15th October... later that day

So allepey is a mass of noise and shops and people and we are exhausted. We intended to go to the beach but as it has turned out the weather has not been great so we might wander to the beach just to look this evening but we spent the day shopping and eyes wide open again at all there is to see here in india. The people once again prove so friendly - a young boy who reminded us so much of th slum dog millionaire story as his father was a drunk and died in a train crash and his mother works in saudi so he is looking after his younger brother by working in a cafe aged 18 spoke amazing english and is a campion frisbee player - they have a league and a team for that here would you believe!

So exhausted but happ we will sleep here in allepey and then head tomorrow 7 hours of train and a taxi ride to Mettulapayam and then onto to ooty the following day via the blue mountain railway before descending the mountain and down to Kalpetta for some serious ayurvedic treatments! namaste to all

15th October Allepey

So we had a night at Amma's ashram which was an experience to say the least. The chanting and kirtans and pujas were just amazing but the ashram, its rules, its hygene and its noise left a lot to be desired. We were quite glad to leave - not for the level of spiritual devotion we found there but for the lack of sleep, the strictness and austerity of the people in all their gestures.....we headed to allepey and met with the character full Johnson before taking yet another rickshaw to the water side - the backwaters of allepey. Our house boat was just the best spot for us to chill out for 2 days, the staff were fabulous and the food the best we have had so far! We have spent two amazing days watching the water world go by and getting some well earnt chill time. Although even the houseboats beep their horns every now and then - they are no doubt getting withdrawels from the lack of beeping on these amazingly beautiful stretches of water. The local people when we stopped were so friendly and we had a great chance to see the people at their daily lives - morning puja and prayers, washing themselves and their clothes in the river, the little canoes and the local traders selling anything from rice flour to milk to cigarettes. Yoga on the deck of the boat in the morning and evening and leslie and martine has a swim in he river after lunch yesterday. It was glorious weather during the day and rainfall at night. We visited a small local village and temple last night and it was lovely to see the simple but devote way they worship despite the water, the mud and the obvious lack of material wealth they have. So now back in allapey town and we plan to head to the beach this afternoon - the last water and beach of this trip before we head up to Coimbatore and Mettupalayam tomorrow and then onto Ooty and Kalpetta on Sunday......3 nights then at the ayurvedic hotel so we hope to get some serious treatment time and a few walks in as well. Until then from this amazing country of soul! Namaste and om shanti!

Varkala 11th October....

Well after the mishaps and a very unsavory experience at the police station I do not wish to repeat we left Kovalam for Varkala and its red cliffs. Our chalet tippe style hotel just a delight and we have been the only ones there so simply perfect for yoga in the garden each mrning with the waves for music and finally the sun has come out and the rain subsided! We have spent a few happy days here and will be sad to leave. The cliffs and seaside resort have just been a welcome breath of calm after the stress of the cities.
Indian life still never fails to wow and intrigue us and tomorrow we are back on the road after yoga in the morning heading for amma's ashram and then the bacwaters of Kerela on a house boat just for us! Martine managed to recover her passport so we are back on track for the route as planned and we are really looking forward to the rest of our adventure! Om shanti and namaste to all!

Saturday 9th October

Well in Kovalan and heavy rains here not much sun and lots of indian families in full dress in the sea! Slight disaster befell us last night with Martine having her bag stolen from the hotel bedroom at 2 in the morning so not happy bunnies this morening and very tired. Not sure how things will pan out over the next few days as she will have to get a replacement passport in Pondocherry. The adventures of travelling I suppose - they took her money, camera and phone too but we are safe and in good health if tired. The plan is to head to Varkala later but we have to get the certifcate of theft from the police department first and then see what we do.....all the joys of travelling. Otherwise all is fine and we are really loving India and ALL is different aspects - it is a challenge at times but the people are very friendly and helpful....
all our love from kerela... namaste

6th October

Thought from India
We have totally amazed by the assault on the senses here - through the chaos - especially on the roads - their is some order and few accidents, through the dirt comes amazing beauty, through the noise comes quiet and a deeper sense of peace that we do not know in the west. Just an amazing experience to see the smiles of everyone - even the women carrying 7 bricks on their heads to the building site next door all day until late at night or the bin lady drseed in a sari sorting the rubbish by hand into her cart and smiling! This is quite a country and the people simple wonderful - they are very friendly and not once have we felt threatened or at risk. We get starred at a lot because of our skin and because we 3 ladies travelling alone but all is well and everyone more than willing to smile with us and help us or answer our questions on anything. Simple an amazing country of contrasts!

6th October 2010

well tiring and wet is the word but we are fine and in trivandum after a 16 hour train ride which toilets aside was actually quite good. Slept well and woke to the tea seller coming onto the train around 9 with hot sugary tea. Trivandrum is wet with the rains still here at the moment and as such not the best time but we managed to get to the museum which was amazing just for the building itself and a lot cleaner than Pondicherry which was quite frankly filthly! Pondi was goo thoughand we managed to do quite a lot including some descent shopping! The Ayuvedic doctor we saw was interesting and good although a little too involved in his own ego and looked very like little richard! We half expected a quick rendition of great balls of fire! Anyway where Pondi was dirty outside and the guesthouse spotless in Trivandrum it is clean outside and the guest house is well very dirty! So we are going to head to Kovalam tomorrow and the seaside hoping for some sun rays in between the deluges. All is well - I'm missing my girls a little and Christian but all said we are all three fine. The food is amazing and we are enjoying the fact that very few places sell meat! Veggie heaven. Off to bed now so until the next time....in K0valam or Varkala

Arrived in India!!!

So after a short stop and a very hair raising drive to Mamallapuram we have now arrived in Pondicherry and are staying in the Sri Aurobindo ashram accommodation which is beautifully located with amazing garden looking over the bay of bengal. All is well - very hot and lots of mosquitos but fine aside from that. Yoga in the garden this morning which was a real treat and a day of sightseeing here before we leave tomorrow night for Trivandrum and Kerala. India is a reall assault on the senses with noise 24 hours a day, colours and life all around you and too much to take in in a short space of time. The people are lovely although there are not many westerners here at the moment so we are quite an attraction! We are going to try and buy local clothes to blens in but I suspect that might be tricky! White skin and blond hair - kind of hard to hide! Sending love and light and heat to you all from Pondicherry. Namaste