Took overnight train to Chennai 9pm-6am in the so called “sleeper” Final trip to “facilities” before bunking down. I had to negotiate trip back, train swaying, high speed and both carriage side doors jammed open. Thus meaning I had to make an “Indiana Jones leap of faith” to the sleeping berth corridor door to grab …
Last day in Ooty Gary’s wishes were fulfilled, Fab India was closed So off to Moddy’s for the 4Cs, coffee, chips, chocolate and churros, in all combinations! Then down the Toy Train again
A marathon day today, ostensibly a trip to a tiger safari (spoiler alert – no tigers today) but Shooting Point, an amazing trip that saw us visit a pine forest, Pykara Waterfalls, Needle Rock viewpoint on the way there And then to Mudumalai Nature Reserve, where we went on a shortish, bumpyish safari into the …
Good nights rest after extended travel days. This is the view outside our bedroom at the Homestay It’s a cool 16-21c today, with a light breeze First stop St Stephen’s Church, lots of inscriptions of 30-something officers dying on hunting trips and similar fates around 150yrs ago View from Doddabetta peak… the highest point in …
After the overnight from Chennai (Ying took the sleeplessness hit for the team), we battled through the melee and got 4 seats on the Ooty Toy Train It took virtually 5hrs to negotiate the 46km uphill to Ooty mostly powered by the diesel steam cog train The train stopped every 5km or so to take …
Probably least interesting day today Taxi to Jaipur airport, plane to Chennai, then overnight train to foothills of the Ghats, southern Indian hill resorts, and up to Ooti See you on the other side!
Then off to Jaipur for a quick whizz round By Tuktuk around (some of) the gates and old town, Jantar Mantar (Astronomical Garden), Palace of the Winds, Albert Museum, and an ATM!!! All in three hours Back to the hotel and dinner on the rooftop terrace accompanied by Sitar and Drums Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka, …
Gentle day today in the heat. Circumnavigated Pushkar Lake, in and out of the ghats, shoes on and off intermittently with rehydration stops Saw more Cobras but didn’t pay the necessary fee for a photo thanks
Actual Camel Fair was hot and dusty but huge, sprawling, sandy, undulating site, with loads of encampments variously representing families, villages and studs A mixture of horses (more valuable surprisingly), and camels, and some buffaloes
Our introduction to camels began at what I think might be originally the polo ground, with the Camel Decorations Competition. Basically putting as much bling as possible on a camel However, after the competition ended, the judging panel announced the three winners, but the third placed owner got very agitated and “appealed the decision”. This …