Head in the clouds

The journey from Trichy to Kodai took the better part of a day, and gave us an opportunity to witness the different landscapes of India - from the flat plains dotted with coconut palms and fields of maize, sorghum and rice to the banana and coconut plantations nearer the base of the Western Ghats (mountains). The pace slowed dramatically as the road wound it's way up the thickly wooded slopes with stunning views of the farmland below and cascading waterfalls in the distance. We were treated to another lesson in 'horn etiquette' as we discovered that the horn is sounded before venturing around corners (a very good thing considering the many blind corners there are twisting up the mountain)! As we climbed higher we could be forgiven for thinking our travels through India were just a dream and that we were really driving though the Dandenongs. Towering eucalypts dominate the landscape through most of the area, along with blackwood and wattle...maybe we should send some koalas to Kodai to complete the scene!

We finally arrived at Kodaikanal at around 3pm in the afternoon. The hotel we chose had views overlooking the town and the hills in the distance. At times, the entire area is swimming in the clouds and we felt as if we were on the edge of the world! Kodai is a hill station, population approximately 30 000, and not a rickshaw in sight! This makes for a very pleasant atmosphere and our ramblings in town were much more enjoyable without the pressing crowds and overpowering pollution of the larger centres. On the second day, one member of our party succumbed to the dreaded nemesis of stomach trouble...poor Shanks spent the day in bed feeling a little bit feverish, nauseous and achey. Not entirely unexpected, it was a good thing that he had a couple of days to recover before we have to pack up and head to our next destination.

One thing that some of us were a little bit unprepared for was the cold...Kodai is approximately 2200 metres above sea level, and the night-time temperature drops to about 5 degrees. This sent us scurrying to reception for more blankets after we almost froze on the first night! Braving the cold, today we undertook the 7km walk to Pillar Rocks. On the tourist trail for both Westerners and the locals alike, we weren't quite sure what would be waiting for us at the end of the trek, and it is a good thing that we weren't too attached to the outcome, because when we reached the famous Pillar Rocks we found them bathed in a sea of cloud! A brief break in the clouds allowed for some photo opportunities and as we waited we chatted to an Israeli couple who live close to Haifa. We swopped phone numbers and travel plans and if time allows we hope to catch up with them after our pilgrimage to the Baha'i Shrines on Mt Carmel.

Tomorrow we head off bright and early towards the coast and into a new state - Kollam (Quillon) in the state of Kerala. Here we hope to explore the backwaters and experience life in India at a different pace and at a different temperature to Kodai! We have hired a car and driver to get around from place to place - the most efficient way to travel when you are short on time. Our driver, Rajendren, has told us to expect an eight hour trip, but this doesn't phase us too much as there is always plenty to see and discuss along the way. We are all having a fantastic time and can't believe that we have been here for almost a week already.

Next post...Kollam!