Ride from Tirunelveli to Madurai; leaving for Guruvayoor

Ride from Tirunelveli to Madurai; leaving for Guruvayoor

Having boarded another bus, leave Tirunelveli at 10.25 and about a km later we go past dr bose diabetes foundation. Sattur comes at 11.55, Thirumalapuram around 12.45. Somewhere around this time Kanniyakumari is shown 220 km and Tirunelveli 140 km, the latter on other side of road.

Reach madurai bus stand at 1.10. From here a local bus would be handy for Periyar bus stand which i am able to get after half an hour. By the time i reach Periyar bus stand, the pain in the entire body has considerably increased and the fever too has returned. I take three plates of poori and a curd soaked with smashed onions hoping things would improve. As i begin to walk from eating joint i spot opposite victoria edward hall madura tiffin centre and close to that mass stores from where i collected plastic u shaped tongue cleaners in 2012. This time round they have no collection. Then there is hotel shree kanna perhaps offering tea/coffee. Here black tea is stored in utensils put on gas, preparation taking the form of adding sugar and milk to the glass/cup as you please. One has to be careful on the tea you take as more than desired fill can prove troublesome.

Still there are two and a half hours left for the Guruvayoor train to depart, i visit a STD booth run by Navanethan. Conversation with the old man even for a minute can uplift you by a broad margin. The booth is inside the neww college house complex and i follow this up with a visit to office point which among things has internet, std, isd pco, dtp, xerox, secretarial service. The entrance to office conveys the facilities on offer on a door.

Perhaps the Meenakshi temple opens between four and four thirty and i am in the four streets that encircle the temple during this time. Seeing the rush, i decide to drop the idea of going inside as my train is little after five. The whole idea was to collect the laddus and return. With little time and a long queue, the laddu-collection idea has to be given up. To be noted here is before going to entry point and coming back i try coffee from Pechiaman cafe bar.  Pechiaman cafe bar is near meenakshi temple, having opened recently. The coffee tastes great and same sentiment is shared by others present during that time.  Soon after i take an auto and leave for station.

THe mood inside the coach is no different from what is experienced in a train. A side lower ticket procured from Rameswaram station has come handy. Late evening in the train i take sandwiches which i had secured from sargam hotel in Kanniyakumari. This i folllow it up with another round of medicines. The next morning by six i am in Guruvayoor. The state of health i am in i can't decide the number of days i am going to stay here. The first thing i do after deboarding is to stand in the tatkal ticket counter. After  waiting for half an hour or so, i request two other men to mark my space as i am going to take a room and return soon. A little after eight i return with some failing to recognise me. But there are others who help to break the deadlock and i return to the queue. Since there are not more than 10 people, there is not much of a protest. From hereon i realise i can't stand for long and start looking for anybench/chair to sit. The body pain is severe. After collecting ticket the first thing i do is to see a doctor. The doctor name goes by Mr N in East Nada. Very helpful indeed. And he suggests me to continue with the medicines with one set replaced by another.

From hereon i proceed to Previnnya lodge. The room is spacious with an attached bath. 

Kanniyakumari stay (part II); ride from Kanniyakumari to Tirunelveli

Kanniyakumari stay (part II); ride from Kanniyakumari to Tirunelveli

The previous day the temperature recorded was 103 or perhaps a little more than that. To believe that injection which the nurse gave and the medicines that were handed to me would prove effective may have worked for a while. Otherwise what would explain the visit to Vivekananda ashram despite knowing well the wear and tear and the resulting fever were enough to keep me down. As for Vivekananda ashram, there is a canteen here, some 200 metres from the reception, where two and a half years ago an  old man used to serve water for those taking meals. Similarly the internet cafe has been known to be manned by a middle aged person in 2010. Since i had to leave early nothing could be be ascertained about these two gentlemen. Close to the Ganapati temple is a SBI office/branch.

Post Vivekananda ashram visit i collect luggage from Raja Palace and leave for bus stand. On the way there is a roundabout and a cloth store on the left. One can collect handkerchiefs from this store. This store is looked after by a man in 30s and a girl probably in teens. The man is humble and honest enough to tell me the amount i gave was not a rupee more or less for handkerchief . After collecting handkerchief, the auto turns right to head towards the bus stand. At the bus stand there are buses for Tirunelveli, not for Madurai at that point. I settle for Tirunelveli  bus. Before the bus is about to start i seek suggestions from passengers on the clinic i visited last and on the injection thereafter. Assurance on the clinic comes to take off most of the worries. THe doctor and the nurse were helpful. I have not been in touch with them. Hope they are doing well.

