Naveen Hotel Coimbatore

... across in my life. <br><br>The next day, the driver Aravindan from Kannan Tours &amp; Travels Pvt Ltd took us for a local trip of coimbatore. He took us to Isha Yoga centre where they had a dhyanalingam installed and also to a waterfall nearby Kovai Kutrallam. From there we visited Perur temple and Marudhamalai Murugan temple. Came back to Jenny's for a wonderful dinner and rest in the comfy room.<br><br>Will be starting off to ooty tomorrow

... walk from the station to the hotel we had booked (New Vijaya, named and shamed), and we were 15 minutes ahead of schedule. This did not stop them telling us we had to pay twice the price as all the cheap rooms were full. I pointed out that there was a piece of paper recording my reservation under the glass of the desk, but this made no difference, and we left in high dudgeon to try another hotel over the road ...

... side of the road. They also pass cars whenever they feel like it, even if there is a car coming head on in the other lane. The other car will just go off the road to avoid hitting us. It was kinda a scary experience. <br><br>When we arrived to the university, I was taken to my hostel. The building is open and there are cats and dogs that come in and out. There are also ladies who are called dobies who walk ...

... tree, perhaps the most striking bird I have ever seen. We returned to a small village far below, where the Thodas tribals were celebrating at their Mariaman Temple, constructed by the Indian government. Relationships between the tribals and the government have been strained, as each vies for control of resources. The tribals once held forty local forestry department staff hostage, I was told. For a while, we all danced together before I returned to Secret Ivory.

... re driving along these one lane roads in the back woods and it's starting to dawn on us what we're about to see. Sure enough we get out of the car and the big attraction is the one month old elephant. Very small and cute, rolling around in the palm leaves, right beside her mother who is chained to the enclosure. We barely spend 3 minutes there and then tell Ali that we want to leave, without the ride. What kind of wonky thinking is that? We're staying in a Wildlife Reserve, the last thing ...

... 10, bunk 43" up to the third shelf-like mat near the ceiling of the train, and back to the ticket again. Yup, there was no mistake, I was supposed to fit myself and my backpack on a thin mat that was probably 2 feet wide by 6 feet long and about 2 feet below the ceiling...impossible! Luckily, some of our friends from Goa were on the same train and we were able to lock my backpack below one of their seats and I could slide onto my mat, ducking the industrial-like fans ...

... Again, it appears that all the world was there to witness this spectacular display. There was a really calm, chilled atmosphere about the grounds where everyone sat chatting, people watching and gazing at the palace. See photo. The next day we went ...

... No trace of a limp, very sprightly in defence of his patch. Another time as I was walking down the street I saw an old blind lady. White stick big round dark glasses and a tin dish. She didn't 'see' me till I passed her. Did I detect an extra jingle to her tin then? When I returned along the same street on the other side of the road some twenty minutes later I saw her spot me from about fifty yards away. She quickly made her way across the road to intercept me. Big smile ...

... tiny, tiny village that is also a bird sanctuary named Kokabellaru. The bird sanctuary is very innovative in that it has sprung up around an existing habitat of these endangered pelicans. There are no cages, but the villagers are something of game wardens. They've developed their own rules for dealing with anyone who antagonises a bird (ie, throws rocks at it, intentionally frightens it, etc): 3 warnings, then they tie you to a pole for a day and beat you. Needless to ...

... effectively introduced ourselves and spoke about who we were, where we came from and what we did. It was a nice introduction. The first full day in Coimbatore, we set off to go and visit a Hindu temple in a small village called Perur, dedicated to the god "Shiva", a few kilometres from the city. I am generally not a museum type person, but I was quite keen to see what the temples looked like. We arrived, only to be greeted outside by the high priest of the ...