have cutlery or chopsticks. The food falls before I can get it to my mouth! I think the chopped up parratha with chicken might be kottu roti. The monkey pissing on you was hilarious. We’re always very wary of them.

[@EllisWR]

Aha it took a bit to learn how! You might be right there. Monkeys yeah absolute devil's!!

[@pannachawangkul585]

@@EllisWR Monkey pee'd on you, Ellis, think of it as it's wishing you good luck.😉😁

[@tobyprice1092]

I remember in Goa the cows would all come down to the beach at sunset, lie on the beach and chill. They were very tame. In the morning the old ladies would come and pick up the cow pats as when they were brick hard. They then used them for cooking fuel. Nothing wasted like in the west.

[@EllisWR]

Sounds lovely. Yeah people should adopt this mentality worldwide

[@santhoshv3028]

This happened in 1990 or what?😂

[@bloodz4933]

​@@santhoshv3028still happens in rural India.

[@santhoshv3028]

@@bloodz4933 happens in very rural not in Goa beach. 😂

[@balaguruk8534]

😂 You guys this is india we live life in cheap but westerners spend too much money

[@Cizbuvax]

Tamil people ❤❤❤❤

[@EllisWR]

Incredible culture

[@Rajalakshmi_138]

@9:17 The way Ellis told "Alicia My wife" Aww cute together be happy always

[@EllisWR]

❤️🙏

[@rohanhere12]

Its really appreciated guys, Both of you explored the food nd temples,streets much better ❤️

[@user-ro9vu4ky5y]

Always watching from Philippine be safe guys…

[@EllisWR]

Thanks so much we appreciate it 🙏❤️ God bless

[@user-ro9vu4ky5y]

@@EllisWR welcome god bless too…

[@Solenomads]

Cheers from Kerala, India 🙏🇮🇳💖

[@EllisWR]

Hey see you soon!

[@JBWanders73]

Enjoyed that a lot mate. Great to see you in India - the best trip of my life was 6 months around India in 1998!!

[@EllisWR]

Ooooo bloody hell I bet that was some trip mate

[@JBWanders73]

Amazing mate! Although, I'd never heard of the Pongal Festival until this video. Proper travelling - keep it up!!!

[@flyinghigh2504]

Reckon you have had a good time and good experiences during your tour. Enjoy...

[@Brook.007]

คนอินเดียน่ารักมากๆ❤❤ เที่ยวและเดินทางปลอดภัยค่ะ

[@EllisWR]

They are super kind yes ❤️

[@balakumaran2806]

❤❤ madurai people kind hearted respect to everyone one 😊😊

[@yut-his-d-king5685]

Ponggal excursion seemed lovely and what a good way to try the home cook classics on banana leaf and then finish off with poratta bread. Keep adventuring guys😎

[@EllisWR]

South Indian food is so good! Cheers my friend!

[@phakdee5744]

Hi..👋 สนุกใหมครับ.. แต่ละที่ก็มีดีแตกต่างกันไป..ขอบคุณ สำหรับ V D O .👍👍

[@EllisWR]

Yeah everywhere has new experiences!

[@joylife428]

Just imagine we are struggling to climb this 2000 footsteps. The effort made to carve this mountain 100 years back. 😂😂🙄🙄🙄

[@EllisWR]

Crazy

[@sudhakarg1000]

Just stumbled upon your Tamil Nadu videos. Great to see them. Your subscriber count is going to go up a lot pretty soon I guess. All the best!!

[@EllisWR]

Thanks for supporting us 🙏🙏

[@lizwr5312]

Amazing times and the best hospitality ❤

[@EllisWR]

Kind people

[@carolrampling862]

India, life in all its glory. Never a dull moment for you both, even the monkey welcomed you in its own special way 😂

[@EllisWR]

I smelt like monkey wee :"(

[@solais1581]

Nice video brother and sister always welcome to india 🇮🇳 tamil nadu

[@EllisWR]

❤️

[@dubaiexpatrol]

32:09 I am very happy to see she enjoys south indian food ! Love you guys for exploing all the varieties of food ! Normally tourists try only the known to the world indian foods ! But you are actually going deep and explore all that you can is really intresting to watch ! And you guys doung your home work properly is also highly appreciated as you always know many things about what you are going to eat ! ❤ All the best ! May you get more viewd and subscribers ❤

[@jasonmahoney3167]

Great vlog ,following you through ,Thailand now inda . Bloody ripper . Keep it up . From Tasmania Australia.

