Kodiakanal

Trip Start Feb 15, 2006

164

Trip End Feb 16, 2007

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Flag of India Kodiakanal, India
Saturday, April 8, 2006

We took a train to Dindigul and arrived at the bus station just as a bus was setting off, so we threw our bags on and climbed on board. It was packed as all buses are in India but we managed to get a seat. As we leave another dirty dusty city behind we are looking forward to a cooler climate and fresh mountain air. The bus stops at Kodia Road bus station for 30 minutes and if you are heading for Kodikanal then I wouldn't suggest trying to get on here, there is no chance of a seat and you will be lucky if you or your bags even get on the bus. The bus is now full to bursting with locals literally hanging out of the door. Its early evening and everyone is hot and bothered and tempers are frayed. A fight breaks out on the bus. I stop reading, Ben abandons his game of golf on his PSP and we look behind us in amazement as two Indian men are punching the hell out of each other. More people get involved trying to separate them, fists are flying in all directions and the bus driver keeps driving

Bike ride

! An Indian woman with pure evil in her eyes starts mouthing off at one of the ticket men who retorts with words I can not understand but the tone of his voice suggests he tells her to shut her big fat mouth or get of his bus or words to that effect and all this before we have even started heading up the long winding road to Kodiakanal.

Our guide book had in no way prepared me for the feast before my eyes as we made our way up the road that leads to the top of the hill station. As far as the eye can see there is every shade of green and brown imaginable. Add to these dots of orange, stands of golden yellow, circles of purple and you have your very own canvas of a mountain hill side. The sun is setting just ahead of us and often to my left only adds to the beauty of the sky line.

Half way up and the cool breeze seeps through the windows. It's a good two hour drive up the hill but the breath taking views make it all worth while. We check into a hotel opposite the bus stop as we can't be bothered to argue with taxi drivers. This is the only place in India where you will not see a single rikshaw and its heaven. We go for a wonder, have dinner and are ready for bed. Its hard work living out of a rucksack at times.

Cold

Accommodation prices have gone through the roof now that it is April, this is the start of summer for them to us it feels like a rare summers day in England. Also Sri Baba is due to arrive and is adored by everyone. People have travelled miles to see him and prices in some hotels have trebled because he is on his way. In the morning we walk for miles taking in the sights while also looking for somewhere cheaper to stay. We eventually settle on the Palace Hotel, it's further down the hill and the view is fantastic for 300 rupees.

We spend the next day sight seeing and share our mini bus with an Indian family from Chennai who made us feel extremely welcome. We had tea with them and talked for a few hours. On our last day we went to the lake, took a bike ride around the road and it was mental as Sri Baba had arrived and there were lots of people dressed in white.

Tomorrow we set of to Munnar the land of tea.

To be continued. . . . .

Slideshow

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Dolphin Nose	Early morning	Good Morning	It's that time of day again
Kurinji Flower	Our fist sight of Kodiakanal Comments!	Rosey	Rosey's turn to row
Row row row tour boat	Sun setting as we arrive	The view	Vattakkanal Falls
Washing Day