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| Sunrise on the Ganges |
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| Burning Ghats (local crematorium) |
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| Chinese Fishing Nets - Fort Kochin, Kerala |
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| Chinese Laundry Fort Kochin, Kerala |
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| Local spice market |
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| Elephant washing |
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| Simon with Elephas maximus |
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| Waterfall on route to Munnar |
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| Tea Plantation School (tea bushes in background) |
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| Chappati Making |
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| Pepper growing in the homestay garden |
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| The local committee |
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| HGV Keralan style |
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| Tea pickers in action |
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| Dam |
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| Tea pickers in action 2 |
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| Backwaters - Near Alleppey |
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| Muscle fishermen |
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| Local Boatman |
In brief (apologies for lack of update internet access and time have been limited)
3 nights in Varanasi - hectic! Varanasi to Kerala via 1 night in Delhi.
Arrived Kochi day 24 (27 October). Spent day wandering around Kochi, taking in the sights and sounds. Wonderful fish market right on the shore, just where they land the fishing nets. You can choose you fish/shellfish and they will take it to a restaurant and cook it right away for you.
Decided to take a auto-rickshaw tour of the town, only 50 rupees (70p) each the driver said! So we jumped in, halfway through, he told us we had to visit 5 government run shops for him so he could claim a free litre of petrol....always a catch somewhere in this country.
Next day, Kochi to Munnar Hillstation to see tea plantation. Wonderful drive into the hills, breathtaking scenery and plenty of tea plantations. We visited a tea factory and had a tour of the whole process of tea making from harvesting to brewing. We stayed in a small home-stay overlooking the hills, which hosted tea and several spice fields.
On the drive back, cardamom, coffee and cocoa were all growing next to each other with a scattering of pepper plants in between the hedgerows.
Munnar back to Kochi then a backwater cruise around the extensive waterways of Kerala. We took a house boat for the first part of the day, gently gliding through the backwaters followed by a traditional Keralan lunch (rice & veggies) on board. The afternoon consisted of what we might call punting, through narrow canals taking a closer look at village life on the riverbanks.
Tomorrow Kochi to Kannur beach. Relax!
Blimely Pies; the concentration involved in making Chipati's looks extreme!
ReplyDeleteCorr Simon you sexy beast the dam pose should be on the front of Vogue! Nod wants to know have you found and Glengettee?
ReplyDeleteNo Glengetee but some damn fine tea never the less & yes Chapati making is pretty stressful especially when the guy was shouting at me as i was burning them!
ReplyDelete