Feb 13, 2011 - Thanjavur

Oh man. I'm moving so fast now that I don't really even know where I am. Arrived here today (Feb 13th) after half days in Kanyakumari and Madurai. Will do a half day in this place, wherever it is, tomorrow, and then keep moving to Punducherry. Then, off to Chennai to catch a flight to meet Momma in Delhi on the 18th! Let me just say that riding buses here makes me think about my life. Did I live a good life? How will I be remembered? I especially thought this as the bus driver swerved to toss several coin rupees at a roadside shrine.

Dec 15, 2010 - Thanjavur

So I skipped Kumbakonam. It is another temple town and I have had about enough of temples. I am now in Thanjavur about 4 hours by bus from Chidambaram. My plans for the next few weeks are: 2 more nights in Thanjavur, a couple of days in Tiruchirapalli, and then possibly Kodaikanal which is in the hills and I here it is much cooler there. Then Madurai, and maybe Rameswaram. Then to Kanyakamuri the Southern tip of India and on to Kerala state. It is a lot I know. I stayed last night in Thanjavur at the Ashoka Lodge near the old bus stand for...

Dec 2, 2010 - Temple Times Two

Today was a long day of travel and temples. While Jamie stayed at our riverside hotel to enjoy some birding and the jungle like surroundings the group started out bright and early with a 2 hour drive to the first temple. Along the way we drove on the first 4 lane highway with curbs. Of course, the curb was the preferred place for goats to take a rest. We also passed a large factory where they make parts for windmills. The temple was on an island called Srirangen, in a river. It was a large complex of 7 buildings all decorated with carved...

Dec 1, 2010 - Temple Time

Day 4, Temple Time While yesterday was full and busy, today was mostly a day of bus travel and rain. Lots and lots of rain. They say it is the monsoon which was supposed to be over by now. We left our Pondicherry hotel in the rain and made our way through village after village, heading south east until we arrived at an 11th century Hindu Temple. Along the way Sanjay told us his views about India and marriage, education, and other social issues. The Temple, a World Heritage Site, whose name I cannot begin to spell, was very large and made...

Dec 12, 2008 - Almost templed out - but....

HIGHLIGHTS • Brihadishwara Temple • Thanjavur Palace DETAIL Brihadishwara Temple, designated a World Heritage Site and only a couple of clicks from hotel, not too far by Shangsies Pony, i.e. walking. As I am passing the bus station I swing into check the bus schedule. My LP turns back into the LL as there are no direct buses. I have to change in a place that’s beyond pronunciation. Oh well, c’est la vie. Tanjavurians refer to this temple as ‘The Big Temple’ and it is. And today is special day as its one of the Hindu’s fourteen festival...

Jul 23, 2007 - Tanjore (Thanjavur) (112 km) km 2001

La nuit il y a eu un enorme orage, violent au point de faire vibrer les maisons de beton. J'ai eu des orages pareils a Pondichery. On a l'impression que le ciel nous tombe sur la tete, tellement le tonnerre est fort. Meme sans appareils auditifs, je peux l'entendre et sentir les vibrations... C'est assez effrayant et ca peut durer des heures... Le matin, une fois n'est pas coutume en vacances, je me permets de faire la grasse matinee. Je loge dans un hotel tres propre et confortable. Autant en profiter... Comme je n'ai pas pu aller...