The End of the Roller Coaster ... or is it?

I must apologise profusely for having not posted for over a week now, it's just that things have been a bit non-stop since I got back to the UK and it is typically rather ironic that now I am home it is more accessable to get on line that I should find less time to do so?!?! (does that maken sense or have I not had enough sun recently?!)
And so I would like to take you all back a few weeks, back to my last few days in the sunny village of Varkala, in the lovely State of Kerala in the strange but wonderous land of India.
I awoke on my penultimate morning in Varkala to the sound of the waves of the Arabian sea not far from my hotel room, as the sun shone through my window and I debated as to whether or not I should 'accidentally' miss my flight the following day ... with that on my mind I left for breakfast then a day on the beach!
It was lovely, the weather was just perfect for a day relaxing on a sun bed and doing ... nothing!! Well nothing apart from the odd dip in the sea - which is the perfect way to describe it: having waded out as far as I could, so as to still be able to stand and jump over the large waves that kept rolling in, I was suddenly hit with such force and knocked off my feet. Coughing and spluttering I stood up as quickly as I could and tried to act casual and not look like the pratt that I felt, then I realised that my bikini bottoms were fast approaching my knees!!! I yanked them up, hoping that no one had seen my 'tan line' when I saw a small black fin approaching me in the water! I yelped and jumped back, knowing that sometimes dolphins had been spotted quite close to the shore and therefore why not sharks too! Then I noticed that the fin was in fact floating on its side and looking slightly 'disembodied'?! And suddenly I realised that the little black triangular shape bobbing towards me was not part of some marine killer but in fact the padding from my bikini top that had been sucked out by the 'killer' wave as it dropped me to my knees. (Brings new meaning to the saying: "Getting the stuffing knocked out of you!!!")
After that the day continued to be pretty uneventful.
That evening on my way out to dinner, I popped into the jewellers to pick up the two rings I had bought and was having made smaller, (had originally gone in with the intention of buying one!) I tried them on, they looked great, I paid the rest of my money and was about to leave when the jeweller asked what else I would like. I smiled at him and explained that whilst I could be quite tempted into buying a whole lot more of the lovely jewellery, I had in fact spent all my money, so wouldn't be able to. I am not sure which part of 'spent all my money' and 'unable to' he didn't understand but his response was: "well if you buy something else I will give you a good price for it". 
I left and made my way over to the restaurant 'The Gypsy Kings' (serving authentic Indian, Chinese and Tibetan food!!) where I met Faye and her husband Carlos for my last supper.
The food was very good despite the fact that I had ordered the 'sizzling chicken' and it arrived in full flame looking like it was about to be set off down The River Ganges (please refer to my time in Varanasi!!) It nearly took out both my eyebrows and a good portion of my frizzy hair, but luckily I managed to shoot back in my seat before I caught fire and reversed into a gentleman sitting behind me trying to have a romantic meal with his lady friend!!
Romance seemed to be the 'dish of the day' (sorry but I had to), because at the end of the meal when I asked the waiter for the bill, he walked over looking all coy and smiled at me then said: "Rose". I smiled and nodded back, having given up on correcting peoples wrong pronunciation of my name Ros many, many, many years ago. Then he said - and I quote: "Rose is red, red is blood, blood is heart, heart is love, love is you, you and me?" He then sniggered and scurried away!!
And that was it! The end of my last evening in Varkala.
The following morning I left at 7, said my last farewell to the beach and headed off to Trivandrum airport and caught a plane to Bangalore, where I had a five hour stop over before catching a flight to Dehli!! I was hoping to get some form of breakfast whilst waiting at Bangalore, but unfortunately I was not allowed to check my baggage in until two hours before my connecting flight and not only where there not any lockers to store my heavy bags in and enable me to go and sit in a restaurant and have a hearty meal in preparation for my long journey ahead, but there wasn't a restaurant in which to have the said hearty meal in preparation for my journey ahead! The only thing on offer was a coffee shop selling various unattractive sandwiches, of which most were curry flavoured!! I decided to go for the chocolate muffin and a bottle of water ...
