Travelled by train from Trivandrum up to Ernakulum and had a bit of a strange experience regarding hotels. We arrived late, past midnight, with no hotel booking. This is not the best of plans and something we rarely do but we jumped into a tuk tuk and asked to be taken to "Sapphire Tourist Home", hoping not only that they had rooms, but that they would even be open at that time! After what seemed like a lifetime racing down empty and deserted streets, most with no lighting whatsoever which was somewhat disconcerting, to say the least, we were relieved to actually see the sign for the Sapphire (and had noticed a couple of "plan B" options on the way!).
On arrival, it didn't look too hopeful.. no lights, all shut up but, in true Indian style, the Reception area was actually occupied by a couple of employees who had made up their "bed" (a sheet or blanket to wrap themselves in) on the floor. Not too happy at being woken up, we nonetheless were shown to a very pleasant, clean room (once the cockroaches had been given the push - strange but true, but we've not had any since) at a very reasonable price - highly recommendable! Whilst waiting for Phil to complete the necessary paperwork, Patsy waited with the luggage and realised that we had, in fact, last year eaten at the restaurant directly opposite to the Sapphire and looked at it, thinking we should have stayed there rather than in Fort Cochin as we did. Given that we walked the streets of Ernakulum for hours and hours last year with no real plan, this coincidence was quite remarkable.
We caught the ferry over to Fort Cochin this morning - it hasn't increased in price; it still costs the princely sum of 2.5 rupees per person for the best part of 20 minutes - and saw the cruise liner "Queen Mary 2" docked in Cochin. Wow, that is one big beast!! Best of all, we saw it sail majestically down the estuary out of Cochin and on to its next port of call. Incredible floating village..!
Rather than rush up to Munnar (5 and half hours on a bus!!!) and back (another 5 and a half hours on a bus....), we've decided to get the overnight train to Mangalore tomorrow night and just go chill for a few days in Gokarna. If we get bored, we can always move up to Goa or somewhere else inbetween. We've already booked a flight from Goa to Mumbai to make sure we are there for our flight home.. trains are really difficult to book at the moment - you need to be booking a couple of weeks in advance, which we are not very good at doing!
Hope you are all well ... love PnP xx
Anyway, sorted now and sounds like you are having many great adventures. Look forward to hearing more and seeing more photos.
Hope you have had some restful times on the beach...jealous of those temperatures but pleased to tell that Mark and I are off to Kenya on 15th so hopefully will be getting some rays ourselves!
Had yellow fever jab this morning...
Life back at the ranch not the same without you... not a day goes by without hearing...'trish would know the answer....'
Missing someone to share my soup with so must have big catch up on my return...3rd March..lunch-ish time.
Will catch you again before your return all being well..
love and hugs
Sallyxx