Week 32, Cherai Beach to Erakulam, India

Dear Ethel, Family and Friends,

We have been in the hill station district of Munnar for most of the week. The area is home to Tea Plantations, Coffee, Coco and spice farms including; pepper, nutmeg, cardamom and tapioca. The area also boasts Dams and National Parks. We did an early morning rise, 4.30am to do a trek through the Chinnar National Park to see some wildlife including leopards, elephants, deer, some rare mountain goats and the even rarer giant grizzled squirrel, so rare in fact that we didn’t see one or any of these things. We did see elephant and buffalo crap, a centipede and a small lizard. So, ok it was a nice park with a nice view but as far as bush goes, we have plenty of it at home. We were a bit disappointed so asked our driver to take us to see an elephant the following day.

He took us for a drive through the local sights, the tea and spice plantations the tea museum and factory, the dams and the top station, as high up as you can get without climbing. He also took us to an Elephant riding place where the elephants pose with tourists to get there photo taken and do short walks up and down the road. We asked our driver to ask the owners if we could wash the elephant. I think they thought we were a bit mad but they obliged us for the cost of two elephant rides, and we think the elephant enjoyed it more than the walk. (see video)

We stayed in a home stay called JJ Cotages and had a nice room with a view of the tea plantations with comfy beds and coffee in bed in the morning. We liked it so much we stayed a few extra days, five days in total. However the last two days we were there, the whole town decided to have a general strike. Nothing was open except one hotel restaurant for all the tourists to eat in. All traffic came to a stop as well. So it was a bit of forced relaxation. I took the opportunity to finish a number of videos.

We reluctantly came back down the mountain to the heat and humidity, to stay at Cherai Beach for two days. A nice beach by asian standards and the resort we stayed in was a bit overpriced for the quality, but they had good food, clean rooms and WI FI Internet. Yahoo, first time in India and with a fast connection as well. So I got to upload all the finished videos.

We are now in Ernakulam for two days, the main city in the region. We then catch an overnight train to Goa.

All the best Ric & Louise