Sightings in Kanniyakumari
- There is tamil nadu mercantile bank atm, Lakshmana is the guard, alert and simple

- Next to mutthu hairstyle is a tea centre from where i used to have morning tea in Sept-Oct 2010. This one is across Kanniyakumari road just a few steps from where one has to descend to reach rajaram clinic.

- There are boards of muthoot finance 3 minute express loan on either side of Kanniyakumari road

- Opposite Viverkananda ashram is western bakery store, adjacent to that an outlet from where i used to have tea during mornings/evenings. There is a cyber cafe as well nearby. These places i visited quite often in Sept-Oct 2010 when the stay was elaborate during which i made it a point to visit Nagercoil and view the expanse.

Ride from Kanniyakumari to Madurai
From Kanniyakumari stand the bus leaves at 8 am, with more number of seats vacant than taken. Njugramam coming at 8.22, taking every precaution to keep the windows closed. A few kms later the first board shows madurai 220 km. Valliyoor comes at 9.15.
As for Vehicles sighted on the way, tn 72 q 1868 (van), mdk 1609, tac 6063 (both amby)
At 9.20 madurai shown 195 km, nanguneri coming at 9.35 and Tirunelveli  at 10.10. The bus is driven by p raju

In Tirunelveli bus stand from the side you take the bus for madurai there is a shop near the passage for other platforms and from here one of the stores has good collection of handkerchiefs, those a  little thick and white in colour can be taken. The ride in the morning from Kanniyakumari was comfortable as breeze was cool enough for me and other passengers to remain seated with no sign of discomfort. The roads looked to be fairly smooth and traffic as little as possible. The morning collections at different halts of the bus too were thin. By the time Tirunelveli was reached, the weather had turned hot and gathering at the bus stand a little thick.

Kanniyakumari stay; visiting a doctor; visiting Mahaganpati temple

Kanniyakumari stay; visiting a doctor; visiting Mahaganapati temple


When i reach the lodge, the body pain which was somewhat manageable before i boarded the vessel, has accentuated to a point where i have to take a tablet. I visit a nearby restaurant to take parotha before trying a tablet. After some time i visit the Kanniyakumari bus stand to ascertain the timing and frequency of buses going to Madurai. Apart from late night and early morning buses, the one to leave at eight in the morning looks to be a suitable option. The return to the lodge is on foot with temperature and body pain showing no signs of abating.

Never on previous occasions the visit to Kanniyakumari has been amidst energy sapping template.  Two hours later i seek help from T L Thambi , the manager, who suggests me two sets of hospitals where i can go for a check up. I seek directions for Rajaram clinic and after crossing the road there are some steps going down leading to the clinic. There is a car parked inside and at the reception some personnel can be seen. A nurse checks the temperature and few minutes later the doctor calls me. He scribbles name of medicines on a paper and i go to a different room where the nurse who checked the temperature gives me an injection. They hand me three small envelopes which have different set of medicines. For this entire exercise they charge 250rs.

The next task is to have something in the tummy before taking medicines. The first food outlet i visit, the time being 4.30 pm, has no one at the counter. I head towards Sargam hotel to take sandwiches and Horlicks. At eight in the evening i take another round of medicines, repeated at 1am. The entire night hasn't been comfortable quite uncertain of whether i would be able to take the Guruvayoor train from Madurai the next day. Another dose comes at around 6.30 next morning.  I follow this up with a visit to a tea vendor having multiple tea cups hoping against hope the feverish content would subside.

On previous occasions the stay in Kanniyakumari has ranged between three to seven days and this time despite being unwell i did not wish to miss a visit to Mahaganapati temple in Vivekananda ashram; finally visiting at quarter past seven the day i am supposed to leave. There is no rush and Ganapati looks as resplendent as ever.  At the reception desk of Vivekananda ashram i meet personnel named Murugan and try to stress on  my previous stays in the ashram. I collect a brochure from the desk as there are no senior managers during that time. The internet/STD booth is closed as well.

