After a 30K moped ride down winding country roads through Tamil Nadu, a rather excellent cup of coffee in a local village, a bread-and-fishies moment with 14 young Tamil gypsies (only 350 rupees to feed them, bet Jesus didn't have to pay), one power shortage ("power cut! power cut! *winds generator*), numerous photographs and two gorgeous white and pink flower garlands, a teary-eyed 45 minute taxi ride through a monsoon, a night trapped in third class and an argument with an Indian man who:
a) pinched our beds and didn't want to give them back
b) woke up his wife and kid and forced them to move so we could have a bunk
c) tried to pinch my bag
d) turned on the lights in the compartment at 4am this morning
...we are now in Madurai.
Now Lydia and I don't like the big towns, so we're only staying here for the day - we've managed to score train tickets down to Kanniyakumari which is the southernmost point of India. Madurai is actually quite cool, they have some fantastic temples here - really elaborate. Pictures a-coming, people - but the beach is where we wanna be.
So at 2am tonight we depart Madurai, again 3rd class, and arrive Kanniyakumari around 6am.
Sunrise on the beach, eating coconut and sipping milk tea... I may never come home again.
That's the boring stuff out of the way.
If you're on our mailing list, I'm sure you know that my evil cow of a travelling companion, Lydia, sent on the most hideous photo of me ever. Now I will get her back. You just wait. However, fate decided to take the upper hand...
What happened was we had a few hours to kill and wanted to rent a moped. We didn't want to pay an outrageous sum of money, so spoke to Jothi, one of the hotel managers - his dad agreed to let Lydia and I borrow a moped for free (we only paid for petrol); which was fantastic of them - especially so as Jothi's dad doesn't do stuff like this. He doesn't even smile at people.
So we went for a long ride with Pip and Toni (another volunteer) - everything was going smoothly, when suddenly, disaster struck. About 100m from our hotel the back tyre on the moped burst. Lydia was mortified - she was determined to get it back in pristine condition with a full tank of petrol. Head hung low in shame, she wheeled it back to the hotel and 'fessed up to one of the staff.
It was taken away to be fixed - and Jothi was cool with it, refusing to accept money for the repairs. He's a good, good guy - they all are.
Lydia nearly died though - she was terrified that Jothi was going to kill her! That just goes to show, you don't email out horrible photos of your friends!!
Mwahahahahaha!
Caroline xx
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Hmm once you are in allepy go to Kumarakoam if possible.We went there and went to this resort called Sylvania.The owner is a very nice chap.He took us on a boat trip-a small boat wer he will row and we should also to keep it going.We have to go through algae and canals and all.Totally greenary all around you.He took us to a bird santury through the backwater canls.Then wen we came bak-he gave the boat to us as he had to leave.He asked to take the boat through all canals and all and then wen we r done to come and tie the boat back near his house.We went swimming ,fishing all and passed through all village houses on a boat.It was unbelievable-like going on a moped through a village-but u r on this tiny boat trying hard to balance...He just charged Rs.350 for the boat
From allepy take this boat trip through kuttanad.--paddy fields below sea level..Amazing.Kerala is one of my favourite places in south India.I was travelling there for a month.But I think even 6 month is not enough for that place.I August some boat races happen in keral.Its good.Go and enquire the tourism dept .they will help u..
And then ther is Hampi,Gokarna and Goa..But u will have to come later.My aim to complete India before I turn 28..Lets see.Bye will chek mails and blogs only on thursday after this.Have a good trip
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