Ruby Lodge Madurai

... we took a taxi to a 5 star hotel 10km away from the city centre to bathe our weary minds (and it had only been 72hrs) in a blissful cool, clean pool sat in peacock filled gardens. Poolside butlers bringing ice cold Kingfishers and a stunning view over the countryside, Mum felt at home and I was getting used to the idea that it was a distinct possibility that over the next 4 weeks hotels of this standard were to become the norm.

... is a hero in most natives' eyes and internationally for that matter for his generousity and spirit. <br><br>I arrived here via bus and train..im getting the hang of this as everything ran smoothly again...not to get cocky though, rule #1 never get cocky or overconfident with anything in life. Not to say the journey was particularly enjoyable but i was amongst hundreds of other peeps who were enduring the same heat, crowdedness and ...

... un delice pour les yeux car tres haut en couleurs. Il s'eleve a 45m et est richement sculté de milliers de divinites; toutes peintes aux couleurs vives. Il est deja bien tot est de nombreux pelerins arrivent pour faire leurs offrandes matinales. Nous avions oublie de mettre un pantalon, nous nous sommes donc vu aller acheter des bouts de tissus a la mode locale, afin de ...

This is the wild west of India, a dusty, noisy city that feels like the heart of a bee hive. At night, when the daytime temperatures have eased, the place comes alive, a wall of noise hits you as you walk the streets, the main player being the "beep beep" from the thousands of cars and motorbikes that own the streets here. It can be a hard to move around, always looking over your shoulder, aware that ...

... Taj Garden Retreat on the outskirts of bustling Madurai for a spot of tennis and a swim. Teddy Exports is well known by the hotel manager 'Jobby George', so we were allowed to use their facilities free of charge. Our cheap rackets seemed useless at first but we soon realised it was our rusty talent, not the tools. I think we managed 4 or 5 hours of tennis in total, the quality of play getting ...

... Prozessionen mit Trompeten und eingehuellten Statuen sehen!?! Eigentlich ist d** Tempel sonst voll** Pilg** und es wa**e bestimmt int**essant gewesen, diese hi** zu sehen, ab** anscheinend wussten die von d** Renovi**ung. Madurai selbst ist sonst eh** eine stickige, heisse Grossstadt voll** Chaos.und da ja nun d** Tempel nicht so sehr zum v**weilen Einlud, haben wir beschlossen uns am naechsten Tag in die kuehlen B**ge d** West**n Ghats nach Kodaikanal aufzumachen.

... Meenakshi_ Temple I enjoyed Maduri despite the heat it had a good vibe to it. I chose a hotel which had a good view of the temples but on arrival I saw that they were all covered in what looked like cardboard or something. As it happens they get painted every ten years, so yes I picked the 10 yearly painting window. Couldn't complain too much after seeing a tiger though. It was still an enjoyable experiencing walking around ...

... no guide) and taking pictures of the architecture, which is quite detailed, a family of Indian people were walking towards to me and giggling and talking in Tamil. They looked like they were having so much fun. Whilst reading a notice board, the family surrounded me and the kids started talking to me in Tamil and in English. Asking me all sorts of questions from where did i come from, to where i was staying, that sort of thing. They were so eager to talk to me and ...

... Indians (who amazingly have no qualms with disrespectfully and aggressively cutting in front of you in line; finest bogarting skills I have ever seen, if not frustrating). Being nearly dry by now, the sky graciously opened up with a tremendous downpour, at which point it was everyone for themselves - running, charging, pushing, yelling - to get to a wet pile of life preservers then onto the boat and out of the rain. Having being trampled over by ...

... some with their entire foreheads covered in gray powder, some women with their entire faces stained yellow. Men would sit in front of shrines of various sizes and grandeur in only robes around their waste and a sash of sorts. Some men wore orange outfits and had long white beards. People prayed in various manners and made gestures with their hands, touching the shrines or the floor and kissing their hands. One shrine on a pillar was wet with orange paint or paste ...