Hotel Sangam Tiruchirappalli

... Devoted souls flock here to see Lord Venkateshwara, who is an avatar (reincarnation) of Vishnu. The Puranas (18 encyclopedias of Sanskrit stories in verse, of the 3 Hindu pantheon, from the 5th century onwards), include legends and stories about Tirumala Hill and its surrounding area, so it’s very possible the temple’s history is over 2,000 years old. It’s very possible the present devotional rates are attributable to succeeding generations over ...

... on the bus, there seemed to be people working outside, all around me!! By this time it’s 2.30am and there’re people setting up fruit on stalls, walking around in their towns, many sleeping all over every available surface (roads, kerbs, on barrows and benches), near cows, rubbish and tatty sheds. This was a pretty grotty place and the shops and building all around looked incredibly run down. The whole route was incredible, as the bus picked up and dropped off folks all ...

So Mamallapuram scared the s**t out of me and despite being reduced to tears by a ‘man’ who insisted on following me until I had to scream (not in my nature) Pondi rejuvenated me. Pondi also reminded me that sometimes it’s more fun to share the experience and to trust my guts again… So far they haven’t let me down! Thus…. sharing a room with Albert ...

... the boss etc. Everybody loves a digital camera especially the children who love to see their faces on screen. Sometimes i go wild and let loose with the video camera then surprise them with it and tell them they will be Bollywood stars someday. I've been taking more and more photos of the people now, they fascinate me to no end. I could stare at them staring at me all day. They're simply wonderful. It's easy to get shots, people ask you to take them on the ...

... koerer ogsaa ud til boernehjemmet. (ca 10 min vaek). Her kommer en nonne og viser os rundt. Hun er meget stolt over at vi er kommet helt fra Danmark og fortaeller alle om hvem vi er. Vi moeder andre nonner, en praest og nogle laerere. Alle vil de vide hvilken uddannelse vi har og hvad vores foraeldre laver. Boernehjemmet er blevet en del stoerre end da Nana boede der. Der ser paent og rent ud, og boernene virker glade. De er og ...

... at different times of the year. Madurai is the biggest and baddest of these pilgrimage cities, it was as we imagined. Indians everywhere being Indians, it is hard to describe unless you see it. Most Indians are very dark and slender in these parts, mostly wearing their traditional wrap, many barefoot and shirtless. All kinds of transportation swarms around inadequately planned cities creating a circus like frenzy and pace. There are stories of tourists who go ...

... house or to return along the 8km road. We chose the road route again, rather than the vertigo inducing climb down several hundred odd steps without any support railing. Madhusudan passed by in his Qualis, kindly offering a lift. We preferred the enjoyable walk.



That evening, our friends at the EB camp were worried as their three cows and a calf had not returned as they usually did by 5.30pm. The three cows came in later ...

... of a stall selling water and pop. There are another 100 or so steps to actually get to the temple and we watch the locals running up and down missing as many steps in one go as their legs will allow because it's like walking over hot coals. Ben decides he is going up. I say 'see ya I'm staying right here' and he sets of running. The choice of restaurants is grim; we have an early night ready to head off to the hills tomorrow where it is much cooler. To be continued. . . . .

... them. Else, we would have to sit on the floor all night, now we at least got a chance to sit on a bench. On our feet an old man sat all night, folded double, and being incredibly patient with his grandchildren. All night long people 'conversed' on the top of their voices and changed places ...