Hotel Madhuvana Holiday Inn Ootacamund

... was closed after the fire accident happened four months back). It was not worth spending 95 bugs but its okay as we could spot some Sambar (deer) and a peacock dance!!

It was 6.10pm when we started from Bhandipur forest, the climate was totally unpredictable and started raining suddenly and we had to drive at least 15-18km to reach our place. We reached almost and It was hardly a kilometer from home, the mud road started and the car wheels got stuck and totally out of ...

... that the school gives people is with them for life.”

After less than two days Hebron gave me something that will stick. I have a strong sense of myself, and what I’m doing with my life. I am acutely ambitious about it, and long ago vowed that if I can’t go to heaven or live forever then I can only live an extraordinary life. And it’s nice to know that there is a phenomenon out there that reflects who I am. It’s good to be part of the group.

... about in fits of rage or fright on stage.

It was a good show, and I enjoyed seeing onstage the students I’d met earlier in the day. Our time had been sweet but also short, and we were bundled off to catch our bus just a half hour after the performance end. Ooty is in fact an amazing place, and seeing Hebron was a huge privilege. I promised to return, with Amanda, who as a teacher will be interested in the school, and as a traveler will love the journey. I will be back, and better dressed.

... buckets of earth or concrete, and others measuring out the work, aligning and cementing the square hewn rocks into a cohesive, sturdy wall.

Each gang was a motley crew, overseen by who-knows-who, but the work looked solid and professional, and perhaps the workers were paid well. There was much to do, and evidence of landslides and previous walls collapsed, and still the road climbed. “I can’t believe we’re still going up,” said ...

... Resultat, on passe 5 h a moitier debout, a ecouter les gens hurler quand ils passent dans un tunel. C'est drole que la premiere heure. L'avantage de ce train est qu'il nous a permis de voir des plantations de the accrochees a flan de montagnes. Apres ces 5h de petit train, encore un train pour Coimbatore ou nous passons la nuit, ville de transit uniquement pour prendre le train le samedi matin, direction Kochin dans le Kerala.

... is actually inside the park.  It was basically a generator powered group of little cabins, with a dining hall, and rec room, which animals could venture in and out of as they please.  For this reason, there was serious ten o'clock curfew, and a pretty organized schedule.    Once we arrived, we had a couple hours to move into our cabin before we headed out on our first safari.  We pilled into the back of an open air jeep that was exactly what you imagine as the ...

... talk about the best seat in the house, they have amazing uninterrupted views of the plantations and the plains below. Our forefathers knew how to pick a view. Wildlife update: today we saw a giant squirrel and what a lovely thing it was too with its brown and black markings and big fluffy tail. He must have been a metre long. We have been seeing lots of monkeys along the road, some of them get a bit too close for my liking ...

... down the mountain to Mettupulayam, an Indian any-town, from where our train to Chennai would depart. It was only when our train was just pulling away that we realised we had got on the wrong day. Under the railway's rules we would have to pay various fines. The guard was very nice about it all and was trying to bend the rules slightly so we wouldn't lose so much money. His fat sidekick wasn't nearly so nice however. This is where my understanding of tamil really came ...

... and maybe some more Kathakali... or maybe not. Anyway, that's us up to date, and seeing as we're the only Westeners in the village, we're going to have a wander round to the amazement of the locals, and see if we can have a few staring matches while tring to find somewhere tohave a relaxing drink. I have a feeling we might end up back in our hotel room with Star Movies for an early night as we've got a 6am get up tomorrow. Take care, lots of love Peeps and Shell xxx

... time and today he was absolutely beaming when he was telling me about it!!!!!!!!!), was on the phone to Paul and all he kept saying was "I'm very happy Paul, are you happy Paul? are you happy?"!!!!!!!!!! Bless!!!!!!!!!!!! Saturday was so unbearably hot here it was crazy.............. plus just as some of us were getting ready to leave to go to Ooty for the weekend the water ran out .........which to be fair is a daily/hourly occurence but the fact that I had just been swimming ...