old tiger's Blog

so..day 2 in Ernakulam-Cochin..twin cities.I loved Cochin more..
it got more Kerala character and style then bustling Ernakulam..
the ferry ride was wonderful..cool breeze..area most interesting
was Mattancherry..with the famous Chinese fishing nets..
a few churches as well..the Jews had influence in Cochin once..
Cochin is a peninsula..the Chinese nets there..must have been
photographed by lots of tourists..long wooden poles..with fishnets
stuck to it..the fishermen sold fresh fish right in the harbour..
right in the heart of Mattancherry is a synagogue..the Jews..
were busy merchants once there...you can still see their shops..
the Jews were masters in antiques..their community is very small
nowadays..it's a pity..that such a culture...goes away??
even the Portugese..made their mark in Cochin..just visit a church..
I just walked around Cochin..admiring the old houses..
made me tired...and hungry...ohh..I had a *tandoori*chicken..
it's a chicken prepared in an oven..it looked very red..ahah..
took the ferry back...and decided not to visit Willingdon Island..
was gonna move out by train towards Quilon-Madurai..
I never forgave myself afterwards..that I did NOT do..
the backwatertrip Allepey-Kottayam..I'll get you peeps a link..
there's a wildlife reservation near Thekkady(Periyar)
but never had interest..a hole in my travell culture..stupid Tiger??
and what about Kovalam?Trivandrum??Kanya Kumari??
I all missed it..because..I heard about Madurai's Meenakshi temple..
I'll keep you all informed....and busy reading,is it??
crazy Tiger

so..I reached Coimbatore by train from Mettupalayam..
Coimbatore was known these days for cashew nuts..
I did not stay on here..took a direct bus towards Kerala..
not such an easy connection via Palghat-Trichur..
getting into Kerala state was a delight..
Kerala got in my opinion the best nature in the whole of India..
Assam later on proved to me it was second best..
the people speak a very funny language called Malayalam..
it's very quickly pronounced..a real tongue twister...ahah..
I recall 1 or 2 words...*nandi* meant thanks..and *dayavaayi*
meant please..usually these 2 words..when spoken sincereley..
bring you very far into this world..noticeable differences here
are less beggars..more tolerance towards religion,loveley woman
with jasmine flowers in their hairs..men in *lunghi*=more like a
saronglike type of clothing..must be cooling in that heat..
politically Kerala went bit Marxist..I don't know about nowadays??
oh..reaching Ernakulam..twin city of Cochin..stayed 2 nights..
in retiring rooms railway station..I'm gonna do 2 or 3 postings..
on these twin cities..it's simply worthwhile..just go there..
Ernakulam is on the mainland..and is connected by ferries towards
Cochin,Willingdon Island,Mattancherry..first day..
let's say this posting..I will just relate about Ernakulam itself..
because i didn't take any ferrie...ahah..it was a bustling town..
train and railways...banks,restaurants,markets,temples,mosques..
somehow..I loved Cochin more..more of an island feeling..
islands have always touched my heart more then the mainland..
people think differently when surrounded by water...
Ernakulam was hot..busy..stuffy..it was working on my nerves..
got me some information on ferries towards Cochin..I did not visit
Willingdon island which lies inbetween Ernakulam-Cochin..
there are bridges..but I preferred a straight ferry to fort Cochin..
the Chinese fishing nets..in the harbour..popular photography..
I never took a pic..nowhere..it's all grifted in my mind..
now..today..I think..I would take a digital camera...woooahah..
in the evening..I went to one of these cheap restaurants..
I took myself some of that South Indian food..
idli..samosa..masala dosa..thali..rice..and chillies..
yummy..but hot...and no..I did not get the shits..
I'll try to get a link about Ernakulam..
http://www.ernakulam.com/photo_gallery.htm
Tiger

So..next day..this famous toy train ride..
it's a narrow gauge mountain railway..
it goes via Coonoor..and it has to pass..
through no less then 16 tunnels and 26 viaducts..
it's pulled by a small loco..which pushes it from the back..
i bet it took more then 4hours to cover 45kms??
the scenery is heartbraking..reminded me on Flam(Norway)
but this was much better..in the 70's..these loco's..
were powered by coal...I've heard it's a diesel nowadays??
on this train..also about 5 brakemen..signaling with green flags..
toward the loco driver..wawww..this was something..I reached
Mettupalayam in the early evening..and I bet..I took a night train
to Coimbatore..don't recall this very clearly..
I'll try to get a link on that famous toy train ride..
http://www.nilgiris-inn.com/nilgiri_mountain_rail.htm
http://indiasteam.tripod.com/nmr.htm
crazy Tiger

Indian classical music is worth while listening to..
great performers are Manna Dey and many others..
Ravi Shankar is still giving concerts..his daughter
Anoushka is following in his steps..Ravi Shankar played
in Woodstock festival..and everybody remembers...
the standing ovation he received..from hippies...
Ravi played on day 1 of Woodstock..following ragas..
Raga Puriya-Dhanashri/Gat In Sawarital
Tabla Solo In Jhaptal
Raga Manj Kmahaj
lap Jor
Dhun In Kaharwa Tal
http://www.ravishankar.org/

Ooty..was a wonderful hill station..cooling in the summer heat..
it's in the Nilgiri hills..it reminded me of England in a way..
cottages..winding roads...flowers..only difference..tea estates..
and hill tribes..like the Toda tribals..very intersting dress+jewelry..
they are very crazy about *gaur*=Indian buffalo..
the usual touristical attractions here are boat riding,horse trekking,
walking tours..and of course that Blue mountain miniature trainride..
I was gonna do that day 2..let me tell you all about day 1..
I stayed at the youth hostel..which was cheap..and confortable..
Ooty is always full of tourists..from all over India..it's cooling..
but also a popular honeymoon destination for Indian couples..
hotel names with dazzling names like lakeview,garden view etc...
tourism,you know??I just strolled around Ooty town..nice walk..
it was sunny even..nice flower market..there was a botanical garden
as well..but I did not visit..the day went by fast enough..
Ooty got a nice lake as well...I took information in the tourist office..
about that trainride to Mettupalayam..I changed my mind..
instead of 2 nights Ooty..1 night..was gonna travell to Coimbatore..
train connection from Mettupalayam..it would have been stupid..
to make that ride twice..I was able to arrange my 2 nights..
youth hostel..into 1 night..they understood why as well..
so..I will tell you peeps about that famous trainride..spectacular..
http://www.ootacamund.com/
Tiger