Madurai

During our last vacation to India, we visited Madurai.  We have never been to Madurai before.  So it was fascinating.  Some facts about Madurai.

 

Madurai is more than 2500 years old.

 

It is the 2nd largest city in Tamil Nadu, next only to Chennai. (Sorry Coimbatore. You may be the 2^nd largest metropolitan city.)

 

It is said that once it was the seat of Tamil learning.

This city was planned and built in shape of a lotus. (BJP influence? No no. Not 2500 years ago.)

 

There are so many tourist attractions.  Since we stayed only for 2 days, we could visit only 4 places. 

 

Meenakshiamman Temple.  It is believed Lord Indra constructed this temple.  This temple was destroyed by Malik Kafur.  It was rebuilt by the second Nayak King, Thirumalai Nayak, in 1623.  It was in the list of top 30 nominees for the “new 7 wonders of the world”.

 

Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal.  This palace was built around 1626 AD by King Thirumalai Nayak. Architecture is a combination of Dravidian and Islamic styles.  There is a light and sound show in the evening narrating the story of Silappathikaram, both in Tamil and English languages.  We were kind of disappointed because we had too much expectations.  We somehow thought it would be something similar to Musical Fountain show in Akshardham in New Delhi.

 

Aayiram Kaal Mandapam (1000 Pillar Hall).  This was built in 1569. An engineering marvel.  It is said each pillar, when struck, produced different musical notes.  Over the years it has lost that ability.

 

Murugan Temple in Thiruparamkundram.  This is the first and foremost temple for Lord Muruga in India.  This is the first veedu (camp) of Lord Muruga’s Aarupadaiveedu   Aarupadaiveedu means six battle camps for Lord Muruga.

Finally, how can you leave Madurai without drinking Jigarthanda.  I am told it means cooling of heart.  Very famous in Madurai.  It is supposed to cool your body and heart during summer.  So we ordered not one but 2 large glasses for each of us.  Tasted good. I don’t know if it cooled our body and heart.  But it sure did raise our sugar level.

 

Here are a few photos.  (I could not take any photo inside Meenakhamman Temple and Aayiram Kaal Mandapam because the week before our visit, there was some bomb blast in Hyderabad.  Therefore, they prohibited any camera temporarily for 10 days.  If they banned cameras permanently I can live with it.  I do not understand the logic of temporarily banning cameras in Madurai for 10 days as a result of a bomb blast in Hyderabad.)

There is a saying in Tamil “Kumbakonathil idi idithaal Kutralathil mazhai peyyum”.  In my English translation, I will change the names of the cities for betting understanding.  Here goes: If there is a thunder in Ahmedabad, it will rain in Allahabad.  Same way – Bomb blast in Hyderabad, ban cameras for just 10 days in Madurai.  That too, only during our visit.

King Thirumalai Nayak

 

Meenakshiamman Temple 

 

 

Entrance to the Mahal (Palace)

 

 

 

King's Throne

 

Palace Museum Central Hall 

 

Tools used 100,000 years ago 

 

10th Century Thematic Sculpture

 

Palm Leaf Manuscripts

 

Evening Light & Sound Show

 

Aayiram Kaal Mandapam (1000 Pillar Hall)

Kind Courtesy of www.photostrophe.com 

 

Murugan Temple -  Thiruparamkundram

 

 

Our Jigarthanda 

 

PS: I want to thank Mr. Ragu Lakshminaarayanan of www.photostrophe.com for allowing me to use his photo of Aayiram Kaal Mandapam. 

Double Toilet

Ah yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Winter Olympics are finally here.  Starting on February 7, 2014 and ending on February 23, 2014 the XXII Winter Olympics will be held at Sochi, Russia.  For those of you who are Roman Numerically challenged, XXII is the same as 22.

 

Speaking of the number 2, do you know what a bathroom stall looks like at the Olympic games next month in Sochi?  Look below:

 

This is the double-toilet stall in the men’s room at the Sochi Winter Olympics.

