Up in the Mountains

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My driver was waiting for me at 8.00 the next morning to take me up into the mountains on the eastern side of Kerala. After being in the car for only 10 mins, it managed to break down (just a little jamming of the brakes - nothing important). Another car and driver wasn't far behind, and this one was a little more successful in getting me where i needed to go. The 4 hour drive to Munnar was quite spectacular, passing through little villages and eventually mountains covered in tea plantations. Also saw my first dead body of my trip - a man lying face down in a dam, complete with what seemed like the entire town gathered round to have a look.

After arriving in Munnar and checking into another dive of a hotel, I took full advantage of my driver and made the 70km round journey up to "Top Station", a spectacular drive through national parks, dams and tea plantations ending in a more than spectaular view of the Western Ghats (mountain range) and the plains of neighbouring state Tamil Nadu. The drive along the still-being-built road was absolutely terrifying - on more than one occasion we narrowly avoided being run off the narrow and steep road by trucks and busses flying around blind corners. I now understand why Indian drivers use their horn like it's a bodily function.

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Photos

Top Station
The lookout is the little white tent you can see around the middle of the pic. Notice the tea plantations in the foreground.

Top Station 2
Lookout is in the lower righthand corner.

Me at the Top Station Lookout
Thought i better put myself in one.

Tea Pickers
An example of the many tea pickers picking from the many tea plantations growing all over the hills in the area. Looks like tough work.

Indian Shooting Range
Stopped off at this little lake-side lookout on the way back from Top Station, and just had to have a go at this shooting range. Don't worry though, I was aiming for ballons, not the kid, and it was only an air gun. Got 5 from 5 shots and won a bonus 2. Looks like all those hours of playing Bick Buck Hunter have finally paid off.

Dodgy Roads
The road you can see here is probably one of the safest in the area.

Cardamom Forest
This area is also famous for its spices.

Comments

[Jungle Jim]

Dead body
Where is the photo of the dead body? Come on dude, what is the use of lugging a camera around if you ain't gonna take photos of the interesting stuff??!!