I left off half way through valentines day......
We took a ferry to Allepey for 11pence and had a really romantic 3 hours of watching canal life and the sunset!
Life on the canals
We walked down Bazar road and saw where they do the bulk of their large scale buying and selling of spices, oils, flour and rice
We also saw cinamon drying in the sun 
After a long luxury bus journey from Mattancherry/Fort Cochin to Coimbatoire and a short local bus to Metapalayum we crashed for a few hours before the alarm went off at 4.45am and we headed off to the station to catch the narrow gauge toy steam train to Ooty.
We could not buy a ticket as they had all sold out and the wait list tickets had been over sold. We waitied on the platform just in case and sold our honeymoon story to the train conductor and as if by magic two tickets appeared and we were ushered into 1st class,with minutes to spare before the train departed. This train is one of 3 steam trains in india and there have been tv programmes in the uk about these trains.
The first guy here in the blue jacket is a yoga master
did you know the word "tips"comes from the abbreviation of "to insure prompt service"wooden boxes were placed to show gratitude for good service in tea houses!
Here we met Beergit who invited us to join her tour we went to see an anglican church and the lake Ooty.
Yes red bananas
Usually Mendi is put on indian brides before they get married, but i couldn't resist! This took about 25 minutes and i had to walk around like a darlik while it dried. it will last for about a week.
Life on the canals
I have found a new job - frying bananas!
We hired a small boat with Theres and Andrej and spent a very happy day floating around the backwaters of kerela. We went to a rice field and chatted to the owner and watched locals getting on with everyday life on the canals.
We arrived in cochin on 16th February a largish fishing town. They use chinese fishing nets which require 4-6 men to operate. First thing in the morning they sell their fish in a type of market.
The Teapot Cafe - a lovely little place to chill and drink tea, coffe and eat cakes
After a long luxury bus journey from Mattancherry/Fort Cochin to Coimbatoire and a short local bus to Metapalayum we crashed for a few hours before the alarm went off at 4.45am and we headed off to the station to catch the narrow gauge toy steam train to Ooty.
We could not buy a ticket as they had all sold out and the wait list tickets had been over sold. We waitied on the platform just in case and sold our honeymoon story to the train conductor and as if by magic two tickets appeared and we were ushered into 1st class,with minutes to spare before the train departed. This train is one of 3 steam trains in india and there have been tv programmes in the uk about these trains.
We climbed slowly into the hills listening to the rhythm of the wheels on the track. After the first stop we were moved into 2nd class and a carriage full of men on a day trip to Ooty and back.
These are the tea plantations we saw from the train.
We visited the botanical gardens in Ooty - nothing like Kew!!!!
We gatecrashed a tea festival and then went on to see a tea factory and learnt about
the evolution of tea-and the difference between high tea and low tea.
did you know the word "tips"comes from the abbreviation of "to insure prompt service"wooden boxes were placed to show gratitude for good service in tea houses!
Here we met Beergit who invited us to join her tour we went to see an anglican church and the lake Ooty.The following day saw the God Shivas birthday and we took part in the evening celebrations.On this day Shiva is kept awake by his devotees with music and dance.
Then off on a luxury bus!!!!(one with cushioned seats)
Off to see Mysore MARKET.What a fantastic market with everything you'd ever need. Even TESCO jute bags!
Ravi bought me a traditional yellow string which is a tamil nadu sign that i am married! Under instruction we took this to be blessed at the local temple.
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