Week 4 – Trichy – Thanjvur – Madurai

We left Pondecherry for Trichy on Monday 27th October, Diwali. From the moment we woke up we could hear firecrackers being let off all around town. As we waited for our train it was like a mini war was taking place a few streets away from the station.

Trichy seemed very unimpressive at first, but a short ricksharw ride took us to the Rock Fort Temple. A huge rock which towered over the town with a couple of temples dotted around the 400 plus steps that lead to the top. The climb was not as bad as I thought and the view was stunning. As Diwali celebrations continued, we were treated to 360 degree sunset firework display whist every inch of the rock was taken up by families enjoying the spectacle.

The next morning we took the train to Thanjvur and enjoyed spending the day looking around the superb world heritage listed temple and wandering the halls of a dilapidated old palace. Managed to squeeze onto to a bus back to our hotel, but I had to stand in the aisle and hold on as we bumped our way home. Tracy got a seat by the window, as always ;-)

About an hour into the journey our bus slammed into the front of another oncoming bus. Everyone standing in front of me tumbled down the aisle, whist myself and everyone behind were held in place by my vice like grip. After the initial shock faded, babies began to cry and the bus drivers started shouting at each other through the now empty windscreens.

Tracy said she was OK, so we slowly made our way off the bus along with the rest of the passengers, who, aside from many bleeding faces were shocked but not broken.

The next bus along the road was waved down and as many people as possible crowed on to continue their journey. It wasn't until the 3rd bus that we managed to get on and had an even more squashed journey home.

What would have been a major incident elsewhere was treated with resolved acceptance.

We are currently in Madurai. Home of the awe-inspiring Sri Meenakshi temple. Unfortunately it is covered in scaffolding and trampolines. However, during an evening visit we were able to see the seduction of Meenakshi, the fish-eyed Goddess. When Shiva's idol is brought from his temple, and placed outside Meenakshi's temple, here he seduces her through music and incenses (provided by the priests) and finally enters to spend the night together. This happens every night, lucky Shiva!

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