Kerala Adventure

So I am trying to sum up my past few months in just a few blog entries. I hope to have lots of pictures as I am sure most people like looking at the graphics rather than reading the words! But here goes the detail for the bookworms in the crowd!
So after our Christmas vacation I had about a month off before I headed out on my next adventure. My friend Carla and went to the state next to Bangalore called Kerala. I think this trip so far has been the highlight of my whole trip to India. We had such a blast exploring and winging our way through a country we don’t know very well! The train and bus adventures alone are a real growing experience. Now that I have learned how to travel here in India, I am planning on a solo trip to Goa (a real beach place that is popular with Europeans).

So back to my adventure in Kerala, we started the trip off with a 12 hour overnight train ride to Cochin which is on the west coast of India. We had to take the ferry over to the fort where the guest houses were located so luckily we arrived at 8am with ample time to find a decent place to stay! We only spent 1 night in Cochin as we wanted to head south along the coast and check out as many places as possible on our 7 day journey. In Cochin, we saw some tradition dancing, tradition fishing, and a synagogue that was closed on Fridays (the only day we were going to be there!).

After Cochin we took a five hour train to Kollam. Now this train was a learning experience. We originally bought a "general seating" ticket, but snuck into the 2nd class Air Conditioned car where we chummed it up with a newly wed Indian couple. However when the conductor came around we asked a question about our seats and the conductor noticed we were in the wrong car. So in the end we had to pay him 400rupees (about 12 bucks Canadian) which is a lot to an Indian. I think he just pocketed the money. So for the next time you are traveling on a train in India, remember to keep your mouth shut if you don’t want to bribe the conductor!!
We arrived in Kollam knowing that we wanted to book a house boat tour of the back waters in Kerala. However, December and January is high tourist season for India so we thought everything would be booked up and we would have to settle for a 2 hour day journey. But as luck would have it, the recent Tsunami that devastated Asia allowed for openings in many tourist attractions so Carla and I took full advantage! We were able to book a full house boat with 2 full bedrooms with attached bath, a large living space and lounging deck for reading and playing cards. We had 3 staff members to look after our every need and 4 full meals to fill our bellies. It was a traditional rice barge that has been converted to a houseboat for tourists. I felt like Cleo Patra sailing along Nile…a very cool experience!

After a night on a houseboat in the middle of river, Carla and I were ready to head to the beach. We had missed the daily train to Varkala, so we had to take the bus instead. Now the bus system is the cheapest way to travel here in India. Like the railway, price of tickets are determined by the distance you travel. So in any case our 1 and a half hour bus journey only cost us 18 rupees each (that’s like 60 cents Canadian). We boarded the bus in Kollam and luckily we were the first to board so we got the front seats (which are the best to prevent motion sickness!). Now bus drivers in India don’t stop for anything except for a cow. Busses are known to hit cars and people without stopping. So our bus trip to Varkala was needless to say ‘gripping’ (literally). As we swerved in and out of traffic, we asked the conductor to let us know when to get off. The Bus was filling up fast and people were crowded in the seats, in the isles and of course leaning us against us! Also because we were naturally the only white girls on the bus, we were starred at endlessly! We also had to change busses half way through, which was sort of last minute, but everything worked out ok in the end. As Carla and I decided, everything always works out if you’re not too uptight and are flexible in your plans.

Once we arrived in Varkala we had a recommendation of a guest house close to the beach. After the picking an auto rickshaw up from the bus stop in Varkala, we asked the driver to find our guest house. With much searching we finally found it and what a place this was. It was super close to the beach and right in the heart of the little Tibetan and Indian handicraft stores that lined the beach. We had our own balcony with hammock and all to relax our weary bones! So once we checked in, it was a quick change into our bathing suits and a straight b-line to the beach. We spent a total of 3 nights and 4 days in Varkala taking in the sun, sand and sea. I worked on my tan and napping skills as well as got some quality book time in. Also we gave our wallets a bit of a work out, as the jewelry and clothing was quite inexpensive there.

So after a relaxing jaunt to the beach we had to catch the train to go even further south (almost to the very southern tip of India) to make our connection to head north back to Bangalore. We spent 18 hours on an overnight train back to Bangalore so lots of cards were played, books were read, and sleeping was done in order to pass the time. Over all it was a great experience and a blast to travel with Carla.

A big thank you goes out to Carla who has been my traveling buddy and partner in crime over the past 3 months. However she has gone back to Vancouver and I am left now to do some solo traveling. Hope things are going back to normal in Canada for Ms. Popma 2!!!!!!
Until the next installment of Jesse’s blog, so long!
Tin Curry signing off!
PS I would love to hear from everyone back home and hear how things are going back in chilly Canada!