Temples and temperatures 30th MARCH

[Cathy]
We so enjoyed that wedding, but the consequences were dire... we had only been a few hours in Trichy (just time to view the Rock Fort and its temples) when we began to feel ill, and spent the next few days in our hotel room. A doctor sorted out the problem, and today we felt well enough to go to the big Sri Ranganathaswami Temple just North of the main city. It is a huge and incredible complex with about 7 concentric walls and courtyard - we were only allowed to go into the first 5. Cars and other vehicles could go into the first 3! Great place, but hot and tiring, so glad to get back for a rest.
[Samuel]
We were at the Temple for a festival and got quite close to the 'cart' that was being hauled around the outer precincts. This affair is nearly three stories high and houses a band. It is heavy enough to require not only a team of devotees to haul it, but it also needs levers on the wheels to get it going. So it moves in sort steps of (I estimate) abut 6 feet at a time. I have some pictures an a video, but I do not think I can load them today.
[-s]
This afternoon we have been struggling with the complex Indian railway booking system, trying to leave Trichy and head back to the cool of the hills and more wildlife. We managed, with difficulty to buy unreserved seats to Coimbastore ( or at least a station only a few k away). Now we are trying to book seats on the famous Nilgiri express to Ooty, but have been struggling with power cuts and the obscurity on the Indian Railway website. I have just found a man in a little office upstairs, who says that if I come back at 6pm , when the power is restored he will book the seats for us for the princely sum of 20 rupees.