Mum & Ped come to visit
Trip Start
Aug 24, 2010
1
52
84
Trip End
Apr 30, 2012
Kalpetta, Kerala, India
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
We had a gentle introduction to India in Mysore, bought saris, traveled in an an Ambassador and rickshaws, saw temples, monkeys and tried some curries. There were some concerns about our driver until I pointed out that's how they all drive :)
We stayed in a relaxing retreat in a coffee plantation in Wayanad and spent our days exploring the forests, rafting, shopping for fancy (amazing lighty uppy Indian goods) and generally being fed and fed by everyone we met. We ate curry three times a day and somehow every meal was different. I made the most of the parentals footing the bill and ate my face off. I even had a hot shower too which was needed since I'd developed a fungal infection down below.
We had a charming driver, Shankar, who was so much more than that, negotiating deals for us wherever we went, showing us new things and generally being a classic Indian character.
I played mud football, a monsoon game played in a paddy field and Mum had an Auyrvedic 'treatment' which involved being bolted into a boiling hot steam box propped on a wobbly stool and left for a while!
We took an old steam train up a mountain to a colonial hill station: 46km in 5 hours up about 1000m. Made me think of a possible man v train race - Price, Mac - could you beat it on foot??
We stayed in a jungle treehouse which took a bit of getting used to for one member of the family once our creepy crawly room mates were introduced. But they were both incredibly brave and game for everything I threw at them and we finished the fortnight off with a ride on a 4 ton tusker elephant through the forest.
Gutted to say goodbye again, so soon, but I just had such a brilliant two weeks I can't wait for the 2012 visit, wherever that may be..
