Mad and Madderdurai

Madurai is famous for its amazing temples and skanky, smelly streets. It was a facsinating place - the roads full of pilgrims visiting the main temple and cows parked up with the motorbikes. We found a quiet spot on the 10th floor of The Plaza Break Hotel where Sam celebrated her birthday above the smog and chaos. We had our first chick pea dahl style dish here. Over the next few days the chick peas came out the other end of our bodies like bullets!! Won't be trying that again!!





We caught the overnight train to Varkala and booked into a great place by the beach. It was very touristy, but beautiful and sooo clean! We spent 4 days lazing on the beach, drinking fruit lassies and enjoying the sun. A huge culture leap from Madurai, but not an unwelcome one.

The meaning of the universe...

If there is a bright spark in the centre of the universe, then Kodiakonal (in the physical realm) is farthest from it. Set high up in the hills, this hill station is a perfect spot to cool down, chill out and eat some great food.

Our room had a perfect view of the valley and although we set out to do some walks about the area, the pull of relaxing on our balcony was more than often too strong. We took a boat out on the lake, walked about town, ate pancakes and massala.

The town was founded by American missionaries and everywhere you look there is a Christian banner, calender, sticker. Even the taxis have King of Kings and Praise the Lord plastered over them! We went to one of the 50 churches in town on Sunday. It was very lively and a mixture of Indians and Westerners. Not surprisingly we loved Kodaikonal. Still, it is not possible to stay on the mountain peaks for long - the valley of Madurai is calling....