The flight from Bangalore to Dehli was thankfully on time, the only food on offer for the two and a half hour flight was ... a rather unattractive 'triple' sandwich that would even put a doorstop to shame! I picked out the tomatoes and ate them ...
I arrived at Dehli airport and phoned the hotel where I was going to be staying. At the other end of the phone, Amid welcomed  me to Dehli and assured me that the driver was on the way and would be there in five minutes. An hour later and three phone calls with a driver who could speak as much English as I could Hindi I was finally on my way to my final hotel in India!
Amid was at the front desk when I arrived and checked me in. The time was nearly 9pm and I was starving!!! And so he informed me that there was room service available and I would find the menu in the drawer by the bed.
I was quite pleased that Claudine wasn't with me that night! The room would not have come close to any of her standards and I really wasn't in the mood for trapsing around the building trying to see if another room was suitable. So I decided to settle for it, despite the hole in the sheets and the lack of space and the dodgy looking bathroom with the extremely noisy busy Dehli street outside.
I pulled out the food menu, the choice was either Chinese or Indian from the local restaurant! I chose Chinese noodles, thinking that having a curry the night before a 9 and a half hour flight back to the UK could be asking for trouble. I phoned Amid at reception with my order. He told me that I would not be able to have the Chinese food as it was considered a snack?! But he would be happy to get anything from the Indian menu!!! I took a deep gulp and ordered a bowl of Dahl and some rice - not spicy. It arrived a short while later, I took one bite and could feel my hair frizz out even more merely from the heat of the spice in it!!!
The following morning I checked out and waited for my cab driver to take me to the airport. Amid pointed to him standing outside by his car waiting for me - he had one eye!!!!
Someone was watching over me that morning, because by some miracle, even though my one eyed driver was talking on the phone as he drove, narrowly missing various 'obstacles' in his way, I made it back to Dehli airport in one piece!!
My feelings were kind of mixed as I checked my luggage in; mixed between wanting to stay and wanting to leave. I think that if it wasn't for my nieces Batmitzvah that I was coming back for, I may just have stayed in Varkala for another week or so. But I do think things happen for a reason and I was meant to come home after eight and a half weeks, refreshed, recharged and ready to get on with my life ...
I ambled around the Duty Free shop, trying to decide on which perfume to buy that would remind me of my adventure, (I would usually have bought a fragrance on the way out, but Claudine advised against wearing any perfume in India for fear it would attract Malaria ridden mosquitoes!) I picked up various bottles and sprayed, taking in each aroma, when one of the shop assistants walked over and asked if I needed any help, to which I replied: "No thanks, I'm just smelling".
It took a couple of minutes for me to realise why she was looking at me in an odd way after that.
The time was fast approaching 10am and so I hurried over to the restaurant section for a hearty breakfast. I smiled to myself as I sat down and reflected on all the events that had happened over the last few weeks as I tucked 'heartily' into my MacChicken burger.
Finally the flight was called and I made my way onto the plane. (no upgrade this time!!) As we took off I smiled at the obnoxious looking man sitting in front, who had got tetchy with me because I had managed to get my hand luggage in the overhanging locker, just where he wanted to put his. Then I took out my book and started to read.
About an hour into the flight, lunch was served. Believe it or not I was actually looking forward to some airplane 'delicacies'!! Well we were on a BA flight and so I finally wouldn't have to choose between Chinese or Indian food!!!
The Air Steward pulled the cart up beside me and asked if I wanted the Chicken or vegetarian option. I asked him what it was, he said ... CURRY!!
After lunch, I leaned back and thought about how I had felt about myself and my life on the way over to the sub-continent officially known as The Republic States of India. Then I put on my earphones, switched on my ipod and listened to my all time favourite song: Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good'.
To be continued ... 

