On my way out of Trichy, I detoured to see the Golden Rock Railway Works, which is where they glue the wheels back on their wonky locos. If you were 10 and simple, you would have had a field day because the Indian railways spend on fences, like they do on simplifying the purchase of tickets.
Well, by the grace of God, I am simple and have the sophistication of a perenially held-back 10 year old so it was brilliant! I won't bore you with train pics but trust me, it was larks.
Ok, just one photo then:
After a spot of knackered-train spotting, I had a very quick, easy ride to Madurai. I checked into Hotel Supreme which is pretty good in many ways but best of all......Its got a spaceship in the basement! Seriously, I'm sitting on the flight-deck of the Enterprise, watching India's Got Talent; Sitars, squeaky women singers and, although it's in Tamil, when they need a cliche, they dip into English ".....Give it all you've got, ai?"
[If anyone knows who won, don't tell me coz I'm taping it]
And remember, I'm watching this strange program, from onboard the USS Enterprise. If they haven't spiked my drink, then I've overdone it and I'm having a psychotic episode. I feel a bit like David Bowie must have done, when he'd had enough of hanging out with Iggy Pop in Berlin and decided to clean himself up.
This is a publicity photo from outside the Hotel. In reality, it's way more gloomy and, apart from me, completely deserted
By the trunk of Ganesha! The toilets on this spaceship!! Why would NASA build a spaceship in Madurai and then cheap-out on the bogs? Some Andrex and a working flush would seem to be the bare minimum for a 5 year mission, I'd have thought? NASA, literally, sort your sh1t out.
That's the thing about Mr C. You make plans and then he pops round and you're suddenly on a spaceship with a couple of lads, woofing idlis and watching Indian talent shows. Come on, we've all been there.
Oh, and the room came with another comb. Get in!
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