[@EllisWR]

Yes mate cheers you legend! Shout out Tasmania

[@S.NAVEENKUMAR-gl5mw]

Welcome to Tamil Nadu ✨💕

[@dhineshkumars1991]

This guy knows exact time to visit TN ,,,pongal best time for celebration in TN

[@ranjithkumar.k3420]

This is Madurai ❤❤❤

[@Sbrand.21]

Nice view 😮❤

[@lakshmisaran6478]

Really very nice ❤❤❤❤❤

[@mamidelaarunreddy6622]

I appreciate you and your dedication for entertaining people with your informative videos,inspite of hardwork and expenditure in making watchable content you never get tired and always looking happy.may God bless you with lots of happiness and good health and keep posting good content in KZbin.best of luck brother both of you.i am a great fan of you hope to see more content about new unexplored places in Thailand.

[@EllisWR]

Hi my friend I really appreciate your kind words thanks so much 🙏🙏🙏

[@la3ngahenningsota652]

Love your videos mate! Wanna cruise Phitsanulok in April? I will be there for 4 weeks...

[@EllisWR]

Sounds great! We ain't there unfortunately! Have a quality time!

[@salempasangasp]

Visit some hill stations while youre at Tamilnadu ooty, Kodaikanal and yercaud are some of those. Heard ooty and kodai are pretty chilly right now in the single digits. Do visit one of those.

[@EllisWR]

Ooo stay tuned for a big video in Kodai! Yes it was cold!!!

[@salempasangasp]

@@EllisWR waitin

[@siva4000]

Nice 🎉🎉

[@dineshdharam8139]

Very happy you covered Madurai, Ellis. The next time, try Trichy & when you do, let me know.

[@EllisWR]

Next trip my friend 🙏🙏

[@dineshdharam8139]

@@EllisWR Looking forward to it…

[@mylifemyway8067]

Hi Elis n Alisa, how's your exploring India so far?. It's an overwhelming watching your India videos. So much going on... Epic!... but seem peoples are nice & friendly. Are you plan going to Culcatta?. Keep exploring, be safe.

[@EllisWR]

It's crazy honestly madness. But yes people are very kind to us and respectful were enjoying it! Maybe one day!!

[@webabhi]

In Coastal Tamil Nadu these places are great 1) Shore Temples of Mahabalipuram, 2) French Town Pondicherry 3) Auroville Ashram 4) Thanjavur Chola Temples Auroville is a place like no other. In continental Tamil Nadu these places are great 1) Ooty and Coonor, they have great tea plantations and extremely cool climate like Doi Inthanon Park in Thailand 2) Coimbatore especially the ISHA foundation run by Sadhguru is awesome 3) Madurai with Meenakshi Temple. But this is just one state in India, I think South Karnataka with Bengaluru, Mysore, Madikeri, Chikamangalur is great. Kerala is in another dimension in terms of beauty.

[@EllisWR]

Thanks so much for recommending! There are too many places to visit!!

[@sayanmandal1289]

Guys you should visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands or Laxadweep islands man they are heavenly.

[@EllisWR]

Looks stunning

[@praneshpepe1203]

I don't know whether you understood or not those guys asked the autorickshaw driver to ride you back safely!! That's TN ppl for you.

[@EllisWR]

They were such nice lads. Really glad we met them

[@roywinkley2184]

Those lads were proper pleased to meet you & wanted you to have the best & easiest day. Great vid 👌🏼

[@EllisWR]

They were super nice

[@prathiksha5571]

I have to say ur vlogs are pretty good and interesting and not the same boring places all go ppl go..😄

[@EllisWR]

Aha I appreciate that! Everyone does the same exact things!

[@yogeshhindusthani780]

Very nice 👌

[@keralacitizen]

your vlog came up as suggestion and I have to say your success is in the positivity and friendly attitude you are keeping and spreading. I am sure you have edited out many negative parts as well. Unlike many westerners who come here with prejudiced mind and assumption and compare everything to backhome, you keep an open mind and trying to mingle with local culture! keep it up!

[@EllisWR]

No I keep in any negative comments I make! Occasionally moan about stuff but there's so much good in this country that over rides that!

[@keralacitizen]

@@EllisWR great then👍 and to tell you about an incident from last week, russian tourists cleaned fort kochi beach on their own and that video went viral. The result: authorities woke up and cleaned the entire beach and now it looks different! That's why I mentioned a foreign tourist like you can do things that normally we may not... If you collect and put some garbage into a bag in your video, who knows! 😁

[@German_Tamil-su9nr]

I am a native maduraiate living ij Germany now. Happy to see you guys having fun there !!!

[@EllisWR]

Amazing! Your land is beautiful!

[@German_Tamil-su9nr]

@@EllisWR Thanks Browski.... Hope you enjoying Kodai as well 😊

[@user-pn1zr3ej4o]

Tamil people are kind and trusted

[@prabhakaranprabhu6897]

I like ur videos brother . its too nice.keep going❤🎉

[@EllisWR]

❤️🙏

[@shanmushanmugam6408]

pls do come and visit Karaikudi it is just 75 kms from Madurai.Visit our chettinad anciengt palatial houses and ppls .Have a nice yr ahead.

