Kerala travel Aug 6 to 23, 2010 |
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Jul 27th, 2010, 17:53
| #1 |
| Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London, UK
Posts: 8
|  Kerala travel Aug 6 to 23, 2010 Anyone will be on the road at the same time? contact me! Will write more later, but for now: AUG 7-10 Kochi AUG 10-12 Peryar AUG 13-15 Alleppey AUG 16-18 Kollam AUG 18-21 Poovar (south of Trivandrum) AUG 21 last night in Kochi AUG 22 back to London Cheers, MAD |
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Aug 3rd, 2010, 21:59
| #2 |
| Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London, UK
Posts: 8
| A couple of days left and then my adventure starts...exciting indeed! Leaving LHR (London) arriving in KOCHI via Mumbai on the 7th Arranged to stay at the Kapithan Inn, which had decent reviews on a few sites, offers a good value accommodation in a home-like stay (Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per night), right in the middle of Fort Cochin. The place also offers travel arrangements (they organised my stay in houseboat in Alleppey for 2 nights and included transfer to-from the Nehru Race site). I stay in Kochi until August the 10th and then will make my way to Peryar, monsoon or not. Renting the car with driver will cost me around Rs 1,800 per day, so not bad. Have not booked activities in Peryar, but likely going on the 11th on the boat early in the am to catch a glimpse of Western Ghats in the middle of the lake, maybe some animals. Weather permitting, I will arrange a hike in the afternoon. On August 12th, will make my way to Alleppey. Stay in hotel for that night (yet to book), then browse around to get a feel for the town. Morning after - the 13th, I will board the 1-bedroom houseboat, all on my own so that would give me some good chill-out time. I intend to visit a few little villages around the backwaters and take a lot of photos (my passion). Chilling out on the boat "patio", either enjoying a quiet night or a good solid monsoon downpouring... can't wait! On August 14th, they will take me in the afternoon to the Nehru Boat Race site - sounds it is the one reserved for tourist. I think they mentioned a ferry though rather than on land, not sure... anyway, towards the end they would pick me up and take me to another site for another night on the boat. Apparently, all boats stop around 6ish pm in the same spot, so I may meet some other people. But I am just content with the idea of hanging around with the crew, always great to hear some stories from that world, learn about cultural diversity and appreciation for a different lifestyle. August 15 is India National Independence Day - not sure if anything happens, but will be making my way to Kollam, get to hotel, drop my stuff, get a car and travel to see if I can get to see AMMA (The hugging mother). She was just in London and missed her, but I am quite intrigued by her and her generosity by giving $23 Million USD for reconstruction of Kollam after the Tsunami. On August 16th, I will be in Kollam, one of the major spice centres and with a lot of history to explore (more in what happened there historically than actual buildings / structures.... but will explore more anyway). On August 17th I will travel to Trivandrum, tour around, stay one night at the hotel and on the 18th I will move to Poovar Island Resort - mixed reviews on this, overall I heard is quite good. Need to take a ferry for a 15-20 mins journey to the backwaters in order to reach the site. There one can get Ayurverda treatments, yoga session, chill out (rain or not)... I am also a writer so I am hoping to get some good inspired downtime to enjoy the surroundings and update my blog. August 19th and 20th are spent in the resort, with a couple of trips south to visit some temples and possibly push myself as close as possible to the very southern point of India. On August 21st I am going to leave the resort and travel (by train I guess) all the way back to Kochi and spend my last night there, before heading back on Sunday 22nd to London (perhaps with a quick stop in Mumbai for a couple of hours of chilling at the Leopold's Cafe where I have been two years ago during my trip to Northern India). To book, I have contacted 5-6 different agencies and asked for quotes, lots to shop around and negotiate. But I have to say the best quotes where through Kapithan Inn, so I am pleased I will make that my "home away from home", always a resource should I change plans at the last minute. That's all folks! Have a great trip if you are going that way, and we may meet or not (no response on this website, but hey... what's meant to be is what counts!). Travel safe and be kind! Namaskarom! Mad |
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Aug 10th, 2010, 15:42
| #3 |
| Member  Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Delhi
Posts: 25
| Hi, Hope ur travels are going according to plan...am planning pretty much the same trip, and am travelling with children; so would truly appreciate any feedback and tips thanx and rgrds anuj |
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Aug 10th, 2010, 18:11
| #4 | |
| Maha Guru Member  Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia
Posts: 1,566
| Quote:
Affected by the Tsunami.  vandy  | |
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