I'd booked a lovely air conditioned sleeper train for the 14 hour journey from Goa to Kochi (Kerala). Despite booking and paying for my ticket 10 days prior to departure I was on a waiting list. Unbeknown to me, the weekend was a public holiday so the train was busy and my ticket got cancelled an hour before departure, as a sleeper bunk hadn't become available. It was 11pm, the train due at midnight and I was on the platform sweating away with no valid ticket (it was still 29 °C) - bloody great!
The station master then wanted to see my ticket, told me it had indeed been canceled, shook his head (that could mean pretty much anything - yes, no, your totally fucked or do you want a cup of tea) and told me I had to buy a ticket for the unreserved carriage!!
On the plus side it was only £2.20 to travel 800km, on the down side I was in a carriage with very uncomfortable seats, stuffed full of almost exclusively very poor male indians, many of whom reeked of alcohol, the rest didn't smell too fresh either, but I don't suppose I smelt of roses at this stage.
It took me 10 minutes to find somewhere I could perch my sweaty backside. It was hot, smelly and I had the prospect of sitting bolt upright for 14 hours in cramped sauna like conditions!
I was so tired. I put my rucksack on the end of the bench seat in the aisle and used the top of it as a very uncomfortable pillow, the rest of me curled up into the tightest ball on the bench. Other people's legs and feet resting on my legs.
I dozed like that for 2 hours, though everyone that walked by kicked my bag and woke me up each time.
By 2.30am someone on my bench got off, so I was able to stretch out a little more for the next 3 hours. By 5.45am the train was filling with people going to work. The sun came up and I sweated my nuts off until 1pm. I hadn't eaten anything and daren't drink anything incase I needed a poo poo. I'd had a pee in the night and my bottom had decided that that wasn't where it wanted to empty itself under any circumstances!
Total relief to finally arrive in Kochi and get off that bloody train.
My luck then changed.
I got straight into a tuk tuk to catch a ferry to fort Kochi (the nice old bit of town on a sort of island). The ferry left just as I boarded. Another tuk tuk ride at the other end and I was in my air conditioned hotel room. My bottom was very relieved.
I downed loads of water, rinsed the sweat out of my clothes and from me under the shower, then headed off for some very much needed breakfast (at 3.30pm!)
Fort Kochi is a very upmarket touristy part of the city, famous for the old Chinese fishing nets.
Shame about the horrendous amounts of litter on the beach!
Lovely sunset.
The next day I had this crazy idea of hiring another bicycle. I cycled a stupid distance, for many hours,in mental temperatures on a no geared shitty bike, with a lovely plastic coated saddle specially designed to maximise my bottom sweat.
I was rewarded by some beautiful views though.
The following day was exciting. I travelled to kochi airport to meet Kate!
It was so lovely to see her - very surreal us being in India together.
A bus ride, metro, tuk tuk, ferry then tuk tuk and we arrived at our fantastic homestay. A large twin room, an adjoining kitchen and a beautiful roof terrace.
Kate slept for 15 hours!
Then off out to the aptly named Jewtown suburb of Kochi.
We spent 3 days in kochi - eating great food and enjoying looking around.
This tree was beautiful and I'm guessing 500+years old
Kate spotted someone selling potato spirals - she almost wet herself with excitement
Healthier snacks too
Kate befriended many street dogs, including a litter of 10 puppies
Moving on day, to a beach 20km north of Kochi was going to be easy. A tuk tuk, ferry then taxi.
Mmmm. It didn't work out quite like that. Our nice tuk tuk driver to the ferry said he could drive us all the way to our next homestay....on condition we look in 3 shops on the way. He explained that he got paid a 100rupees (£1) from each place. Kate said why not. She even bought a gorgeous pair of trousers from one of them.
Kate then asked if he could take us to a shop selling vapes on the way.....It turns out vapes are illegal in india, so we went on a 15km detour to an illegal vape shop, in the wrong direction! It was a very nice 3 hour tuk tuk ride and a lovely driver, but I was very happy to arrive at our very lovely room at cherai beach.
We are chilling here in the heat for a couple of days. Lots of lovely swims.
I just went for a swim and 50m in front of me a huge dolphin leapt out if the water. Amazing, but alas no photo.
The food here at our homestay is superb. Breakfast is huge!!
We get an afternoon battered snack. Yesterday was battered eggs and bananas. Kate is currently eating about 6 eggs a day...saves on toilet paper I suppose.
I missed a trick in laying out the battered food for the photo...a double cock and balls up really (so immature Simon when will you grow up)
Tomorrow we set off on a 2 day journey in land to the Niligiri hills famous for tea plantations. My slight concern is that for both trains we are still on waiting sodding lists, so our tickets might get cancelled last minute again. All part of the adventure!
This featured blog entry was written by simonstravels from the blog simonstravels.
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