Hitting the streets next week hoping weather does not turn freak

Hitting the streets next week hoping weather does not turn freak

According to reports appearing in a section of press, which has 365-day session and under a lot of stress, one political outfit is going to hit the streets against other political party's feat-turning -to-writ. The party is going to hit the streets next week hoping against hope that weather won't turn freak. Perhaps this political block which is going to protest against the other political lot would try to convey to the public which is finding the weather to be too hot that time has come to hit the streets with all that they have in their arsenal as tool kit.

Hitting the streets would primarily involve stomping the floor of the streets which they hit with their boots and fighting away their blues. During the hours they hit the streets they would shy away from participating in any debates that unleashes no promise and more tension. The idea to hit the streets came from the grand idea of participating in debates in electronic wheel, the bruises that emanate on occasions they find it hard to heal.  Debate dose has been too often cited as an agenda they should pursue realising much later that it is not giving them any clue.

Morning to evening the tv beaming with news of stress and strain in ties, nothing positive comes out which could be taken as advice. Morning to evening, all the output is on crime,colour and cringe which they want the viewers to binge. So this political block which has some leaders who wisely look at the clock has decided to raise its set of  feat by hitting the streets. The refrain coming from this political outfit is instead of "debate dose" let us be "street close".  Electronic wheels need to revisit their responsibilities than tailing allegations made by some  and seeking advice from those who themselves have been told to put in papers quite often in the past.

From the day they would hit the streets they would disassociate themselves from their family members  and other acquaintances who may have worked as carpenters leading to their cell phones getting closed and all praising the fine art of street force. Hitting the streets would mean hitting the ground hard and as evening sets in they would take the requisite bath. There are few advantages by hitting the streets. First they would be too tired during the day leading to expression of disinterest to any tv debate and if ever some of them enter the tv debate they would be late for the debate that is at EIGHT. SEcond during street-hitting exercise they would primarily speak on how power tariff has hit the roof and if ever gas price revision comes, the street protest would come in tons. Minimal revision if ever has to be postponed for a fairly long time.

Third they would try to highlight how some heading the departments/ministries if they are not true to their cause, they would in all likelihood cease to be a boss. Fair and simple is the mandate given by the people, if you don't follow this you would face upheaval. Fourth the consumer price inflation is a major worry and initiating measures to hike DA (now it is touching 80 per cent) is only adding to the problem. Why not wise enough to tell those working in the govt. to limit their expenses, by doing so they would be doing good to themselves and society. As for private sector it can learn from experiences and they too need to keep a tab on how much they pay and for getting quick returns they need not join the short route fray.

Disenchantment and dissatisfaction in layers of society is due to consumer price inflation and real estate led sensation. If the govt had been able to keep a tab on real estate players and how they were fooling the public, much layers of discomfort could have been checked. Only when prices are high and people are not able to secure, they seek high salaries and high compensation. This is a vicious circle and nobody knows how sanity can return and erase easily avoidable wrinkle.

Political players who are grooming their sons/daughters to join the political fair be told that such conduct won't succeed, the nation is simple spreading the consensus on honesty creed. With street-hitting high on agenda, probably the areas where the ruling class erred and anger earned would be highlighted, winning the political poll is not the goal there is a need to perform other roles.

When street-hitting happens there would be brisk sale of soft drinks and ice cream, those reporting on it like manoranjanwa would remember the quantum of these they had in race course which is also witness to on occasions to events like street force. Hitting the street with mosquito kit is an idea whose time has come, the all-important advisory being on return to home in evening they need to apply soap for which they would have to pay a sum. After applying soap which they would tie to a rope, they would start watching tv realising those who are taking part in tv are those who not long ago had furnished to them their C.V. 

More mopeds in the towns/cities of South like Kanniyakumari

More mopeds in the towns/cities of South like Kanniyakumari

There are fewer mopeds in the North vis-a-vis a plenty to be discovered in the South. Mopeds are found to be most convenient form of transport comfortable enough to transport two to three persons. Even before dawn breaks one is tempted to try them as it has the wherewithal to navigate less hospitable roads, narrow lanes and snatching a conversation by those seated on it looking more of a possibility. When you ride them, you don't miss the pleasure port that encircles you as you are driving a vehicle that is light on road and equally pleasing to those who sight them. It is another matter that these  days when this light-and -spreading-no-litter transport goes past you and don't take notice of the same.

