Coimbatore has nothing. It’s described by the Lonely Planet as India’s Manchester. It relates that to the textiles industry however secretly links them to the total absence of attractions. It’s also lacking in a day bus to Ponducherry which meant that I had a long twenty four hour unexpected stop there. That said two memories… Read More Coimbatore, Ponducherry, Chidambara
Just when I thought that I had seen the broad overview of India it threw up one more surprise. Looking out of the window of the bus was an absolute treat as I traveled through the hills and tea plantations of Kerela. It really was quite special. Straight out of a post card it is… Read More Munnar
How to do a wildlife sanctuary Indian style: Step one Awake stupidly early and wonder aimlessly down to the park entrance where you meet hordes of Indians and tourists battling at the ticket counter. It’s elbows out and hope for the best as you attempt to secure your ticket before the main gates to the… Read More Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
There are few countries in the world where you can go for a nice relaxing backwater cruise in the day and then come the evening end up running as fast as you can, out of fear for your own safety. That’s India! I had arrived in Kollam a day before. It quite literally had nothing… Read More Kollam – Alleppey
Fort Kochin is one island among a number. It’s considered to contain the major sights and is a 3km ferry ride from the mainland. On arrival it’s a different world. Most accommodation is in the form of home stays, each one looking as pristine as the next. Fashionable shops line the streets amongst the swish… Read More Kochi
My journey to Mysore was an improvised one. I turned up at Gokarna bus stand resolute in my determination to leave but not sure if it would be possible. I was soon dispatched onto the 513 to a place I had never heard of and could not work out how to pronounce it. It turned… Read More Mysore
Gokarna, a place where I would set eyes upon paradise and be disappointed. Traditionally it wasn’t the smoothest of starts. Dumped in the middle of nowhere at 1 am in the morning and told to wait for a mini-bus to take us the rest of the way. All this was happening whilst Ian was suffering… Read More Gokarna
Nine hundred rupees to get from Goa to Hampi! Typical racket feeding off the New Year exodus from Goa. Whilst the destination may not have catered for getting back into real India the opportunity to do some local transport hopping certainly did. After much dilly dallying (how I love that phrase ever since it was… Read More Hampi
I had low expectations of Goa. The idea of it having been taken over by Russians, Israeli’s and package tourists did not fill me with much enthusiasm. However in need of a holiday within a holiday and with Christmas and the New Year fast approaching it seemed to be the place to be. I traveled… Read More Goa – Arambol
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