Hotel Parvathi Residency Kanyakumari

The sleep on the train was good enough, no more bedding or pillows or such luxuries. Lying space. That's what you're paying for. The fans droned above, and I draped the sleeping bag over me out of fear of mosquitoes and woke the next morning to the murmur of the people in the carriage. People started getting off at around 6AM, and soon the whole carriage got up and departed, so we followed suit, until we found out we're not yet at our destination. This was only Nagercoil, and we still ...

I ja per posar punt i final a la meva estada en terres tamil, he decidit apropar-me al punt mes meridional del subcontinent indi alla a on es troben les aigues del Mar d'Arabia, l'Ocea Indic i el Golf de Bengala (algu em va dir que l'aigua de cada un era de colors diferents, pero jo la vaig trobar tota igual de blava). Com la resta de fites geografiques importants o peculiars d'aquest pais, allotja tambe un parell de temples i es considerat un lloc ...

... powers the local villages. We are looking forward to seeing Kanyakumari- the place where the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea meet. It is a holy place for Hindus and the waters are considered sacred. Janpal saw a billboard announcing "Francis Xavier Engineering School." We weren't fast enough to get a picture.

... which makes the temple very popular. I highly recommend checking the temple out even if it's covered on the outside since it's great to just explore around and the ceremonies are incredible. Pix and Videos: Varkala, Kanyakumari and Madurai Photos - http://www.flickr.com/photos/greggoodma n/sets/72157614829757529/ Shiva Puja in Madurai http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L8DiVqv x5M A train arrives at the station http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcCGMM_G MdI

... a while and when we went the back the second time children were doing organised dances too. I decided this wasn't my scene either. When some Western girls got on the dance floor in skimpy outfits and it resembled more of a cattle market it was time to leave. Was I becoming a prude? Had Indian traditions set back my approach to feminism 20 years or so? I can't help thinking that's it's another of these, best just to feel like your passing through with no judgements ...

... on the right side is from the Arabian sea. As I was sitting in a small restaurant staring out at the two seas coming together, I was thinking about how strange it will be not to eat meals with my hands off a Banana leaf. I stayed in Kanyakumari for 2 nights and then I was back on a bus heading north up the other coast to the city of Madurai.

... people who you're pretty sure want to rip off your head and spit down your neck - mainly found on buses and working in restaurants. Kanyakumari is pretty much a destination if you're a devoute Hindu on pilgrimage, or just want to say you've been to the tip of India, although we also ended up there because the bus times seeme dto be a bit more palatable for heading up to Varkala, our beach stop off in Kerala... More to come when time permits,. Hope everyone is well, love to all. Peeps and Shell xxx

... 4pm. There wasn't a great deal to see there (or there didn't seem to be anyway), but it's significant as it's the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Unfortunately there was no sunset to be seen as the sun vanished behind the clouds quite early on. The moon rising was also hidden behind clouds so didn't appear til it was quite high up. So generally quite disappointing in terms of sunset ...

... as Devi Kanniya did penance on one of the rocks obtain the hand of Lord Shiva. The footprints of the virgin goddess are said to be imprinted on this rock. The other rock holds the famous and enormous Vivekananda Rock Memorial built in 1970. He was a poet or something like that which we didn't really care about, but we like everyone else love a big statue, sort of like the big banana at Coffs Harbour but for Indians. Kanyakumari is famous for its spectacular sun ...

... ready to head home. But we braved the heat and the poo, and our Indian experience improved. We followed the poo coast round from Chennai to Goa, which took us to some memorable places - Pondicherry (familiar to anyone who has read "The Life of Pi"), Kannyakummari at the southernmost tip, Kerala for some lovely backwater boat trips (for anyone who has read "The God of Small Things") and Goa for some rest and relaxation by the pool. We got to experience the fantastic Indian sleeper trains ...