Snatching a conversation on mopeds
Why snatching a conversation becomes more of a reality? First, since the vehicle is light and little the space it would seek on a road would be minimal thereby saving you from the stern looks that other vehicleswallahs subject you if you try to overspeed, overtake or be in the middle for long. Well, for a safe ride those who drive tend not to be in the middle of the road for long and try to take a side section.  Second, the vehicle is not a fuel guzzler nor leading to palpitations that if ever it breaks down how it could be nudged to a corner where the problem area could be fixed. Since you are freed from most of such worries that tail a big transport, conversations begin to happen all of a sudden with equal number of halts coming on the way to try soft drinks, tea or ice cream depending on the season you are driving.

Transporting milk pouches, vegetables
Most prominently discovered at regular interval in small towns and cities, the number that flood the streets and roads of South India is formidable. In the morning they are employed to transport milk pouches, vegetables and fruits in a basket, equally true being the delivery of other daily necessities that define the morning clamour. From wholesale markets to retail shops, they come handy. Dropping your acquaintances to schools and colleges is another tempting beat of these mopeds, equally plausible is the idea of going to your work place by riding them. Mopeds mean more to those who drive them than mavericks who tail them with machines that sometimes fail them.

Rameswaram, Madurai Kanniyakumari and Guruvayoor
In places like Rameswaram (Middle Street), Madurai (near Periyar bus stand),  Kanniyakumari and Guruvayoor i found them true to their cause, consistently transporting people to calls of commitment. Not much is known how long it takes to replace an old moped with a new one but those who relish them seek a replacement only if the existing one has developed a serious set of malfunctioning.  Especially in Kanniyakumari i could see them being employed with a fair degree of enthusiasm that dots the landscape of a small city/town. On Kanniyakumari road and roundabout they were visible and available. In Trichendur, Tirunelveli and Tiruchirapalli they could be sighted; approach to these places had fewer, their presence spreading as you enter the heart of the town.  In Guruvayoor in East Nada i could sight some.
Roads and highways where trucks and dust come in equal load, you won't find them but in cities and towns where people engaged in small trade, comfortable to exercise control with minimal imprint, the moped motor moves on.

Mopeds are here to stay; the big cities celebrating centenary may not join the fray. They neither need motorable roads nor seek amenable hosts. Gas price revision if ever it comes would be highly unjustified; there won't be dearth of those who would swear by moped kite. For workwallahs driving to their place of work/whisper, a fuel guzzler could be the need of the hour. But think of the annoying ointment it saddles you the entire day when this guzzler has begun to turn grey. Advantage with mopeds are they are the beat of places like Kanniyakumari and Tirumala and if ever the cities of the North begin to flaunt them, at least for a while one can say simplicity is seen as a gem.

Stay in Kanniyakumari

Stay in Kanniyakumari

Monday night having reached Kanniyakumari i was too tired. As soon as i checked into the room the first thing i ordered was tea, the delivery man kind enough to get me two glasses. Amidst a splitting headache and a wear and tear that body had undergone due to somewhat hostile travelling schedule, it was time time to hit the bed after tea. Sleep was hard to come.

Kanniyakumari temple and Vivekananda Rock Memorial

The next morning when i try to set out for places of significance in the temple town i come across one gentleman on a moped. He offers me a camera with video recording facility. What i gather from the conversation is that the camera with an updated version was purchased from shipping department and though it commands a price tag of 28,000 rs, the man on a moped is willing to hand me for 14 to 16,000 rs. When i show disinterest with an assertion that give it to a local guy or try with any other tourist, he brings the price down. I insist that neither i am interested nor i have the budget, he settles the price tag at 4000rs. The man on a moped was a gentle soul and all i could hope was he would be able to get the right customer for his camera as the wear and tear to the body suggested to keep such purchase options on a side and more so when i had to travel to places like Madurai, Guruvayoor and Tirumala from here.  Post interaction left for Kanniyakumari temple followed by a vessel ride to Vivekananda Rock Memorial.

Rush formidable; movement orderly

In the Kanniyakumari temple, the rush was there so was the orderly movement inside. For gents to get inside the upper half of the body should sport no fabric. Once inside the sanctum sanctorum - sometimes it reminds me of sanctum sanctorum of Guruvayoor temple- one can sit on the right side for a while provided the temple people don't notice/object. This time while sitting i heard someone chanting "Govinda Govinda". As you are up on your feet a few steps later you turn left to gain a glimpse of the reigning deity. As you come out there are a series of stores in the temple precincts that sell literature to other articles.

