Blogs from Tamil Nadu, India, Asia - page 157

Hello! How are you all? Well I hope your having as much fun as I am. All of last week I worked at the orphanage just getting used to how things are run there. I really love the work. All the children are really lovely and get so excited when ever we come to play with them. So no I don't think I'll come home wanting to kill children with my bare teeth (who was that any way (mike??) leave a name next time please). But term broke up on friday so I'm now on my holiday in Mahabalipuram. Its sooo good to get away from the noise, pollution and above all smell of chennai. The last few days have been spent looking at rock carvings of various animals and hindu gods dating back to about ... read more

This was my first trip after landing in Bangalore.It was an sudden trip by rams and myself. Since we were only two people we decided to take the TNSTC buses to the falls. We boarded the bus at Silk Board Junction to Hosur since we couldn't get any direct bus to Dharmapuri. We landed up at hosur and since it was weekend all the buses bound to dharmapuri were crowded . It was a standing journey till Dharmapuri. We had our breakfast @ dharmapuri and took a bus to the Hokenakal falls. We reached the falls at around 11.30 . So many people surrounded us asking for the coracle rides.One good guy took us around for Rs 400 and also did some good oil massage . He showed some shooting spots (Films like Roja , Indian ... read more

(b) 25/11/02 (day 70 )(/b) Woken at 05:00 by teh mosque calling people to prayer over loud dpeakers! Quite eerie really. To breakfast for 07:00- finished by 07:20 and waited for the bus for 45 minutes . Got on bus- apart from a french lad (Nicholas) - who'm we've seen in hospet and bangalore and mysore!! Sat at the front with plent of leg room- thought it was too good to be true and sure enough it was!! Lasted for all of 10 minutes before we were asked to get on a different bus and quelle surprise....... only the back seat was free!! So 5 of us and several bags sat on the back seat of a mini bus!! Drove through bandipur wildlife park and saw spotted dder and elephants- although they were in a hospital ... read more

2001………..6wks-2nd CYCLING TRIP-2,200kms IN SOUTHERN INDIA 10.9.01 Kodaikanal (65km) The ride from Palani to Kodai was a long and exhausting ride that took me 10 hrs with very little rest. Of the 65km, 50km was uphill from 692m to over 2050m. It was a wonderful ride through tropical forest with spectacular views as I gained altitude. The side of the road was a splash of colour with yellows and oranges of lantana, blue minx, morning glory, orange buddleia, purple bougainvillea, and red flame trees. The Greenlands Youth Hostel where I am staying is overwhelmingly memorable. For $11.50, I have a double room with own bathroom and veranda, overlooking what must be one of the world's best views as it looks across other mountains below & down to the Palani Plain. Mist comes and goes and even ... read more

Here is a compilation of some of The Sounds of India: The loudest horns used as frequently as possible. That truly unappetizing sound made by collecting phlegm in the back of the mouth, usually made just before spitting. HHHHHHckhttt! The beating of laundry on a rock, usually near our bedroom window and always at about 6:30 am. Something - anything - on a loudspeaker full blast. Mamallapuram: world-famous for its shoreline temple. But what's not in the guidebook is the eyesore of a chain-link fence ,keeping out the non-Indians who've decided to pass on the $10 entry fee (!!!) Indians pay 10 rupees (about 25 cents). I couldn't possibly satisfactorily describe how disgusting the trash and effluence was, literally FLOWING across the beach. Fortunately, we had already gotten lunch out of the way, where we happened ... read more