Kerala is everything the guidebooks say, and more. My 40 hour non-A/C ride was far more bearable than I thought it would be, due to the welcoming presence of several Marathis and Malayalis. I brought my own food, which proved only partly necessary, as food was abundant. It got quite warm the second day, but manageable, and never too crowded.
3 am arrival to Trivandrum, and straight to the lodge, which was conveniently next to the train station. Then we woke up early-ish, got ready and headed to the bus (also next door) for the bus to Kollam (A/C).
There, we met our host, who runs a small guesthouse right on the beach. We dropped off our bags, and headed back to town, to catch a ride to Ashtamudi Lake, and a lake islands tour. Not sure what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised to see a long canoe/longboat, and a few other foreigners. We delicately boarded, and then our guide and canoe driver pushed off the banks with his pole and we proceeded on a lazy 3-hour trip through the backwaters, stopping for tea, fresh coconut water, and several inquisitive young children.
Tonight, on the beach. Tomorrow, we board a ferry for Amrithapuri, for some full body contact with Amma, then on to Alleppey.
It has come to my attention that I adapt to change too easily. This isn’t to say there is some amount of adjustment period required, but rather that I shift into a new lifestyle far more readily than one would expect. And far more quickly, hence, my slight amount of shock upon landing in Incheon. With a permanent look of startlement on my face, I made my way to the Korean Air counter and picked up my hotel voucher.
It turns out, Korean Air doesn’t leave you hanging. I did have to leave the airport (therefore getting another stamp in my passport), but only went about a 10 minutes drive to the Hyatt Regency. It was, as all American chains are abroad, fancy and swanky, and my room was almost the size of my apartment. And to top it off, they gave me food vouchers – breakfast (which I slept through), lunch, and then dinner at the airport. Not bad at all.
Of course, leaving UB was a production – the temperatures dropped drastically, heading into the deepest of winter. I got out in time, it seems, but was hardly dressed for running around at the airport trying to find an open door. They say it will be a dzud this year. Don’t doubt it.
So, 4 hours after my ticketed departure, we were in the air, fighting strong tail winds to arrive at Incheon at 1 am. Today, there is massive amounts of fog, so I expect tonight’s flight to be delayed somewhat too. But I have a 6 hour layover in Mumbai, so I’m not too concerned.
Korea is warm and humid and populated. It feels bizarre. I had a delicious tofu miso kimchi soup with grilled fish, all of which tasted fresh and flavorful. Then I slept in a large warm comfortable bed and stole hotel toiletries on my way back to the airport.
Tomorrow, I arrive in Ahmedabad to meet my brother and sister-in-law, then off to stay with family for a week. And maybe even see Avatar again.
So now that I’m unable to obtain a Russian visa in time, I’ve decided on a new travel itinerary. Instead of Russia, I’ll spend a few days in S Korea instead. Now the plan is:
Still somewhat ambitious, but should be fun, hopefully!
It’s not for the faint of heart. At least, a 3-month trip spanning 5 countries and 2 continents is not. But just a few things I’ve learned:
Tomorrow I go to verify that I can get my Russian visa before I leave UB, or else I’m not taking the train. Once that is verified, I will gather paperwork, and then proceed back over there to drop off my passport and hope for the best, while shelling out a LOT of money for this adventure.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”
~ Saint Augustine
Before my eventual arrival in the US, I am planning on traveling a little. Right now, the plan is to:
All very ambitious, so we will see how much of this truly ends up happening. But for now, this is the plan, and I am hoping to fit it all in! Stay tuned!
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