[@EllisWR]

Looks very nice!!

[@joannebuncehall]

When the locals gave you a stick for the monkeys 😆 and suddenly it's, "I think we'll just stay here and not go to the top, just as far as the monkeys Alesha" 😂

[@EllisWR]

Ahaha the monkeys are terrible we hate them. Luckily the lads were our guardians

[@ghostkalai2573]

Welcome to thirupurakuntram

[@lifetimemovies9318]

❤tamil

[@Biblicalera]

Avan poi solran 😂😂😂... Man I miss my people..

[@EllisWR]

Wonderful people

[@RamKumar-mo4qm]

Tamil people greatest people in the 🌎

[@dharmaraj8267]

So nice of you guys hats off

[@EllisWR]

🙏🙏🙏

[@arunmanikandan7056]

Hi pal, welcome to Madurai

[@EllisWR]

Thanks alot!!​

[@Jason-vx1xe]

Smashing video i know what i would of said with all them stepps 😂😂😂

[@EllisWR]

Nearly wrote us off I tell you. Lads forced us all the way up ahah

[@MADDYplay]

Maduraikaaranga daaaa🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@arulmanivannan9130]

Ellis. Just subbed. Really sorry for noisy neighbour table in the hotel. Kind of annoying to hear kid noise normalised in cinema theatres and hotel. Oil splash is quite common and i got used to it😂.. Kind of modest review over parotta gravy and sugarcane crunching. My father used to see me as a not a rural kind of guy to eat sugarcane like I bite by the way you did. So he made it like piece by piece like a candy sized. You reminded my pasts easily.

[@EllisWR]

Ahah it happens don't worry, drives us mad though! I'm glad you enjoyed and it brought you memories!

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

#happypongal Dears Cheers from #pollachitown #coimbatore #tamilnadu BUN PAROTTA Heavenly mate.. ROTI CANAI of SOUTH INDIA

[@EllisWR]

Legend 🙏

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

Cheers Dears @@EllisWR

[@mikeykun8316]

You people are completely different from other Explorers..I don't know who hosts you and how but I feel like you're one of us..Cheers ☺️

[@EllisWR]

Thanks for supporting us 🙏 We appreciate you

[@vijayalakshmireddy2644]

Indian outfits very nice to her

[@EllisWR]

Thanks so much

[@user-wq7tp1px1j]

Pongal is the only festival in the world which has no religion. Pongal is the festival of Tamilians to worship and say thanks to nature .

[@EllisWR]

It was great

[@Ananymous-hy7my]

"Pongal " is the harvest festival, we are thanking the nature( sun and the moon)witthour harvest vegetables ( pumpkin,peas) ,rice,sugarcane and beautifying our cows and respect them during this festival, because of their help of the farming work ,it is some what equal to " thanks giving festival of USA ".

[@msubramaniam8]

💚🤎💙💚Subscribed to your channel for your simplicity & due to your cordial and friendly interaction with people so freely & friendly. Have a wonderful trip both of you!!!💙💜🤎❤

[@EllisWR]

Thanks so much 🙏❤️

[@vishnuvishnu.m3109]

The 3 youngsters .. come on comments section .. share your thoughts

[@imnotrlmok9425]

Ragi adai with moringa leaves is tamilnadu special millet receipe...try it in your next visit

[@ChandraChandra-zz6fm]

❤❤❤

[@EllisWR]

❤️

[@gowthamkarthikeyan3359]

Nice video. Try in kumar mess madurai.

[@EllisWR]

Thanks my friend. Madurai video soon 🙏

[@ArunKumar-mg4fc]

Please visit karnataka , specially coorg , mysore and manglore !

[@pradeeprajagopal3600]

Nice to watch your casual videos, even though the places are not new to me, i enjoy watching your videos. Must be real eye opener for non Indians to see our ancient land and culture, the way of life and our people. Regarding the lack of change you were complaining, in India right now online payments are the norm for even street hawkers and small shops/ restaurants etc, you would see everyone paying by google pay, paytm, or other similar modes, so the currency notes are not really in circulation.

