In India

Apologies for the longer than usual gap between updates. I made it successfully back from Krabi to Bangkok and then, after a long gap between flights, to Mumbai. This was my most challenging leg of the trip so far. Other Asian cities may seem busy, noisy and chaotic but they are nothing compared to Mumbai and I was really pushed beyond my comfort zone on the first day, but I got my ticket to Kerala sorted, and the hotel manager was such a charming and welcoming old gentleman he made up for it all! The hotel was in a really good location to, just along the waterfront from the "Gateway of India" - one of the main tourist landmarks. (see photo top left)

I enjoyed my second day there more - I had a boat trip to Elephanta Island to see the caves carved with fabulous depictions of the Hindu god Shiva in some of his many different manifestations.

The 27 hour train journey was quite a challenge too. The Malaysian and Thai trains are the height of luxury compared to Indian ones and I didn't get much sleep in my very narrow berth, but I did get to chat at length to some real Indian people, especially one lovely couple - he was a retired Indian Railways employee and she kept plying me with food, even though the meals you could order on board were good and cheap and filling.

I got to Ernakulam almost on time and met up with Margaret who has flown out from home to join me here. It was great to have someone to talk to properly again, after quite a while on my own just having brief conversations with strangers.

Today we've enjoyed our first day exploring Fort Cochin - seeing the famous chinese fishing nets - and even having a go at helping to lever one of them up with its rather pitiful catch of little fish. It was great to wander round somewhere where it was actually possible to cross the road without risking life and limb!

We're planning to head a little further south - to Alleppey - in a few days to have a cruise on the backwaters.