Hotel Move, Harrowing Weather, Happy New Year and Hunger for Momos

It's January 2012 and I can't believe that my Big Adventure is nearly over!!! Only one more day in Kerala then it's back to Dehli for the night and finally back home to the UK!
Yesterday I moved to the hotel nearer the North Cliff, delighting in the fact that I could just step out of my room and cross the road, then walk down the steps to the beach. However, the weather had changed quite drastically and there had been heavy rainfall the night before resulting in an extremely overcast sky and a blustery wind with more rain on the way! Apparently, this was all the tail end of a cyclone going on in Chennai!!
ow I know it might sound selfish and shallow, but all I could think about was the fact that my tan was going to fade before I got back to England, as well as the fact that if I got caught out in the rain, my hair was going to be extremely frizzy for the New Years Festivities!!!
I spent the afternoon in one of the restaurants with my new friends Dee and Brid, (two nurses from Ireland) then managed to make it back to my room just before the heavens opened again and the heavy rain plummeted from above. Thankfully it stopped just in time for me to get changed and make it back out to another restaurant for a New Years Eve dinner with Dee and Brid and a few more of their friends from their Yoga group.
I felt that as it was a celebration, I should really push the boat out and have something a bit more exciting than my usual Chinese Vegetable noodles or Fried Egg and chips, so I dared to order something called MoMos, which were absolutely delicious! They are basically just like steamed dumplings/dim sum and I could have kicked myself for not trying them out weeks ago!!
The evening was lovely: great food and great 'new friends'. As we all sat and chatted I looked around the table thinking that all six of us had been total strangers, from five different countries, (Ireland, England, USA, Switzerland and Germany) all united by two things: India and speaking English!!!
But at 11 o'clock we all said our goodbyes; the others didn't want a late night as they were all getting up in the early hours of the morning to go to see 'Amma, The Hugging Mama' at her Ashram.
And so after an exchange of e mails and telephone numbers and promises to 'come visit' I made it back to my room in time to see the New Year in with a phone call to a friend back home in London.
After the phone conversation I sat on my bed and thought back on all that had gone on for me that year and the events that led up to me taking this trip out here. How scared I was to be by myself again and  I realised that I didn't actually care that I was physically alone on the stroke of midnight, but I was in fact really content to be where I was and strangely enough I didn't feel alone at all?! And then with perfect timing, my phone bleeped and I opened a text message from my brother Daniel wishing me' a happy new year' and I just had to smile.
This morning I woke up and the sun was back!!! I hurriedly got dressed, slapped on my suntan cream and threw some breakfast down my throat at one of the local restaurants before racing down the cliff steps to the beach.
I spent most of the day on the beach, every now and then I would remember that there was in fact one more temple I was going to visit nearby, but then I would look around at the white sand and the blue waters of the Arabian Sea and think: "Nah".
By the end of the day I had a few more freckles to add to my collection and a dinner companion - Rob from Essex. We went to The Little Tibet Restaurant where I had a plate of Momos!!
Oh what a lovely day ......

My penultimate challenge!

Today is Thursday, I have just under a week left in India and Claudine left today! Don't worry we didn't fall out, it was part of the plan, she left for Dehli today and returns to the UK on Saturday and I didn't want to spend New Years Eve in the bitter cold, sunshine on the beach somehow seemed more appealing, so I am here until the 4th?!!
By now you must have guessed that we had no problems crossing the border back to Kerala, mind you, it helped that we flew over as all other crossings bar trains and planes have been cancelled.
And as we found last time round in this lovely State in India (known as God's own Country), it is sooo hot and humid, needing to constantly have a shower and therefore not really minding that there only seems to be cold water available where we are staying!
Varkala Villa's is very nice, the room passed Claudine's inspection and Sunil, the owner, has been very helpful and welcoming. We are situated on the South Cliff, however, as expected most things happen on the North Cliff! It is only a 25 minute walk over, but climbing up and down a cliff side even with steps, is quite an effort in this heat!
Apart from the two cockroaches we caught (ok we screamed and Sunil caught them), our room was fine. However, now that Claude has left - at 3am this morning! - it all feels very strange and defly quiet!!
We had a great adventure over these last eight weeks - can't believe all that time has passed - and I am not saying it was perfect the whole time, of course we had the odd little 'tiff', but through it all I think we realise we do have a very good friendship that has survived all sorts over the last 27 years and should continue to do so, despite the fact that she drives me insane with her bloody OCD!!! (nothing you don't know already Claude).
And so I have decided to switch hotels and move on New Years Eve to one that is just off the North Cliff and the room not only has a TV but Wifi, which makes me very happy (yes I know, now I am turning into my dad!!). But I feel I need a few home comforts to guide me through the next few days whilst I am out of my comfort zone and alone in a 'strange land'.
At present I seem to be resembling a noughts and crosses game!  you see I have had so many mosquito bites and my ex once informed me that to ease any itching or soreness for bites and stings, one should press one's nail into them and making an indentation like a little cross mark so that the centre of the cross hits the centre of the bite/sting! Strangely enough it works!!! But not very attractive; good job my collection of freckles is building up substantially and acting as fantastic camouflage!
This morning as I woke to a half empty room and no sounds of Claudine tip toeing around trying not to wake me whilst walking into tables, chairs or anything else and crying out 'oh shit', I asked nana, who I think is watching over me, to guide me to meet some nice friendly people that I can spend time with. Then whilst having breakfast at the homestay, I got talking to an Irish woman called Deidre, who arrived two days ago and is here on a yoga break with a bit of touring thrown in. And now I have been invited to join her and her friends for dinner this evening at an Indian lady's home. So I am off to get ready for some home cooking - Indian style. (so much for 'no more curries!!!)

