I loved the train journey down from goa to Kerela.
We traveled third class.....which mean't we were in with the locals.....for 16 hours. It was just how I imagined travelling by train in India.
We boarded the train in the dark at 11pm....and at first it felt like we were in prison cells. The carriages were all sleeper carriages and they had squeezed in a bunk in every possible location. We stumbled around in the dark with our packs until we located our bunks....and evicted the locals who had optimistically taken residence :)
The whole journey was one of confusion, colours, loud Hindi music and a constant stream of vendors walking the aisles selling just about everything. Definitively a journey to remember.
We also shared a mini bus from the train station for another two hour journey to our destination Allepeppy / Alapuzza.
The town itself is great. Typically busy and chaotic but full of colour and amazing spice shops and flower shops. Even though the noise and traffic are chaotic, Kerela province does seem very laid back and is much more fun to be in.
We arrived in time for the Nationally famous Neru Cup "snake boat" races. So we joined the multitudes [10,000 plus] to watch the race from stands on the river bank. The races took place over about six hours and everyone was in the "mood to party". The highlight for me was this enormous Hindu guy with the best mustache I have ever seen who was half naked and danced to the crowds from the front of a boat that cruised up and down the river all day.
the highlight of the trip so far was the overnight house boat trip that we took yesterday. The houseboat itself was amazing. It had a open lounge on the bottom deck and another on the top deck. The rooms were beautiful and we had a cook on board so were fed a constant stream of lovely food while we cruised very sedately around the back waters. we also managed to buy some huge tiger prawns from a local fisherman and had one of the best meals I have had in ages.
It was tremendously difficult to leave the boat this morning........I could get used to that lifestyle :)
be good and have fun
We traveled third class.....which mean't we were in with the locals.....for 16 hours. It was just how I imagined travelling by train in India.
We boarded the train in the dark at 11pm....and at first it felt like we were in prison cells. The carriages were all sleeper carriages and they had squeezed in a bunk in every possible location. We stumbled around in the dark with our packs until we located our bunks....and evicted the locals who had optimistically taken residence :)
The whole journey was one of confusion, colours, loud Hindi music and a constant stream of vendors walking the aisles selling just about everything. Definitively a journey to remember.
We also shared a mini bus from the train station for another two hour journey to our destination Allepeppy / Alapuzza.
The town itself is great. Typically busy and chaotic but full of colour and amazing spice shops and flower shops. Even though the noise and traffic are chaotic, Kerela province does seem very laid back and is much more fun to be in.
We arrived in time for the Nationally famous Neru Cup "snake boat" races. So we joined the multitudes [10,000 plus] to watch the race from stands on the river bank. The races took place over about six hours and everyone was in the "mood to party". The highlight for me was this enormous Hindu guy with the best mustache I have ever seen who was half naked and danced to the crowds from the front of a boat that cruised up and down the river all day.
the highlight of the trip so far was the overnight house boat trip that we took yesterday. The houseboat itself was amazing. It had a open lounge on the bottom deck and another on the top deck. The rooms were beautiful and we had a cook on board so were fed a constant stream of lovely food while we cruised very sedately around the back waters. we also managed to buy some huge tiger prawns from a local fisherman and had one of the best meals I have had in ages.
It was tremendously difficult to leave the boat this morning........I could get used to that lifestyle :)
be good and have fun
Things are definitely looking up then! Great to hear about your adventures ... makes my recent trip to Tunbridge Wells seems somehow rather dull ...
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are enjoying yourself Ant.Vivid pictures from your descriptions.Thanks.
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