 

                                                             (Courtesy: Yahoo)

 

Everybody, Somebody, oh what the heck – ANYBODY Please tell me what the hell is going on here?

 

What is the purpose of having two toilets in the same room without some sort of divider/wall/barrier?  This absolutely baffles me. 

 

Here are some of my thoughts after seeing this:

 

This is for those happy couples who have to do EVERYTHING together.  They can’t stand (or sit) to be separated.

 

Russia “only got” 50 billion dollars to make the Olympics happen so you know they had to cut corners and save money (and some politician had to make FAT money on this deal).  Therefore here is the result of cost cutting.  And you thought India was bad for cutting corners.

 

You know that you are always being watched in Russia, so one toilet is for you and the other one is for the military police.  You get no privacy!  Anywhere!

 

Perhaps this is a new sport at the Olympics.  Synchronized bowel movements. Would prefer that it be played at the Summer Olympics though.  It’s gotta be brutal to go through this at freezing temperatures.

 

Russia is known for trying to reward the lower walks of life.  Perhaps this new Olympic sport – the defecathalon (similar to decathalon) is the only sport where someone can get a gold medal for a “crappy performance”.

 

Why is there a trash can in the middle of the two toilets?  Why is there no toilet paper?  Exactly how is this supposed to work?  Oh my…I just vomited a little bit.

 

I guess I can be positive and say - Thank God they are not facing each other. Or built like the pic below:

                                                                  (Courtesy: Yahoo)

Non-Reciprocated Privileges

(This post is a tongue-in-cheek attempt at humor.  This is not a serious post.  Therefore, please do not come out with merits and demerits of the issue.)

 

Due to the Devyani Khobragade incident, the government of India is now in the process of taking away “non-reciprocated privileges” for American diplomats in India.  This includes taking away special airport access for American diplomats.  India is also going after spouses of U.S. diplomats, who are working in American schools, for tax evasion.

 

If India takes retaliatory action, do you really think that the Americans will accept this and remain quiet?  Of course not - they will also retaliate.

 

I know Barack Obama.  Barack Obama is a friend of mine.  He asked me for ideas on how to retaliate against Indians living in the USA.  Here is what we discussed:

 

Indian diplomats in the USA enjoy having 24 hours of electricity.  However, American diplomats in India do not have electricity for 8 hours a day.  Therefore, the American government will now cut off electricity for 8 hours a day in the homes and offices of Indian diplomats living in America.

 

Indian diplomats in the USA enjoy having a water supply that is non-stop.  However, American diplomats in India have water in their taps only every other day.  Therefore, the American government will now turn off the water supply to the homes and offices of Indian diplomats every other day.

 

India does not give H1B visas for Americans to work in India.  Therefore, H1B visas will stop being issued to Indians.  People who are already in the USA on an H1B will be made into US citizens so they will never have to work for an Indian company in the future.

 

Unleash the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) to go after the non-working H1B visa dependents.  These dependents baby-sit, teach music to kids, teach dance lessons, or teach language and they collect money but never pay taxes.  Go after them for income tax evasion.

 

Raid all the gas stations, 7-11 stores, as well as Indian operated restaurants/hotels/motels for undocumented illegal workers and deport them back to the motherland.

 

Hire thousands of people across India to shout pro American slogans and create traffic jams.  All you need to give them is a quarter (bottle of rum), a briyani packet, and Rs.200 per person.

 

Not all American movies are released in India simultaneously.  However, a lot of Indian movies are released simultaneously in the USA.  Restrict the number of Indian movies each month only to the number of American movies released in India.  For example, if 5 American movies are released simultaneously in India in a month, then allow only 5 Indian movies to be released simultaneously in the USA.  Americans will not have a problem with it because all American movies are in English.  Let the Indians fight it out as to which languages the 5 movies will represent.

 

Direct all Indian diplomats in the USA not to shout at their household maids “I want my curry in a hurry”.

 

If you have any other ideas, please let me know and I will forward them to my friend Barack.