Madurai

Ok, this is going to have to be the speediest blog writing ever. Here goes!

Madurai is a small city, with a massive temple, which people here think of as the Taj Mahal of the south. The city itself is pretty cool. Not too many tourists, and definately doesn't depend on westerners for its lifeblood. This meant we could wander the streets without being barrated for things left right and centre. The exception to this is that there are tailors everywhere, who try and sell you stuff on the street. So yes, there was a little hassle in Madurai, but far less than we are used to.

The first day we arrived in from an overnight bus, sleep deprived and hungry. We dumped our stuff at the hotel and headed around the corner to find some breakfast. We had spotted a little place that was packed full of locals, and decided this was our best bet. Man were we right! They didn't even have menus, so we asked them to bring us whatever was good for breakfast, plus a coffee each (south Indian coffee is supposed to be amazing!). We got a dosa masala (rice pancake stuffed with potatoes and spices) and idly (little steamed rice patties with chutneys) and both were some of the best food we've had so far. Gonna like the south I think!

We went and visited the temple, the dark gloomy halls of which were brightly painted. Very cool. We'd managed to arrive on the Indian Republic Day, so there were lots of local visitors. Unfortunately we couldnt climb the south temple and see the view as you used to, because someone had jumped out recently. Ah well, we enjoyed the view from the ground.

The temples here seem to be much more colourful and intricately carved than in the north. Up there it's all sandstone and forts. Down here it's all imported stone, careful details of deities, and bright painting.

That is all for now. We're in Kochi by the beach, spending our days relaxing in the sun. We're on our way now to do a cruise through the backwaters, so I've got to run.

Oh, and the coffee here IS good!!

Mags

Madurai, India