Last days in India

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So our last 2 weeks in India were spent in the much cooler highlands among the tea and coffee plantations. Munnar, a samll town quickly became our favorite place in S India. We stayed at a quiet questhouse just outside of town, along the river. The area has 98,000 acres of tea plantation which gives the area a very manicured look. We had a great rickshaw driver who spent the day with us showing us the area and at one point spotting 'wild' elephants way up on the hill. ('Wild' ones as compared to the temple elephants we frequently saw just walking down the street, and the work elephants we would see in the timber areas".) We quickly agreed to 'run' up the hill to see them a bit closer. A dash up a hill that felt steeper than it looked. I barely got to the top to see them go into the forest. I am not sure we were any closer to them, but it was a beautiful view of the surrounding tea and lake area from there.

On to Ooty, we took the 3 hr steam engine ride. That was a beautiful, quiet ride among the trees and surrounding villages and tea plantations without the road in site. Our best train steam engine ride to date! Far better than the Darjeling train.

From Ooty to Madikry our last town in the hills whose specialty was coffee. We celebrated my birthday at the eco-lodge organic coffee plantation in very nice cabins. The day was spent on what we thought would be a 2.5 hr hike, but somewhere was changed to a full day, 12 mile hike.... but enjoyable!! We learned a lot about organic growing methods and particularly coffee. Who knows, perhaps a new venture! All of these hill towns had extensive spice plantings - vanilla, pepper, cardomon, cinnamon and lots of things we didn't know.

A stop back to Mysore included an elephant reserve with about 30 elephants. One very pregnant 82 yr old. Yeah, they were surprised, too. It was fun to watch them bath and feed the elephants. They love getting their ears washed!

On to Bangalore to catch our flight back to Bangkok. The day corresponded with a flower show in the Botanical gardens. The place was incredibly packed and we were not able to see the show, so we waundered around the grounds still amazed at the shear volume of people.

Back in Bangkok on the 27th we met up with Rosemary, Tim, Mark, Marla and the girls for our long awaited Chinese New Year that we dubbed the Irish New Year last Sept when we began to plan this week! We rented a beautiful place with a gorgeous ocean view in the S of Thailand.

On a sad personal note, while there, surrounded by family we learned of my Dad's death. Grateful to have family nearby, we celebrate his life, as we struggle with our loss. There is much comfort to know that he is at peace.

Grateful for all that we have seen, still anticipating all to be seen, we are putting our trip on pause, returning to the US this week.

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