Walked around Colaba and Fort districts, checking out the colonial architecture and the courtroom. Toured Dharavi slum with Reality Tours. Spent ages trying to mail a parcel. Hopped on 8 pm overnight bus for Goa.
Days 4-6: Goa
After 18 hours of travel and two bus changes, checked into a hotel in Palolem in south Goa at 2 pm. Relaxed on the beach. Rented a scooter and went to the nearby beaches of Agonda and Cola (a beautiful lagoon), as well as Cabo da Ramo, an old Portuguese fort. Went on fun canyoning tour in morning. Hopped on overnight bus to Hampi.
Days 7-9: Hampi
Took an auto rickshaw tour to see the ruins. Moved to the island side on Day 8 and rented a scooter to see the beautiful surroundings and swam in the dam. Visited Hanuman Temple (a 570-step climb) after sunset, and the following day at sunrise. Spent the rest of Day 9 taking local transit to get to Gokarna (rickshaw to Hospet, bus to Hubli, bus to Ankola, bus to Gokarna, rickshaw to Om Beach).
Day 10: Gokarna
Spent the entire day relaxing at Om Beach and chatting with fellow people at my accommodation.
Day 11: Transit
Spent all day on a bus or train to reach Kochi, where my sister’s flight was to land. It was awful. Arrived close to midnight.
Days 12-13: Varkala
Lazed about on the beach. Ate mostly amazing seafood (Sidewalk Café excepted. I went for the fire show, which wasn’t worth the awful food).
Day 14: Kollam
Took DTPC’s afternoon tour through the canals of Munroe Island. Spent the night in Alleppey.
Day 15: Alleppey/Transit
Biked around Alleppey in the morning. Spent the rest of the day getting to hilly Munnar.
Days 16-17: Munnar
Did a half-day trek through the tea plantations. Rented scooter and headed through beautiful surroundings to Luckham Waterfalls and Lockhart Gap.
Day 18: Transit
Spent all day getting to Kalpetta to get to Wayanad National Park (bus from Munnar to Kochi, train to Calicut, then bus to Kalpetta).
Days 19-20: Wayanad region/Transit
Went on morning jeep safari in Wayanad National Park. Saw lots and lots of animals (including wild elephants, but no tigers). Trekked halfway to Chembra Peak, at 2,100 meters the highest point in the region. Hopped on a bus to Calicut in early afternoon, arriving in Kochi at night.
Days 21-23: Kochi
Spent one day in Ernakulam going sari shopping (we hit up four department stores). Strolled Fort Cochin’s boardwalk at night. “Helped” fishermen pull in fish with the Chinese fishing nets. Explored Fort Cochin’s sites (Jew Town, local churches, etc.). Relaxed all day waiting for overnight bus to Madurai as my sister flew out of Kochi.
Day 24: Madurai
Saw Sri Meenakshi Temple and Gandhi Memorial Museum. Got skirt tailored. Hopped on overnight bus to Pondicherry.
Days 25-26: Pondicherry
Enjoyed French bakeries, strolled Beach Rd./Goubert Ave. at night, visited Sri Aurobindo Ashram, the French quarters, all three of Pondicherry’s Catholic churches, and Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple (where we got blessed by the temple elephant). Rented a scooter to go to Auroville (the ride was fun, but Auroville was blah and the food expensive). Returned to Pondicherry to catch a bus to Mamallapuram.
Days 27-28: Mamallapurum
Explored Shore Temple, the Five Rathas, Arjuna’s Penance and other local rock sculptures, biked to Tiger Cave, roasted on the beach, attempted (and failed) to surf at high tide. I’m an awful California girl.
Day 29: Chennai
Spent several hours on the Internet looking into a one-way flight to America and booking onward travel in India. Hopped on a bus to Chennai and made new friends on bus (sorry I can’t come to your wedding next month, Ankitha!). Waited all day in Chennai only to learn that I did not make it off the wait list for the night train to Kolkata.
Day 30: Transit to Kolkata
At 8:45 am, hopped on 30-hour train to Kolkata in a second-class AC berth. Good-bye, South India!
No comments:
Post a Comment