Bye bye Tamil Nadu ... another border crossing on it's way!

For someone who hates shopping, I seem to have been taken over by some kind of spirit that needs to spend money!! (maybe it is 'The Ghost of Christmas Presents'?!) but since my last posting I have managed to buy myself another pair of earrings, a little hand made bag, a shawl, a bespoke pair of sandals and put a deposit down on a little summer dress that I have designed and is being made!! Unfortunately there is yet another strike out here! Not exactly sure what it is this time, as there are various stories going around, either something to do with the problems at the border that is on going, or something about the local government wanting to knock the shops down to make a clear pathway around the temples in the village?! Either way, nearly all the shops are shut today and Ruby the tailor is unable to make it over with our new clothes but has promised to post them to us in the UK - I won't hold my breath!!
Yesterday we had the best weather so far since arriving in Tamil Nadu, it was just perfect for a Christmas day lazing by the pool. Especially as I didn't get to bed until the very early hours of the morning, having spent all night at a cafe chatting to a cute looking, funny 21 year old 'Indian Hippy'. Until eventually he asked me to go back to his for a party ... for two!?! I wasn't sure what was more off putting; the fact that he was young enough to be my son and I didn't really relish the idea of playing Mrs Robinson to his Benjamin Braddock (The Graduate) or the fact that when he told me his name was Borat, I couldn't get the image of a moustachioed Sacha Baron-Cohen in a bright yellow mankini out of my head!!
I mean please!!!
And so I let him down slowly, with a smile and a pat on the knee and left.
Today we are catching a plane to Varkala back in Kerala, fingers crossed the planes will not have any problems crossing over the border. But this is India and who knows what she has in store for us next ...

Sun, sea, swimming pool and .... shopping!!!

