INDIA: A 26 day odyssey.

Walter, Enjoyed your interlude - but was especially surprised to see Fiona on board.

Clary and McTag's journals are being read regularly with great interest - although their kind of independent travel in India scares me. LOL

Keep it up, gang, and safe journey to all!

Now resting in tropical garden paradise, wonderful trees and a big sacred river at the bottom of the garden, eating vegetarian delicacies sparingly, seeing untouristy Kathakali (we lasted 3/4 hour.. you have to understand the language both spoken and of the bodily gestures), there is an ashram here with a surprising amount of foreigners who are sending their children to its school. All religions seem to be represented.

My hostess took me to the start of the sowing of her winter rice crop a couple of days ago, on land that had been neglected for several years - the locals overjoyed that it was going to be sown again. It had to be done at a particular 2-hour slot for maximum auspicion (?), and was quite a moving little ceremony for four workers, the lady owner and her five-year-old son. It happens that the field is just behind the church of St Gregorious (sic) of the Syriac church, and so he got an offering on our way. Since then there has been unseasonable heavy rain and despite pumps and hard work, it may be that the fields are too water-logged for it to seed properly.

Now the household is awakening, so I will join the generality.... we're hoping to have an outing to Kottayam today.

Greetings to Clazza, and best of luck with the rice planting.
I ate some last night, with prawns fried in ginger and other spices- delicious.

This is my last day at this splendid seaside location, for tomorrow the taxi has been ordered which will take me to Kochi Airpost en route for Mumbai. Boo-hoo

On Wednesday, I will have to quit my Byculla hotel room by midday I think, so the room probably will not be available later for wash & brush up etc for you, Clary, should you need it, unless I can come to an agreement with the management (we don't need to leave for the Hyatt until mid-evening)
So, some last-minute details to be sorted.
I will post the hotel's phone number here tonight, if you don't already have it.

I will confirm the BA flight places from the hotel, on Monday.

Now, I've had my morning pot of coffee, so will take a stroll to the sea and see what shipping is moving.
(Walter, there are seldom fewer than half-a-dozen craft to be seen here under way at any given time, of all types from large tankers, freighters, ferries, fishing boats large and small, and canoes. It's fascinating.)

Later, McT

Hasn't it gone very quiet on this thread?

And after today, I will probably not be able to write until I get home, Thursday.

Okay, for Clary (because her mobile might be switched off when I ring) the telephone number of the Heritage Hotel in Byculla is 91-22-2371-4891 but I think from Mumbai you probably only ring the last 8 digits.

Bon voyage

McT

Have some nice time - both of you - duting the last days of your stay in India!

Keep posting til you get home.

dear Fiona, no idea But Mrs S not too keen on year 11 homeworks

Yeah well I didn't know if I would find an accessible cybercafe in Bombay, but I needn't have worried. There's one just across the alley from the hotel entrance, and this is it. Couldn't be handier really.

Okay I've got to Mumbai as you have no doubt gathered. The flight up was good, transfers good, and the airline was excellent. Kingfisher Airways, and impressive outfit. We had a new A320 aircraft (is that a Boeing? not sure) and it was only a quarter full. And the in-flight meal was good, too. (Why are so many of my posts about food?)

So, hooray, everything sorted.

I asked the desk to phone British Airways for me, Clary (because I'm not good on the phone- I spoke with Vinit but I'm not sure what he was saying, sorry Vinny) and the flight tickets for Thursday are CONFIRMED.

My other Indian friend, Shadi, is coming here for breakfast tomorrow morning 09:00.

So, onwards and upwards. Warmest greetings to all my readers.

Sounds all pretty good, McTag! And we are glad that your choice of an airline via the quality of the meals guided you to an Airbus ('A', Boeings start with ... guess .... right: 'B' :wink: ) and a pleasant trip.

Have some more nice days!

Ah. Right.

Seeing Vinit tomorrow, sometime. He will phone me, and tap on the phone using Morse Code.

--. --- --- -.. .. -.. . .- .-.-.-

Momentary panic here when we heard there was going to be a 'hartal' tomorrow. It's a strike and could encompass anyone and any place. On closer enquiry it appears it will only be of traders, shopkeepers, and only in Kerala. Quite who they are targeting and why they are striking is beyond the ken of everyone I have asked. Anyway it means I'll get my train at 8.37 and my flight from Kochy at 15.30 - huge time left in case said train is 3 hours late or in case the taxis refuse to take me...
unfortunately no shopping available, but maybe time for a meal at the Fort House for old times' sake. I feel like meat or fish, this veggie stuff just doesn't cut the mustard after a week or so!

Hey Mc,

Sorry for not getting enough time to meet u. The office meeting was never actually a reason to be absent but my sister gave birth to a baby boy on Sunday evening.

So I am kind a busy handling hospital, home, office and A2K ofcourse :wink:

But also very happy to recieve such a beautiful Gift from my dear sis.

Babies come straight from heaven, don't they?

Good luck with the travel Clary. Have a safe journey and pack some protein at the Ford House!

That was quick work McT...must be all that spicey food.

I expect you're writing about Wednesday when you say that, Clary.

I will leave my hotel at midday Wednesday and then....probably go the the Hyatt, where I can presumably use their facilities, newspapers and restaurant until the evening. They can look after my bags for me. I hope.

Okay today I've had a quiet day, breakfast with Shadi, went to Chowpatty Beach and Nehru Park and Marine Drive to get some photos for Fiona's dad, who was here in 1945 after he liberated Singapore, and he can remember the park at the end of Marine Drive, so I hope I've photographed the right one (I photographed them all actually)
and then I went to CST or Victoria Terminal the famous railway station to get some shots there which I did, and a Pepsi.

Then I came back here and chilled in my room...I believe I may have dozed off, too.

So, ready for the big one, tomorrow. I shall have to find where I put my jumper.

Seems like I missed a page of posts- just spotted this one!

Don't worry about it Vinny, and my best to your sister. Congratulations!

Someone said this is a propitious time for weddings in India right now, and evidently for births too!

(I'm getting too old for too much excitement, anyway.)

I hope you can make it over to the Hyatt tomorrow night.
As I said, I may be hanging about there rather longer, if I can blag my way in....

so you'll be glad to miss this excitement

http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=65062&start=0

I heard (about) Luton from here.

Heck, we'll have to invade another country now to replace all that oil we've lost.

about 5% of UK supply went up. But the refineries are not touched of course, no sign of any panic buying of petrol, here at least. Of course there's not enough fuel for British Airways to get to Mumbai anymore.