Blogs from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia - page 5

Geo: 9.91399, 78.1217So Thursday afternoon we arrived back in Chennai with 2 nights in the splendid Raintree St Mary's Hotel to visit the sights of the city and prepare ourselves for the dash through Mahaballipurum, Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Gangaikondacholapuram, Kumbakonam, Tanjore (Thanjavur), Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) and Madurai - some of these names take some complicated getting your tongue around. Chennai (Madras, as was) seemed simple enough - a visit to Fort St George, a trip to the headquarters of the Theosophical Society. But we discovered the old Museum in Fort St George is closed on FRidays. Thinking it was still worth a look round we took a tuk-tuk there. Most of the Fort is used for government offices and security is tight and at first they didn't want to let us in because the museum was closed, but ... read more

Geo: 9.91854, 78.1102Dnešní den je čistě flákajíci a nic nedělajíci. Krom toho, že mi Yan na rozloučenou a na přání maminky trochu přistřihla vlasy, ale opravdu jen trochu ;). Večer ji pak doprovázím na vlak, kde ji po dvou měsícich společného cestování po Indii loučíme. Yan si to směřuje do Trivandrum a dále do Sivananda ashram, kde se bude následující dva týdny oddávat yóze a meditaci.... read more

Geo: 9.91854, 78.1102Ráno se probouzíme kolem osmé čekajíc na snídani a překvapivě se o půl deváté nic neděje. Pospáváme tedy ještě a čekáme co se stane. Okolo půl desáté bušení na dveře a za nimi pan domácí se snídaní, která je dnes obzvlášť bohatá. Po jídle chvili vegetíme, balíme a vyrážíme na cestu. Nejdřív tukem na křižovatku, kde okamžitě nasedáme na bus do Munnaru, kde okamžitě nasedáme na bus do Theni. Cesta je to nádhernś, protože vede přes hory a všude kokem jsou jen čajové plantáže, fakt úžasné. Jem řidič je idiot, kterýmu by měli sebrat papíry, pokud... read more

Our first full day in Madurai, a city nearly as old as human civilisation, and we are almost “templed out”, which is a little unfortunate as we are in one of the great temple cities of India. We had visions of taking the opportunity of strolling around peaceful and historic byways, but the stinking heat and noise of the city has put paid to this. We go off to the Meenakshi Amman temple, “the high point of Dravidian temple architecture”. Mr Hussain gives us a short avuncular lecture before we leave the car. “Madurai number one cheating city in India. Very bad place many thieves steal camera wallet watch everything many beggars you no give money. Pay money to go in only see on notice 50 rupees only OK?” Suitably chastened we set off. David hobbles ... read more

HE SAID... We were leaving Pondicherry and heading south west to Madurai. We woke early and walked to Hot Breads bakery to pick up some snacks (croissants and savoury rolls) for breakfast and lunch. We left Hotel Surguru in a minibus at 9am and headed to Villupuram Junction. We waited at the train station and jumped on the train as it slowed – we only had two minutes to get on before it lurched off again. We had a six hour trip to Madurai ahead of us. We shared our berth on the sleeper train with four Indian army officers who were very friendly. I started reading “Stories told by the Mother II” which a fellow traveller had picked up at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry. I put it down momentarily, and one of the ... read more