Blogs from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia - page 33

Hello All Okay, so that wonderful thought of maintaining a web log, now seems like a really daft idea given the 56K modem that is rapidly becoming my latest nemesis. Got to London the other day and had ample time to ponder why it is that every time I’m in London, I’m hermetically attached to a lead weighted backpack, stuck in a tube car that isn’t moving, in the midst of a heat wave! I knew there was a reason I left England. Got to say though it was nice to spend some time with the Londeners. When I lived in England, nothing drove you as mad as the tourists who would harp on about how quaint the English are with their “how are you my love?” and their “yes darlin’s”. But truth be told, there ... read more

Some interesting pictures from Chennai. ... read more

India has happened to us. Nearly two months and no blog. We're long over due, and the longer we wait, the more things happen and the more we feel we don't know where to begin. We're pretty sure we're in India. But it's not entirely impossible that we're still on the island of Ko Lanta, having a really surreal dream. Henna tatooed hands. Two sets of toe rings. Armfulls of bangles. Jasmine flowers. Spinning tops. Broken cricket bats. Mosquito net tents. Blasting music. Dusty roads. These things seem real. Too real. Hyper-Real. Senses open. Smog. Phone Booths advertise STD local (precariously named local phone service, no thanks). Masala dosa with peanut chutney. Fresh Lime Soda Sweet (soda water with fresh lime juice and syrup you mix together into a giant fiz). Paneer butter masala with butter ... read more

From Mamallapuram went back to Chennai for train to Madurai. It was so hot when I arrived in the station that an Indian family were fanning themselves so I asked if I could have some of their air and this is how I met Sudha, She was also travelling to Madurai for her grandfather's 80th birthday Madurai was crowded with holiday makers and people visiting the Meenakshi Temple which has wonderful carved and coloured gopurams and a fabulous inside although non Hindus cannot go into the Meenakshi shrine. The Gandi Museunm was also worth a visit as it presented the story from a different perspective from the British history books ... read more

Well these train rides are becoming quite the norm and I know it's not great but to be honest you do get used to it - the dirt, dust, bugs, cockroaches, the heat, locals selling everything from tea to Rubik’s cubes, from maps to squeaky toys - a particular favourite of mine at 3 in the morning... Anyway, we arrive in Chennai fairly unharmed and eventually find a hotel after consulting o' faithful - the lonely planet and once we dodge all the local touts we head off past the beach at sunrise in a taxi to finally head off to a proper bed - only to discover we're 4 hours to early to check in - oh the joys of travel, anyway we quickly waste 2 hours having breakfast and chance our luck and we're ... read more