5-3-2012 Madurai to Trichy (pronounced as in 'itchy') - full name being Tiruchirappalli. We left Madurai at 11.30 this morning for our journey to Trichy, still in Tamil Nadu. We travelled on the Gurujavi-Chennai Express train - a three hour trip in air-conditioned 3 tier sleeper class which cost a total of 436 rupees ($8.72 AUD). The train had left about 30 minutes late but still arrived in Trichy on time. This is starting to look like a standard arrangement ...

A few facts about this famous city, largely taken from the Lonely Planet:- It is one of the oldest cities in India with Tamil and Greek documents recording its existence from the 4th century BC. Madurai traded with ancient Rome and has, of course, outlasted that Empire. Whilst Chennai is the heart of Tamil Nadu, Madurai can be said to be its soul. It is perhaps best known for the Sri Meenakshi Temple, a six hectare complex enclosed by 12 gopurams (a pyramidal g...

2-3-2012 - Trivandrum to Madurai Our train to Madurai left at 4.20 pm so we had a bit of time to continue exploring Trivandrum before we left - also, we had to check out of the Hotel by 3.30 pm. We went to the SMSM Emporium, a fixed price enterprise selling handicrafts, silk, wooden objects etc. I bought a new glasses case as my old one has taken a beating during our travels in Vietnam and Nepal. Back out on the road still looking for the elusive Internet conn...

The following info was concocted prior to my earlier post about Cochin and Trivandrum but has been stuck on my Netbook due to lack of WiFi net access. An update:- 27-2-2012 We leave Fort Kochi for Trivandrum tomorrow. We went to Dal Roti for both lunch and dinner as the food is so good and the owner (Ramesh - who also owns a 1959 Enfield) is such a nice person. Besides, it's just too hot to go wandering around unnecessarily. At dinner I smacked my head somet...

Well, we are now in Madurai but due to a lack of Net access I have posted zero about our last stop - Trivandrum (or Thiruvananthapuram to give it it's proper name). We had a good time in Trivandrum although it was hot, hot, hot. If I ever get a proper Internet access in an area that doesn't clock in at about 40 degrees I'll post more specifics. In the meantime I'll put up some photo's. Yours meltingly and dreaming of vegemite and cold beer, Ken & Des