Collecting vessel ticket

Outside from where you collect shoes there are vendors selling maps and sun glasses. This time round i collect one pair of sun glasses from a vendor who is of the view that i spoke to him in Tamil. From here you need to walk straight and turn right to collect vessel ticket about 300 metres away.  The vessel ticket-booking site had fewer people but by the time you get to the waiting hall, a huge collection could be seen. In 2010 the waiting hall had more seating capacity but this time round you could sit on one side and the other portion being closed. Like in 2010 the walls of the hall have messages scribbled by those who would have waited, primarily the names, the colleges, the aspirations and affections they radiate. There are others like the year/month they visited.

At about half past 10 we were in a vessel named guhan. Vessels have a capacity to take on board between 70 and 120 people and this time round the ride was up to Vivekananda Rock Memorial and back. A visit to Kanya's footsteps in Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a major plus point. Perhaps this visit and visits in 2010 Sept. and Oct. to VRM were meant to gain a glimpse of Kanya's footsteps.
As we returned from VRM, the walk from vessel boarding/deboarding site to one nearing auto stand calls for an effort if one is not willing to walk or outright tired. Before auto stand there is a tea outlet on the right side of vessel ticket counter, having missed this time there were repeated visits in 2010.

Paperman who tortured us for years together. The paperman who used the services of tenant to torture us. By handing jobs, promotions, taking drinks/food and other avenues some relations/tenant took the bait and began to unleash reign of terror. This unspeakable conduct has been continuing for three years.

Ride from Rameswaram to Kanniyakumari

Ride from Rameswaram to Kanniyakumari

As there are fewer buses going direct to Kanniyakumari, i took a bus for Trichendur. The bus left at 11.14 am, going past pamban bridge at 11.29, mandapam at 11.32, uchipulli at 12. 05, perunakulam at 12.14, sathankulam at 12.23  and ins purundu at 12.28. Somewhere on outer point of mandapam an old lady wanted to deboard and despite repeated requests the driver dropped her about one and a half kms away from her desired stop. This may be happening repeatedly but such instances need to be corrected.  Somewhere i come across Deekshanya water tanker. Reach ramanathapuram around 12.35. This is followed by Keelakaral at 1.18, Kothankulam at 1.56 and Keelaselavanur at 2.03. Finally at 2.25 we reach Sayalgudi, from where Rameshawaram and Kanniyakumari  are 110 kms apart. As far as bus stand at Sayalgudi is concerned, it is not in a good running condition and waste can be seen collected with passengers too showing attempts to add to the unbearable surroundings. Where the bus stops on the right is a food outlet, if possible one can have tea with a reminder of what the sum and substance of the tea should be. A little further on the left the place looks to be relatively sound. Perhaps Sayalgudi as a bus stand needs a major uplift with a conscious attempt to raise relieving points and commuters being told about the same.

Bus leaving Sayalgudi

The bus leaves Sayalgudi at 2.40, Vembar comes at 3.14, Kolathur at 3.50. Around 4.14 we are on a highway. At half past four we reach another bus stand. At 4.40 we reach Tuticorin bus stand. Here Joy bakery and cool bar for tea can be tried. As one leaves Tuticorin bus stand few kms away come across a board pointing to on the right side Tirunelveli and on left Tiruchendur. From hereon the transport we are in glides on the road vis-a-vis between 12.45 and 2.10 in the afternoon when the road on which the bus navigates is narrow with its share of hiccups. Perhaps 10 kms away from Ramanathapuram, the road begins to invite suggestions on how it could be upgraded and mind you during this 80 odd minutes travel (12.45 to 2 .10 pm) there are fewer visible vehicles on this road. At 5.30 we go past Kamlavati study centre followed by Kamlavati higher secondary school.

Reaching Trichendur
We reach Kapalyapattinam at 5.50. Between five and six in the evening i come across banana plantations on either side (more prominent on the right side of the direction the bus is moving) that raises an understanding that they can be plucked at will. Perhaps this is the sense one can get with no barbed wires to secure them. At 6.05 we reach Tiruchendur. A fairly well maintained bus stand which sees orderly arrival and departure of buses. There is a toilet on the extreme right and opposite the platform where my bus is parked there are a host of stores including one joint that serves tea.