Oh yes!! Yet again we have chosen the perfect place!! And it was only an hours drive from Pondicherry and therefore not enough time for me to get car sick - well it helped that I have now decided to sit in the front passenger seat. Mind you then I spend most of the journey holding my breath and slamming my foot down on an invisible break, while grabbing onto the handle above the passenger door - oh my god I am turning into my mother!!
Over the next few days we are staying at The Seabreeze Hotel in Mallapuram. It is situated on the beach as well as having a large swimming pool within it's massive grounds. Our room has a lovely Verandah just over looking the pool and there is a whole array of shops, cafes and restaurants within easy walking distance ... oh yeah and there are a few more Temples nearby too.
Yesterday was spent just mooching around, getting to know the area and generally DO NOTHING!! Today ... Claude and I made our way over to the Local Tourist Office to find out what was going on in the Village over Christmas. The man behind the counter, smiled, wobbled his head and told us everything would be closed from tomorrow until the 27th - even the restaurants!!!
Now I could survive on a few packets of crisps, a larger packet of biscuits and various things made from refined sugar with a few additives thrown in. Claudine however, started to break out in a cold sweat; for someone as slim and petite as she is, she has the largest appetite known to womankind!! And so before she turned into a complete juddering wreck, I tried to assure her that not only was this country not Christian, but that we were in an extremely touristy area, where there will be plenty of people coming to spend the holiday season and so there would be no way that the Restaurants would be closed over the next three days.
She didn't look convinced and so, we made our way over to The Shore Temple for some enlightenment and a quiet prayer. 
The gods must have been smiling down on us, though I am quite surprised as to why, considering that as we made our way around the 7th century holy ruins, deep in concentration. I realised that Claudine was lagging behind. I turned around to find her standing by a small ancient rock that was sticking out of the ground, concentrating very hard as she scraped cow dung off on it from the base of her shoe!!!
Anyway, as I said, The gods were smiling down and listening to our prayers as it was revealed to us that not only would all the shops be open AS WELL as all the restaurants. But there would be celebrations and partying tomorrow night as well as a months music and dance festival starting on Sunday eve!
Phew!! Moral of this Story ... All Tourists Offices know is 'Sweet Fanny Adams!'
Feeling much calmer Claude took off to look at a few more temples whilst I took off to go and sit by our pool, but got side tracked and ended up stopping off at a jewellery shop and buying a couple of pairs of gorgeous silver earrings!!
Feeling rather pleased with my purchase - as generally I hate shopping - I met up with my traveling partner for lunch, where she admired my new pieces of jewellery and asked me to show her where they came from. I did and ended up buying another pair!!!
Tomorrow is Christmas eve and it really doesn't feel like Christmas at all out here. Not in a bad way at all. It feels great not to have the whole pressure of what to do, who to see, what to buy etc ... This Christmas I intend to spend by the pool ... in the sun!!! Perfect!

'Frendians', hairless legs and a large golden golf ball?!

Mais oui!! J'arrive!!!
From the moment the car drove into Pondicherry, we could smell the fresh sea air and clean streets!! The roads were actually pot hole free and the pavements were made of ... pavement!!! Even the very few open sewers smelt like roses!!! What a welcome change!! And so to all you Frenchies that I have ever been rude to, I would like to take this moment to apologise profusely. For this little French Colonised town is a sight for sore eyes and an aroma for sore noses - thank you!!!
Our hotel - 'The Executive Inn' is classed as a decent budget hotel, but the mere fact that they provide their own plug for the bath/sink was an immediate indication that we were finally going 'up market'!! This time, there were no complaints about the room, it immediately passed the 'Claudine seal of approval' and as for me, well I was delighted that free wifi was available!!
Perfectly located; we are staying about a ten minute walk from the sea front (Bay of Bengal), and an assortment of FRENCH RESTAURANTS where Indian food is pushed to the last page of the menu.
And ... there is a proper, classy, clean and professional BEAUTY SALON across the road from us - yahay!!!
Not only is the street layout on a simple grid system - as in New York and LA, but they are also finally sign posted and written in the local language as well as in French!!
We arrived here three nights ago and have one more night left before moving down to Mahabalipuram. (try saying that a few times after a couple of vodkas!!)

Yesterday we went to visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram for a moment of silence and contemplation. This Ashram was founded in November 1926 by ... Sri Aurobindo. A few months later he decided to step back from public view and appointed his co-worker Mirra Alfassa to run it, henceforth she has been known as 'The Mother'.
Over the years, the Ashram's effects have appeared over the town of Pondicherry where you can now find for example: "Sri Aurobindo Autocare Services", "Sri Aurobindo Handmade Paper Factory and shop" and various other "Aurobindo" named services. The most famous being "Auroville" but more of that later.
The Ashram itself was as expected very quiet and peaceful, but Claudine was upset to find out there were no yoga classes available, instead we were offered to join the other visitors and 'inmates', (as they were referred to), in the courtyard, to sit in medatative silence. We sat and closed our eyes and I have to say I did start to lose myself into the meditation but as per usual the little Impish part of my brain decided to put the kibosh on all that and threw in an image of a succulent piece of chocolate cake and that was it, I had to go find a patisserie! (Well we were in mini France).
Then in the afternoon we approached the hair and beauty salon with trepidation, I was a bit worried after my previous experience in Fort Cochin but as mentioned before, we were delighted to find the salon and staff very welcoming and professional.
I got all my waxing done, (beach here I come) and even went for a 'Hair Spa Treatment', which involved a deep conditioning treatment as well as an amazing head massage. However, now I don't look so much like a Sadhu with dreadlocks but more like a throw back from the 70's with extra soft frizzy hair - because SARA even though they are experienced hair dressers, they still don't know about hair gel or mousse for curly, frizzy hair, in fact the poor bloke decided to blow dry my hair rather than leave it to dry naturally and I think even he was impressed that I managed to get my head through the doorway afterwards!!
Today we went to visit 'Auroville' - I washed my hair twice this morning to ensure it would like a bit more respectable.
Auroville was founded in 1969 by 'The Mother' just outside of Pondicherry and has become an experimental township where, and I quote 'The Mother': "Auroville is meant to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity."
The buildings in the town - designed by Roger Anger - are stunning, as are the gardens that are still being developed. And right in the middle of the town is an enormous golden sphere that looks like a large golf ball (or even a bit like the EPCOT Centre in Florida), known as The Matrimandir.