[@EllisWR]

Thanks my friend. We only use 100% cash unfortunately because we want the world to stay this way aha

[@srisen07]

It is my home town brother,

[@curious1264]

Your host is chatty cathy lol your food was probably cold by the time you got to take a bite hahaha. Love seeing the adventure

[@EllisWR]

Ahah she was lovely, to be fair I did ask her to explain everything! I was flipping starving tho

[@salempasangasp]

😂 ​@@EllisWR in her defense it was already to cold from the get go. Pongal is best tasted when it's steamy hot. Pongal, payasam and masal vadai are the godly combo you'll love

[@EllisWR]

@@salempasangasp We had some super fresh pongal in an upcoming video, might be one of my favourite Indian foods I've eaten sooo good

[@salempasangasp]

@@EllisWR yeah mate its (pongal) quite rare to find outside Tamilnadu(TN) even in here only in homes during festivals. If you really wanna savour the local culture visit some festivals or a local wedding. If I'm not wrong theres a famous festival in vadipatti, madurai where briyani is offered to the deity muniyandi. They make literally tons of briyani around 5000 kilos. That'd be a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience.

[@EllisWR]

@@salempasangasp Wow yeah that would be heaven

[@VinothKumar-bk9ry]

Ellis dose red squirrel speak in UK like monkey speak in India ha ha ha 😊😊😊😊😊

[@EllisWR]

Ahaha I was joking, if you speak to em in and English accent they understand

[@niranjanpaul2176]

Gooseberry pickle with the pongal dish

[@viswajith6749]

Best reaustant in Iyer bangala Royal restaurant

[@vijayaraja346]

For those who don't know the place its thiruparan kundram which is considered as 1st house of lord Murugan where he married Indira's daughter devasena and siva temple at the top of the hill is a burial place of a siddhar called Macha mamuni who took in the form of fish and stay in the pond at the top of the hill

[@dhineshkumars1991]

Visit courtallam for fun around July

[@GoodTimeBro]

Madurai the heaven in india❤

[@EllisWR]

❤️🙏

[@GUMMIESOMO]

😍😍🥰🥰🙏🙏👍👍

[@EllisWR]

🙏❤️

[@user-pn1zr3ej4o]

Try to visit Kanchipuram in tamil nadu

[@dr.k.dineshkumar7814]

I checked your comment box you like and reply all the comments such is amazing work. Tamil people alway kind and caring ❤. All the best 💯

[@EllisWR]

Always. I appreciate everyone who watches our videos it means alot 🙏

[@vidhya9956]

Hi😊, If you have time, come to palani ( lord murugan temple) 🙏 which is located in Dindigul district (tamilnadu). You will get good experience here. 🎉

[@EllisWR]

Wow looks beautiful thanks for the recommendations!!

[@raasprasad2575]

12 o’clock in Hong Kong they bang the gong … but mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. Another top video mate.

[@EllisWR]

true aye

[@user-mu4dr1og2q]

Look how every one is hospitable. Will you people do the same if we come to your country?

[@EllisWR]

I myself would. What more can I say

[@user-hd3zh6je9f]

You are correct 100% correct.Most of thé white people are racistes.Very few are not racistes.If u Ask information in Europe They will never answer to you.

[@josephraju7223]

Welcome to kerala next🌴

[@EllisWR]

Soon maybe! 🇮🇳

[@SURYA_THANGARASU]

Tamil ❤

[@EllisWR]

❤️🙏

[@savinashab8935]

Man in India you should always ask the local people to try the best food. Ask some local auto drivers, they will guide you to the best hotel to eat. BTW youre vlogs are too good, after Dale Philip's vlog for me its yours , the video duration and the simplicity of you guys 😊🔥

[@EllisWR]

Hey man! People always recommend famous places though and we like to film and eat at smaller businesses, we have a better experience there and people are always kinder. I really appreciate your kind words, we're trying to improve and make entertaining videos 🙏🙏🙏

[@savinashab8935]

@@EllisWR That's great, the Jigarthanda you had is not from the original famous shop, You should try that as well. Keep going 💪🏻😁

[@muralikarthick7168]

Bro Madurai is one of the oldest city in Tamil Nadu which was called as ' a city that never sleeps' , madurai plays a major contribution for tamilnadu economical... I suggest Meenakshi temple and alagar temple to vist and one od the main place 'KODAIKANAL' queen of hills ✌️✨

[@EllisWR]

Madurai and Kodaikanal vlogs coming in a few days 🙏

[@user-lw6tr8uh9d]

🎉🎉🎉🎉❤

[@EllisWR]

🙏

[@elangoajr9820]

This is not india this is tamilnadu 🙌🙌

[@parthipanselvaraj2629]

Loosu koothi mari pesatha bro.

[@elangoajr9820]

@@parthipanselvaraj2629 soothaaa mooditu velaya paru da

[@ravikrishnan1882]

You like India

[@EllisWR]

Love India

[@betaverse4090]

Bhuvangiri Fort in Andhra Pradesh is also Flat on a Rock like this , it is 3000 years old.

[@EllisWR]

amazing

[@Baby_THAI_]

Like & Love

[@EllisWR]

❤️