The bus leaves Trichendur at 6.30. From Trichendur i am told that there is a diversion so we have taken a road that goes through a set of houses/colonies. At 7.30 we reach Sattankulam. Sometime after nine we reach Nagercoil and after 10.30 we reach Kanniyakumari.

In Kanniyakumari try in Ganesh lodge and Bhoopathi lodge; finally get in Raja Palace. Ganesh lodge was the one where i made enquries in October 2010 that i wish to come and stay, what are the options. The manager seem to be in receptive mood. This time round they had a different excuse on table: rooms booked, food cooked.

In raja palace, room no 301 on ground floor is where i stay for two days.

In RMM  those with whom i am in touch with

There aren't many people i am in touch with in Rameswaram. Be it the tea-bringing man whom i tried to get in touch with the other day or BGH hotel personnel, the interactions have been few and far. The global net personnel was able to place me but after that set of interaction the attempt later has met with no success. Interaction with the old man of shanmugan coffee and tea outlet would be desired provided contact numbers come handy. 

Leaving Rameswaram

Leaving Rameswaram

A visit to rameswaram railway station was necessitated by the need to seek a new rail ticket. The ticket i had purchased from Madurai railway station meant i would be taking a train for Guruvayoor late in the night from Nagercoil, something i could do without.  As for reservation centre in Madurai railway station it is on first floor with a seating capacity and queue movement reminiscent of Egmore railway reservation centre. When i left Sri Ramanjaneya Chatram followed by a brief stop near the temple, the decision to take auto was necessitated by the urgency to reach bus stand soon. Two local residents too got in the auto on the way and in no time we reached the RMM bus stand.

In RMM bus stand
haris balaji mobile shop
pay and use toilet and bathroom (Here middle aged man manning the facility looks to be tense;  he should cheer up)
bus reservation centre from  7 to  11 in the morning and 4 to 8pm.
hema ice cream parlour manned by personnel balaji
r k hotel
idea board

Around the bus stand i could not find water taps and if one wishes to wash hands the option is to go to pay and use toilet. Perhaps the people concerned should make a provision for installing a water tap away from pay and use toilet. As for bus reservation centre, the frequency of buses to Kanniyakumari is limited; one in morning at 7 and another in evening. Perhaps frequency should be increased via Tirunelveli, the preferred route.

In all i stayed in Rameshawaram for two nights that included a visit to Tamil Nadu hotel for tea. Tamil Nadu Hotel can also be tried as a residence point if the managers are satisfied with the identity papers as they all insist that giving to one person is something they entertain occasionally, something i came across in Sept. 2010.  From here the temple is a bit far as against the residence points in North Car street. Global Net which is opposite Sri Durgai Amman temple was as well accessed by me, frequently visited in 2010 when i was there on three different occasions. This cyber cafe is on first floor with sizeable seats. By and large the stay in Rameshawaram was a smooth one except for the laundry part which has fewer options as some shops open well after 11 in the morning. The rush to the temple town was heavy and yet everyone could get his or her chance. On Monday morning the queue inside looked to be formidably strong. But it did not take long to get your turn. The temple and precincts is huge and equally huge is the confidence of those who troop inside.

Stay in Madurai; ride to Rameswaram

Stay in Madurai;  ride to Rameswaram

Having reached Madurai late in the night, a corner room allotted to me was on the second floor. It was spacious; in fact all rooms in neww college house are spacious and tidy clean. Took the meals from Meenakshi restaurant in the same premises. A visit to Meenakshi temple happenned in the morning.  A S Store in Madurai has good collection of soaps. Search for u shaped plastic tongue cleaners took me to London store and if ever one can't find these tongue cleaners anywhere the said store would come handy. The time i visited the store he had fewer of them but in under 25 minutes he was able to procure a bunch. Best wishes to London Store gentleman.

