Ideal River View Resort Thanjavur

... we got mobbed by taxi drivers and Rickshaw drivers offering us better and better rates for the 8 km drive into town. We took one who offered 120rupees for the drive, though we later found out that we were ripped off quite a bit, the drive should have been something like 30 or 40 rupees. Everyone must make this mistake when they land at an airport and doesn't go on a meter. We loaded our bags into the nonexistent luggage space behind the seat and in next with us at the front and the ...

... hotels a on cobren comissio, pero malgrat tot es facil parar-los-hi els peus i fer la teva. L'unic problema es el menjar no perque sigui molt picant sino perque no sempre es tan facil d'aconseguir. Com que he decidit no jugar a la ruleta russa i arriscar-me a agafar una diarrea de les bones, menjo sempre en llocs que garanteixin unes minimes condicions higieniques i prescindeixo de la carn i el peix tan com es pugui. I aixo no sempre es facil d'aconseguir, sobretot ...

... was built by Chola King Raja Raja in 1010. It is another World Heritage site, and according to the Lonely Planet Guide to India, with which we agree, it is "the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture." There is a gold top on the temple ,which is the original, I'm (Aman) surprised the British didn't take it too. The entire top level of the main sanctum building is one stone piece, according to Ramesh. Sine we were there ...

... AC class, three times the cost, but still only 11 dollars for a 10 hour ride. The AC class was a lot nicer, cleaner and quieter, probably worth the money. Hampi is a country town, the nearest train station is 14 km away in the dusty poverty stricken town of Hospet. It was only 2 bucks for a rickshaw ride into Hampi and then we had to take a 1 minute ferry ride over a small river. The terrain in Hampi is amazing, it reminds you of the Flintstones, but with ...

... t say it was the first thing I wanted to see. The views from the roof were good to see the all the entrances in a row. Many Indians were sleeping and eating in the shade between entrances since the inner sanctums were closed until 3pm. It is amazing how temples are always full all times of the day with people sitting in the shade. There is always a lovely smell of jasmine from the flowers ...

... media team to explain in Tamil and organize the kids into a line so that they could receive the stationery that we bought for them. the day before in Pondicherry, we bought 50 pieces each of a school bag, red pen, blue pen, 2 books each, geometry box, 10-pack pencil, pencil box, fancy pencil, ruler, fancy colorful erasers. it was a joy to give them out. you can see pics at http://www.facebook.com/album.php ...

... in the temple, the westerner (i.e money) alarm must have gone off, as we were shortly hassled by people for money and 'donations'. The same people then very quickly lost interest once this debate was over. To me, and to Joseph, we thought that temples are supposed to be a religious place, so it saddened us to see people so money driven working there. Maybe this is the legacy that us tourists have left behind in India, i don't know. After talking to a ...

... away. There are some theories how 1000 years ago people could transport a 80 tonnes granite block and put it on top of a 13 storey-high building. Most likely they used a ramp like the Egyptian pyramid builders. Or else aliens dropped them from their flying saucers, that's also very possible :) Afterwards we took a look at Thanjavur's Royal Palace, a collection of art galleries, towers, palaces, museums and shrines. - Durbar ...

... all these people what was going on and getting NO response I got on a bus asked if it went to Mamallapuram and was even given a seat by a very kind man (I must add at this point .......... in case you think I'm moaning.......... all the local people have been so nice.......... they might not answer my questions but still very nice and very friendly!) Anyway I digress......... ok I'm on the bus about 30 minutes into the journey the conductor gets to me and he ...