Blogs from Kerala, India, Asia

3.5 -13.5 Von Goa den Nachtzug nach Kerala zu meinem wwoofing Host. (klimatisiert, der reinste Luxus). Fuer jeden der nicht weiss was wwoofing ist. Man arbeitet auf einer Farm und bekommt Essen und Unterkunft. Als ich ankam holt mich Sidhiquee persoenlich vom Bahnhof ab. Sehr nett. Mein Zimmer ist super. Die Familie ist nett. Ich realisiere, dass ich hier wohl sehr wenig arbeiten muss. Alles ist so gastfreundlich wie man es sich als Europaer fast nicht vorstellen kann. Am naechsten Tag nimmt er mich mit in ein teakmuseum und in eine historische Teakplantage. Es ist ganz nett aber sein staendiges nachhaken ob es auch super war nervt ein wenig. Am naechsten Tag hab ich die Gelegenheit ich bei einer Hochzeit vorbeizuschauen. Die Zeremonie verpasse ich leider und wir bleiben auch nicht sehr lange. Aber dafuer werde ... read more

Disappointed, dejected, and disillusioned with my 4 drunk nights in Ooty and one drunken night in Allepy, I decided that what I needed was a vacation from this my hectic vacation. So, while my 24 hungover batch-mates flew, drove, or rode back to their respective lives, I stayed on in Kerala. In Cochin, a very kind friend of my mother’s (and now an excellent friend of mine) hosted me for another three nights. During that time, I visited Fort Kochi (by road and sea), which is a simply-must-do for so many reasons…one being its sudden Goa effect. There are quite a few homestays in this area (so no need to pester me for my friend’s address). One of which is a lovely Portuguese building which is supposedly where Vasco Da Gama himself lived in (I believe ... read more

I had to go to prison. I knew it since some time and now the day has come. 10 days of imprisonment, hard work, no contact to the outer world, no leisure, only rationed vegetarian food. It all started on a sunny day in Goa when a good friend, who I don’t want to name or blame, told me about a 10 day meditation course she had attended recently. With the often heard expression in India “Yes sure why not” I signed in online for such a course 3 min. later When reading through the Code of Conduct and the daily schedule it occurred to me that once again the major mistake I did was, not having asked about the details in advance (tourists experience this in daily travel life in India at several occasions, one ... read more

I split off from my company and am back on the road alone now! I booked a flight back up to delhi (expensive but 6 hours of travelling verses 78...) but wanted to see Kochi first. Unfortunately I didnt factor just how long it would take to get to Kochi from Kumily! So I didnt arrive till 5pm! Still I got to have a nice evening walking round looking at the various sights and also went to a Kathakali performance. This was an interesting experience. Kathakali acting involves very mime-like facial gestures and the actors are very good really. But they don't talk and instead communicate the 'dialogue' with the most long-winded form of sign language ever!! Basically, what could have been conversed in 3-4 mins (with emotion and time to spare) took half an hour ... read more

Nautica reached Cochin, India early this morning. I was up at dawn as usual to take my hour walk around the exercise deck. I really believe that the most memorable moments from this voyage may be experiencing the beauty of the sun coming up over exotic new lands. This morning was no exception. There had been rain during the night so the air was very humid, but there was a slight breeze and calmer seas. The sun coming up over the Indian sub-continent was just awesome. A rainbow appeared out of a dark cloud mass to the west. I took that as a good omen for the day. Nautica is now in the port of Cochin, Indian. Bill is off to a overnight visit to the Taj Mahal at Agra. I couldn’t justify the cost of ... read more

Well the journey to Periyar, back up in the mountains, was a long and uncomfortable one, for a change :-s This place is nice, got a really nice place to stay for a good price and I've been having adventures in the jungle with Mogoli (well Babu but I think of him as Mogoli! Since Aijan had to travel to Ernakulam imminently she only had time for a half day safari. Unfortunately the govnt controlled prices does not include a half day, and she would have had to paid a full days price for only half, and then have to somehow get back to the town by her own means... not ideal. Enough searching however revealed a market for 'illegal trekking' through the jungle...We were a little worried, especially that it might be a cop scam ... read more

Well after the stress of being in a completely controlled environment (the Ashram) I needed a bit of sun, sea and relaxing, with no chanting and no crazy people dressed all in white trying to convert me! So to the beach of Varkala I (and friends) did go. That place is really nice, wish I had spent a bit longer there really but time is getting tight now!! Will be heading back to UK soon and soooo many places not been to on list! Beach time is always nice but I also had the added enjoyment of a beautiful ayreuvadic full body massage! It was soooo good, think I may become addicted to massages. So so relaxing. Worst thing about the beach is the price of the 'tourist food'! Had some trouble since my card wouldnt ... read more

Ever heard of 'the hugging saint'? She has travelled all over doing lots of hugging of strangers and also has many very worthy charitable causes she funds. She has an Ashram and I went for a couple of days to check it out. Interesting experience... I mean I knew it was a bit of a cult, a hugging cult. But I didn't realise till I got there that her followers have actually deified Amma and sing worship to her, believing her to be the representative of Devi (the divine mother) on earth. It was a strange place to be: mostly because of the high number of westerners that have given up their lives to stay with Amma at the Ashram, even bringing up their young children on the compound with colouring books telling Amma's life story ... read more