Hotel Elite International Thrissur

... a boy throwing stones at it. It makes an attempt to jump the curb, fails, and falls. I watch amused, as the rat tries to jump again, struggling to climb the curb. It succeeds and disappears into a drainage pipe. I laugh at this absurd sight and continue on my way.

S. Bathery is not worth mentioning more in detail. Half the town is drunk, as it turns out to be a Muslim holiday (which I get woken up to in ...

... on the front windscreen. Trucks have been painted yellow and are covered with rainbow motifs. It is not uncommon to see entire families riding on scooters, up to 6 all together. It is an absurd sight and I wonder what people in the west would think if they happen to see this on any of their roads. I also think about all of the noise you hear here, from the musical horn honking to the random enormous speakers placed in the middle of the streets, blaring Indian ...

... km. At the 9th kilometer is the Pothundi D*m, * sm*ll irrig*tiond*m which provides w*ter for the rice fields in the ...

... itself is an experience. The only route is from Nemmara, from where ...

... The hotel, despite its shortcomings did have the luxury of a lift attendant, a waistcoated whippersnapper with an impressive moustache for someone so young. On one occasion I got into the lift to find it empty and so of course just went to push the button to take myself up to my floor. But as I lifted my hand I heard 'Madaaaaaaam! Waaaaaaaaaait!', and the chap came sliding into view from one side and leapt into the lift with ...

... climate is nice, not too hot. It's the rainy season and humid. I've had the chance to travel by train, rickshaw, bus and car. Traffic is different here - I don't see stop signs or the like. People just go when there is room. And nobody wears seatbelts! Kerela state is fairly modern in many ways - I've not seen much poverty as of yet. Well, I'll try to update again as soon as I can.

... we were introduced to as Vinod and his family. This is a genuine Indian extended family home of two houses on a fair sized plot. Vinod lives in one, with his wife, ten year old daughter Anakha , and granny Prabha. We also met his nephew Pradeep, brother and sister in law, Abhiram, Praveen, Vineetha, Vipin, Sreekumar and Sreena besides many others. The other modern house is a recent addition, his brother's home although he clearly used it as an extension of his home as well. We ...

... I hadn't experience came from inside me in the form of sickness and hitting a bottom of sorts. The sickness began with a headache--beyond pounding--that stayed with me day and night, complete with fever, and no energy. Perhaps it was sparked by being electrocuted with a faulty hot water heater or perhaps it began through something in the food: who knows? Since it didn't abate, I went to the hospital. They gave me some horse pills, took some ...

... drink to matts and rope made from their husks.

For lunch we had a traditional Kerala curry, served on a banana leaf and which we ate from our hands. Apparently eating with your hands gives greater pleasure because you use your touch sense as well as taste, smell and sight. Henry and I certainly prefered this method of eating because it means you can get more in your mouth at once, however Cassie is much more ladylike.

In the afternoon we went out on a houseboat ...

... the audience welcome to observe the elaborate make-up process beginning at five pm, and the actual show beginning at six-thirty pm (until eight pm). There is no speaking, but instead posture as well as hand, face and eye gestures are used to communicate. While I would by no means pretend to understand the full nuances, between the brief explanation given beforehand, along with an all-important synopsis, it was fascinating to watch, with its emotionally-charged music and grand costumes.