Nov 2 India – Wild Palms
by Robert Thompson on Nov.03, 2009, under Oct 31, 2009
The Gantz family arrived early morning. They had been through a little bit of travel hell. They missed their initial flight in Chicago (forgot the paper tickets…an oversight that I have made), drove back to Iowa to retrieve them to get on the next day’s flight and then that flight was diverted to Milan due to a medical emergency (an extra 4 hours to a 12 hour flight) and then, of course, missed the connecting flight in Abu Dhabi (hard to find a room due to the Formula 1 Grand Prix last weekend) and then on to Trivandrum. Needless to say, we are glad they made it. It’s part of the reason we have a few extra days at the front of these tours, when possible.
Yesterday we hung out at the Wild Palms until early afternoon and then drove into town where we visited the temple and then got on the train for Madurai, where we are now. We will visit the temples of Madurai this morning and then transfer out of town and ride the final 40k on the bike to Theni. It will be good to get on the bikes and start ridinig in earnest. Theni is a town we have not stayed in before, so somewhat unsure of what to expect. The Hotel Royal in Madurai is comfortable.
Some kids in another train car:
Temple in Trivandrum :
The train yard:
Christine B. on the train:
Night on the train:
Sign on the train that neede no translation:
Arrival in Madurai about 11pm.
Tomorrow we visit the temples of Madurai in the morning and then hit the road to Theni in the afternoon.
Best<
Bob