Left for Rameshwaram late afternoon. Precisely at 3.25 pm from new college house and around  3.45 reached Mattuthavani bus stand

Ride from Madurai to RMM

At 3.57 the bus leaves from Mattuthavani bus stand. Few kms down the road, sighting of a moderate thick vegetation on one side and semi irrigated land on the other. We reach Manu Madurai at 4.40 followed by Paramkudi at 5.30 and  Ramnad outer at 6.20. Ramanathapuram comes at 6.30 and Pamban bridge at 7.37. Its pitch dark all around and the sea and sentiment can least be felt. Rameswaram bus stand comes at 7.55 pm. While in four hours the bus ride was completed from Madurai, record by any standards made possible by fewer halts and the bus at a pace somewhat suitable for the road it plied on. Perhaps a lessening of speed could have been better to make it safer for other modes of transport.

During the bus ride i came across two students. While on the ride from Periyar bus stand to Mattuthavani bus stand i came across a student whose parents were paying 25000rs  for a year in a private school and other on Madurai Rameswaram route paying rs 1250 in a govt school.

Sightings in RMM as far as cyber cafe goes:
 sivanet (sivanet which used to be on the left has shifted to the right in the middle street)
 globalnet
 net browsing (micro computer zone)
 modern net
 saras net cafe

In North car street :
mallai vilas
RKG Ghee board
R Visvanathan
Diamond Star Tuition Centre classes : Tamil and English Medium

In West Car street
ramakrishna matam
std isd pco
next to net browsing is karthika ice land
opposite net browsing is mr soda energy reloaded (this store has started in the past six to seven months)
another std centre

In Middle Street
ganesh mess, amirtham mess
hotel sarvana
abirami hotel
chinnasamy lodge
hotel BGH

Further down the road is shanmugan coffee and  tea outlet (old man who gets the tea made is humble and a word or two can be exchanged with him.)

In East Car street there is another branch of abirami hotel (meals tried from here). There is another general store before this meal outlet which keeps among other things wallets, bags and torches. Light is how a torch is described here and a piece of light which came for rs 10 last year, this time a relatively bigger size came for 40rs a piece.  From this very store i have purchased wallets in the past ; on occasions bargaining works. Opposite this store there are three stores, one manned by a weighty gentleman and exchange with him is quite a treat. His store is on left of a provision store which among other preoccuptaions serves tea. These three stores are on the same line where a Gujarati Bhawan stands.

Sri Ramanjaneya Chatram was the place i stayed from Saturday night to Monday morning. Stay was comfortable for the room coming with attached bath and neat surroundings. As for morning tea i used to get it from a cart placed on the left side of Sri Ramanjaneya Chatram which is functional during morning hours. Apart from manager Girish, the man who used to get tea/coffee occasionally was very helpful. The tea-bringing man is old and we should keep him in good humour.

During the stay a visit to railway station was mandatory for seeking a new rail ticket.

The ride from Chennai to Madurai

The ride from Chennai to Madurai



Sight old ambassador car MDA 1544 somewhere in Tamil Nadu. Can't recall the exact place but there are no dearth of old ambys and fiats that have numbers dating to the 70s and 80s in the South. The stay in Chennai spread over two nights, the best way to reach Madurai was by a bus operating during day time. That would have kept one away from the hassles of a night journey.  Mornings in Egmore have one way traffic leaving you with the option of taking a transport from Pantheon Road or nearby. A little before 10 on a Friday took an auto for Kayombedu bus stand. The shrill on the road looked to be manageable with adequate arrangements to keep the one way flow. Around 10.20 reached Kayombedu bus stand with the autowallah little unsure of Kayombedu and its roundabout. He looked to be fairly disciplined with a noting on his auto seat cover that had developed ruptures due to passenger load a few months ago.

First sighting of Rameshawaram on board

It was not hard to locate the platform from where Madurai buses depart. At 10.32 the bus left Kayombedu . There was another bus with the conductor making it loud and clear that it has airconditioned comforts lasting till Trichy. I settle for this Madurai direct. At 11.20 it takes a U turn from Tambaram to fetch passengers, reaching Peerkkankaranai at 11.32. Enough passengers have boarded the bus and the man at the wheel is content with the load and the leverage. At 1.18 there is the first sighting of a board showing Madurai 330 km. Halt for meals at 1.40. The place seems to have no other eating joints on either side. Perhaps the way the passengers relish having egg curry, it seems to be the flavour of the season. Spotting one on my table, i make a request for a simple meal with no egg showering. Plain rice is how the meal is advertised if no non veg preparation has been taken. It came for 50rs and a little after 2 pm the bus leaves. At 2.11 the board showed  Rameshawaram 450km  and  Madurai 295 km.

