Elements Hostel Madurai

After a very pleasant experience flying with BA, I arrived at the impressive Mumbai airport after passing over one of the largest slum areas in India - the juxtaposition of wealth and extreme poverty seems to sum up India in a nutshell. (google Mumbai airport slums!) After 27 hours without sleep, my connecting flight landed in Madurai. Nothing can prepare you for the culture shock - my journey from the airport involved negotiating a stampede of cattle, cyclists, three-wheelers and ...

... the city center and built on top of a hill giving a nice view of Madurai from above. Even at night, it was easy to see the four main gateways at the Sri Meenakshi Temple because they were higher than anything else in the city and lights on top made them easy to spot. Madurai was an interesting city, but I was glad that we would be getting a break from temples from today because after a few days in a row, I<br>was ready for something different.<br>

... units with a living cum dining room, bedroom and a washroom besides an open deck. In-room amenities include colour television and telephone. The attached washroom receives a continuous supply of hot and cold water.<br><br>Tariff : Cottage / Royal Cottage <br> <br> Quality Inn Sabari Resorts <br>Quality ...

... myslenia i wyboru, ktora mamy. W swiatyni jest wiele figur bogow, ale jedna z nich odpowiedzialna jest za pomaganie kobietom zostac matkami. Tu sie modla, tu skladaja ofiary, a po szczesliwych narodzinach przychodza tu z dzieckiem i kladac go na podlodze dziekuja za niego. W przypadku kiedy malzenstwo nie moze ('nie chce' nie istnieje w umyslach hindusow) miec dzieci to musza udac sie do lekarza i jesli jest to z 'winy' zony, to lekarz wydaje swiadectwo, na ...

... to American rap music on a TV in the corner of the room. Nadine was ushered into the back of the shop and the curtain was pulled across the glass windows out front so nobody would know they were cutting a woman's hair inside. I took up position in the window so i could watch the action outside but was soon hidden from view too. The barefoot 'Big Boss' watched closely as he stood over his nervous young apprentice chopping away. The kid was so ...

... called out and sitting on the steps was Claire Wenger, someone I knew briefly when I worked for Guinness in 2007! Small world. She was travelling with a couple of friends and we met up again later for rooftop drinks at sunset, very civilised. Good swimming at Pandiyan Hotel pool. This morning we took a rickshaw out 8km to Thirupparankundram temple which is built into the rock face. We had a guide who ...

... are only paying 1 and 2 rupees i thought. I asked, he just shrugged and said thats what the elephants owner said. Bah I know im getting scammed but hey, its an exeperience. So I gave him the 10 rupees and yep got hit on the head with an elephants trunk. They aren't light, i can tell you that! once he finished with the tour he took me to this touristy joint where they sold Indian stuff at a price that local people would never think of paying. I was told i didn't have to buy ...

... It was a bit posh as the name suggests, Becky even had a BLT for her dinner as it was the only one we've come across (yes Mummy, return of the bacon haha). There was a mozzy-coil balancing on the legs under the table which Luke managed to knock off twice, the second time into his lap though luckily it was only the napkin that got singed. Luke didn't feel too good in the morning so we pottered out midday to Puthu Mandapam, behind the temple, where there are lots of tailors' shops ...

... watched a half-rainbow descend from the dark clouds above, falling right into the tallest point of the temple complex whilst eagles soared above. It was quite an inspiring gesture of nature. I decided to take a walk, to get a feel for the neighborhood. It is funny, for everything having the eternal presence of feeling entirely Indian and all associations thereof, each city has it's own little unique undertone that makes it just a little different or quirky or ...

Just arrived in Madurai after hiring a car (with driver) to get me from Ooty to here. By public transport it involved a toy steam train, a bus and a big train and I'd arrive very early tomorrow morning. Loved the Nilgiri hills - in several other countries they'd be considered mountains. Didn't think I'd need my ...