14th February 2012 - End of week 1

OMG - this country is amazing!

We had a really good flight with Qatar and arrivd in India at about 4am! Tired and hot! We took a bus to Kanyakumari where we stayed for a couple of days

In Kanyakumari at the very bottom of India, 3 oceans meet and the idea is you dip in the ocean 3 times to offer your prayers and respect to each ocean to protect the shores they encompass - Ravi and I both did this and I felt a sense of relief, like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders?!

People from all over India come here to dip but also to watch the sunrise and sunset.

We then took a train to MaduraiVery cheap on

                                                                                              the sleeper carriage - basic but fairly comfy.

Sri Meenakshi temple has four beautiful entrance gates  one of which i am standing infront of. It took us most of the afternoon to look round it as there are so many sections - it was a lovely peaceful place but very busy. The Elephant was blessing people so long as you gave him a coin! I was also blessed, which we videoed!

There is a massive tailors market with over 200 tailors and haberdashery stalls in one part of the temple complex, I had an Indian suit made and Ravi had a shirt made - very cheap. I also had another outfit made at a tailors, only took him about 4 hours and it is beautiful.

We took a bus to Kumily, a good run, took us about 4 hours. We stayed in a lovely homestay owned by a man who knows everyone and everything!

 We went for an Elephant rideAlso we looked round a spice garden and saw cloves, cardomin, vanilla pods, peppercorns, bananas, coffee and cinamon growing to name just a fewthis pineapple is 7 months oldthis lemon was  

                                                                                                           enormous and used to make pickles

Our guide Krishna

After that the rickshaw driver took us to his home for a cup of tea and we met his family.

Later in the afternoon we went to see a traditional south Indian dance called Kathakali. By going early we saw them do the make-up which takes around 3 hours and is done using organic colours and a thin reed is used to apply the make-up.

 On Monday we woke super early to go for a walk in the tiger reserve with Fien and Preeta. We were advised that we could see elephants, monkeys, Deer and Tiger. Sadly we saw no animals but we saw beautiful trees and plants and really enjoyed the 2.5 hour walk.

We had a snack and witnessed a monkey tearing open a packet of crisps and eat them! So funny. we were told that the monkeys snatch ANYTHING they can!

We booked a boat trip around the reserve and on our way to catch the boat there was a real live wild elephant!!! Woo at last!!!!