We were allowed into the visitors centre and invited to watch a short film about the village and the Matrimandir, where they explained to us that 'The Mother' saw it as: as "a symbol of the Divine's answer to man's inspiration for perfection". Silence is maintained inside this amazing piece of architecture as it is through out the surrounding land. But as visitors we were only allowed to look at it from about half a mile away and even though I tried to sneakily open a little gate we discovered hidden in the bushes that led to a winding path down towards the sphere. I was stopped by a stern: ''MADAM'' shouted from behind us and we turned to see a rather unfriendly looking security guard glaring at us and shaking his head.
And so Claude and I skulked off, muttering under our breaths as to how ridiculous the whole thing was which also led into a full on debate about cults, religions and Svengalis. When we looked up we found ourselves stood under the most amazing 140 year old Banyan tree - it was massive and so overwhelming we were both stunned into silence as we admired nature at it's best.
And now, I have to rush as I am returning to the beauty salon for a relaxing facial and a pedicure - I feel that seeing as I spend my working day pampering others with beauty treatments, that it is about time I got a bit of pampering myself.
And so, until we reach Mahalibapuram, I will bid you all farewell ...

From Trichy to Thanjuvore in an hour - just ...

So there was only one site to see in Trichy: the temple in Sri Ragham, however, this is a rather large, colourful and stunning temple or should I say there are about 21 of them!!! They are all gateways leading into the main golden temple in the middle, which unfortunately I was not allowed in to seeing as I am not a Hindu - well not at the moment, (only joking mum and dad!!). So we looked around as much as we could before passing out in the heat then made our way back to the hotel via domino pizzas for lunch!
Well actually there are really two sites to go and see, the second one is The Rock Temple which is ... a large temple sat on a very very very large mound of rocks. To be more precise, one has to climb approx 320 steps to reach it. Now I know I have been leaping out of my comfort zone with regard to walking and climbing out here, but I do have a limit,. Plus yet again, we wouldn't be allowed into the temple seeing as we are not Hindus. So, it was unanimously agreed that Domino Pizza had the winning vote!
That night was our last in Trichy and I didn't manage to get to sleep til quite late as I got caught up watching a very educational film on the TV - The Terminator - so you can imagine how unimpressed I was to be woken up by the phone at 7am only to find out that it was receptionist asking us something that I had no understanding of through his thick accent. So I very calmly informed the nice gentleman that we were not being picked up until 10 30am, we were asleep and could he leave us alone: "Very well madam" was the response.
And so we went to check out at 10am only to find out that seeing as we hadn't checked out at 7am and we had originally checked in at '5am' they were going to charge us for an extra night!!! This time Claudine wasn't the only one to lose it!! I was red head surviving on lack of sleep and food and wanting to get the hell out of Trichy ... we informed the receptionist that under no circumstances were we paying for our first night there, seeing as we had spent it on the sofa in the lobby because the Security Guard couldn't be woken up!! We also reminded him that considering we had been booked into a deluxe room, we had to change it as the sheets were torn and the bathroom was filthy! Claudine demanded to have the managers phone number while I informed the receptionist that we would be writing about the whole affair on 'Trip Advisor' - Claudine added in "and the Indian Tourist Board!!'' (I was tempted to point out that I was deeply offended by the Security Guards flatulence and would recommend he take a good dose of pepto bismal, but thought that may be taking it a bit too far). Anyway, the upshot was he deducted the charge for that night and we went outside to wait for our taxi driver to take us to Thanjuvore.
It was quite awkward  as the car drew up and we realised our driver was in fact the receptionist that we had just given a major bollocking too! Oh well, it meant that for the hour or so journey, he had his radio turned up full blast on some kind of Indian chat show.