A little later going past chanakya matriculation school. At 3.22 Trichy was shown to be 101 km.
At 3.42 a couple deboard  who were the first set of passengers to do it. At 3.47 there is a first sighting of a milk van. Around 3.50 going past TCPS computer education followed by Mangalmedu at 3.54. A little later the board shows Trichy 69 km. Not to be forgotten is the fact that since 2.50 there have been sighting of upcoming SOS phone booths. Too many toll plazas on the way is another feature of this ride.

Reaching Trichy

At 4.25 a board shows Perambalur district limit ends, with another one not distant away showing Trichy 20 km. Later Sighting is as well of MAM College of Engineering  and Technology followed by Trichy Insitute of Engineering. At 5.10 we are in Trichy, the first coffee of the day to be taken from a bus stand near Ashoka Bhawan, coming for 10rs. We reach Trichy central bus stand at 5.30 from where it leaves at 5.42. Down the road at 6.15 there comes a  CRC building with a yellow touch which looks to be quite productive. At 7.47 i sight a local bus no 75 suggesting Madurai is nearby. At 8.10 reach madurai bus stand and at 9 pm reach neww college house.

The journey which began at 10.32 from Chennai took almost 10 and a half hours to complete. Consolation being all accomplished during day and late evening. As for meals, one should settle for simple serving. Provided one has patience and given the weather that was not that jarring the bus ride can be tried as at least it frees you from the hassles like standing in line for train ticket and if it is overnight journey taking a toll on your sleep. Well i did not check out the morning trains for madurai from chennai.

As for Chennai, Lakshmi Mohan Lodge on Egmore was another place i tried and the tea from hotel sri jaya was enriching. As for the lodge where i stayed the previous year it was probably Ammu Palace on Mount Road. As for Plastic u shaped tongue cleaners i collected this time from a store which has in its proximity some ATMs and is the first store as you turn right and No 1 high road written on the board. It is about one km away from Egmore railway station. I can't recall the exact place name but this store has plastic u shaped tongue cleaners of good quality in abundance.

Stay in Chennai

Stay in Chennai

Having reached Chennai the lodge hopping was confined to Egmore and roundabout. It was at Masha i stayed given the electrifying and not eccentric rents that it came with. The advantage with such lodges is that they have a display board enunciating the rooms and the tariff. The room where i stayed came for rs 290 a day - check out time 24 hours with no grace period as the notice on the back side of the room door stressed. It was a small room with an attached bath, attached with a TV that showed no signs to revive probably to do with an old monitor and the oscillating nature. For the duration i was there - reached half past nine in the night on a Wednesday and stayed till Friday morning - the adjoining rooms had occupants occupied in their thoughts with some some showing the alacrity to put on a tv and listen to the news and others with floating clues. Recalling about my past stay in the region i had stayed in adjoining hotel regal or regent about two and a half years ago.

Early Thursday i set out in search of a laundryman, the success coming sooner than later. The laundry shop is manned by two persons with the lady who may be in the 50s beaming with a confidence not to be forgotten . There was something on her face to suggest she was energetic and vibrant and could stay through come rain or shine. Both were cooperative to hand over the laundry the next day. The laundry shop is right opposite the Masha hotel flanked by a tea/coffee outlet  on the left and a daily necessity shop on the right. If given a chance the tea could be tried from this outlet for the magical spell it leaves you in . Wednesday evening the city had been lashed by rains and Thursday it probably missed the date. Thursday morning i left for Anna Salai Road - and to be precise to Wellington. During the bus ride enough signs came to suggest i had developed a stiff neck , the complete relief coming in a full one day. The sole intent was to greet the hotelwallah where i had stayed the previous year.

Right through Thursday the number of occasions i set out on foot could be split with some meant to take tea/meals , to try the net and the unyielding search for u shaped plastic tongue cleaners. On occasions i took the bus with the fare coming as far as 7 rs for a ride lasting a little over 2 kms. Here the fare structure is decided by not only the distance traversed but also by the make of the bus.

Temperatures were tolerant enough to goad you to step out as far as possible and the number of times i would have stepped towards Pantheon road was by no means insignificant. On Pantheon road among other cyber cafes there is one next to a STD booth. As for Pandian hotel, the cafe is airconditioned but the seats are less. I accessed one on a first floor which had sizeable terminals with a sizeable turnout of people.