Le Reve Kerala

... 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 ...

... Hotel beach? hotel greenview? Other hotel names are thrown at me, in hopes for a hook line and sinker to get commission while rickshaw drivers follow me. Here they all do a thing with their heads, like a dashboard doll wobbly head movement when they talk, which I have labeled as 'chittering'. It is actually quite difficult to replicate, but regardless, in front of me was a sea of chittering heads, each vying for my attention. Trying to break away from the pack, I ...

... a small team we started @ 2.pm with one guide (Guide is important as we know it from Mudumalai's trip) and headed towards Valparai by driving remaining 12 hairpin bends, the roads and the nature was absolutely no words to explain.

We have come across more than 40 hairpin bends but few are extra large hairpins so the govt didn’t consider those bends in count. The initial plan is to visit Balaji Temple but it was dropped. We reached Valparai @ 4pm its just a small ...

... boats) take part, each 30m long and crewed by up to 100 rowers. Built with a raised, snaking prow, they sway in unison to the fast rhythm of full-throated singing, rowing at incredible speeds.

I waved at parents and children alike, while cautious babies eyed my European looks with great suspicion! Mothers laughed, encouraging them to respond, while grannies waved and chuckled from the entrance to their homes. I'm in no doubt that life isn't a bowl of cherries here ...

... re*.    The d*m is *t the foot of the Nelli*mp*thi hills. From here, the ro*d winds up for the next 17 km, with ...

... train and standing all day in the hot sun made me think twice. Even though I considered the Ashram a bizarre place... at the end of the day the Hugging Mother does alot of good. She raises millions of dollars for world disasters and gives hope to people that need it. If I did not have to stand in line I would hug her myself being such a good person.

... down to clear the plants away from the back of the boat. We saw people wearing trendy umbrella hats (a hat that is an umbrella with no handle, all the supermodels are wearing them this season) and a Toddy Parlour with some Toddy drinking pirates hanging around out the front. The captain would ring a bell then stop at little boat jettys that were like bus stops and locals would get on and off. By the time we reached Allepppey it was standing room only. At only ...

... look of panic on his face. He then proceeded to calmly press the button and up we went, me staring quizzicly at the back of his neck. I have no idea what sort of disaster was averted - perhaps the lift would have gone shooting up into the sky a la Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator? Or maybe my reckless button pushing could have sparked a chain of events which would result in the very fabric of the universe unraveling? I ...

... inspired as usual and my words come from my heart. If you have not met Amma. Take this short time in your precious human birth to experience her presence. I go by what my feelings are in life and I tell you that just being around her I have never felt so much peace and love. Don't take my word for it. Just be with her. It's free, and she gives you the opportunity to see who and what you really are. I can sometimes not judge and occasionally be loving ...

... Kerala generally). All the names of streets and the people were either English, Portuguese (as Cochin was a former Portuguese colony) or Jewish. Our room was basic (cold showers) and extremely hot and humid but clean and airy. We went out for some dinner down totally deserted streets at Addy's Restaurant, delicious Keralan cooking and then back to Princess Street to seek shelter in the freezing air-conditioned Internet cafe, where I could have stayed for the entire night - sheer bliss!