At our friend, Dr. Thomas' suggestion, yesterday visited a state park where we rode Tunita, an elephant bare back (oooh, prickly!), climbed in treehouses overlooking the Periyar River, took turns swinging on swings made of bamboo, visited an orphanage, a zoo with deer, monkeys, peacocks, crocodiles, pythons, and bald eagles. The elephants there were rescued and trained. Then we hopped on a bus and rode 4 1/2 hours east up to a hill station that Dr. Thomas said was his favorite spot. Munnar (which means "3 rivers") is a small town in the mountains, 90% tea plantations, home of wildlife preserves, waterfalls, and sandalwood forests. We met Ravi, who became our guide in his rickshaw with blue tarps fastened to the sides to HELP keep the rain out. He took us to a guesthouse, and today, picked us up and took us to a breakfast of dosas (enormous crepes) on banana leaves, with coconut chutney and a spicy sauce to dip them in. Again, Susan ate with her hands like she'd been doing it all her life. Ravi took us to buy jackets (2 for $6), and socks, because we were cold! Then he took us even higher in the mountains where we could see the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. (Rain stopped and clouds cleared for only a few minutes when we reached the summit). We spotted wild elephants, drank hot chai from the side of the road where they were roasting corn, and stopped to take pictures (grey ones in all this rain and wind) of waterfalls, lakes and dams.
Tomorrow, we will visit huge waterfalls, and more wildlife parks, and then eventually move on back down to Kochin. We'll leave our jackets here for Ravi to sell again, for money for his 3 children. It is an amazing experience to be here, where the Communist party makes India seem "the same same, but different" -- as they say in India. Of course, Susan is seeing all of this for the first time, and it doesn't seem to phase her. We are having a blast! Hope you all are well. More soon.
Susan and Maggi
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A slight Detour
At our friend, Dr. Thomas' suggestion, yesterday visited a state park where we rode Tunita, an elephant bare back (oooh, prickly!), climbed in treehouses overlooking the Periyar River, took turns swinging on swings made of bamboo, visited an orphanage, a zoo with deer, monkeys, peacocks, crocodiles, pythons, and bald eagles. The elephants there were rescued and trained. Then we hopped on a bus and rode 4 1/2 hours east up to a hill station that Dr. Thomas said was his favorite spot. Munnar (which means "3 rivers") is a small town in the mountains, 90% tea plantations, home of wildlife preserves, waterfalls, and sandalwood forests. We met Ravi, who became our guide in his rickshaw with blue tarps fastened to the sides to HELP keep the rain out. He took us to a guesthouse, and today, picked us up and took us to a breakfast of dosas (enormous crepes) on banana leaves, with coconut chutney and a spicy sauce to dip them in. Again, Susan ate with her hands like she'd been doing it all her life. Ravi took us to buy jackets (2 for $6), and socks, because we were cold! Then he took us even higher in the mountains where we could see the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. (Rain stopped and clouds cleared for only a few minutes when we reached the summit). We spotted wild elephants, drank hot chai from the side of the road where they were roasting corn, and stopped to take pictures (grey ones in all this rain and wind) of waterfalls, lakes and dams.
Tomorrow, we will visit huge waterfalls, and more wildlife parks, and then eventually move on back down to Kochin. We'll leave our jackets here for Ravi to sell again, for money for his 3 children. It is an amazing experience to be here, where the Communist party makes India seem "the same same, but different" -- as they say in India. Of course, Susan is seeing all of this for the first time, and it doesn't seem to phase her. We are having a blast! Hope you all are well. More soon.
Susan and Maggi
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3 comments:
You gals are really doing a lot with your days... glad to hear you are having a wonderful and wet time! Hope the rain subsides a bit and gives you a chance to get dry and warm.
What was it like to ride on an elephant? Can't wait to hear all about it.
Take care and safe travels!
hi susan and maggie,
I can't wait to hear about the elephant ride and everything else as well. Be sure to get plenty of pics.
Be safe and have a wonderful time.
sheila
hi susan how are you? now I have two more kids now the team is NISSI NIDHI AND NOAH visit my facebbok page www.facebook.com/nechupadam
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