We got to the hotel in Thanjuvore and were immediately taken up to our room for an inspection. Claude walked into the bathroom and very calmly stepped out, look at me and quietly said: 'I think you should take a look at the toilet'. I walked in cautiously expecting to see a dead rat floating in it, but it was so much worse, for there in the left hand side of the bathroom was ... an Indian squat toilet!!! I looked at Claudine, who by this point was already complaining of an upset stomach. And we both turned to the housekeeper and in unison exclaimed: 'Sorry, we can't use those, do you have a room with a normal, er western toilet?' Thank goodness they did!!!!
We settled into the room and went out for lunch ... there was even less on offer than in Trichy! But we found the one good restaurant recommended by the hotel rather than their own - filled ourselves with Chinese noodles and went in search of 'The Big Temple'.
It was absolutely stunning!!! Yet again more than one building and the carvings in the stone of all the gods, goddesses and their worshipers was so perfect.
We tried to walk around at a slow pace, taking in the magnificence and feel of the whole place, but unfortunately where ever we turned there were Indian people trying to get sneaky photographs of us - 'The Whities' , honestly it was like being chased by the paparazzi!! Some thought they were being really subtle as one person would casually stroll close to us and make out he was posing for the picture near a statue, when you could quite blatantly see his friend was trying to get us in the shot!
We ended up having to run off, whilst they followed in hot pursuit videoing us from behind!!!
Finally we escaped and made our way back to the hotel via a very posh hotel that we had found, where we treated ourselves to a slap up meal.
This morning I woke up to find Claudine running to the loo for the third time, Dehli Belly has struck again!!! And I have to say, my stomach wasn't great either, but I am putting that down to the little 'scooby snack' I had yesterday afternoon which consisted of: a pack of fruit mentoes, a bag of cheesy puffs, half a bag of strawberry chews, a small packet of chocolate bourbons and half a litre of grape flavoured water ...
Nor did it help at breakfast when we both decided that the full Indian was probably not the best thing, so I had scrambled eggs and I am sure they were made with sugar!!!!
This afternoon, we gathered our strength together and walked over to the palace grounds, again a magnificent building, but most of it is now used as a library and museum where you can find some of the oldest Sanskrit texts, written in tiny handwriting on palm leaves. Mind you I have to say I was rather engrossed in the sketchings on Chinese torture that was offered at that time, one method being squeezing lemon into the prisoners eyes!
Eventually, we decided as it was 4pm, that we prob should think about food - again - and decided the best thing was to go back to the posh hotel (The Sangham) for a late lunch and the fact that their toilets were clean and smelled of flowers! So we hailed a rickshaw driver and agreed a price and off we went.
He asked us where we were from and after we told him England he exclaimed: "Oh really!!! I am a Catholic, see" and duly pointed to the stickers of Jesus stuck on his windscreen.
We smiled politely then 'Oohed and aahed' but then he shouted out what about you are you? I couldn't be bothered to go into the whole chat about being Jewish but not really practising anything, so I just muttered 'Yes' and the next thing we knew, he had pulled up outside his church and was asking us to go inside for a look and donate money for something to do with Jesus?! Eventually, he understood: 'No thank you, we feel sick, we would like to go to eat'. And he hurried over to the lovely Sangham Hotel, parked outside then asked us if would like any Marijuana to help us feel less sick and then he would take us shopping?!
We said our goodbyes and ran off to the dining room.
Tomorrow, all being well, we should be getting a 10am train to Pondicherry - once ruled by the French and still influenced from that time - where we have fantasized about eating croissants and baguettes. So fingers crossed; they are not curry flavoured!!!!